Travel Experience Research Articles

Enhancing public entertainment with touch: Possibilities and pitfalls.

There has long been interest in augmenting cinematic and other forms of public entertainment through tactile and/or bodily (i.e., vestibular) stimulation. In this narrative historical review, the early history of touch (or haptics, as it is sometimes called) and other forms of bodily stimulation (e.g., motion platforms) in the context of entertainment is critically reviewed, with a focus on early cinema as well as other early examples of immersive virtual reality travel experiences. Critically, various challenges have limited the introduction of such additional channels of sensory stimulation. These include technological, financial, cognitive, creative, ethical/artistic, and also legal considerations, given the many patents that currently exist covering commercial digital tactile stimulation (e.g., in the gaming context). Taken together, these challenges help to explain why it is that despite the early interest in "the feelies" (e.g., an envisioning of film that includes tactile sensations by Aldous Huxley, in his novel Brave New World), touch-enhanced cinema and storytelling have never really caught on in the mainstream in the way that, say, the talkies so obviously did following the introduction of sound into cinema in the early decades of the 20th century. Nevertheless, identifying the potential successful use cases that have emerged from previous attempts to augment public entertainments with tactile/bodily stimulation will likely provide useful guidelines for the future tactile augmentation of home entertainment.

Research On the Design of Public Transit Services for The Elderly in China

As China enters an aging society, the elderly in China are increasingly becoming an important user group of public transportation. This study uses service design thinking to optimize the inclusiveness of Chinese elderly people's travel by bus and subway, and explores the feasibility of applying service design thinking to the field of public transportation. This paper adopts the observation method, with Guangzhou and Beijing as the research areas. The researchers conduct service design research based on the entire process of elderly travel, summarize the travel needs and pain points of elderly passengers, optimize the station guidance system, intelligent interface and service platform, make the public transportation service environment more friendly, and thus make the public transportation service environment more inclusive. Analyze the passenger flow, contact points, and stakeholders of the station, draw character portraits and journey maps, and output service design strategies to improve the travel experience of Chinese elderly passengers. In summary, this study aims to improve the convenience of Chinese elderly passengers taking public transportation and provide theoretical support for the transformation and optimization of China's public transportation services.

A measurement model of pedestrian tolerance time under signal-controlled conditions

The tolerance of pedestrians to red light signals is a crucial factor in urban residents’ travel experiences and road traffic safety. To address the current lack of research on methods for measuring pedestrian red light tolerance time at crossings, this paper proposes a stacking model for predicting the red light tolerance time of individual pedestrians. The model employs the XGBoost (XGB), random forest (RF), support vector machine regression (SVR), and multilayer perceptron (MLP) models as primary models, with a multiple linear regression model as the secondary-layer meta-model, as well as Bayesian hyperparameter tuning. Using random survival forest (RSF) and K-means clustering methods, the dataset was divided into three categories: the low, medium, and high tolerance groups. The feature variables influencing the red light tolerance time were grouped accordingly. Stacking models were established for each tolerance and feature group. The experimental results demonstrated that the feature group voted on by multiple machine learning models performed the best in all three tolerance groups. In the low tolerance group, the mean squared error (MSE), mean absolute error (MAE), and mean absolute percentage error (MAPE) were 6.58, 1.91, and 19.78%, respectively. For the medium tolerant group, the MSE, MAE, and MAPE were 4.82, 1.53, and 7.63%, respectively. For the high tolerance group, the MSE, MAE, and MAPE were 33.32, 3.89, and 10.14%, respectively. Individual XGB, RF, SVR, MLP, and ungrouped stacking models were established for comparative analysis of the test set. The results indicated that the proposed grouped stacking model outperformed the other models overall. The method provides a means of obtaining the probability distribution function of the length of the waiting crowd’s tolerance time for each red light range and thus determining the duration of the red light at the crossing signal for different personnel compositions.

