Tourist gay(ze) or transnational sex: Australian gay men's holiday desires

The paper draws on 21 qualitative interviews with Australian gay men from the cities of Melbourne and Sydney. The paper explores the motivations for the gay men to undertake their holidays, in particular the pursuit and/or experience of sex and the intersecting of travel, sex and social class in reinforcing binaries of exclusion/inclusion within gay male travel. It is suggested within the paper that sexual identity is a key motivator for some gay men in taking holidays. However, social class and socio‐economic income are found to be crucial in facilitating or denying the inclusion/exclusion of gay men from the tourist experience. In turn, the paper finds that homogeneous images of gay men as rich and highly mobile are problematic and false, and exclude many low‐income gay men who are unable to travel overseas.     

Holiday destinations: Understanding the travel choices of Irish tourists

This paper uses a McFadden choice model to measure the importance of destination, household and seasonal characteristics to the tourism destination choices of Irish households. The analysis is based on quarterly survey data of Irish households' travel destinations between 2000 and 2006. In total, some 55,000 holiday trips were observed. Destination characteristics such as temperature, GDP and coastline are found to positively influence choice probabilities, while population density and distance have a negative effect on choice. Household-specific characteristics such as the number of children and people over 60 in a household are found to be important. We also identify differences in preferences across seasons and a change over time of the effect of destination country GDP on Irish holiday destination choices.     

An exploration of lesbian,gay, bisexual,and transgender pride festival sponsors

Pride festivals, events defined as a parade, march, rally, or festival organized for the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender community, continue to rely on sponsorships for festival operations. The purpose of this exploratory study is to examine the current makeup of pride festival sponsors in the United States and Canada. A content analysis of 780 of 30 U.S. and Canadian pride festival sponsors found that all 30 pride festivals utilized sponsors. Findings indicate that a majority of the sponsors that came from states outside of the pride festival state were private corporate sponsors, and came from industries such as services, health, media, and beverages. Theoretical and managerial implications are discussed.     

Sense of belonging to a lesbian,gay, bisexual,and transgender event: the examination of affective bond and collective self-esteem

ABSTRACT

This study examined behavioral intentions of sexual minority attendees at an event from a sense-of-belonging perspective. Based on social identity theory, attendees’ social representations are examined via affective bond at the event level and collective self-esteem at the community level. A survey was conducted with 261 respondents from the sexual minority community at a large, annual lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) event. Findings revealed that affective bond positively impacts satisfaction and behavioral intentions. In addition, collective self-esteem also had a positive influence on behavioral intentions. Theoretical and managerial implications for event managers and destination managers are provided.     

Understanding Chinese cultural tourists: typology and profile

ABSTRACT

This study aims to offer a clear and up-to-date typology and profile of Chinese cultural tourists in mainland China following the framework based on cultural centrality and depth of cultural experience. Using a sample of mainland Chinese tourists (n = 656) at three cultural attractions in Guangzhou, China, a typology of Chinese cultural tourists (namely casual, sightseeing, purposeful, serendipitous, and incidental) was developed and trip characteristics (e.g. prior knowledge, time spent to get to know the site before visit, change in knowledge, and on-site activities) and sociodemographics of each segment were also examined. In addition, slight differences are found between local day-trippers and tourists from outside Guangzhou in terms of their types and characteristics (prior knowledge, change in knowledge, and sociodemographics). Destination marketing and management implications are provided.     

Polish holiday villages: Secular tradition and modern practice

This article describes the contemporary pattern of holiday villages in Poland. Research shows new economic, spatial and social evolution, and indicates that the successful future development of Polish holiday villages will depend upon the proper solution of possible conflicts, eg between tourism and agriculture, and between the interests of private lodging owners and of the regulations and principles of a planned economy. Close connection with general economic reform in Poland is emphasized and the need for greater flexibility in the holiday-village industry.     

Children and structured holiday camping: Processes and perceived outcomes

Holiday camping and time spent in outdoor environments are critical childhood experiences. This study aims to identify the outcomes and processes underlying children's experiences of holiday camping. The researchers use the contextual model of learning as the theoretical background underpinning the study. Chinese children who left their families and participated in structured camping trips formed as the research respondents. Several child-centred research methods, including participant observation, focus group discussions, and interviews based on elicited drawings, were employed to study the children's construction of their experiences. Children mainly reported positive camping outcomes, including enhanced interpersonal skills, improved self-awareness, general knowledge and skills, and positive emotions. Negative outcomes including feelings of anxiety and boredom were also occasionally observed. The ongoing interplay of personal, social, and physical contexts works together to generate these camping outcomes. Practical and theoretical implications are offered to enhance positive outcomes and reduce negative ones when children go camping.     

