A market-based proposal for encouraging water use efficiency in a tourism-based economy

Barbados is almost wholly reliant on groundwater as its source of water largely due to replenishment during the wettest 1-3 months of the year. Annual renewable freshwater resources place it in the top 15 of the world's most water scarce countries. Acknowledging the scope of the problem, government officials have noted that the amount of water available for economic activity has become very limited and might therefore affect future development. Most of the proposed measures to date have focused on mains replacement and increased energy efficiency but little thought has been given to demand-side management. This study therefore attempts to provide a framework for managing the water resources in the island's single largest industry: tourism. It is conceptualised that a system of tradable permits would not only enhance the management of water resources, but should also reduce the cost of water resources to hotels.     

世界遗产地旅游企业环境行为及其驱动机制——张家界饭店企业实证

世界遗产地旅游企业的环境行为直接影响到区域环境质量.文章利用6大类33个环境行为指标,对世界自然遗产武陵源所在地张家界市的饭店企业环境行为进行测度；同时,构建饭店企业环境行为影响因素量表,运用多元线性回归分析方法,探析饭店企业环境行为的驱动机制.研究表明:张家界饭店企业环境行为总体均值得分较低(1.72)；6个环境行为指标组的均值分别为1.82、1.70、1.63、2.02、1.59和1.43,其中,环保知识掌握、环境管理沟通和节水管理等3个方面的环境行为表现较为欠缺；在大多数环境行为指标的得分上,高星级饭店并未与低星级饭店、社会旅馆拉开明显差距；利润动机、政府环境规制压力和其他利益相关者压力是饭店企业环境行为的主要驱动因素；管理层环境意识和事业动机对饭店企业环境行为绩效没有显著影响.     

A spatial–temporal analysis of hotels in urban tourism destination

This study investigates the spatial associations of urban tourism phenomena by using GIS and statistical methods to examine the relationships between hotels and land use types, attractions, transportation facilities, and the economic variables of the tertiary planning units in which the hotels are located. Hong Kong is used as an example. The study first introduces the spatial characteristics of hotels and attractions development in Hong Kong. A geographical information system is then used to map hotels and investigate the characteristics of the land use, attractions, and transport facilities around hotels. The spatial relationships are then analyzed with a set of logistic regression models. The results reveal that commercial land type and the number of attractions around hotels are significantly related to the distribution of upper-grade hotels in Hong Kong. The determinants vary over time and the spatial structure changes accordingly. The analysis is important theoretically as it enriches the methodologies for analyzing the relationships between hotels and urban structure, and for conceptualizing and identifying tourism functional zones. It is important for practitioners as it provides useful information for selecting sites for hotels.     

Dual-branded hotels: Resource-based entry strategies in agglomerated markets

Despite the growing importance of dual-branded hotels, research on this trend is lacking. This study investigates the effect of resource-based entry strategies for dual-branded hotels vis-à-vis incumbent market competition on performance. Using a hierarchical linear model, we found that best performance is achieved by dual-branded hotels that pursue a diversification strategy by entering the market with one brand above and one brand below the mode class of the market. Dual-branded hotels can thus achieve competitive advantage by exploiting superior financial resources and tourism destinations are able to gain monetary advantage from resources employed by dual-branded hotels. This study extends current research on dual-branded hotels by investigating entry strategies and contributes to the resource-based view literature by investigating dual-brands’ resource exploitation and resource spillovers in agglomerated markets.     

Climate change adaptation in Cambodia's coastal hotel sector: An analysis of adaptation measures and hotel characteristics

After decades of profound challenges Cambodia has seen twenty years of stability and a flourishing tourism industry, however, it has also been identified as highly vulnerable to climate change thus putting the country's long-desired economic development at risk. Sustainable Development Goal 13 ‘Climate Action’ is critical for the continued economic success of Cambodia's vulnerable coastal tourism sector, but little is known about the hotel sector's adaptation responses and the differences between key hotel characteristics such as star rating, size, ownership and length of operation. This article examines the adaptation actions by 50 Cambodian coastal hotels by distinguishing between five adaptation categories. Subsequently, the analysis is deepened through a comparative analysis of key hotel characteristics. Although adaptation measures varied considerably between hotels they were more comprehensive and numerous than expected. Furthermore, patterns emerged that saw large hotels apply high levels of adaptation while budget and Khmer-owned hotels reported limited adaptation measures.     

Higher tourism specialization,better hotel industry efficiency?

