Departure Hall Research Articles

Is price most important? Healthcare tourism in Southeast Asia

ABSTRACTHealthcare tourism is a general term for traveling to another country to seek healthcare services. It spread from Western countries to emerging Southeast Asian nations in the past decade because of a series of factors. Price is likely considered as one of the important factors among most healthcare tourism providers and politicians. However, healthcare tourists tend to consider more before making a decision. According to some early studies, healthcare quality, package, convenience, country, price, emotional value, and social value were frequently considered factors. To examine the role of these factors, this study proposes a structural model to investigate the relationship of the perceived value, satisfaction, and behavioral intentions of three Southeast Asian countries, namely Singapore, Thailand, and Malaysia. A sample of size 724 is collected at the Departure Hall of the Singapore Changi International Airport within a two-month period, using a systematic random sampling method, in which every third tourist who pass the surveyor is asked to fill in the questionnaire. All of the questionnaires handed out on a given day referred to the same country, and the three different countries are rotated on different days. All factors are significant and it is found that the two most important factors are functional value of healthcare quality and emotional value. Price is a significant but the least important factor. This indicates that cheaper price may be just a promotional gimmick or an obvious incentive, but it is not the main driving force for healthcare tourists to make their decisions. The results also provide empirical support that emphasis on perceived value of healthcare tourism may also translate into trust in the staff and other positive feelings. It is further found that the impact of perceived value on behavioral intentions is mediated by satisfaction for all three countries.

Hospitals: Soft Target for Terrorism?

In recent years, the world has been rocked repeatedly by terrorist attacks. Arguably, the most remarkable were: the series of four coordinated suicide plane attacks on September 11, 2001 on buildings in New York, Virginia, and Pennsylvania, USA; and the recent series of two coordinated attacks in Brussels (Belgium), on March 22, 2016, involving two bombings at the departure hall of Brussels International Airport and a bombing at Maalbeek Metro Station located near the European Commission headquarters in the center of Brussels. This statement paper deals with different aspects of hospital policy and disaster response planning that interface with terrorism. Research shows that the availability of necessary equipment and facilities (eg, personal protective clothing, decontamination rooms, antidotes, and anti-viral drugs) in hospitals clearly is insufficient. Emergency teams are insufficiently prepared: adequate and repetitive training remain necessary. Unfortunately, there are many examples of health care workers and physicians or hospitals being targeted in both political or religious conflicts and wars. Many health workers were kidnapped and/or killed by insurgents of various ideology. Attacks on hospitals also could cause long-term effects: hospital units could be unavailable for a long time and replacing staff could take several months, further compounding hospital operations. Both physical and psychological (eg, posttraumatic stress disorder [PTSD]) after-effects of a terrorist attack can be detrimental to health care services. On the other hand, physicians and other hospital employees have shown to be involved in terrorism. As data show that some offenders had a previous history with the location of the terror incident, the possibility of hospitals or other health care services being targeted by insiders is discussed. The purpose of this report was to consider how past terrorist incidents can inform current hospital preparedness and disaster response planning. De Cauwer H , Somville F , Sabbe M , Mortelmans LJ . Hospitals: soft target for terrorism? Prehosp Disaster Med. 2017;32(1):94-100.

Cooling capacity prediction of radiant floors in large spaces of an airport

In large space buildings such as check-in halls and departure halls in airports, the envelope is dominated by glass façades, skylights, and metal ceilings. A radiant floor is an effective sensible heat removal terminal due to its direct longwave radiant heat exchange with high-temperature wall surfaces and absorption of solar radiation. The emissivities of metal ceilings and many advanced materials (e.g., low-e coating) in large spaces range from 0.2 to 0.9, markedly different from that of traditional building materials (0.9–0.95), which affects the indoor longwave heat exchange. Moreover, the number of transient solar radiation incidents on the floor surface can vary tremendously, resulting in remarkable differences in cooling capacity of the radiant floor, e.g., from 30 to 40W/m2 to more than 100W/m2. In this paper, a new simple calculation method for longwave radiant heat exchange that considers emissivity is proposed, and the location and duration of transient solar radiation through skylights and side windows in large spaces are depicted quantitatively. Based on this new method, a typical case study is presented, in which the cooling capacity of a radiant floor in the large spaces of an airport is calculated. The case study also showcases designs of radiant floors in large spaces with different material emissivity and transient solar radiation values.

