Press Release

IFT Tourism Research Centre (ITRC) and the School of Tourism of Bournemouth University, UK (BU) held The 5th Annual E-Conference on 10 April. About 50 participants from the retail industry, mall operation and management fields as well as academia and students attended. The annual e-conference takes place every year via online video. Scholars from both institutions shared their latest research findings and ideas during the conference. This year’s theme focuses on tourism and retail shopping.

During the conference, Dr. Ruth Yeung of IFT revealed the major underlying factors that attracted Mainland Chinese tourists to shop in Macao. These include social and leisure factors as well as product attributes such as fashionable and good value. Besides, Ms. Joey Sou and Dr. Thea Vinnicombe from IFT examined Mainlanders’ spending behaviour and categorised them by expenditure. Results showed that heavy spenders were highly distinguishable according to their higher income, longer stay, tendency to choose package tours and place of residence. Moreover, IFT researchers Ms. Catherine Li and Dr. Anthony Wong discussed their research findings on service attributes that enhanced Mainlanders’ shopping experience in casino shopping malls, which included assortment, environment and convenience of shopping malls.

On the other hand, researchers from Bournemouth University shared interesting development trends in tourism and retail shopping. Dr. Charles McIntyre and Mr. Nick Greenwood, for example, revealed how atmospherics and design of gaming and shopping spaces tremendously influenced shopper behavior. Dr. Philip Long explored the relationship between the use of music, place identity, tourism and retail. He raised a question with Macao’s counterparts about the type of music represented the city’s unique identity best. Lastly, Dr. Jeff Bray underscored how ethical concerns impact on consumers’ purchase decisions.

The annual IFT-BU E-Conference is one of the event series manifesting the research collaborations between the two institutions. Last year, IFT co-organised the 2013 International Conference on Events with BU, at Bournemouth’s UK campus.

The School of Tourism at BU is a world-leader in tourism research and a leading tourism management course provider. ITRC is a research and development unit of IFT which serves as a knowledge resource and public policy think-tank for members of the tourism and hospitality industries, relevant government agencies, and the general public and as a knowledge provider for tourism and hospitality related research in Macao and the region.

For more information, please contact Ms. Wendy Tang of ITRC (itrc@ift.edu.mo).

Public Relations
Institute for Tourism Studies