Purpose The demand for Airbnb is at a peak in Malaysia with 137% of yearly growth. As such, it is indeed important to understand what makes tourists to switch to Airbnb. However, little has been known about this issue in the existing literature. Considering this, the present study aims to shed some light on the factors that drive tourists to switch to Airbnb. More specifically, the objectives of this study are to examine the direct effects of price unfairness and alternative attractiveness on psychological engagement, and to examine the direct effect as well as the mediating effect of psychological engagement towards tourists’ switching intention in the context of Malaysian Airbnb. Design/methodology/approach By considering the attribution theory, this study developed and tested a framework to examine tourists’ switching intentions. A Web-based survey was designed to collect the data which yielded 162 complete and usable responses. Structural equation modelling, more particularly, partial least squares (SmartPLS, version 3) technique was used to analyze the data. Findings The results revealed that price unfairness negatively affects psychological engagement, which in turn negatively affects tourists’ switching intention. However, no significant relationship was found between alternative attractiveness and psychological engagement. Additionally, psychological engagement mediated the relationship between “price unfairness and tourists’ switching intention”, but not between “alternative attractiveness and tourists’ switching intention.” Practical implications It is expected that the findings of this study will enable the hoteliers to better understand the impact of perceived unfairness, alternative attractiveness and psychological engagement in provoking tourists to switch to Airbnb services. It eventually will assist them in improving their offerings and services accordingly. Originality/value The discussion on Airbnb is quite new in the tourism literature. This study is among the pioneers to highlight the switching intention towards Airbnb in the Malaysian market. Guided by the attribution theory, this study developed and tested comparatively new linkages. More specifically, no prior study has considered psychological engagement as the antecedent of the switching intention which this study attempted to address. Additionally, this is a prior study that examines the mediating effect of psychological engagement between price unfairness, alternative attractiveness and switching intention.

Purpose Airbnb has emerged as one of the most prominent examples of sharing economy platforms in the tourism industry. The growing popularity of Airbnb among tourists has boost revenue in the accommodation rental industry. Considering its significant impact on tourism industry growth, this paper aims to shed some light on guests’ booking intentions on Airbnb, Malaysia. Design/methodology/approach A web-based survey was designed to collect the data, which yielded 174 usable and valid responses. Structural equation modelling, partial least square technique was used to analyse the data. Findings The results confirmed that Airbnb’s reputation and guests’ unique experience expectation positively affect guests’ attachment to Airbnb, which, in turn, drives guest booking intention. However, price consciousness did not exert any effect on guests’ attachment to Airbnb. Practical implications The findings of this study will equip Airbnb managers, accommodation platform owners and service providers in developing appropriate marketing plans and strategies to better understand the implications of both internal and external causes that may lead to guests’ intention to book their accommodations. Originality/value This research has its merits in adding value to the tourism literature by understanding the drivers of guests’ booking intentions on Airbnb. Furthermore, the study findings contribute to the existing literature by investigating few new linkages such as the role of guests’ attachment to Airbnb as a mediator between guests’ unique experience expectation, price consciousness, reputation and guests’ booking intention.

No abstract

Purpose The purpose of this study is to investigate the impact of reputation on perceived value towards Muslim tourists’ booking intention on Airbnb, particularly from the Malaysian perspective. Additionally, this study investigates the moderating role of gender on the relationship between perceived value and guest booking intention. Design/methodology/approach This study considered the Stimulus–Organism–Response (S-O-R) theory to develop the research framework. Using a self-administered survey questionnaire, 156 completed and usable responses were obtained. The data were analysed by applying partial least squares–structural equation modelling technique, more specifically by using SmartPLS (version 3) software. Findings The study findings revealed that both reputation and perceived value positively affect Muslim tourists’ booking intention on Airbnb service. Moreover, it is also found that, gender plays a moderating role on guests’ intention to book accommodation on the Airbnb platform. Practical implications It is expected that the findings of this study can help the practitioners in the hospitality industry, particularly in strategising their marketing efforts to attract more tourists to engage in a meaningful relationship with the Airbnb in Malaysia. It is suggested that, the Airbnb hosts need to consider the reputation (stimulus) and perceived value (organism) in their marketing strategy to foster Muslim guests’ booking intention. Originality/value To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this work is among the first to examine the predictors of Muslim tourists’ booking intention on Airbnb. Moreover, very little is known on the moderating role of gender on perceived value and its association with booking intention, which this research attempts to address.

No abstract