Visitor Survey Research Articles

Unveiling the Interconnections Between Art, Politics, and Society in the Soviet System Through Art: A Case Study of the Exhibition “1972. Breaking Through the Wall”

Summary This article is dedicated to analysing the exhibition “1972. Breaking Through the Wall” from several perspectives: the curator, the viewers, and the exhibition architect tasked with creating an environment for the art exhibition in an unconventional setting. The article examines the curators’ choices, discusses the work of the exhibition architect within the context of heritage conservation requirements, and presents the results of a viewer survey. This exhibition raised the issue of the significance of alternative creativity, opposed to the official narrative, in a non-free society. It focused on Lithuanian art from the 1960s to the 1980s that countered the official Soviet cultural course. The exhibition’s prehistory includes the historical fact that in the spring of 1972, a young man self-immolated in Kaunas in protest against the lack of freedom. These events had direct and indirect reverberations in the arts, although they were not exhibited at the time due to fear of repression. This difficult experience has left its mark on Lithuanian culture and collective memory. The exhibition highlighted the role of various societal groups in opposing the ruling authorities and establishing personal and creative freedom as the highest value. The art display, composed of works from professionals (fine arts, theatre) and amateurs (rock and big beat musicians) from the 1960s to 1980s who resisted official Soviet art, clearly demonstrated how Kaunas – the capital of Lithuania from 1920 to 1940 – was influenced by the city’s prominent pre-war modernism (environment and lifestyle) and the Soviet ideology imposed on the entire country. The clash of two diametrically opposed ideological stances and artistic principles in Soviet Lithuania led to the emergence of an alternative culture. For the first time in the history of Lithuanian exhibitions, this exhibition showed how the social and the arts were affected by the pressure exerted by the official authorities. The visitor survey showed that the positive reactions to the exhibition were also due to socio-political events that have become embedded in the nation’s memory. The events stored in the collective memory of the nation correlated with specific creative artefacts and historical details, which the younger generation saw for the first time. Noteworthy was the symbiosis of emotional experiences among visitors of different ages, observing exhibits with both artistic and historical value. As indicated by the visitor survey, the exhibition facilitated the establishment of a closer connection between generations. The exhibition’s display in a cultural heritage site – the former post office building (by architect Feliksas Vizbaras, 1932) – was a complex task creatively resolved by contemporary architects.

Comparison of Nature Tourism in Two Hungarian Forest-Dominated Areas—Results of Visitor Surveys

Recreation and nature-based tourism targeting forests are important cultural services provided by forests, and are also considered non-productive social functions of forests. Many factors influence the demand for forest recreation and tourism that are worth exploring for each forest area. The main aim of our study was to compare the results of visitor surveys related to two mountainous forested areas (Börzsöny and Cserhát) that are both located near to the capital city of Budapest but have different characteristics regarding the forests, accessibility, and the level of tourism infrastructure and services. The questionnaires focused on the characteristics of the visits, perceptions of visitors regarding the values of the areas, and the development needs besides the characteristics of the respondents. In addition to basic statistics, Chi2 and Fisher’s exact tests were used to detect the differences between the two sites. Despite the different characteristics of the study areas, the main results were quite similar at both sites. Most respondents came from Budapest or within a 60 km distance of the sites by car with family and friends, mainly for hiking and nature walks, and spent less than a day in the areas. The state of forests was perceived as good in both areas. Landscape and fresh air were the most attracting factors for visiting both sites. There was a demand for more guided tours, and regarding tourism infrastructure development needs, benches and toilets ranked high at both sites. However, there were also some slight differences between the sites. For example, Börzsöny was visited more frequently, and railway and bicycle were more often used to access this site. Pleasant climate, easy access and fresh air were more important reasons to visit Börzsöny, and it was more associated with wilderness. In Cserhát, low prices and cultural values seemed more important reasons to visit; Hollókő as a world heritage site was highlighted, and more nature-related and other tourism development needs were mentioned regarding this site. These differences were probably due to the different characteristics of the forests (more mosaic forests in Cserhát), the level of the public transportation network, tourist infrastructure and services (higher in Börzsöny), and cultural heritage (more important in Cserhát). Based on our results, Cserhát needs more development in tourism infrastructure and services, while in Börzsöny, the development of a visitor management plan would be useful to harmonize the different uses of the forest.

