Travelling for Umrah: destination attributes, destination image, and post-travel intentions

Gannon, Martin Joseph; Baxter, Ian W. F.; Collinson, Elaine; Curran, Ross; Farrington, Thomas; Glasgow, Steven; Godsman, Elliot M.; Gori, Keith; Jack, Gordon R. A.; Lochrie, Sean; Maxwell-Stuart, Rebecca; MacLaren, Andrew Craig; MacIntosh, Robert; O'Gorman, Kevin; Ottaway, Luke; Perez-Vega, Rodrigo; Taheri, Babak; Thompson, Jamie; Yalinay, Ozge

Abstract

This paper examines the links between cosmopolitanism, self-identity, and a desire for social interaction on perceived destination image and behavioural intentions. A model was tested using a sample of 538 Iranian visitors to Mecca for the purpose of Umrah. The result from the structural model suggests that destination attributes influence perceived destination image. Further, such tourists are likely to revisit or recommend Islamic destinations if their experience matches their perceived image of the destination. This implies that, while the religious characteristics of the destination remain important, destination managers cannot disregard the tangential, non-religious attributes of a destination which are crucial in order to satisfy more conventional tourist desires. As such, this study suggests that those managing religious travel destinations should endeavour to foster a welcoming image, where experience, interaction, and tolerance are at the forefront of the destination's offering.

Citation

Gannon, M. J., Baxter, I. W. F., Collinson, E., Curran, R., Farrington, T., Glasgow, S., Godsman, E. M., Gori, K., Jack, G. R. A., Lochrie, S., Maxwell-Stuart, R., MacLaren, A. C., MacIntosh, R., O'Gorman, K., Ottaway, L., Perez-Vega, R., Taheri, B., Thompson, J., & Yalinay, O. (2017). Travelling for Umrah: destination attributes, destination image, and post-travel intentions. Service Industries Journal, 37(7-8), 448-465. https://doi.org/10.1080/02642069.2017.1333601

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: May 17, 2017
• Online Publication Date: May 31, 2017
• Publication Date: Jun 11, 2017
• Deposit Date: Jan 17, 2019
• Publicly Available Date: Jan 18, 2019
• Journal: The Service Industries Journal
• Print ISSN: 0264-2069
• Electronic ISSN: 1743-9507
• Publisher: Routledge
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 37
• Issue: 7-8
• Pages: 448-465
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/02642069.2017.1333601
• Keywords: cosmopolitanism, behavioural intention, self-identity, social interaction, perceived destination image
• Public URL: http://researchrepository.napier.ac.uk/Output/1496561
• Contract Date: Jan 18, 2019