Travel Purpose Research Articles

A machine learning comparison of transportation mode changes from high-speed railway promotion in Thailand

Thailand's collaboration with China to develop High-Speed Rail (HSR) represents a crucial step in enhancing transportation infrastructure and promoting regional economic growth. While most research has focused on existing travel modes such as cars, buses, and planes, there is a notable lack of analysis on future transport choices, particularly in developing countries like Thailand. This study addresses this gap by analyzing the factors influencing High-Speed Railways adoption to inform future traveler decisions. The comparison of models for predicting High-Speed Railways usage revealed that CatBoost consistently outperformed the other models, with cross-validation confirming its superior performance across all key metrics. The Binary Logit Model (BL) demonstrated moderate effectiveness, achieving an accuracy of 0.7404 ± 0.006, sensitivity of 0.7655 ± 0.006, and a relatively lower AUC of 0.8161 ± 0.0067. Its specificity (0.7140 ± 0.0129), precision (0.7376 ± 0.0085), and F1 score (0.7513 ± 0.0055) were moderate, but it struggled with handling imbalanced data. In contrast, XGBoost delivered significantly stronger results, with an accuracy of 0.8846 ± 0.0068, sensitivity of 0.9210 ± 0.0094, and an AUC of 0.9583 ± 0.0036. XGBoost also achieved high specificity (0.8464 ± 0.0062), precision (0.8630 ± 0.0055), and an F1 score (0.8910 ± 0.0067). LightGBM also performed well, achieving an accuracy of 0.8763 ± 0.0077 and a relatively high sensitivity of 0.9358 ± 0.0071. However, it exhibited lower specificity (0.8139 ± 0.0107) and precision (0.8408 ± 0.0083), resulting in a slightly reduced F1 score of 0.8857 ± 0.0069 and an AUC of 0.9506 ± 0.0034. CatBoost demonstrated the highest overall performance, achieving an accuracy of 0.8853 ± 0.0061, sensitivity of 0.9245 ± 0.0072, specificity of 0.8441 ± 0.0068, precision of 0.8616 ± 0.0058, an F1 score of 0.8920 ± 0.0058, and an AUC of 0.9584 ± 0.0034. The decision to use High-Speed Railways in Thailand is influenced by several key factors that reflect the country's unique transportation context. These factors include travel time, access time, service frequency, cost, waiting time, household income, automobile ownership, gender, and the purpose of travel. This information is valuable for shaping policies to support High-Speed Railways adoption in Thailand.

Impact of Transfer Time on Demand for Railway Station Use: Differences by Travel Purpose

Impact of Transfer Time on Demand for Railway Station Use: Differences by Travel Purpose

The influence of residential location and public transit options on commuters’ intention to use travel apps for different travel purposes

While living in city centers is usually linked to higher accessibility levels, shorter travel times, and higher levels of public transit (PT) utilization, the opposite is true for residents of suburban areas. This assumption holds in metropolitan contexts, where central areas offer better accessibility and are associated with higher levels of PT use. In metropolitan peripheries, a large part of commuting is done on an interurban basis, so that the level of use of public transit can be linked to the supply and information available. This work aims to understand the conditions in terms of transit supply and land use, considering the most frequent trip, psychological variables, and the modal choice of commuters’ motorized modes, in the intention to use the new real-time multi-modal travel app, such as advanced traveler information systems (ATIS) for digital mobility-management assistance. A Structural Equation Model is developed to empirically test a sample of 768 respondents collected in two suburban corridors in the Lisbon Metropolitan Area (LMA). Finally, our findings indicate that residential location, mode choice, and trip complexity have a relevant influence on the intention to adopt travel apps. Male students belonging to Generation Y/Z are the most likely users of travel apps. Regardless of the reason, travel patterns associated with more complex (more transfers) and more frequent trips can reinforce the intention to use apps. Also, it is worth noting that students are frequent public transit users, and public transit is also related to trip complexity.