This study examines the effects of both specialization in tourism and market competition on the efficiency of the hotel industry. For this purpose, stochastic frontier analysis (SFA) was employed to evaluate the efficiency of the hotel industry on a provincial level in China and to analyze how it is impacted by specialization in tourism and market competition. The results confirm that tourism specialization and market competition exert a synergistic effect on hotel industry efficiency in China. This study finds that tourism development as represented by a high level of tourism specialization by a destination does not guarantee high efficiency in hotels but does enhance the negative effect of market competition on hotel industry efficiency. Significant policy and managerial implications stem from these findings.     

Reducing tourism's threats to biodiversity: effects of a voluntary sustainability standard and training program on 106 Latin American hotels,lodges and guesthouses

The tourism industry can negatively affect wildlife, plants and natural ecosystems through habitat destruction, pollution, over-exploitation of natural resources and visitor impacts to sensitive ecosystems. One approach to mitigate such threats is the application of voluntary sustainability standards, supported by training of tourism enterprises and verified by external audits. The Rainforest Alliance standard defines 78 criteria (requirements) for sustainable environmental, social and business practices, and has been adopted by over 600 tourism enterprises – including hotels, lodges and tour boats – in 12 countries. We examined the performance of 106 hotels in six Latin American countries against 29 of the sustainable tourism criteria most directly related to biodiversity conservation. Independent audits were used to assess hotel performance at baseline followed by a repeat assessment after training, about two years later. Mean conformance with the 29 biodiversity criteria increased significantly during this interval, from 44% to 58%. Improvements were greatest for businesses in the lowest third of performance at baseline (laggards) and smallest for hotels in the highest third (leaders). The results indicate that a voluntary sustainability standard and training program can serve both to recognize existing good actors and to drive incremental improvement in enterprises that were previously less sustainable.     

Climate variability and water use on golf courses: optimization opportunities for a warmer future

Global freshwater resources are under ever-increasing pressure that is anticipated to be exacerbated by climate change. Increasing demands for water use will require tourism to improve and disclose its monitoring and reporting, particularly for water-intensive activities such as golf tourism. Using a sample of 129 courses from Ontario (Canada), this is the first study to examine golf course characteristics that influence water use variability (e.g. dominant soil type, ownership type, and age of course). By establishing “best in class” water use efficiency among common types of courses, potential water extraction savings of 35% are identified (or 6.75 billion litres annually). Importantly, the study also accounts for the influence of climate variability on water use by comparing a climatically normal season (for the 1981–2010 period) with an anomalously dry and warm season to examine the potential impact of future climate change on water use (i.e. reduced precipitation and higher temperatures). Average water use effectively almost doubles during an anomalously dry-warm season (increasing from 59.6 to 94.2 million litres), accentuating the importance of achieving potential water use efficiencies. In addition to best management practices, the need to reshape public perceptions of golf course aesthetics is also discussed.     

COVID-19 impacts,coping strategies,and management reflection: A lodging industry case

The COVID-19 pandemic has hit the global tourism and hospitality industry with drastic results. Hotels have been experiencing unprecedented challenges, leaving many to temporarily or permanently closed. Employing a case study approach supported by both quantitative and qualitative analysis, this study examined how two hotels in Oklahoma City had coped with challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic, from day to day operations, health and safety measures to marketing, human resources and cost-saving strategies. The study contributes to the tourism crisis and disaster literature by providing micro-level coping strategies, a literature gap that needs to be addressed, particularly under the current pandemic.     

Safer destinations,healthier staff and happier tourists: Opportunities for inclusive water,sanitation and hygiene in tourism

Sustainable tourism development, including tourism's COVID-19 recovery, requires a holistic view of environmental and community benefits, including access to water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH). This study presents a system-wide Inclusive WASH in tourism framework for destinations. Using a qualitative approach including interviews and focus groups, the framework is applied at three system scales: hotels, the community and wider destination to assess the current WASH situation in Mandalika, Lombok, Indonesia, a water-scarce destination earmarked for rapid development. Findings highlight differences in Inclusive WASH practices between hotels and communities, the potential for conflict and gendered inequalities. Barriers linked to system elements, structure and the enabling environment are identified. Addressing inequitable planning processes, improving stakeholder engagement and creating tools for hotels to improve Inclusive WASH can contribute to improving destination value. Findings are relevant for practitioners, government and community organisations integrating Sustainable Development Gaols 5 and 6 into tourism development and recovery.     

