Independent Travelers Research Articles

Implementation of connection scan algorithm in tourism intermodal transportation journey planner: a case study

Accessibility to tourist destinations is an important component in a tourism system, especially for natural tourist destinations located in suburban areas. Good linkage of travel information and physical connections with local transportation services for intercity travel can facilitate more people to travel and promote national tourism destinations. This research takes the popular national tourism destinations and their public transportation service in Taiwan as a research object due to the unavailability of integrated public transport information service. Free Independent Travelers (FIT) demand is growing. This research aims to integrate intermodal public transportation information to support FIT by proposing a seamless way journey planner. In this scenario, the journey planner requires timetable data as input. The Connection Scan Algorithm is used to find the earliest arrival time routes at their destinations. This journey planner is built in PHP language and can complement the official tourism travel information website by Tourism Bureau, MOTC. Hence, the FIT could get the quickest routes to reach the destinations without compiling the public transportation information provided independently.

A TAM Framework to Evaluate the Effect of Smartphone Application on Tourism Information Search Behavior of Foreign Independent Travelers

Mobile devices are more present in our everyday lives and have become an important factor in travel behavior. This study amends the technology acceptance model (TAM) and employs it to discuss the relationship between overseas independent travelers using a smartphone travel application (APP) and perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, usage attitude, usage intentions, and information search behavior. As such, the results reveal that foreign independent travelers (FIT) have a positive usage attitude toward the APP and this produces positive usage intention. The findings herein show that one can apply the new TAM to the tourism industry, as the results not only offer research and development avenues for production ideas, but also present references for formulating new APP policies and strategies.

Successful containment to date of SARS ‐CoV‐2 transmission in the Northern Territory

Successful containment to date of <scp>SARS</scp> ‐CoV‐2 transmission in the Northern Territory

Dickens’s Pictures from Italy vs. Murray’s Handbook to Northern Italy: An Investigation into Adjective Use

This study explores the use of adjectives in Dickens’s Pictures from Italy and Murray’s Handbook to Northern Italy. It is based on a 17,645-word corpus made up of sections chosen from the Handbook to Northern Italy and a 17,600-word corpus comprising chapters 5 to 9 of Pictures from Italy. The paper first looks at the frequency and use of adjective tokens in the two corpora and breaks them down into syntactic categories (e.g. predicative, attributive, postposed). It goes on to investigate the distribution of adjective types in the two corpora and illustrates how Dickens uses more adjectives, including some that were infrequently used in late modern English. It then explores adjective compounding in some detail, showing that Dickens makes use of a larger number of hyphenated compound adjectives than Murray. The findings suggest that Pictures from Italy is overall a more inventive and sophisticated piece of writing than the Handbook to Northern Italy, although the latter appears to have inspired the former to some extent. They also indicate that Dickens’s work mainly addresses independent travellers rather than conventional tourists.

Understanding the Visitor Experience: A Focus on Angkor Temples of Cambodia

Due to the global increase in tourism, many destinations are receiving higher than expected visitors with a concomitant deterioration in the quality of visitors’ experience. This is particularly true at many World Heritage Sites around the world including Barcelona, Venice, Macchu Picchu and Angkor Wat. The purpose of this study is to assess the needs of visitors to assure a more quality experience at the largest archeological UNESCO site, Angkor Temples of Cambodia.. With this in mind, our collaborative team of Pace University Faculty and Students and the members of the Authority for the Protection of the Site and Management of the Region of Angkor (APSARA) interviewed over 300 visitors in the City of Siem Reap and in the temples of Angkor. The results of the study show that a large majority of the visitors would recommend a visit to the temples of Angkor with their primary motivation be the temples and the culture. Most of the visitors purchase a pass of three days or fewer and are not taking full advantage of the food, art, wellness and other attractions that Siem Reap has to offer. The most popular temples are Angkor Wat and Ta Prom. Most visitors in this study are independent travelers and are not using tour guides. The major limitation with this study was the inability to easily access the largest demographic group of visitors which includes those from ASEAN due to oral and written language barriers. A major contribution of this research is recommendations on how to plan for gathering feedback from the Asian market in future studies of this type. Visitors would be interested in seeing more specific information on the temples, signage, marketing, accessibility, and improved safe infrastructure for visitors who are those physically challenged.

