Influence of Service Quality on Emotional Satisfaction in Game Lodges
Date
2023Author
Njagi, Caroline Kihara
Mutinda, Rayviscic
Benson Mwangi, Benson
Metadata
Show full item recordAbstract
Purpose: Service quality in game lodges context
elicit customers’ emotional satisfaction, which
subsequently influences consumer behavior such
as revisit intentions and WOM recommendations.
Service quality research has paid more focus on
cognitive dimensions of customer satisfaction,
giving little attention on affective or customer
emotional satisfaction. Hence, the main purpose
of this study was to investigate the influence of
service quality on tourists’ emotional satisfaction
residing in star rated game lodges at Masai Mara
National Reserve in Kenya.
Methodology: The study adopted
epistemological research philosophy guided by
positivism paradigm with a quantitative and a
cross sectional survey research design.
Systematic random sampling technique was used
to select the respondents and data was collected
using structured questionnaires that were
administered to 312 respondents drawn from
visitors who resided in star rated game lodges at
Masai Mara national reserve and its
conservancies in Kenya. Data was analyzed using
structural equation model that tested hypothesis
and the relationship between service quality and
emotional satisfaction. Data was presented in the
form of tables and figures.
Findings: The findings suggest that in the
context of game lodges, service quality is
important for developing customer emotional
satisfaction. The study results support a positive
and significant relationship between service
quality and emotional satisfaction.
Recommendations: The study contributes
immensely to the theoretical background on
service marketing by providing thorough
examination of the service quality and its
influence on emotional satisfaction. The
influence of service quality on emotional or
affective aspects of customer satisfaction in game
lodges context allied to value- percept display
theory is rare. Thus, this study broadens the
domain of value- percept display theory that has
received little attention. The managers in game
lodges should identify and improve on the service
quality dimensions that make the most significant
contribution to emotional satisfaction. This is a
significant input to the service marketing
especially in the little researched area in service
quality perceptions and emotional responses
among the traditional, domestic and the emerging
tourism markets in game lodges in Kenya.
Collections
- Journal Articles (THM) [124]
