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Tourists’ Motivations For Visiting Dark Tourism Sites. Case Of Romania

Author

Listed:
  • Andreia Schneider

    (Management Department, Faculty of Economics and Business Administration, West University of Timişoara, Timişoara, Romania)

  • Silvia Anghel-Vlad

    (Management Department, Faculty of Economics and Business Administration, West University of Timişoara, Timişoara, Romania)

  • Lucia Negruţ

    (Management Department, Faculty of Economics and Business Administration, West University of Timişoara, Timişoara, Romania)

  • Gheorghe Goje

    (Management Department, Faculty of Economics and Business Administration, West University of Timişoara, Timişoara, Romania)

Abstract

Nowadays, tourism plays an essential role in economic growth and development in many countries. Tourists have different travelling motivations and behavioural manifestations, helping tour operators decide suitable for them. Developing a dark tourism niche concept is a necessary step for correct use of it in theory and practice. Dark tourism is an important concept studied in the past twenty years in worldwide literature. This empirical paper aimed to determine the tourists’ motivations for travelling to Romania’s dark tourism destinations and establishing them. A quantitative research method was applied based on a survey using a non-probabilistic technique based on convenience sampling. Secondary, it was studied the relationship between motivational determinants and tourists’ attitude-behaviour in visiting dark tourism sites (Theory of Planned Behaviour, TPB). The survey conducted online was primarily made of 40 items evaluated on the Likert scale. It has been used a sample based on 475 Romanian respondents: 72.3% who had already visited a dark tourism destination in Romania, and 27.8% who stated they planned to visit one. The theoretical framework has analysed five constructs as motivational determinants in the relationships with behavioural construct attitude (TPB). The results show support for two of five research hypotheses (H1 and H4). Dark experience (H1) and Unique learning experience (H4) have a significant and positive effect on Attitude. We did not find any significant effect of Engaging entertainment, Casual interest, and Emotional recreation on Attitude. Hence, H2, H3 and H5 are not supported. Based on these results, the government can develop tourism economic and marketing policy to develop dark tourism as important post-communist niche tourism. The practitioners can develop and promote tourism packages and products by applying the correct use of dark tourism sense. The present scientific paper’s originality is given by the lack of literature review studies based on empirical research on this topic. Limits of the research and future research directions are also pointed out in the conclusion part.

Suggested Citation

  • Andreia Schneider & Silvia Anghel-Vlad & Lucia Negruţ & Gheorghe Goje, 2021. "Tourists’ Motivations For Visiting Dark Tourism Sites. Case Of Romania," Annals of Faculty of Economics, University of Oradea, Faculty of Economics, vol. 1(1), pages 140-150, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:ora:journl:v:1:y:2021:i:1:p:140-150
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    File URL: http://anale.steconomiceuoradea.ro/volume/2021/n1/014.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Patrichi Ioana Cristiana, 2013. "Dark Tourism – A Niche Segment For The Romanian Tourism," Romanian Economic Business Review, Romanian-American University, vol. 8(4.1), pages 351-358, december.
    2. Rabontu Cecilia Irina & Vasile Madalina Cristina, 2014. "Dark Tourism - New Form Of Tourism In Romania," Annals - Economy Series, Constantin Brancusi University, Faculty of Economics, vol. 6, pages 269-273, December.
    3. Hyde, Kenneth F. & Harman, Serhat, 2011. "Motives for a secular pilgrimage to the Gallipoli battlefields," Tourism Management, Elsevier, vol. 32(6), pages 1343-1351.
    4. Light, Duncan, 2017. "Progress in dark tourism and thanatourism research: An uneasy relationship with heritage tourism," Tourism Management, Elsevier, vol. 61(C), pages 275-301.
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    dark tourism; sites; motivations; attitude; Theory of Planned Behaviour;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • M31 - Business Administration and Business Economics; Marketing; Accounting; Personnel Economics - - Marketing and Advertising - - - Marketing
    • L83 - Industrial Organization - - Industry Studies: Services - - - Sports; Gambling; Restaurants; Recreation; Tourism
    • Z31 - Other Special Topics - - Tourism Economics - - - Industry Studies

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