Tourism, economic welfare and efficient pricing

A theoretical framework based on economics is provided for assessing tourism's costs and benefits. Suppose that resources utilized by tourists are owned by residents and, as marketed goods or services, are priced efficiently. Then increased tourism promotes net average (i.e., Pareto) economic gains for residents even in the face of such things as increased environmental costs and increased charges. Therefore, under these circumstances, there is no case for entry taxes or qualitative restrictions on tourism to deal with environmental issues. However, such taxes can be justified on rent-seeking grounds that are discussed in this paper.     

Sexual Minority Adults at a Seasonal Home Campground: An Examination of Common,Unique, and Diverse Leisure Motivations

We examined the motivations of sexual minority adults to vacation at a sexual minority-focused campground and how sexual orientation identity management was associated with leisure motivations. Twenty-nine men and 12 women who owned seasonal homes participated. In responses to open-ended questions, participants expressed many of the motivations typically associated with seasonal home leisure (e.g., socializing, escape, relax). The most frequently mentioned motivation was the sexual minority focus of the campground. The more participants were “out” in everyday life, the less likely they were to mention the sexual minority focus of the campground as a motivation for being there.     

Realising plural-form benefits in international hotel chains

There have been a number of synergistic benefits identified in domestic plural chains; those that comprise a mixture of company-owned and franchised units. This qualitative research investigates whether, and how, these synergistic benefits are realised within international plural chains. Through conducting a multiple case study of international hotel chains, the study makes a contribution to our understanding of the dynamics at work within plural organisations. The plural-form model is found to be of only partial relevance to international hotel chains and its potential benefits incompletely realised. Contributory factors include industry-specific factors, the use of multiple brands, the size of hotel chains and the possible lack of complementarity between more complex owned and franchised divisions. However, more importantly, the findings point to a relationship between managerial mindsets and the different organisational processes adopted and the impact this relationship has on enhancing or undermining plural-form advantages.     

从康辉看我国目前的管理层收购

国有资产管理体制改革正是“十五”大定方向、“十六”大要全面完成的全国性的一项重大经济使命。国有企业改革是当前中国企业改革的重点和难点,而产权制度的改革是重中之重,难中之难。国有企业中,国有股“一股独大”．产权不明晰,委托人失效等问题严重。康辉旅行社的管理层收购改革尝试,给当前中国企业的改革提供了很好的借鉴案例。     

Valuation of nature-based tourism resources using dichotomous choice contingent valuation method

The purpose of this paper is to measure the potential revenue from nature-based tourism resources in the environmentally sensitive area of Mt Minju, South Korea. A dichotomous choice contingent valuation method was employed to estimate the mean willingness-to-pay, contingent on a hypothetical market scenario. The empirical results show that the economic value of nature-based tourism resources was estimated at 5905 Won (ca US$ 7) per visitor. This implies that the significant economic value of natural resources will be lost from any large-scale development by degrading natural environments. In addition to the value of natural resources, nature-based tourism also provides the locally owned small tourist businesses with lower leakages than the externally owned large-scale ones. Low leakage implies that local residents gain more direct income from nature-based tourism.     

Tourism Education in Austria and Switzerland

SUMMARY

Both Austria and Switzerland are small countries with a long tradition hosting tourists. Irrespective of high levels of economic development, the two countries also have high levels of tourism intensity when measured either in terms of number of tourists per native population or in terms of tourism receipts per population (e.g., per gross national product). Consequently, both countries also display a long tradition and evolution in their development of systems of tourism education and training albeit under differing market conditions and pressures. Both countries provide similar products like in the field of cultural tourism and alpine tourism. The tourism structure is also comparable. Both countries are dominated by family owned small and medium size businesses. However, their political structures are very different. This paper shows how each country under the three forces of labour market pressures and industry requirements, on the one hand and tourism education policy initiatives on the other has evolved two slightly different tourism education systems. Furthermore, an attempt was made to provide, based on the discussion in the first part of the paper, a more general explanation with respect to the response of tourism schooling/training supplies to varying conditions in tourism product markets, tourism employment and labour market systems, public choice decisions and general economic conditions. Finally, the paper discusses the paradigmatic shift (i.e., structural change) of tourism factor and product markets from the “Old to New Tourism” and discusses its implications for new types of tourism schooling and training in these two countries.     

