Travel Experience Research Articles

Passport to transformation: Assessing transformative learning in overseas students through travel experiences

This research note advances prior studies by thoroughly examining transformative learning in overseas students. Employing an embedded mixed-method approach that incorporates pilot interviews and graphic elicitation based on King's (2009) Learning Activities Survey, we examined 339 transformed respondents and 8 graphic elicitation interviewees. The results highlight the transformative power of experiences outside the classroom, revealing that travel has a more significant impact on students' transformation than academic learning upon their return to their home country. Moreover, our findings indicate that travel frequency and reflection significantly contribute to students' transformation, while factors such as travel companion, pre-language level, length of stay, and time elapsed since return showed no significant impacts on transformation through travel. These insights offer valuable guidance for practitioners, encouraging the integration of travel as a vehicle for transformative learning in educational programmes and products.

Analysis of current methods and Welfare concerns in the transport of 118 horses by commercial air cargo companies

BackgroundStudies on equine air transport practices and consequences are scarce. This prospective study aimed to describe horse and air journey details and practices, document how horse behavior and health changed during the air transport phases, quantify the occurrence of welfare issues, and identify possible associations between horse and journey details, air transport practices, and welfare issues.ResultsData were collected from before departure to five days after arrival on 118/597 horses traveling on 32 commercial air journeys on different routes, varying in duration and conditions. Most horses were middle-aged warmblood females, 26% of which were pregnant, and being moved by air for sales. Before flying, most were quarantined (median: 18; IQR: 9–53 days), and their fitness for travel was certified by veterinarians. At the departure airports, external temperatures varied from − 6 °C to 33 °C, and horses were loaded by experienced flight grooms (median: 35; IQR: 15–40 years) into jet stalls (three-horse: 87%, two-horse: 13%). During the flights, horses were regularly watered (water intake median: 14 L) and fed ad libitum (feed consumption median: 8 kg). At the arrival airport, horses were unloaded from the jet stalls, and external temperatures ranged from − 5 °C to 32 °C. Then, all horses were transported to arrival quarantine by road. Air transport phases affected horses’ health status and behavior; increased heart and respiratory rates and behaviors, such as pawing, head tossing, and vocalization, were mainly identified at departure and arrival. Horse interaction, nasal discharge, increased capillary refill time (CRT), and abnormal demeanor were observed more often one hour before landing while resting and normal capillary refill time were more often displayed five days after arrival (all P < 0.01). One hour before landing, horses with bad temperament and horses of unknown temperament were more likely to develop nasal discharge when transported in winter and autumn (P < 0.001). The likelihood of an increased CRT was associated with shorter flights in horses of unknown travel experience (P < 0.001). Ten horses were injured, and 11 developed pleuropneumonias (i.e., shipping fever).ConclusionsAir transport is a complex procedure with several different phases affecting horse health and behavior. Therefore, experienced staff should carefully manage each horse before, during, and after air journeys to minimize welfare hazards.

Benefits of applying hourly resolution in the assessment of the climate aptitude to manage tourist activities in arid regions

The availability of reliable information on local climatic-tourism conditions is a growing need due to the influence it exerts on the quality of the organizational strategy of tourist destination’s, and travel experience. Evaluations of the tourism potential of the climate have been carried out on a daily or monthly resolution, thus limiting the collection of detailed information that makes it possible to fine-tune tourism management and operational decision-making on an intraday scale. This research is the first case study to analyse the climatic suitability for nature tourism, using the weather types method at hourly resolution. The study applies to arid tourist destinations in Isfahan province (Iran). The detailed resolution has made it possible to identify the time slots favourable to the development of nature tourism in those periods of the year recognized as critical in the daily resolution analyses. In the same way, the hourly resolution has also identified critical bands in those periods indicated as favourable in the evaluations to daily resolution. The hourly resolution provides detailed information that can allow tourists and also tourism managers to establish intraday adaptation strategies that make it possible to develop the activity even in places with extreme climates.