Embracing Culinary Tourism as a Strategy for Boosting Regional Development: Bangka Belitung Case Studies

Both regional and national growth are aided by culinary tourism. Every region needs to have an appropriate strategy in place to compete with the others in order to maximize development. Creating a supply-demand-driven culinary tourism strategy is the aim of this study. Hybrid technique was employed in this investigation. Participants in this study included chefs, tour operators, owners of agricultural tourism firms, local government representatives in the tourism sector, and operators of restaurants and hotels. SWOT analysis was conducted using the results of visitor surveys, aerial observations, focus group discussion, and secondary data. Suggested course of action: Priority plans are selected by government officials and executives of travel industry associations, and AHP is used to process them. Product, pricing, marketing communication, and collaboration are the recommended areas of concentration. To increase price competitiveness, culinary products from upstream to downstream must work together. Among the goods that must be created are facilities, culinary festivals and events, culinary-related activities, and organizations dedicated to culinary tourism. Collaborative marketing communications are needed to maximize culinary tourism-related media and messaging. There are restrictions on research involving horizontal stakeholders. Future research needs to look at the various ways that stakeholders collaborate.

Process evaluation of a breastfeeding support intervention to promote exclusive breastfeeding and reduce social inequity: a mixed-methods study in a cluster-randomised trial

BackgroundBreastfeeding is a powerful public health intervention that produces long-term health benefits. However, in high-income countries such as Denmark, breastfeeding rates are suboptimal and unequally distributed across socio-economic positions. The ‘Breastfeeding – a good start together’ intervention, to promote longer duration of exclusive breastfeeding and reduce social inequity, was implemented in a cluster-randomised trial during 2022–2023 across 21 municipalities in two Danish regions. A process evaluation was conducted to assess the implementation, mechanisms of impact, and possible contextual factors affecting the intervention.MethodsThe study was guided by the Medical Research Council’s guidance for conducting process evaluations and employed a mixed-methods approach in a convergence design. Quantitative data: contextual mapping survey (n = 20), health visitor survey (n = 284), health visitor records from 20 clusters and intervention website statistics. Qualitative data: dialogue meetings (n = 7), focus groups (n = 3) and interviews (n = 8).ResultsOverall, the intervention was delivered as planned to intended recipients, with few exceptions. Health visitors responded positively to the intervention, noting that it fitted well within their usual practice and enhanced families’ chances of breastfeeding. Mothers expressed having received the intervention with few exceptions, and reacted positively to the intervention. Although health visitors were concerned about the potential stigmatisation of mothers receiving the intensified intervention, none of the interviewed mothers felt stigmatised. Contextual factors impacting the intervention implementation and mechanisms included staff and management turnover, project infrastructure and mothers’ context, such as resources, social networks and previous experiences. The overall fidelity of the intervention delivery was high.ConclusionsHealth visitors and families responded well to the intervention. Interventions aimed at enabling health care providers to deliver simplified and structured breastfeeding support, in alignment with support provided in other sectors of the health care system, may increase breastfeeding rates and reduce social inequity in breastfeeding, even in international contexts.Trial registrationClinical Trials: NCT05311631. First posted April 5, 2022.

