Young Travellers Research Articles

THE VISITORS’ PERCEPTIONS OF ORGANIZING STREET DANCE COMPETITION IN PROMOTING DOMESTIC TOURISM

This article discusses the outcome of a research on tourism promotion through events where the survey was conducted at Borneo Street Dance (BSD) 2012 in Sabah, one of states inMalaysia, and it was organised by the Ministry of Tourism Malaysia. The event was held to promote domestic tourism and to attract youth participation in performing art where they could showcase their talents and creativity. The findings of this research suggested that event such as BSD was able to attract interest and participation among youth from all over the state and this contributed to the promotion of domestic tourism. The event is also able to attract youth’s interest to fill their free time with beneficial and favorable activities while exposing them toethnic diversity in the highly diverse culture of namely Sabah, Sarawak and the Federal Territory of Labuan. This is where the event could foster tolerance and understanding on the diverse ethnic among the youth in Sabah, Sarawak and Labuan and thought to be beneficial to domestic tourism. The research concluded that the event such as BSD should be made to be an annual event to enhance the promotion of domestic tourism industry in Sabah, Sarawak and Labuan among young travellers and Visiting Friend and Relative (VFR) that tied with the event and eventually enhancing the sustainability of the tourism industry in Malaysian Borneo.

Advice for Families Traveling to Developing Countries With Young Children

Young children are most likely to travel to developing countries with their parents to visit relatives. Preparation for such travel must include careful counseling and optimal use of preventive vaccines and chemoprophylaxis. For infants and very young children, data defining safety and efficacy of these agents are often limited. However, accumulated experience suggests that young travelers may be managed similarly to older children and adults.

Review: French Encounters with the American Counterculture, 1960–1980 by Caroline Maniaque-Benton

Caroline Maniaque-Benton French Encounters with the American Counterculture, 1960–1980 Farnham, UK: Ashgate, 2011, 244 pp., 51 color and 58 b/w illus. $99.95, ISBN 9781409423867 This handsome book investigates an intriguing and novel topic: the French attraction to American “alternative architecture,” which was prompted by the counterculture of the 1960s and 1970s and which is being revisited by historians as a harbinger of today’s sustainability movement. The book’s protagonists were young Frenchmen, mostly recent graduates of the Paris Ecole des Beaux-Arts and architecture students, who discovered America’s alternative architecture through publications and road trips in the western United States, including visits to iconic settlements such as Drop City (pictured on the cover of the book). These young travelers became prominent educators (Pierre Joly and Marc Vaye), practitioners (Francois Lombard and Jean-Louis Veret), writers (Patrice Goulet), and publishers (Jean-Paul Jungman and the founders of the Editions Parentheses). Maniaque-Benton interviewed them around 2000 and pored over their personal archives and book collections. Extensive quotes from these interviews, as well as reproductions of travel photographs and book covers, bring substance and vivacity to her account. Readers will notice that the book’s cast of characters includes no women, with the exception of a cameo appearance by Agnes Varda. In 1967, the movie director shot a twenty-two-minute film, Uncle Yanco , in the Sausalito houseboat community, “a place of pilgrimage for European architects who were attracted to these strange and wonderful constructions” (27). One is left to wonder whether male bonding, as experienced by several protagonists in tandem or as a trio of travelers, was integral to this rite of passage through a distant and exotic culture. Chapter 1, “Framing the Debates around Technology,” accounts for the rich and complex historical context behind this initiation into American counterculture, which took place at a time when France’s “aversion to American imperialism” (3) was extreme and when architectural training in Paris became pluralistic, as the previously centralized Ecole des Beaux-Arts atelier system …

Febrile Illness in a Young Traveler: Dengue Fever and its Complications

BackgroundDengue fever, a tropical disease once confined mostly to endemic areas in developing countries, is becoming more prevalent. Globalization has led to an increased incidence of the virus both in foreign travelers returning home and local outbreaks in traditionally nonendemic areas, such as the southern United States and southern Europe. Advances in diagnostic tests, therapies, and vaccines for dengue virus have been limited, but research is ongoing. ObjectivesTo review the current literature regarding the diagnosis and management of dengue fever. Case ReportThis case report describes a young woman returning from Central America with many of the common signs and symptoms who was misdiagnosed both abroad and at home. We explore the epidemiology, disease course, complications, and treatment of dengue fever. ConclusionEmergency physicians should consider dengue fever in patients with acute febrile illnesses, especially among those with recent travel.