43 Involvement in active transport is related to organizational factors and physical environment infrastructure

Abstract Purpose Active transport (AT) is considered the most sustainable and accessible mode for travel purposes. AT (walking and cycling) contributes to health-enhancing physical activity as it is a convenient and accessible way to increase physical activity levels. Convenient infrastructure promotion and support are important factors in shift from motor transport towards active travel. The purpose of this study was to determine how organizational factors and neighbourhood physical environment differ between using and not using AT among the Lithuanian young adult population. Methods This cross-sectional study included 250 Lithuanian young adults aged 18-39 years, with a mean age of 20.38 years. Of these, 80% were women. AT was measured using the Stages of Change Model-based Questionnaire. Infrastructure was measured by ALPHA Questionnaire–REVISED (Spittals et al., 2010). Organization-related items were developed by study researchers. Results Young Lithuanian people preferred cars and/or public transport (62.4%) instead of active transportation (AT) (27.6%) when choosing mobility. The results support a strong link between AT and organizational aspects. AT is more often chosen by people who belong to an organization where environmentally friendly behaviour is encouraged (waste sorting, using AT (p = 0.018); conditions are created to safely store a bicycle or scooter (p = 0.024); that talks about sustainable development, environmentally friendly behaviour, sustainability, etc. (p = 0.034). Quality of the neighbourhood physical environment, such as maintained bicycle paths (p = 0.011), maintained sidewalks (p = 0.049), maintained parks, and other open spaces (p = 0.050) significantly associated with the choice of AT. However, the choice of active transport was not significantly related to the infrastructure of pedestrian zones or paths, infrastructure of special lanes, routes for bicycles, or separation of bicycle paths from car traffic. Conclusions Young people’s involvement in AT is influenced by the attitude of the organization in which they work or study towards environmentally friendly behaviour, AT, and sustainable development. The quality of the neighbourhood physical environment also determines the involvement of young people in AT.

A Study on the Spatiotemporal Distribution and Usage Pattern of Dockless Shared Bicycles—The Case of Nanjing

Determining the spatiotemporal deployment strategy for dockless shared bicycles in urban blocks has always been a focal point for city managers and planners. Extensive research has delved into the usage patterns in terms of time and space, deduced travel purposes, and scrutinized the relationship between trips and the built environment. The elements of the built environment are significantly correlated with the starting and ending points of dockless shared bicycle trips, leading to a scarcity of shared bicycles in areas that are more frequently used as starting points and an abundance of idle bicycles in areas that serve as endpoints. This paper posits that the idle state of shared bicycles is as important as their usage. Utilizing a case study of Xinjiekou Central District in Nanjing, China, we propose a framework for analyzing the temporal and spatial usage and idleness of shared bicycles. We also discuss the impact of various factors, such as proximity to transit stations, land use, and road accessibility, on the different usage and idle states of dockless shared bicycles. The findings reveal that the public transportation system has a similar influence on both the utilization and idleness of dockless shared bicycles, indicating that areas with a dense concentration of transportation services experience greater demand for shared bicycles as both origins and destinations. The influence of other factors on the usage and idleness of dockless shared bicycles varies significantly, resulting in either a shortage or surplus of these bicycles. Consequently, based on the findings regarding the use and idleness of dockless shared bicycles, we formulate a redistribution and zone-based management strategy for shared bicycles. This paper offers new insights into the spatiotemporal distribution and utilization of shared bicycles under the influence of different built environments, contributing to the further optimization of dockless shared bicycle resource allocation.

Beyond binary relationship: Multivariant analysis between ride-hailing and public transit based on multi-sourcing data

The impact of ride-hailing (RH) as an emerging mode of travel service on public transit (PT) systems has been confirmed. However, the current research only views the relationship between PT and RH as competition or complementation based on macro statistics and travel time differences. In fact, the relationship is beyond binary, and it is partial to take the travel time difference as the only classification factor. We constructed a Gaussian mixture model (GMM) using RH data in Xi’an, and three indicators of travel time, cost, and service quality difference were used to classify the relationship between RH and PT. To clarify the factors influencing the relationship classifications, a Multinomial logistic model (MNL) was constructed with the built environment, economic factors, and travel purpose. The results show that the RH-PT relationship can be generally classified into four classifications: Competition (26.5%), RH superiority (47.7%), PT superiority (13.6%), and Irrelevance (12.2%). Competition occurs mainly around metro stations, RH superiority mainly during working hours in outer urban areas, and PT superiority is most widely distributed in the morning peak. POI density and the number of bus lines are positively correlated with Competition, RH superiority, and PT superiority. In addition, there is significant spatial heterogeneity in the RH-PT relationship, for which we constructed a Geographically weighted regression (GWR) model to analyze it. We find that the spatial heterogeneity may stem from the spatial autocorrelation and the spatial disparities in the distribution of regression coefficients. Therefore, policymakers should formulate policies to transform competition from multiple perspectives.

