Managing Visitor Impacts at Visitor Attractions: An International Assessment

This paper presents the findings of a study designed to extend and develop a previous study conducted by the authors on the management of visitor impacts at visitor attractions in Scotland. This follow-up study sets out to discover the extent to which attractions in other countries experience similar impacts, with comparable management challenges to those already identified in the Scottish visitor attraction sector. In order to provide a direct comparison to the Scottish study, a replication of the research methodology employed in that study was considered necessary. A self-completion survey was thus mailed to managers of paid-admission attractions in Canada, Australia and New Zealand: three ‘leading-edge’ destinations selected for comparison. Findings suggest that although many impacts are perceived to be similar across the four countries, a number of important differences are evident. Given that the reasons for such differences vary, the paper concludes that the development of a generic strategy for the management of visitor impacts internationally remains something for the future. In the meantime, the sector should rely on the identification and adoption of best practice on a case-by-case basis. The sector’s diversity and fragmentation suggest that qualitative research holds the key to identifying appropriate techniques for managing visitor impacts.     

E-business in the New Zealand Tourism Industry: An Examination of Implementation and Usage

This article presents the findings of a web-based survey examining the extent of e-business uptake in the New Zealand tourism industry. It provides a snapshot of both the implementation and usage of e-business. The survey extends the earlier research on New Zealand e-business by Clark et al. (2001) and Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu (2000), focusing specifically on tourism. This study shows that the tourism industry is committed to the establishment of e-business, and recognises the competitive advantages of this. It also appears to be adopting e-business more quickly than other industries, reflecting the industry’s service and information bases. While this sounds positive, concern must be expressed at the superficial level of implementation of e-business, particularly from SMEs which constitute a large portion of the economy. The New Zealand tourism industry respondents seem to be basic users of the technology, rather than ‘champions’ of e-business. Unless the simple adoption of ICT can be developed into a sustained and dynamic acceptance of e-business, the New Zealand tourism industry risks missing the opportunities provided by the global marketplace, and thus, becoming increasingly marginalised.     

Developing a Visitor Satisfaction Monitoring Methodology: Quality Gaps,Crowding and Some Results

This paper initially reviews the literature relating to the quality of service and visitor experiences that is based upon studies of (1) marketing and (2) natural environment visitor behaviours. It then reports findings derived from a study of changing questionnaire constructions in order to arrive at a simple questionnaire format that could be incorporated into a visitor information system, the purpose of which was to monitor the levels of satisfaction being expressed by visitors. Unfortunately data collection was bedevilled by poor weather in remote locations which reduced sample sizes, but nonetheless the paper is thought useful in reporting results that will aid others working in this field, if only by identifying issues that need to be considered by researchers designing questionnaires.     

城市物流信息平台规划与设计实证分析

城市物流对城市的发展既起到巨大的推动作用,但也可能产生不利的影响。城市物流公共信息平台作为城市现代物流发展的客观要求,其规划和建设已经在国内开展起来。尽管目前全国已有30多个城市作了城市物流公共信息平台的规划,但是对于规划及设计的理论并未成熟,因此研究城市物     

美国企业文化考察简要报告

简要介绍了美国的企业文化 ,阐述了加强企业文化建设的重要性 ,并对如何借鉴美国企业文化建设经验 ,推进中国铁路企业文化建设进行了论述。     

Tourism in Greece: Strategic Analysis and Challenges

This paper provides a strategic analysis of the competitiveness of Greek tourism. It illustrates the importance of tourism as an economic activity and analyses the current situation and structural problems of Greece as a destination. Although Greece offers unique nature, culture and heritage, the lack of differentiation of the tourism product as well as competitive disadvantages in marketing and planning cause an over-dependence on intermediaries for the promotion and distribution of the tourism product whilst jeopardising its quality. This affects the profitability and competitiveness of both the destination and its small and medium-sized tourism enterprises. The paper proposes a grand strategy as well as numerous strategic directions, objectives and tasks aiming to demonstrate the way ahead for Greek tourism. Several major opportunities emerge through the Olympic Games in 2004 as well as the major projects currently being undertaken which will enhance the infrastructure of the country. It is argued that a consistent tourism policy based on professional development and implemented through a Master Plan is urgently required. Strategies and methodologies need to be identified, whilst private enterprises need to increase their cooperation locally in order to enhance the quality and competitiveness of the product.     