Dog swimming and ectoparasiticide water contamination in urban conservation areas: A case study on Hampstead Heath, London

Widespread occurrence of two ectoparasiticide compounds in the aquatic environment, imidacloprid and fipronil, have prompted concerns about their potential environmental impacts. However, very little focus has been placed on water bodies in urban green spaces used for dog swimming. In this study, occurrence of both substances on Hampstead Heath, London, was compared in ponds with (n = 3) and without dog swimming activity (n = 3), as well as connecting streams above, between, and below these ponds (n = 6). Imidacloprid and fipronil were detected at main swimming points in dog swimming ponds at mean concentrations of 309 ± 104 ng/L and 32 ± 13 ng/L, respectively, indicating a high environmental risk in these samples. Measured concentrations in ponds not accessible for dog swimming were either below the limits of detection or limits of quantification for both chemicals. Across all ponds, there was a strong positive correlation between measured dog swimming activities and concentrations of imidacloprid (R2 = 0.91) and fipronil (R2 = 0.79). Some contamination was detected in connecting streams between ponds. A wider chemical analysis for the presence of urban waste water chemical residue signatures indicated minimal contamination, including in source waters. A survey of visitors who allow their dogs to swim in the sampled ponds confirmed frequent use of products containing imidacloprid and fipronil. In total, 86 % of 101 dog owners were unaware of the potential environmental impacts of products, and 94 % indicated that protecting nature would be an important consideration when selecting products. Besides the current practice of limiting dog access to ponds, information collected on product use and dog swimming practices identified additional opportunities to reduce contamination. We suggest that more cooperation between industry, regulators, veterinarians, green space managers, and the public can reduce risks to urban biodiversity while maintaining recreational benefits for dog owners and dogs.

The role of pharmaceutical care in the use of rifaximin for the treatment of diarrhea

the management of diarrhea represents a prevalent issue within the realm of healthcare. Rifaximin is recommended to treat traveler's diarrhea and irritable bowel syndrome. At the same time, it is important to rationally use an antimicrobial drug to prevent the development of antimicrobial resistance. Aim: to evaluate the role of pharmaceutical care in using rifaximin to treat diarrhea, based on a questionnaire. A questionnaire survey was done among 55 pharmacy professionals and 42 pharmacy visitors regarding the dispensing and use of rifaximin for diarrhea treatment. The survey of pharmacy visitors revealed that rifaximin was used for the treatment of small intestinal bacterial overgrowth syndrome (32 cases), traveler's diarrhea (7 cases), and irritable bowel syndrome with diarrhea (3 cases). Patients did not undergo stool culture before rifaximin prescription, which could have prevented antimicrobial resistance and ruled out other causes of diarrhea. It was found that 14% of respondents reported improvement the next day, while 83.3% reported improvement within three days. Pharmacists can educate visitors about the importance of completing the treatment course. Five percent of respondents reported nausea as an adverse reaction. Pharmacists dispensed rifaximin for the treatment of diarrhea in adults almost three times more often than in children. The tablet form of the drug was used in 94.5% of cases, while the oral suspension was used in 5.5% of cases. The majority of pharmacy visitors (89.0%) received rifaximin with a doctor's prescription, and 10.9% without a prescription, which emphasizes the importance of pharmaceutical care to prevent irrational use of the drug. The results of the study show that 92.7% of pharmacists provide recommendations on the safety of rifaximin use, and 78.2% recommend abstaining from alcohol during treatment. Only 21.8% of pharmacists warn about the possible staining of urine, which can cause concern for patients. The majority of pharmacists (89.1%) systematically ask women about possible pregnancy, which indicates their awareness of safe pharmacotherapy. Pharmacists also clarify the simultaneous use of rifaximin with other drugs: 32.7% ask about taking oral contraceptives, 7.3% – antiarrhythmic drugs, and 3.6% – warfarin. mailto:https://meshb.nlm.nih.gov/record/ui?ui=D002648Pharmacists can enhance the effectiveness of rifaximin treatment by preventing its uncontrolled use, emphasizing the importance of completing the treatment course and informing about possible adverse reactions. When providing pharmaceutical care to visitors taking rifaximin, pharmacists should educate them about potential changes in urine color. Additionally, pharmaceutical workers advise women taking oral contraceptives to use additional contraceptive methods while taking rifaximin.

