International Travel Industry Research Articles

The potential of frogging as an ecotourism product for South African National Parks

Amid global biodiversity loss, it is important to find practical tools and solutions in order to protect biodiversity. Ecotourism is the fastest-growing sector of the international travel industry and can be a powerful conservation tool that encourages people to protect the natural environment. Traditionally, frogs have not generated much attention among ecotourists, partly because they are easily overshadowed by other more charismatic species or habitat attractions. With almost a third of the nearly 7000 known amphibian species listed as threatened by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), their protection is crucial. Frogging is a well-known term within the frog conservation society, describing the activity of searching for frogs in the wild. This can be combined with other ecotourism activities to attract tourists and create an interest in the conservation of frogs while having fun at the same time. The aim was to determine the ecotourism potential of frogs in South Africa, primarily by distributing questionnaires to tourists to retrieve information on whether they would be interested in participating in frog-related ecotourism activities within the South African National Parks. For this research, a quantitative research approach was followed, namely non-probability sampling, to which convenience sampling was applied. An online survey (questionnaire) was designed to collect the data for the research. The survey outcome was satisfactory, as potential tourists indicated that they would like to participate in frog-related activities. The project offers the opportunity to conserve frogs, educate tourists, and create job opportunities within the local communities. It will also create a new tourism product for the South African National Parks.Conservation implications: The contribution of this research to conservation lies in the opportunity to benefit frog conservation through ecotourism.

Booking Engines as Battlefields: Contesting Technology, Travel, and Territory in Taiwan and China

ABSTRACT Travel booking engines can produce, resist, and destabilise popular and state-directed geopolitical representations of a world neatly divided into national and international space. Although they present as strictly functional technical platforms, booking engines obscure and omit what is contingent and contested in the production of a destination as a bordered national territory. Due to their embedding in the webs of political representation, these systems and their backers can become targets for economic boycotts, political threats, hacks, or other interventions when territorial designations are contested. Such interventions manifest as political performances aimed at multiple audiences, including tourists and travellers, as well as the businesses and political entities that facilitate or inhibit their circulation, with spillover effects into other domains of geopolitical representation. To empirically illustrate this argument, the paper analyzes the People’s Republic of China’s mostly successful efforts to coerce the international travel industry to relist destinations within Taiwan as belonging to China. By extending the notion of border performativity into the ‘code/spaces’ that span the online and offline worlds, it concludes that booking engines, like other forms of infrastructure that serve travellers and tourists, can produce popular geopolitical effects that exceed their own technical systems. Peering through these ruptures reveals the uneasy and unstable assemblages of travel infrastructure and territorial representation that regulate global mobility.

COVID-19 위험지각과 해외여행 관여도가 포스트코로나 해외여행의도에 미치는 영향 : 확장된 계획행동이론을 중심으로

In this study, an extended theory of planned behavior(ETPB) model was designed with the addition of risk perception of Covid-19 and overseas travel involvement variables, and attempted to identify the consumer's overseas travel intention in post-corona era. The questionnaire of this study was surveyed on domestic adults through a research company, and the results of hypothesis verification through a structural equation model are as follows. First, travel risk of Covid-19 had a significant effect on overseas travel attitude, but disease risk of Covid-19 did not. Second, overseas travel involvement had a significant effect on overseas travel attitude. Third, as a result of verifying the relationship between variables in the theory of planned behavior, subjective norm had a significant effect on attitude, and attitude and perceived behavioral control had a significant effect on overseas travel intentions in post-corona era. Fourth, as a result of verifying the indirect effect of the research model, subjective norm, overseas travel involvement, and travel risk perception of Covid-19 had a significant effect on overseas travel intention in post-corona era. This study analyzes how consumers will behave toward overseas travel in the post-corona era, suggesting policy and strategic implications for the recovery of the international travel industry.