铁道部赴美调度集中系统(CTC)考察报告

通过对美国两家大型I级铁路公司调度指挥机构及调度管理模式的考察,总结美国铁路调度集中系统(CTC)和运输组织的主要特点,建议加快我国东部铁路繁忙干线调度集中建设,规划我国客运专线中央调度指挥中心,构建我国铁路客运专线综合调度指挥信息系统。     

九广铁路公司考察报告

介绍了九广公司经营管理尤其是财务预算管理的经验,分析了广铁集团公司相对不足之处,提出了相应的改进建议。     

Tourism in Crete: A Form of Modernisation

Tourism in Crete is an irreversible phenomenon that has resulted in a process of change under the form of modernisation. This modernisation has both positive and negative consequences. Specifically, tourism has been transformed into a primary source of income and employment generation for the island and has improved the quality of life for the locals. However, tourism development was directed to the increase of demand through the increase of the numbers of beds, as well as the concentration of tourist arrivals in space and time, rather than the balanced development of the tourism industry. In effect, various social and environmental strains have resulted, such as environmental degradation, cultural pollution, commercialisation of human relations and negative demonstration effects. It is the aim of this paper to review past studies, having examined various aspects of tourism in Crete in order to investigate the costs and benefits associated with the modernisation of the island through tourism expansion and to provide recommendations for future development.     

Lao Tourism and Poverty Alleviation: Community-Based Tourism and the Private Sector

Tourism as a tool for development was first mooted in the 1970s. Recently, focus has been on the role of ecotourism, pro-poor tourism and community-based tourism (CBT). This has been so in Lao People's Democratic Republic, where international tourism is a vital source of foreign exchange and employment and an important feature of the government's poverty-alleviation strategy. The Asian Development Bank (ADB) finances many infrastructural projects facilitating tourist movement in the Lower Mekong Basin, and with the Lao Government and the Netherlands Development Agency (SNV) is a key player in donor-assisted, community-based tourism (DACBT). The development of DACBT in Lao PDR is discussed in some detail, especially the Nam Ha Ecotourism Project, and is compared briefly with the role of the private sector in tourism development in Southern Lao PDR. It is concluded that while DACBT projects can indeed alleviate poverty and develop financial and cultural capital, private sector tourism enterprises also have an important role in poverty alleviation, and it should not be assumed that DACBT is the only – or necessarily the most efficient – form of pro-poor tourism.     

Contradictions of Rural Tourism Initiatives in Rural Development Contexts: Finnish Rural Tourism Strategy Case Study

In Western countries rural areas have faced major changes and challenges in the past decades. The role of traditional economies has decreased rapidly and the economic transition of rural areas has turned increasingly towards tourism production. By using a Finnish national scale rural tourism strategy and development programme as a case example, this paper argues that, while tourism can provide development for rural areas, the unrealistic expectations and goals may cause problems for rural communities. Unfeasible development goals of rural tourism are seen as the results of insufficient understanding of tourism dynamics and the lack of research-based or otherwise valid knowledge in development plans. In addition the connection between the ideas of rural tourism and sustainability is challenged in high tourism development goals and the related processes.     

Tourism innovation: when interdependencies matter

This research note highlights the relevance of tourism’s natural system of interdependencies in the context of innovation creation. The lack of studies on tourism inter and intra-sectoral interdependencies and on their role in innovation creation is emphasized. Then recent developments in the study of interdependencies and their role in generating creativity and innovation are presented. The discussion shows avenues for future research within the tourism realm.     

Tourism and ethnicity: situational perspectives

Ethnicity permeates many aspects of tourism, but remains poorly understood in this context. Ethnicity is also a problematic concept because of its variability and the complexity of its interrelation with social structure. Anthropological perspectives show that ethnicity is flexible and negotiated, and this paper draws attention to latent ethnicity and the dynamic character of responses to tourism. The strategies used by peoples in tourist destinations to cope with stereotyping are also discussed. Tourism also contributes to the process of identity formation in new nations, and may encourage majority populations to re-evaluate their perceptions of minorities. In order to stimulate tourism, new nations also compete with one another to lay claim to illustrious names or heroic forebears. Situational adaptations to tourism are illustrated from a variety of perspectives to explore the complex processes of boundary creation, maintenance and change. The emphasis in the paper is conceptual, but is related to contemporary issues in interethnic relations as they occur in tourism. Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

