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Why Do They Choose a SPA Destination? The Case of Japanese Tourists

Author

Listed:
  • Hiromi Kamata

    (Faculty of Business Administration, Shukutoku University, 1150-1 Fujikubo, Miyoshimachi, Iruma-gun, Saitama 354-8510, Japan)

  • Yuki Misui

    (Faculty of Regional Policy, Takasaki City University of Economics, 1300 Kaminamie, Takasaki, Gunma 370-0801, Japan)

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to segment Japanese spa tourists according to push motivation using a factor-cluster market segmentation approach. The study examines why these tourists choose spa destinations from among the numerous available tourism options, and what kind of attractiveness they seek. The authors derive 7 factors from 44 motivation items by factor analysis and the tourists are segmented into five clusters. Their analysis reveals that these tourists chose spa destinations when they were in search of a ‘soothing’ experience, one of the seven factors considered specific to spas. The answer to the question on the kind of attractiveness sought varied by segment.

Suggested Citation

  • Hiromi Kamata & Yuki Misui, 2015. "Why Do They Choose a SPA Destination? The Case of Japanese Tourists," Tourism Economics, , vol. 21(2), pages 283-305, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:toueco:v:21:y:2015:i:2:p:283-305
    DOI: 10.5367/te.2014.0450
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Bart Neuts & João Romão & Eveline van Leeuwen & Peter Nijkamp, 2013. "Describing the Relationships between Tourist Satisfaction and Destination Loyalty in a Segmented and Digitalized Market," Tourism Economics, , vol. 19(5), pages 987-1004, October.
    2. William Bacon, 1998. "Economic Systems and Their Impact on Tourist Resort Development: The Case of the Spa in Europe," Tourism Economics, , vol. 4(1), pages 21-32, March.
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    Cited by:

    1. Chuanmin Mi & Yetian Chen & Chiung-Shu Cheng & Joselyne Lucky Uwanyirigira & Ching-Torng Lin, 2019. "Exploring the Determinants of Hot Spring Tourism Customer Satisfaction: Causal Relationships Analysis Using ISM," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(9), pages 1-20, May.
    2. Rosa Anaya-Aguilar & German Gemar & Carmen Anaya-Aguilar, 2021. "Factors Associated with Spa Tourists’ Satisfaction," Mathematics, MDPI, vol. 9(4), pages 1-14, February.
    3. Jan Derco & Dominika Pavlisinova, 2017. "Financial position of medical spas – The case of Slovakia," Tourism Economics, , vol. 23(4), pages 867-873, June.
    4. Rosa Anaya-Aguilar & German Gemar & Carmen Anaya-Aguilar, 2021. "A Typology of Spa-Goers in Southern Spain," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(7), pages 1-10, March.
    5. Xinjia Huang & Yang Zhang & Chaojun Li, 2022. "Assessing the Compensatory Potentiality of Hot Spring Tourism in the COVID-19 Post-Pandemic Environment," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(14), pages 1-19, July.
    6. Yanting Cai & Gang Li & Chang Liu & Long Wen, 2022. "Post-pandemic dark tourism in former epicenters," Tourism Economics, , vol. 28(1), pages 175-199, February.

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