The holiday and work experiences of women with young children

This paper looks at the holiday experiences of women with young children. It attempts to unfold the meaning of that experience, looking particularly at the contradiction of a work-filled event being accepted as a holiday experience. Women with young children do not have uniform holiday experiences or perceptions of those experiences. Some women will define the experience as a holiday only if they are away from family obligations; other women will consider the relative rest and the opportunity of being able to have quality time as a mother or partner as meaningful and worthwhile. The two key features of the holiday for women with young children were the reduction in pressure and the sharing of time in key relationships and roles. However, the overall scenario was one of little support for women to construct a holiday and an absence of dialogue regarding the right to holidays. As work and relationship are an integral part of the holiday experience, the findings question the relevance of the continued use of the work/leisure dichotomy in leisure theory.     

Tourism and attitude change: Greek tourists visiting Turkey

This study evaluates attitude change of Greek tourists towards Turkish people inclusive of their political beliefs and institutions, as a result of their visit to Turkey. A sample of 97 Greek first-time travelers to Turkey completed a structured questionnaire measuring attitudes towards Turkey before and after their visit. A control group of 82 Greek citizens who remained in Greece also completed the questionnaire twice. The major results showed that travel to Turkey had a negative impact on Greek tourists perceptions of the host population. This was particularly true concerning such aspects as the quality of life in Turkey, Turkish institutions, and the cultural aspects of its people.     

Attitude towards immigrants and security: Effects on destination-loyal tourists

This study was conducted in the midst of a surge of undocumented immigrants into a popular seasonal migrant destination in the U.S. and the subsequent state response of adding security forces. Factors examined include the effects of the role of media in shaping perceptions about security forces, perceptions about security force effectiveness, perceptions of undocumented immigrants and political orientation. The study of 413 respondents found that attitudes toward undocumented immigrants affect felt safety in the region, likelihood of recommending and returning to the region. Perceptions of the effectiveness of the security forces were important in affecting likelihood of recommending the region to others but not return intention. These and other findings contribute significantly to the scant research on both effectiveness of crises management responses and on effects of perceptions of undocumented immigrants on traveler behavior.     

Modeling domestic holiday tourism demand in Australia: Problems and solutions

An econometric model is very useful for understanding the underlying relationship between tourism demand and economic variables such as income and travel prices. However, a long time series horizon of data is essential to run an econometric model that is consistent with economic theory. Although time series data on the number of domestic trips and visitor nights in Australia are available since 1978–79, breaks in the time series in different years have made it difficult to estimate a domestic holiday demand model. It is because the data series in different periods are not directly comparable. In this study, a simple data adjustment technique has been used to obtain comparable data series. Among several econometric demand models, a single equation multivariate time series demand model in a double log linear functional form was found to be the most appropriate and practical model to estimate and analyze the demand parameters of domestic holiday travel in Australia. However, the model with variables in level terms was observed having the “spurious regression problem” which has been corrected using the cointegration and error correction mechanisms. The estimated income and price elasticity of domestic holiday travel demand are consistent with economic theory and therefore can be used for forecasting and other purposes.     

The holiday meal: eating out alone and mobile emotional geographies

In this paper I explore the power imbued in ‘in situ bonding social capital’ when on vacation by investigating midlife single women's experiences of eating out alone on holiday. In contrast to much tourism research which envisions eating out together on holiday as carefree and sociable experiences, I consider the company of family and friends as an asset or as in situ bonding social capital. Drawing upon poststructural feminism, emotional geographies and tourism mobilities I demonstrate, on the one hand, the value of this capital by pointing to how lack of the same makes the women feel lonely and socially excluded and, hence, dislike eating out alone on holiday. I argue that this capital is incorporated and affected by the ‘normalised discourse’ of the vacation. On the other hand, I also identify times and spaces within which this capital is less powerful. On holiday some of the women enjoy eating out at lunchtime and in cities. I thus also argue that the women's emotional reactions to eating places are mobile and that in situ bonding social capital is a temporal–spatial asset. The findings are based on focus group pre‐ and post‐trip interviews and solicited on‐trip diaries. Thirty‐two Norwegian single women aged 35–55 years participated in the study.     

Sources of challenge for adventure tourists: Scale development and validation

One of the motives for tourists to pursue adventure activities is challenge. This research aimed to conceptualize the sources of challenge and to develop a relevant scale. First, in-depth interviews and content analysis were conducted in order to generate the initial items. Second, an exploratory factor analysis was performed by investigating 328 mountaineers. Seven factors were identified: the uncertainty of the environment; insufficiency of participants' resources; relationships with partners; difficulty of the activity; ability of the partners; equipment; and a sense of competition. Third, confirmative factor analysis was employed in order to investigate 312 subjects on-site. The seven factors outlined above were verified. Implications and suggestions for future research are provided.     