Research on the Differentiation and Harmony of International Cruise Images Based on the Coding Analysis of Selena OGC and TGC

Based on the coding analysis of occupation - generated content (OGC) and tourist - generated content (TGC), this paper conducts a study on the differentiation and harmony of Selena cruise ship. The results show that: (1) In the emotional dimension, positive emotions are the main proportion of both evaluations, showing a trend of positive&gt; neutral &gt; negative; (2) In terms of the objects of concern, both can be divided into five dimensions: cruise services, cruise facilities, cruise products, cruise design and operation management. (3) Differentiation: In terms of advertorial vocabulary, OGC tends to standardize objective presentations, and the richness and emotional color of words are weak; (4) Differentiation 2: In terms of focusing on dimensions, OGC pays more attention to showing the cultural heritage of Selena with categories such as art and culture, and the communication content is more diversified and the communication structure is more stable; TGC is more inclined to play the main role of "people" in the process of conveying Selena's travel experience, focusing on cruise catering, cruise accommodation, cruise service and operation management. Finally, combined with the IPA model, relevant improvement and optimization measures were proposed for Selena cruise ship from four aspects: continuous maintenance area, oversupply area, opportunity development area and key improvement area.

How mindfulness training changes tourist experience: An exploratory study

While mindfulness is receiving increasing attention in tourism literature, most studies are either conceptual or grounded in positivist paradigms that emphasize the potential benefits of mindful travel. There is limited research on mindful training programs and the experiences of tourists who have undergone such training. This study fills this gap by adopting an interpretive perspective to explore tourists who have undergone mindfulness training and now act as mindfulness facilitators in tourism. It aims to depict the role of mindfulness training programs in travel and tourism experiences. The findings show that mindfulness training interventions optimized the participants' travel expectations and cultivated a state of present-moment acceptance. The participants reported higher levels of satisfaction, reduced desire to escape from their travels, and improved decision-making regarding their travel choices. The experiences of mindful travel fostered deeper connections with nature and enhanced self-compassion, which could potentially contribute to the promotion of sustainable tourism practices. Mindfulness transformed ordinary vacations into meaningful and enriching experiences, ultimately leading to reduced post-travel stress and promoting overall well-being.

Exploring The Influence Of Technology On Travel Experiences: Digital Evolution In Tourism

The purpose of this study is to conduct a complete examination of the existing literature in order to investigate the impact that digital improvements in the tourism sector have had on the experiences that tourists have throughout their holidays. Examining the presence of online booking platforms, the incorporation of virtual and augmented reality technologies, and the application of Internet of Things (IoT) in well-known tourist sites are the primary focuses of this investigation. Through the utilization of a systematic approach to the assessment of literature, this study investigates the advancements that have been made both internationally and in Indonesia with regard to the digitalization of the tourism industry.It is clear from the findings that these aspects significantly enhance the travel experiences of tourists by making it easier for them to access amenities, facilitating more immersive interactions, and enhancing the connectivity of available facilities. On the other hand, there are still ongoing challenges that need to be addressed. These challenges include the requirement for improved regulations and a more comprehensive implementation of technology into tourism infrastructure.

Towards the search for a sustainable destination: a gender perspective

Although gender and sustainability have been topics of discussion in international discourse since 1980, little has been done to connect the two. While one of the United Nations Sustainable Goals UNSDGs (5) places a strong emphasis on gender equality, the sustainable tourism paradigm fails to examine it from a social perspective. This paper examines the relationships between gender, religion and tourism and makes the case for the creation of travel destinations that uphold gender equity. The research employs narrative interviews conducted with Muslim women while travelling in the UK to explore how their travel experiences are influenced by their gender and religion. This is a field work study based on in-depth interviews with 21 participants who shared their behaviour, perceptions and feelings related to their trip. The results demonstrate that gender and religion influence the views and experiences of female Muslim tourists in the UK and indicate qualities that female Muslim tourists may seek in a destination that are consistent with their Muslim identity. The results also point to some positive and transformative learning that endured after the trip.

Exploring pandemic holiday practices: Meaning, experience and aspiration

During Covid-19 holiday travel became shorter in distance and more surface-based, presenting an unusual opportunity to explore people's experiences of less carbon-intensive holiday travel. In this paper, survey and interview data are used to investigate pandemic holiday practices, exploring how meanings and aspirations relate to travel distance and mode. The findings illustrate the complexity of modal shift and air travel reductions. Despite showing that many people gained experience in surface-based travelling during Covid-19, we also show that what is a satisfying holiday experience can be achieved to differing degrees with short-distance or flight-free travel. Therefore, changing travel demand requires exploring how ‘proper’ holiday experiences could be provided domestically, and how shared ideas about what a holiday entails can be altered.