中国国有饭店:市场化进程与战略调整

在描述了中国国有饭店形成原因和市场化进程的基础上，本文结合十六大以后制度环境和市场环境的变化，系统研究了中国国有饭店的战略性调整的目标设定和发展路径。     

民营企业进行旅游景区开发的现状分析及对策

随着旅游业的快速发展，一些具备实力的民营企业开始投资开发大型旅游景区，并且主要以获得景区经营权的方式入主景区。由于国家对此尚未出台相关法律法规，同时资本的逐利性使投资者过分注重眼前利益，而忽略对资源的长远维护，使民营企业获得经营权投资开发景区遭到质疑。本文主要对近几年民营企业开发旅游景区的现状进行了深入分析，对其可行性以及可能出现的问题进行理论探讨，并对未来发展趋势提出相应看法。     

Influences on Video Poker Machine Performance

Abstract

This study seeks to determine if slot machine performance levels are influenced by casino floor location and specific game characteristics. A Las Vegas hotel casino supplied the results of 418, $0.25, video poker machines, which were used to test hypotheses based on the findings of extant performance-potential research and casino management theory. Results from a simultaneous multiple regression model indicate that the core locations of the slot floor, featuring superior access and traffic volume, outperform the perimeter locations. Variables representing cabinet style (i.e., slant-top and bar-top units), par and program are also found to influence a machine's performance, at the .05 alpha level. The resulting equation offers an alternative performance measure that considers the unique operating parameters of a game, moving beyond basic performance comparisons of unit results to category averages (e.g., all $0.05 video poker games).     

My home on the platform: Exploring the physical privacy concerns of home-sharing providers

The success of home-sharing platforms like Airbnb has introduced the role of sharing providers, i.e. those users who list their properties on the website and share them in exchange for an income. Different from micro-entrepreneurs within other types of peer-to-peer platforms such as e-marketplaces, the experience of home-sharing often presumes face-to-face interactions and physical sharing of private spaces and goods. For providers, this can give rise to concerns about the integrity of the personal possessions they share (“physical privacy”; Lutz, Hoffmann, Bucher, & Fieseler, 2018). Employing Belk’s theory of the Extended Self, which postulates that individuals’ owned objects and spaces become part of their identity (1988), and based on a sample of European home-sharing providers, we investigate strategic self-presentation, reputational concerns, and attachment to shared properties as predictors of their physical privacy concerns.     

Dreaming of drams: authenticity in Scottish whisky tourism as an expression of unresolved Habermasian rationalities

In this paper, the production of whisky tourism at both independently owned and corporately owned distilleries in Scotland is explored by focusing on four examples (Arran, Glengoyne, Glenturret and Bruichladdich). In particular, claims of authenticity and Scottishness of Scottish whiskies through commercial materials, case studies, website‐forum discussions and ‘independent’ writing about such whisky are analysed. It is argued that the globalisation and commodification of whisky and whisky tourism, and the communicative backlash to these trends typified by the search for authenticity, is representative of a Habermasian struggle between two irreconcilable rationalities. This paper will demonstrate that the meaning and purpose of leisure can be understood through such explorations of the tension between the instrumentality of commodification and the freedom of individuals to locate their own leisure lives in the lifeworld that remains.     

Managing human capital in a privately owned public hotel chain

This study analyses human capital (HC) management practices in a small privately owned public hotel group, in the context of intellectual capital. Previous studies have highlighted how firms measure and report HC; however, few studies have examined the HC management practices of firms. This study analyses these practices using multiple data methods—namely, observation, interaction with staff, examination of internal financial and management reports, and semi-structured case study interviews—on a continuous basis over a 1-year period. The results of this study indicate that, through HC management practices, this group of hotels engaged in value extraction rather than value creation as a way of maximizing the value of the firm. The study identifies several possible reasons for this and presents a number of ways of encouraging value creation.     

Taiwan aboriginal ecotourism: Tanayiku Natural Ecology Park

This paper discusses research into an ethno/ecotourism site developed by the Tsou nation of southern Taiwan. The Tanayiku Natural Ecology Park receives approximately 450,000 tourists annually. This paper assesses, from a poststructuralist perspective, the theoretical implications of what is termed an “ecocultural renaissance”. It shows that the park functions in two contradictory ways. First, it is a site of geopolitical resistance to colonization for the Tsou. Second, it is as a site of topological consumption—which is, effectively, continued colonization—by tourists. Paradox notwithstanding, the paper discusses why Tanayiku represents a rare example of a successful community-based ecotourism operation owned and operated exclusively by an aboriginal group.     