Основні показники цифрової трансформації міжнародної туристичної індустрії

The article aims at studying current trends and key indicators of the digital transformation of the international travel industry. Due to the digital revolution, travel companies have changed the paradigm of approaches to understanding effective business processes. Digitalization has highlighted unprecedented opportunities for small and medium-sized travel businesses to access new markets, develop new tourism products and services, adopt new business models and processes, enhance their position in global travel value chains, and integrate into digital systems. Both quantitative and qualitative indicators of users’ stay on the Internet are given. As a result, it is stated that as people become employed, they create their own living environment and recreation environment on the basis of their interaction with the Internet. It is proved that travel business operates on a global scale and has an information-intensive nature, thus contributing to digitalization processes. It has been found out that digitalization changes and transforms tourism, provides business with direct access to global markets. It is established that digital economy has a profound impact on travel industry, as it transforms the process of communication with tourists and marketing of travel services, opens new and creative ways of providing such services. Having generalized information of the issue, the author has divided the digital tourism market into two categories. It is justified that the digital tourism market covers all the online transactions and purchases made through online payment or online booking. Conclusion is made that the United States holds the leading role in the digital tourism market. Governments have been found to play an important role in creating an appropriate framework for the digital transformation of travel business models

Eastbound tourism in the Cold War: the history of the Swedish communist travel agency Folkturist

ABSTRACTMillions of Westerners went on holiday behind the Iron Curtain during the Cold War. This article considers the place of Eastern Europe in the international travel industry through the prism of Folkturist, a travel agency owned by the Communist Party of Sweden. By analysing Folkturist's business strategies and interactions with the East European tourist industries, the article shows the competing interests at stake when the market for eastbound leisure tourism expanded. Balancing the quest for profit with political goals was a constant challenge for Folkturist, as it was for the various organisations and institutions engaged in the tourist industry in the socialist states. By analysing Folkturist's advertisement strategies and package tour organisation and those of its commercial competitors in Sweden, the article argues that traditional concepts of political tourism fail to capture the pragmatism of political entrepreneurs and the impact they had on the market for leisure tourism to Cold War Eastern Europe.

Ecotourism and eco-lodging; an environmental sustainable approach for the Middle East

Ecotourism has become an important economic activity around the world. It provides opportunities for visitors to experience powerful manifestations of nature and culture, and to learn about the importance of biodiversity conservation and local cultures. At the same time, ecotourism generates income for conservation and economic benefits for communities living in adjacent areas. Ecotourism usually forges new relationships between people and both environment and peoples with different lifestyles. Permanent residents living in or adjacent to potential ecotourism destinations may desire to improve life opportunities for themselves and their children and may see ecotourism as generating jobs, stimulating incomes, diversifying economies, and enhancing standards of living. Ecotourism is often perceived as an excellent tool for promoting sustainable development in developing countries. Many view ecotourism as a viable way to protect the natural environment and create social and economic benefits for local communities. Regardless of the fact, ecotourism is not being properly planned and implemented in many instances; it has continued to gain popularity over the past two decades and has developed into a worldwide phenomenon that shows no signs of slowing down. Ecotourism is one of the most dynamic segments of the international travel industry. A growing number of ecotourists plan their holidays around authentic natural and cultural experiences, they are increasingly seeking accommodations, such as ecolodges, that reflect the main principles of ecotourism. This paper analysis the ecotourism opportunities and challenges that faces its expansion, moreover the paper demonstrates the ecolodge role in enhancing the ecotourism experience, examples like Adrer Amllal ecolodge in Siwa Oasis, Egypt, is analyzed as a successful example. The paper demonstrates the importance of ecotourism as a sustainable venue for development, and its under-estimated role, which can easily flourish the tourism industry, especially in the Middle East region, with its rich natural, heritage and cultural assets

