Frequent Travel Research Articles

SceneFusion: Room-Scale Environmental Fusion for Efficient Traveling Between Separate Virtual Environments.

Traveling between scenes has become a major requirement for navigation in numerous virtual reality (VR) social platforms and game applications, allowing users to efficiently explore multiple virtual environments (VEs). To facilitate scene transition, prevalent techniques such as instant teleportation and virtual portals have been extensively adopted. However, these techniques exhibit limitations when there is a need for frequent travel between separate VEs, particularly within indoor environments, resulting in low efficiency. In this article, we first analyze the design rationale for a novel navigation method supporting efficient travel between virtual indoor scenes. Based on the analysis, we introduce the SceneFusion technique that fuses separate virtual rooms into an integrated environment. SceneFusion enables users to perceive rich visual information from both rooms simultaneously, achieving high visual continuity and spatial awareness. While existing teleportation techniques passively transport users, SceneFusion allows users to actively access the fused environment using short-range locomotion techniques. User experiments confirmed that SceneFusion outperforms instant teleportation and virtual portal techniques in terms of efficiency, workload, and preference for both single-user exploration and multi-user collaboration tasks in separate VEs. Thus, SceneFusion presents an effective solution for seamless traveling between virtual indoor scenes.

Development of a framework for assessing train passengers' post‐boarding behaviours based on their perceptions

AbstractWhile existing literature has focused on modelling pedestrian movement on platforms, there is a lack of understanding of passengers' perceptions, motivations, and influential factors that shape their on‐board behaviours and choices. This study developed a conceptual framework to assess passengers' post‐boarding behaviours and perceptions, specifically focusing on their actions and choices inside the train carriages. The conceptual framework was tested through survey data of 429 passengers in Melbourne, Australia. The result shows that door access is the most influential factor when passengers choose where to stand or sit on board, followed by comfort, safety, privacy, and random factors. Furthermore, the study explores the relationship between the post‐boarding behaviour variables and travellers’ personal and trip characteristic variables. The analysis shows that carrying large items has a more significant effect on many post‐boarding behaviour variables. Gender, age group, travel frequency, waiting time, and carrying small items also play significant roles. However, variables such as travel time and frequency of group travel have lesser effects. These novel findings offer valuable insights, laying the groundwork for future modelling activities. Moreover, the understanding derived from passenger perceptions can guide transport agencies and operators in shaping strategies to improve onboard services.

Exploring Intention & Reactance in Social Norm Interventions for Rail Business Travel

Abstract Shifting continental business travel from carbon-intensive modes to rail is crucial for emissions reduction. Behavioral interventions are a way to achieve this, but a gap exists in understanding their efficacy for sustainable business travel behavior. Based on online experiments with frequent business travelers, we scrutinize the impact of descriptive social norm interventions on mode choice intention, considering potentially negative employee reactions. While revealing factors influencing reactance and intention, contrary to expectations derived from the theory of planned behavior, behavioral interventions literature, and psychological reactance theory, our social norm treatments did not significantly impact mode choice intention and resulted in low reactance levels. Despite these unexpected results indicating that our interventions did not yield the desired changes, our study underscores the challenges of influencing sustainable business travel behavior and emphasizes the need for tailored interventions and incentives in practice, suggesting avenues for further research.

Using mobile phone data to capture residential segregation and its association with travel mobility

AbstractThis study measures residential segregation and investigates its association with travel mobility by using mobile phone data from Shenzhen, China. It considers residential segregation in terms of income level and migrant group; and travel mobility in terms of travel frequency, activity space, and travel distance. Unlike previous research on residential segregation and travel mobility, our research uses mobile phone data to produce empirical evidence. The extent of segregation between different migrant and income‐level groups is measured using the location quotient and Getis‐Ord index. This enables us to develop a linear regression model with which to investigate the associations of residential segregation with travel mobility. The study results show that the segregation of middle‐ and low‐income groups and migrants from Southwestern China and Jiangxi is negatively associated with travel mobility among those in the suburbs; meanwhile, for groups segregated in the city center, there is a positive association with travel mobility. These findings suggest that residential segregation is especially adverse for the travel mobility of disadvantaged groups and those living in the suburbs. Accordingly, the paper presents policy recommendations that would enhance travel mobility by alleviating the problems associated with the residential segregation of socially disadvantaged groups living in the suburbs.

