Mature tourist shopping behaviour in Kuching, Sarawak
List of Authors
  • Azila Azmi , Hanani Ahmad Zubir

Keyword
  • tourism, retailing, shopping tourism, tourist activity, mall shopping

Abstract
  • The purpose of this study is to explore the shopping preferences among mature tourists. A qualitative research strategy was employed as an attempt to understand the shopping preferences of senior mature tourist visiting Kuching, Sarawak. Thirty informants were interviewed using mall-intercept surveys with in-depth semi-structured interviews. The transcribed interview data were analysed using thematic analysis. The results indicate that most mature tourists prefer going to the mall because of relaxation, enjoyment, and the entertainment activities in the malls. Both international and domestic mature tourists do not differ much in their responses during the interviews. When going to the malls, they prefer to visit the fashion outlets, home furnishings shops, and food outlets, and they also believe the malls should be convenient, have good facilities, and friendly retailers. The results of the study are beneficial to the mall management and tourism related agencies in understanding the needs and demand of the mature tourists.

Reference
  • 1. Ann, P., & Koenraad, V. C. (2010). Designing a retail store environment for the mature market: A European perspective. Journal of Interior Design, 35(2), 21-36.

    2. Anselmsson, J. (2006). Sources of customer satisfaction with shopping malls: a comparative study of different customer segments. The International Review of Retail, 16(1), 115-138.

    3. Asadifard, M., Rahman, A. A., Aziz, Y. A., & Hashim, H. (2015). A review on tourist mall patronage determinant in Malaysia. International Journal of Innovation, Management and Technology, 6(3), 229.

    4. Batra, A. (2009). Senior pleasure tourists: examination of their demography, travel experience, and travel behavior upon visiting the Bangkok metropolis. International Journal of Hospitality & Tourism Administration, 103(197-212).

    5. Bone, P. F. (1991). Identifying mature segments. Journal of consumer Marketing, 8(4), 19-32.

    6. Butler, R. W. (1991). West Edmonton Mall as a tourist attraction. Canadian Geographer, 35(3), 287-295.

    7. Creswell, J. W. (2009). Research design: Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods approaches (3rd edition). Thousand Oaks, CA.

    8. Filipović, V., Jovanović, D., & Kostić, S. C. (2013). Attracting tourists to a shopping centre. Tourism Management, (66), 15-18.

    9. Gudonaviciene, R., & Alijosiene, S. (2013). Influence of shopping centre image attributes on customer choices. Economics and Management, 18(3), 545-552.

    10. Grougiou, V., & Pettigrew, S. (2011). Senior customers’ service encounter preferences, Journal of Service Research, 14(4), 475–488.

    11. Hasiolan, E. S., & Sufiati, M. P. (2014). Influencing factors and attractiveness of shopping mall to mall behaviour of people in Jakarta. Journal of Business and Management, 3(1), 76-80.

    12. Hemalatha, G. K., & Ravinchandran, K. (2009). Mall visit behaviour of older generation-y consumers. Serbian Journal of Management, 4(2), 169-182.

    13. Horneman, L., Carter, R. W., Wei, S., & Ruys, H. (2002). Profiling the senior traveller: An Australian perspective. Journal of travel research, 41(1), 23-37.

    14. Hu, H., & Jasper, C. R. (2007). A Qualitative Study of Mall Shopping behaviours of mature consumers. Journal of Shopping Center Research, 14(1), 17–38.

    15. Immigration Department of Sarawak. (2016). Visitors arrival into Sarawak 2016. http://www.mtac.sarawak.gov.my/upload/file_folder/jun%202016.pdf. Accessed the 28th of March 2018, at 08:40.

    16. Jin, H., Moscardo, G., & Murphy, L. (2017). Making sense of tourist shopping research: A critical review. Tourism Management, 62, 120-134.

    17. Kim, Y. K., Kang, J., & Kim, M. (2005). The relationships among family and social interaction, loneliness, mall shopping motivation, and mall spending of older consumers. Psychology & Marketing, 22(12), 995-1015.

    18. Littrell, M. A., Paige, R. C., & Song, K. (2004). Senior travellers: tourism activities and shopping behaviours. Journal of Vacation Marketing, 10(4), 348-362.

    19. Mohd. Salleh, N.M., Mohd. Noor, H. S., Othman, R., & Hasim, M. S. (2010). Malaysian tourism demand from the Middle East market: a preliminary analysis, International Journal of West Asian Studies, 2(1), 37–52.

    20. Moscardo, G. (2004). Shopping as a destination attraction: An empirical examination of the role of shopping in tourists’ destination choice and experience. Journal of Vacation Marketing, 10(4), 294-307.

    21. Timothy, D. J. (2005). Shopping tourism, retailing and leisure. Channel View Publications.

    22. Timothy, D. J., & Butler, R. W. (1995). Cross-boder shopping: A North American perspective. Annals of tourism research, 22(1), 16-34.

    23. Tourism Malaysia (2016). Malaysia’s shopping campaign wins’ award in Hong Kong. http://www.tourism.gov.my/media/view/malaysia-s-shopping-campaign-wins-award-in-hong-kong. Accessed the 6th of June 2019, at 12:20

    24. Myers, H., & Lumbers, M. (2008). Understanding older shoppers: a phenomenological investigation. Journal of Consumer Marketing, 25(5), 294-301.

    25. Namkung, Y., & Jang, S. (2009). The effects of interactional fairness on satisfaction and behavioural intentions: Mature versus non-mature customers. International Journal of Hospitality Management, 28(3), 397–405.

    26. Pak, C., & Kambil, A. (2006). Over 50 and ready to shop: serving the aging consumer. Journal of Business Strategy, 27(6), 18-28.

    27. Sarawak Tourism Board. (2017). Shopping malls in Kuching. https://sarawaktourism.com/attraction/malls-in-kuching/. Accessed the 21st of January 2018, at 09:40

    28. Tourism Malaysia. (2017). Enhancing Malaysia’s position as a shopping hub. http://www.tourism.gov.my/niche/shopping. Accessed the 6th June 2019, at 11:30

    29. UNWTO (2014). Global report on shopping tourism. http://cf.cdn.unwto.org/sites/all/files/pdf/am9-shopping-report_v2.pdf. Accessed the 1st of August 2019, at 10:51

    30. Wakefield, K. L., & Baker, J. (1998). Excitement at the mall: determinants and effects on shopping response. Journal of retailing, 74(4), 515-539.

    31. Xu, Y. (2007). Impact of store environment on adult generation y consumers’ impulse buying. Journal of Shopping Center Research, 14(1), 39–56.

    32. Yüksel, A. (2007). Tourist shopping habitat: effects on emotions, shopping value and behaviours. Tourism Management, 28, 58–69.

    33. Zakariya, K. (2006). Refining tourist's place experience through placemaking: a case study on Middle East tourists in Kuala Lumpur city centre, Unpublished PhD Thesis. Johor, Malaysia: Universiti Teknologi Malaysia.