Travel Experience Research Articles

How to Reduce the Number of Inspectors: Operation Mode and Modeling Simulation of Centralized Image Recognition in Railway Passenger Security Inspection

Security inspection is an essential step for passengers entering railway stations in China. Under the existing security inspection operation mode, each X-ray machine needs an image inspector to recognize the X-ray image, which poses the issue of resource optimization for inspectors. Based on the networking of security inspection X-ray machines, an innovative centralized image recognition (CIR) operation mode for railway security inspections is proposed, and it is worth noting that network and device failures are risk factors for this mode. The method for assigning image recognition personnel is designed to reduce labor force needed for security inspection. Using a combination of agent-based modeling method and computer simulation technology, the four elements of passengers, security inspection X-ray machines, X-ray image inspectors, and secondary baggage inspection personnel are modeled, and CIR indicators to study the effectiveness of the operation are designed. Based on the real departing passenger data of the Zhangjiakou section of the Beijing Zhangjiakou Line in China, simulation is conducted in two scenarios: large passenger flow and small passenger flow. The research is conducted from three aspects: operational efficiency, travel experience, and system complexity. Experiments have shown that, with a slight increase in passenger waiting time, the average number of X-ray image inspectors is reduced by more than 70% compared with the existing operation mode. The best pick-up location for passengers is related to passenger flow. The proposed model can analyze the effectiveness of CIR operation mode and provide decisive support for the application of CIR operation mode.

Customer focusion as a guarantee of success in tourism activities

The relevance of this topic is due to the increasing needs of clients, their wishes, travel experience, and as a result, increasing requirements for service. The article suggested three tools needed to achieve, or at least improve, the skills needed to work with clients. An employee working with a client must immediately understand HOW to behave with the client, how to offer him a product and services, and how to build communication.

Research and Recommendations on Marketing Strategies for Small and Micro Wine Import Companies in China

The Chinese economy’s rapid growth has led to an increased standard of living and a shift in consumer preferences from price to quality, particularly in the wine market. The demand for imported wines has surged, with China becoming one of the world’s largest wine importers since 2016. The younger generation, aged 25 to 45, is particularly interested in wine, focusing on brand culture and the origins of the wine. This demographic shift, along with China’s economic openness and the rise of e-commerce, has created a thriving market for imported wines. Research on the wine industry shows that China’s wine imports have grown significantly since joining the WTO in 2001, with the EU dominating the import sources. The development of wine tourism has also provided new opportunities for the industry. In terms of marketing, it’s suggested that China learn from European wine marketing models, focusing on cultural marketing and differentiation strategies targeting young consumers. Consumer behavior analysis indicates that young consumers prefer wine during social gatherings and are influenced by education and travel experiences, while celebrity endorsements can effectively promote wine products. Thus, some marketing strategy recommendations are as follows: Small and micro wine import companies in China should focus on understanding consumer behavior and preferences, leveraging online and offline sales channels, and promoting wine culture to capitalize on the growing wine market.

Cross-cultural study of hotel practices as perceived by Chinese and North American travellers: A data mining analysis

This paper aims to unearth the different perception styles of Chinese and North American travellers from analytic versus holistic thinking perspectives. Python was utilized to gather online textual data from Chinese and North American travellers, while word frequency analysis, latent Dirichlet allocation (LDA) topic modelling analysis and content analysis were employed to elucidate the perception styles in a cross-cultural context. In general, North American travellers mainly leaned towards analytic thinking, whereas Chinese travellers showcased a blend of holistic and analytic thought processes. The topic of travel, leisure and accommodation showed both holistic and analytic thinking styles. The topics of nature and environment, front desk service, and travel routes and scenic spot areas mainly represented a holistic thinking style. The topics of convenience and facilities, breakfast, transportation, hotel theme and features, and decoration and amenities mainly suggested an analytic thinking style. Hotels should consider the different perception styles of Chinese and North American travellers to facilitate strategies accordingly and to maximize the experience of travellers from different cultural backgrounds.

