Mobile Travel Research Articles

A novel ensemble model with conditional intervening opportunities for ride-hailing travel mobility estimation

A novel ensemble model with conditional intervening opportunities for ride-hailing travel mobility estimation

The spatiotemporal constitution of Dubai as a semiotically assembled touristscape

Mobile technologies mark an increasing construct of heterogeneous semiotic resources which coexist in a networked symmetrical interrelations. This area of research is still understudied, especially in terms of demonstrating how app-mediated touristscapes are co-told, transduced, and augmented by networked assemblage between participants and mobile interfaces. Drawing on a pragma-semiotic approach, the present study aims to investigate the spatiotemporal constitution of Dubai as a mobile-mediated touristscape. We draw on a newly synthesized approach that combines Cooren and Matte’s (2010) model of constitutive pragmatics and Pennycook’s (2008, 2017) notion of “semiotic assemblages.” Such a methodological synergy has been applied to the Dubai Travel mobile app in a way that revealed how the touristscape of Dubai has been pragmatically constituted of the semiotic assemblage of heterogeneous figures in the app’s interface-human interaction. This form of techno-human interaction was demonstrated to be situated in three spacing practices: (i) presentifying or making materially present hybrid interactions of techno-human figures, (ii) ordering or systematizing the scripted trajectories of Dubai touristscape by creating more space and time across framed intervals, and (iii) accounting or linking spatiotemporal augmentation to affective semiotic assemblages. The study found that Dubai touristscape has been constituted via a human-non-human semiotic assemblage with augmented and multilayered spatiotemporal possibilities. The pragma-semiotic approach has thus helped in arguing against what accounts as a touristscape with fixed spatiotemporal properties. The study contributes to understanding the increasing role of networked communication through developing a dialogue with linguistic pragmatics.

The impact of COVID-19 on travel mobility of older passengers on Xi'an urban rail in China

The COVID-19 outbreak has led to unprecedented changes in people's lives and travel. Public transportation operators must understand individual mobility during COVID-19. Few studies have focused on the impact of COVID-19 on the travel behaviors of vulnerable older adults. To fill this research gap, this study is conducted using smartcard data from the Xi'an urban rail transit during the time of COVID-19 from February 1, 2020 to April 30, 2020. This study first divides the research objects, that is, passengers, into two groups of young adults and older adults, and periods into three stages: the outbreak, post-pandemic, and recovery. Indicators of travel distance, travel frequency, and activity duration were introduced for the two passenger groups to quantify their travel mobility in different stages. To evaluate the spatiotemporal performance of travel mobility, the travel time distribution of the two groups of passengers in each stage was continuously tracked and the returning passengers were proposed to measure the spatial distribution of station-level ridership. In summary, this study provides not only a deeper understanding of the mobility of older passengers during COVID-19 but also useful insights for urban rail transit managers to make more effective decisions for older adults.

Estimating the Importation Risk of Mpox Virus in 2022 to Hong Kong, China

International air travel has been recognized as a crucial factor in the cross-regional transmission of monkeypox (now known as mpox) since this disease rapidly spread across the globe in May 2022. On September 6, 2022, Hong Kong SAR (HK) reported its first imported mpox case with travel history of the United States (US), Canada, and the Philippines. In this study, we estimated the importation risk to HK from 25 international departure regions from May 1 to September 6, 2022, based on the prevalence of presymptomatic mpox cases in the study regions, and time-varying flight mobility evaluated by aggregating multiple open-access air travel datasets (e.g., OpenSky and Aviation Edge). The results of the study indicated that during the study period, the highest risk of mpox importation was from the US, at 63% (95% CI: 32% and 95%), followed by the United Kingdom (UK) and Canada, with risks of 29% (95% CI: 10% and 63%), and 17% (95% CI: 8% and 32%), respectively. The importation risk of mpox from the US and Canada was substantially higher than from the other regions, which was aligned with the travel history of the first reported case in HK. Our study introduces a simplified computational method that estimates the risk of importation mpox virus by combining air travel mobility, disease prevalence, and observed real-world scenarios to achieve accurate outcome estimates. Estimating the cross-regional importation risk of mpox would be beneficial in designing and adjusting inbound measures appropriately, which are essential for emergency public health policies.