When Western hosts meet Eastern guests: Airbnb hosts' experience with Chinese outbound tourists

As the number of Chinese tourists using Airbnb for their holiday accommodation is steadily increasing, this study investigates western Airbnb hosts' experiences with Chinese outbound tourists. In an analysis of hosts' self-reported posts on the Airbnb community forum, the main issues that emerged relate to Chinese guests' daily habits and lifestyles, cultural differences, and language barriers. This research highlights the role that cultural differences and tradition play in guest–host encounters, and offers a theoretical framework on inter-cultural host–guest relationship that provides an initial understanding of this phenomenon. This study extends the knowledge on the host–guest paradigm in the peer-to-peer accommodation literature from an inter-cultural perspective. This article also launches the Annals of Tourism Research Curated Collection on Peer-to-peer accommodation networks, a special selection of research in this field.     

River cruise holiday packages: A network analysis combined with a geographic information system framework

This research analyzes the physical network of river cruise holiday packages as a relational system. A comprehensive network analysis is undertaken based on data from the Douro River (Portugal). Adjacency matrices are built to derive network centrality, constraint, and modularity metrics, further integrated into a Geographic Information System. Centrality and constraint measures are regressed on river-cruise holiday packages' attraction and logistical factors. Results reveal a major impact of logistical attributes rather than attraction on most centrality and constraint metrics. River cruising's destination network proves to be a multimodal transit network structure in a hub-and-spoke network framework, exhibiting several modules linked by connector hubs, which is consistent with a power-law distribution common to real-world networks. The results confirm river cruising's complex physical network of destinations, geographically diffused, which raises systemic and scale concerns that call for an integrated approach that articulates destination planning comprehensively.     

Greenways: a sustainable leisure experience concept for both communities and tourists

This paper reviews the development of greenways/car-free trails as an alternative environmentally friendly communication system and assesses their strengths and weaknesses. It gives the results of a questionnaire survey of 1261 users along a 106-km greenway in Spain linking the Pyrenees with the Mediterranean Sea. Unlike previous studies, sampling was random and unequal probabilities of selection were properly accounted for. The results show a complex range of user profiles, tourist and non-tourist, their perceptions of the trail and some of the direct and indirect impacts of the greenway on the communities through which it passes. Management recommendations flowing from the survey are presented with the aim of increasing the use of accommodation services and businesses in the towns and villages near the greenway and helping create a more sustainable tourism system. The paper illustrates the potential importance of greenways in a future low-carbon tourism strategy adapting to climate change.     

Differences between male and female sport event tourists: A qualitative study

This qualitative study, using the Zaltaman Metaphor Elicitation Technique (ZMET), investigated differences between male and female sport event tourists. Study participants cited different attributes, consequences, and values with respect to the five themes that emerged from this study: loyalty, socialization, self-actualization, volunteering, and equality through sport. The use of a grounded qualitative research approach made it possible to discover that the act of sport spectating could give sport event tourists the opportunity to reach other goals (e.g., social responsibility, self-actualization and healthy lifestyle). This study made several unique contributions to event tourism research. The most important finding, however, had to do with self-actualization. Socialization, travel, volunteering, and promoting gender equality and other social responsibilities through sport enable people to reach their potential and achieve a healthy lifestyle. These singular findings have implications to sports event management and marketing strategies.     

Guides' handling of multiple roles in interactions with tourists: The prism of impression management

Tour guides undertake multiple roles and may face role conflicts when interacting with tourists. A framework of impression management based on dramaturgical theory provides an insight into the inner mechanisms behind how tour guides deal with multiple role dilemmas. This situation is examined in interactions between local Chinese tour guides and Chinese group tourists in a walking-tour-shopping context in Frankfurt am Main, Germany. Through observations and interviews, we find that the interplay of a moving stage and guides' role-shifting between being a Chinese sibling, a local and a cultural interpreter delivers authoritative and reliable impressions to tourists, and thus conceal their conflicting role as a shopping broker. We further refine the inner mechanism, which contributes to existing literature on tour guides' multiple-role practices. Our research also enriches the explanatory power of Goffman's framework by explaining a complex situation with multiple role dilemmas amidst a moving working stage in interactive studies.     

Linking loss aversion and present bias with overspending behavior of tourists: Insights from a lab-in-the-field experiment

Building upon Prospect Theory and Hyperbolic Time Discounting models, we explore how behavioral factors influence the probability of overspending among outbound leisure travelers. We construct our data in two steps. First, we collect demographics and travel-related variables from a random sample of 314 Singaporean tourists across different age groups and income levels. Second, we conduct a field experiment to measure their risk and time preferences, specifically loss aversion and present bias. We then explore the link between the measured preferences to overspending behavior. The findings reveal an interesting link between loss aversion, present bias and traveling expenditure patterns: outbound tourists with high loss aversion and high present bias are more likely to overspend. Finally, our study also highlights the role of group identity in de-biasing. Specifically, individuals are more likely to behave according to standard economic models when making decisions in groups.