Tourist Season Research Articles

Is the ghost crab’s feeding behavior a good early indicator of human pressure in sandy beaches?

Phenotypic plasticity is a trait found among organisms that dwell in dynamic ecosystems such as sandy beaches. One of the main model of ecological studies in this ecosystem are ghost crabs (Crustacea: Ocypodidae), which present trophic plasticity and are considered ecological-disturbance indicator species. Their reactions to these impacts can manifest as sublethal responses, including behavioral aspects. We aimed to evaluate possible effects of urbanization on the feeding behavior of the ghost crab Ocypode quadrata (Fabricius, 1787). The study was conducted in a beach arc categorized into three urbanization levels located in the northern Rio de Janeiro state, Brazil. Each sector was sampled twice during high and low tourist seasons. The crabs’ diet was described by inspecting their digestive tracts with a stereomicroscope. Food preference (the choice of food items by each individual) and behavioral aspects (i.e., time of emergence from burrows, look-out time, number of choices, and handling time of the resource provided) were observed through in situ experiments, where food items were placed around burrows. The behavioral aspects were not affected by urbanization level. The diet mainly consisted of insects and macroalgae, though during experiments the species selected the most caloric items (fish and the bivalve Donax hanleyanus), regardless of the urbanization level. Local human disturbances seemed neither to change the availability of local resources nor to select individuals by feeding behavior. Therefore, there was no evidence that the feeding behavior of ghost crabs can be considered as a potential early indicator of human disturbance.

Low-Carbon Tour Route Algorithm of Urban Scenic Water Spots Based on an Improved DIANA Clustering Model

Aiming at the problems in current research into low-carbon and water scenery tourism, this paper brings forward a low-carbon tour route algorithm of urban scenic water spots based on an improved Divisive Analysis clustering model. Based on the ecological attributes of scenic water spots, the clustering model is set up to create scenic spot clusters. Via the clusters, the low-carbon tour route algorithm of urban scenic water spots based on the optimal energy conservation and emission reduction mode is proposed, and it provides the optimal scenic water spots and low-carbon tour routes for tourists. The model can thus realize the optimization of vehicle exhaust emission in urban travel and reduce exhaust emission damage to urban water bodies and natural environments. In order to verify the advantages of the proposed algorithm, this paper performs an experiment to compare the proposed algorithm with the frequently used route planning methods by tourists. The experimental results show that the proposed algorithm has great advantages in energy conservation, emission reduction and low-carbon travel and can reduce the exhaust emission and the damage to the urban water bodies and the natural environment, realizing low-carbon tourism. The main findings and contributions of the proposed work are as follows. First, an improved clustering algorithm is set up, and the urban scenic water spots are clustered according to attribute data, which could optimize the scenic spot recommendation spatial model. Second, combining with the specific characteristics of scenic water spots, the scenic spot mining and matching algorithm is set up to satisfy tourists’ needs. Third, a method that could reduce emission exhaust by optimizing self-driving tour routes is proposed, which could control and reduce the damage to urban environments and protect water ecosystems. The proposed algorithm could be used as the embedded algorithm of tour recommendation systems or the reference algorithm for planning urban tourism transportation. Especially in peak tourism season, it could be used as an effective method for tourism and traffic management departments to direct traffic flow.

Equilibrium and efficiency in the first aid services market: The case of the emergency department of Sorrento

The emergency department (ED), the heart of first aid services, is confronted by both long queues of patients waiting for treatment and limited resources to treat them. Since efficiency plays a key role in the proper functioning of an ED, interest in the measurement of ED efficiency has increased considerably. The aim of this study is to explain the dynamics of ED efficiency through a first aid market equilibrium scheme. To this end, we conduct a two-step analysis of the city of Sorrento's daily ED data. First, we implement a data envelopment analysis (DEA) to study the efficiency dynamics of the Sorrento ED. Then, we apply a Hodrick-Prescott (HP) filter to verify whether changes in ED efficiency are affected by the slope of the first aid services' supply curve. The results show an inelastic supply curve in the low tourist season and an elastic supply curve in the high tourist season.