Examining the Effects of Food Consumption Value and Food Image on Tourists’ Intention to Purchase Guilin Rice Noodles

ABSTRACT Gastronomy serves a crucial function in the tourism sector, with distinctive local cuisines greatly enriching the experiences of travelers. This research examines Guilin rice noodles, recognized as a national intangible cultural heritage of China, to investigate the interplay between tourists’ perceived consumption values, culinary image, and purchase intentions. Employing structural equation modeling, the study correlates tangible factors such as quality and price with intangible elements like health benefits, in relation to tourists’ cognitive and emotional responses. Data collected from tourists with direct experience indicate that both tangible and intangible perceived values have a significant influence on the food’s image and the intention to purchase. The results of this study expand upon consumer value theory within the context of tourism, illustrating how evaluations of both tangible and intangible attributes affect decision-making processes. The research advocates for a marketing strategy that emphasizes quality, pricing, health benefits, and novelty, thereby fostering customer satisfaction and loyalty. Furthermore, it highlights the significance of a robust emotional and sensory appeal in strategic marketing efforts, thereby contributing to the body of literature on culinary tourism and consumer behavior.

When women embrace snow-sport adventures: unravelling the influence of memorable travel experiences on well-being

ABSTRACT Participating in outdoor recreational activities such as skiing can enhance women’s physical and mental health. This study aimed to examine the effect of memorable snow-sport travel experiences on life satisfaction through a sense of well-being in the context of female tourism. Based on the positive psychology framework, a research model was constructed to examine the psychological progressive mechanism from three memorable travel experiences to life satisfaction through five PERMA domains (positive emotions, engagement, relationships, meaning, and achievement). A survey was conducted with 346 women travellers of snow sports. The results of the data analysis using partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) indicate that all experiences significantly affected the individual level of well-being (positive emotions, relationships, and engagement) except for the perceived natural environment, which does not affect relationships. The results also reveal that the three components of individual well-being impact the two facets of collective well-being, where engagement has a greater impact on achievement, and achievement has a greater impact on life satisfaction. This study enriches the leisure tourism literature by revealing the fundamental mechanisms that affect women travellers’ well-being. Additionally, this study offers valuable insights into the strategic marketing of snow-sport destinations for women.

Actions are oriented to delight travelers: A sequential mediation model to explore the relationship between travel quality and re-travel intentions

The actions are oriented to delight travelers where existing protocols fall short of solving problems in the travel and tourism industry, seeking the retention of commuters by offering travel quality. The present study investigates the travel decision-making process by exploring the nexus between travel quality and re-travel intentions (RTI). The study also analyzes the relational switching cost's (RSC) unique role as a sequential mediator in driving travel quality through the theoretical lens of expectancy disconfirmation theory. Furthermore, the study also explores the role of gender in explaining RTI. 434 real-time responses were collected following the lifetime value (LTV) approach. The structural equation modeling (SEM) was used to test the hypotheses. The study reveals that travel quality significantly influences commuter satisfaction. The results also suggest the indirect effect of RSC on commuter satisfaction (CS) and (RTI). Finally, it is suggested that RTI is higher among female commuters than male commuters. The fundamental contribution of this study is developing and testing the travel decision-making process by extending the EDT model. Additionally, the TRAVQUAL scale contributes to measuring perceived and expected travel quality. Commuter satisfaction and relational switching costs act as sequential mediators, while gender emerges as a moderator, emphasizing the greater significance of re-travel intentions among female commuters post-RSC. These insights contribute valuable perspectives for enhancing travel experiences and decision-making processes in the travel and tourism industry.

Designing a Modern Self: The English Travels of Pandita Ramabai and Krishnabhabini Das

In 1882, Krishnabhabini Das travelled to England and wrote a travelogue, Englandey Bangamahila (A Bengali Lady in England) in Bengali. A year later in 1883, Pandita Ramabai also travelled to England and wrote a letter in Marathi describing her travel experiences, which was later published as Englandcha Pravas (Travel to England). This article reads the two travel accounts together and in relation to one another aiming to compare and juxtapose their differing and at times overlapping navigations and negotiations with the West in an attempt to understand the early expression of gendered subjectivities via narratives of travel at a time when both travel and writing by women were discouraged, if not proscribed. With a focus on two related aspects—(1) the textual construction of the ‘self’ and (2) the trope of the reverse female gaze on the West—the paper argues that these travel writings produce as they record the making of distinct modern female subjectivities at the end of the nineteenth century.

