Exploring consumers’ bidding results based on starting price,number of bidders and promotion programs

Online auctions are a core dynamic pricing mechanism that is now used widely in the tourism market, and consumers enjoy the exciting experience of bidding for products and services. The rapid development of the online auction market has lead scholars to call for more research into the factors that influence the results of such auctions and how they are related to consumers’ online bidding behavior. To this end, the current study designs a lab environment and mainly explores the influences of the start bidding price (US$0.33 versus US$60), the number of bidders and promotion programs (low price versus quality) on the results of online auctions of hotel coupons. The research results indicate the following market dynamics. (1) Regardless of whether there is a low or high start-bidding price, more bidders lead to higher end-prices, especially with high start-bidding prices. (2) When a seller provides a higher start-bidding price, the end-prices will be higher. (3) Different promotion programs result in different end-prices, especially when the product characteristics are integrated effectively with such programs. When hotel coupons are the main auction product, they are associated with high-quality leisure and lifestyle factors, thus indicating that the integration of high accommodation quality with quality promotion programs can attract consumers to join the bidding process and lead to higher end-prices. (4) Regardless of whether there is a low or high start-bidding price, winners will always report higher ratings regarding distributive fairness, procedural fairness and information fairness than will losers. The research results have important theoretical and practical implications, which are discussed in the conclusions.     

Price competitiveness of tourism packages to Australia: Beyond the “Big Mac” index

One issue facing any country or region concerns its price competitiveness as a package tour destination. One method of measuring this is to use what in other contexts has been referred to as the Big Mac approach. The “Big Mac” is a simple product with ingredients in fixed proportions, whereas the tourism product is a very complex one comprising different components depending on tourist expenditure patterns. There is no equivalent tourism product offered across countries, as the nature of the product is tailored to the origin market, expenditure levels and the length of the trip involved. The key issue is that of how to standardize the products being compared, so as to determine their relative price competitiveness. A method of constructing price competitiveness indexes, developed by the authors, can be applied to develop measures of the price competitiveness of different tour packages. This paper has three aims: To set down the essence of the preferred approach to measuring price competitiveness, noting its advantages and limitations; to employ this approach to construct price competitiveness indexes for package tours to Australia from Japan and the USA; and to indicate areas for farther research into the price competitiveness of package tourism worldwide.     

我国酒店在线预订价格竞争的实证研究

在线旅行预订已经成为消费者日益青睐的旅游产品消费模式,其中酒店的在线预订增长量尤其明显。目前在酒店在线预订市场中,既有旅行在线代理商也有酒店官网,且两者竞争越来越激烈。这两种主要的酒店在线预订其价格有没有显著性差异？不同类型酒店差异表现是否一致？文章借用配对样本￡检验方法对我国酒店在线预订价格竞争进行实证研究,深度剖析两种在线预订渠道的定价规律及形成原因,并提出相关建议。     

Domestic tourism demand of urban and rural residents in China: Does relative income matter?

The aim of this research is to investigate the domestic tourism demand of urban and rural residents in China. Based on the data from the National Household Tourism Survey, we specify Chinese domestic tourism demand as a function of absolute income, relative income, domestic tourism price, and substitute price. As a major contribution of this study, relative income is measured using the distance between individual income and average income over a city/province. Based on the estimation results from multilevel models, this paper highlights the effect of relative income on domestic tourism demand in some sub-regions of China. Furthermore, regional differences between residents in different sub-regions and different patterns of determinants between urban and rural residents are identified and discussed.     

