Consumption Behaviours of Park Visitors and the Implications for Tourism Marketing: A Case in China
- 1 The Northern Institute, Charles Darwin University, Alice Springs, Australia
Abstract
A survey of tourists to the protected areas in the Taibai Mountain ( 太白山 ) Region of China reveals a local domestic market, dominated by students and company employees. The market is attracted by the natural beauty of the Region, but not yet focused on nature based activities in the many protected areas. Given the Region’s assured tourism future based on its natural and cultural characteristics, the survey data are used to discuss strategies for development. The fundamental issue is how to design tourism products targeting different tourist market segments which have different consumption preferences and behaviours and provide sustainable economic benefits to the local community while protecting the natural and cultural assets of this region.
- Bieger, T., & Laesser, C. (2000). Segmenting travel situation on the basis of motivation and information collection by the traveller. Tourism Review, 55, 54-64. doi:10.1108/eb058334
- Bieger, T., & Laesser, C. (2002). Market segmentation by motivation: The case of Switzerland. Journal of Travel Research, 41, 68-76.
- Bureau of Statistics of Shanxi (2010). Statistical communiqué of Shanxi Province on the 2009 national economic and social development. URL (last checked 20 July 2011). http://knews.shaanxi.gov.cn/0/1/65/365/369/79324.htm
- Chen, J. S. (2003). Market segmentation by tourist’s sentiments. Annals of Tourism Research, 30, 178-193. doi:10.1016/S0160-7383(02)00046-4
- Dosen, O., & Prebezac, D. (2003). Consumer behavior in tourism— Attitudes and motivators as criteria for segmentation of tourism market. Acta-Turistica, 15, 118-143.
- Eftichiadou, V. (2001). A multi-motive segmentation of urban visitors: The case of Liverpool. The Journal of Tourism Studies, 12, 2-10.
- Ekinci, Y., & Chen, J. (2002). Segmenting overseas British holidaymakers by personal values. Journal of Hospitality and Leisure Marketing, 9, 5-15.
- Fleenor, C. P., Toh, R. S., & Arnesen, D. W. (2003). Student study tours: Impact on tourism. Tourism Analysis, 7, 277-281. doi:10.3727/108354203108750030
- Formica, S., & Uysal, M. (2002). Segmentation of travelers based on environmental attitudes. Journal of Hospitality and Leisure Marketing, 9, 35-49.
- Graf, L., & Ossig, C. (2002). Review of the concept of travel typologies: The case of Switzerland. Tourism Review, 57, 28-32. doi:10.1108/eb058392
- Horneman, L., Carter, R. W., Wei, S., & Ruys, H. (2002). Profiling the senior traveller: An Australian perspective. Journal of Travel Research, 41, 23-37.
- IUCN (2004). 2004 IUCN red list of threatened species. URL (last checked 30 July 2010). www.redlist.org
- Mathieson, A., & Wall, G. (1982). Tourism: Economic, physical, and social impacts. London, New York: Longman.
- McCaskey, D. (2002). If you’re not talking segmentation, you’re not talking marketing. Hospitality Review, 4, 9-16.
- Mohsin, A., & Ryan, C. (2003). Backpackers in the northern territory of Australia—Motives, behaviours and satisfactions. International Journal of Tourism Research, 5, 113-131. doi:10.1002/jtr.421