Enterprising Women,Tourism, and Development: The Case of Bali

Bali, the home of Indonesia’s Hindu minority, is experiencing a rapid growth in tourism and hospitality. The resulting opportunities for small scale, locally owned businesses has greatly benefited women. Using in depth interviews and other supplemental evidence, this trend is examined in order to explore how women are influenced by the circumstances faced, as well as by their culture and heritage. Doing so provides an empirical evidence regarding how women can contribute to the hospitality industry in places such as Bali.     

我国国有旅游饭店资本存量结构调整初探

本文在对我国国有旅游饭店资本存量绩效、缺陷以及成因分析的基础上,结合当前国有旅游饭店改制的外部条件,寻求较为现实的对策思路,以探讨国有旅游饭店资本存量结构调整的途径。     

An eclectic investigation of tourism multinationals: Evidence from Greece

This paper analyses determinants of profitability differences between subsidiaries of multinational enterprises (MNEs) and domestic enterprises (DMEs) in the tourism industry, using firm-level data. Previous studies focus on the hypothesis that ownership-specific advantages are a major determinant of performance differences. This paper explores performance issues using the eclectic paradigm configuration of tourism multinationals (NACE = 55), operating in Greece and a panel dataset for 95 firms and 10 years. A quantile regression technique is used to estimate the proposed model. Results indicate that, overall, MNEs out-perform their domestic competitors and are generally larger in terms of size. The study reveals, though, that when breaking MNEs into majority and minority owned, the latter perform better, as they make substantial use of local partners. These partners contribute with knowledge of the local market, which is an important aspect for the tourism industry. Finally, the authors discuss the conclusions and managerial implications of the findings.     

Demand fluctuations,labour flexibility and productivity

There is a dearth of studies analysing the relationship between demand variations, productivity and flexible working in the face of variable demand challenges confronting the tourism industry. This investigation seeks to inform important firm and industry specific labour management strategies for improving productivity. Using data for 43 medium sized hotels owned by two chains in the UK, this paper analyses productivity in relation to external (demand variations) and internal (labour management) conditions over an 8 year period from 2005 to 2013. The paper’s findings show that demand variation is the principal determinant of productivity. Numerical, functional and zero-contract hour flexible labour management also contributes to labour productivity. Significant differences in findings between establishments and departments indicate the importance of disaggregated analyses.     

Creating sustainable value in the hospitality industry: a (critical) multi-stakeholder study in the Dominican Republic

This paper identifies sustainable initiatives reported by “sustainability-champion” hotels in the Dominican Republic, while contrasting them against the views of key stakeholders. We adapt and apply Hart and Milstein's Sustainable Value Framework, and complement it with a Critical Management Studies approach. Our analysis relies on a mixed-methods approach (non-hierarchical k-means cluster analysis, as well as thematic and content analysis). Findings indicate that most hotels are engaging more actively in present-oriented strategies such as pollution prevention (especially, the international hotels) and in product/service stewardship. However, in the future-oriented strategies, hotels owned by local investors show higher commitment to both clean technology and innovation, and to the sustainability vision (as the firm's growth path). In addition, although the views of multiple stakeholders show a clear acknowledgment of the hospitality industry's sustainability efforts (particularly regarding education and environmental protection), they also offer differing views about the ultimate impact and value of those efforts for them and for the broader society. Our study offers a new theoretical lens to explore multi-stakeholder approaches and offers practical implications for the Dominican Republic's National Strategy for Development 2010–2030, as well as implications that may be of use for other tourism-dependent countries.     

An analysis of the social unit of participation and the perceived psychological outcomes associated with most enjoyable recreation activities

Abstract

Two research questions were addressed by this study: (1) to determine the predominant social units in which individuals participate in their two most enjoyable recreation activities, and (2) to determine if a relationship exists between the social units with which individuals participate in their two most enjoyable activities and the reasons for participating in these activities. Outdoor activities predominated as individuals’ two most enjoyable activities with a marked predominance of participation in the family/friends social group. Two discriminant analyses revealed a strong relationship between social units of participation and reasons for participation. The reasons of family togetherness, relation with nature, being with people, escaping the family, escaping physical pressure, and meeting new people were the primary discriminating variables in pre‐dicting the social unit of participation. However, these reasons were not, in general, viewed as primary reasons for engaging in one's most enjoyable activities. Therefore, it may be concluded that the type and degree of social interaction desired vary with the social unit of participation, but the primary reasons for participation remain relatively stable regardless of the social unit of participation.