Statistical determination of service quality gaps in primary health care in Guayas, Ecuador

The present work determines the gaps between expectations and perceptions about the quality of the service that patients and families receive in primary health care (PHC) in Guayas, Ecuador. A descriptive, cross-sectional and non-experimental study was carried out, primarily prospective with respect to expectations and retrospective with respect to perceptions of service quality. For its development, a random sample of 533 users from the northern and southern urban sectors of the city of Guayaquil was determined, who were asked to answer a questionnaire. Their responses were collected using a seven-point scale intended to determine magnitudes of gaps, which were confirmed using the Wilcoxon test. The results reveal a significant gap between women, specifically those over 21 years of age who have studied at the technological and university level, and those who work. In general, the five dimensions of quality present significant gaps, highlighting that the lowest gap occurs when the medical professional listens attentively and treats the patient with kindness. Instead, the largest gap occurs because there are no available or easily accessible times for medical appointments. Finally, the dimension that indicates the gaps that service providers best resolve are the empathy items, recording the smallest deviations; On the contrary, the reliability dimension presents the greatest deviation, thus showing higher degrees of dissatisfaction, in both cases significant.

Motivations and satisfaction of sports tourists during the FIFA world cup in Qatar 2022

This study aimed to identify the motivations of sports tourists to attend Soccer World Cups and to determine the motivational dimensions that predict their satisfaction. The research took place in Doha, the capital of Qatar, during the FIFA World Cup in 2022, where 503 valid questionnaires were collected. Exploratory factor analysis and linear regression with the Enter method were used for data analysis. The results show four motivational dimensions: Sports Passion, Escape & Relaxation, Patriotism & Attachment, and Recreation. Additionally, a positive and significant relationship was found between the Escape & Relaxation factor and overall satisfaction. In contrast, a negative correlation was identified between the Patriotism & Attachment dimension and satisfaction. These findings will contribute to the academic literature related to the Soccer World Cups as part of sports tourism and will also assist sporting event organizers in developing marketing and management plans to benefit this tourist demand.

Organizational design for strengthening community-based tourism: Empowering stakeholders for self-organization and networking

The San Pablo community in El Triunfo, Ecuador, is emerging as a promising community-based tourism destination. Despite its potential, the lack of knowledge about self-organization and its implementation has hindered effective tourism management. To address this challenge, a participatory approach was employed, involving the community and key stakeholders, such as the local government of El Triunfo. Through the utilization of Design Thinking and both online and in-person interviews, it was identified that an organizational structure based on networks and a culture of self-organization can drive local tourism. These aspects were incorporated into a Design Thinking-guided process, contributing to the understanding of how to forge an appropriate organizational framework for the community. Furthermore, this study aims for broader impact. The goal is not only to strengthen tourism in San Pablo, but also to inform the management of strategies and policies in other entities. The findings offer valuable insights to similar communities in Ecuador and the region. Collectively, this research enhances the comprehension of community-based tourism and proposes practical solutions for optimizing its management in emerging contexts.

Effect of negative emotions in consumption during the COVID-19 pandemic: A study from Peru

The research examines the negative consumer emotions generated by the perception of social networks or traditional media with consumer behavior during the covid_19 pandemic. The study was developed in Peru with a sample of 220 consumers; the design is quantitative and structural equations were used for data processing. The results indicate that social networks and traditional media are not related to negative emotions, but are related to the change in consumer behavior in the purchase of more products and new products. The research has theoretical implications since it provides evidence to the literature that the negative emotions generated during the covid_19 pandemic are related to changes in consumer behavior, which affect the purchase of more products and new products. The practical implications of the research is for businessmen on the causes of changes in consumer behavior generated during crises. like the COVID-19 pandemic.

Effects of motivations in marine protected areas: The case of Galápagos Islands

This research proposes: (i) analyze push and pull motivations in insular marine protected areas, and (ii) determine their effects on tourists' satisfaction, positive recommendations and loyalty in terms of returning. The study was conducted in the Galápagos Islands in Ecuador; a renowned marine protected area with a National Park being a Natural Heritage Site of Humanity by UNESCO. An exploratory (EFA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), followed by a stepwise multiple regression analysis applied on a sample of 407 tourists in the Galápagos Islands showed four push and pull motivational factors in this destination: "passive marine," "active marine," "novelty and escape," and "social relations". "Passive marine" and "social relations" were the most prominent factors influencing tourist satisfaction and return intentions. Moreover, "passive marine" and "novelty and escape " highly influenced visitors' intention to recommend and give positive feedback about this place. These findings constitute action guides for the adequate management of marine protected areas.