Future airport terminals: New technologies promise capacity gains

The changing dynamics of passenger processes in future airport terminals resulting from pressures from both the demand and supply side are analyzed in this paper. Short and long term (beyond 2020) developments are studied following technology advances and business plans of airlines and airports. Key technologies affecting the central passenger processing functions include identity management and biometrics, Near Field Communications, Big Data analytics and smartphone applications. A simulation model is developed and used to assess the impact of forthcoming changes on the airport's departure hall. Lisbon Portela airport is used as case study. It is shown that passenger process times at the check-in and security checkpoints are significantly reduced, due to the introduction of passenger facilitation processes, under a range of behavioral, technological and policy uncertainties. The most salient implication of these reductions is the quantified capacity gains in the building which question the need for terminal expansion.

RAILWAY SYSTEM ACCESSIBILITY EVALUATION FOR WHEELCHAIR USERS: CASE STUDY IN THE CZECH REPUBLIC

This paper deals with accessibility of rail transportation as a system. Presented methods bring ways of rail infrastructure and train accessibility evaluation. Applied two-stage model enables evaluation of departure halls accessibility. The level of train accessibility is defined by coefficients of time and direction non-uniformity. While opportunities for barrier-free travelling are relatively balanced in monitored regions, coefficients show a time imbalance in the results. Opportunity to travel barrier-free (according to the non-uniformity coefficients) shows that there are fluctuations at weekends and on weekdays. These are not of crucial importance. However, the train services are barrier-free particularly for travelling on long distances, whilst suburban and regional ones are still mostly inaccessible for wheelchairs, which is not very favourable. Since 2010 the accessibility level has improved in this area in the Czech Republic. Comparison with neighbouring countries showed strong and weak points of guaranteed barrier-free services in each country.

Comparing Destination Image and Loyalty between First-time and Repeat-visit Tourists

The objective of this study was to investigate the difference between destination image and loyalty among first-time and repeat-visit tourists. The study was undertaken to examine aspects of underlying factors of destination image that influenced tourists’ willingness to recommend Malaysia to their friends and relatives as well as spread positive word-of-mouth to others. In addition, it was to ascertain the relationship between destination image and loyalty among first-time and repeat-visit tourists. The data was collected at Kuala Lumpur International Airport at the departure hall using self-administered questionnaires. 248 usable questionnaires were returned and analysed. The findings of the study revealed that both groups of tourists perceived Malaysia as providing a nature-based destination. The study also empirically proved that both first-time and repeat-visit tourists were willing to disseminate positive word-of-mouth and recommend Malaysia to their friends and relatives as a vacation destination to visit. However, there was a significant difference in destination loyalty between first-visit and repeat-visit tourists.

Coupled TRNSYS-CFD simulations evaluating the performance of PCM plate heat exchangers in an airport terminal building displacement conditioning system

This paper reports on the energy performance evaluation of a displacement ventilation (DV) system in an airport departure hall, with a conventional DV diffuser and a diffuser retrofitted with a phase change material storage heat exchanger (PCM-HX). A TRNSYS-CFD quasi-dynamic coupled simulation method was employed for the analysis, whereby TRNSYS® simulates the HVAC and PID control system and ANSYS FLUENT® is used to simulate the airflow inside the airport terminal space. The PCM-HX is also simulated in CFD, and is integrated into the overall model as a secondary coupled component in the TRNSYS interface. Different night charging strategies of the PCM-HX were investigated and compared with the conventional DV diffuser. The results show that: i) the displacement ventilation system is more efficient for cooling than heating a space; ii) the addition of a PCM-HX system reduces the heating energy requirements during the intermediate and summer periods for specific night charging strategies, whereas winter heating energy remains unaffected; iii) the PCM-HX reduces cooling energy requirements, and; iv) maximum energy savings of 34% are possible with the deployment of PCM-HX retrofitted DV diffuser.

