Research Article | | Peer-Reviewed

Understanding Amusement Park Experiences from Perspective of Customer Value in Chinese Culture

Received: 18 October 2023    Accepted: 9 November 2023    Published: 8 January 2024
Views:       Downloads:
Abstract

China’s theme park market has kept the fast-expanding development. The growth rate of the theme park's attendance is continuously rising, an increasing number of international companies are actively planning to establish their influence by launching theme parks in China. China has become fertile ground for global theme park investments. Theme parks play a significant role in a globally growing experience economy. Customer value is a key marketing variable for its capacity to drive consumption. Multiple studies have explored dimensions related to theme park experience. But few research have explored from tourists’ perspective the customer value of theme park tourism among specific cultural groups, as values is closely related with culture. This study aims to explore the consumer value of amusement park experience in China. Content analysis revealed a typology of five experiential value dimensions (altruistic value, economic value, emotional experience, hedonic value, educational value) situated within a four-quadrant framework, addressing how amusement park tourism in Chinese cultural background can enrich the original domains of Holbrook’s value typologies. Moreover, these dimensions offer a comprehensive perspective on how visitors perceive and derive value from theme park experiences. These results lay a theoretical foundation for future studies and provide practical implications for promotion and experience design for the Chinese market, it will also contribute to the ongoing success of theme parks in China's rapidly developing consumer landscape.

Published in International Journal of Economics, Finance and Management Sciences (Volume 12, Issue 1)
DOI 10.11648/j.ijefm.20241201.11
Page(s) 1-10
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Tourism Experience, Customer Value, Amusement Parks, Chinese Culture