The effects of influencer marketing on purchase intention: exploring the roles of materialism, envy and wishful identification

ABSTRACT The purpose of this paper is to examine how materialism values of followers affect their purchase intention toward travel and leisure experiences promoted by social media influencers. Three studies were conducted using undergraduate students and Amazon MTurk samples (n = 416). The results demonstrate that benign envy and wishful identification mediate the relationship between followers’ materialism and their purchase intention, and malicious envy moderates the mediating effect of wishful identification. As the first research that empirically tested the effects of followers’ benign envy, wishful identification, and malicious envy toward influencers, this paper provides a better understanding of the underlying mechanisms behind the intricate relationship between materialism and purchase intention in the context of influencer marketing.

Factors influencing air passengers' intention to purchase voluntary carbon offsetting programs: The moderating role of environmental knowledge

BackgroundThis paper aims to investigate the factors that influence air passengers' intention to purchase the VCO program by applying the extended Theory of Planned Behavior. Furthermore, we examine how the influence of these factors on purchasing intention varies according to passengers' levels of environmental knowledge. MethodsWe surveyed 319 individuals in Korea who have had air travel experience within the past three years and are planning future air travel. The collected data were analyzed using SPSS 25.0 and AMOS 25.0. To verify validity and reliability, we conducted confirmatory factor analysis and reliability analysis. Hypotheses were tested using a structural equation model, and the moderating effect of environmental knowledge was verified through multi-group analysis. FindingsOur findings revealed that personal norms, subjective norms, attitudes, and perceived behavioral control influence customers' intentions to purchase VCO program, in that order. Additionally, a critical aspect of our research is the multigroup analysis that demonstrates how environmental knowledge moderates the effects of attitudes and personal norms on purchase intentions. This indicates that the level of environmental awareness significantly shapes the decision-making process for participating in VCO program. Our study provides valuable insights for developing effective communication strategies to promote VCO program, emphasizing the need for tailored approaches based on individuals’ environmental knowledge. OriginalityThis study is the first to analyze the intention to purchase voluntary carbon offset (VCO) program among Korean passengers. We conducted a comprehensive analysis based on the extended Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) and investigated how the relative influence of each factor varies depending on the level of environmental knowledge.

Travel Itinerary: Travel lookout begins here

This research paper aims to develop a mobile application that serves as a straightforward travel guide, enhancing the exploration experience for travellers while simplifying decision-making by providing essential information without unnecessary complexities. The user-friendly design prioritises easy navigation and clear details, ensuring that users can effortlessly access the information they need. The integrated map feature allows users to find their routes effortlessly, while real-time weather updates for destinations help travellers plan accordingly and adapt to changing conditions. Going beyond basic navigation, the app offers valuable insights into popular attractions and cultural events, enriching the travel experience with curated information that highlights the best each destination has to offer. To streamline decision-making further, the app recommends top dining and accommodation options, removing the hassle and uncertainty from choosing where to eat and stay. These recommendations are based on user reviews and ratings, ensuring quality and reliability. In essence, this app is a user-centric tool designed to eliminate the stress associated with travel decisions, making it an invaluable companion for those seeking a straightforward and enriched exploration experience. By focusing on the needs of travellers and leveraging technology to provide timely and relevant information, this mobile application stands out as a practical and essential tool for modern explorers. Key Words: Navigations, Weather, Destination Insights, Accommodations, Dinnings, User Authentication.