The Social Identities of Japanese Backpackers

This research adopted a qualitative approach with data collected through in-depth interviews, informal conversations, and participant observation to identify the social identities of Japanese young travelers in relation to their group dynamic. The findings indicate that the diversity of out-group interactions with travelers from different countries enhances cross-cultural understanding and language learning, while in-group interactions with other Japanese offer a pseudohome while traveling. The issue of identity ambivalence is important as the spheres of familiarity and diversity in travel group interactions are dynamic and complementary. The current research furthers our understanding of the interrelation between culture, communication, and the action of travel among independent travelers.

First report of furuncular myiasis caused by the larva of botfly, Dermatobia hominis, in a Taiwanese traveler

A case of furuncular myiasis was reported for the first time in a 29-year-old young Taiwanese traveler returning from an ecotourism in Peru. Furuncle–like lesions were observed on the top of his head and he complained of crawling sensations within his scalp. The invasive larva of botfly, Dermatobia hominis, was extruded from the furuncular lesion of the patient. Awareness of cutaneous myiasis for clinicians should be considered for a patient who has a furuncular lesion and has recently returned from a botfly–endemic area.

Malaria Diagnosed by Autopsy in a Young Traveler Returning From Uganda: Limitations of Surveillance

Fatal infectious disease acquired during international travel is less likely to be captured through existing surveillance when diagnosis is delayed or missed, especially as autopsy rates decline. Death of a young girl owing to malaria demonstrates needs for increased examination of travel-related deaths through postmortem investigation, autopsy, and expanded surveillance.

Learning and digital inclusion: the ELAMP project

The Electronic Learning and Mobility Project (ELAMP) was a nationally funded project by the Department for Children, Schools and Families, which ran from 2004 to 2010. The main aim of ELAMP was to improve the education of Traveller children, particularly highly mobile learners. ELAMP focussed upon the use of mobile technology and distance learning to support, enhance and extend young Travellers’ educational and vocational opportunities. This article will reflect upon the learning and technological experiences and opportunities that the ELAMP project provided for Traveller children, young people and their families. In doing so it will critically consider the value of information technology in working with Traveller communities and advancing their educational opportunities. Reviewing ELAMP work will also demonstrate how the use of mobile technology can improve educational outcomes and Traveller families’ digital inclusion. Now that the project has ended, this article will question why we are not using what we learnt from ELAMP to move forward. The author was a tutor on the project who also evaluated the Strand B, Wider Key Skills element of ELAMP for The University of Sheffield between 2008 and 2010, which is the main focus of this particular article.Keywords: ELAMP; education: digital inclusion; information technology; young Travellers and their families(Published: 19 December 2012)Citation: Research in Learning Technology 2012, 20: 18603 - http://dx.doi.org/10.3402/rlt.v20i0.18603

The English prize: the capture of the Westmorland, an episode of the grand tour

Laden with works of art acquired by young British travelers on the Grand Tour in Italy, the British merchant ship Westmorland sailed from the Italian port of Livorno before being captured by French naval vessels and escorted to Malaga in southern Spain. The artistic treasures on board were purchased by King Carlos III of Spain, and the majority were deposited in the collections of the Real Academia de Bellas Artes de San Fernando. There they resided, unknown, until recent research, using original inventories that survive in the Academia's archives, identified the Westmorland's rich cargo. The English Prize reveals the gripping story of the ship's capture and the disposition of its artistic contents, which included Raphael Mengs's Perseus and Andromeda, Pompeo Batoni's portraits of Frances Bassett and Lord Lewisham, and watercolors by John Robert Cozens. This volume illuminates the cultural phenomenon of the Grand Tour and the young travelers who acquired the trove of books and art works on board the Westmorland but were never able to enjoy their purchases.

Men Shape a Downward Trend in Car Use among Young Adults—Evidence from Six Industrialized Countries

This paper investigates trends in the travel behaviour of young adults in Germany, France, Great Britain, Japan, Norway, and the USA over the past few decades with a focus on car availability and car travel. The trend analysis relies on micro-data from over 20 National Travel Surveys from the study countries dating back to the mid-1970s. The analysis of the survey data is supplemented by official statistics on licence holding. On this basis, this paper compiles a body of evidence for changes in mobility patterns among young adults in industrialized countries over the past few decades. The findings indicate that since the turn of the millennium, access to cars, measured in terms of drivers' licences and household car ownership, has decreased in most study countries—especially for men. Moreover, average daily car travel distance has decreased in most study countries, again especially for men. In France, Japan, and most significantly in the USA, the decrease in car travel has led to a reduction in total everyday travel by young travellers. In Great Britain, the decline in car travel was partly, and in Germany fully, compensated by an increased use of alternative modes of transport.

