Travel Characteristics Research Articles

Analysis of Service Marketing Strategies in the Senior Study Travel Tour Market

Senior study travel, as an emerging form of tourism, combines the dual characteristics of educational learning and leisure travel. It not only meets the elderly’s desire for spiritual and cultural life and self-fulfillment but also promotes the construction of a healthy aging society. This study comprehensively uses methods such as literature analysis, interviews, and case studies to analyze the current status and existing problems of the senior study travel market. Based on the 7Ps service marketing model, it explores service marketing strategies for the senior study travel market, aiming to provide reference and guidance for related tourism enterprises to supply more attractive senior study travel services.

Machine learning-based causal inference for evaluating intervention in travel behaviour research: A difference-in-differences framework

Causal inference with the difference-in-differences (DID) framework is popular in identifying causal effects with observational data and has started to be applied in recent travel behaviour studies. Most relevant transportation research adopts the conventional linear parametric DID model, which is known to be inflexible and restrictive. This study applies non-parametric DID estimators facilitated by machine learning (ML) models for causal inference in a variety of data scenarios. Semi-parametric and doubly robust estimators are established and integrated with the ML-based cross-fitting pipeline. Simulation studies and empirical case studies are conducted to showcase the ability of ML-based DID to detect causal effects from both simulated and real-world datasets. Results suggest that the proposed methods outperform conventional DID models in all data scenarios. Light working models are generally preferred over hyperparameter-dependent ones for their comparable performance, lower computational burden, and higher levels of compatibility to real-world empirical analysis. Empirical case studies also demonstrate how the proposed DID method could be applied to evaluate the impacts of various interventions on travel behaviour in different contexts. The present study adds to the existing travel behaviour literature by leveraging machine learning algorithms and non-parametric estimators to the impact evaluation of external interventions on travel characteristics and expanding the application of causal inference approaches in transportation research.

Rethinking public service facility distribution and management strategies with the consideration of carbon peak – Insights from Suzhou, China

Existing practices have primarily focused on the accessibility and per capita indices of public service facilities (PSFs) in decision-making processes aimed at promoting social equity. However, the national commitment to achieving a carbon peak may induce additional considerations into the planning and policy decisions of PSFs for local governments. By conducting a two-stage simulation of carbon emissions (CEs) and correlation analysis, we identified uncertainties and confirmed the nonnegligible impact of land use structure, particularly PSF distribution, on achieving the urban transport-related carbon peak. Subsequently, we elaborated on the imperative of optimizing PSF distribution for carbon reduction, rather than solely depending on transport management strategies, through a case study of individual medical care travel characteristics. Moreover, a further discussion on the potential trade-offs and synergies between current and low-carbon-oriented PSF planning and policy decisions underscores the necessity of collaboration among decision-makers across pertinent administrative sectors.

A systematic review of city break travel in tourism

AbstractDespite the growing body of research on urban tourism in the field of tourism and hospitality, only a limited number of studies have delved into the role of city breaks in tourism and analyzed the tourist experience in city break travel. The primary objective of this study is to identify and conceptualize city break tourism and provide guidance for contemporary analyses of city break travel experiences. Specifically, this study aims to: (1) identify the characteristics of city break travel and develop a conceptual framework for city break tourism based on these features; (2) explore the factors influencing city break tourist experiences. To achieve these goals, a systematic review of city breaks has been conducted in the tourism and hospitality sectors to gain a comprehensive understanding of city break tourism. The study contributes both theoretically and practically to the field.

Spatiotemporal characteristics of residents' intercity travel in China under the impact of COVID-19 pandemic

Investigating the spatiotemporal characteristics of residents' intercity travel affected by the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic is of great significance to understanding and extending the impact of major public health affairs on intercity travelers, urban management policies, and intercity cooperative interactions. Taking 366 cities in China as an example, this study proposed a novel research framework for analyzing the spatiotemporal characteristics of intercity population flows. Using AutoNavi population migration big data sets from web crawling, the spatiotemporal structure patterns of intercity travel in China from January 1st to June 30th, 2020 were extracted by using the singular value decomposition (SVD) method. Then the spatial organization patterns of intercity travel networks in China and its five major urban agglomerations were identified by the weighted stochastic block model (WSBM). The results showed that the total volume of intercity travel in China and its five major urban agglomerations experienced a process of rapid decline followed by a slow recovery, presenting a “V-shaped” distribution since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. Three distinctive intercity travel patterns, namely the stable, holiday, and weekday-weekend intercity trip patterns, were extracted from the spatiotemporal OD matrix of intercity travel. Strong intercity travels were mainly distributed in eastern and central China, forming an intercity travel pattern in which core cities pushed and pulled each other within the national urban agglomerations. However, intercity migration flows were dominated by weak-intensity flows. Intercity trips during the holidays had a phenomenon of “escaping from the metropolis”. Meanwhile, it had significant spatial proximity and directionality. The daily intercity trips were characterized by a remarkable periodicity with seven days as a repeat. A more interesting finding is that when weekends overlap with holidays, intercity travel on the 1–2 days before the vacations has presented an effect of “suppression travel”. Furthermore, at the national scale, the stable intercity travel network has formed a polycentric core-periphery structure of “Three Cores-Six Semi-peripheries-Five Peripheries”. At the urban agglomeration scale, they formed respectively distinguished monocentric, bicentric, and polycentric core-periphery structures.