Leisure constraints towards accessible tourism: self-characteristics of people with disability along tourism value chains

ABSTRACT Despite the intensifying legal focus on enhancing accessible infrastructure, people with disability are still often marginalized in traveling. To facilitate the advancement of accessible tourism, this research employs the self-categorization theory, incorporating the experiences of individuals with disabilities within all stages of the travel process. Following a qualitative approach, leisure constraints of people with hearing, seeing, learning, and mobility disability in traveling are examined, deriving potential pathways towards holistic accessible tourism value chains from a multidimensional disability perspective. The findings of this study show a lack of awareness among industry stakeholders regarding the needs of people with disabilities. This is indicated by inaccessibility and weak reliability of information, insufficient sensitisation of staff, or the absence of adequate feedback possibilities. Inherent to this, participants evolve structural and interpersonal constraints, particularly in the pre-travel and on-site phases. While positive travel experiences lead to an increase in the self-confidence of people with disabilities, negative examples trigger intrapersonal constraints, whereby travel plans are discarded due to a self-categorization as individuals with limited opportunities for social inclusion. Theoretical contributions as well as implications for practice are derived to address shortcomings along accessible tourism value chains.

The Role of Smart Travel Service in Intercity Travel Satisfaction: Does Traveler Heterogeneity Matter?

With the increasing intercity communications and the widespread application of smart travel technologies, it is of great significance to understand the mechanism of how the attributes of smart travel service affect the travel satisfaction among intercity travelers and the potential heterogeneity. This paper establishes a conceptual model with hypotheses from two paths: smart travel service and smart travel experience. Based on the intercity travel survey data of the Guanzhong Plain urban agglomeration in China, a latent class structural equation model is employed to divide the samples into “cold”, “rational”, and “enthusiastic” potential groups based on the use and attitude of smart travel services. From the model estimation results, this study confirms that smart travel service and travel experience satisfaction have significant positive impacts on the overall intercity travel satisfaction of travelers. However, the impact of smart travel satisfaction varies due to group heterogeneity. For the “cold” group, the impact of smart travel service satisfaction on the overall satisfaction of intercity travel is not significant, and smart travel service satisfaction only has a significant impact on the smart travel experience satisfaction of “enthusiastic” travelers. This study puts forward the importance of enhancing the quality of smart travel services and promoting travel experience through smart travel technologies and proposes measures for different groups from the perspective of market segmentation, which provides theoretical and practical value for the promotion of sustainable development of intercity transportation.

Analysis of Tourist Experiences at Dark Tourism Sites in Kinmen: Clustering Analysis of Motivations, Emotional Responses, and Satisfaction

Dark tourism involves visiting sites associated with death, disaster, and major historical tragedies. Kinmen, Taiwan, known for its history of multiple wars, features notable dark tourism sites such as Mount Taiwu, the Guningtou War Museum, and the 823 Memorial Hall. These sites currently offer educational significance about historical events, but visiting them often triggers complex emotional responses. This study explores tourist experiences at these sites, focusing on motivations, emotional reactions, and the relationship between satisfaction and psychological stress. The study surveyed 348 visitors and used clustering analysis to group their travel experiences. The results identified three types of visitors: History Enthusiasts, War Memorialists, and Exploratory Curiosity Seekers, each with distinct motivations and emotional responses. Emotions experienced include sadness, shock, fear, and unease, closely related to the content and atmosphere of the sites. While overall satisfaction is high, many visitors report being "satisfied but not happy." The study suggests targeted strategies to enhance dark tourism experiences, such as providing emotional support, emphasizing commemorative value, and offering ethical education. Recommendations for site management include addressing emotional needs and balancing educational significance with emotional impact.