References
[1] Ali F, Kim W G, Li J and Jeon H. M (2018). Make It Delightful: Customers' Experience, Satisfaction and Loyalty in Malaysian Theme Park. Journal of Destination Marketing and Management, 7, 1-11.
[2] Barnes S J, Mattsson J, Sorensen F (2014). Destination brand experience and visitor behavior: Testing a scale in the tourism context. Annals of Tourism Research, 48, 121–139.
[3] Berry, L., Carbone, L. and Haeckel, S. (2002). Managing the total customer experience. MIT Sloan Management Review, 43 No. 3, 85-89.
[4] Berry, L. L., Wall, E. A., and Carbone, L. P. (2006). Service clues and customer assessment of the service experience: lessons from marketing. Academy of Management Perspectives, 20 No. 2, 43-57.
[5] Bigne´E J, Mattila A S, and Andreu, L. (2008). The impact of experiential consumption cognitions and emotions on behavioral intentions. Journal of Services Marketing, 22 No. 4, 303-315.
[6] Blomstervik I. H., Prebensen N. K., Campos A. C., Pinto P (2020). Novelty in tourism experiences: the influence of physical staging and human interaction on behavioral intentions. Current Issues in Tourism, 24 No. 20, 2921-2938.
[7] Cetin, G., & Bilgihan, A. (2016). Components of cultural tourists’ experiences in destinations. Current Issues in Tourism, 19(2), 137–154.
[8] Chiu W. and Cho H. (2021). Mapping aboriginal tourism experiences in Taiwan: A case of the Formosan Aboriginal Culture Village. Journal of Vacation Marketing, 27 No. 1, 17–31.
[9] Chon, K. and Hao, F. T. (2020). The five constants: a Confucian business model for the hospitality industry, Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Research, 44 No. 7, 1051-1071.
[10] Dinçer, M. Z., & Alrawadieh, Z. (2017). Negative word of mouse in the hotel industry: A content analysis of online reviews on luxury hotels in Jordan. Journal of Hospitality Marketing and Management, 26(8), 785–804.
[11] Gursoy D, Akova O, Atsız O (2021). Understanding the heritage experience: a content analysis of online reviews of World Heritage Sites in Istanbul. Journal of Tourism and Cultural Change. DOI: 10.1080/14766825.2021.1937193.
[12] Dong, P. and Siu Y. M. (2013). Servicescape elements, customer predispositions and service experience: the case of theme park visitors. Tourism Management, 36, 541-551.
[13] Du J, Fan X, and Feng T (2010). An experimental investigation of the role of face in service failure and recovery encounters. Journal of Consumer Marketing, 27 No. 7, 584-593.
[14] Eggert, A., Ulaga, W., Frow, P., and Payne, A. (2018). Conceptualizing and communicating value in business markets: From value in exchange to value in use. Industrial Marketing Management, 69, 80–90.
[15] Erlingsson, C., & Brysiewicz, P. (2017). A hands-on guide to doing content analysis. African Journal of Emergency Medicine, 7(3), 93–99.
[16] Fu Y and Wang Y J (2021). Experiential value influences authentic happiness and behavioral intention: lessons from Taiwan’s tourism accommodation sector. Tourism Review, 76 No. 1, 289-303.
[17] Fu X., Kang J., Hahm J. J., Wiitala J (2020). Investigating the consequences of theme park experience through the lenses of self-congruity and flow. International Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Management, 32 No. 3, 1181-1199.
[18] Fu X. Xinran Y. Lehto X and Cai L (2012). Culture-Based Interpretation of Vacation Consumption. Journal of China Tourism Research, 8 No. 3, 320-333.
[19] Gallarza, M. G. and Gil S. I. (2006). Value dimensions, perceived value, satisfaction and loyalty: an investigation of university students’ travel behavior, Tourism Management, 27 No. 3, 437-452.
[20] Gallarza, M. G. and Gil, S. I. (2008). The concept of value and its dimensions: a tool for analyzing tourism experiences. Tourism Review, 63 No. 3, 4-20.
[21] Gallarza, M. G., Arteaga, F and Gil, S I. (2019). Customer value in tourism and hospitality: Broadening dimensions and stretching the value-satisfaction-loyalty chain. Tourism Management Perspectives, 31, 254-268.
[22] Geertz, C. (2000). The interpretation of cultures: Selected essays. New York: Basic Books.
[23] Geissler G. L., Rucks C. T. (2011). The overall theme park experience: A visitor satisfaction tracking study. Journal of Vacation Marketing, 17 No. 2, 127-138.
[24] Godovykh M, Tasci A (2020). The influence of post-visit emotions on destination loyalty. Tourism Review, DOI: 10.1108/TR-01-2020-0025.
[25] Hapsari R (2018). Creating Educational Theme Park Visitor Loyalty: The Role of Experience-Based Satisfaction. Image and Value. Tourism and Hospitality Management, 24 No. 2, 20-40.