Productivity growth and income in the tourism sector: Role of tourism demand and human capital investment

This paper proposes a model for the demand for tourism in the context of a developing country. The parameters of the model are a tourist sector characterised by monopolistic competition, where human capital is the main factor of production and hotels have market power. Additionally land use is marked by demand from both agricultural and tourism sectors. From the household side, a simplified OLG approach is developed to consider consumption, human activity and the number of children. A dynamic framework is therefore identified to investigate the long-run consequences of increasing labor productivity and lowering the fertility rate. If the supply-side policy leads to economic growth, the tourism led growth hypothesis is theoretically confirmed. It is concluded that an increase in labor productivity generates positive growth effects only if the demand for tourism is elastic, otherwise negative results arise.     

Geographic factors affecting tourism in Zambia

This paper discusses several geographical factors critical to tourism planning and development in Zambia. The paper focuses on the size, seasonality of climate, and population distribution of the country as well as the location of tourism resources and distances between tourist attractions. Individually and collectively, these factors have a major influence on the levels of occupancy in hotels and game lodges, and air and land transportation. The infrastructural development and its utilization for tourism are evaluated, and a number of constraints to tourism development are also examined. A discussion of appropriate tourism policies highlights the delicate relationship between economic and environmental factors. This study concludes that Tourism Master Plans should be more cognizant of geographic as well as economic factors when developing destinations such as Zambia.     

多元化类型与旅游企业价值关系研究

文章以2003~2010年17家旅游上市公司为研究对象,采用关联比例作为多元化类型的代理变量衡量相关多元化程度,以资产收益率衡量企业价值,运用面板数据回归和二阶段最小二乘法,探讨哪种多元化类型更有利于促进旅游企业价值,以及哪些因素影响旅游企业多元化类型的决策选择。实证表明:股权集中度、企业价值对旅游企业相关多元化具有显著正向影响,国有股比例、资源可转移性、公司规模和公司年龄对旅游企业相关多元化具有显著负向影响;在外生性视角下,相关多元化对旅游企业价值具有正向影响,存在2.6%的相关多元化溢价效应;在内生性视角下,相关多元化对旅游企业价值的正向促进作用进一步提升,相关多元化溢价效应为9.7%。     

The impact of regulation and ownership structure on market orientation in the tourism industry in China

The nature of market orientation and its impact on business performance and other related outcomes have been extensively researched in a range of service contexts including tourism. In contrast, our understanding of the factors that influence market orientation is still limited. This paper reports on a study that contributes to our understanding of the determinants of market orientation within the tourism sector by focusing specifically on the role played by two strategically important variables, namely government regulation and ownership structure. The study analyses two national samples of hotels and travel services in the rapidly growing tourism industry in China. The hotel sector has been open to foreign investment for two decades and has a diversified ownership structure, whereas the travel services sector has been dominated by government owned firms and relatively closed to foreign investment. The results of the survey suggest that of the two new antecedents, only government regulation has a significant role to play in driving market orientation. Internally, access to appropriate managerial and marketing capabilities was identified as a significant predictor of the development of market orientation.     

Entrepreneurship in the tourism industry: Issues in developing countries

The tourism industry in Malaysia is one of the most important sectors in terms of its contribution to the growth of the nation. The extensive demand on the tourism industry has stimulated the emergence of many small and medium hotels, resorts, and chalets in Malaysia. According to the literature, small and medium hotels are an extension of the entrepreneurial characteristics of the owners/managers of the hotels. In Malaysia, small and medium hotel entrepreneurs (SMHEs) have not been given much attention. Looking at this gap, this study aims to provide a significant result on entrepreneurship issues in Malaysia. The main objective of this study is to examine the characteristics of small and medium hotel owners/managers and the issues and problems they confront in relation to their survivability in the industry. The result revealed that the majority of owners/managers of small and medium hotels were male, middle-aged and older, with secondary and upper level of education, and whose prior specialisations or knowledge were not related to tourism. With strong self-confidence and independent personality characteristics, the majority started to establish their businesses after the financial crisis in 1997–1998. The result also defined small scale to mean hotels with less than 50 rooms, which had been constructed with limited personal funding and bank loans. Information technology was found to be an important tool to promote their hotels, but conventional techniques such as word of mouth and signboards were still significant. The owners/managers of small and medium hotels were in agreement over their weaknesses in terms of lack of knowledge and skills in running the business. At the same time, they also felt that the government should play a more proactive role in promoting the tourism industry.     

Crisis Management During the SARS Threat

ABSTRACT

No one could have predicted the outbreak of SARS and its impact on the tourism business. Within a fortnight, hotel occupancy dropped by more than 80% to a single digit record. The hotel industry in Hong Kong was largely caught unprepared, and had to quickly work out ways in which to mitigate the loss of business and profit. This paper identifies the impact of SARS on hotels in Hong Kong, and the relevant human resources strategies used to tackle the crisis. The findings show that unpaid leave and involuntary separation were the most common immediate solutions adopted by the hotels.     