Study Roadmap Selection Based on the Thermal Comfort of Street Trees in Summer: A Case Study from a University Campus in China

The intensification of the urban heat island effect, characterized by persistent high temperatures in Chinese cities during summer, has led to notable shifts in urban residents’ activity patterns and travel preferences. Given that street trees, as fundamental components of urban road networks, have significant interaction with residents, it is imperative to investigate their thermal comfort impact. This study aims to enhance the comfortable summer travel experience for urban dwellers. Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University (FAFU) was selected as the case study site, with eight street tree species identified as measurement points. The summer solstice (21 June 2023) served as the representative weather condition. Through monitoring temperature and humidity, the study explored the correlation between street tree species, their characteristic factors, and thermal comfort. Utilizing ENVI-met and ArcGIS, the thermal comfort of campus travel routes was assessed, leading to the development of a summer travel guide based on thermal comfort considerations. The research novelty lies in applying a combined ENVI-met 5.0.2 and ArcGIS 10.8 software approach for modelling and visualizing the microclimate, which enables a more precise analysis of the thermal comfort variations of different campus paths, thus improving the accuracy and applicability of the results in urban planning. The findings reveal several points. (1) Different street trees possess varying capacities to enhance human comfort, with Falcataria falcata and Mangifera indica exhibiting the strongest cooling and humidifying effects, whereas Bauhinia purpurea and Amygdalus persica perform the poorest. Additionally, the research confirms ENVI-met’s scientific accuracy and practicality for microclimate studies. (2) The contribution of street trees to the comfort of campus road travel is primarily determined by the Sky View Factor (SVF), which negatively correlates with cooling and humidifying intensity and positively with thermal comfort. (3) During midday, travel comfort conditions on campus roads are better. Based on the thermal comfort assessment, a summer roadmap was created for the campus. In this case, the campus roads indicated by road A are considered the best travel routes in summer, and the roads indicated by roads B and C are considered alternatives for travelling. This practical application demonstrates how theoretical research results can be translated into practical tools for daily commuting and urban planning. It provides data references and empirical cases for the scientific optimization and enhancement of urban roads.

The effect of income on the relationship between travel motives and destination choices

Background: Studies investigating the relationship between travel motivations and destination choice are often unidimensional and hierarchical, presenting limited perspectives on traveller groups with diverse socioeconomic backgrounds.Aim: This study investigates the variations in travel motives versus destination choices given different income bands. It presents a nuanced profile of income group members based on socio-demographic variables and travel experience.Setting: South African domestic tourism.Method: Threshold regression was applied to determine whether 13 motivations changed toward six destinations given specific income levels. Data from the 2019 South African Social Attitudes Survey (SASAS) were used and the weighted sample represented 42 573 093 South Africans.Results: The threshold regression materialised with between four to six breakpoints for most destinations. Fun dominated as a motive among lower income groups, as opposed to relationship building for higher income groups. Relaxation, as a known core travel motivation, did not lead to varied interest in specific destinations. Apart from motives, race and travel experience produced several significant differences.Conclusion: Income thresholds meaningfully explain variations in the relationship between travel motivations and destination choice. More effective marketing strategies should be built around travellers within overlooked markets.Contribution: The study provides novel empirical evidence that destination choice is non-linear and multifaceted. It applies threshold regression that has not been used in destination choice studies. Finer nuanced segments are identified and suggest an amendment to the travel career pattern (TCP) to accommodate developing and emergent travellers.

A machine learning based approach for generating point sketch maps from qualitative directional information

People often use qualitative relations to describe locations or directional information, especially in written communication, such as ‘the restaurant is located at the southeast corner of the square’. However, when a large number of spatial entities are involved, qualitative relations alone are not intuitive enough for people to understand a spatial configuration. In fact, many applications, e.g. pertaining to sharing travel experiences, use sketch maps, i.e. maps focusing on the main features of an area whilst abstracting exact scale measurements, to help demonstrate abstract qualitative relations with more intuitive geometric points. Current approaches for generating point sketch maps from qualitative spatial relations require a high level of expertise, face inherent difficulties with efficiently processing large-scale data in bulk, and are vulnerable to inaccurate or conflicting information contained in qualitative data. To address these limitations, by incorporating machine learning techniques, we propose to translate the problem into an optimization problem of data reconstruction, enabling a novel end-to-end approach for generating point sketch maps from qualitative directional relations in bulk. Experiments on real-world datasets show that the proposed approach has very high accuracy and is robust even with a large portion of inaccurate or incomplete information.

