Thesis
Tourist shopping: towards an understanding of the relationship between leisure shopping, retailing and tourism
Southern Cross University, School of Tourism and Hospitality Management
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Southern Cross University
2002
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Abstract
Shopping has become an important earner of tourism revenue for many destinations. Yet relatively few academic authors have attempted to explore the dynamics of the multi-faceted interrelationship between tourism and leisure shopping and retailing. There is therefore not only a need for research to fill in the gaps in the literature, but also to provide a more comprehensive understanding of this phenomenon.
The purpose of the research is to contribute to an understanding of the relationship between leisure shopping, retailing and tourism. Taking a supply-side perspective, the identified aims of the research are to: review the nature and scope of tourism shopping as an emerging phenomenon; explore the dynamics behind the evolution of tourism shopping with a view to providing a more detailed and cohesive understanding; to identify the factors that have contributed to the successful development of tourism shopping venues; and to generate and expand on existing theory.
An extensive literature review was conducted. Initially taking a demand side perspective, the review identified a number of reasons why people shop. Various general typologies of shoppers were reviewed and tourist specific typologies for souvenir purchasing tourists examined. The developments of outshopping were examined and connections with tourist shopping made. In the second part of the literature review, the historical relationships in the nineteenth century between the development of modern mass tourism and modern retailing was revealed. Following an analysis of the early tourism literature from the 1960s and 1970s, it was shown that shopping was largely ignored as a tourist activity by academics. It was not until the early 1990s that academics seemed to be prepared to consider shopping to be a motive for travel and for retailers to be a tourist attraction in their own right.
An exploratory approach to the research was taken and an inductive perspective using a qualitative research design using case studies combining historical analysis with grounded theory was used. Three minor case studies that focus on particular issues identified as gaps in the literature are then presented. The first of these minor cases examines the case of cross border shopping between the USA and Canada. It examines the economic and other advantages that tourist shoppers can experience by travelling to shop, and looks at the various policies implemented by the government to curtail tourist shopping. The second case study examines the issues of Japanese tourist shopping and examines the importance of cultural issues that can affect shopping and buying behaviour. The third case looks at the impact of the structure of the tourism industry and the relationships formed between inbound operators and retailers serving the Korean market to Australia. It identifies how over-shopping can degrade a tourist's experience. From the information flowing from each case a conceptual model has been developed.
Three major case studies are then presented, and each of these look at a different set of supply-side issues facing a tourist shopping venue. The three represent different aspects of how tourist shopping has developed. The focus of the first case is on the destination of Singapore. A historical perspective that examines how Singapore developed into being regarded as one of the world's 'shopping paradises' is presented. Factors including government land use policies, successful marketing and retailer strategies were identified. The focus of the second case is on the integrated shopping venue of the West Edmonton Mall (Canada). This is the world's largest shopping mall, and this case looks at its development. The unique combination of leisure shopping and amusement facilities is examined. The focus of the third and final case is on a transit shopping venue. It looks at how BAA Pie has evolved from being a utility company operating airports, to being a retailer generating the majority of its revenue from tourist shopping.
The research concludes by presenting a number of key terms and definitions. It suggests that a number of evolutionary stages have marked the development of the relationship between leisure shopping, retailing and tourism. It identifies the key factors that have affected the development of tourist shopping venues, and then points to particular factors that have led to the development of successful tourist shopping venues. Finally, a model that identifies the various relationships that impact tourist shopping is proposed. The final chapter offers some suggestions for future research.
Details
- Title
- Tourist shopping: towards an understanding of the relationship between leisure shopping, retailing and tourism
- Creators
- J.S. Perry Hobson
- Contributors
- Neil Leiper (Supervisor) - Southern Cross University
- Awarding Institution
- Southern Cross University; Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
- Theses
- Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Southern Cross University
- Publisher
- Southern Cross University, School of Tourism and Hospitality Management
- Number of pages
- xv, 300
- Identifiers
- 991012957299402368
- Copyright
- © J.S. Perry Hobson 2002
- Academic Unit
- School of Business and Tourism
- Resource Type
- Thesis