Risk of Potentially Rabid Animal Exposure among Foreign Travelers in Southeast Asia

BackgroundEach year millions of travelers visit Southeast Asia where rabies is still prevalent. This study aimed to assess the risk of rabies exposure, i.e., by being bitten or licked by an animal, among travelers in Southeast Asia. The secondary objective was to assess their attitudes and practices related to rabies.Methodology/Principal FindingsForeign travelers departing to the destination outside Southeast Asia were invited to fill out the study questionnaire in the departure hall of Bangkok International Airport. They were asked about their demographic profile, travel characteristics, pre-travel health preparations, their possible exposure and their practices related to rabies during this trip. From June 2010 to February 2011, 7,681 completed questionnaires were collected. Sixty-two percent of the travelers were male, and the median age was 32 years. 34.0% of the participants were from Western/Central Europe, while 32.1% were from East Asia. Up to 59.3% had sought health information before this trip. Travel clinics were the source of information for 23.6% of travelers. Overall, only 11.6% of the participants had completed their rabies pre-exposure prophylaxis, and 15.3% had received only 1–2 shots, while 73.1% had not been vaccinated at all. In this study, the risk of being bitten was 1.11 per 100 travelers per month and the risk of being licked was 3.12 per 100 travelers per month. Among those who were bitten, only 37.1% went to the hospital to get post exposure treatment. Travelers with East Asian nationalities and longer duration of stay were significantly related to higher risk of animal exposure. Reason for travel was not related to the risk of animal exposure.ConclusionsTravelers were at risk of being exposed to potentially rabid animals while traveling in Southeast Asia. Many were inadequately informed and unprepared for this life-threatening risk. Rabies prevention advice should be included in every pre-travel visit.

Actual Self-Image, Ideal Self-Image and the Relation between Satisfaction and Destination Loyalty

Past research efforts in the tourism industry focused on what tourists buy, when they buy, where they buy, and how they buy, but not so much on why they buy. This question of “why” brings us to a micro-level analysis tourism development. In this context among other things, the literature explains the self concept literature in consumer research which helps to explain the psychological underpinnings of travel self-congruity that involves a process of matching a tourist’s self-concept to a destination visitor image. Traditional research methods, which assume a piecemeal process, may not adequately capture the holistic nature of self congruence and, therefore, may have limited predictive validity. The new method will be more predictive of a variety of tourist behaviors such as satisfaction or dissatisfaction. Data for this study were collected from international tourists whom had visited Penang. A total of 400 questionnaires were sent out and 145 were returned (response rate of 36.25%), out of which only 100 were usable (usable rate of 68.97%). This research focused on two types of self-image (ideal and actual). Specifically, ideal self-image had a positive influence on customer satisfaction, while it had a negative influence on actual self image. However, both were found to influence destination loyalty. The mediating support of customer satisfaction was found for only the relationship between ideal self image and loyalty. The data of 100 respondents were gathered through convenience sampling from the departure hall of the Penang International.

Lying about flying: the first experiment to detect false intent

This article reports the results of, to our knowledge, the first ever experiment to investigate lying about intentions. Sixty passengers in an airport departure hall told the truth or lied about their forthcoming trip in an interview that comprised nine questions. The interviews were transcribed and raters coded the amount of detail in, and the plausibility of, the answers. Raters also coded whether the transcripts included contradictions and spontaneous corrections. Liars’ answers were less plausible than truth tellers’ answers but did not differ in terms of detail. Liars also included more contradictions and fewer spontaneous corrections in their answers. A total of 72% of truth tellers and 74% of liars were detected on the basis of these variables. We discuss the implications of the findings together with the limitations of the experiment and ideas for future research.

Thermal imaging as a lie detection tool at airports.

We tested the accuracy of thermal imaging as a lie detection tool in airport screening. Fifty-one passengers in an international airport departure hall told the truth or lied about their forthcoming trip in an interview. Their skin temperature was recorded via a thermal imaging camera. Liars' skin temperature rose significantly during the interview, whereas truth tellers' skin temperature remained constant. On the basis of these different patterns, 64% of truth tellers and 69% of liars were classified correctly. The interviewers made veracity judgements independently from the thermal recordings. The interviewers outperformed the thermal recordings and classified 72% of truth tellers and 77% of liars correctly. Accuracy rates based on the combination of thermal imaging scores and interviewers' judgements were the same as accuracy rates based on interviewers' judgements alone. Implications of the findings for the suitability of thermal imaging as a lie detection tool in airports are discussed.