Experimental implementation of Speed Stabilizer Based Field Oriented Control of Brushless DC Motor for Scooter Applications

An electric scooter, as one type of Lightweight vehicles technology, is a motorized vehicle designed for short-distance travel and recreational purposes. It is powered by an electric motor and typically has a rechargeable battery that provides sufficient power to operate the vehicle. Electric scooters are similar to traditional scooters but are much quieter, eco-friendly, and more energy-efficient. They are commonly used as an alternative mode of transportation for commuting, sightseeing, and recreational activities. This work presents an experimental implementation of speed stabilizer of electric scooter. In fact, a constant speed function might be required in a specific case in the operation of the scooter. A Field Oriented Control (FOC) method was chosen to control the speed of 3-phase Brushless DC motor of the scooter using a PIC16F873A Microcontroller through a Driver circuit. The control algorithm is designed to produce pulse width modulation (PWM) signal with the PID controller of the pulse bandwidth equipped with this Microcontroller and compared to the return pulse of the speed sensor in order to create and apply a closed back-feed system for good stability performance of scooter speed at different load values. The results obtained from this work show that the possibility of obtaining a wide range of control of the speed of the scooter at different loads with high reliability.

The TimeUse+ data set: 4 weeks of time use and expenditure data based on GPS tracks

AbstractThis data paper introduces the TimeUse+ data set and outlines the comprehensive survey methodologies employed in its collection. The TimeUse+ study comprised two online questionnaires and a smartphone-based diary, recording travel, time use, and expenditure data. Participants were instructed to utilize the TimeUse+ application over a 4-week period. The app passively tracked participants’ movements via GPS and enabled them to annotate their trips and time spent at fixed locations with relevant time use and expenditure information. We begin by providing an overview of extant research on smartphone-based activity-travel diaries and the survey methodological research that informed the TimeUse+ app’s design. We then delineate the study design and components of TimeUse+, highlighting insights derived from prior focus groups and pretests. The data analyzed in this study were collected during the main study wave of TimeUse+, conducted in German-speaking Switzerland from July 2022 to February 2023. Approximately 63,000 individuals were invited to participate, of which approximately 10% initially indicated interest. Despite the study’s extensive and burdensome nature, we observed a net response rate of 2.1%. We present findings related to travel behavior, time use patterns, and expenditure habits, and discuss the challenges faced and lessons learned during each stage of development and execution of the TimeUse+ study. These extensive longitudinal data, which include validated information on travel mode and purpose, as well as detailed data on duration, social partners, and expenditures associated with activities performed at each destination, are being made available for further research.

Tourism risk analysis and mitigation: Strategies for managing risks in a dynamic tourism environment

Tourism is interconnected with other industries and brings additional benefits to both the European economy and Ukraine in general. However, it also depends on external and internal factors and is the first to react to their changes. The article describes and uses a strategy for managing the risks posed by the fast-changing tourism market, where every second trip for travel purposes goes to EU countries. The EU countries comprise 50% of global tourism, while outbound tourism from European countries is almost 48% of all outbound trips and tourism activities worldwide. The COVID-19 pandemic had a severe impact on the tourism sector of many countries, leading to significant changes and negative consequences. However, the tourism industry is dynamic and constantly evolving, responding to any changes and demands. Therefore, the relevance of this study lies in exploring further ways to develop tourism in the European tourism macroregion, taking into account the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. The unprecedented pace of transformation has affected the management system of tourism enterprises. Travel companies must respond quickly to constantly changing environmental conditions to protect their reputation and financial stability. Therefore, there is a real need to create a modern, comprehensive risk management system for tourism companies. Risks cannot be eliminated, yet any business owner who cares about the success of their business must investigate possible adverse factors affecting their profits and take action to reduce them. Risk management serves this purpose.