Evolution of Italy-Greece Passenger Maritime Transport: a Multi-level Study to Estimate the Factors Influencing the Demand and Supply of Passenger Ferry Transport

In recent years, the shipping and maritime transport segment has undergone profound changes. Faced with the need to achieve the sustainability goals set by Agenda 2030, different sustainable modes of transport must therefore be evaluated. Passenger transport by ship has proven to be the least polluting per pax/km. Different European regulations are moving in the direction of limiting transport by air when there are fewer polluting methods on average lengths, mainly on a national scale. The tourism sector is one where the impacts on the Agenda 2030 goals are often not properly assessed. Ship connections with a tourism function are central in connections to smaller islands which, due to their size and relatively small flows, do not have airports. In medium-sized basins, tourist traffic by ship is changeable and often dependent on specific characteristics of the basin. The aim of the present research work is to analyse the general case of an open basin, with an application to the Adriatic-Ionian basin. The system of connections between eastern Italy and western Greece by ship is analysed. The case study refers to the characteristics of travel from Italy to Greece by ship, with reference to the Ionian Islands. The overall method proposed is articulated in several successive steps, which can be summarised as follows: analysis of the characteristics of services; analysis of supply with network analysis methods applied to services; analysis of demand with estimation of a regression model. The methodologies identified make it possible to highlight the temporal and central characteristics of the network considered, and at the same time to verify the influence that certain attributes have on tourism for the area studied. The results show, on the one hand, that not all services have a significant summer component and, on the other, that the centrality of the various ports within the network changes, even heavily, with the season. The work is expected to be of particular interest to policy makers, planners, and researchers, considering centrality as closely linked to the distribution of services for passengers in ports and related port-city areas, and considering the possibility of better planning the distribution of funding in relation to the ports’ development and resilience to address disruptive events.

Regression approach to analyze the travel characteristics of university students

ABSTRACT This study at the University of Engineering and Technology (UET), Lahore, examined students’ travel behavior, mode choice and constraints. Data from 1,449 students were analyzed using various statistical methods, including descriptive analysis, latent class analysis (LCA), multinomial logistic regression (MNL), correlation, and linear regression. The model’s accuracy was evaluated by calculating the percent error. Walking was the most popular mode of transportation within the campus, preferred by 37% of students. Most students traveled 1-15 km, taking 10-15 minutes, with off-campus students typically making three trips to their destination. Safety concerns significantly influenced 37% of students’ travel behavior due to built-in constraints.

Research on DC switching based piezoelectric actuator

Piezoelectric actuators provide several advantages, including rapid response time, travel control, high resolution and actuation efficiency. They are a good candidate for actuating mechanical switches designed for electrical circuit breakers. This study investigates the utilisation of an Amplified Piezoelectric Actuator (APA) in Block-Free (B-F) operational mode as an actuation unit for a Fast-Mechanical Switch (FMS) and an Ultra-Fast Disconnector (UFD) to be utilised in a DC Hybrid Circuit Breaker (HCB). Initially, the principle and construction of the piezoelectric actuator actuating scheme were described and illustrated. A Finite Element Analysis (FEA) model was built to simulate and analyse the presented switch/disconnector static and dynamic behaviours. A prototype was constructed based on calculations, and the travel characteristics were experimentally validated. Subsequently, the proposed switch/disconnector was insulated once in a vacuum and later in a nitrogen gas interruption chamber. Both arrangements were integrated into a DC Hybrid Circuit Breaker test platform to investigate their interruption features. Results show that the presented switch/disconnector achieved a total gap of approximately 1 mm in 1.4 ms and interrupted a DC power of 0.6 kV/60 A within 0.85–1.5 ms in vacuum and 0.98–1.45 ms in nitrogen gas.

Optimization of the emergency obstetric and neonatal care network in Benin through expert-based sub-national prioritizations.