Towards Humanistic Management in professional sports: How to make mobility and fan-related tourism more sustainable?

Abstract Ideas of (a more) humanistic management have taken hold in multiple tourism contexts. In particular, we can see this in specific niches of tourism such as sports-related mobility and adjacent forms of athlete and fan travel, it has become more commonplace to pay attention to questions of ecological integrity as well as sustainability. Rather than being mere rhetorical exercises to create the appearance of more responsible practices (a ‘CSR façade’), substantial changes seem to be underway, through which authentic transformation towards genuinely humanistic management practices may be possible. We take the case of the inclusion of sustainability considerations in the organisation of team and fan travel alongside professional football in Germany to highlight such incremental change. While far from constituting mass phenomena, any such reforms have the capacity to set a trend, and to re-orient business practices across larger industries. Based on a qualitative case study of five professional football teams in Germany and their recently adjusted mobility activities, we argue that sports-related tourism and mobility management has the capacity to create role models in steering societies towards more sustainable, and hence: more humanistic modes of action.

Knowledge, attitudes and practices regarding the use of mobile travel health apps.

We performed a survey of U.S. international travellers to evaluate their knowledge, attitudes and practices regarding mobile technologies related to health. We found that many international travellers carry smartphones and are interested in receiving health information from a mobile app when they travel abroad.

Understanding the impact of plateau climate on the travel behavior of elderly pilgrims: Evidence from Tibet, China

Abstract The climate is an important factor influencing residents’ travel behavior. Many studies have focused on travel in areas with gentle terrain, with high-altitude regions receiving increased research attention due to their unique climatic conditions. Pilgrimage is a daily travel activity for many residents, and studying pilgrim flow patterns helps enrich the theory of travel behavior in high-altitude regions. In the context of population aging, it is crucial to help policymakers and transportation planners recognize the travel mobility needs of elderly pilgrims. This paper comprehensively analyzes the socio-demographic, travel and personal health attributes related to the mobility of elderly pilgrims and establishes plateau climate as an important factor influencing the travel behavior of this group. This study considers the actual situation of the Tibetan Plateau to fit the theoretical gap related to the travel behavior of urban residents in the plateau. Using travel diary data from selected cities on the Tibetan Plateau, a Random Coefficient Multinomial Logit Model is used to analyze the mobility patterns of elderly pilgrims. Considering the realities of China and based on specific research findings, policies developed by transportation practitioners and urban planners need to encourage older adults to use active transportation modes with lower carbon emissions and public transportation.

VFR TRAVEL AND COVID-19 IMPACTS: THE SOUTH AFRICAN EXPERIENCE

COVID-19 had major negative consequences globally for travel for visits to friends and relatives (VFR), which is an under-researched segment of tourism. This paper responds to the need for extended research on VFR travel by examining the impacts of COVID-19 on the VFR sector and its spatial imprint in South Africa. VFR travel sector was second only to business travel in terms of the negative impacts of COVID-19 restrictions imposed in South Africa. An uneven geography is observed of the impact of COVID-19 on VFR travel mobilities. Using data on VFR trips and bednights the analysis discloses the greatest absolute declines in VFR travel occurred in South Africa’s major metropolitan areas. By contrast, in terms of the relative decline and local impacts for destinations of the COVID-19 hollowing out of VFR travel a different pattern emerges. The worst affected spaces were remote, mainly rural localities which are in South Africa’s poorest and most economically distressed areas.

Analysis of the selection of land transportation modes in Serang City

The role of urban transportation is vast in supporting the mobility of city residents because, after all, urban people need city transportation, and most community groups depend on city transportation to meet their mobility needs. Along with the development of the era of online application-based transit, they are becoming newcomers as a service that makes it easier for people to carry out travel mobility, such as online motorcycle taxis. This study aims to determine the mode selection model between city transportation and online motorcycle in Serang City. The research approach is quantitative, with primary data sources obtained from distributing closed questionnaires to 43 city transportation travelers and 57 respondents to online motorcycle drivers. The data analysis used is the difference binomial logit model to determine the probability model of the traveler in choosing the mode. The results of modeling the choice of the way with the difference in binomial logit results in city transportation having the opportunity/probability of being chosen by travelers in Serang City at 45.64% while the probability/chance of selecting an online motorcycle is 54.36%.