[26] Holbrook, M. B. (1994). The nature of consumer values: an axiology of services in the consumption experience, Rust, R. T. and Oliver, R. L. (Ed.), Service quality: new directions in the theory and practice. (21-71) London: Sage.
[27] Holbrook, M. B. (2006). Consumption experience, customer value, and subjective personal introspection: an illustrative photographic essay. Journal of Business Research, 59, 714-725.
[28] Hofstede G H (1991). Culture and organizations: software of the mind. London: McGraw-Hill.
[29] Hsu C H, Huang S (2016). Reconfiguring Chinese cultural values and their tourism implications. Tourism Management, 54, 230-242.
[30] Hu R, Wang C, Zhang T, Nguyen T, Shapoval V, Zhai L (2021). Applying augmented reality (AR) technologies in theatrical performances in theme parks: A transcendent experience perspective. Tourism Management Perspectives. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tmp.2021.100889.
[31] Huang J (2012). Research on brand equity of national scenic spots - from the perspective of college students and short distance tourists. Doctoral thesis; Fudan University Shanghai China.
[32] Iordanova, E, and Stylidis D (2019). The impact of visitors' experience intensity on in-situ destination image formation. Tourism Review, 74 No. 4, 841-860.
[33] Kang K S, Lee K C, Lee D E (2016). Examining Cultural Worldview and Experience by International Tourists: A Case of Traditional House Stay. Asia Pacific Journal of Tourism Research, 21 No. 5, 477-499.
[34] Kim S (2012). A cross-cultural study of on-site film-tourism experiences among Chinese, Japanese, Taiwanese and Thai visitors to the Daejanggeum Theme Park, South Korea. Current Issues in Tourism, 15 No. 8, 759-776.
[35] Komppula, R. and Gartner, W. C. (2013). Hunting as a travel experience: an auto-ethnographic study of hunting tourism in Finland and the USA. Tourism Management, 35, 168-180.
[36] Kwek A and Lee Y (2012). Chinese Tourists and Confucianism. Asia Pacific Journal of Tourism Research, 15 No2, 129-141.
[37] Lari L, Iyanna S, Jabeen F (2020). Islamic and Muslim tourism: service quality and theme parks in the UAE. Tourism Review, 75 No. 2, 402-413.
[38] Lee S, Jeong E, Qu K (2019). Exploring Theme Park Visitors’ Experience on Satisfaction and Revisit Intention: A Utilization of Experience Economy Model. Journal of Quality Assurance in Hospitality & Tourism, 21 No. 2, 1-24.
[39] Lin C C and Fu R. (1990). A Comparison of Child -raring Lincoln Y S, Guba E G (1985). Naturalistic inquiry. Beverly Hills, CA: Sage.
[40] Lovelock, C. H. (1999). Developing marketing strategies for transnational service operations. Journal of Services Marketing, 13(4/5), 278-295.
[41] Ma, J; Gao, J; Scott, N, Ding P (2013). Customer Delight from Theme Park Experiences: The Antecedents of Delight Based on Cognitive Appraisal Theory. Annals of Tourism Research, 42, 359-381.
[42] Ma J., Scott N., Gao J., Ding P (2017). Delighted or Satisfied? Positive Emotional Responses Derived from Theme Park Experiences. Journal of Travel and Tourism Marketing, 34 No. 1, 1-19.
[43] Melanie K, Ivett P, Zombor B, Karolina B (2021). The changing nature of the cultural tourist: motivations, profiles and experiences of cultural tourists in Budapest. Journal of Tourism and Cultural Change, DOI: 10.1080/14766825.2021.1898626.
[44] Meng, B. and K. Choi (2019). Tourists’ intention to use location-based services (LBS). International Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Management, 31(8): 3097–115.
[45] Milman A (2009). Evaluating the guest experience at theme parks: An empirical investigation of key attributes. International Journal of Tourism Research. Journal of Tourism Research, 11 No. 4, 373-387.
[46] Milman A. Tasci A, Wei W (2020). Crowded and popular: The two sides of the coin affecting theme-park experience, satisfaction, and loyalty. Journal of Destination Marketing & Management, 18. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jdmm.2020.100468.
[47] Milman, A., Li, X., Wang, Y. and Yu, Q. (2012). Examining the guest experience in themed amusement parks: preliminary evidence from China, Journal of Vacation Marketing, 18 No. 4, 313-325.
[48] Milman A. Tasci A. (2018). Exploring the experiential and sociodemographic drivers of satisfaction and loyalty in the theme park context. Journal of Destination Marketing and Management, 8, 385-395.
[49] Miles, M. B., & Hubermen, A. M. (1994). Qualitative data analysis: An expanded sourcebook. London: SAGE.