Disparities of potential and perceived access to socioeconomic activities in informal urban communities in Kumasi-Ghana and Dar es Salaam-Tanzania

ABSTRACT Informal urban communities (IUCs) in sub-Saharan Africa constitute some two-thirds of SSA cities. IUCs are often associated with lower-quality housing, low-income populations, low car ownership, and poor mobility infrastructure. As such, most IUC dwellers rely on shared mobility modes that are unsafe and inconvenient. The current study examines potential and perceived access in terms of travel distance and time to six selected socioeconomic activity types in selected IUCs in Kumasi-Ghana, and Dar es Salaam-Tanzania. This was underpinned by evaluating residents’ perception of ease of access to workplace in relation to demographics, neighborhood characteristics, transport services characteristics, and travel characteristics. The applied multinomial logistic regression identified factors relating to age, education, income, travel time, road condition, access to major roads, travel modes, community location, inclusivity, safety, and affordability as strong indicators to enhance travel experiences. Across all activity types, the potential travel time underestimates the perceived travel time by 133% in Kumasi-Ghana, and 50% in Dar es Salaam-Tanzania. The overall access to socioeconomic activities based on travel distance and times was found to be relatively more favorable in Kumasi-Ghana than those in Dar es Salaam-Tanzania.

Blockchain Technology in Tourism: Pioneering Sustainable and Collaborative Travel Experiences

Blockchain Technology in Tourism: Pioneering Sustainable and Collaborative Travel Experiences

Comprehensive Travel Companion: A Hybrid Recommendation and Route Planning System for Globetrotting

This paper presents a comprehensive AI-powered travel companion system designed to enhance the travel experience for globetrotters. Leveraging cutting-edge artificial intelligence (AI) techniques, the system combines image recognition, recommendation algorithms, and route planning functionality to provide personalized travel recommendations and seamless navigation. The integration of collaborative filtering, content-based recommendation, and real-time route optimization algorithms ensures that users receive tailored suggestions and efficient travel routes based on their preferences, interests, and current context. The architecture, implementation details, and evaluation of the proposed system are discussed, highlighting its effectiveness in facilitating immersive and enjoyable travel experiences. Keywords: Travel Companion, Recommendation Systems, Route Planning, Image Recognition, Collaborative Filtering, Content-Based Recommendation, Dijkstra's Algorithm.

Investigating the challenges of air travel in the United States: a qualitative study of the lived experiences of wheelchair users with spinal cord injury or disorder.

Qualitative exploratory study. To understand the lived experiences of individuals with spinal cord injuries or disorders (SCI/D) who use wheelchairs during air travel in the United States (US), with a focus on the challenges and barriers to accessing this form of transportation. Wheelchair users with SCI/D living in the community in the US. Semi-structured interviews were used to collect data from six wheelchair users with SCI/D. Data were analyzed using a six-step thematic analysis. Experiences of wheelchair users during air travel clustered into three themes; experiences interacting with the airport, experiences interacting with the airplane, and experiences across all stages of air travel. Barriers to airport accessibility were minimal. Physical barriers to airplane accessibility and damage to wheelchairs occurred when interacting with the airplane and airline staff. Undertrained staff and a shift in responsibility to the passenger with a disability impacted all stages of the experience. Wheelchair users with SCI/D encounter challenges that can result in unsafe and inaccessible air travel within the US. Adverse consequences of air travel often impact the individual's independence and quality of life during and after the flight. Participants provided recommendations to improve the air travel experience for wheelchair users, including the ability to remain in one's wheelchair while onboard the airplane.

It's About the Journey - Capturing Stories of the Fluctuating Experiences of Youth Kidney Transplant Patients

Youth who undergo a kidney transplant can experience a fluctuation of successes and challenges throughout their chronic illness journey. Designing to capture their journey could help youth to reflect on their experiences, collaborate on their care, and be empowered to live their lives to the fullest. We interviewed 11 youth kidney transplant patients and 12 caregivers to elicit their transplant journey experiences. We found that probing participants about specific parts of their transplant journey gave them structure to tell us rich stories about their experiences. Based on our findings, we discuss informing the design of a tool to support the capturing of stories for youth with chronic illnesses. Designing such tool could help youth and their caregivers to identify barriers, support reflection, and promote self-efficacy. Youth with chronic illnesses already have to change so many aspects of their lives to accommodate their illness, however, by giving them a platform to capture their chronic illness journey, it could encourage them to take more control of their lives and better collaborate with others.

