Understanding perceived value in tourism: Insights from destinations facing crises

Area of Science:

• Tourism Management
• Consumer Behavior
• Destination Marketing

Background:

• Tourism significantly impacts global economic growth, necessitating an understanding of visitor perceptions in challenging destinations.
• Destinations facing economic and political crises require insights into how tourists evaluate their experiences to foster resilience.
• Understanding tourist value perception is crucial for maintaining satisfaction and loyalty in volatile tourism markets.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate factors influencing tourists' perceived value in crisis-affected destinations.
• To determine how tourist experiences in challenging environments affect satisfaction and loyalty.
• To provide actionable strategies for destination managers in volatile regions.

Main Methods:

• Quantitative research employing a structured questionnaire.
• Data collected from 784 international tourists visiting Lebanon.
• Analysis of perceived value, satisfaction, and destination attributes.

Main Results:

• Destination qualities, value for money, pricing, and high-quality experiences positively influence perceived value.
• Fun and family experiences are significant drivers of perceived value.
• Knowledge and novelty were found not to significantly impact perceived value in this context.

Conclusions:

• Inherent destination qualities and experiential factors are critical for perceived value in crisis-prone areas.
• Strategies focusing on value, quality, and family-friendly experiences can enhance tourist satisfaction and loyalty.
• The study offers insights into tourism resilience and effective management in volatile regions.