Self-reported sensibility to bodily signals predicts individual differences in autobiographical memory: an exploratory study

ABSTRACT Recent theoretical perspectives have advanced that autobiographical memory processes are supported by interoception, the perception of internal bodily sensations. Yet, this relationship remains largely underexplored. The present study addressed this critical gap in the literature by systematically investigating the association between self-reported Interoceptive Sensibility and various individual differences measures of autobiographical memory. In Study 1, using a correlational approach in a large sample of participants (N = 247), we identified significant correlations between standardised measures of interoception and the general experience of autobiographical memory and the frequency of involuntary mental time travel. These associations remained significant even after controlling for potential confounding factors in terms of age, gender, and trait affectivity, underscoring their robustness. Study 2 replicated and extended the associations identified in Study 1 in another large participant sample (N = 257), further validating them by accounting for the potential confounding effect of well-being. Our findings demonstrate that individuals’ ability to perceive and understand bodily signals robustly relates to how they experience autobiographical memories. By adopting an exploratory approach based on individual differences, our results provide novel and concrete insights into the association between interoception and autobiographical memory, providing a strong foundation for future investigations into the causal mechanisms connecting these two constructs.

Associations between the built environment and travel to higher-order centers in Chinese rural areas

Encouraging travel to higher-order centers is important for enhancing the quality of life of rural residents and promoting rural development. Although the literature shows that the built environment influences travel behavior, few studies have explored the relationship between the built environment and the frequency of travel to higher-order centers, particularly in rural contexts. Even less attention has been given to the synergetic effects that occur across built environment elements and county heterogeneity. Using data from 659 respondents in three Chinese counties collected between 2019 and 2020, we applied multilevel ordered logistic models to explore the associations between the rural built environment and travel frequency to higher-order centers (including townships, counties, and city centers). The results show that rural residents' travel frequency to higher-order centers decreases with increasing distance from such centers. The relationships between built environment elements and travel frequency to higher-order centers differ according to the level of such centers. Moreover, built environment elements exert synergetic impacts on travel frequency to higher-order centers. The association of the built environment with travel frequency to higher-order centers is moderated by the developmental levels of counties. These findings suggest that interventions in the rural built environment are important for ensuring the enhancement of rural resident travel behavior and access to better services, which, in turn, benefits rural revitalization.

Environmental cognition and peer attitudes: Influencing tourists' waste‐sorting behavior in rural tourism destinations

AbstractThis research assesses the determinants impacting the behavior in rural tourism destinations regarding tourists' waste sorting (WSB), emphasizing the significance of social norms and peer networks. Survey data was gathered from 955 participants in rural tourist destinations across Henan, Shandong, and Anhui provinces. The empirical findings illuminate several crucial aspects: (1) social norms and peer networks wield a positive, catalyzing influence on tourists' WSB in rural tourism settings. (2) Peer attitudes shape tourists' WSB, and environmental cognition plays a pivotal mediating role. The novelty of this study lies in its comprehensive exploration of the influence of social norms and peer networks on tourists' WSB in rural tourism destinations, highlighting the unique interplay of cognitive, behavioral, and attitudinal factors in this context. (3) Cognitive norms and behavioral norms have a more significant impact on female tourists. (4) For frequent travel groups, social norms affect waste‐sorting behavior less.

The Role of Intra-Household Interactions and Personal Social Network Dispersion in Air Travel Frequency in the UK

This paper studies private air travel frequency among the UK population using a regression analysis. The analysis accounts for a large range of independent variables, including the respondents’ partners’ attributes, social network dispersion and migration background. We find that both having one’s best friends and/or close family members abroad is associated with more frequent flights. Partners’ friends living abroad also stimulate more frequent flights. Also, partners’ education level and long-standing illness or disability are, respectively, positively and negatively associated with flight frequency. First generation migration background is associated with increased flying, while higher-order generation migration background (i.e. having parents or grandparents who were born abroad) is not.