Impacts of distinct travel behaviors on potential air pollution exposure measurement error

Prior studies typically estimate air pollution exposure at places of residence only; however, people are likely to conduct daily activities at out-of-home locations. Overlooking human mobility in exposure estimation can introduce measurement error in health analyses and may lead to ineffective public policies. We simulated travel mobility patterns for 100,784 residents of Los Angeles County and their exposure to outdoor PM2.5 on a typical weekday. We used K-means clustering via principal components analysis (PCA) to subdivide subjects into seven travel behavior clusters and compared their mobility-based dynamic PM2.5 exposures to their residence-based static exposure using our previously developed spatiotemporal model. Travel behavior correlated with exposure to outdoor PM2.5 and with the degree of PM2.5 exposure measurement error. Workers with long commuting distance (and highest income) had the lowest dynamic PM2.5 exposure (8.1 μg/m3), while workers who relied on public transit (and were generally lower income) had the highest exposure (8.8 μg/m3). In general, lower income individuals lived in more polluted neighborhoods and took longer duration (but shorter distance) commutes to work locations with similarly elevated PM2.5 concentrations, while higher income individuals took longer distance commutes (similar duration) from less polluted residential to more polluted occupational neighborhoods. “Worker” and frequent traveler clusters with highest mobility had the highest exposure measurement error, and the non-worker “stay-at-home” cluster and student clusters had the lowest. The extent of exposure measurement error generally correlated with pollution levels at the residential location and distance (less so duration) of travel away from the residential neighborhood. Our results contribute to the literature on effects of travel behavior on exposure measurement error. The generated activity clusters combined with sociodemographic information provide additional information for researchers to understand which groups of people may be more challenging to model or predict their exposures accurately.

The Classification of Application Users Supporting and Facilitating Travel Mobility Using Two-Step Cluster Analysis

There is a significant and supported trend toward the achievement of ensuring continuous door-to-door travel in the pan-European transport network. Many innovative programs are dedicated to this topic through assigned projects. This paper is based on the concrete partial results of the H2020 project Shift2Rail IP4 to support the deployment of mobility as a service (IP4MaaS). Attitudes towards travel for demonstration sites were assessed based on the outputs of a sample of respondents from two countries. Cooperation in working on the IP4MaaS project was also provided by a partner from Slovakia (UNIZA) and the Czech Republic (OLTIS). Mathematical statistical tools were used to evaluate the available data to find a connection with promoting mobility as a service. This paper aims to identify differences in travelers’ needs with a focus on using applications using two-step cluster analysis. The research resulted in the identification of differences in traffic behavior within MaaS activities when comparing different clusters reflecting preferences for using a website or mobile application.

The Classification of Application Users Supporting and Facilitating Travel Mobility Using Two-Step Cluster Analysis

The Classification of Application Users Supporting and Facilitating Travel Mobility Using Two-Step Cluster Analysis

An investigation into the impact of the built environment on the travel mobility gap using mobile phone data

The travel mobility gap is among the indicators that can be used to evaluate the level of social and transport inequity. To achieve a large and representative sample for this investigation of the different impacts of the built environment on travel mobility of various income and migrant groups, we have utilized big data from mobile phones for over 10 million users in Shenzhen, China. Travel mobility was measured by non-commute travel frequency and activity space. Our descriptive analysis demonstrates lower-income groups and migrant workers have lower levels of travel mobility than higher-income groups and non-migrant workers. The results produced by our linear regression models also reveal a significant travel mobility gap between different income and migration groups. That gap appears to be positively impacted by job density and bus stop distance and negatively impacted by residential density and metro station distance. Our modeling results also demonstrate that the travel mobility gap is larger in the outer suburbs than in the city center and inner suburbs. Our research findings reveal that the built environment influences the travel mobility gap, which implies that marginalized groups experience some degree of social inequality and exclusion. Based on these findings, we provide policy recommendations that aim to reduce the travel mobility gap between the marginalized and reference groups.