Modeling users' satisfaction and visit intention using AI-based chatbots

AI-based chatbots are an emerging technology disrupting the tourism industry. Although chatbots have received increasing attention, there is little evidence of their impact on tourists' decisions to visit a destination. This study evaluates the key attributes of chatbots and their effects on user satisfaction and visit intention. We use structural equation modeling with covariance procedures to test the proposed model and its hypotheses. The results showed that informativeness, empathy, and interactivity are critical attributes for satisfaction, which drive tourists' intention to visit a destination.

Perceived value and its relationship to satisfaction and loyalty in cultural coastal destinations: A study in Huanchaco, Peru

Coastal tourism offers a wide variety of activities related to nature and culture in a sustainable environment. The present study in a coastal destination with cultural characteristics aims to (i) establish the dimensions of perceived value, (ii) determine the relationship between perceived value and satisfaction, and (iii) identify the relationship between perceived value and loyalty in variables such as return, recommendation, and word of mouth in a cultural coastal destination. This quantitative research used a sample of 384 valid questionnaires collected in Huanchaco, Peru, a city next to the Pacific Ocean, being a coastal destination with cultural potential. Factor analysis and multiple regression were applied for data analysis. The results show three dimensions of value perceived by tourists in coastal destinations: emotional and social value, economic value, and functional value. Of these, emotional and social value is the most salient predictor of tourist satisfaction and loyalty. These results will serve as management guides for cultural coastal destination managers and contribute to the academic literature.

Demand segmentation and sociodemographic aspects of food festivals: A study in Bahrain

Food festivals have been a growing tourism sector in recent years due to their contributions to a region's economic, marketing, brand, and social growth. This study analyses the demand for the Bahrain food festival. The stated objectives were: i) To identify the motivational dimensions of the demand for the food festival, (ii) To determine the segments of the demand for the food festival, and (iii) To establish the relationship between the demand segments and socio-demographic aspects. The food festival investigated was the Bahrain Food Festival held in Bahrain, located on the east coast of the Persian Gulf. The sample consisted of 380 valid questionnaires and was taken using social networks from those attending the event. The statistical techniques used were factorial analysis and the K-means grouping method. The results show five motivational dimensions: Local food, Art, Entertainment, Socialization, and Escape and novelty. In addition, two segments were found; the first, Entertainment and novelties, is related to attendees who seek to enjoy the festive atmosphere and discover new restaurants. The second is Multiple motives, formed by attendees with several motivations simultaneously. This segment has the highest income and expenses, making it the most important group for developing plans and strategies. The results will contribute to the academic literature and the organizers of food festivals.

Topic and sentiment analysis of crisis communications about the COVID-19 pandemic in Twitter's tourism hashtags

The purpose of this paper was to assess Twitter as a means of communication during tourism crises with the following objectives: (a) identify the topics that are discussed, (b) establish the text sentiment, and (c) determine the differences in gender regarding the topics under discussion and the text sentiment. The data were collected from Twitter between March and April 2020. Using big data software, this study extracted 123,868 tweets globally in different languages through the Twitter API of popular tourism hashtags. Two techniques were applied: word association and sentiment analysis. The results show that the communication made through Tweets has the characteristics of a crisis communication related to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic in the tourism industry. The theoretical contribution of the research is that Twitter in social media is an effective means of communication during pandemic crises and contributes to reducing negative perceptions and adverse effects of the tourism crises in companies and destinations. The practical contribution of the research is that Twitter can be used as a means of communication helping the communication strategies of companies and organizations.