Optimizing the Impact of Vector-Borne Diseases in India Through the Best-Worst Multicriteria Decision-Making Method for Prioritizing Their Distribution Based on Impact Factor

The term mosquito-borne disease refers to diseases transmitted by mosquitoes. Emerging or re-emerging diseases occur in a previously uninfected region, group, or individual. Several infectious diseases can cause dengue, chikungunya, Zika, West Nile fever, and malaria, for example. As a result of competent mosquitoes and frequent travel to endemic areas, these diseases are likely to emerge or re- emerge in India. Several factors affect the distribution of vectors and/or diseases, including climate conditions, meteorological conditions, the environment, and demographic factors. Several countries with similar environmental conditions such as China, Nepal, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Bhutan are examined in this paper. It will also identify mosquito vector introductions or spreads. Multicriteria decision-making is used in India to prioritize diseases. In accordance with PRISMA guidelines, we identified, selected, and evaluated relevant studies. 223 of the 469 articles identified in the databases were reviewed. 47 articles between 2000 and 2017 were included in the data set. In the papers, dengue, zika, and chikungunya were discussed. Population density, precipitation, and temperature influenced results. Temperature, precipitation, and NDVI are the most commonly used variables. In 23% of the articles, temperature, precipitation, and water indexes were the largest variables. Recent publications on mosquito-borne diseases indicate that mosquito-borne diseases are becoming more important in India. Environmental and climatic factors influence emerging diseases’ spatial distribution and emergence.

Framing negative eWOM via conjunctions: The language of customer communication in the luxury hotel sector on social media

In the digital age, social media has a significant impact on consumer perceptions. This business communication study examines the linguistic strategies used to express and repair negative electronic word of mouth (eWOM) in Hong Kong’s luxury hotel sector. The data, which were collected from travel forums, consist of 17,344 words from online hotel reviews (11,647 words) and responses (5,697 words) made by the visitors and senior hotel management of 18 five-star hotels. Using systemic functional linguistics as a framework, this study analyses the logical relations that exist between expectant and concessive conjunctions, as well as the evaluative judgment resources present in an appraisal system. The analysis focuses on the poor service standards framed in the complaints and how the hotel management responds to such situations differently, particularly with respect to repairing customer expectations. This study also examines how loyal fans and frequent travellers present their customer identity when dealing with service-related issues. By developing an understanding of how luxury hotels manage customer complaints, repair customer relationships, and protect their brand reputation through dynamic interactions, this study can provide valuable communication insights for the hotel sector.

Retaining bus riders: A lifecycle longitudinal analysis of behavioral status transitions from entry to exit

Amidst a global decline in bus ridership, this study pioneers a longitudinal approach to understanding individual-level transitions and churning in urban bus systems. Utilizing a novel framework that leverages smart card data, we construct and analyze user behavior transition matrices over time, employing Markov processes and the Chapman-Kolmogorov Equation. Our analysis, derived from a 22-month dataset from Shenzhen, reveals a two-stage churning process: users first decrease travel frequency before transitioning to irregular travel patterns. Crucially, this study introduces targeted retention policies, including tiered usage incentives and personalized communication strategies, aimed at different stages of the user lifecycle. By offering free subsequent trips to irregular travelers and combining policy approaches for users at high risk of churning, we provide actionable insights for transit operators to counter the trend of declining ridership.

Scoping review: Mobility aids for people with sight loss across the ICF domains of functions, activities, and participation.

There is little literature linking mobility aids for people with sight loss to the functions, activities, and participation domains of the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF). Future studies on this relationship should be funded and pursued to better understand ways to maximize the benefit of mobility aids. The ICF domains of functions, activities, and participation are potentially health-supporting aspects of daily living that may be impeded for people with sight loss. Although mobility aids facilitate safely navigating obstacles to optimize independence, it is not clear if they have any effect on functions, activities, or participation. This review explores the current literature to establish the associations between mobility aids and ICF domains. An established scoping review methodological framework was used to systematically search, select, and synthesize the existing literature. Of 116 unique retrieved articles, three observational studies were eligible for inclusion with a total of 124 participants. A small experimental study found that blind adults had slower Timed Up and Go times than sighted and better performance with a long cane than without. One observational study found that physical activity was strongly related to level of visual acuity but with no independent impact of mobility aids. A single mixed-methods study explored travel frequency for blind people with assistance dogs and considered constraints to participation. Despite the included studies involving some aspect of mobility aid use by people with sight loss, to date, no study has focused exclusively on mobility aid intervention for people with sight loss within the physical function, physical activity, and participation domains of the ICF. There is no reliable evidence on the associations between mobility aids and physical function, physical activity, and participation. This is an important knowledge gap for determining the most suitable aids, as well as their use, to best facilitate health-supporting activities.