Scenario analysis of tourism's water footprint for China's Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei region in 2020: implications for water policy

Based on the life cycle footprint analysis method, this paper undertakes a comprehensive assessment of tourism-related direct and indirect water consumption under four counterfactual tourism scenarios in China's Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei metropolitan region (Jing-Jin-Ji), which has been increasingly constrained by extreme water stress. Food consumption appears to have a major impact on the tourism water footprint (WF) such that high calorie-dominated diets are nearly five times more water intensive than vegetable diets for a typical foreign tourist. It is necessary to design specific policy to improve water-use efficiency in upstream agricultural production, in parallel with reduced high-calorie food intake in tourism products supply. Furthermore, transport mode is found to have significant impacts on domestic tourist WF due to the stark variation in water embodied in upstream fuel production and supply. Forecasts for tourism's WF under low and high scenarios suggest that tourism may account for a considerable proportion of total water use in Jing-Jin-Jiby 2020. Specifically, tourism patterns appear to be a determining factor influencing water consumption across different scenarios. It is argued that water policy needs to emphasise water-use efficiency to raise awareness of tourist WF by differentiating water prices for various purposes and segments of the tourism consumer market.     

The importance of water management in hotels: a framework for sustainability through innovation

This paper highlights the global phenomenon of the crisis in the quality and quantity of water supplies and how tourism generally and hotels specifically may have contributed to the situation. The major internal and external barriers for Small Medium Enterprises adopting Environmental Management Systems, including water, are listed. The paper proposes a water management framework for hotels and other types of accommodation that leverages on the concept of innovation. Taking into account the various levels of knowledge and technological capabilities in water management, the framework is developed based on the commonly known 3R approach in environmental management, with the addition of another R (Reaching). It is proposed that hotels can innovate and enhance their water management approaches under these 4Rs: Innovative Reducing, Innovative Reusing, Innovative Reaching and Innovative Recycling. The framework offers examples and strategies about how hotels of different sizes, with differing financial, technical, knowledge and managerial capacities could address the challenge of implementing water management and obtain commercial benefit. A detailed case study is provided of a gray and black water recycling system in a Malaysian resort. Other examples of a range of water management methods are also discussed.     

特色村镇与A级景区的空间关系及协同发展--以广西为例

广西特色村镇与A级景区作为两种互补的旅游资源,在同一区域存在共生关系,这种关系成为区域联动、共赢发展的重要模式。文章采用空间数量关系模型和空间质量关系模型,定量分析广西特色村镇与A级景区空间关系,得出两者在空间数量上关系显著,在空间质量上接近良好协调发展的结论,为两者协同发展的研究提供可行基础。并以交通通达度(道路交通情况和交通乘换点)、旅游经济发展要素点(酒店、餐饮、娱乐、购物)和参与主体(政府、企业、社区居民和非政府组织机构)为切入点,对广西特色村镇与A级景区协同发展关系进行研究。结果表明:(1)广西交通道路尤其是动车和高速路与两种旅游资源之间的协调性较低,A级旅游景区与最近交通乘换点距离优于特色村镇与最近交通乘换点距离,部分区域旅游经济发展要素点支撑不足,根据两者与交通通达度、旅游经济发展要素点的拟合情况,提出需要加大力度建设和优化桂西左江花山世界文化遗产地旅游资源群、桂西北东兰-巴马-凤山旅游资源群、桂东富川-恭城-灌阳旅游资源群和桂中金秀旅游资源群等旅游资源富集区的交通道路、交通乘换点、酒店和餐饮等基础建设。(2)根据分析广西特色村镇与A级景区实际发展状况,提出以政府引导、企业主导、社区居民参与和非政府组织机构协助与监督的特色村镇+A级景区旅游发展模式,为广西区域空间旅游发展战略的制定提供参考。     

Policy choices in South Asian tourism development

Government tourism initiatives in developing countries have been applauded by tourism scholars as a means of assisting a private sector that has insufficient resources and assuring public control of the industry's future. This article reviews the tourism development experience of seven South Asian countries (India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan, the Maldive Republic) on five policy options: public versus private tourism development; domestic versus international tourism; class versus mass tourism; centralization versus decentralization; and integrated versus enclave tourism. All of the governments in the region have been involved in tourism development to some degree, but they have shown considerable variation in their responses to these policy choices. Which choices are made by a specific country, it is suggested, will depend as much on political and cultural considerations as upon economic factors.