To reduce maternal mortality by 2030, Benin needs to implement strategies for improving access to high quality emergency obstetric and neonatal care (EmONC). This study applies an expert-based approach using sub-national travel specificities to identify and prioritize a network of EmONC maternities that maximizes both population coverage and functionality. We conducted a series of workshops involving international, national, and department experts in maternal health to prioritize a set of EmONC facilities that meet international standards. Geographical accessibility modeling was used together with EmONC availability to inform the process. For women in need of EmONC, experts provided insights into travel characteristics (i.e., modes and speeds of travel) specific to each department, enabling more realistic travel times estimates modelled with the AccessMod software. The prioritization approach resulted in the selection of 109 EmONC maternities from an initial group of 125 designated maternities. The national coverage of the population living within an hour's drive of the nearest EmONC maternity increased slightly from 92.6% to 94.1% after prioritization. This increase in coverage was achieved by selecting maternities with sufficient obstetrical activities to be upgraded to EmONC maternities in the Plateau and Atlantique departments. The prioritization approach enabled Benin to achieve the minimum EmONC availability, while ensuring very good geographical accessibility to the prioritized network. Limited human and financial resources can now be targetted towards a smaller number of EmONC facilities to make them fully functioning in the medium-term. By implementing this strategy, Benin aims to reduce maternal mortality rates and deliver effective, high-quality obstetric and neonatal care, especially during emergencies.

Does involving another person in day-to-day activity-travel participation affect social and mental health?

IntroductionThis study investigates the effects of different types of social networks within different activities on an individual’s social and mental health in developing countries since the effects of involving other people or social networks on health have been studied particularly in developing countries. MethodsThe data was collected through a survey conducted from August to October 2019. The survey involved 420 individuals from 92 households, covering inputs on their socio-demographics, travel characteristics, time use, and activity diaries and the involvement of various social network types during the activities, travels performed, and Health Quality of Life. Multilevel modelling with a random slope is applied. For time-use and activity-travel participation information, respondents were asked to record their activities and travel within 15-min intervals for 5 consecutive weekdays with 25 activity classifications grouped as mandatory, leisure, and maintenance activities including online activities that could be conducted in or outside the home. It is also recorded whether other people are involved in each time slice of each activity. Companionship within different activities is then disaggregated into different types of social networks, namely other household members, relatives, close friends, and online friends. ResultEngaging with other people is not necessary to gain positive results on social and mental health. Within different types of activities and different contexts, such as in developing countries that have higher percentages of low-income households, much time spent in engagements with other household members can worsen social and mental health. ConclusionIn developing country contexts, better social health might be indicated by having more engagements with other people beyond household members and spending more time on travelling or out-of-home activities. However, more disposable income, more time for socialising and leisure activities, and more engagements with close and online friends all seem to be able to gain positive mental health conditions.

Research on the Orderly Charging and Discharging Mechanism of Electric Vehicles Considering Travel Characteristics and Carbon Quota

Research on the Orderly Charging and Discharging Mechanism of Electric Vehicles Considering Travel Characteristics and Carbon Quota

How does extreme temperature affect shared travel? Evidence from bike-sharing order flow in China

Due to its flexibility, pro-environmental characteristics, and its contribution to solving the first or last kilometer’ problem, sharing bike has become a popular travel option for many residents, especially for short trips. This study analyses the impact of extreme temperatures on residents' shared travel and the bike-sharing industry by combining the full-sample travel data, meteorological data, and POI data in Hohhot, China. Based on the temporal and spatial characteristics of residents' travel, five patterns are distinguished by K-means clustering: basic trips, short-distance trips, round trips, time tolerance trips and distance tolerance trips. The main conclusions of the research are as follows: i) extremely low temperatures can increase the possibility of short-distance trips and round trips but reduce long-duration or long-distance travel. Extremely high temperature has a positive effect on residents' round trips and time tolerance trips but suppress short-distance trips and distance tolerance trips; ii) for long-duration or long-distance shared travel, extremely low temperature enhance the connection between sharing bikes and other modes of transportation, but the extremely high temperature has the opposite impact; iii) extreme temperature causes less substitution of sharing bikes for other vehicles in round trips. However, residents in basic trip mode prefer to use sharing bikes instead of vehicles at extremely high temperatures; iv) the total annual economic loss of shared travel caused by extreme temperatures reached 31,393.82 CNY. In addition, many residents abandon sharing bikes in favor of cars at extreme temperatures, leading to additional carbon emissions of 2585.29 kg/year. The study also provides profound policy implications for the bike-sharing industry and green travel.