The aesthetic value of natural vegetation remnants, city parks and vacant lots: The role of ecosystem features and observer characteristics

Physical and mental well-being are linked to exposure to ecosystems perceived as aesthetically pleasing. However, the perceived aesthetic value is shaped by both ecosystem features and observer characteristics. This study explores the relationships between these two influential factors, and perceptions across three Canadian urban greenspace types: natural vegetation remnants (forest stands, marshes and peatlands), city parks, and vacant lots. We administered an online photo-questionnaire, completed by 514 respondents, who assessed the beauty of 45 greenspaces on a five-point Likert scale. Respondents were university students and staff, members of the general public, and specialists in ecosystem services. They also answered questions on socio-demographic factors, pro-environmental attitudes, nature-related travel habits, and ecological knowledge. We calculated five variables from each greenspace photo: vegetation structural complexity, visual complexity, percentage of green pixels, percentage of canopy cover, and presence/absence of artificial structures. On average, natural vegetation remnants and city parks were preferred over vacant lots. Among natural remnants, forests were preferred over semi-open peatlands. Different ecosystem features were associated with perceived beauty across the three greenspace types. For natural remnants and city parks, visual complexity was positively related to appreciation scores, whereas for vacant lots, the presence of artificial structures was associated with lower appreciation scores. Respondents who self-identified as environmental defenders, had greater knowledge of flora, and travelled to observe fauna gave higher appreciation scores to vacant lots compared to other respondents. Younger respondents, and those who engaged in frequent nature-related travelling attributed higher scores to natural remnants. We conclude that aesthetic preferences for natural vegetation remnants, city parks, and vacant lots are influenced by a complex interplay of ecosystem features and observer characteristics. Understanding these intricate relationships can guide the management of vacant lots and promote more inclusive engagement with greenspaces, by considering the varying preferences of diverse segments of the population.

Preferences and Travel Motivations of Pink Tourists Among Filipinos

The purpose of this study was to determine the preferences and driving forces behind LGBT, or pink, tourism. LGBT tourism is referred to as "pink tourism." (Greenberg, Peter (2007). This abbreviation, which stands for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender, is frequently used to refer to the LGBT community. The motivations behind Pink Tourists' travel choices will be examined in this study. The research was split up into four sections: Phase 1 dealt with determining the demographic profile of the correspondents in terms of sexual orientation/gender, age, status, income, travel frequency, travel companion, and accommodation preference. Phase 2 focused on factors in choosing a travel destination among pink tourists, Phase 3 on perceiving the importance of motivation when considering travel, and Phase 4 on identifying the importance of factors when selecting a travel destination. For this study, fifty correspondents were chosen to take part. We used the Research Paradigm as the process of the study to able to get the results of the feedback and get a necessary adjustment.Purposive sampling was employed to select the participating correspondents. The findings indicated that the majority of Pink tourists—who are primarily bisexual—discovered they belong to the LGBTQ community between the ages of 21 and 25. BPO businesses tend to employ members of the LGBTQ community due to their anti-discrimination policies. Many of them made the decision to remain unmarried in order to travel with their buddies. LGBTQ people wish to travel twice a year for leisure, enjoyment, vacation, and to experience life; if they feel safe, accepted, and treated equally, they will remain for less than a week. These days, people plan their trips one to three months in advance by booking their journeys online. They also enjoy traveling for enjoyment and entertainment. When traveling, Pink Tourism prefers to go with friends since it makes them feel more at ease and allows them to express their actual gender identity. Here are our suggestions based on the findings of our investigation: LGBTQ people should be permitted to use restrooms according to their gender identity and comfort level in restaurants, hotels, and other establishments. In addition, hotels ought to offer family rooms, which may accommodate a sizable gathering, in the event that a guest house or full house is unavailable at a specific location. Finally, LGBTQ-friendly events and activities should be added to destinations so that people may enjoy their trip, unwind, and meet new people more comfortably.

Factor Affecting Customer Preference to Use Shuttle Bus over High-Speed Train in Indonesia

This paper investigates the factors affecting customer preference to choose a shuttle bus over a high-speed train (Whoosh) in Indonesia. The study is based on the theory of planned behavior and focuses on customer satisfaction, which is a primary determinant in the selection of public transport. The research collected data through interviews and surveys. The survey gathered information from 105 frequent travelers who choose shuttle bus as their main transportation mode and have experienced using high-speed trains. The findings showed that the factors affecting people to choose shuttle bus over high-speed train are availability, accessibility, duration, and comfort. The study provides insights into understanding customer preferences and helps build efficient strategies based on internal strengths and profitable opportunities.