中国旅游地理研究的重点问题：学术内涵、核心概念和未来方向

旅游地理研究的跨文化、跨学科、跨领域研究已经成为一种新的趋势,如何推动多元文化、多元学科、多元领域的交叉研究,成为旅游地理研究亟待解决的关键问题。基于此,本文主要围绕旅游地理研究的跨文化、跨学科和跨领域视角展开,从宏观层面讨论了旅游地理研究跨文化交流的重要性,从学科层面论证了跨学科研究对于旅游地理现象的解释力,从领域层面分析了跨领域研究对于探讨旅游发展新趋势的独特作用。研究表明：中国旅游地理研究的重点应在于坚持开放性、包容性、多元性的精神,紧密结合新时代中国经济社会发展实践,发展具有中国特色的旅游地理学。     

Changing role of lifestyle in tourism entrepreneurship: Case study of Naked Retreats Enterprise

Despite increased academic attention to tourism lifestyle entrepreneurship (TLE), different discourses and continuous controversy have impeded an understanding of the phenomenon. This paper seeks to provide a new and in-depth understanding through a case study. We select the case of Naked Retreats Enterprise (NRE), a well-known tourism lifestyle corporation in China that has distinctive and deviant TLE. Based on the proposed research framework and multiple-source longitudinal data, we described and interpreted the change in the lifestyle role during the tourism entrepreneurial process. The findings suggest that the role of lifestyle in NRE changed from entrepreneurial motivation to a customer product and then to enterprise capital. The change dynamic is complex and related to contextual factors. This research verifies the effectiveness of a case study and features a dynamic lens and contextual sensibility as applied to TLE research. Moreover, and more broadly, the possibility of bridging the isolated lifestyle discourse in tourism is reflected.     

关于旅游带动经济发展问题的思考

本文试图以笔者多年从事旅游现象基础研究所获知识,对改革开放中旅游带动经济发展的问题进行一些有益的探索。本文首先回顾经济在改革开放中扮演的角色及有关问题,然后对“旅游适度超前发展战略”和“旅游是经济发展增长点”加以评论,最后以旅游现象中几个基本特征为据。阐释笔者对旅游与经济发展关系的认识。     

出境旅游需求的影响因素--兼论发展中经济体与发达经济体的异同

根据微观经济学的需求理论,结合相关研究进展,文章构建了包括基本经济因素（收入和相对价格）、对外开放度、旅游业发展水平、人口统计特征、突发事件等变量在内的出境旅游需求模型,以74个国家/地区1995—2013年的数据为样本,分析了发达经济体和发展中经济体出境旅游需求影响因素的总体特征与异同。结果表明,收入和价格是影响出境旅游需求的决定性因素,对外开放度、旅游业发展水平、人口统计特征及突发事件等其他因素对出境旅游需求同样具有一定的影响。其中,收入、价格以及产业发展水平对发展中经济体出境旅游需求的影响作用相对更大,而对外开放度和人口统计特征（就业水平、年龄结构和受教育水平）对发达经济体出境旅游需求的影响更加显著。     

When quality signals talk: Evidence from the Turin hotel industry

This study analyzes the relationship between quality signals and price setting through the application of hedonic price functions. The model proposals also include variables relating to land use policies and tourism development strategies. A simultaneous equation model endogenously estimates quality signals. This method is appropriate for analyzing emerging urban destinations, as characterized by the presence of an expanding hotel industry. The results are based on a dataset of 145 hotels in Turin, Italy. The empirical findings reveal that reputation-based quality signals help explain tariff levels. Price proposals also include a premium for quality assured hotels, defining some limits of the current hotel classification system. The empirical evidence has significant marketing implications for the hospitality industry’s competitiveness, since the results clarify the impact of quality signals on price level.     

Price formation in tourism industry branches

To examine the pricing behavior of suppliers of holiday goods and services, a margin approach, originally developed to explain price formation in service industries, has been applied to different sectors of the tourism industry, using Dutch data. The fundamental idea of the margin approach is that both cost and demand factors influence price formation. The specific market situation is supposed to determine the extent to which changes in cost factors can be passed on to consumers. Despite difficulties with the quality of data, the results can be characterized as promising.     

