Volume 23/2014: Issue 2
Particular aspects of consumer’s satisfaction regarding tourism products
Authors: Cătălina LACHE, Carmen Mariana CODREANU
Abstract: The paper provides an overview of consumer’s satisfaction regarding tourism products. Doing particular research in this distinct field of consumption is necessary because the standards of holiday and travel consumers (expected quality) are achieved in the absence of the actual product, depending on the providers’ forms of presentation, travel guides, on-line sites, the impressions of other persons, the reputation of “fashionable” destination and, to some extent, depending on the affective and cognitive abilities, the personal and social values of the tourists, their culture, their previous experiences and consumption symbolism. The subjectively perceived quality regarding a consumption experience only partly depends on the objective quality. In this paper the authors aim at: (1) completing the issues related to the satisfaction survey, customizing them for the field of tourism; (2) achieving a consumer satisfaction rating scale for the field of tourism, (3) completing the research process regarding consumer’s satisfaction regarding tourism products by using a mix of methods, namely: The Method of Attributes – Consequences – Values analysis (ACV), based on the idea of the hierarchical organization of elements that contribute to achieving satisfaction under the form of means goal linkages; Lickert Scale type Analyses; Analyses based on the regression and correlation method; the Interpretation of the achieved results by using the Tetraclasse model. The theoretical and practical analyses, as well as the results presented are intended to induce the fellow researchers to approach and refine the studies regarding consumer satisfaction for the particular field of tourism.
Keywords: tourism services measurement; consumer satisfaction; cognitive component; affective component; quality; loyalty; tourism product
Pages: 113-132 | Full text
Inter-, trans- and multidisciplinarity, and some ideas or remarks on cultural tourism
Authors: Constantin MANEA, Gheorghe SĂVOIU, Ion IORGA ȘIMĂN, Marian ȚAICU
Abstract: The introduction to the paper presents the main differences between inter-, trans-, multi- and crossdisciplinary research, both at a general theoretical level, and finally in practical terms, in rural and mountain tourism. Then there follows the detailed presentation, which makes up the main section of the paper, starting from the work methodology and results in researches of an economic, statistical, econometric, sociological, demographic, psychological, anthropological, linguistic, ethnographic, folkloric and cultural integrative type, going on to the specificity of the various approaches in programmes, projects and tourism policy. The main question that dominates the whole main section and the conclusions of the article refer to the current position of Romanian rural and mountain tourism, and is complemented by a number of solutions that could improve and even intensify the upward process of economic development of Romania through the added agency of rural and mountain tourism.
Keywords: inter-, trans-, multi- and cross-disciplinary research; programme; project; rural tourism; mountain tourism
Pages: 133-142 | Full text
Public transport, the key for tourism
Author: Laura GASCÓN HERRERO
Abstract: Public transport in rural areas is a crucial point for making there more lively and of course, from a touristic point of view, more attractive and accessible. Nevertheless, with the economic crisis, tourism is a key factor for many subsistence economies. Before, it was an extra complement for home economy but now we are more aware of the possibilities of this activity, not only as an income but also as a tool for creating the external image of the region. Many people before moving to a territory come as tourist, so the territorial marketing is a key for achieving more and more inhabitants. But not everyone has a car, some people, and special targets, as youngsters, elderly people, disable people… that need special attention for making their life as normal as possible. The access of mobility is one of the flagships of the Provincial Government of Teruel, and this is the reason why we are involved in Move on Green. An INTERREG IV C project that study the situation of the transport and Best Practices in 12 mountain territories spread in 10 European countries taking in to account the environmental point of view of the practice.
Keywords: tourism; transport; mountain area; environment; project
Pages: 143-152 | Full text
Digital world, tourists and rural tourism
Author: Lucia Ștefania BODOȘCĂ
Abstract: The digital world it is the latest high priority in tourism research nowadays and the social media marketing comes with low costs while reaching millions of future tourists. Even with a low key presence on the social media sites and without sophisticated content a specific region can gain an identity and recognition. Rural tourism operators do not dispose of a great budget allocated for such activities and in many cases they do not offer internet services, but with the help of tourism bloggers and reviews an increase in acknowledgment of the touristic destination is possible. Our present research analyses the advantages offered by the digital world, the inconveniences and with the help of 30 tourist interviews some proposals and appreciations are made.
Keywords: digital world; sustainable tourism; electronic word of mouth; social media; rural tourism
Pages: 153-159 | Full text
Management control and its role in enterprise
Authors: Moise CÎNDEA, Gabriela CIURARIU
Abstract: The purpose of management control in large enterprises, was to develop and ensure their effective management. As a tool of management, management control is at a distinct level of company hierarchy, namely the financial direction, being the guarantor of economic and financial balances. If we accept the idea that financial accounting information is the instrument best adapted, we see that makes direct management accounting methods integrate both in organization and in its methods and systems.
Keywords: management control; decision autonomy transfer; internal audit
Pages: 161-165 | Full text
Profitability analysis based on income statement
Author: Gabriela CIURARIU
Abstract: To survive and prosper in the new global economy, companies must improve their performance and achieve a high quality of products to qualify as a world-class enterprises. In this context, it must, on the one hand, analysis of performance factors generating and effects exerted by these human factors, strategic, contextual, structural and technological efficiency of economic activity of the enterprise and, on the other hand, identifying ways to improve performance. The globalization of markets, the increasing complexity of customer needs, the impact of information technology and intellectual capital are interrelated phenomena whose manifestation poses new challenges for businesses. Although with fewer financial resources, human and technological compared to large enterprises, small and medium enterprises have the advantage of flexibility, rapid response and a capacity for innovation.
Keywords: financial performance; accounting standard; profit forecast
Pages: 167-174 | Full text
Perspectives on sustainability of the European welfare state
Authors: Radu ȚIGĂNAȘU, Ramona ȚIGĂNAȘU
Abstract: A current dimension of seminal welfare state problems is the fiscal crisis, the situation when the budget of a country becomes unsustainable. From this perspective, the European crisis pertains, first of all, to durable development and the solution seems to be the reduction of expenses. The dilemma of the governments is how to limit the negative consequences of this reduction, along with meeting the needs of protection and improvement of social policies. In the present paper, we intend to conduct an analysis of the deprivations faced by the population of EU countries and some of the limitation measures which have or should have been adopted by national governments. In addition, we intend to check whether there is a link between social protection expenditure and labor productivity in the states taken into account and provide an interpretation of the results, if possible, oriented towards the old continent’s economic sustainability.
Keywords: welfare; social state; social protection; labour productivity
Pages: 175-182 | Full text
The appreciative inquiry as a way of enhancing organization’s performance
Authors: Loredana TEREC VLAD, Alexandru TRIFU
Abstract: The organizational management, organizational performance and other topics related to the concept of the organization are areas of interest for researchers, whereas our world is concerned with the way in which organizations function (as holistic systems), in order to study their behavior according to certain variables. A new research method has emerged within organizational sociology – the appreciative inquiry – which aims to pursue the 4 Ds: the discovery, the dream, the design and the destiny. The appreciative inquiry aims to co-transform the positive parts of individuals and organizations into the main features and vectors of evolution. In this paper we aim to focus on the appreciative inquiry as a way of researching organizational behavior in order to enhance performance, in the benefit of both employees (individuals) and organizations (institutions, entities).
Keywords: appreciative inquiry; organizational behavior; performance
Pages: 183-187 | Full text