'Heritage' Tourism in Northern Ireland: Opportunity Under Peace

Having endured terrorist violence for 30 years, Northern Ireland is on the verge of achieving a lasting peace. Tourism is well poised to benefit from the prospects of peace and the economic growth that is anticipated to follow. In this paper the first section, based on an analysis of secondary tourism data collected between 1994 and 1997 (a period during which the Irish Republican Army declared two cease-fires), assesses the extent to which tourism can benefit within a climate of peace. Heritage tourism within Northern Ireland is examined, on the basis that the majority of tourist attractions and the tourism experiences being sold to visitors fall under the heritage label. Heritage and heritage tourism is discussed within the Northern Ireland context. The second half of the paper examines what are emerging as the key challenges and issues facing the tourism industry in Northern Ireland and the opportunities for long-term growth. The paper reveals that tourism benefited for the yearsin which a cease-fire held, but that the heritage attraction is somewhat complex, with a range of heritage types ranging from natural to industrial. Discussion centres on how this 'heritage' experience is to be planned and managed, and the challenge of ensuring sustainability of a product that has the support of both 'communities' in Northern Ireland.     

日本、韩国铁路考察报告

介绍了日本、韩国铁路技术发展、运输组织、服务质量、改革发展等方面的情况 ,结合中国铁路实际 ,阐述了中国铁路如何深化改革、加快科技创新、提高运输效率、改进服务质量等问题     

Tourism Policy,Tourism Organisations and Change Management in Alpine Regions and Destinations: A European Perspective

Tourism is of great economic importance and significance for the European East Alpine regions. But to an increasing degree, low productivity resulting from the small-business structure of the Alpine region weakens the economic and social leadership of tourism. In the last few decades overcoming these difficulties often included substantial supporting of institutionalised tourism organisations by tourism policy, with the intention to bundle forces and to achieve growing global competition. Change in international tourist markets demands the pursuance of completely new strategies, particularly because the small-business structure of Alpine tourism in the past has always been the basis for its many positive effects for the local and regional population alike. By keeping its function of balancing regional economic growth, tourism policy's main responsibility for the future in the East Alpine region will be to create the prerequisites required for an adaptation to the new situation in the tourist markets. In addition, the support of tourism organisations is needed for achieving corporate success, which cannot be realised by individual entrepreneurs in the tourist industry owing to their small-business structure. The key to adaptation lies in the improvement of qualifications. This improvement should lead to the development of new skills for tourist cooperations as a basis for the strategic transition from institutionalised tourism organisations to flexible and market-oriented destination management companies.     

中国公务员晋升制度的激励机制刍议

我国公务员晋升制度的激励机制是在邓小平理论指导下 ,依据干部制度建设正反两方面的经验和改革开放以来的新鲜经验形成的。它具有精神和物质、引导和示范、促进竞争等多项激励功能。为进一步发挥这些功能的作用 ,需在实践中进一步完善干部晋升制度。     

The Tsunami and Tourism: A Comment

The tsunami of December 26th 2004 had a devasting impact on the coastal regions of the countries around the Indian Ocean, bringing death and destruction on an unimaginable scale. Almost 300,000 people lost their lives, widespread damage was caused to infrastructure, transport and communication networks, ecosystems and livelihoods throughout the affected region and, overall, the economic cost of the disaster is expected to exceed $10 billion. Nevertheless, natural disasters on the scale of the tsunami are not unknown. However, the global response to the disaster was unprecedented both in its scale and immediacy. As this paper observes, this response was primarily driven by the fact that thousands of western tourists were also victims of the tsunami, transforming the event into a truly global disaster. Noting that the tsunami served to highlight the dependency of many of the affected regions on tourism and, hence, the vital importance of attracting tourists back to those regions, it suggests that, although attention will undoubtedly be focused on the management of the crisis, tourism played a positive role in that it united the world in its response to the needs of the communities devastated by the tsunami.     

对私家车维修面临风险的调查与对策

据权威部门统计,截至2009年8月底,中国机动车保有量达到1.8亿辆,其中私人轿车保有量为23773791辆。私人轿车作为家庭中重要的交通工具之一,由于其技术状态是否完好关系到全家人的生命安全,因而对私家车的维修保养十分重要。