Not seeing the wood for the (invasive) trees: Visitors’ perceptions of invasive wilding conifers in the New Zealand landscape

Currently we know little about how visitors perceive invasive species, nor how this may vary across visitor cohorts. Previous research suggests that visitors to natural areas have a low awareness of the impact of invasive species. This note reports on a survey of domestic and international visitors (n = 231) in New Zealand, investigating their awareness of invasive wild conifers and attitudes toward their control. Awareness of the wild conifer problem was generally low, especially among international visitors. There were significant differences between domestic and international visitors, and among visitors of different nationalities for how wild conifers were perceived. International visitors, and particularly those from China or other Asian countries were more accepting of wild conifers in the landscape and less supportive of eradication. The findings have implications for management of invasive species, which requires the support of all stakeholders, including tourists, recreationists and their associated sectors.

Opportunities for meaningful climate change engagement in vulnerable nature settings

Abstract Nature‐based tourism has a unique opportunity, and arguably responsibility, to promote widespread action on climate change. However, research suggests an aversion to providing information that might appear divisive or ‘ruin’ peoples day, particularly in places that are vulnerable to degradation. We explore how exposure to climate change information in vulnerable nature settings influences indicators of (i) the visitor experience and (ii) climate change engagement. Using a quasi‐experimental approach, we provided climate information on tourist boats operating on the Great Barrier Reef, Australia and compared visitor experiences with a control condition where climate information was not provided. Visitor surveys (n = 656) assessed perceptions and experiences. Overall, visitors on trips where climate information was provided were more likely to report that the reef experience exceeded their expectations and did not report any reduction in subjective trip satisfaction. However, we detected minimal effects of climate information on indicators of climate engagement (threat awareness, action awareness, or information seeking), suggesting room for improvement in interpretation approach and design. Indeed, visitors reported high levels of acceptability for incorporating more information about climate change, particularly about actions. Synthesis and applications: These results suggest that providing climate information does not undermine visitor experiences and while further research is required to determine the most effective approach for influencing climate change engagement, an appetite for more information exists. It is possible that what tourism operators are fearful of, may be an opportunity to improve outcomes aligned with both industry and environmental objectives. Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog.

Awareness, support, and opinions of healthy food and drink policies: a survey of staff and visitors in New Zealand healthcare organisations

BackgroundIn 2016, a voluntary National Healthy Food and Drink Policy (hereafter, “the Policy”) was released to encourage public hospitals in New Zealand to provide food and drink options in line with national dietary guidelines. Five years later, eight (of 20) organisations had adopted it, with several preferring to retain or update their own institutional-level version. This study assessed staff and visitors’ awareness and support for and against the Policy, and collected feedback on perceived food environment changes since implementation of the Policy.MethodsCross-sectional electronic and paper-based survey conducted from June 2021 to August 2022. Descriptive statistics were used to present quantitative findings. Free-text responses were analysed following a general inductive approach. Qualitative and quantitative findings were compared by level of implementation of the Policy, and by ethnicity and financial security of participants.ResultsData were collected from 2,526 staff and 261 visitors in 19 healthcare organisations. 80% of staff and 56% of visitors were aware of the Policy. Both staff and visitors generally supported the Policy, irrespective of whether they were aware of it or not, with most agreeing that “Hospitals should be good role models.” Among staff who opposed the Policy, the most common reason for doing so was freedom of choice. The Policy had a greater impact, positive and negative, on Māori and Pacific staff, due to more frequent purchasing onsite. Most staff noticed differences in the food and drinks available since Policy implementation. There was positive feedback about the variety of options available in some hospitals, but overall 40% of free text comments mentioned limited choice. 74% of staff reported that food and drinks were more expensive. Low-income staff/visitors and shift workers were particularly impacted by reduced choice and higher prices for healthy options.ConclusionsThe Policy led to notable changes in the healthiness of foods and drinks available in NZ hospitals but this was accompanied by a perception of reduced value and choice. While generally well supported, the findings indicate opportunities to improve implementation of food and drink policies (e.g. providing more healthy food choices, better engagement with staff, and keeping prices of healthy options low) and confirm that the Policy could be expanded to other public workplaces.