Assessing the effectiveness and the economic impact of evacuation: the case of the island of Vulcano, Italy

Abstract. Evacuation planning and management represent a key aspect of volcanic crises because they can increase people's protection as well as minimize potential impacts on the economy, properties and infrastructure of the affected area. We present an agent-based simulation tool that assesses the effectiveness of different evacuation scenarios using the small island of Vulcano (southern Italy) as a case study. Simulation results show that the overall time needed to evacuate people should be analysed together with the percentage of people evacuated as a function of time and that a simultaneous evacuation on Vulcano is more efficient than a staged evacuation. For example, during the touristic (high) season between July and August, even though the overall duration is similar for both evacuation strategies, after ∼ 6 h about 96 % of people would be evacuated with a simultaneous evacuation, while only 86 % would be evacuated with a staged evacuation. We also present a model to assess the economic impact of evacuation as a function of evacuation duration and of the starting period with respect to the touristic season. It reveals that if an evacuation lasting 3 to 6 months was initiated at the beginning or at the end of the touristic season (i.e. June or November), it would cause a very different economic impact on the tourism industry (about 78 %–88 % and 2 %–7 % of the total annual turnover, respectively). Our results show how the assessment of evacuation scenarios that consider human and economic impact carried out in a pre-disaster context helps authorities develop evacuation plans and make informed decisions outside the highly stressful time period that characterizes crises.

High season, low growth: The impact of tourism seasonality and vulnerability to tourism on the emergence of high-growth firms

The beneficial effects of tourism for growth are well known, but the negative ones are also among increasingly investigated issues. One of the open questions relates to the individual channels through which tourism effects translate into local economic outcomes. Using datasets on the population of firms and tourist arrivals over the 2012–2019 period in a small, tourism-led economy, this note shows that seasonality and overall vulnerability of a destination to tourism exert negative effects on the share of high-growth firms, consistent with recent findings of respective effects on housing affordability. Several times stronger effects of seasonality can be associated with capital underutilization, revenue instability, and sensitivity to external shocks. Still, future research is needed to corroborate these issues across space and time.

Study of fecal glucocorticoid metabolites in captive Asian elephants in Kanchanaburi Province, Thailand.

Background and Aim:Over the past two decades, the number of elephant camps in Thailand has increased considerably, and captive elephants have become more popular within the tourism industry. Tourist activities involving elephant exhibitions and trekking potentially affect animal health and welfare. This study aimed to investigate the relationships between a novel stress biomarker, fecal glucocorticoid metabolites (fGCM), and various factors (sex, age, weather season, tourist season, and elephant usage patterns), monitoring the fGCM concentration during and after trekking activities ceased.Materials and Methods:Fecal samples of 20 captive Asian elephants from two camps in Kanchanaburi Province were collected monthly for 1 year. The fGCM concentrations were measured using enzyme immunoassay and evaluated relative to individual demography, season, and tourist trekking activity. The mean differences of fGCMs concentrations were compared by analysis of variance and t-test statistics according to data types with p<0.5.Results:Significant differences in mean fGCM concentrations were found between age categories (p=0.001), trekking and non-trekking animals (p=0.039), and during and after trekking (p=0.023). The mean fGCM concentration of elephants aged during 0-44 years (136.7 ng/g) was significantly higher than for animals over 44 years old (107.7 ng/g), and the elephant trekking group (144.9 ng/g) was significantly higher than the other group (124.7 ng/g). Within the trekking group, the mean fGCM concentrations gradually declined to 129.13 ng/g within 8 months of trekking cessation.Conclusion:Elephant’s ages and activities co-influenced the variance of fGCM concentrations. In addition, permanent tourist activity, especially trekking, can increase elephant stress. This study’s findings can be applied to the health status monitoring of captive elephants and result in improved animal welfare.