Waiting time in emergency evacuation of crowded public transport terminals

Emergency evacuation in crowded public transport terminals in the Far East is a matter of great concern. Passengers are jammed at the exits during peak hours, even under normal evacuation. The waiting time required would be very long and that would extend the evacuation process. The waiting time under crowded condition should be minimized by providing more exits; or implementing proper fire safety management. In this paper, waiting time during emergency evacuation in crowded halls was studied. A waiting time index (WTI) was proposed to quantify jamming at the exits. An airport terminal with fire safety provided by performance-based design was taken as an example to illustrate the concept. Two evacuation models, buildingEXODUS and SIMULEX, were applied to study emergency evacuation in the terminal under crowded conditions. Different occupancy levels in local codes were considered under fire and normal conditions in the departure hall.

Employees come first at high‐flying Southwest Airlines

PurposeThe paper aims to contrast the approaches to human‐resource management taken by two low‐cost airlines – Ryanair in Europe and Southwest in the USA.Design/methodology/approachThe paper considers the similarities between the two airlines before explaining that Southwest puts much more emphasis than Ryanair on the importance of treating its employees well. It examines what this means in terms of recruitment, recognition and reward.FindingsThe paper explores in particular the role of Southwest Airlines operations agents and finds that they are prepared and able to work anywhere – in the departure hall, at the gate, in the baggage hall, on the tarmac or aboard the aircraft – to help to ensure that flights leave on time.Originality/valueThe paper argues the case for putting employees first, on the basis that you treat your employees the way you want them to treat your customers.Practical implicationsIllustrates that there is evidently no single answer for success in the low‐cost airline sector – and so plenty to challenge the aspiring aviation entrepreneur.

Singapore's image as a tourist destination

AbstractThe present study seeks to examine the image of Singapore as a tourist destination. A sample of 131 tourists was collected at the Singapore Changi International Airport's two departure halls. In addition to answering a short Likert‐scale questionnaire, respondents were asked to describe in their own words the unique aspects of the country. Comparisons of response differences in respect of gender, age groups, educational levels as well as countries of origin were also conducted. Significant perceptual differences were detected with respect to the last three categories. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley &Sons, Ltd.

A qualitative and quantitative assessment of Hong Kong’s image as a tourist destination

The present study uses a combination of qualitative and quantitative approaches as developed by Echtner and Ritchie 1991, Journal of Tourism Studies 2(2), 2–12, to investigate the image of Hong Kong. A sample of 142 tourists were collected at the Kai Tak Airport departure hall in April 1996. In addition to a set of pre-developed statements, respondents were asked to describe the unique aspects of Hong Kong, in their own words. The findings indicated that Hong Kong was considered as a ‘shopping paradise’ by most respondents. Its weakness, however, was the crowded, busy and stressful urban environment. Among other attractions, the Peak and the Star Ferry were considered as the landmarks of Hong Kong.

PC Corner

I seem to have spent most of the last few months travelling to meetings to talk about connecting computers together. Of the twenty‐four flights I have made since 1 March this year, only four left the gate within ten minutes of the scheduled time. The longest delay was 3.5 hours. Kennedy Airport introduced me to a new phenomenon which I could have done without—having to wait on the plane for over an hour before being allowed to disembark into a departure hall for another hour or two. If this is the result of the US Government dropping visa requirements, then I for one would be happy to see it re‐introduced!

Noise control measures in the new Singapore International Airport

This paper describes some of the noise control measures incorporated in the passenger terminal building at the new Singapore International Airport at Changi. As the acoustics adviser to the Changi Airport Development Division of the Public Works Department, the overall consultant of this multi-billion dollar project, the author reviews some of the special steps taken to incorporate some of the latest acoustics techniques in this airport. These include the establishment of norms for various factors such as permissible background noise levels to each of the rooms, offices, arrival and departure halls, etc. Specifications called for include optimum sound absorption and reverberations times, airborne sound insulation for internal and external building partitions and structureborne sound insulation, as well as a sophisticated sound reinforcement system. Because of the stringent requirements following some of these specifications, the factor of the skill and workmanship of the contractors involved in the erection of the partitions had to be allowed for. As a result, all suppliers and contractors were requested to send their building proposals for testing. This was done in the newly established Acoustics Laboratory of the National University of Singapore at Kent Ridge. Some of the tests carried out, based on International Standards ISO R140 and ASTM E90 on sound transmission loss and ISO R354 and ASTM C423 on sound absorption, are evaluated.