Visitor Satisfaction Determinants and Their Comparison Across Different Tourism Destination Types

Several researchers have analysed various factors influencing destination quality and overall visitor satisfaction with a stay at the destination. The range of analysed factors is vast and varies in the published literature. However, despite extensive research, there has yet to be a consensus on the significance of visitor satisfaction determinants, particularly when considering tourism destinations and their comparison across different tourism destination types. The project focuses on examining the determinants of visitor satisfaction categorised into three groups: (1) intangible satisfiers, (2) primary tangible satisfiers, and (3) secondary tangible satisfiers alongside travel behaviour characteristics in a comparative analysis regarding the significant statistical effect across different types of tourism destinations, which has been neglected in existing studies. The project addresses this research gap through quantitative research for specific tourism destinations. Several statistical methods, including a regression analysis with a logit link function, are used to identify the significant satisfiers and to determine the factors and characteristics that play a critical role in visitor satisfaction across different destination types such as nature-based, cultural heritage, wine and spa destinations. Furthermore, the project includes inland and island destination types and their comparison with the international cooperation of the researcher from the island destination. The comparative analysis and data combination of different tourism destination types provide robust evidence of findings in destination satisfaction.

The project is grounded in the Performance-only approach and Value-Percept Theory. By distinguishing tangible satisfiers into primary and secondary categories, the research contributes to existing theories and indicates implications for destination management regarding sustainable tourism development. The project connects the research activities of the proposer (Tereza Kubalová) and doctoral student (Tomáš Čihák), who addresses the issue of visitor satisfaction from a different perspective in terms of comprehensive system dynamic models and simulation modelling, led by the same supervisor (Petr Štumpf), and of academic researcher (Lenka Komárková) whose statistical experiences support the comparative study conducted with international cooperation of island destination as this project is more focused on statistical models and regression insights across different typologies of tourism destinations. The output of the project's research team is two articles in scientific journals and active participation in an international scientific conference.