关于“艾斯特”定义的几点探讨——基于逻辑学视角

文章介绍了"艾斯特"定义从德语国家起源并传播至国内的过程,以逻辑学作为工具对其进行分析,指出因其在表述中包含隐喻而不是真实定义,可以将其认定为名义定义。其学术价值在于界定一个新的认知对象。对当前关于"旅游"定义的属概念进行分析后发现,这些定义并非是关于同一个概念的定义;应科学地对不同的定义进行比较和分析。关于"旅游现象"的不同定义未必相互矛盾。正确的定义对于指导旅游发展的实践工作、引领旅游学术研究均具有其独特的作用。当前关于"艾斯特"定义的部分观点有失偏颇,它并不是一个循环定义,不应为当前存在的一些问题负责。在新的历史环境下,应坚持在将其作为一个语词定义的前提下认识其与新的社会事实之间的冲突和矛盾,对"艾斯特"定义的学习和研究还应该在争论中继续深入。     

Current trends on Halal tourism: Cases on selected Asian countries

Halal tourism is one of the new phenomenon emerged from the growth of Halal industry. As Halal matters advancing tourism industry, many Muslim and non-Muslim countries are set to capture the Muslim tourists market by providing the tourism products, facilities and infrastructures to cater their needs. While affirming this new phenomenon, there remain a shortage of theoretical publications and research in this area. On top of that, when it comes to the real concept of Halal tourism and its trends, it has nevertheless been found that lack of research has been conducted in providing and determining the so called concept. Thus, due to the scarcity of literature and specific studies in this area this paper aims to explore and illustrate the concept of Halal tourism within the Islamic context with special reference to Quranic verse and Hadith (primary sources in Islam). Meanwhile, to appreciate the existing implementation on this concept, this paper will further provide cases on current trend of Halal tourism in selected countries in Asia. This study adopted qualitative research method and employ library research for data collection technique. The outcomes of this study include the current development of Halal tourism concept and comparison on Halal tourism cases in Asia. On top of that, it would also discover its opportunities and potentials for Muslim and non-Muslim countries to embark on the same journey.     

Demand elasticity estimates for New Zealand tourism

Demand elasticities for New Zealand tourism are estimated for 16 different international visitor segments. Segments are differentiated by origin, purpose of visit, and travel style. Elasticities for both international visitor arrivals and on-the-ground expenditure per arrival are estimated for each segment using time-series data. In general, on-the-ground consumption per arrival is more price sensitive than number of arrivals, and Asian market segments are found to be more price sensitive, both in terms of arrivals and on-the-ground expenditure, compared to international visitors from other regions. An application of the results is presented giving the total effect of exchange rate changes on expenditure by international visitors in New Zealand, and management implications are discussed.     

Measuring price elasticities of demand for outbound tourism using competitiveness indices

The real exchange rate (REX) has long been used as the proxy for prices in tourism demand models. However it has limitations, particularly when it comes to models of outbound tourism. As an alternative, a price competitiveness index (PCI) is developed and used as a proxy for prices in a model of outbound tourism from Australia. Results obtained show that while REX is statistically insignificant and yields a price elasticity of −0.002, PCI is significant and generates a price elasticity of −1.07. The results obtained show that PCI outperforms REX as the preferred price variable in modelling outbound demand on both theoretic and empirical grounds. Furthermore, this index can be used to monitor the inter-temporal competitiveness of a destination.     

The economic impact of tourism at the port of Miami

The total disaggregated economic impact that cruise industry tourism has on Dade County is examined in economic terms using a regional input-output model developmen by the Regional Science Research Institute. The analysis indicates that cruise industry tourism at the Port of Miami had a total economic impact on Dade County of $546 million in 1982. The total direct, indirect and induced number of jobs generated by the cruise industry and cruise passengers is 21,627. Wages totalling $271 million were paid in 1982 in Dade County as a result of the total impact of the cruise industry. Finally, the model revealed that cruise industry tourism contributed $264 million to the county's Gross Regional Product in 1982     