Independent travelers’ niche hotel booking motivations: the emergence of a hybrid cultural society

This study attempts to examine travel motivations from a hybrid cultural perspective in the context of Chinese niche hotels. Using an in-depth netnographic methodology, the paper analyzed 659 online reviews on 12 niche hotels from 6 travel websites to identify the motivations of Chinese independent travelers’ hotel selection. The research findings revealed that travelers’ motivations include the following: attractive environment, quality, uniqueness, spiritual well being, traditional architecture, family togetherness, foreign style offerings and service, luxury amenities, and entertainment. These motivations can be classified into modern Chinese cultural motivations, traditional Chinese cultural motivations and foreign cultural motivations. The study identifies the characteristics of the market segment of Chinese independent travelers and offers valuable insights into the role of this emergent travel group. Theoretical implications Management implications are discussed, and marketing suggestions are made to better understand what attracts this growing market segment in China.

How do Chinese travelers experience the Arctic? Insights from a hedonic and eudaimonic perspective

ABSTRACTThis study explores the tourism experience of Chinese independent travelers in the Arctic region from the perspective of hedonic and eudaimonic well-being. We examine 12 “informant, influential and interactive” online travel blogs on Qyer.com, the biggest virtual community for Chinese outbound independent travelers. A three-level manual coding process of qualitative data has shown that hedonic Arctic experiences include “gazing at otherness”, “encounter and interaction”, “immersion in the local community”, “bodily feelings”, and “positive affects”. From eudaimonic perspective, visitors “experience challenges” (environmental, physical, and mental) at first, but they learn to “build capacities” and respond to these challenges. After conquering self-limits, Chinese travelers go through “revitalization of the body”, obtain “high spirits” and achieve “enrichment of the mind”. Some of the experiential outcomes can be explained by traditional Chinese value orientations such as self-cultivation, collectivism, and human–environment harmony. The authors recommend Arctic tourism to be positioned as a highly valued, exotic, and extraordinary destination for independent travelers who aim to enrich their mind and soul above material pleasure.

Exploring the interdependency and determinants of tourism participation, expenditure, and duration: An analysis of Taiwanese citizens traveling abroad

This study proposes a novel framework to investigate the interdependence and determinants of tourism participation, expenditure, and duration related to tourism behavior. A discrete–continuous model was constructed to jointly estimate the participation and expenditure decisions. Then, a structural equation model was used to explore the corresponding influential determinants of tourism expenditure and trip duration. An empirical study was conducted using historical travel data collected from Taiwanese citizens traveling abroad. Results revealed a significant relationship between participation and expenditure as well as between expenditure and duration. Furthermore, package and frequent travelers were willing to spend more on trips of shorter duration, but individual and independent travelers were more cost-conscious and travel for longer periods. Overall, time constraints were found to take priority over personal income when making tourism decisions. These findings help travel agents and policymakers to better understand travelers’ needs and develop tourism policies.

Analysis of Tourism Hotspot Behaviour Based on Geolocated Travel Blog Data: The Case of Qyer