Reshaping future museums through innovativeness: the views of locals and tourists

ABSTRACT Innovations play a key role in museum development. However, there remains a gap regarding the extent to which museums’ innovativeness enhances the appeal for both locals and tourists. This study offers insights into museums’ innovativeness, visitor satisfaction, and behavioural intentions by adopting a demand-side perspective. The aim is to examine and compare the impact of museums’ innovativeness on the behaviour of locals and tourists applying consumer-centric views. A face-to-face survey of visitors (N = 344) in one of the technical museums of Saint-Petersburg was conducted. The empirical part is based on the CFA and SEM techniques. This research reveals the strong impact of the perceived innovativeness of a museum on visitors’ satisfaction and revisit intention (for locals and tourists separately). The study facilitates the comprehension of the impact of museum innovations on the behaviours of visitors and their decision-making processes.

Acceptance and demand of autonomous vehicles for long-distance recreational travel: An investigation based on a survey of visitors to US national parks

The study of anticipated changes in travel behavior that could be brought by autonomous vehicles (AVs) has been widespread for commuting and short-distance daily travel, yet little attention has been given to long-distance travel. To address this research gap, this paper presents an analytical model for estimating public preference towards the adoption and use (in terms of frequency and length of trips) of AVs, focusing on long-distance recreational travel (LDRT). The model considers socio-demographics, trip-specific characteristics, in-vehicle time use-related factors, and attitudinal latent variables (AV usefulness, AV concern, driving enjoyment) as potential influencers of AV acceptance and demand. To analyze the proposed model, data were collected from a survey of visitors to US national parks conducted in Summer 2022, and the structural equation modeling (SEM) technique was employed. The results indicate that the frequency and length of long-distance recreational trips will likely be higher in the AV era. This draws attention to tourism destination managers not only to manage the tourists’ demand at destinations but also to manage traffic on the roads leading to the destinations. Additionally, the results show that the LDRT demand will continue to rise with the increase in AV acceptance due to the usefulness and potential for several in-vehicle activities offered by vehicle automation, despite concerns about system safety, data privacy, and legal liability. The study also reveals that some travelers will likely miss manual driving enjoyment in AV driving, particularly in unique travel settings like tourism travel, and thus might opt for manual driving options. Based on these findings, we advocate for the timely consideration of induced LDRT, and tourism travel demand generated by AVs—such as provisioning sustainable public transport options to recreational and tourism destinations.

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.

Assessing tourism impact on cultural landscapes using mobile phone data: the case of Las Médulas (Spain).

Cultural landscapes often pose problems for planning and management because of insufficient information regarding visitor movements, interests and infrastructure burden. Traditionally visitor surveys have helped to fill this gap, albeit limited to their incomplete and occasional nature. This paper presents a methodology for using cellular antenna metadata for understanding tourism flows. This information is collected systematically by the mobile phone network but only recently has its big data potential begun to be exploited for understanding socio-economic phenomena. The present case study of the Roman gold mine of Las Médulas (León, Spain) provides a model for tourism impact analysis using anonymized data from cell phone towers.

Ticks and lyme disease in natural areas: A segmentation analysis of visitor perceptions of risk and preferred communication strategies