基于区块链的旅游行业征信系统设计

区块链技术去中心化、数据不可篡改、可溯源的特征对旅游业征信系统具有重要价值。文章简要分析了区块链的基本概念,确定了以联盟链为基础构建旅游征信系统。锚定征信主体为游客和旅游业从业人员,关注旅游不文明行为和"服务不一致"现象,设计区块链旅游征信系统的架构,并从区块链电子身份、Token信用积分、智能合约执行、信息认定和发布几个方面阐述设计思路。研究表明,基于区块链的旅游征信系统在构建高效、开放的旅游服务体系、引导旅游行业诚信规范执业、推进旅游服务标准化建设等方面都有极大潜力。但同时,区块链旅游征信系统也面临技术和商业上的极大挑战。     

Immigration and international inbound tourism: Empirical evidence from Australia

Immigration can potentially influence tourism flows. However, in spite of the vast number of studies on tourism demand modelling, the immigration-tourism linkage has not received much attention in the empirical literature. This paper seeks to address this gap. A dynamic demand model is developed and estimated using data from 1980 to 2008 for the 15 main markets of Australia. The explanatory variables included are income, own price, price of a substitute destination, airfare and immigration. The estimation results empirically establish the connection between immigration and inbound tourism. The short run and long-run immigration elasticities generated are 0.028 and 0.09 respectively. Additionally this paper demonstrates that omission of prices of substitutes affects the value of the own price elasticity of demand. The results have implications for future research and for stakeholders who can improve the efficiency of their planning exercises by taking into account additional information on immigration trends.     

Ticket prices and revenue levels of tourist attractions in China: Spatial differentiation between prefectural units

Ticket pricing is a key issue for tourism research in China. Owing to regional differences, a unified nationwide price reduction strategy for tourist attractions would be inappropriate for China. To assist in regional ticket pricing decisions, this study uses ArcGIS spatial analysis methods to analyze the spatial differentiation of ticket prices and revenue levels between prefectural units, using 2017 data from 9450 A-grade tourist attractions. The results reveal prominent characteristics of spatial differentiation in tourist attractions’ average ticket prices, as well as in the proportion of their revenue from ticket sales, between prefectural units. Ticket prices are generally low in north China and high in south China; meanwhile, the proportion of ticket revenue is generally high in east China and low in west China. The factors influencing such spatial differentiation are tourism resources, local socio-economic conditions, and the management of tourist attractions. The findings help stakeholders to make differentiation strategy.     

Modeling hotel room price with geographically weighted regression

Insufficient attention has been given to hotel-room-price attributions and its mechanism in the lodging research field till now. This article examines how site and situation factors differently affect lodging industry and room prices. Comparative analysis of four hedonic price models has been conducted to investigate how these attributions influence room price of Beijing's hotels above star three. Spatial autocorrelation in hotel prices and in hedonic room price equation residuals were analyzed in this research too. Some conclusions can be found and summarized: according to the estimated results, for specific locales, the results expressed in a global model might be inaccurate. The fitting coefficient of geographically weighted regression demonstrates the importance of going beyond the global modeling framework when incorporating geographically weighted regression into hedonic price model. At last, an innovative method for determining the influence of a hotel's attributes at market rates on its’ values, or implicit prices was put forward by the authors.     

U.S. tourism in Mexico: An empirical analysis

This study estimated demand functions for tourism by U.S. residents in Mexico border areas, the Mexican interior, and overseas. There was no evidence that U.S. tourists substitute Mexico for more distant destinations as transportation costs rise. Border tourism is income elastic when the share of U.S. income of the border states is held fixed. Tourism in the Mexican interior is also income elastic. Tourism along the border is price elastic, while tourism in the interior is elastic with respect to U.S. and overseas prices but inelastic with respect to Mexican prices. The rise in the share of the Mexican interior in U.S. overseas tourism is not related to price factors. Recent devaluations of the Mexican peso are unlikely to provide benefits to the Mexican tourism industry.