Information search behavior of Hong Kong's inbound travelers‐a comparison of business and leisure travelers

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to examine the information search behavior of Hong Kong's inbound tourists, in particular business and leisure travelers. The study clearly shows that business and leisure travelers demonstrate different information search behavior. ‘Personal experience,’ ‘Travel agency/tour company,’ ‘Airlines’ and the ‘Internet’ are most frequently relied upon by business travelers in searching for travel information, while leisure travelers prefer ‘Travel agency/tour company,’ ‘Friends or relatives,’ ‘Travel guide books,’ and ‘Personal experience.’ The study also reveals that the total number of information sources used and the length of pre‐trip planning lead‐time are significantly different between these two groups of travelers. First time travelers also have a longer pre‐trip planning lead‐time than repeat travelers. Furthermore, business and leisure travelers perceive the levels of influence of several information sources, including ‘Corporate travel departments,’ ‘Friends or relatives,’ ‘Travel guide books,’ and the ‘Internet,’ differently. These information sources were classified into five different dimensions, including ‘Media,’ ‘Neutral,’ ‘Retail,’ ‘Interpersonal,’ and ‘Personal experience.’ Analysis based on travelers' purpose for traveling and demographic information was performed. Leisure travelers perceive the level of influence of ‘Neutral’ sources as significantly higher, and those with lower household incomes perceived the level of influence of ‘Personal experience’ as lower. The results of this study will allow marketers in Hong Kong to better understand travelers’ information search behavior so that they can more effectively tailor their marketing strategies to these two major markets.     

Stakeholder-Sensitive Business Ethics Teaching

Well-established, well-intended and well-designed business ethics teaching can still have little effect. This is not surprising, as long as business ethics does not undertake a business-school-wide dialogue about goals and obstacles, not least as an example of stakeholder participation. The article elaborates such views in a systematic fashion and formulates a list of thirteen premises and nine recommendations in thesis format.     

环境资源配置中的市场失灵

本文分析了在环境经济领域市场失灵的原因是由环境问题的外部性、环境质量的公共物品性和环境资源产权不清而引起的由此提出了纠正市场失灵的对策；主要靠征税、企业合并、科斯交易、产权界定和政府干预等措施。     

以科学发展为指导，探索建设有西南科技大学特色的校园户外育人环境

校园环境具有物质和精神双重内涵，美好的校园环境，良好的配套设施，不仅能给院校的教师和管理人员提供良好的工作环境，给莘莘学子提供良好的学习环境，而且也可以陶冶学生情操、净化学生心灵、规范学生行为，体现院校的文化和内涵。对学生产生激励作用，在浑然不觉中发挥育人作用，促进学生的全面成长和个性发挥。     

HSE管理中“有感领导”的研究与践行

＂有感领导＂是指企业各级领导通过以身作则的良好个人安全行为,使员工真正感知到安全生产的重要性,感受到领导做好安全的示范性,感知到自身做好安全的必要性。＂有感领导＂是员工的感觉不是领导者本人的感觉。通过对＂有感领导＂理念的研究和践行,探讨如何在新形势下抓好企业的HSE管理工作。提出了＂有感领导＂的三层含义,＂有感领＂的四个核心要素。     

企业统计改革中的六大误区

企业统计已经进行了多年的改革 ,但随着企业改革的逐步深入 ,企业统计已满足不了企业改革的需要。企业统计在改革中步入低谷 ,其中存在六大误区。     

The Potential Environmental Benefits of Co‐Operative Businesses Within the Climate Change Agenda

The economic benefits of agricultural co‐operatives are well rehearsed and have received significant attention in the literature, especially in regard to the resource efficiencies flowing from collective action that might be absent from investor‐owned firms. This article provides evidence to show how these resource efficiencies might also manifest themselves as environmental advantages, which may not be available through investor‐owned firms due to the different purpose of, and motivation for, business activity. Specifically, the article explores how co‐operative businesses may deliver climate change benefits by examining case studies of alternative co‐operative functions that provide a mix of qualitative and quantitative evidence. Results show that, where co‐operative businesses achieve efficiencies through economies of scale, knowledge and skills transfer, sharing of risks and other means, this can also lead to coincidental reductions in greenhouse gas emissions that may not be achieved if investor‐owned activity prevails. Whilst coincidental at present, the future exploitation of this phenomenon could lead to valuable market advantage or aid sustainable development policy. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment.     

Corporate Insurance as a Necessary Form of Consultant–Investigator Contract

Existing literature argues that corporate insurance is purchased because the insurance company produces risk management information for publicly held corporations. In this article, we address a fundamental question as to why other financial intermediaries cannot perform the same information production function as the insurance company. We argue that when the risk manager of the firm performs multiple tasks and needs consulting and investigation services from an outside agent for efficient risk management, the optimal contract with the agent has to be in the form of an insurance contract. Other types of contracts, such as flat-fee contracts, cannot be optimal. Therefore, the insurance company is ideally suited to provides these services.     

信息化环境下审计风险的防范

在信息化环境下,传统的会计业务流程被改变,内部控制制度发生了变更与转移,导致审计风险增加的因素也随之增多。建立健全审计准则和法规,提高审计人员的计算机应用水平,提高审计理论水平等,是控制和防范信息化环境下审计风险的必要措施。