Креативный туризм как фактор развития российского туристского бизнеса

The relevance of the issue lies in the fact that at present, the issues of economic survival and social security of people in all territories are becoming more important than usual. In a situation of limited resources, truly creative ideas get a competitive advantage and support. One of the urgent tasks of tourist areas is the creation of new tourism products and the rethinking of existing ones, taking into account the decrease in the solvency of people and the growing trend of domestic tourism. The purpose of the study is an attempt to unlock the potential of creative tourism in line with new trends in the development of the tourist product, as well as to substantiate the feasibility of promoting this type of tourism not only to meet the new needs of modern tourists, but also to solve the problem of tourism seasonality in certain regions. To achieve the goal, the following tasks were set: to study the existing experience, analyze it and justify creative tourism as a factor in the sustainable development of tourism and overcoming seasonality. Research methods: theoretical analysis of the literature and the study of the regulatory framework in the field of tourism, a systematic approach, which consists in considering tourism as a system that has its own complex structure and is part of the economic system of the region, interacting with other industry systems. As a result of the study, a new approach is proposed to present an effective connection between tourism and creative industries, which has a number of potential opportunities, the result of which goes far beyond the growing demand for tourism experiences. In addition to contributing to the sustainable growth of tourism in destinations, creative events are extremely beneficial because they can be strategically distributed throughout the year, minimizing the problem of seasonality. Thus, increasing the competitiveness of the tourism and hospitality sector.

A Fish and Dolphin Biophony in the Boat Noise-Dominated Soundscape of the Cres-Lošinj Archipelago (Croatia)

Spatio-temporal variability of marine soundscapes reflects environmental dynamics and local habitat health. This study characterizes the coastal soundscape of the Cres-Lošinj Natura 2000 Site of Community Importance, encompassing the non-tourist (11–15 March 2020) and the tourist (26–30 July 2020) season. A total of 240 h of continuous recordings was manually analyzed and the abundance of animal vocalizations and boat noise was obtained; sound pressure levels were calculated for the low (63–2000 Hz) and high (2000–20,000 Hz) frequency range. Two fish sound types were drivers of both seasonal and diel variability of the low-frequency soundscape. The first is emitted by the cryptic Roche’s snake blenny (Ophidion rochei), while the second, whose emitter remains unknown, was previously only described in canyons and coralligenous habitats of the Western Mediterranean Sea. The high-frequency bands were characterized by bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) vocalizations, indicating dolphins’ use of area for various purposes. Boat noise, however, dominated the local soundscape along the whole considered periods and higher sound pressure levels were found during the Tourist season. Human-generated noise pollution, which has been previously found 10 years ago, is still present in the area and this urges management actions.

Cultural Tourism Weakens Seasonality: Empirical Analysis of Chinese Tourism Cities

Cultural tourism is less seasonal than nature tourism. However, previous studies have mainly compared the tourist flow of scenic spots, and it is still unclear how cultural tourism affects regional tourism seasonality. This study investigated the seasonal patterns by analyzing the monthly inbound tourist flow of the 28 typical Chinese tourist cities from 2001 to 2012, and examined the effect of cultural tourism on weakening seasonality by using the random-response panel Tobit model. It was found that the seasonal patterns of inbound tourists present non-peak, one-peak, two-double, and three-peak regular fluctuations, and also have irregular fluctuations affected by emergencies and festivals. Cultural tourism can weaken the seasonality of regional tourism, while nature tourism products enhance tourism seasonality. Suitable travel times throughout the year and destination reception industry levels, locations, and external connections have a significant impact on the regional tourism seasonality, but climate comfort, foreign direct investment, and simply the number of hotels and international travel agencies are not significant for tourism seasonality.