[50] Pine, B. J., & Gilmore, J. H. (1999). The experience economy: Work is theatre and everyday business a stage. Boston: Harvard Business School Press.
[51] Poria Y., Beal J., Reichel A (2020). The joy of riding or walk of shame? The theme park experience of obese people. European Journal of Tourism Research, 24, 2412.
[52] Prentice, C (2020). Enhancing the tourist experience with emotional intelligence. Tourism Review, 75 No. 5, 733-744.
[53] Sánchez-Fernández, R., Iniesta-Bonillo, M. A. (2006). Consumer perception of value: literature review and a new conceptual framework. Journal of Consumer Satisfaction or Dissatisfaction Complain Behavior, 19, 40–58.
[54] Schmitt, B. (1999). Experiential marketing: how to get customers to sense, feel, think, act, and relate to your company and brands. New York, NY: Free Press.
[55] Sheth, J. N., Newman, B. I., Gross, B. L. (1991). Why we buy what we buy: a theory of consumption values. Journal of Business Research, 22 No. 2, 159–170.
[56] Sthapit E, Björk P. Barreto J. J (2021). Negative memorable experience: North American and British Airbnb guests’ perspectives. Tourism Review, 76 No. 3, 639-653.
[57] Tsai C F, (2015). The Relationships among Theatrical Components, Experiential Value, Relationship Quality, and Relationship Marketing Outcomes. Asia Pacific Journal of Tourism Research, 20 No. 8, 897 –919.
[58] Tasci A. D. A., Milman A. (2019). Exploring experiential consumption dimensions in the theme park context. Current Issues in Tourism, 22 No. 7, 853-876.
[59] Thomas R W, Esper T LV (2010). Exploring relational asymmetry in supply chains: the retailer's perspective. International Journal of Physical Distribution and Logistics Management, 40 No. 6, 475-494.
[60] Torres, E. N.; Wei, W; Hua N. (2017). Towards Understanding the Effects of Time and Emotions on The Vacation Experience. Tourism Review, 72 No. 4, 357-374.
[61] Torres E. N., Wei W., Hua N., Chen P J (2019). Customer emotions minute by minute: How guests experience different emotions within the same service environment. International Journal of Hospitality Management, 77, 128-138.
[62] Wang J. H., Choe Y., Song H. J (2020). Brand behavioral intentions of a theme park in China: An application of brand experience. Sustainability (Switzerland), 12 No. 11, 1-13.
[63] Wang J., Kim J., Kang S (2019). Antecedents and consequences of brand experiences in a historical and cultural theme park. Sustainability (Switzerland), 11 No. 17, 1-16.
[64] Wang, X. Z. and Zhang, C. Z. (2020). Contingent effects of social norms on tourists’ pro-environmental behaviors: the role of Chinese traditionality. Journal of Sustainable Tourism, 28 No. 10, 1646-1664.
[65] Wang, C., Liu, J., Wei, L., & Zhang, T. (2020). Impact of tourist experience on memorability and authenticity: A study of creative tourism. Journal of Travel & Tourism Marketing, 37(1), 48–63. https:// doi.org/10.1080/10548408.2020.1711846.
[66] Wei W, Qi R, Lu Zhang L (2019). Effects of virtual reality on theme park visitors' experience and behaviors: A presence perspective. Tourism Management, 71, 282–293.
[67] Wei W, Zheng Y, Zhang L, Line N. (2021). Leveraging customer-to-customer interactions to create immersive and memorable theme park experiences. Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Insights. Doi: 10.1108/JHTI-10-2020-0205.
[68] Wu, H C., Li, M Y. Li, T. (2018). A study of experiential quality, experiential value, experiential satisfaction.
[69] Yang, M. J. H., Khoo-Lattimore, C. and Yang, E. C. L. (2020). Three generations on a holiday: Exploring the influence of Neo-Confucian values on Korean Multigenerational Family vacation decision making. Tourism Management, 78. No 2, DOI: 10.1016/j.tourman.2020.104076.
[70] Zare S (2019). Cultural influences on memorable tourism experiences. Anatolia. DOI: 10.1080/13032917.2019.1575886.
[71] Zhang T, Zhang P, Lu L (2019). Service encounter value and online engagement behaviors. International Journal of Hospitality Management. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhm.2019.102338.
[72] Zhang T, Bin Li B, Hua N (2021). Chinese cultural theme parks: text mining and sentiment analysis, Journal of Tourism and Cultural Change. DOI: 10.1080/14766825.2021.1876077.
[73] Zheng Y., Wei W., Line N., Zhang L (2021). Integrating the tourist gaze with the social service-scape: Implications for creating memorable theme park experiences. International Journal of Hospitality Management. Doi: 10.1016/j.ijhm.2020.102782.
Cite This Article
  • APA Style

