<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> The purpose of this study is to analyse how tourists’ perceptions of a destination’s tourism product influences memorable tourism experiences and how gender differences influence tourists’ perceptions of tourism product. To achieve these objectives, Uganda, one of the developing economies in East Africa, was chosen. The five A’s of tourism product was used as a basis for the questionnaire construction and data was analysed. Explanatory research design within the framework of confirmatory factor analysis - a structural equation modelling technique was adopted using the AMOS 18 program. A sample of 501 respondents consisting of tourists departing Uganda through Entebbe International Airport was used.Results showed that both the measurement and structural models exhibited better model fit indices. Overall, tourists’ perceptions of the retained four dimensions of tourism product (Attractions, ancillary services, amenities and accommodation) had a positive effect on memorable travel experience. Additionally, the independent T-test for gender and tourists’ perceptions of Uganda’s tourism product showed that on average, females had a positive evaluation of Uganda tourism product compared to their male counterparts. However, the observed difference was not significant.It is recommended that destination management organisations pay attention to infrastructure, particularly transport that links potential and actual tourists to key tourism attractions. This is likely to enhance positive perceptions and was found to positively influence memorable travel experience. Other implications for destination branding are discussed. </abstract>

The purpose of this study is to analyse how tourists’ perceptions of a destination’s tourism product influences memorable tourism experiences and how gender differences influence tourists’ perceptions of tourism product. To achieve these objectives, Uganda, one of the developing economies in East Africa, was chosen. The five A’s of tourism product was used as a basis for the questionnaire construction and data was analysed. Explanatory research design within the framework of confirmatory factor analysis - a structural equation modelling technique was adopted using the AMOS 18 program. A sample of 501 respondents consisting of tourists departing Uganda through Entebbe International Airport was used.Results showed that both the measurement and structural models exhibited better model fit indices. Overall, tourists’ perceptions of the retained four dimensions of tourism product (Attractions, ancillary services, amenities and accommodation) had a positive effect on memorable travel experience. Additionally, the independent T-test for gender and tourists’ perceptions of Uganda’s tourism product showed that on average, females had a positive evaluation of Uganda tourism product compared to their male counterparts. However, the observed difference was not significant.It is recommended that destination management organisations pay attention to infrastructure, particularly transport that links potential and actual tourists to key tourism attractions. This is likely to enhance positive perceptions and was found to positively influence memorable travel experience. Other implications for destination branding are discussed.

The effect of tourists’ perceptions of a tourism product on memorable travel experience: Implications for destination branding

International Hospitality Management, Stenden University Qatar, P. O. Box 36037 Doha, State of Qatar. T: +9744888116 Ext.416, M: +97450108950

School of Hotel and Tourism Management, Kowloon Hong Kong SAR, China

International Centre for Tourism & Hospitality Research, School of Tourism, Bournemouth University, Poole, United Kingdom

European Journal of Tourism, Hospitality and Recreation

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.

The purpose of this study is to analyse how tourists’ perceptions of a destination’s tourism product influences memorable tourism experiences and how gender...

The effect of tourists’ perceptions of a tourism product on memorable travel experience: Implications for destination branding

Published Online: May 26, 2016

Page range: 2 - 12

Received: Oct 20, 2014

Accepted: Feb 22, 2015

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/ejthr-2016-0001

Keywords
Tourists’ perceptions, Tourism product, Memorable travel experience, Destination branding, Uganda

© 2016

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.

The effect of tourists’ perceptions of a tourism product on memorable travel experience: Implications for destination branding

Published Online: May 26, 2016

Page range: 2 - 12

Received: Oct 20, 2014

Accepted: Feb 22, 2015

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/ejthr-2016-0001

KeywordsTourists’ perceptions, Tourism product, Memorable travel experience, Destination branding, Uganda

© 2016

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.

Keywords
Tourists’ perceptions, Tourism product, Memorable travel experience, Destination branding, Uganda