Information source usage among motive-based segments of travelers to newly emerging tourist destinations

As a part of their travel planning, potential tourists engage in information search that assists them in decision-making. Though several studies have been conducted in relation to information sources, yet, much of these seem to be in relation to relatively well-known destinations. This note primarily aims at reporting the use of information sources among various motivation-based segments of travelers to the newly emerging tourist destinations of India's North-East. This is a region with tremendous tourism potential that has not been aggressively marketed so far. Analysis of primary data through a survey of visitors to the region using a factor-cluster segmentation approach resulted in three motive-based segments: Nature-loving Explorers, Nature-loving Vacationers and Change Seekers. These segments were found to exhibit differences in information source usage. The results hold implications for destination marketers of the region and would hopefully contribute towards better marketing strategies for its various destinations.     

Financing behaviors of hotel companies

To understand financing behaviors in the hotel industry, this study used canonical correlation analyses by examining the interrelationships between cross-balance-sheet accounts of hotel companies. The study confirmed that hotel companies followed the four common practices about the cross-balance-sheet interdependencies identified in the other industries. This study also discovered a few unique financing features of the hotel industry: (1) maturity mismatching between property, plant, and equipment (PPE) and short-term liabilities; (2) adjusting the funding sources of inventories according to the internal and external environments; and (3) high dependency of operating assets on stockholder's equity. This study also explains different financing features across three periods during 1990–2004. The findings are expected to contribute to developing knowledge about the financing behaviors of hotel companies as related to their asset structures.     

Tourists’ views on safety and vulnerability. A study of some selected towns in Ghana

Providing security for tourists has become an imperative and any destination which ignores this responsibility stands to lose out on the keen competition for the tourist dollar. One way to provide security for tourists is to seek their own views on such matters. Studies which seek to do such are relatively underrepresented in the literature. Using the accidental sampling method and questionnaires, this paper sought primarily to understand tourists’ perspectives on issues concerning safety and security in Ghana. It was observed that tourists felt most unsafe at attraction sites as compared to accommodation and in open spaces, and, rather interestingly, it emerged that they do not necessarily equate security to the presence of uniformed personnel but rather conceptualize it within the triple framework of space, order and professionalism. It was also observed that the fear of crime/vulnerability varies significantly across important socio-demographic variables (especially age).     

Revisiting the financing behavior of restaurant firms: The firm-size perspective

In International Journal of Hospitality Management, Jang and Ryu [Jang, S., Ryu, K., 2006. Cross-balance sheet interdependencies of restaurant firms: a canonical correlation analysis. International Journal of Hospitality Management 25 (1), 159–166] published a research article about the financing behavior of restaurant firms, using a canonical correlation analysis. Even though the study presents a general picture of financing in restaurant firms, the financing behaviors of firms of different sizes may differ because they often face different financing environments. Thus, this study re-examines restaurant firms and compares the results with Jang and Ryu [Jang, S., Ryu, K., 2006. Cross-balance sheet interdependencies of restaurant firms: a canonical correlation analysis. International Journal of Hospitality Management 25 (1), 159–166] to further enhance the understanding of the financing behaviors. The results show that, despite the differences in firm sizes, overall financing behaviors are similar to those reported by Jang and Ryu [Jang, S., Ryu, K., 2006. Cross-balance sheet interdependencies of restaurant firms: a canonical correlation analysis. International Journal of Hospitality Management 25 (1), 159–166], although they also suggest that restaurant firms of different sizes do indeed exhibit some different cross-balance sheet interdependencies including relatively more reliance on accounts payable among small and medium firms and more use of long-term debts among large firms. Moreover, long-term assets related to stockholder equity more among large firms but related to supplier credit more among small and medium firms.     

Using volunteer-employed photography to inform tourism planning decisions: A study of St David's Peninsula,Wales

More effective tools are needed to empower stakeholder participation in tourism planning processes, and volunteer-employed photography (VEP) is a promising option. This paper discusses the use of VEP to inform tourism planning on St David's Peninsula in Wales. Locals and tourists were given cameras and photo diaries, and asked to use VEP to comment on what they do and do not appreciate about the area, existing planning problems and ways to avoid future planning problems. Through this case, the paper examines the appropriateness of VEP as a tool for assisting tourism planning. The major finding is that a richer, deeper and more valuable dataset can be generated through the participation of host communities and visitors using the VEP approach. As a means of visually representing participants' views, VEP can be a powerful data collection and analysis tool, making a significant addition to the tourism planning toolkit at the local level.     

“送客入村”模式运行特征及其现实意义

“送客入村”是湖南省协同多方力量推进乡村发展的有效模式,在脱贫攻坚与乡村振兴有效衔接的特殊阶段,系统总结其创设历程、内涵和运行特点、彰显其意义,具有重要价值。“送客入村”模式的运行促成村寨游客量全面增长,但村寨间差异明显,村寨游客总量及其增量均表现出5个等级,出现了“明星村”集群现象,表现出客流“增长亮点片” “负增长交叉分布”的特征。“送客入村”形成的市场机会呈现出3个等级,表现出“市场机会集聚块” “市场机会集聚带”特征,验证了精品线路建设的效果。“送客入村”运行效果的村寨间差异与自身文化内涵、A级旅游景区、交通通达条件有关。“送客入村”模式成功运行的经验归纳为：协同多方力量推进乡村发展是有效途径、“双管齐下”驱动乡村经济市场运作是有效方式、乡村旅游精品线路建设是坚实基础、特色村寨的获益能力培育是有力抓手、广度与深度“两维梯次推进”是持续发展的重要方略。细究“送客入村”模式得到以下启示：应重视政府与市场协同作为,注重村民经营意识与技能的“市场培育”,特别要培育示范户与带头人,注重提升“内生动力”。“送客入村”模式可为乡村旅游发展提供一定的借鉴。     

Tourists and community development: corporate social responsibility or tourist social responsibility?