“Young faces in old places”: perceptions of young cultural visitors for the archaeological site of Delphi

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to identify young cultural visitors’ perceptions towards culture and cultural heritage destinations.Design/methodology/approachThis study, based on a survey conducted in the archaeological site of Delphi in Greece, examines young cultural visitors’ perceptions by identifying their perceived importance for a series of destination attributes.FindingsFindings reveal the important characteristics of cultural heritage sites for young travelers. Emphasis needs to be given on the following four influential factors of a cultural heritage site: organization and facilities, learning and experience, operation and accessibility, and place and promotion.Research limitations/implicationsTourism authorities ought to focus upon young people and understand their needs in order to attract them to cultural destinations providing positive experience/s. This study is a unique attempt to analyze the perceptions of young people in cultural destinations and is limited to only one cultural heritage site, Delphi. Further, research in other sites examining younger ages and their differences would provide significant information about this unexplored market in cultural sites.Originality/valueThis paper examines that misconception about culture concerning only older age‐groups needs a new way of thinking that takes into consideration young visitors as important cultural visitors. By ignoring their importance, opportunities to maximize value from the sites as well as to operate them in a more sustainable manner are lost. Knowing exactly the perceptions of young people for culture gives insights into their present and future behavior in cultural heritage destinations.

Education Tourism - Linking Pleasure Travel with Tertiary Education in the Youth Market

This paper explores opportunities for regional universities to develop specific short courses that young travellers could undertake as part of a holiday experience. The Cairns campus of James Cook University was chosen as a representative of a regional university since the campus is located in a destination that attracts a large number of international and domestic youth travellers. Research objectives include investigating the potential demand for diverse short courses; to identify which factors influence respondents' decisions to undertake further studies and to evaluate factors that may encourage or discourage respondents from studying in Cairns. Results indicate that 35% of respondents would possibly consider undertaking a short course in Cairns in the future with a preference for shorter courses for either academic credit or personal interest.

Perspectives on alcohol use in a Traveller community: an exploratory case study

PurposeTravellers are consistently found to have poorer health outcomes and health status than other minority ethnic groups. Very few studies have examined alcohol use among Travellers, but some indicate that their drinking patterns are changing. This study aims to explore alcohol use, health needs and health service access within an Irish Traveller population in England with a view to identifying themes for further study.Design/methodology/approachA qualitative exploratory pilot study was carried out using an oral life history approach. Ten individuals were interviewed along with two professionals working closely with the Traveller group.FindingsWhile improvements in general health and access to healthcare were widely reported, many Travellers were concerned about the effects of leaving behind their nomadic lifestyle to living more “settled” lives. This change was felt to bring young male Travellers, in particular, into contact with the risky drinking behaviours of non‐Travellers and away from the monitoring and informal controls traditionally accompanying their former nomadic lifestyle.Research limitations/implicationsThese findings may not generalise to other Traveller groups; they draw on a small sample of Travellers living in “settled” accommodation. The sample was limited to discussions with older Travellers and further research is needed among younger generations to explore how health related behaviours and alcohol use may be changing.Originality/valueThis study highlights potential pathways for young male Travellers to become “youth at risk” importantly through involvement in alcohol and drug use. It should be of value to health policy makers and health/support workers in contact with Traveller communities.

The relationship between travel constraints and destination image: A case study of Brunei

This study evaluated the relationship between travel constraints and destination image of young travelers to Brunei. This study found a significant relationship between destination image and travel constraints during the early decision-making process. This study concluded travel constraints impact on the formation of destination image during the early decision-making process. Study results contribute to the body of knowledge in two areas. First, four dimensions of travel constraints and three dimensions of perceived destination image were identified. In addition to the 3-dimension hierarchal constraints (structural, intrapersonal, and interpersonal), a new constraint dimension (unfamiliar cultural constraints) was revealed. Second, this study confirmed the relationship between travel constraints and destination image. Relatively few studies address the role of travel constraints to the formation of destination image. This is the first study providing empirical evidence demonstrating Brunei’s destination image and travel constraints impact young travelers during the early decision-making process.