A Projection Approach of Tourist Circulation under Conditions of Uncertainty

This paper explores an important problem in tourism demand analysis, namely, the inherent uncertainty involved in projecting tourism demand. Tourism demand continues to be severely affected by unforeseen events associated with the current global health crisis, which has led to an examination of ways to predict the devastating effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on tourism. Tourism flow forecasting relating to arrivals is of particular importance for tourism and the entire hospitality industry, because it is an indicator of future demand. Thus, it provides fundamental information that can be applied in the planning and development of future strategies. Accurate forecasts of seasonal tourist flows can help decision-makers increase the efficiency of their strategic planning and reduce the risk of decision-making failure. Due to the growing interest in more advanced forecasting methods, we applied the ARMA model method to analyze the evolution of monthly arrival series for Romania in the period from January 2010 to September 2021, in order to ascertain the best statistical forecasting model for arrivals. We conducted this research to find the best method of forecasting tourist demand, and we compared two forecasting models: AR(1)MA(1) and AR(1)MA(2). Our study results show that the superior model for the prediction of tourist demand is AR(1)MA(1).

The experience of cultural festivals: evidence from Hong Kong

ABSTRACT Cultural festivals can attract cultural tourists, extend the tourist season and add vibrancy to the cultural scene. However, there is relatively little research on how festivals affect tourist experience of the destination or outcomes such as satisfaction or repeat visitation. This study used the Event Experience Scale to measure tourist experiences at three cultural festivals in Hong Kong – the Lantern Festival, Dragon Boat Festival and the Cheung Chau Bun Festival. The findings show that tourist experiences of these festivals are distinct, and they positively affect destination image and behavioural outcomes. Relative to permanent attractions and tours, festival experiences elicit stronger affective, conative and novelty responses. Festivals also convey a stronger impression of Hong Kong as a destination exhibiting Chinese and traditional culture, but less as a global city. The festival experience is associated with positive outcomes, namely greater satisfaction, intention to recommend and intention to return.

Application of sociological methods in a comprehensive research of the socio-environmental problems of tourist territories

Tourism is one of economic activity that has been most affected by restrictions, connected with the COVID-19 pandemic, which in 2020–2021 has become the main factor in shaping the demand for the tourist product. As a result of quarantine restrictions, the number of tourists and the structure of the tourist flow have changed. The pandemic has impact on recreational activities in the Southern Baikal region (Slyudyansky district of the Irkutsk region) which is the study area. During the field research in the summer (beach and hiking) and winter (mountain skiing) tourist seasons sociological studies (questionnaires and interviews) of recreants were carried out. The tourist geographical spread was defined, as well as the attitude to the social and natural conditions of the territory was found such as safety, tourist infrastructure development, availability of recreational services and products, climate, landscapes beauty, etc. During the pandemic, the geographical spread of tourists narrowed mainly to the Irkutsk-Cheremkhovo agglomeration, foreign tourists practically didn’t come. However, closed borders and domestic tourism subsidization drawn attention to holidays on Baikal for tourists from the western part of Russia, who had before chosen recreation abroad and during the pandemic didn’t cancel trips, but to change the geography of their holidays. Besides air travel, a significant proportion of tourists used personal cars to arrive at their holiday destination. It was established that the pandemic the tourist age ratios has changed in the rejuvenation direction. In the course of the opinion poll, tourists noted the high landscape aesthetic appeal of recreation areas, but the recreational infrastructure, in their opinion, isn’t sufficiently prepared for quality recreation. The results will be forwarded to the Slyudyansky district administration for adjusting measures related to the development of recreational infrastructure.

Https://www.tmstudies.net/index.php/ectms/issue/view/74

This paper aims to determine whether coronavirus (COVID-19) causes cost increases in accommodation enterprises and, if any, what these costs are. Additionally, executive perspectives were taken on operational budgets for 2020, occupancy rates, profitability, the decision to stay on or off, and expectations for the following year. The case study employed a qualitative research method, a multiple caseholistic design, and semi-structured interviews to elicit data. The data were collected from ten hotel managers in four- and five-star hotels in Kemer, Antalya, and serve as a sample for the study. COVID-19 has revealed the costs associated with hotel security and health measures, hygiene and cleanliness, and technological tools. Apart from these, legal restrictions have reduced the tourism season in hotel businesses from eight to four months. Business occupancy rates remained between 45- 60 per cent. Additionally, there was a 60% negative deviation in the enterprises' budget targets. Hotel managers were more concerned with achieving breakeven, keeping staff employed, and maintaining the hotel's image than with achieving the expected profit.

