Volume & Issue: Volume 11, Issue 33, Summer 2016, Pages 1-146 

The components and contents of medical tourism facilitator websites

Pages 1-18

https://doi.org/10.22054/tms.2016.4161

Farzaneh Abouhashem Abadi

Abstract The main purpose of this study is to identify and determine the components and
suggested content for medical tourism facilitators to attract prospective medical
tourists. To achieve this goal, a two-phase strategy was used. First, top facilitator
websites of medical tourism have been identified from googling seven keywords.
Then, a Suggested content have been developed using extracted information and
services. All of the selected websites have been studied based on the qualitative
concept analysis. As a result, different kinds of information and services were
offered to medical tourists were identified and classified in three levels regarding
their importance. Therefore a suggested content were presented to introduce and
classify the mentioned services and information. And after, the websites were ranked
using qualitative content analysis approach and their frequency and repetition were
confirmed. The results show that in these facilitator websites, the concept of medical
options introduction has the most importance. Website facilities introduction,
medical tourism introduction, the website introduction and the reviews of customers,
were ranked next in importance.

Providing a Model for Electronic Tourism Development with an Interpretive Structural Modeling (ISM) Approach

Pages 19-39

https://doi.org/10.22054/tms.2016.4162

Faezeh Asadian Ardakani

Abstract
 Today, the tourism industry is one of the most important service industries which competes closely with other industries in the world. In recent years, information technology has had a significant effect on all sectors of the industry. Electronic Tourism is the link between tourism and information technology. Capability and competitive advantages of E-tourism are important factors in creating economic leap in the tourism industry. This study intends to employ the benefits of electronic tourism towards traditional tourism. So, this study offers comprehensive framework to identify and assess direct and indirect effects of each factor affecting the development of electronic tourism in Yazd province. For this purpose, first, factors affecting the development of electronic tourism in Yazd province were identified by comprehensive review of the literature and opinions of experts in the field. And then, these factors were rated using Interpretive Structural Modeling(ISM). The population of the research are academic tourism experts and professionals which are active in the tourism industry in Yazd province. Also interviews and questionnaires were used to gather data. The content validity of the questionnaire was approved by the experts. According to the results, "operating and financial possibilities", are the most basic factors in the development of electronic tourism of Yazd province that must be taken into serious consideration by  executives in the industry. The results of this research will help policy makers, so that they can choose a better path for the development of electronic tourism.

Entrepreneurship, Learning Orientation, Market Orientation and Human Resource Efforts in Iran 4-Star and 5-Star Hotels

Pages 41-61

https://doi.org/10.22054/tms.2016.4163

Ali Mohamadi, Behzad Safaei

Abstract Customers play an important role in successful organizations. Then, taking into consideration the demands and the needs of customers and also implementing innovation in products and services is so important. The purpose of this study is to examine the impact of entrepreneurial orientation, market orientation, learning orientation and human resource efforts on innovation and customer value in Iran 4-star and 5-star hotels. In order to achieve this goal, managers of these hotels were considered as the population of the study and a sample of 82 managers was selected. The data were collected by standard questioner and were analyzed using Structural Equation modeling, Partial Least Square method and PLS software (version 2). The results showed that there is a positive relationship between entrepreneurial orientation and human resources efforts with innovation and customer value, and also, there is a negative relationship between market orientation and innovation and its relationship with the customer value was not confirmed. The Relationship between learning orientation and innovation was rejected and its relationship with customer value was positive and significant.

Influence of Corporate Social Responsibility on Customer Loyalty with Regard to the Role of Customer Trust and Satisfaction as Mediators

Pages 63-83

https://doi.org/10.22054/tms.2016.4164

Saeid Saeida Ardakani

Abstract With its ever-increasing significance, corporate social responsibility is becoming a main topic in hotel industry. A reason is that corporate social responsibility affects customer loyalty. Hence, corresponding allocation of resources is not regarded as a cost here; rather, it is an investment towards improved status of competitive advantages. The present paper aims to investigate the influence of corporate social responsibility on customer loyalty with regard to the roles of customer trust and satisfaction as mediators. A Questionnaire was used to gather the data. For this purpose, 106 questionnaires were distributed among costumers of 3-star and 4-star hotels in Yazd. Content validity, convergent and divergent validity, and reliability of the questionnaire were approved by experts’ comments, PLS method, Cronbach’s Alpha and composite reliability, respectively. The survey is descriptive in terms of purpose and the method is metrical. Data were analyzed by PLS and SPSS using a Partial-Least-Squares modeling of structural equations. Results showed that corporate social responsibility has significant and positive influences on customer trust and satisfaction. Customer trust has significant and positive influences on customer satisfaction and loyalty, and customer satisfaction has a significant and positive influences on customer loyalty

Analyzing the Factors Affecting the Satisfaction of Domestic Tourists in Yazd Province Using Fuzzy DEMATEL

Pages 85-104

https://doi.org/10.22054/tms.2016.4165

Ali Morovati sharifabadi, Zinat Jamshidi

Abstract Nowadays, tourism industry is considered as the main part of the global economy. tourism industry is among the most important industries capable of stimulating economic growth. Understanding what drives satisfaction for a tourist is one of the most relevant areas of research for the tourism industry. Tourists’ satisfaction is a strong indicator of their intention to visit and recommend destinations to others. This is one of the cheapest and most effective forms of marketing and development. Yazd province is important in tourism. In this research, fuzzy DEMATEL is used to investigate and modeling the relationship among effective factors in Domestic tourists’ satisfaction in Yazd province. To achieve this purpose, factors were identified after a comprehensive review of literature and fuzzy Delphi. Then to explain and evaluate the relationship among the factors, the fuzzy DEMATEL approach was used. According to the results, factors affecting the satisfaction of Yazd domestic tourists are cost levels and their fairness; public transportation performance; provided services; quality of facilities and services; tour operators’ knowledge; cleanness of places; quality of attractions; parking services; urban architecture beauty and quality; cultural values; hospitality of host community; tourism advertisement at province level; quality of tourist guide books, brochures and maps; destination facilities and infrastructure; variety of  customs, traditions and cultures; variety of accommodation and entertainment services; region’s health; uniqueness of attractions; variety of tour services, souvenirs, handicrafts, food and beverage; and secondary attractions. Finally, some recommendations were offered for enhancing tourists’ satisfaction based on findings.

Prioritizing and Ranking tourist Roadside Camping Services

Pages 105-126

https://doi.org/10.22054/tms.2016.4166

Ali Ahmadi, Behnam Qelichkhani

Abstract Based on Statistics of concerned organizations, most of the travels are ground trips,specially by private cars. Existence of natural facilities and Infrastructures is considered as the most important base of tourist paths. In this research, first, by evaluating available infrastructures, and presenting new suggestive points, and also, with introducing levels of camping, factors which underlie creation and development of a welfare service center were taken into consideration.  Finally, levels of camping were preceded and introduced through the AHP method. Referring to the literature, 3 levels of camping were introduced. Then, drawings and tables were presented based on effective factors due to significant priority which shows location of these 3 levels of camping on the principle path of Golestan province. Although an article cannot address all of available issues completely, due to necessity and complexity of the topic, but this research has gained an appropriate answer through the optimum way. Finally, all of available and proposed camping points have been prioritized in a table, and consequently, the results led to open up new horizons in the field of tourism services development and promotion.