CUSTOMER SATISFACTION ON SERVICE QUALITY OF THEME PARK X: AN EXPERIMENTAL STUDY
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.55197/qjssh.v4i4.269Keywords:
service quality, customer satisfaction, expectations, perceptions, theme parkAbstract
Theme parks have been one of the fastest penetrating tourism sectors in the market and one of the great contributors in generating income in the whole tourism industry. However, despite being on the edge of the spotlight, the service quality of theme parks failed to penetrate in the tourism research, leading to lack of studies about the said matter. Furthermore, “Theme Park X,” one of the leading theme parks in the Philippines have received a large amount of bad reviews on their official website about the quality of their service. With both gaps being said, this study aimed to assess the customer satisfaction on the service quality of “Theme Park X” by assessing the customers’ expectations and perceptions and if there is a significant difference between the two variables using a SERVQUAL tool - RATER Model. After evaluating the results of the adapted and validated questionnaires that were distributed to 30 participants in the theme park before and after their experience of the Theme Park X’s services, the researchers found out that there is a significant difference between customers’ expectations and perceptions on the service quality for all dimensions, specifically the Reliability, Assurance, Tangibles, Empathy, and Responsiveness, which indicate a discrepancy in their service quality that leads to dissatisfaction of the customers due to unmet expectations. With that being said, the researchers would like to recommend to the “Theme Park X,” as well as to the other theme parks within the country, to reevaluate the quality of service they provide and to better every areas that needs to be changed, and to consider listening to their customers’ feedback and concerns for them to be able to better and improve the areas in their service quality that needs improvement.
References
Albattat, A., Romli, S. (2017): Determining visitors’ repetition by using servqual dimensions in attraction parks: A case from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. – International Journal of Applied Business and Economic Research 15(15): 351-371.
Bomediano, M.R., Cabaron, J. (2019): Measuring Service Quality from the Tourists’ Perspective: A Case Study of a Theme Park in Central Philippines. – International Review of Humanities and Scientific Research 10p.
Chan, C.S., Liu, Y., Li, C. Y. (2019): Expectation-Perception Evaluation of Theme Park Service Quality in Zhengzhou Fantawild, China. – Journal of Park & Recreation Administration 37(2): 99-117.
Fotiadis, A.K., Vassiliadis, C.A. (2016): Service quality at theme parks. – Journal of Quality Assurance in Hospitality & Tourism 17(2): 178-190.
Geissler, G.L., Rucks, C.T. (2011): The overall theme park experience: A visitor satisfaction tracking study. – Journal of Vacation Marketing 17(2): 127-138.
Haverila, M., Haverila, K., Arora, M. (2020): Comparing the service experience of satisfied and non-satisfied customers in the context of wine tasting rooms using the SERVQUAL model. – International Journal of Wine Business Research 32(2): 301-324.
Khan, M.M., Fasih, M. (2014): Impact of service quality on customer satisfaction and customer loyalty: Evidence from banking sector. – Pakistan Journal of Commerce and Social Sciences (PJCSS) 8(2): 331-354.
Kuo, H.P., Wu, K.L. (2014): The influence of service quality on customer satisfaction in theme parks design of Taiwan. – In Advanced Materials Research, Trans Tech Publications Ltd. 1008: 5p.
Li, W., Song, H. (2011): Tourist perception of service quality in the theme park. – In 2011 International Conference on Management and Service Science, IEEE 3p.
Lin, D.J., Sheu, I.C., Pai, J.Y., Bair, A., Hung, C.Y., Yeh, Y.H., Chou, M.J. (2009): Measuring patient's expectation and the perception of quality in LASIK services. – Health and Quality of Life Outcomes 7: 1-8.
Mendoza, L.M., Mundin, H.A.C., Sumagui, J.M.M., Juliano, R.G. (2016): Perceived Levels of Customer’s Satisfaction and Loyalty of the Bank of the Philippines Islands CarmelRay Parl II. LPU-Laguna Business and Accountancy Journal 1(3): 86-94.
Parasuraman, A., Zeithaml, V.A., Berry, L.L. (1985): A conceptual model of service quality and its implications for future research. – Journal of Marketing 49(4): 41-50.
Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (2017): Clinical practice guideline for the treatment of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in adults. – Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Official Portal. Retrieved from:
https://www.apa.org/ptsd-guideline
Specialist Dissertation Services (2021). Theories and Concepts of the SERVQUAL Model. – Specialist Dissertation Services Web Portal 21p.
Valčić, I., Komšić, J., Simpson, N. (2015): Investigating theme park service quality by using modified THEMEQUAL model. – Tourism in Southern and Eastern Europe 3: 453-466.
Xie, X. (2011): Service quality measurement from customer perception based on services science, management and engineering. – Systems Engineering Procedia 1: 337-343.