Analysis of Service Performance for Intermodal Facilities in The Area of Asrama Haji and Bumi Sriwijaya Stations

The integrated intermodal service system between the South Sumatra Light Rail Transit (LRT) and road-based transportation modes such as the Palembang Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) and Angkot Feeder Musi Emas still has shortcomings, particularly in the areas of the Asrama Haji and Bumi Sriwijaya Station. This research is conducted to observe the conditions of the physical facilities, payment integration, and schedules at both stations, as well as to examine the regulations in meeting the standards of ideal pedestrian physical facilities, which are then compared with passenger perceptions. This research utilizes the methods of crosstabulation analysis and Importance Performance Analysis (IPA). Crosstabulation analysis is used to determine the relationship between respondents' sociodemographic and their travel characteristics. Importance Performance Analysis (IPA) is used to assess passenger perceptions of the performance quality of intermodal facilities. Based on the research finding, according to passengers perceptions of 49 service attributes, there are 20 attributes that have a high level of importance but low performance, indicating the existence of three service provision needs that need to be prioritized for improvement. First, the provision of adequate and disability-friendly sidewalk facilities. Second, the provision of pedestrian crossing facilities. Third, the access to and from the node that is free from traffic conflicts. The recommended solutions include the construction of sidewalks connected to the node points, built higher than the road surface, installation of guiding block, barrier posts, and ramps at each end of the sidewalk, construction of an overpass (JPO) at the Asrama Haji Station and a pelican cross at the Bumi Sriwijaya Station, and the regulation of transit areas to prevent vehicles from parking and waiting at the entrance and exit points of the node.

Battery Electric Vehicles: Travel Characteristics of Early Adopters

Do U.S. households with battery electric vehicles (BEVs) drive less or more than U.S. households with internal combustion engine vehicles (ICEVs)? Answering this question is important to policymakers and transportation planners concerned with reducing vehicle miles traveled and the emissions of greenhouse gases from transportation. So far, this question has not been answered satisfactorily, possibly because of the relatively low number of EVs in the U.S. until recently, but also because of methodological issues. In this paper, we aim to fill this gap by analyzing data from the 2017 National Household Travel Survey (NHTS). We apply propensity score matching (PSM), a quasi-experimental method, to examine the differences in self-reported annual mileage and calculated daily mileage for various trip purposes among households with only BEVs (BEV-only), households with both BEVs and ICEVs (BEV+), and households without BEVs (non-BEV households). Our findings indicate that households with BEVs drive fewer annual miles than non-BEV households, but typically travel no less than they do for daily activities. This apparent discrepancy is likely due to taking fewer longer trips because the public charging infrastructure was still in its infancy in 2017, and its reliability was questionable. As technological progress is helping to overcome current battery limitations, policymakers may consider measures for fostering fast charging technologies while pondering new measures to fund both the charging infrastructure and the road network.

Multi-stage layout strategies of intercity charging and swapping infrastructure for electric logistics vehicles: random, radical, or conservative?

The arrangement of charging infrastructure has become an urgent issue as electric logistics vehicles (ELVs) transition from urban areas to intercity operations. In this study, we established a multi-stage layout model for intercity charging and swapping infrastructure (CSI) based on the travel characteristics of electric logistics vehicles, to minimize the investment cost of operators and the time cost of vehicle users in Hubei Province, China. Furthermore, the effect of “random”, “conservative”, and “radical” layout strategies for the infrastructure deployment was analyzed based on an improved genetic algorithm. It is found that the random layout strategy leads to a balance between infrastructure operators and users with the lowest total cost, which is 81.2% and 88.8% of the costs based on the radical strategy and the conservative strategy, respectively. The conservative strategy could reduce investment risks for operators with the lowest investment cost, while the radical strategy prioritizes the convenience of electric logistics vehicles, with the lowest user time cost. The case study suggests that choosing conservative strategies can bring benefits when the budget is limited, while radical strategies have more advantages when the budget is abundant. Random strategies bring the best overall social benefits. The configuration of CSI and travel characteristics of ELVs play important roles in determining layout strategies.

Exploring carbon emission accounting methods for typical public institutions: a case study of hospitals

Typical public institutions such as government offices, hospitals, and schools play important leading and exemplary roles in the green and low-carbon development of the whole society. This paper analyzes the business and energy consumption characteristics of public institutions, as well as the characteristics of personnel travel, and constructs a carbon accounting model for public institutions. It innovatively proposes a methodology for carbon accounting of personnel travel related to public institutions and validates and analyzes it using a comprehensive hospital as an example. The paper analyzes the carbon emission characteristics of various energy types, systems, and types of travelers in hospitals, provides schemes for the transformation of main energy systems, and corresponding emission reduction effects, thereby providing technical support for the full-chain carbon accounting of public institutions. Additionally, this paper explores the carbon reduction pathways for hospitals to support the peak carbon and carbon neutrality goals of public institutions, and promote the high-quality development of public institutions in China.