Sociodemographic relationships of motivations, satisfaction, and loyalty in religious tourism: A study of the pilgrimage to the city Mecca

Religious tourism is a growing sector of the tourism market because of the many social and cultural changes in the 21st century. Pilgrimage centers worldwide are considered important at the levels of religion, heritage, and culture of tourism. Despite the popularity of journeys to pilgrimage centers and their global importance, there is still a lack of knowledge about the dimensionality and impact of socio-demographic factors on visiting these centers. This study aims to (i) establish the motivational dimensions of the pilgrimage to Mecca (ii) identify the relationship between socio-demographic aspects of pilgrims and the motivation (iii) determine the relationship between socio-demographic aspects of pilgrims, satisfaction, and loyalty. The research was carried out on pilgrims who had visited Mecca. The sample consisted of 384 online surveys. Factor analysis and multiple regression method were applied to a analyze data. The results show three motivational dimensions: religious, social, and cultural, and shopping. Additionally, there is evidence of a relationship between age, marital status and average daily expenditure per person with some motivational variables. Similarly, a relationship was found between average daily expenditure per person and other variables such as satisfaction and loyalty. This study helps tourism companies pay attention to pilgrims' the socio-demographic characteristics of and match them with their motivation, satisfaction, and loyalty during the planning process.

Market segmentation in urban tourism: A study in Latin America

This study aims to analyze the different segments of urban tourism demand. The data were collected in Mexico City, Lima, Buenos Aires, and Bogota, and a K-means clustering method was used to find the segments. The results showed three segments: the first cluster grouped tourists interested in enjoying lodging and restaurant services; the second included visitors seeking multiple attractions, who were the most willing to recommend the destinations; finally, the third was composed of passive tourists, not drawn to the attractions of these cities. This study contributes to the literature by offering evidence of urban tourism segmentation in Latin American cities, which has been scarcely researched. Furthermore, it sheds light on this topic by finding a segment not previously described in the literature ("multiple attractions"). Finally, this study offers practical implications for managers of tourism companies to plan and improve the competitiveness of destinations based on the different segments found.

The risks perceived by the consumer in the acceptance of electronic commerce. A study of Bolivia

The risks perceived by consumers in online shopping can negatively affect the acceptance of electronic commerce, however, the perceived risks are a cultural aspect that can affect consumers differently in different countries. This research examines what dimensions of perceived risk affect the acceptance of electronic commerce in Bolivia, a developing country. The design is quantitative, the TAM model is used with the variables: risk of misuse of information, risk of not obtaining the benefits of the product and risk of inefficiency of the functionality. The results show that the three risks examined do not affect the acceptance of electronic commerce, and that the variables perceived usefulness and ease of use have a positive effect on the acceptance of electronic commerce. The theoretical implications of this study provide empirical evidence from Bolivia, which shows strong variables of perceived usefulness and ease of use, which mitigates the effect of risk´s perception by the consumer, the results are explained in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic that accelerated the rapid acceptance of electronic commerce, increasing the perception of usefulness and ease of use of online shopping. As practical implications, this research provides managers and administrators of online businesses with knowledge about the effect of risk variables perceived by consumers.

Perception study of state support programs for companies, in Talca, Chile in times of Covid 19

This work identifies the factors that influence the perception of company managers regarding the state support programs carried out in times of Covid19. A questionnaire was applied to a sample of company executives from the city of Talca, Chile. Descriptive, exploratory factor analysis and structural modeling ratified by the relevant goodness of fit indices were carried out. The results confirm the existence of three factors that affect the perception of managers that include 12 significant items. It is concluded that the investment factor acts as an independent dimension in the model, the classification factor of the companies acts as a mediator and finally the competitiveness factor turns out to be the dependent dimension of the model.

Post-COVID-19 Tourists’ Preferences, Attitudes and Travel Expectations: A Study in Guayaquil, Ecuador

Expectations about a destination influence the tourist experience during the travel process stages. In the post-COVID-19 normalcy, people are adjusting their priorities and social values. Therefore, it becomes crucial to identify tourists’ expectations before traveling. The objectives of this research were: (a) identify the preferences of tourists; (b) establish the attitudes of tourists; and (c) determine the expectations of tourists for post-COVID-19 destination selection. The study analyzed a sample of 491 people during pandemic lockdowns in Guayaquil, Ecuador. Statistical techniques such as exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis were used in data analysis. The results show that after the pandemic, tourists prefer urban tourism, followed by cultural tourism and traveling with relatives. It also shows a more responsible and supportive attitude when traveling. Likewise, the results support the dimensional structure that explains a set of post-pandemic tourist expectations. Five factors were identified: Smart Care, pricing strategy, safety, comfort, and social distancing. Finally, the theoretical and managerial implications of the results that will guide for tourism destination managers were discussed.