TY - JOUR

T1 - Investigating the effectiveness of tourism pricing strategies in mitigating post-COVID-19 economic challenges: an attribution theory perspective

AU - Hassan, T.

AU - Saleh, M.I.

N1 - Export Date: 01 November 2025; Cited By: 5; Correspondence Address: M.I. Saleh; Tourism Studies Department, Faculty of Tourism and Hotel Management, Helwan University, Helwan, Egypt; email: mahmoudibraheam580@gmail.com

PY - 2024

Y1 - 2024

N2 - Purpose: The study aims to investigate how attribution theory in the context of pricing strategies can help tourism destinations recover from the negative impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. Design/methodology/approach: The study adopted a qualitative research design using semi-structured interviews to address the lack of research in this area. Interview participants included tourists and tourism customers. The interview responses were then analyzed using “Nvivo” qualitative data analysis software to identify critical themes regarding applying attribution theory to pricing strategies. Findings: The findings revealed that tourists prefer bundled and hedonic pricing strategies that integrate the service providers' pricing strategies' locus of control, stability and controllability. Tourists do not favor dual pricing strategies unless the reasons for price controllability or stability are justified. Tourists also prefer the controllable pay-what-you-want pricing strategy. Although tourists accept dynamic pricing, certain conditions related to price locus, stability and controllability must be met. Practical implications: The research shows tourists prefer pricing strategies that give them control and flexibility, like bundled packages and pay-what-you-want models. Service providers should integrate pricing strategies that transparent costs and justify price fluctuations. While dynamic pricing is accepted if necessitated by external factors, tourists are wary of unnecessary price changes. Providers can build trust and satisfaction by explaining pricing rationale and offering controllable options like bundles. Originality/value: The study contributes to the theory by applying attribution theory to the context of pricing strategies in tourism. It also provides innovative recommendations for tourism managers on how to use pricing strategies after the COVID-19 pandemic. The findings offer new insights that extend beyond previous research. © 2024 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.

AB - Purpose: The study aims to investigate how attribution theory in the context of pricing strategies can help tourism destinations recover from the negative impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. Design/methodology/approach: The study adopted a qualitative research design using semi-structured interviews to address the lack of research in this area. Interview participants included tourists and tourism customers. The interview responses were then analyzed using “Nvivo” qualitative data analysis software to identify critical themes regarding applying attribution theory to pricing strategies. Findings: The findings revealed that tourists prefer bundled and hedonic pricing strategies that integrate the service providers' pricing strategies' locus of control, stability and controllability. Tourists do not favor dual pricing strategies unless the reasons for price controllability or stability are justified. Tourists also prefer the controllable pay-what-you-want pricing strategy. Although tourists accept dynamic pricing, certain conditions related to price locus, stability and controllability must be met. Practical implications: The research shows tourists prefer pricing strategies that give them control and flexibility, like bundled packages and pay-what-you-want models. Service providers should integrate pricing strategies that transparent costs and justify price fluctuations. While dynamic pricing is accepted if necessitated by external factors, tourists are wary of unnecessary price changes. Providers can build trust and satisfaction by explaining pricing rationale and offering controllable options like bundles. Originality/value: The study contributes to the theory by applying attribution theory to the context of pricing strategies in tourism. It also provides innovative recommendations for tourism managers on how to use pricing strategies after the COVID-19 pandemic. The findings offer new insights that extend beyond previous research. © 2024 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.

KW - Attribution theory

KW - COVID-19

KW - Pricing strategy

KW - Tourism crisis

KW - Tourism finance

KW - Tourism pricing

U2 - 10.1108/JHTI-04-2023-0261

DO - 10.1108/JHTI-04-2023-0261

M3 - статья

VL - 7

SP - 2144

EP - 2160

JO - Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Insights

JF - Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Insights

SN - 2514-9792

IS - 4

ER -