Consumer perception of healthfulness and appraisal of health-promoting tourist destinations

• Published in: Tourism review (Association internationale d'experts scientifiques du tourisme) 2013-01, Vol.68 (1), p.34-47
• Main Authors: Chang, Lizone, Beise-Zee, Rian
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Bacteria; Consumers; Customer satisfaction; Health care; Hypotheses; Market segments; Medical tourism; Social interaction; Studies; Tourism; Tourist attractions
• ISSN: 1660-5373; 1759-8451
• DOI: 10.1108/16605371311310066

Purpose - The article seeks to study consumer evaluation of the health benefits of a health-promoting destination. Health-promoting destinations often attempt to scientifically prove health benefits. It is suggested that health destinations should instead attempt to reflect consumers' preconceived health beliefs, rather than reform them. The aim is to test the applicability of the expectation-disconfirmation theory to health promoting destinations and to offer recommendations for place marketing of destinations which are positioned as proving health benefits.Design methodology approach - Cognitive dissonance is a central theoretical concept in the model of consumer evaluation of the health benefits of a health-promoting destination. The authors suggest that low cognitive dissonance between subjective health beliefs and the characteristics of a destination results in positive customer evaluations of the destination. This hypothesis was tested through regression analysis of data collected via a survey of 240 visitors at seven hot spring resorts in Taiwan.Findings - The study suggests that the subjective beliefs of tourists regarding what is healthful are important criteria for tourists to evaluate the health benefits of a destination.Research limitations implications - The expectation-disconfirmation theory is successfully applied to the tourism sector and health care.Practical implications - Based on the results, consumer research about what is believed to be beneficial to health is important when designing and promoting a health place.Originality value - Destinations have been mostly studied as wellness destinations. However, many destinations promote scientific health benefits. The effect of consumer health perceptions on the attractiveness of health-promoting destinations has received little attention. While common in tourism, the results are a novel approach to health care destinations.