We contribute a system design and a generalized formal methodology to segment tourists based on their geolocated blogging behaviour according to their interests in identified tourist hotspots. Thus, it is possible to identify and target groups that are possibly interested in alternative destinations to relieve overtourism. A pilot application in a case study of Chinese travel in Switzerland by analysing Qyer travel blog data demonstrates the potential of our method. Accordingly, we contribute four conclusions supported by empirical data. First, our method can enable discovery of plausible geographical distributions of tourist hotspots, which validates the plausibility of the data and its collection. Second, our method discovered statistically significant stochastic dependencies that meaningfully differentiate the observed user base, which demonstrates its value for segmentation. Furthermore, the case study contributes two practical insights for tourism management. Third, Chinese independent travellers, which are the main target group of Qyer, are mainly interested in the discovered travel hotspots, similar to tourists on packaged tours, but also show interest in alternative places. Fourth, the proposed user segmentation revealed two clusters based on users’ social media activity level. For tourism research, users within the second cluster are of interest, which are defined by two segmentation attributes: they blogged about more than just one location, and they have followers. These tourists are significantly more likely to be interested in alternative destinations out of the hotspot axis. Knowing this can help define a target group for marketing activities to promote alternative destinations.

Exploring the Movements of Chinese Free Independent Travelers in the U.S. : A Social Network Analysis Approach

In a new age of smart tourism, free independent travelers (FITs) choose their travel routes in a more diversified and less predictable way with the aid of smart services. This paper focuses on the movements of Chinese outbound FITs in the U.S. in the year of 2018. 110 places to visit (destinations) extracted from 122 travel routes recommendations on Qyer.com, a major online travel community in China, are analyzed with social network analysis (SNA). Based on the results of SNA, employing degree centrality, eigenvector centrality, betweenness centrality, network visualization, and cluster diagram methods, some preferred cities and natural attractions outside city centers (i.e., New York City (NYC), Los Angeles, San Francisco, Washington D.C., and Niagara Falls) are identified. Moreover, it is found that NYC in the East and Los Angeles in the West play a major role in the movements of Chinese FITs. This study contributes to the body of knowledge on tourist destination movements and provides valuable implications for smart service development in the tourism and hospitality industry.

Performing love, prosperity and Chinese hipsterism: Young independent travellers in Pai, Thailand

Young independent Chinese travellers are increasingly visiting Pai, a small town in northern Thailand, in part influenced by the popularity of the 2009 Thai movie Pai in Love. Using a performance perspective, combined with theory on affordances, which have not yet been applied in the growing body of research on Chinese tourists, this article examines the wide variety of performances in Pai by young independent Chinese travellers, many of which revolve around tourist photography. Drawing upon participant observation and in-depth interviews with Chinese travellers in Pai, the findings reveal that many young Chinese independent traveller performances in Pai revolve around the creation of online self-identities of prosperity and globalisation, love and alternative social identities such as Chinese hipsterism or Xiao Qing Xin. Central to many of these hybrid performances is the digital camera, which affords new, more playful, embodied ways of encountering and interacting with tourist attractions, while simultaneously offering a means of recording and refining performances that are then distributed via the ‘statusphere’. The article’s use of a performance lens provides new insights into Chinese tourism consumption, and highlights the importance of physical, material and social affordances in performing tourism.

СОЦІОКУЛЬТУРНІ ТА СОЦІАЛЬНО-ЕКОНОМІЧНІ АСПЕКТИ ПОШИРЕННЯ САМОСТІЙНИХ ПОДОРОЖЕЙ В СУЧАСНИХ УМОВАХ

The purpose of the article is to determine the main socio-cultural and socio-economic aspects of the emergence and spread of independent travel, trends in changing requirements and expectations of travelers in modern conditions. Method. The basis of the conducted research is based on analytical, comparative-geographical and synthetic methods. Results. On the basis of in-depth analysis of printed and electronic information sources, relevant information was obtained on the impact of socio-cultural and socio-economic factors on the spread of independent travel in modern conditions. It is shown that the growth of the interest of different sections of the population in the independent organization of their recreation or travel led to the emergence of independent travelers or sew-tourists. It was proved that the main objective factors that influenced the rapid development of independent tourism, in addition to the wide introduction of information technology and telecommunications in the sphere of tourism, was the change in the motivation of travel with a predominant emphasis on intercultural communication. Intercultural communication of travelers can and should improve relations between nations, as well as enrich their own national culture on the basis of studying another culture, through the absorption of another language. Scientific novelty. The impact of the socio-cultural and socio-economic environment on the spread of independent travel in the modern conditions is substantiated substantially. Further development of knowledge about the tendencies of development of independent tourism in the conditions of deepening of globalization processes has been acquired. Practical significance. The obtained results of the research are an important information base for the development of the tourism industry in the conditions of constant expansion of independent travel. The consideration of modern trends in the development of tourism is necessary in developing an effective marketing strategy for a tourist enterprise, diversifying its activities in the conditions of changing motivations and requirements of consumers of tourist services.

