Title: Motivations to engage in eWom among Muslim tourists: a study of inbound Muslim tourists to Malaysia

Authors: Ghazala Khan; Faiza Khan

Addresses: Monash University, Jalan Lagoon Selatan, 46150 Bandar Sunway, Selangor, Malaysia ' The Business School, University College Birmingham, Summer Row, B3 1JB, UK

Abstract: The purpose of this study was to investigate the motivations to engage in eWom in the information search stage among Muslim tourists. Specifically the study focused on inbound Muslim tourists in Malaysia. A non-probability judgmental sampling approach was employed to collect data in two major cities in Malaysia. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses were performed on the motivation scale. Reliability and validity of the scale was established through Cronbach's alpha analyses, average variance extracted (AVE) composite reliability and critical ratios. Findings indicate that similar to non-Muslim tourists, Muslim tourists also engage in eWom for convenience, social reassurance and social acceptance. The results indicate that Muslim tourists are not that much different from non-Muslim tourists. Strategic implications and directions for future research are discussed.

Keywords: electronic word-of-mouth; eWom; tourist motivation; inbound; Muslim tourists; Malaysia; convenience; social reassurance; social acceptance; Islamic tourism.

DOI: 10.1504/IJIMB.2015.068150

International Journal of Islamic Marketing and Branding, 2015 Vol.1 No.1, pp.69 - 80

Received: 23 May 2014
Accepted: 23 Sep 2014

Published online: 20 Mar 2015 *

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