Reported Lyme disease cases have been rapidly increasing globally in recent years. Despite this, few studies have explored how the public perceives health risks associated with ticks and Lyme disease, especially within the context of visitor experiences in natural areas. To address this knowledge gap, we conducted a survey of visitors to one of Ontario, Canada’s most visited provincial parks. Despite high perceptions of risk, few visitors feel sufficiently educated about ticks and Lyme disease. Further, only 51% of visitors would return to the park if future regional incidents of tick-borne illnesses increased by 10–30% (under climate change). Interestingly, no significant correlations were uncovered between home distance and tick-related risk perceptions or self-reported tick education levels. These results may be indicative of the normalization of tick-related risk throughout many of southern Ontario’s most populated regions. Finally, our results also revealed that there is no preferred “one-size-fits-all” risk communication strategy that can be used to support risk-reducing behaviour change in a natural areas context. We recommend a diversity of evidence-based, on-site, and off-site strategies, that can be considered by governing authorities not only in Canada but indeed globally to reduce tick-related health and safety risks and ultimately safeguard visitor experiences in natural areas subject to increasing tick prevalence. Management ImplicationsManagement Implications: The expanding range of ticks and increasing cases of Lyme disease are presenting significant risks to those who visit natural areas, requiring increasing management attention and action by governing authorities, including park managers and regional health units. Through a mixed-methods approach, we examined park visitor perceptions, behaviours, and preferred communication strategies regarding tick and Lyme disease risk. The results revealed a number of key findings, including:•While risk perceptions of tick bites are high, few visitors feel sufficiently educated about ticks and Lyme disease;•Only 51% of visitors would return to the park if future regional incidents of tick-borne illnesses increased by 10–30% (under climate change);•Visitors with further travel distances were significantly less likely to return to the park after experiencing an in-park tick bite; and,•There is no preferred “one-size-fits-all” risk communication strategy within a park visitor context.

Visitors’ Mindfulness at Dartmoor National Park

Summary The concept of mindfulness, derived from psychology, refers to the cognitive state of an individual who actively processes information, is attentive to the surrounding environment, and is open to new information. Mindfulness has attracted a great deal of interest in a variety of fields, but it has only been incorporated into tourism research in a relatively limited way. This case explores how the concept of mindfulness can connect visitors to the environment in protected areas, with a focus on the Dartmoor National Park in the UK. It reports some of the findings of an extensive visitor survey, including the effect of learning and emotional place attachment on mindfulness as well as the effect of mindfulness on interest in learning and conservation. The results suggest the importance of visitors’ mindfulness in the context of UK National Parks. The practical implications of this for visitor management are discussed. Information © The Author 2024

Exploring the use of visitor surveys as a tool for supporting EIA follow-up in protected areas: a case study of a conference centre in an iconic national park

ABSTRACT Impact assessment (IA) follow-up is necessary to determine the environmental effects of a project or plan to inform ongoing management. No previous research confirms if visitor surveys may be used to this extent for developments within a protected. This paper explores if and how visitor surveys may be used as a tool for supporting EIA follow-up within protected areas. Relevant EIA documentation was appraised to determine EIA performance expectations for management of the Nombolo Mdhluli Conference Centre development in the Kruger National Park. Forty-four expectations were identified, translated into questions, and included in a survey scale. Eighty-nine conference delegates completed the survey whereafter an Importance Performance Analysis (IPA) method was used to map the responses in four IPA map quadrants: 1. Possible overkill, 2. Low priority, 3. Q3 Keep up the good work, and 4. Concentrate here. The IPA map displays 29 items of statistical significance in the four IPA map quadrants with 12 items in the ‘Concentrate here’ quadrant. The IPA results mapped the need for management to concentrate on responsible building, waste, water, energy, compliance, awareness, cumulative impact management. The paper shows that visitor surveys may be used as a simple but effective tool for supporting EIA follow-up monitoring.

A Review of Biophilic Design Concepts in Hotel Architecture

Incorporating natural materials and features into the built environment is the goal of the creative approach known as biophilic design, which aims to link people with nature through architecture and interior design. The premise of the theory is that people are naturally drawn to nature and that spending time in nature can improve productivity, well-being, and general quality of life. It has been demonstrated that biophilic architecture design can convey a healthy environment, lower stress levels, and promote a sense of serenity for people residing in it. This is because the design uses natural materials and natural patterns to create a connection between humans and the natural world. This study looks into the application of biophilic design ideas in hospitality environments. This study aims to investigate if, in the context of hotels, including biophilic design improves guest emotional responses, perceived quality, and behavioral intentions. The results of this study showed that biophilic designs produced more favorable emotional and behavioral reactions than the standard design using the scenario-based experiment. Furthermore, patrons thought hotels with biophilic decor were of higher caliber. The goal of biophilic design is to incorporate natural aspects into the built environment to improve overall guest experience, comfort, and well-being. It is based on the human connection to nature. Site inspections, management interviews, and visitor surveys are a few of the data collection techniques used in hotels. The results provide important insights for architects, designers, and hoteliers looking to build more sustainable and guest-centric settings by illuminating the challenges, advantages, and consequences of using biophilic design in a hospitality context.

