A Dualistic Model of Tourism Seasonality: Approach–Avoidance and Regulatory Focus Theories

Abstract

Seasonality in tourism is a key but poorly understood issue in the context of the tourism industry. Furthermore, theoretical and conceptual developments regarding seasonality in tourism remain limited. This conceptual study aims to integrate approach–avoidance and regulatory focus theories as frameworks for understanding seasonality in tourism. The study’s purpose is threefold. First, it evaluates current research on seasonality in tourism. Second, it outlines the features of approach–avoidance and regulatory focus theories and their underutilization in the tourism setting. Third, it illustrates the potential of the above theories and frameworks in understanding seasonality in tourism. Also important is our development of a dualistic model to augment policymakers’ understanding of how certain factors, such as fruition-based factors, structural factors, unforeseen factors, and climate-based factors, can influence seasonality in tourism. Implications and suggestions for future research are also discussed.

A Framework for Classifying Causal Factors of Tourism Demand Seasonality: An Interseason and Intraseason Approach

“…However, the noninstitutional elements seemed a peculiar choice, given that the applied factors in this category are generally considered as shock effects, which conventionally affects the cyclical part of the data (Bails & Peppers, 1993). In line with the multiple-factor approach of Zhang and Kulendran (2017), Senbeto and Hon (2019) considered structural factors (e.g., school schedules), unforeseen factors (e.g., disaster and crises), climate factors (e.g., temperature), and fruition factors (e.g., tourists motivations) as determinants of tourists’ response to seasonality. However, this study did not provide an empirical test of the effects of these factors on tourism demand seasonality.…”

“…Seasonal patterns may vary within a season (e.g., summer at a beach resort) or between seasons (e.g., winter and summer). These limitations hamper our understanding of the decision making by tourists (Senbeto & Hon, 2019), with potential consequences for different dimensions of social life, including the economic, sociocultural, and environmental dimensions (Koenig-Lewis & Bischoff, 2005).…”

Work–Family Conflict on Sustainable Creative Performance: Job Crafting as a Mediator

“…Promotion regulatory focus is related to advancement, such as growth, development, and cultivation [17]. Based on regulatory focus theory, an individual who offers a promotion focus represents the final state of their ideal as ambition and fulfillment, pays more attention to whether there are positive results in the goal pursuit process, and experiences more emotions related to elation and depression [16]. In recognizing or evaluating demands, individuals with a promotion focus are more susceptible to needs-related information, emotions related to joy or depression, and individual benefits [10].…”

“…Drawing on regulatory focus theory [16][17][18][19], we developed an integrated model to examine the relationship between work-family conflict and sustainable creative performance. Work-family conflict implies a gap between an individual's abilities and the demands of the organization and their family that can prompt the individual to make changes [20,21].…”

An explorative study of tourism time series: Evidence from Slovenia and Croatia

“…The number of tourist overnight stays is at the maximum level in the summer period between July and August, with a sizable fall in the period between October and April. In analysing and modelling tourism time-series, it is important to consider their seasonal character and adopt adequate approaches suitable for dealing with seasonality recently discussed by Senbeto and Hon (2019).…”