A viagem como experiência do encontro de si na figura do viajante independente

O artigo traz como reflexão o ato de viajar como uma experiência significativa essencial à vida, por meio de uma abordagem qualitativa, descritiva e bibliográfica. Objetiva-se analisar o desenvolvimento da figura do viajante independente, objeto do estudo, sendo aquele que doa o seu tempo à viagem e decide viajar sem se prender às condições financeiras e sociais. Verifica, no processo da viagem, a construção da sua imagem, cuja experiência exercida com independência, pode promover transformação, conhecimento e autoconhecimento. Revela-se uma busca que está além do encontro com o outro, o desconhecido, sendo antes um reencontro de si mesmo. Consideram-se os aspectos subjetivos do ato de viajar ao analisar dois relatos literários de viajantes independentes.

Older people's experiences of everyday travel in the urban environment: a thematic synthesis of qualitative studies in the United Kingdom

AbstractCompared to younger age groups, older people spend more time in their locality and rely more heavily on its pedestrian and public transport infrastructure. Qualitative studies provide unique insight into people's experiences. We conducted a qualitative evidence synthesis of United Kingdom-based studies of older people's experiences of travelling in the urban environment. We searched health, social science, age-related and transport-related databases from 1998 to 2017. Fourteen papers (from 12 studies) were included in a thematic synthesis, a three-staged process that moves iteratively between codes, descriptive themes and cross-cutting analytical themes. Emerging themes were discussed with policy advisers. Four overarching themes were identified. The first and second theme pointed to the importance of ‘getting out’ and of being independent travellers. The third and fourth themes highlighted how local environments and travel systems enabled (or prevented) older people from realising these valued dimensions of travel. The loss of local amenities and micro-environmental features, such as pavement quality, personal safety and aesthetic appearance, were recurrent concerns. Free modes of travel like walking and bus travel were highly valued, including the social engagement they facilitated. Our review suggests that, while its extrinsic value (reaching destinations) matters, the intrinsic value of travel matters too. The process of travel is experienced and enjoyed for its own sake, with older people describing its contribution to their wellbeing.

순수 관광목적으로 방한한 중국인 개별자유여행객(FIT)의 소비지출 구조 및 영향요인 분석

순수 관광목적으로 방한한 중국인 개별자유여행객(FIT)의 소비지출 구조 및 영향요인 분석

수단-목적 사슬(Means-End)이론을 활용한 순수 관광목적 방한 중국인 개별자유여행객의 가치 추구 연구

수단-목적 사슬(Means-End)이론을 활용한 순수 관광목적 방한 중국인 개별자유여행객의 가치 추구 연구

Segmentation by Experiential Familiarity and Travel Mode of the Chinese Outbound Market to Spain

ABSTRACTChinese travel markets are maturing with new travel trends arising as tourists become more experienced. This paper analyzes the possibilities of segmenting Chinese tourists’ motivations and satisfaction in Western destinations by experiential familiarity and travel mode, namely Free Independent Travel and Group-tour Travel. Based on these variables, this study builds on a survey questionnaire of Mainland Chinese travelers to Spain. A quantitative analysis of motivations and satisfaction is performed. Comparison of means, one-way MANOVA and Principal Component Analysis are the main analytical techniques used to understand the a priori selected segments of tourists. The main results show significant differences among consumers: independent travelers are less satisfied with the Chinese language services, whereas group-tour travelers are, overall, less satisfied with the trip and the destination. The results also show that repeat visitors are motivated by different aspects of the destination, such as Spanish natural resources and beaches, which are less important for first-time visitors. Among the studied segments of consumers, the differences in motivation, satisfaction and sociodemographic profiles are discussed along with the practical implications of the research.