Estimating the Spatial Heterogeneity and Seasonal Differences of the Contribution of Tourism Industry Activities to Night Light Index by POI

The spatial distribution of tourism has a profound impact on its operational efficiency and geographical relevance. Point of interest (POI), as a kind of spatial data shared by subject and object, can reflect the spatial distribution form and function of tourism geographical objects under the all-for-one tourism policy. Continuous satellite observation and in-depth study of night lights pave the way to clarify human activities and socio-economic dynamics. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the seasonal changes of night light images and their correlation with tourism in 122 counties (cities, districts) of Hunan Province. We obtained night earth observation data (seasonality) and POI in 2019 and processed them by Geographic Information System and statistical analysis (ordinary least squares (OLS) and geographically weighted regression (GWR)). The results show that the luminous radiation intensity is highly correlated with the POI of tourism activities. The POI of different tourism activities in different regions shows obvious spatial heterogeneity and seasonal differences, which is the result of the comprehensive effect of tourism resource distribution and social environment in Hunan Province. GWR has proved to be a more effective tool. It provides a new method and perspective for tourism research and especially reveals the geographical spatial differences of tourism activities, which is helpful to study the spatial distribution and seasonality of tourism at the county level. In addition, the spatial evaluation of the contribution of tourism and luminous radiation can provide reference and suggestions for relevant departments to formulate tourism night protection measures.

Studying tourist congestion as a form of overtourism through Tripadvisor reviews: Case study: Charles Bridge, Prague

Overtourism is a current phenomenon which also includes crowds of people in a tourist destination. This research analyzes overtourism to a much visited tourist objective through Tripadvisor reviews, by highlighting the key concepts which are suggesting the existence of the overtourism phenomenon. The method consisted to examine the reviews posted on Tripadvisor by the tourists who visited one of the most important tourist attractions in Prague, namely Charles Bridge. The tool used for this purpose was Leximancer program. Using an analysis from multiple perspectives (during the 2019 low and peak tourist season, and during the Covid-19 pandemic), the results of the concept maps captured the intensity of the phenomenon of overtourism in all three contexts. Thus, specific themes and concepts generated by the program suggest that Carles Bridge suffers from overtourism regardless of the tourist season.

Analysis of the role of innovation and efficiency in coastal destinations affected by tourism seasonality

This research analyses the relationship between efficiency, innovation and seasonality of the Spanish coasts for a five-year period (2015–2019). First of all, the nexus between the level of efficiency and changes in productivity, driven by improvements in innovation and/or efficiency, is determined using Data Envelopment Analysis and the Malmquist Index. Second, this paper proposes a synthetic index to measure seasonality and assess its connection with efficiency and innovation, using a cross efficiency approach to do so. Results show how the intensity of seasonality influences efficiency. In addition, it is observed that innovation can offset possible decreases in efficiency; as such, policies that promote both aspects are needed in the more seasonal destinations.

Improving measures to support the domestic tourism sector on the eve of the 2022 tourist season

Improving measures to support the domestic tourism sector on the eve of the 2022 tourist season