Abstract

Corporate social responsibility (CSR) activities are usually determined, in large part, by head office and by shareholder interests. This article explores the unique case of tourism CSR which has a distinctive relationship with local communities. CSR programmes of hotels and resorts in the Global South are increasingly creating opportunities for tourists to engage directly with communities, yet the relationship between tourists and CSR – and how this impacts on community development outcomes – has so far been overlooked. Based on two separate research projects undertaken in Zambia and Fiji which examined hotel CSR from community perspectives, we show how these programmes were largely motivated, driven and financed by tourists. This suggests that, in the accommodation subsector of tourism, CSR is not only being shaped by head office, but that tourists can play a key role, leading us to coin the term TSR (tourist social responsibility). For community development initiatives in particular, this gives rise to both challenges and opportunities.     

Tourists’ perceptions of crowding,attractiveness, and satisfaction: a second-order structural model

Drawing on theories of stimulus overload and social interference, this study proposes a multidimensional way to measure tourists’ perceptions of crowding. Three dimensions of crowding are discussed: neutral, personal, and social. A second-order structural equation model is used to analyze the relationships among crowding perceptions, destination attractiveness, and satisfaction by surveying tourists at Mount Sanqingshan National Park (n?=?424). The results of a covariance-based SEM show that tourists’ perception of crowding (TPC) has negative effects on reported attractiveness of the destination. However, TPC dose not directly affects their satisfaction. Results of this study refine the multidimensional connotation of TPC and provide another dimension to evaluate the quality of tourists’ experiences apart from the universal construct of satisfaction. The paper then goes on to discuss the importance of managing TPC.     

Tourist development and host–guest interaction: An economic exchange theory

Theoretical research on the impacts of tourism has a discernible bias towards residents’ perceptions. To understand the evolution and dynamics of tourism, residents’ perceptions have to be analyzed as part of an exchange process involving both residents and tourists. A conceptual framework of host–guest relations is required. This paper presents an economic model that builds on evidence that tourism involves the meeting of two populations. Their interactions and experiences influence their attitudes and opinions. This causes structural changes in individual preferences that affect residents’ perceptions of tourism and tourists’ willingness to pay. To interpret this process we use the Edgeworth Box, representing the “exchange” in terms of “resource-space” against income.     

Recreational value, user heterogeneity and site characteristics in contingent valuation

We propose an adaptation of the Dichotomous Choice Contingent Valuation Method, applied to the recreational quality of a site and to heterogeneity between visitors (tourists and residents). This method is based on a set of repeated valuation questions and is used to study relations between the components of environmental goods. We propose its application to public coastal sites in south-western France. We show that programmes regarding the ocean, beaches and forests are generally independent of one another. In order to stress the heterogeneity of users, two separate models are assessed. The way time is taken into account then appears to be one of the most interesting sources of divergence between tourists and residents. Individual WTP per day also varies. This confirms that beaches used by residents provide high economic benefits although they generate little indirect revenue. Finally, contingent valuation appears to be a useful alternative for analyzing the multiple dimensions of a public policy.     

酒店业推广节能减排影响因素的实证研究——以广东省星级酒店为例

面对能源价格的不断攀升,高能耗、低利润水平已经成为当前酒店业经营所面临的突出问题,但我国在酒店业推广节能减排方面的研究却相对滞后。本文以广东省星级酒店为例,就酒店业推广节能减排的影响因素问题进行了问卷调查与深度访谈。通过因子分析得出了影响酒店业推广节能减排的5个主要因子,即节能管理、经济因素、外在环境、信息交流和政府政策,构建了酒店业推广节能减排的影响因素模型。该研究对推动酒店业节能减排的理论研究和实践运用具有重要的意义。     

从反日常到日常:当代旅游实践的还原和再认识

随着旅游实践不再被看作是一种非同寻常的实践活动,而是一种日常实践活动,对旅游的认识也不应被束缚在传统的现代性框架之中,而需借助旅游发展史,揭示当代旅游实践自身的当代现实特征,并回归到其最初的实践形态--一种特定的移动方式,从而将思之方向落在旅游实践的建构意义之上,探讨旅游实践的日常化对于生活世界来说有何种新的建构意义。因此,当代旅游实践的反思和批判应当经历一次还原,将旅游从启蒙叙事中解救出来,悬搁已有批判,并将旅游放入移动性框架之中,通过惯常-非惯常背景、权力背景、生存背景和目的性假设4个层级还原出旅游实践的基本内涵。在一种最为基础的层面上,旅游实践在移动性中获得了日常化后的新含义,基于此,可对当代旅游实践的新特征和建构意义进行再认识。