Research on Digital Protection and Revitalization of Wenzhou Shuomen Ancient Port Site Based on VRAR Technology

The Wenzhou Shuomen Ancient Port has been awarded the "Top Ten Archaeological Discoveries of 2022" due to its significant position in the "Maritime Silk Road" and the export of Longquan porcelain. The country has attached great importance to cultural heritage protection, promoting the revitalization and conservation of historical cultural heritage through digital technologies such as VR/AR and artificial intelligence. These technologies not only provide new methods for protection, research, and restoration but also offer effective means for virtual tourism and long-term preservation of cultural heritage. Through VR/AR technology, the ancient port site can be presented to the public in a more intuitive and vivid manner, enhancing its cultural value and attracting the favor of young people. Additionally, these technologies have promoted the development of local tourism, providing richer and more diverse travel experiences for tourists, thereby contributing to the prosperity of the tourism industry.

Delving into Cultural Immersion: Enhancing Empathy and Attachment in Creative Cultural Tourism in Thailand

ABSTRACT This study examined the interplay between cultural immersion, personal expressiveness, and perceived enjoyment, and their collective influence on 780 Thai tourists’ cultural empathy and place attachment with creative cultural destinations in Khon Kaen within the past three months, from 2022–2023, via structural equation modeling. The results revealed a significant relationship between cultural immersion and perceived enjoyment mediated by personal expressiveness: a key mechanism that shaped tourists’ cultural empathy and place attachment. The results may inform the development of enhanced services, foster tourists’ enriched travel experiences, cultivate cultural empathy, and strengthen attachment.

Halal–friendly attributes: a comparative study of different Muslim genders’ intentions to visit non–Islamic destinations

Purpose This study aims to examine how halal-friendly attributes at non-Islamic destinations affect the tourist attitude and visiting intentions of Muslim tourists of different genders from ASEAN countries. Design/methodology/approach The study used a structured survey with a non-probability, convenience sampling approach, targeting residents of Indonesia, Malaysia and Brunei. To assess the impact of halal-friendly attributes on destination image, tourist attitude and visiting intentions, a structural equation model was applied, analyzing the data across different genders. Findings The results indicate that the social environment exerts a positive influence on tourist attitudes for both males and females. In contrast, facilities have a negative impact on visiting intentions in both groups, with a more pronounced effect among males. While food and beverages positively influence the attitudes of female tourists, this effect is not observed in male tourists. Local factors and staff interactions show a strong positive impact on visiting intentions for males but only a marginal effect for females. The quality of service significantly boosts visiting intentions in both genders. Interestingly, tourist attitudes appear to have a negative effect on visiting intentions, with this trend being more evident in the female sample. Research limitations/implications The study is limited by its use of convenience sampling and self-reported data, which may not represent broader Indonesian perspectives and could introduce biases. Its focus on Indonesian perceptions and unexpected findings regarding tourist attitudes limit its generalizability and suggest unexplored factors affecting travel intentions. Originality/value This study offers new insights into how gender differences among Muslim tourists shape their intentions toward visiting non-Islamic destinations, emphasizing the role of halal-friendly attributes. These findings equip tourism operators and marketers with essential knowledge for developing inclusive, culturally sensitive practices, enhancing the travel experience for this significant segment of the global tourism market.

Formation of the Idea of the Library as an Institution in 18th-Century Europe. A Qualitative and Quantitative Approach