Dehumanizing air travel: a scoping review on accessibility and inclusion of people with disabilities in international airports.

Worldwide, one in six individuals live with a disability. Many people continue to experience disabling situations, particularly when travelling. Travel can be an important part of the lives of many people, including people with disabilities. Barriers to accessing air travel can lead to a reluctance to travel for these potential passengers. As early as the flight planning stage, options to facilitate accessibility are limited. At airports, passengers must travel long distances in areas where navigation is complex, and accessibility limited. Furthermore, few aircraft are accessible. The travel experience can have adverse effects on the health of people with disabilities. Practices are sometimes not inclusive, not always available, and may not address the full spectrum of possible needs. The objective of this study is to provide a state of art on accessibility features available to people with disabilities in the busiest international airports. A scoping review of practices in airport accessibility was done. A search strategy was deployed in 4 databases (Avery index to architectural periodicals, Medline, CINAHL, and Web of science). The official websites of the 35 busiest airports were exhaustively consulted. All information regarding accessibility measures and inclusive services were extracted. 31 scientific articles, out of 3,640 screened, and all extracted data from airports' website were considered for synthesis. While efforts are made in major airports, there is a great inconsistency in accessibility features. Both facilitators and challenges are encountered by people with disabilities at every stage of air travel. These stages include journey planning; getting to and from the airport, obtain human assistance, navigate in the premises, check in, security screening, using facilities, boarding and disembarking, customs and immigration procedures, and luggage management. Services need to be extensively planned, placing a significant burden on passengers. The disability-centric perspective disregard passengers' unique needs and capabilities, leading to a sense of dehumanization. The complexity of airport organizations, shared responsibilities, limited communication, training challenges can deter accessibility initiatives and create discomfort during travel. This study is the first step of a broader project supported by Canadian Accessibility Standards, focusing on enhancing inclusive accessibility in Canadian airports.

“Here” Versus “There”: Authoritarian Populism, Environment, and Scapegoat Ecology Among Loggers of Northwestern Russia

This case study contributes to the research on the environmental beliefs of extractive industry workers in an illiberal populist regime. This research is based on semi-structured interviews with logging sector workers of the Russian Northwest—a severely understudied population directly involved in resource extraction. The data shows that these workers understand forestland as two separate localities: the northwestern region of Russia, in which the loggers have expertise and knowledge, and the rest of the country, in which workers don’t have any work or travel experience. This division facilitates a process of hybridization of populist environmental narratives on one hand, and loggers’ science-supported knowledge and experiences on the other. This hybridization of the workers’ beliefs is anchored in, and perpetuated by, Russia’s state-controlled media and its modern authoritarian populist regime. This research offers policy implications and encourages future studies on the politicization of the environment and resources in authoritarian populist states.

Revolutionizing Ease, Personal, and Reliable Travel Experience

Revolutionizing Ease, Personal, and Reliable Travel Experience

Tourism Application Development with a Recommendation System based on Fuzzy Logic

The article addresses issues related to the breadth and multifaceted aspects of the tourism industry. It discusses the practical benefits of using recommendation systems based on mobile devices. Mobile applications with recom­mendation systems play an important role in the tourism planning process, offering users personalized suggestions that enhance their travel experience. The main focus of this work is on the use of fuzzy logic as the basis for the rec­ommendation system, which allows for a more flexible and accurate suggestion mechanism that takes into account uncertainties and the diversity of user preferences. The methodology proposed by the authors is based on applying a fuzzy content model to the described problems as an effective extension of the collaborative model. The article describes a method for implementing the recommendation system algorithm, lists the technical tools used to imple­ment the application, presents an activity diagram of the working application, describes the process of searching, preparing, and annotating data used in the working application. The presented software and methodological tools help to solve problems associated with the clear categorization of tourist objects within traditional types of tourism, arising from the broad classification of tourist objects, thereby improving the quality of the tourist experience.

Improvement of Jet Lag and Travel Fatigue Symptoms and Their Association with Prior International Travel Experience in Junior Athletes.