How and when effective customer journeys drive brand loyalty: the role of consumer-brand identification

PurposeEffective customer journey design (ECJD) is considered a key variable in customer experience management and an essential source of brand meaning and pro-brand behavior. Although previous research has confirmed its importance for driving brand attitudes and loyalty, the role of consumer-brand identification as a social identity-based influence in this relationship has not yet been discussed. Drawing on construal level and social identity theories, this paper aims to investigate whether effective journeys and the resulting overall journey experience are equally powerful in driving brand loyalty among customers with different levels of consumer-brand identification.Design/methodology/approachThe present article develops and tests a research model using data from the European and US service sectors (N = 1,454) to investigate how and when ECJD affects service brand loyalty.FindingsAcross two cultural contexts, four service industries and 33 service brands, the results reveal that ECJD is a crucial driver of service brand loyalty for customers with low consumer-brand identification. Moreover, the findings show that different aspects of journey effectiveness positively impact the valence of customers’ experience related to those journeys – a process that is ultimately decisive for their brand loyalty.Originality/valueThis study is unique because it generates theoretical and practical knowledge by combining the literature streams of customer journey design, customer experience and branding. Furthermore, this work demonstrates that consumer-brand identification is a critical boundary condition to be considered in the relationship between ECJD and brand loyalty in services.

MTEs and revisit intention: The mediating role of destination attachment and sharing experiences on social media

The study aims to investigate the role of destination attachment and sharing travel experiences on social media in the relationship between memorable tourism experiences (MTEs) and revisit intention. This study focused on Ha Long Bay, Vietnam, with limited research on predicting tourists’ intentions to revisit this destination. The self-administered questionnaire survey is applied to analyze the relationship between the variables and verify the hypotheses based on the collected 578 valid responses. The structural equation modeling was employed to test the relationships in the research model with SPSS 24.0 and SmartPLS 4.0. The results show that MTEs significantly and directly influence tourists’ intention to revisit a destination. MTEs also have a direct impact on destination attachment and sharing travel experiences on social media. Furthermore, the findings also prove that destination attachment and sharing travel experiences on social media directly affect revisit intention. It is worth noting that they act as intermediaries in the relationship between MTEs and tourists’ intentions to revisit a destination. This study contributes to a deeper understanding of tourists’ intentions to revisit and offers theoretical and practical implications.

Assessing Passenger Satisfaction with Smart Airport Technologies: An Empirical Study

Airports serve as crucial components within the air transport value chain, necessitating continual adaptation to meet evolving technological demands and enhance passenger experiences. The evolution towards Smart Airports or Airport 3.0 underscores the imperative for modernization to facilitate safe, efficient, and seamless travel experiences, particularly pertinent amidst the challenges posed by events like the COVID-19 pandemic. This study delves into the concept of Smart Airports, focusing on passenger perceptions of technology and its role in shaping competitiveness within the tourism sector. Through an analysis of passenger perceptions and expectations, this research aims to provide a clearer understanding of the Smart Airport concept, considering gender perspectives, which represent a novel contribution to existing literature. Recognizing the pivotal role of air transport infrastructures in destination competitiveness, this study investigates the impact of technology improvements on passenger satisfaction and overall travel experience. By examining the relationship between airport technologies and passenger perceptions, satisfaction, and enjoyment, this research underscores the importance of integrating new technologies to enhance airport services and meet evolving passenger needs. The study further explores the potential of ICT in reducing travel time and enhancing overall passenger experiences, with a particular emphasis on understanding gender-specific influences on perceptions of airport technologies. Through a comprehensive analysis, this paper seeks to contribute to the ongoing discourse on Smart Airports and their significance in shaping the future of air travel.