    Kuang, H., Xiao, Q., Duan, X., He, Y., Abdurakhmonov, Z. (2024). Understanding Amusement Park Experiences from Perspective of Customer Value in Chinese Culture. International Journal of Economics, Finance and Management Sciences, 12(1), 1-10. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijefm.20241201.11

    Copy | Download

    ACS Style

    Kuang, H.; Xiao, Q.; Duan, X.; He, Y.; Abdurakhmonov, Z. Understanding Amusement Park Experiences from Perspective of Customer Value in Chinese Culture. Int. J. Econ. Finance Manag. Sci. 2024, 12(1), 1-10. doi: 10.11648/j.ijefm.20241201.11

    Copy | Download

    AMA Style

    Kuang H, Xiao Q, Duan X, He Y, Abdurakhmonov Z. Understanding Amusement Park Experiences from Perspective of Customer Value in Chinese Culture. Int J Econ Finance Manag Sci. 2024;12(1):1-10. doi: 10.11648/j.ijefm.20241201.11

    Copy | Download

  • @article{10.11648/j.ijefm.20241201.11,
      author = {Hongyun Kuang and Qian Xiao and Xiaohan Duan and Yawen He and Zafarjon Abdurakhmonov},
      title = {Understanding Amusement Park Experiences from Perspective of Customer Value in Chinese Culture},
      journal = {International Journal of Economics, Finance and Management Sciences},
      volume = {12},
      number = {1},
      pages = {1-10},
      doi = {10.11648/j.ijefm.20241201.11},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijefm.20241201.11},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijefm.20241201.11},
      abstract = {China’s theme park market has kept the fast-expanding development. The growth rate of the theme park's attendance is continuously rising, an increasing number of international companies are actively planning to establish their influence by launching theme parks in China. China has become fertile ground for global theme park investments. Theme parks play a significant role in a globally growing experience economy. Customer value is a key marketing variable for its capacity to drive consumption. Multiple studies have explored dimensions related to theme park experience. But few research have explored from tourists’ perspective the customer value of theme park tourism among specific cultural groups, as values is closely related with culture. This study aims to explore the consumer value of amusement park experience in China. Content analysis revealed a typology of five experiential value dimensions (altruistic value, economic value, emotional experience, hedonic value, educational value) situated within a four-quadrant framework, addressing how amusement park tourism in Chinese cultural background can enrich the original domains of Holbrook’s value typologies. Moreover, these dimensions offer a comprehensive perspective on how visitors perceive and derive value from theme park experiences. These results lay a theoretical foundation for future studies and provide practical implications for promotion and experience design for the Chinese market, it will also contribute to the ongoing success of theme parks in China's rapidly developing consumer landscape.
    },
     year = {2024}
    }
    

    Copy | Download

  • TY  - JOUR
    T1  - Understanding Amusement Park Experiences from Perspective of Customer Value in Chinese Culture
    AU  - Hongyun Kuang
    AU  - Qian Xiao
    AU  - Xiaohan Duan
    AU  - Yawen He
    AU  - Zafarjon Abdurakhmonov
    Y1  - 2024/01/08
    PY  - 2024
    N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijefm.20241201.11
    DO  - 10.11648/j.ijefm.20241201.11
    T2  - International Journal of Economics, Finance and Management Sciences
    JF  - International Journal of Economics, Finance and Management Sciences
    JO  - International Journal of Economics, Finance and Management Sciences
    SP  - 1
    EP  - 10
    PB  - Science Publishing Group
    SN  - 2326-9561
    UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijefm.20241201.11
    AB  - China’s theme park market has kept the fast-expanding development. The growth rate of the theme park's attendance is continuously rising, an increasing number of international companies are actively planning to establish their influence by launching theme parks in China. China has become fertile ground for global theme park investments. Theme parks play a significant role in a globally growing experience economy. Customer value is a key marketing variable for its capacity to drive consumption. Multiple studies have explored dimensions related to theme park experience. But few research have explored from tourists’ perspective the customer value of theme park tourism among specific cultural groups, as values is closely related with culture. This study aims to explore the consumer value of amusement park experience in China. Content analysis revealed a typology of five experiential value dimensions (altruistic value, economic value, emotional experience, hedonic value, educational value) situated within a four-quadrant framework, addressing how amusement park tourism in Chinese cultural background can enrich the original domains of Holbrook’s value typologies. Moreover, these dimensions offer a comprehensive perspective on how visitors perceive and derive value from theme park experiences. These results lay a theoretical foundation for future studies and provide practical implications for promotion and experience design for the Chinese market, it will also contribute to the ongoing success of theme parks in China's rapidly developing consumer landscape.
    
    VL  - 12
    IS  - 1
    ER  - 

    Copy | Download

Author Information
  • School of Economics and Management, Shanghai Polytechnic University, Shanghai, China

  • Higher Vocational and Technical College, Shanghai University of Engineering Science, Shanghai, China

  • School of Economics and Management, Shanghai Polytechnic University, Shanghai, China

  • School of Economics and Management, Shanghai Polytechnic University, Shanghai, China

  • School of Economics and Management, Shanghai Polytechnic University, Shanghai, China

  • Sections