Segmenting social media users in international tourism: Insights integrated from multi‐homing theory and international visitor survey data

AbstractThis study utilizes multi‐homing theory to assess international travelers' usage of social media platforms, revealing insights into their gender, country of origin, generation cohorts, and travel purposes. These insights can guide the development of effective social media marketing strategies for national destination management organizations (DMOs). Data from South Korea's 2019 International Visitor Survey (with 12,194 participants) was analyzed using chi‐square and correspondence analysis techniques. The results revealed distinctive preferences of international visitors among generational cohorts with different travel purposes across 19 countries in the usage of online travel communities, social network platforms, video‐sharing platforms, and travel blogs. Understanding the dynamics of social media platforms helps national DMOs enhance their social media marketing strategies for international visitors, based on the multi‐sided platform usage paradigm. Nevertheless, acknowledging the study's limitations points towards potential avenues for future research.

EFFECTIVENESS OF PROMOTIONAL STRATEGIES ADOPTED BY TWO-WHEELER DEALERS

Two wheelers market is the ever-expanding market in India. The customers of all economic classes are using two wheelers for their conveyance needs. The travel could be within a city or outside the city. The two wheelers are bought according to the purpose of travel, distance travelled per day, price, fuel efficiency, etc. The customers are fond of buying trendy two wheelers. Youngsters are interested in buying premium bikes or sports bikes while women are concerned with the easy to operate and the aged customers want safety while using the vehicles. Under these circumstances, the two wheeler manufactures have been introducing new variants from time to time and in order to launch these vehicles, they adopt various promotional strategies by spending huge amount on marketing. Hence, it better to understand the effectiveness of promotional strategies adopted by them. This study has made an attempt to examine the perception of dealers on buyer behaviour and effectiveness of promotional strategies. For this purpose, 250 dealers of top 5 two wheeler manufacturers in Tamil Nadu have been selected and the data obtained from them have been analysed. The results indicate that the perception of dealers on buyer behaviour varies in accordance with the number of sub dealers and the registration facilities have been the most effective strategy.

RESEARCH OF INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS TOURISM: THEORETICAL BASIS AND ANALYTICAL ASPECTS

Objective. The objective of the present article is to generalize and analyze the theoretical foundations of international business tourism, as well as to identify and study the basic trends of its development. Methods. To achieve the defined goal, such methods of empirical and theoretical research were used as a literature review, theoretical generalization (to identify, collect and analyze modern studies devoted to various aspects of the development of international business tourism); comparative analysis, comparison (to compare inbound tourism by the purpose of the visit in the world for different studied periods; to compare the inbound flows of international business tourism by different countries of the world; to analyze inbound tourism by business and professional purpose of travel in the countries of the Central /Eastern Europe, identifying common and opposing trends); data visualization (for visualization and grouping of material). Results. The obtained results of the research allowed: 1) to conclude that the volume of business tourism in the world in the comparative years of 2019 and 2021 did not change and was equal to 11% of the total number of trips made; 2) to determine, on the basis of a comparative analysis of selected countries of the world, that there is a significant excess of travel for personal purposes over travel for business and professional purposes in all analyzed countries; 3) prove on the basis of the analysis of inbound tourism by business and professional purpose of travel in the countries of Central/Eastern Europe (according to the classification of UN Tourism) for the period 2016-2022 that the common trend for all analyzed countries, with the exception of Hungary, is a decrease the amount of income for business and professional purposes for the analyzed period; 4) to establish the leading countries of Central/Eastern Europe in terms of the volume of arrivals for business and professional purposes of travel, including Poland, Hungary and Bulgaria, and to find out that Ukraine has the smallest number of travelers.

Государственное регулирование туризма в Российской Федерации в контексте динамики международных отношений

The article analyzes the internal and external factors influencing the development of tourism, including government policy, economic trends, infrastructural opportunities and international cooperation. Special attention is paid to the conceptual criteria defining tourism as a change of location, temporary stay and non-commercial travel purposes. The authors of the article consider the current trends and risks associated with tourism in Russia, as well as consider strategies and measures that can contribute to the sustainable development of the tourism industry in the country. The article offers a comprehensive approach to assessing the tourism potential of Russian regions, emphasizing the importance of separating attractiveness and quality of service in order to optimize tourist flows and increase the attractiveness of Russian tourism for both domestic and foreign visitors.