Jet lag and travel fatigue can occur after crossing multiple time zones in a short period of time, possibly affecting various aspects of an athlete's behavior. However, there are few studies regarding this issue, particularly considering junior athletes. This study aimed to investigate and quantify the symptoms of jet lag and travel fatigue and the factors impacting these conditions. A survey was completed by 41 Japanese junior athletes (21 men and 20 women), competing at an international game in Finland, to assess their performance, sleeping habits, digestion, fatigue, and jet lag on the first day of arrival and on the opening day of the competition. Although athletes awoke less often during sleep on the opening day of the competition compared with the first day, sleep time, ease of falling asleep, and sleep quality decreased significantly. Prior experience traveling abroad for international competitions was positively associated with improvements regarding ease of falling asleep (coefficient = 2.22, p = 0.01), quality of sleep (coefficient = 2.16, p = 0.02), and alertness after waking up (coefficient = 1.85, p = 0.05) by the opening day of the competition when compared with the results for athletes who had no such prior experiences. Junior athletes experience symptoms of jet lag and travel fatigue that may persist until the day of competition, and prior experience traveling abroad may help in alleviating their symptoms.

Embracing the metaverse: cultivating sustainable tourism growth on a global scale

ABSTRACT The tourism sector must integrate sustainability to mitigate environmental impacts, ensure destination profitability, and promote responsible travel. Emerging technologies, particularly the metaverse, have the potential to revolutionise environmental, economic, and social sustainability. Although recent research on metaverse-based sustainable development has expanded, studies on its application within tourism remain limited. This paper addresses this gap by exploring the metaverse’s potential to advance sustainable practices in tourism, aligning with sustainable development goals (SDGs).By integrating three behavioural theories – the Theory of Planned Behavior, Technology Acceptance Model, and Self-Determination Theory – this research provides a comprehensive framework to assess the impact of metaverse tourism on sustainability and identify the most relevant SDGs. Through a systematic meta-analysis, the study presents four key propositions: foundational technologies will redefine travel experiences through immersive engagements; metaverse tourists may develop more realistic expectations, altering travel dynamics; understanding the diverse identities of metaverse tourists is crucial; and metaverse tourism introduces an innovative business model aligned with the creative economy. This interdisciplinary approach offers insights into the transformative potential of metaverse tourism, bridging technology, tourism, and behavioural psychology. The research underscores the importance of exploring these intersections, contributing valuable insights to the evolving tourism landscape amidst changing consumer expectations and sustainability imperatives.

Collective Intelligence-Based Participatory COVID-19 Surveillance in Accra, Ghana: Pilot Mixed Methods Study.

Infectious disease surveillance is difficult in many low- and middle-income countries. Information market (IM)-based participatory surveillance is a crowdsourcing method that encourages individuals to actively report health symptoms and observed trends by trading web-based virtual "stocks" with payoffs tied to a future event. This study aims to assess the feasibility and acceptability of a tailored IM surveillance system to monitor population-level COVID-19 outcomes in Accra, Ghana. We designed and evaluated a prediction markets IM system from October to December 2021 using a mixed methods study approach. Health care workers and community volunteers aged ≥18 years living in Accra participated in the pilot trading. Participants received 10,000 virtual credits to trade on 12 questions on COVID-19-related outcomes. Payoffs were tied to the cost estimation of new and cumulative cases in the region (Greater Accra) and nationwide (Ghana) at specified future time points. Questions included the number of new COVID-19 cases, the number of people likely to get the COVID-19 vaccination, and the total number of COVID-19 cases in Ghana by the end of the year. Phone credits were awarded based on the tally of virtual credits left and the participant's percentile ranking. Data collected included age, occupation, and trading frequency. In-depth interviews explored the reasons and factors associated with participants' user journey experience, barriers to system use, and willingness to use IM systems in the future. Trading frequency was assessed using trend analysis, and ordinary least squares regression analysis was conducted to determine the factors associated with trading at least once. Of the 105 eligible participants invited, 21 (84%) traded at least once on the platform. Questions estimating the national-level number of COVID-19 cases received 13 to 19 trades, and obtaining COVID-19-related information mainly from television and radio was associated with less likelihood of trading (marginal effect: -0.184). Individuals aged <30 years traded 7.5 times more and earned GH ¢134.1 (US $11.7) more in rewards than those aged >30 years (marginal effect: 0.0135). Implementing the IM surveillance was feasible; all 21 participants who traded found using IM for COVID-19 surveillance acceptable. Active trading by friends with communal discussion and a strong onboarding process facilitated participation. The lack of bidirectional communication on social media and technical difficulties were key barriers. Using an IM system for disease surveillance is feasible and acceptable in Ghana. This approach shows promise as a cost-effective source of information on disease trends in low- and middle-income countries where surveillance is underdeveloped, but further studies are needed to optimize its use.