Multidimensional destination perception effects over medical tourists’ behavioural in emerging destinations: empirical evidence from China’s international medical tourism pilot area

PurposeThis study aims to explore the consumer perceptions of cognition and intention to visit pilot zone of international medical tourism as emerging, developed medical tourism destinations.Design/methodology/approachUsing a survey-based quantitative method, based on a survey of 439 tourists who have cross-border travel experience, the partial least squares approach was performed to test the hypotheses.FindingsThe results show that internal factors had a stronger influence on destination image compared to external factors. Among different factors, preferential policies had the greatest impact on intention to visit. Perceived quality had a stronger effect on intention to visit than preference. Geographical distance had a varied effect, with those furthest away in Northeast China showing greater intention to visit compared to closer regions.Originality/valueThis study explores the impact of multidimensional destination perception on medical tourists’ behavioural intention in emerging destinations by integrating the push-pull theory and theory of planned behaviour and tests how geographical distance affects intention to visit emerging destinations. Using China international medical tourism pilot area as a typical case of medical tourism emerging destinations for empirical analysis. This research offers guidance for branding and marketing strategies, contributes to a deeper understanding of medical tourists’ destination choices, enriches the theoretical explanation of emerging destination choice in medical tourism and provides valuable insights for destination recovery.

The Great Canadian (Electric) Road Trip: Evaluating EV Use in National Park Tourism

As part of its 2050 net zero emission commitment, Canada has a mandate to transition to electric vehicles (EVs) to decarbonize transportation. While the EV charging infrastructure is expanding in urban areas, the infrastructure for inter-city and nature-based tourism has not been assessed. This study combined four metrics of feasibility and convenience into an EV readiness index to evaluate 94 road trip itineraries associated with Canada’s iconic national parks. Index scores ranged from not possible (0) to equal to the travel experience of internal combustion vehicle (20). With the summer range, the average one-day route score was 19.2, as 82% of one-day itineraries could be completed without requiring additional charging. Multi-day routes scored lower (14.0), with 24% being highly inconvenient or impossible due to gaps between charging stations. With a reduced winter EV range, average index scores for one- and multi-day trips declined as charging needs increased (18.4 and 13.2, respectively). Across the 94 travel routes, EVs were estimated to produce only 17% of the carbon dioxide emissions of internal combustion vehicles (this was much lower in some provinces). The findings also highlight key regional differences in tourism EV readiness and where infrastructure is needed to provide equitable access to Canada’s national parks for tourists seeking to decarbonize their holiday travel.

AI-enabled Rendering Technology for the Construction and Development of Dunhuang Virtual Pavilion

This paper focuses on the use of AI technology to assist in the construction of digital scenes in Dunhuang Research Institute, which realizes the roaming of tourists in virtual scenes through image recognition and semantic analysis of massive digital image data, and explores the possibility of AI-assisted rendering of virtual museums. Using AI technology, tourists can observe the uniqueness of each cave within the cavern and its rich content from any angle, and obtain an immersive travel experience. The study fully utilizes the new generation of information technology to build a virtual scene platform of Dunhuang Mogao Grottoes, which comprehensively presents the history, cultural value and artistic value of Dunhuang Mogao Grottoes through the comprehensive integration and display of a variety of digital resources. Focusing on digital media and virtual reality technology, through the use of artificial intelligence technology and the comprehensive integration of related digital resources, to build a complete set of virtual reality ecosystem, and explore the realization of multi-source data fusion of Dunhuang cultural communication.

Embracing the ChatGPT revolution: unlocking new horizons for tourism

研究目的本研究旨在调查游客对使用ChatGPT获取旅游信息的态度和意向。此外, 通过将与ChatGPT相关的感知风险与计划行为理论（TPB）相结合, 本研究探讨了三种感知风险（隐私风险、准确性风险和过度依赖风险）对游客行为意向的影响。研究方法本研究通过两个在线调查平台收集了536名受访者的数据。在线调查问卷评估了游客对ChatGPT使用的感知风险、态度、主观规范、感知行为控制、行为意向以及与其使用ChatGPT相关的人口统计信息。研究发现结构方程建模分析显示, 游客对使用ChatGPT搜索旅游信息的相关风险表示关切, 特别是隐私风险、准确性风险和过度依赖风险。发现感知风险显著影响游客对使用ChatGPT的态度和意向, 与先前有关游客对ChatGPT感知风险的文献中提出的假设一致。研究创新本研究将TPB与ChatGPT中的感知风险相结合, 提供了实证证据。它强调了在考虑游客意向时考虑感知风险的重要性, 并为旅游中生成AI的可持续发展提供了贡献。因此, 它为从业者和政策制定者提供了宝贵的见解。