Tourism Advertisement Management and Effective Tools in Tourism Industry

The definition of tourism “is the travel for recreational, leisure, family or business purposes, usually of a limited duration. Tourism is commonly associated with trans-national travel, but may also refer to travel to another location within the same country”. Tourism as an industry, in today’s modern language is a means of global communication between nations and travelers of all countries, introducing them to the various cultures and societies abroad, as well there history, ancient, historical sites, and languages. Hence, advertising overall has become a tool of necessity in this ever-growing global industry. Given that, tourism is a part of the infrastructure of any country’s economy the growth and development of tourism is of great importance. Advertising plays a vital and is a crucial tool in developing the countries tourism by attractively presenting the nations points-of-interests, historical and cultural. Advertising has a central role in expanding this industry, generating economic growth in this area, as well as creating direct and indirect employment, but most importantly a creative innovating competition in the national and international travel industry. Importantly, to achieve a successful tourist industry, the Travel Agencies and governmental offices of the Ministry’s of Tourism and Business must work hand-in-hand to attain these goals. This article shows the impact of the various media and advertising methods used in tourism, which assisted in identifying the correct tool for expanding the country’s industry of tourism. The results of this study illustrated that the appropriate tools for promotional strategies to attract domestic and foreign traveler’s, found to be the most effective were, handbook, internet advertising, TV, brochures, newspapers.

Predominance of neurologic diseases in international aeromedical transportation

Background International travel industry in Taiwan is expanding. The number of people traveling abroad was approximately 480 000 people in 1980; 2 940 000 in 1990; 7 320 000 in 2000, and in 2007, it has reached 8 960 000, which was more than one third of total population. Air medical transportation will be necessary when local medical facilities do not approximate the international standards. No previous study on epidemiology in Taiwan on patients received international medical repatriation. This is the first report to discuss the epidemiology of Taiwan's international aeromedical transportation and its focus on neurologic diseases. Method Retrospective analysis of all international aeromedical transports on Taiwanese patients from October 2005 to September 2007 was performed. All materials were collected from the databank of International SOS, Taipei. The data were analyzed with Microsoft Excel and SPSS v. 11.0 software (SPSS, Chicago, Ill). Results A total of 416 patients were transported. Excluding expatriates transported outbound and 2-stage inbound transports, the Taiwanese patient number with international aeromedical transport was 379; 51 by air ambulance and 328 commercially. There were 271 male (72%) and 108 female patients (18%). Of the 379 patients, 178 (47%) were neurologic diseases. Two hundred ninety-five (78%) patients were transported from China. Patient transports peaked in autumn by 105 (28%). Of all 33 ventilated patients, 12 (36%) were neurologic diseases. In-flight complications occurred in 10% of neurologic and 2% of nonneurologic cases. No in-flight mortality occurred in both groups. Conclusion Neurologic diseases comprise most of the Taiwanese patients that requires medical transportation. With relatively suboptimal medical standard and high medical expenses in China, patients with neurologic conditions need timely and safe aeromedical transport than those with other diseases. Transport of patients with neurologic diseases, either by air ambulance or commercial flights, can only be safely performed by well-trained medical escorts and comprehensive logistic arrangements.

Models of crisis management: an evaluation of their value for strategic planning in the international travel industry

Tourism is particularly prone to external shocks, which by their nature are unpredictable and need to be addressed through effective crisis management processes. The paper reviews the literature relating to crisis management in tourism and identifies and briefly critiques several models that have been developed to help managers in their strategic planning for such contingencies. The terrorist attacks of ‘9/11’ are used as an exemplar of the type of external shock that can lead to crisis if travel industry managers fail to take immediate and decisive action. This paper discusses the reactions of leading UK based tour operators to the terrorist attacks and a case study is presented to examine the reaction of a particular company to ‘9/11’ and to review the ‘turnaround’ strategies used. The crisis management process model is compared and contrasted with the steps actually undertaken at the company. It is evident that there are wider lessons for the travel industry including the need to: integrate crisis management with strategic planning processes, prepare detailed contingency plans, define decisional roles and responsibilities, and to retain a degree of flexibility. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Tourism, growth and poverty: Framework conditions for tourism in developing countries