Visitor Profile: Shaping Experiential Quality, and Post-Consumption Behaviours in Kenyan Theme Parks

Visitor experiences are individual occurrences characterized by their subjective nature. As a result, each consumer has a unique perspective on the quality of experience depending on their visitor profiles. The literature implies that demographic and travel characteristics are factors that may influence the perceptions of visitors. While some studies have examined the influence of these factors on marketing variables, more information is still needed to help predict visitors' post-consumption behaviours and to understand how they interpret experiences. This study explored whether experiential quality, perceived value, satisfaction, and behavioural intentions differ according to individuals’ demographics and travel characteristics. A survey was conducted collecting data from 324 visitors in presumed leading theme parks in Kenya. A t-test for independent samples and a Kruskal–Wallis test were used for the analysis. Except for gender and first or repeat visitors, the results for all other demographic and travel characteristics showed significant differences in at least one of the variables studied

Examining Travel Mode Preference for the COVID-19 Post-Vaccination Period: Insights from Dhaka, Bangladesh

This research investigates preferences of general public towards travel modes in the COVID-19 post-vaccination times. First, a questionnaire survey is conducted in Dhaka, Bangladesh, to gather information on people's socio-demographic characteristics, travel choices before, during, and after the pandemic, and attitudes towards public transit, active transport, and personal car. Next, three ordered logit models are developed to explore how mode preferences vary across socio-demographics, travel characteristics, and risk perceptions. This research identifies factors that contribute to commuters' travel mode preference as well as factors that act as deterrents. Analysis reveals that there will be a noticeable shift from public transport to private car and active transport. To be able to walk or bike to work, people may consider relocating closer to their workplaces. Individuals who used a private car before vaccination may continue to do so after being vaccinated. Additionally, women are more likely to prefer own vehicles while people aged more than 49 years are less likely to prefer public transport. Results also suggest that use of food delivery services, ridesharing, and working from home significantly affects travel mode preference. Individuals who never used ridesharing services are more likely to prefer walking and bicycling after vaccination. The outcomes of this study are expected to assist transport policymakers in the Global South to better understand COVID-19′s long-term influence on mode choice behavior and help in developing pragmatic policies to promote sustainable travel habits.

Impact of information and communication technology on mobility of urban and rural households: a comparative study from Nigeria

ABSTRACT There has been a growing concern regarding the potential impact of technology on travel patterns, with limited attention given to its effects on both urban and rural households. To address this gap, our study focuses on the influence of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) on rural-urban mobility. We conducted this research using primary data collected through a multi-stage sampling method, where 50% of the wards were selected randomly. Subsequently, a total of 510 questionnaires in urban areas and 492 questionnaires in rural areas was administered using a systematic sampling approach. The results of this investigation revealed significant variations in the socio-demographic and travel characteristics of respondents within the study areas. Notably, our findings indicate that ICT usage has not entirely replaced traditional trips in urban and rural settings. Instead, it has played a pivotal role in complementing travel activities. The implications of these findings are substantial. As tele-density improves and expands in rural areas, it is foreseeable that more cost-effective travel planning will be achievable.

Ride-hailing Service and The Shape of Urban Mobility (Case Study: The City of Makassar, Indonesia)

The significant gap between supply and demand of flexible and comfortable public transport within cities in the lower-income countries encourages the opportunity for the private sector to provide a ride-hailing service. Since its introduction in 2010, the ride-hailing service has continued to grow and has shaped urban mobility in the past twenty years. Due to the growth of ride-hailing services, some concerns arise regarding their contribution to the increasing traffic volume and the increased dependency on smaller-capacity vehicles in citizen mobility. This study aims to: 1) analyze the travel patterns of ride-hailing users based on their mobility needs; 2) analyze the relationship between travel characteristics and users’ socio-economic background and travel characteristics; 3) analyze the implication of ride-hailing users in shaping Makassar’s urban mobility. This study focused on the city of Makassar as the case study. The data in this study was obtained from an online survey of ride-hailing users with 270 samples. Several approaches are used for the analysis, i.e., descriptive statistics, spatial analysis, and network analysis. The result shows that 1) Most of the ride-hailing users are young generation (Gen Z). They perform a short-distance trip daily (internal trip within the district). 2) Regardless of the users’ age, income, and private vehicle ownership, ease of service is the foremost preference of the users since it is application-based and can be accessed using a smartphone. Door-to-door service is also one of the advantages provided by ride-hailing services.