The paper illustrates the LIBMOVIT project - - Libraries on the Move: Scholars, Books, Ideas Traveling in Italy in the 18th Century - whose main research focus is the European Eighteenth century socio-cultural framework in which the library as an institution acquired an historical, social, public and dynamic dimension. This context will be analysed through a study of the Eighteenth century sources connected to the learned journey experience of the Grand Tour, in particular those contained in the Angiolo Tursi collection - one of the largest travel literature collections in Italy - held at the Marciana national library in Venice. The paper presents the planned approach of the research: first, a classification and an organization of a corpus of relevant documents for the knowledge of travel literature in connection to the libraries world will be created; in particular, the sources will be identified, further bibliographical information will be added, and new sources will be integrated to the corpus and selected documents will be digitized. After that, the research will proceed through a double analysis – traditional and computational – of the texts collected in the corpus is to be developed. First, all the library and bibliographical aspects described by travellers will be studied according to the traditional approach in humanities research to collect important information about the history of libraries (location, decoration, catalogues, opening hours, access, collections, cited books and documents), the travellers and their companions (professions, nationality, reason to travel), the people met (scholars, librarians, superintendents) and the subjects and ideas discussed during the visits in the libraries. Second, the texts will be computationally analysed through several Natural Language Processing (NLP) techniques, starting from the automatic text recognition until arriving to more complex lexical and terminological analysis and Named Entity Recognition (NER). This work is meant to support the previously described qualitative study and will also allow to produce Linked open data about the domain entities (e.g. libraries, people, books) in view of their publication in the semantic web in order to ease and promote their exploration, visualisation and reuse.

What drives the tourist Daka? An empirical study based on the perspective of dual motivation

ABSTRACT Tourist Daka, a recording behaviour displaying individuals’ tourism in virtual spaces, has become a major manifestation of travel experiences in modern social media. Through a dual motivation lens, this study investigated the relationship between Daka destination features, dual Daka motivations (i.e. intrinsic motivation, extrinsic motivation), and Daka intention to develop a model that outlines the influencing mechanism driving the occurrence of tourist Daka. The results demonstrated that: (1) Daka destination features evoke different Daka motivations; (2) intrinsic motivation triggers an individual’s emotions on Daka destination and affects their Daka intention, while extrinsic motivation only evokes their emotions on Daka destination; and further (3) individual’s tourism involvement plays a moderating role in the influencing path. This study provides theoretical data regarding studies of tourist behaviour and practical guidance for the development of novel tourism models.

Research and Analysis on Policy Governance Based on Traffic Congestion in Beijing

This paper proposes three-game models to improve Beijing's traffic environment through the analysis method of game theory. First, the author examines the impact of improving drivers' moral character on alleviating traffic congestion. Second, this paper focus on the role of improving the public transportation environment in reducing road stress. Finally, this research examines the possibility of mitigating traffic congestion through a reward-punishment system. Comprehensive analysis of the results of these three game models, this paper conclude that a single policy of license restriction and traffic restriction is not enough to solve the traffic congestion problem in Beijing, and multiple policy measures need to be considered comprehensively. However, these policy measures also face some challenges and limitations, including time and education investment, people's travel needs and transportation network layout, and the design and implementation of the reward and punishment system. Therefore, future research and policy development need to further explore these issues and find more comprehensive and feasible policy solutions. Finally, this article recommends that the Beijing Municipal Government comprehensively consider the results of different game models and formulate comprehensive policy measures based on the actual situation, including improving road transportation facilities, encouraging green travel methods, and promoting intelligent transportation systems. Through these efforts, it is expected to improve Beijing's traffic environment, enhance citizens' travel experience, and achieve the goal of sustainable urban transportation.

Portable Arduino-Based Multi-Sensor Device (SBEDAD): Measuring the Built Environment in Street Cycling Spaces.

The built environment's impact on human activities has been a hot issue in urban research. Compared to motorized spaces, the built environment of pedestrian and cycling street spaces dramatically influences people's travel experience and travel mode choice. The streets' built environment data play a vital role in urban design and management. However, the multi-source, heterogeneous, and massive data acquisition methods and tools for the built environment have become obstacles for urban design and management. To better realize the data acquisition and for deeper understanding of the urban built environment, this study develops a new portable, low-cost Arduino-based multi-sensor array integrated into a single portable unit for built environment measurements of street cycling spaces. The system consists of five sensors and an Arduino Mega board, aimed at measuring the characteristics of the street cycling space. It takes air quality, human sensation, road quality, and greenery as the detection objects. An integrated particulate matter laser sensor, a light intensity sensor, a temperature and humidity sensor, noise sensors, and an 8K panoramic camera are used for multi-source data acquisition in the street. The device has a mobile power supply display and a secure digital card to improve its portability. The study took Beijing as a sample case. A total of 127.97 G of video data and 4794 Kb of txt records were acquired in 36 working hours using the street built environment data acquisition device. The efficiency rose to 8474.21% compared to last year. As an alternative to conventional hardware used for this similar purpose, the device avoids the need to carry multiple types and models of sensing devices, making it possible to target multi-sensor data-based street built environment research. Second, the device's power and storage capabilities make it portable, independent, and scalable, accelerating self-motivated development. Third, it dramatically reduces the cost. The device provides a methodological and technological basis for conceptualizing new research scenarios and potential applications.

