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Abstract
The purpose of this study was to examine the image international students at Penn State have of rural travel destinations in the state of Pennsylvania. In addition, this study investigated whether destination image differed depending upon travel behavior and socio-demographic variables. Four distinct image dimensions, "tourism infrastructure," "atmosphere," "natural amenity," and "farm life" were uncovered. Overall image scores on the image dimensions differed with respect to one travel behavior variable, future travel intention, and four socio-demographic variables: household status, class standing, gender, and country of origin. There was a relationship between image dimensions and age. The findings could be helpful to marketers interested in positioning their rural tourism destination and could offer image profiles to generate targeted campaigns to sub-groups of the international student market.
Parent Publication
Citation
Chen, Po-Ju; Kerstetter, Deborah L. 1998. International students'' image of rural Pennsylvania as a travel destination. In: Vogelsong, Hans G., comp, ed. Proceedings of the 1997 Northeastern Recreation Research Symposium; 1997 April 6 - 9; Bolton Landing, NY. Gen. Tech. Rep. NE-241. Radnor, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northeastern Forest Experiment Station. 93-98.