Correlation the Urban Mobility and COVID-19 Case in Yogyakarta City

COVID-19 is an outbreak that spreads mainly due to human interaction. Transmission is greater when there is a potential crowd. So, the main policy in dealing with the spread of COVID-19 is to limit interactions. Interaction restrictions are carried out in various ways from social distancing to mobility restrictions. Mobility restriction means reducing the movement of the population for various purposes of movement. The less movement the number of transmissions of COVID-19 cases will also decrease. However, in various studies it turns out that this is not always the case. Reducing movement does not necessarily reduce the number of positive cases. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to find the correlation between population mobility and the spreading of COVID-19 cases in Yogyakarta City. Yogyakarta is one of the cities in Indonesia that is the epicentre of COVID-19. This research uses descriptive quantitative method and correlation analysis technique. The population mobility was obtained from primary data in the form of questionnaires, while COVID-19 cases were obtained from secondary data which provided by the Municipality of Yogyakarta City. The results of the analysis show that there is no correlation between the transportation mode choice and frequency of travel, and COVID-19 spreading. However, the travel time has a positive and significant correlation with the spreading of COVID-19.

The impacts of COVID-19 pandemic on bus transit demand: A 30-month Naturalistic Observation in Jiading, Shanghai, China

The COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent governmental responses have had unprecedented effects on public transit (PT) demand. This paper presents a naturalistic observation of the Jiading bus transit system in Shanghai, China, spanning from April 2021 to October 2023 and covering different stages under various extreme policy response combinations. We employ Prais-Winsten regression to quantitatively assess the pandemic’s impact on bus demand and explore demand recovery patterns at both aggregated and individual levels in the post-pandemic era. Our findings reveal a strong negative correlation between bus demand and the stringency of containment policies, consistent across both levels of analysis. In the post-pandemic period, ridership has only rebounded to 77% of the pre-Omicron near-normal level, with notable spatial and temporal disparities across different regions. While the temporal distribution of ridership has largely normalized, the recovery of travel demand between zones outpaces that of travel within zones. Moreover, a persistent decline in individual travel frequency has been observed, which has not reverted in the post-pandemic period. The insights from this study can help policymakers better respond to potential future crises and improve PT services in the post-pandemic era.

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.

There, across the border – political scientists and their boundary-crossing work

Scholars may be diversely engaged in boundary-crossing work, either staying more confined in academic settings, or reaching out to the policy world. Despite growing theoretical attention, there is little empirical knowledge on the extent to which scholars indeed engage in boundary-crossing activities, and the conditions that foster or jeopardize this. We use original survey data from European political scientists to investigate how frequently they ‘travel’ to the policy world, what patterns of engagement are visible, and how these are determined. The article introduces a typology capturing different boundary-crossing profiles and shows that political scientists are rather frequent travelers across the border between academia and the policy world. Yet, individual characteristics matter. Having (had) a position outside of academia has an especially strong effect on the likelihood of boundary-crossing. Our results also reveal that not every scholar has the same chance to be involved, depending on gender or seniority.

The increasing healthcare burden of enteric fever in a low-incidence setting

ObjectivesEnteric fever carries appreciable morbidity in non-endemic settings, particularly in returned travelers. This study aimed to characterize the healthcare burden of enteric fever in a low-incidence setting and to identify risk factors and opportunities for preventative interventions. MethodsAnalysis of a retrospective case series from a tertiary pediatric center (2015–2019), augmented by public health notification and microbiological laboratory data (2018–2019), from Western Sydney, Australia, a region with frequent travel links to South Asia. ResultsEighty-nine (89) patients were diagnosed with enteric fever, including 43 children with complete demographic and travel data. Enteric fever cases increased over time (by 4.9 % per year) and incidence was three times higher in the pediatric population (<15 years old) compared to adults. Travel to India and visiting friends and relatives (VFR) travel were risk factors. Few children received enteric fever vaccination prior to travel, as pre-travel advice most commonly was not sought. ConclusionsChildren visiting relatives in high-incidence countries are increasingly at risk for enteric fever, particularly when travelling to South Asia. Targeted health advice to travelers visiting friends and relatives is warranted to mitigate the healthcare burden of enteric fever in low-incidence settings.