Contents

Preface

Foreword

1 Introducing Vacation Decision Making

1.0. Introduction

1.1. Major Paradigms in Decision-making Theory and Research

1.1.1. Overall decision making

1.1.2. Consumer decision making

1.2. Major Variables in the Decision-making Process

1.2.1. Socio-psychological processes

1.2.2. Personal variables

1.2.3. Environmental variables

1.3. Vacation as a Socio-economic Object

1.3.1. Why ‘vacation’ rather than ‘tourism’?

1.3.2. A socio-anthropological perspective

1.3.3. An economic perspective

2 Models of Vacation Decision Making

2.0. Introduction

2.1. Microeconomic Models

2.2. Cognitive Models

2.2.1. Structural models

2.2.2. Process models

2.3. Interpretive Frameworks

2.4. Overall Assessment of Extant Models

3 Methods to Investigate Vacation Decision Making

3.0. Introduction

3.1. Research Paradigms

3.1.1. Positivism vs. interpretivism

3.1.2. Quantitative vs. qualitative research

3.1.3. Qualitative research paradigms

3.2. Alternative Approaches to Investigate Decision Making

3.2.1. Input–output methods

3.2.2. Process-tracing methods

3.2.3. Naturalistic methods

3.3. Study Method

3.3.1. Sample

3.3.2. Data collection

3.3.3. Data analysis and interpretation

3.3.4. Trustworthiness of the study

4 The Context of Vacation Decision Making

4.0. Introduction

4.1. A Descriptive Perspective: What Are the Major Contextual Influences?

4.2. An Interpretive Perspective: How Does Context Influence Vacation Decisions?

4.2.1. Persistence of constraints: structural vs. situational

4.2.2. Importance level of constraints: strong vs. weak

4.2.3. Perception of constraints: objective vs. subjective

4.3. A Motivational Perspective: Push Factors in Vacation Decision Making

4.3.1. Escape in time

4.3.2. Escape in space

4.3.3. More specific motives

4.4. A Dynamic Perspective: the Vacationer’s Career

4.4.1. Transition moments

4.4.2. Growing experience: brand loyalty vs. variety seeking

4.4.3. Shift in motives and expectation level

5 Vacation Planning and Decision-making Processes

5.0. Introduction

5.1. Decision Timing

5.1.1. The generic decision to go or not to go

5.1.2. Specific vacation decisions

5.2. Plans and Decision Outcomes

5.2.1. Number of plans

5.2.2. Evolution of vacation plans

5.3. Vacation Decision Criteria

5.4. Vacation Decision Strategies

5.4.1. The generic decision to go or not to go

5.4.2. Specific vacation decisions

5.5. Information Collection

5.5.1. Information sources

5.5.2. Extent of information collection

5.5.3. Functions of information: collection, daydreaming and ‘reconnaissance’

5.5.4. Evolution of information collection

6 Destination Perception, Evaluation and Choice

6.0. Introduction

6.1. Destination Alternatives

6.1.1. Types of consideration sets

6.1.2. Evolution of destination evoked sets

6.2. Destination Attributes

6.2.1. Mental processing: analytical vs. holistic judgements

6.2.2. List of emerging attributes

6.2.3. Dimensions of destination attributes

6.2.4. Evolution of the attribute background of judgements over time

6.3. Destination Choice Criteria

6.4. Destination Decision Strategies

7 Post-experience Processes

7.0. Introduction

7.1. Literature Review

7.2. The Antecedents of (Dis)satisfaction

7.3. The Consequences of (Dis)satisfaction

7.4. Related Phenomena

8 Group Processes in Vacation Decision Making

8.0. Introduction

8.1. Literature Review

8.2. Group Cohesiveness

8.3. Distribution of Roles

8.4. Interpersonal Congruence: Conflict and Consensus

8.5. Delegation and Group-think

9 A New Typology of Vacationers

9.0. Introduction

9.1. Review of Extant Typologies

9.1.1. Segmentation typologies

9.1.2. Socio-psychological typologies

9.1.3. Decision-making typologies

9.2. A New Typology of Vacationers

9.2.1. The habitual vacationer

9.2.2. The (bounded) rational vacationer

9.2.3. The hedonic vacationer

9.2.4. The opportunistic vacationer

9.2.5. The constrained vacationer

9.2.6. The adaptable vacationer

9.2.7. Assessment of the new typology

9.3. Implications

9.3.1. Theoretical implications

9.3.2. Managerial implications

9.4. Limitations and Suggestions for Future Research

References

Appendix 1 A Summary of Existing Models of Vacation Decision Making

Appendix 2 Description of the Sample

Appendix 3 Case-by-case Evolution of Vacation Decision Making

Appendix 4 Case-by-case Evolution of the Number of Vacation Projects and Evoked Destinations

Appendix 5 Case-by-case Matrix of Major Vacation Choice Criteria

Appendix 6 Frequency Table of Destination Attributes in Perception and Evaluation Judgements

Appendix 7 Case-by-case Evolution of the Attribute Background of Destination Judgements

Index

A

B

C

D

E

F

G

H

I

J

K

L

M

N

O

P

Q

R

S

T

U

V

W