Augmented reality technology in tourism and hospitality research: a review from 2010 to 2024

Purpose Augmented reality (AR) is revolutionizing the tourism and hospitality industry by offering immersive experiences as well as creating more engaging, informative and accessible travel experiences that attract tourists from around the globe. From virtual tours and immersive historical site recreations to navigation assistance and cultural education, AR technology is transforming the way we explore and interact with the destinations. This study aims to identify benefits, risks, tools and techniques of AR in the tourism and hospitality literature. Design/methodology/approach The authors conducted a systematic literature review to answer six research questions. The authors also identified 33 primary studies, dated from January 2010 to February 2024 and coded them via a thematic analysis. Related studies were obtained through searching in Web of Science and Scopus. Findings The results identified nine themes for benefits, eight themes for risks/disadvantages and four tools and applications-related themes. Through the thematic analysis, the major benefits of AR in the tourism and hospitality were found to be differentiated travel experiences, improved performance of tourism value chain, more effective marketing efforts of tourism businesses, enhanced tourists’ engagement, enhanced performance of tourism destinations, stimulated behavioral intentions, tourist empowerment and providing more value, interactivity and integrity. Furthermore, eight risks were identified: physical, privacy and security, social, service failure, technical, psychological, managerial, information and knowledge gaps. The authors also recognized four tools and applications-related themes, namely, AR-enabled tools, AR applications, AR-enabled apps and AR-based techniques. Originality/value To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this review provides the first systematic exploration of the existing literature on usage of AR in the context of tourism and hospitality value chain.

The Principle of Entropy Increase: A Novel View of How Tourism Influences Human Health

The principle of “entropy increase” is a universal law describing a natural progression from order to disorder. This paper is innovatively the first to take the principle as a theoretical basis for assessing how tourism influences human health from a sociomateriality perspective. Despite a growing emphasis on the intersection of tourism and health, there remains a need for further theoretical development in this evolving field—particularly tourism’s positive and negative impacts on physical, mental, and social health based on physiological measures. From an entropy point of view, positive travel experiences could help maintain a low-entropy state (i.e., bodily health) by influencing four key systems. Conversely, negative travel experiences could increase entropy and lead to health issues. An innovative conceptual framework is proposed to illustrate the nexus between tourism and health. This interdisciplinary investigation illustrates a transition in the research paradigm from “health tourism” to “health and tourism.”

From bite to byte: decoding the motivations fueling social media's culinary heritage stories

ABSTRACT Although tourists are increasingly seeking to actively engage in culinary heritage experiences, empirical knowledge about the culinary tourist remains limited, encompassing not only the desire to live these experiences but also a growing inclination to share related stories on social networks. This research aims to characterize the profile of culinary heritage storytellers through their motivations. Understanding motivations is crucial for destination management organizations (DMOs) and culinary tourism operators, as it enables them to effectively engage consumers (tourists) in active participation within value co-creation processes. Furthermore, this understanding allows for the proposal of innovative strategies aimed at making destinations more appealing to visitors seeking unique travel experiences. The data for this study were collected through netnography, involving participants in culinary tourism activities. Using content analysis of 50 posts, five profiles were found: gastro-nationalist, time traveler, epicurean seeker, culinary mentor, and sensory visualist.