De-marketing the car

Governments in many countries are experimenting with alternative methods for reducing car use, including congestion charges, increased fuel taxation, and improved public transport. This paper raises another possibility. Not only could public transport be marketed as an alternative to the private car, but through targeted propaganda, the automobile could be de-marketed as a status symbol and a convenient accessory of modern life. In contrast with other public information campaigns, de-marketing would focus on people's self-image rather than their sense of public duty.The authors draw on established theory in putting forward alternative themes aimed at particular categories of user and particular categories of journey, and briefly consider the strengths and weaknesses of each approach. Peer group pressure could be an important factor in helping to change attitudes among potential car users at the opinion-forming stage during their life cycle. The agencies best positioned to deliver an effective national campaign are public transport corporations, local authorities, health organisations, and environmental lobby groups; a co-ordinated approach could bring about a modest contribution towards travel reduction at a relatively low cost.     

Cruise travel motivations and repeat cruising behaviour: impact of relationship investment

Passenger retention is undoubtedly one of the major challenges for cruise lines. Given that little is known about passengers’ post-purchase behaviour in the luxury cruise sector, this study addressed this omission by empirically verifying the imperative role of motivations, values, image, desire, and relationship investment in generating repeat cruising intentions. The proposed conceptual framework comprising these triggers was in general supported. In addition, its prediction ability for repurchase decision was sufficient. Specifically, our empirical findings demonstrated the adequacy of the higher order structure of cruise travel motivations that considerably increase hedonic and utilitarian values. Our results further identified the comparative importance of overall company image in determining intention. The mediating role of the study variables was also found. Lastly, the results of the metric-invariance model assessment revealed that relationship investment significantly moderated the value–image–desire linkages. Implications for tourism academics and cruise practitioners and future research directions are discussed.     

Air travel attitudes and behaviours: The development of environment-based segments

In an era when the transport sector is increasingly contributing to environmental damage there is a need to better understand the behavioural response of consumers. Theories such as the Theory of Planned Behaviour and the Norm-Activation Model have had some success in explaining pro-environmental behaviours; this paper examines the application of these to air travel. It utilises insights from previous attitude behaviour research to develop a more detailed understanding of how normative influences, individual values and other psychological factors are affected by individual attitudes to air travel attitudes and how these influence behaviour. This informs recommendations for a policy response, which emphasises the need to bring air travel behaviour in line with other energy saving household behaviours.     

Tourist Perceptions of Climate Change: A Study of International Tourists in Zanzibar

A study was conducted in Zanzibar, Tanzania, in order to understand tourist perceptions of climate change, the importance of climate for travel decisions, and the likely consequences of ongoing climate change for travel decisions. The results show that climatic characteristics of destinations are important, though not the only factor shaping travel decisions. Under a scenario of climate change, certain climate variables, such as more rain, storms, and higher humidity are also likely to negatively influence travel decisions, rather than higher temperatures alone, which are not necessarily perceived as negative. Regarding the contribution of travel to climate change, the study reveals that leisure tourists in Zanzibar are largely unaware of their impact on the natural environment, while the analysis of stated travel behaviour shows that they frequently travel by air. Overall, the results indicate that travel flows might change in more complex ways than currently assumed, and that a small share of high-intensity air travellers is responsible for a considerable environmental impact in terms of climate change.