Factors of the Evolution of Air Passenger Segmentation: The Case of the Serbian Air Travel Market

The paper investigates the evolution of air passenger profiles in terms of regulatory environment, competitive landscape, socio-economic and demographic trends. The research is supported by passenger surveys carried out since 2001. The surveys have been designed to provide objective and in-depth insights into the preferences and behaviors of air passengers in the Serbian market. The resulting passenger segments are categorized based on socioeconomic and travel purpose criteria, but the surveys conducted at Serbian airports reveal that competition triggered the service quality to become a major issue in the Serbian market, after the entrance of low-cost carriers. The research of future projections of air passengers in Serbia is based on the Delphi method for two-time horizons (2025 and 2035) and three future scenarios are proposed.

Behavioral differences between young adults and elderly travelers concerning the crowding effect on public transit after the COVID-19 pandemic

After the COVID-19 pandemic, passengers' concerns about crowding on public transit vehicles has increased due to their fear of being infected. Since WHO has announced that the elderly are the most vulnerable to COVID-19, it is important to understand the impact of crowding on the elderly and provide policy implications on public transit vehicles. The aim of this study is to analyze the behavioral differences between young adults and the elderly concerning the crowded conditions on public transit with a stated preference survey in Seoul metropolitan area. Crowding multipliers are estimated to quantify the impedance on crowding based on the mixed logit model. The results indicate that the elderly are more sensitive to crowding on public transit vehicles than younger people, and subway passengers are affected more by crowding than passengers who are using other modes of transit. In addition, it is confirmed that the preference of the elderly for public transit varies according to gender, income, and the purpose of travel. These analysis results can provide implications for setting new policy directions to improve the public hygiene and comfort of elderly people when they use public transit in the post-COVID-19 world.

Cost and financing of paratransit services and their effect on dissatisfaction with participation in daily activities of persons with disabilities

IntroductionTransportation use affects participation in daily activities, health and well-being. Persons with disabilities rely on paratransit services if they are not able to use public transport. The per-trip costs of paratransit services in Switzerland are high, and the responsibility for financing these trips (e.g., social insurance, canton) varies depending on the purpose of travel. We hypothesized that cost and financing factors of paratransit services increase dissatisfaction with participation in daily activities of persons with disabilities in Switzerland. The study's objective is to investigate which cost and financing factors affect dissatisfaction with participation in daily activities. MethodsUsing a cross-sectional study design, we conducted a self-administered online questionnaire. We included paratransit service users or relatives of paratransit service users aged 18 years or older. We analyzed the data using the multiple correspondence-, lasso- and regression analysis. ResultsA statistically significant effect on lower levels of dissatisfaction with participation in daily activities had high costs of paratransit services (Odds ratio (OR) = 3.45, 95% Confidence interval (CI) [1.41, 8.36]), not using paratransit services to leisure activities (OR = 2.39, 95% CI [1.28, 4.58]) and work (OR = 4.11, 95% CI [1.22, 20.89]), and getting trips financed to leisure activities by social insurances and benefits (OR = 3.06, 95% CI [1.08, 8.42]). ConclusionConcerning the influence of transportation on health and wellbeing, policy-makers and transportation planners may reflect on the effect of cost and financing factors of paratransit services on dissatisfaction with participation in daily activities of persons with disabilities. This is particularly important when the dissatisfaction stems from reduced use of paratransit services for leisure activities, due to high costs.

Shifting to sustainable micromobility: Understanding the factors influencing willingness to use e-scooters for campus-based travel of university students in Yogyakarta, Indonesia

Abstract E-scooters are experiencing a global rise in usage for urban micro-mobility, however, in Indonesia, their primary purpose is mostly for leisure activities. Notwithstanding legal constraints, the use of e-scooters for travel purposes is still predominantly lacking. The objective of this study is to gain insights into the attributes, movement behaviours, inclinations, and perspectives of prospective e-scooter riders, as well as their level of interest in utilising these vehicles for commuting inside the Universitas Islam Indonesia campus. A dataset consisting of information from 380 students was gathered and examined using descriptive statistics, chi-square tests of association, mean score analysis, and ordered probit models. The findings indicated that transportation on campus is predominantly dependent on motorised cars, accounting for 67 % of trips within a 2 kilometer radius. There were no significant factors observed that were linked to a propensity to use e-scooters. However, past experience with e-scooters was statistically significant for certain development scenarios. Male students were primarily influenced by factors such as discomfort during long distance journeys, inadequate infrastructure, and unfavourable weather conditions. In contrast, female students tended to prioritise the discomfort experienced when standing.