The Constitution of Dubai’s Mobile-App-Mediated Spatiotemporal Glocalization: Postphenomenology and Postdigitality in Dialogue

The present study proposes the notion-complex of “spatiotemporal glocalization” as a potentially postdigital phenomenon inhering in the touristscape representations mediated by mobile apps, with an analytic focus on the Dubai Travel mobile app. An integrative tripartite approach has been adopted with three theoretical models at work: (1) Don Ihde’s postphenomenological perspective as reconcilable with Roudometof’s model of refracted glocalities; (2) Vásquez and Cooren’s theoretical model of Communicative Constitution of Organizing (CCO); and (3) Jürgen Habermas’s pragmatic model of speech acts. Three findings have resulted from the approach-informed analysis. First, there existed various postdigital refracted touristic glocalities about Dubai with globally flowing cultural landscapes: ethnoscapes, mediascapes, financescapes, ideoscapes, and technoscapes. Second, it was demonstrated that the app-mediated glocalities have been organized through three spacing practices: (1) presentifying the materiality of glocalized hybrid interactions of techno-human actors, (2) ordering the glocal scripted trajectories of Dubai touristscape by creating more space and time across a 5-day regular framework of intervals, and (3) accounting as associated with the glocal narrative of Dubai touristscape through specifying its scripted trajectory at traditional and modern levels. Third, speech act theory has been instrumental in defining the “discourse worlds” in which human–nonhuman interactions communicatively unfolded, namely, mobile-interface technological actors and app users.

Camel livestock in the Algerian Sahara under the context of climate change: Milk properties and livestock production practices

Camel livestock is an ancestral activity in Algeria; however, climate change has forced camel herders to modify their breeding practices to make them more sustainable. This study summarized livestock production practices, milk qualities, and the potential of camel livestock to preserve production ability under global warming. To collect data related to livestock farming practices, 10 camel herders were interviewed using a formal questionnaire. Then, 15 milk samples (9 samples of raw milk and 6 samples that had undergone heat treatment) were collected in the region of Oued Souf in southeastern Algeria to carry out the physicochemical and bacteriological analysis. From 1990 to 2021, results showed severe drought accompanied by a significant increase in the annual average maximum temperature with a temporal slope of 0.04 °C year−1 and a significant decline in annual precipitation with a temporal slope of −0.07 mm year−1. A socio-demographic survey revealed a low educational level for camel herders. They owned small herd of camels (6.84 ± 8.66 camels) in the transhumant and extensive system or > 150 heads in the nomadic and extensive system. The average daily milk production in the nomadic system was very low (<3 L/day); it was less important compared to that in the transhumant system (4–5 L/day), with an acceptable physicochemical quality but poor bacteriological quality. Given the susceptibility of the research area, we recorded that camel livestock and travel mobility were used as adaptation strategies to the effects of climate change. On the one hand, camel breed conservation programs can enhance biodiversity and a sustainable ecosystem. On the other side, a genetic improvement program that might boost productivity and profitability might be advantageous. Smallholders may benefit from this by receiving a fair and secure income and good working conditions, which could contribute significantly to social equity and local economies.

ANALISIS KEBUTUHAN BACKPACKER TERHADAP MOBILE APPLICATION EFEKTIF DAN EFISIEN

Labuan Bajo as a super priority, world class and super premium destination, has tourism differentiation compared to other tourist destinations, so that it attracts foreign tourists to visit. However, for backpacker tourists, seeking integrated information related to traveling to Labuan Bajo is one of the obstacles in the pre-trip process. Backpackers have to compare the cheapest prices from one application to another, so they experience difficulties in organizing trips manually. This resulted in the pre-trip process being inefficient and ineffective. Based on this description, this study aims to identify the need for backpacker travel guides to facilitate the pre-trip process effectively and efficiently. The research was conducted using a qualitative approach through distributing questionnaires, in-depth interviews, comparative studies, and literature studies. The results of filling out the questionnaire by the respondents were then analyzed using a quantitative approach. The results of the analysis state that Indonesia has many popular travel applications, but none yet accommodate backpacker problems, so a special backpacker travel application is needed to make the travel process efficient and effective.Keywords: mobile travel application, backpacker, Labuan Bajo, organise effective and efficient travel