An Exploratory Study About Child-Friendly Trips

The main idea of child-friendly tourism is to consider children's physical and psychological health in all kinds of travel and holiday experiences. Also, it aims to arrange activities in line with children's development skills. Child-friendly trips are an essential part of these skills, as they support personal, sociocultural, and physical contexts for children. Tour guides are one of the most critical companions that support these contexts. This paper tries to uncover how child-friendly trips are done from the perspective of tour guides. It aims to reveal child-friendly trip interpretation, child-friendly tour guides' features, and difficulties. A qualitative research method was used, and tour guides who made domestic and daily child-friendly trips in TURKEY attended the study. Twenty-two semi-structured interviews based on content analysis were examined. The findings revealed that although child-friendly trips have the same characteristics as other group tours, they have different interpretation styles. Tour guides should have specific attributions to successfully affect the children and slog on the trip. Child-friendly tourism literature is a developing field of study with some theoretical gaps. This study contributes to the literature by offering a broader perspective of child-friendly trip context regarding tourist guides.

Design and Development of Middle-Aged and Elderly Tourism Products Based on Fuzzy Decision Support System

Tourism product design and development is anxious with intricate decision-making processes that need to strike a balance between many criteria, goals, and limitations. In today's diversified and ever-changing tourist business, there are substantial sprints in developing and implementing products that appeal to middle-aged and older travellers. In this research, the utilization of fuzzy decision support system (FDSS) is investigated to personalize travel experiences for the elderly based on their unique interests and requirements. The main objective of this study is to reduce the complex tourism business patterns. This study presents a systematic framework for middle-aged and senior tourism products based on the literature on tourism trends, FDSS, and product creation in the tourism industry. This study proposes a middle-aged and elderly tourism product based on fuzzy decision support system (METP–FDSS) that employs fuzzy logic. This approach takes into account cultural sensitivities, accessibility concerns, travel preferences, and demographic data to create tourism experiences that are welcoming and immersive for older tourists. Through the application of fuzzy logic concepts, FDSS provides a flexible and robust decision-making platform that can aid in the development of personalized, inclusive, and immersive tourist experiences for the elderly. Customer happiness, accessibility, and the decision support system's ability to steer product development are all highlighted in the proposed METP–FDSS framework. Research on tourism among the middle-aged and the elderly also benefits from understanding user experience, cost effectiveness, competitive advantage, and social and environmental impact. While navigating the complexity of today's tourism sector, this study recommends using fuzzy logic as a decision support system to provide one-of-a-kind experiences for older and middle-aged tourists.

Refining Travel Suggestions using Python

In the era of personalized travel experiences, the need for intelligent and adaptive planning tools is paramount. This is developed using Python, harnesses the power of machine learning to analyse traveller preferences and patterns, offering customized destination suggestions. The core of this study is to demonstrate how machine learning can transform traditional travel planning into a more efficient, personalized experience. By integrating user data and preferences, the system proposes itineraries that not only align with individual interests but also enhance the overall travel experience. This details the development process, the machine learning techniques employed, and the efficacy of Python in creating a dynamic and responsive travel planning website. The goal is to enhance the user experience in planning trips by providing optimizing destination suggestions, considering factors like historical preferences, budget constraints, and time availability.