Tourism in developing countries has grown rapidly in the past 20 years to the point where a fresh look at its underpinnings appears overdue. The industry itself realizes that the quality of growth is as important as quantity. Inevitably, growth and globalization have brought about a change in tourism's structure, driven by competition, consolidation among the main economic players and the revolution in information and technology. The recent Sommets du Tourisme, now in its third year, promoted by the Geneva/ Chamonix/ Mont Blanc tourism industry, took up these issues in December 5–7, 2001. This paper is a result of a presentation made at that Sommets du Tourisme on tourism, poverty and the World Bank Croup's role. The Bank Croup addresses tourism through its regular channels, including poverty reduction strategy papers (PRSP) and country assistance strategy process (CAS). Its interventions focus on public good issues, market failures, and gaps not filled by others. In this framework, this article reviews tourism as a sector that can contribute to sustainable development, including its economic, financial, social and environmental aspects. It argues that developing countries can compete favorably in world markets — they often have the framework conditions which give them a good opportunity to create the new products and services that consumers seek, often in as yet unspoiled areas. Growth and poverty are addressed, as are the policy conditions for making markets work, and assuring the sustainability of tourism's often all too fragile assets. Local communities are often left out of the decision‐making process that determines their future, leading to disenchantment with tourism; similarly, local communities may have difficulty dealing effectively with the burgeoning international travel industry. The paper underscores the importance of institutions, particularly the respective roles of government and industry, and partnership as a source of mutual inspiration. Some examples are offered here as illustrations of types of investment in sustainable tourism.

Alliances in the International Travel Industry

The tourism literature has viewed sustainability in terms of the issues pertaining to the sustainability of physical, cultural, or social environments or considered the underlying policy frameworks. However, it is argued that sustainability in a tourism context can also be viewed as an aspect of the competitive environment. The globalisation of business, the intensity of competition, the increased use of information technology and the increasing sophistication of consumers have all had an impact on the increasing propensity of companies to form alliances. This trend has been particularly discernible in the international travel industry that has grown to serve the needs of tourists. This paper traces the development of alliances in the travel industry through the presentation of a number of travel industry case studies and questions the extent to which alliances represent sustainable strategic options. Drawing on the business management literature, lessons for alliance survival and success are discussed. The paper concludes that individual strategic alliances in the travel industry are rarely sustainable as external pressures and internal commercial imperatives combine to force them apart but the notion of working collabo-ratively is indeed a sustainable way of working.

Asian Australian student travel preferences: An empirical study

Students represent a potentially viable segment of international travel. The changing demographics of international travel would indicate that students represent a growing proportion of international travelers. Recent estimates indicate that this segment constitutes 20 percent of all international travelers. Despite the substantial size and economic significance of the student segment of the international travel industry, little is known about the characteristics of this portion of the industry ‐ the patterns of behavior and motives of students travelling overseas ‐ or how they plan their travel. A review of the literature indicates that very few studies exist on international travel by students. This paper provides an insight into the discrete market of students. The sample comprised students from Australia Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand and Hong Kong. Students at a university in Perth, Australia were surveyed to determine their international travel experience during the past two years. The information requested included primary destination, length of stay, type of accommodation and purpose of visit. In addition, information was sought on the reasons for choosing destinations, and how they planned their trips. Other issues included the influence of various marketing elements on the, decision process, and funding related considerations. The research indicated preferences for various destinations based on a range of preselected criteria. In particular, the research focused on preferred travelling options, role of the family and funding related issues in terms of the various nationalities. Significant outcomes in terms of such preferences of travelling were noted. This research has shown a clear opportunity for the travel industry to better target this market.

Potential Civil Liability Resulting from Terrorist Acts in the International Travel Industry

Potential Civil Liability Resulting from Terrorist Acts in the International Travel Industry