The Elderly Acceptance of Autonomous Vehicle Services in Beijing, China

China's population has been ageing fast at an accelerated pace since the 21st century, while the mobility and convenience of travel for the elderly were weakened by the limited transportation options. Autonomous vehicles, an emerging mode of transport, provide flexibility for the elderly, provided that the rapid and widespread this new mode of transportation can be accepted by the elderly population. This paper plans to gain insights from the attitudes of the Beijing elderly using autonomous vehicles, perceiving the importance of different types of services. The stated preference survey was conducted over 376 respondents from various generations, which examined their perception of autonomous vehicles after their retirement. An ordered logistics model used in this paper shows that people who use emerging transportation modes (e.g., car-sharing and ride-hailing) are more likely to use autonomous vehicle services. Accessing shopping activities and medical care is the two crucial purposes for the elderly autonomous vehicle users. Additionally, the clustering and correlation analysis indicate that people with a higher willingness to use autonomous vehicles are the earliest target users of these services. However, living with children and running errands in short distances by bicycle and walk, the elderly in the early generation hardly adopts autonomous vehicle services after their retirement.

Branding in Tourism by using Digital Marketing

By the beginning of the 20th century, in the worldwide economy and culture, Tourism Sector was established as a fundamental, sustainable development branch, which occupied a special place in the global economic structure. Along with the development of the tourism market, great importance is attached to the branding of both the destination and the tourism company. In the modern market, it has become clear that only a company that creates a really strong brand, can ensure a successful existence. In the modern world, the development of social media has led to a boom in tourism. In the article, the authors emphasize the necessity of using digital marketing strategies, because, today the countries of the world are involved in marketing wars, and the way of success of modern tourism also indicates the necessity of using digital marketing strategies. Effective digital marketing develops Tourism sector. One of the new trends in the tourism sector is brand building through digital marketing. The article is an overview of brand building using digital marketing; on particular: it is about the creation of modern websites and the focus is on the use of digital marketing tools such as: AR and VR (Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality) technologies; One of the most budget tools - e-mail marketing development; mobile travel applications; Blogging and more. The article is based on the study, where the challenges and prospects of using digital marketing in the Georgian tourism industry are examined based on a comparative analysis. Keywords: branding; digital tourism; digital marketing.

Branding in Tourism by using Digital Marketing

By the beginning of the 20th century, in the worldwide economy and culture, Tourism Sector was established as a fundamental, sustainable development branch, which occupied a special place in the global economic structure. Along with the development of the tourism market, great importance is attached to the branding of both the destination and the tourism company. In the modern market, it has become clear that only a company that creates a really strong brand, can ensure a successful existence. In the modern world, the development of social media has led to a boom in tourism. In the article, the authors emphasize the necessity of using digital marketing strategies, because, today the countries of the world are involved in marketing wars, and the way of success of modern tourism also indicates the necessity of using digital marketing strategies. Effective digital marketing develops Tourism sector. One of the new trends in the tourism sector is brand building through digital marketing. The article is an overview of brand building using digital marketing; on particular: it is about the creation of modern websites and the focus is on the use of digital marketing tools such as: AR and VR (Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality) technologies; One of the most budget tools - e-mail marketing development; mobile travel applications; Blogging and more. The article is based on the study, where the challenges and prospects of using digital marketing in the Georgian tourism industry are examined based on a comparative analysis. Keywords: branding; digital tourism; digital marketing.

Branding in Tourism by using Digital Marketing

By the beginning of the 20th century, in the worldwide economy and culture, Tourism Sector was established as a fundamental, sustainable development branch, which occupied a special place in the global economic structure. Along with the development of the tourism market, great importance is attached to the branding of both the destination and the tourism company. In the modern market, it has become clear that only a company that creates a really strong brand, can ensure a successful existence. In the modern world, the development of social media has led to a boom in tourism. In the article, the authors emphasize the necessity of using digital marketing strategies, because, today the countries of the world are involved in marketing wars, and the way of success of modern tourism also indicates the necessity of using digital marketing strategies. Effective digital marketing develops Tourism sector. One of the new trends in the tourism sector is brand building through digital marketing. The article is an overview of brand building using digital marketing; on particular: it is about the creation of modern websites and the focus is on the use of digital marketing tools such as: AR and VR (Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality) technologies; One of the most budget tools - e-mail marketing development; mobile travel applications; Blogging and more. The article is based on the study, where the challenges and prospects of using digital marketing in the Georgian tourism industry are examined based on a comparative analysis. Keywords: branding; digital tourism; digital marketing.