Predictive Model for EV Charging Load Incorporating Multimodal Travel Behavior and Microscopic Traffic Simulation

A predictive model for the spatiotemporal distribution of electric vehicle (EV) charging load is proposed in this paper, considering multimodal travel behavior and microscopic traffic simulation. Firstly, the characteristic variables of travel time are fitted using advanced techniques such as Gaussian mixture distribution. Simultaneously, the user’s multimodal travel behavior is delineated by introducing travel purpose transfer probabilities, thus establishing a comprehensive travel spatiotemporal model. Secondly, the improved Floyd algorithm is employed to select the optimal path, taking into account various factors including signal light status, vehicle speed, and the position of starting and ending sections. Moreover, the approach of multi-lane lane change following and the utilization of cellular automata theory are introduced. To establish a microscopic traffic simulation model, a real-time energy consumption model is integrated with the aforementioned techniques. Thirdly, the minimum regret value is leveraged in conjunction with various other factors, including driving purpose, charging station electricity price, parking cost, and more, to simulate the decision-making process of users regarding charging stations. Subsequently, an EV charging load predictive framework is proposed based on the approach driven by electricity prices and real-time interaction of coupled network information. Finally, this paper conducts large-scale simulations to analyze the spatiotemporal distribution characteristics of EV charging load using a regional transportation network in East China and a typical power distribution network as case studies, thereby validating the feasibility of the proposed method.

Using generative artificial intelligence (ChatGPT) for travel purposes: parasocial interaction and tourists’ continuance intention

Purpose This study aims to investigate what drives tourists to continue using ChatGPT for travel purposes. This study focuses on the impact of parasocial interaction on tourists’ intention to continue using ChatGPT. It also examines how satisfaction mediates this relationship and the role of technology anxiety as a moderating factor. Design/methodology/approach Using a sample of 606 tourists in popular Vietnamese tourist destinations, this study used the SPSS PROCESS macro (Model 4 and Model 14) to estimate the research model. Findings The study found that tourists’ satisfaction and parasocial interactions positively influenced their intention to continue using ChatGPT for travel purposes. The tourists’ satisfaction was found to play a partial role in mediating the relationship between parasocial interactions and their intention to continue using ChatGPT. Technology anxiety was found to be a negative moderator of the direct effect of satisfaction and the indirect impact of parasocial interaction on this intention. Originality/value This study stands out as a pioneering exploration into the novel intersection of parasocial interaction, satisfaction, and technology anxiety and their influence on tourists’ intention to persist with using ChatGPT for travel-related purposes.

Does Perioperative Administration of Rabies Vaccine in Dogs Undergoing Surgical Sterilization Induce an Adequate Antibody Response?

High-volume spay/neuter events may facilitate access to free-roaming dogs to admi-nister rabies vaccination, but important questions remain regarding the effect of surgery and anesthesia on the immune response to a vaccine administered in the perioperative period. This study evaluated the immunogenicity of primary rabies vaccination in dogs when administered during the immediate perioperative period at the time of surgical sterilization (ovariohysterectomy/orchidectomy). Healthy dogs of both sexes presenting for surgical sterilization who had never been vaccinated against rabies virus were eligible for enrollment in the study. Fifty dogs ranging in age from 5 to 96 months were enrolled and were vaccinated against rabies virus during the recovery period following anesthesia and surgery. Rabies virus neutralizing antibody (RVNA) titers were measured preoperatively and 28 days postoperatively. This cohort was compared to a historical control cohort of 57 dogs who received primary rabies vaccination for travel purposes and had RVNA titers measured at the same laboratory as the study group 28-35 days post-vaccination. After controlling for age and sex, there was no statistically significant difference in immunogenicity of a rabies vaccine administered to dogs during the perioperative period in comparison to dogs that received the rabies vaccine for travel alone in the absence of surgery. Perioperative administration of a rabies vaccine in dogs under-going surgical sterilization induces an adequate antibody response. We recommend that rabies vaccine be administered perioperatively during spay/neuter campaigns in canine rabies endemic areas if other opportunities to ac-cess veterinary care and rabies vaccination are limited.