Event tourism, public policy and socio-cultural development in Dublin

In a highly globalised, competitive world, urban strategies often highlight festivals and events as activities which can attract tourists and investors, extend the tourism season and boost the economy. Event tourism as a term is now well established in the tourism lexicon, however, it is usually employed in quite a limited way that offers only partial insights into a complex phenomenon. To redress this deficit, this paper examines the case of Dublin, where for the last twenty-five years, policy-makers have been using festivals and events to boost the city’s international standing. The aim is to investigate whether policy-makers can strategically use events to further tourism goals while simultaneously fostering socio-cultural development more broadly. Methodologically, the study reported undertakes a detailed, critical analysis of public policy documents that relate festivals and events to tourism. It finds a range of policy perspectives at play but overall, there is a clear tendency for festivals and events to be framed through an urban entrepreneurial lens that under-appreciates social and cultural issues. In contrast, a second set of findings reported from primary research undertaken at one of the main tourism–oriented festivals in the city show how festival experiences can generate enjoyment, sociability, pride, inclusion and belonging for both tourists and other city users alike, while simultaneously producing economic returns. Together, the findings of the policy analysis and the empirical case point to the need to re-think how events and tourism intersect to achieve optimal outcomes, especially in these post pandemic times when cities the world over are searching for more sustainable tourism futures. The study recommends that event tourism policy-making adopt broader, more holistic terms of reference and suggests that lessons from practice could be employed to inform better policies.

The effects of technological improvements in the train network on tourism sustainability. An approach focused on seasonality

This paper analyzes the effect that the creation of the Spanish high-speed railway network has had on tourist competitiveness. The Spanish high-speed train system is one of the most technologically advanced in the world. Little research has been conducted as to the effect of transportation infrastructures on the reduction of tourism seasonality in this type of destinations and the increase of arrivals. By analysing the results of the Gini Index applied to the monthly arrivals of national travellers, it can be seen that the initial evidence pointing to a low effect on the reduction of seasonality levels changes with the expansion and consolidation of the network. Evidence has been found indicating that a minimum number of connected cities is necessary for the benefits of the high-speed network to be truly significant on tourism in terms of increased arrivals and reduced seasonality.

IMPLEMENTATION OF MARKETING INSTRUMENTS INTO ANTI-CRISIS PROGRAMS OF NATIONAL TOURIST MARKET PLAYERS

The article gives grounding to importance of implementation of marketing instruments into anti-crisis programs of main players of tourist operators segment of national tourist market. It points out that anti-crisis marketing is aimed at giving assistance to tourist market players to identify the perspectives of the market, elaborate strategic trends and choose tactical instruments of exit from the crisis situation with minimal losses.&#x0D; It regards the consequences of the current crisis for tourist sector: economic consequences, consequences for means of living and goals of sustainable development, consequences for environment and climate, cultural consequences.&#x0D; It is also pointed out that the current crisis forms unprecedented possibilities of interaction transformation between tourism and nature, climate and economics. It is determined that certain innovational startup-projects can suggest solution of saving the tourist domain from consequence of Corona virus, form added value, have tested prototype and business-plan as well as the potential for use in other countries.&#x0D; It accentuates attention on marketing activities connected with renovation of internal tourism, involvement of internal tourists, on the necessity to study trends, potential demand, prepare new products, establish communications with tourists with orientation to national tourist destinations. At the same time, the article describes problems that accompany tourist operators’ work with national accommodation means and absence of state program of internal tourism development with strict performance control.&#x0D; The article also analyses activity of the biggest tourist operators of Ukraine in conditions of current crisis and their interaction with tourist agencies and tourists: Anex tour, Join UP!, TUI Ukraine. It makes the conclusion that in spite of difficult situation with pandemic, quarantine restrictions and lockdowns, recurrent waves of COVID-19, restrictions of entry and stay in many popular tourist destinations, the majority of tourist operators did not terminate marketing activity, adapted to the realia of the pandemic. It is pointed out that Ukrainian tourist market players must take into account a number of factors that will determine customer behaviour (choosing shorter terms of rest, preference to individual travel (auto-tourism), individual transfers, individual accommodation, priority of choosing wellness, marine and rural tourism) and select adequate marketing anti-crisis instruments. The article draws attention to popular leisure concept of bleisure (mix of rest and work) as a response to active development of remote work topic and increasing number of “digital travellers”. Such marketing approach is caused by the necessity not only to continue the tourist season but also to develop cultural and historic tourism, shopping tourism, wellness tourism.