TRANSFER PASSENGER PERCEPTIONS OF TRANSIT TOURS AT ASIAN AIRPORTS

Waiting inside the airport for the next flight (i.e., transfer) might be very lengthy and boring. Thus, many passengers have opted to get out of the airport to participate in transit tours, which are mini all-inclusive packages of the necessary tour components. However, due to the novelty of the operation, the existing literature has not covered this issue yet. The purpose of this study, therefore, was to develop a theoretical framework to explain the transit tour concept. From there, the four cases of Seoul Incheon Airport, Singapore Changi Airport, Tokyo Narita Airport and Beijing Capital Airport were investigated to understand participants' perceptions of the transit tours. Outcomes of the analysis of reviews posted on tripadvisor.com suggested that the tours were perceived differently among airports. Based on these findings, practical implications for tour providers, airports and tourism administration organizations were discussed.