Heritage tourism and allegiance development: A study of the Korean demilitarized zone

The Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) stands as a compelling destination for heritage tourism due to its rich historical and sociocultural significance. This study employs the psychological continuum model to explore allegiance development across four dimensions—awareness, attraction, attachment, and allegiance—within the context of DMZ tourism. The investigation delves into how DMZ tourists’ sociocultural motivation shapes their destination engagement, subsequently influencing emotional attachment and ultimately impacting revisit intention. Through a survey of DMZ visitors and the application of structural equation modeling, this study explores the dynamics of DMZ tourists’ allegiance. The findings reveal a positive relationship between sociocultural motivation and destination engagement, emotional attachment, and revisit intention. Destination engagement positively affects emotional attachment, albeit indirectly influencing revisit intention. Emotional attachment positively influences revisit intention. Furthermore, this study identifies notable moderating effects of DMZ tourists’ residency. Specifically, sociocultural motivation more strongly influences revisit intention, and destination engagement has a stronger impact on emotional attachment in international tourists compared to domestic tourists.

Visitors’ Attitudes Toward the Expansion of Alternative Shuttle Bus System in Shiretoko National Park

In some natural parks, introducing a shuttle bus system as an alternative to private cars can help reduce congestion and protect nature. This study examines the pilot program to effectively induce visitors to switch to the shuttle bus, while examining the visitors’ understanding of the expansion of the restricted vehicle section in Shiretoko National Park—a World Natural Heritage site known for its rich natural resources, especially as a high-density habitat for brown bears. There are concerns about conflicts between visitors and brown bears that appear along roads. Visitor restrictions, such as limited access to transportation, limit the use of a place and alter the behavior and experience. Therefore, careful consideration is needed before introducing visitor restrictions. The results of our questionnaire survey of visitors indicated that most favored the expansion of the shuttle bus section. The choice experiment revealed that the guides on the bus and an optional experience encouraged visitors to switch to the shuttle buses. Nonetheless, awareness of the pilot program was low, and some visitors preferred their cars, indicating the need for further promotion of awareness and understanding of these new measures.

Assessing Pollinator Assembly And Efficacy Across Species Ranges In The Genus Triodanis (Campanulaceae)

Plant-insect interactions are a key topic in evolutionary ecology, especially in the face of anthropogenic changes which threaten to disrupt these mutualisms. An in-depth pollinator survey for species in the genus Triodanis is performed here for the first time, with sampling covering four species and spanning a large portion of their geographic ranges (i.e., four U.S. states). All species in the genus exhibit dimorphic cleistogamy with variability in allocation to open (chasmogamous) flowers among populations and taxa. The genus Triodanis, therefore, provides an opportunity for understanding possible associations between pollinator assemblies and variation in species, breeding system, and geography. To assess these relationships, we sampled four species or subspecies of Triodanis at eight field sites in four states. Sampling encompassed a broad area across the Midwestern U.S. and Texas, and across a gradient of anthropogenically disturbed habitats. We found that for species of Triodanis: 1) small bee and fly generalist pollinators showed some floral constancy during feeding bouts but did not differentiate between species, 2) pollinator community was less diverse and abundant in highly degraded habitats, 3) while allocation to open flowers varied among species and populations, we found no association between breeding system (or species) on pollinator identity or abundance. This study represents the first in-depth survey of pollinator visitors of Triodanis and serves as foundational knowledge about the natural history of this group, provides resolution for members of Campanulaceae exhibiting floral traits of generalist hosts, and important documentation of plant-insect interactions in an era of ongoing anthropogenic changes.