The possibility of increasing the intensity of use of transport infrastructure, which are monuments of history and architecture, in the field of regional tourism

In the present paper the problems of development of regional tourism and cultural and educational activities with the help of program-target approach are considered. For the development of cultural and educational, event, environmental, business, cruise types of tourism it is proposed to use the objects and buildings of transport infrastructure, built more than a hundred years ago and are historical and architectural monuments of regional or local level, such objects include railway stations and station buildings, which, on the one hand, are subject to conservation, and on the other often need repair and restoration work. An important aspect in planning the further stages of the life cycle of this complex of objects is to clarify the possibility of their use in the changed conditions for the modern needs of citizens. One of the regions of the Central Federal district – the Voronezh region-is used as the object of research. Taking into account the growth of the flow of independent travelers in Russia, as well as the increase in people living in district centers and spending their leisure time outside the home, the paper proposes a model for the development of regional tourism, combining cultural and educational tourism with cruise tourism using rail transport. To calculate the areas that can be involved in additional activities in the development of cultural and educational leisure and regional tourism, take into account the requirements of standards that specify the parameters of passenger traffic and the area of premises to provide the basic functionality of the object. The proposed model does not require additional capital investments, and the profitability of the buildings will increase significantly, will attract the attention of guests and residents of the region to the history of the region and the railway.

Independent travel recommendation algorithm based on analytical hierarchy process and simulated annealing for professional tourist

Independent travelers, especially professional independent travelers, tend to plan their trip schedules according to their interests, preferred hotels, landmarks they wish to visit, budgets, time availability and various other factors. Hence, travel schedule planning is valuable for satisfying the unique needs of each traveler. In this paper, we propose an algorithm for independent travel recommendation, consisting of three steps. Firstly, landmarks in the destination are selected under the specific constraints, which is modeled as a 0-1 knapsack problem. Then, the landmarks will be evaluated comprehensively using AHP (Analytic Hierarchy Process) model, and the greedy simulated annealing algorithm is adopted to select the best landmarks with high evaluation scores. Next, with AHP-decision model, a most reasonable free line to the tourist destination is selected from multiple candidates. Lastly, the path planning among the landmarks is abstracted as a TSP (Travelling Sales Problem) problem, and the simulated annealing algorithm based on roulette wheel selection is adopted to solve it. Through simulation experiments, by comparing with package tour from the aspects of landmark selection, valid sightseeing time ratio, valid sightseeing consumption ratio and the tourist satisfaction, the proposed algorithm is evaluated and analyzed. Simulation results illustrate the feasibility and rationality of our approach, which can be used as an effective reference deciding individualized travel schedules and trip planning.

Collective Destination Marketing in China: Leveraging Social Media Celebrity Endorsement

This study examines a social media campaign initiated by Tourism New Zealand (TNZ) using Chinese actress Yao Chen as a celebrity endorser to promote New Zealand (NZ) as a tourism destination for free and independent travelers from China. Yao Chen shared her travel experiences in NZ, including her wedding in Queenstown, on her Sina Weibo microblog, which had more than 10.9 million followers, thereby raising awareness in China of NZ as a tourism destination. Drawing on a single case study, this article shows that the travel experience of a foreign celebrity shared on social media can serve as a script for a typical travel experience for potential travelers. Furthermore, to capitalize on the opportunities created by the collaborative social media campaign, government tourism agencies and businesses need to actively monitor the content on the social media site of the celebrity endorser, which in turn allows them to learn about the target customer and to customize the businesses' offerings accordingly. However, a lack of relevant language and cultural skills can be a barrier preventing tourism businesses from realizing the benefits of such campaign.