Modeling International Travel Arrangements for Taiwanese Travelers: Potential Fits

Abstract

This paper presents a choice model of international travel arrangements for potential Taiwanese FIT (Foreign Independent Travel) travelers. Previous studies were based mostly on package vacations, with little attention given to FIT travelers. Recent years have indicated a transition toward FIT. Since this transition is likely to continue, it is important for travel and tourism organizations and for marketers to understand FIT individuals. This study distinguishes potential FIT travelers from non-FIT travelers, identifies variables useful in making this prediction, and provides recommendations to travel and tourism organizations of host countries. The findings indicate that Taiwanese FIT travelers are likely to be younger, male, highly educated, budget conscious, travel with a larger party size for purposes of meeting interesting and friendly local people, stay for longer periods of time, and have taken many trips in the last three years that in volved spending at least four nights away from home.     

Projecting total costs and health consequences of increasing mt-sDNA utilization for colorectal cancer screening from the payer and integrated delivery network perspectives

Abstract

Aims: To evaluate total costs and health consequences of a colorectal cancer (CRC) screening program with colonoscopy, fecal immunochemical tests (FIT), and expanded use of multitarget stool DNA (mt-sDNA) from the perspectives of Integrated Delivery Networks (IDNs) and payers in the United States.

Materials and methods: We developed a budget impact and cost-consequence model that simulates CRC screening for eligible 50- to 75-year-old adults. A status quo scenario and an increased mt-sDNA scenario were modeled. The status quo includes the current screening mix of colonoscopy (83%), FIT (11%), and mt-sDNA (6%) modalities. The increased mt-sDNA scenario increases mt-sDNA utilization to 28% over 10 years. Costs for both the IDN and the payer perspectives incorporated diagnostic and surveillance colonoscopies, adverse events (AEs), and CRC treatment. The IDN perspective included screening program costs, composed of direct nonmedical (e.g. patient navigation) and indirect (e.g. administration) costs. It was assumed that IDNs do not incur the costs for stool-based screening tests or bowel preparation for colonoscopies.

Results: In a population of one million covered lives, the 10-year incremental cost savings incurred by increasing mt-sDNA utilization was $16.2 M for the IDN and $3.3 M for the payer. The incremental savings per-person-per-month were $0.14 and $0.03 for the IDN and payer, respectively. For both perspectives, increased diagnostic colonoscopy costs were offset by reductions in screening colonoscopies, surveillance colonoscopies, and AEs. Extending screening eligibility to 45- to 75-year-olds slightly decreased the overall cost savings.

Limitations: The natural history of CRC was not simulated; however, many of the utilized parameters were extracted from highly vetted natural history models or published literature. Direct nonmedical and indirect costs for CRC screening programs are applied on a per-person-per modality basis, whereas in reality some of these costs may be fixed.

Conclusions: Increased mt-sDNA utilization leads to fewer colonoscopies, less AEs, and lower overall costs for both IDNs and payers, reducing overall screening program costs and increasing the number of cancers detected while maintaining screening adherence rates over 10 years.     

植入式生物医学电子的UWB无线通信可行性建模研究

为考察超宽带（UWB）实现植入式生物医学电子设备无线通信的可行性及信道传播特性,基 于男性活体C T及MRI切片图像,构建了一个频率范围在1～10.8 GHz的高分辨率三维人体电磁模型 ,考虑了85种不同人体组织或器官的电磁特性参数;将模型嵌入基于有限积分法（FIT）的 三维电磁仿真软件进行电磁计算,考察电磁波在人体内的路径损耗及比吸收率特性。实验结 果表明:该模型能较好地描绘真实人体的电磁特性, 信号在人体内的衰减随频率的升高及植 入深度的加深而加重;在植入深度达160 mm时,3.5 GHz信号的路径损耗为75 dB ;参考功率为27 dBm时,人体对3.5 GHz信号的比吸收率在安全值范围内;证实 了采用UWB频段内的3.5 GHz实现植入式生物医学电子无线通信的可行性和安全性。     

新休假制度对北京居民旅游活动影响的实证分析

新休假制度实施已经将近一年时间,对比2006年和2008年两次调查的结果发现,新休假制度没有对北京居民的短途旅游产生明显的促进作用。本文认为,产生这一现象的原因可以用"渗透效应"来加以解释,对于日常工作压力较大的人群来说,工作日对于休息日具有一定的渗透影响,从而削弱了小长假的价值。     

浅析我国旅行社在散客旅游市场开发中的角色转变

分析了我国散客旅游市场现状和迅速发展的原因,在此基础上提出了旅行社在散客旅游市场开发中包括产品设计、产品定价、市场开拓、委托代理、咨询服务等方面的转变,指出旅行社应从“引导游客消费”的角色向“辅助游客消费”的角色转变。     

Explaining behavioural intentions toward co-branded products

The authors develop a conceptual model of factors that determine behavioural intentions to buy co-branded products. The model is an extension of the Simonin/Ruth model. Structural equation modelling serves to test the hypotheses. Product fit has the strongest effect (of the exogenous factors) on behavioural intention. Marketers should gain a detailed understanding of consumers' perceptions of product and brand fit with partner brands and establish positive associations before leveraging a brand as a co-branded product. Buying intentions for co-branded products can be increased by marketing to brand-conscious consumers, consumers with variety-seeking tendencies, and highly involved consumers.     

Profiling Asian and Western family independent travelers (FITS): An exploratory study

This study explored perceptual and behavioral differences in service quality, satisfaction, and intention to revisit between Asian and Western family independent travelers (FITs) and to profile each group by its demographic and vacation characteristics as well as its family vacation decision‐making modes. Qualified FITs (n = 183) from seven major source markets were interviewed in the departure lounge at the Hong Kong International Airport. Results indicated that, compared to Asian FITs, Western respondents were more likely to favorably evaluate service quality, be first time visitors, and be younger. However, they were less likely to return to Hong Kong for leisure. Most Western travelers shared all decisions together between spouses, whereas their Asian counterparts were more likely to report individual dominant decisions, especially for those trip specific decisions. Marketing implications and future research directions are discussed.