Health Challenges of Young Travelers Visiting Friends and Relatives Compared With Those Traveling for Other Purposes

The study objective was to assess differences in demographics and travel health challenges between youths ≤18 years old traveling internationally to visit friends and relatives (VFRs) compared with those traveling for other purposes (non-VFR). The Boston Area Travel Medicine Network consists of 5 clinics collecting anonymous data from international pretravel consultations. Data on all travelers ≤18 years of age seen between January 2008 and July 2010 were used. VFRs were compared with non-VFRs on demographics, primary language, trip characteristics, travel vaccinations administered, malaria prophylaxis and antidiarrheal medications prescribed. Thirty-five percent (610/1731) listed VFR as their purpose of travel. Almost half of VFRs were <5 (46%) years old compared with <5% of non-VFRs. Thirty percent of US-born VFRs with foreign-born parents were ≤2 years compared with 4% of foreign-born VFR children and 3% of US-born VFRs with US-born parents. More VFRs than non-VFRs planned travel to countries that were yellow fever holoendemic, had malaria risk and were high-risk for typhoid (44% versus 20%, 39% versus 12%, 25% versus 15%, P < 0.01). VFRs were less likely than non-VFRs to be prescribed atovaquone-proguanil (adjusted prevalence ratio = 0.57, confidence interval = 0.44-0.72) and to have had an antidiarrheal medication prescribed (adjusted prevalence ratio = 0.68, confidence interval = 0.60-0.75). To reduce travel-related morbidity, healthcare providers should be prepared to give travel advice to parents of VFR infants and children, particularly those US-born VFRs with foreign-born parents, regarding antimalarial and antidiarrheal medications and preventing yellow fever, malaria and typhoid.

Shigella flexneriBacteremia in Two Immune‐Competent Adult Travelers

Shigella bacteremias are uncommon in immune-competent adults. We report two cases of Shigella flexneri bacteremia that occurred in healthy young travelers, who recovered. Self-medication with loperamide and ibuprofen without antibiotics (case 1) and concomitant falciparum malaria (case 2) were the only co-morbidities found in our two patients.

Spectrum of Imported Infectious Diseases Among Children and Adolescents Returning From the Tropics and Subtropics

About 50 million people travel each year from industrialized countries to destinations in the tropics and subtropics. Among them, there are more than 2 million minors traveling. Although their number is increasing constantly, data on health risks during travel are limited. This study analyzed demographic, travel, and clinical data of 890 travelers of age <20 years presenting at the outpatient travel clinic of the University of Munich between 1999 and 2009 after returning from the tropics and subtropics. Most (87%) of these young travelers were born in Germany. Among them, the main travel destination was Africa (46%), followed by Asia (35%) and Latin America (19%). The most frequent syndrome groups were acute diarrhea (25%, especially in age 0-4 y), dermatologic disorders (21%, especially in age 0-9 y), febrile/systemic diseases (20%), respiratory disorders (8%), chronic diarrhea (5%), and genitourinary disorders (3%). The 10 most frequent diagnosed infectious diseases were giardiasis (8%), schistosomiasis (4%), superinfected insect bites (4%), Campylobacter enteritis (4%), Salmonella enteritis (4%), cutaneous larva migrans (3%), amebiasis (3%), dengue fever (2%), mononucleosis (2%), and malaria (2%). The relative risk (RR) for acquiring any infectious disease during travel was highest in Central, West, and East Africa, followed by South America, South Asia, and Southeast Asia. Age of young travelers and destination of travel were the most important variables being strongly correlated with the risk for acquiring infectious diseases in the tropics and subtropics. The highest risk was carried by very young travelers and those staying in sub-Saharan Africa (except Southern Africa).

Laboratory diagnosis, molecular characteristics, epidemiological and clinical features of an outbreak of measles in a low incidence population in Australia

BackgroundPrompt and accurate laboratory diagnosis of measles is essential for case detection, outbreak management and ongoing surveillance in low incidence countries. Several disease markers are employed for diagnosis and are important to determine epidemiological and molecular characteristics for future control measures. ObjectivesTo report different disease markers, genotypes and epidemiology of a measles outbreak in Australia, a low incidence country. Study designA retrospective descriptive study of the clinical and epidemiological features and laboratory diagnosis in 16 confirmed measles cases using measles serum IgM/IgG, antigen detection (IFA), viral RNA detection by real-time PCR and genotyping results for respiratory and urine specimens processed in one reference laboratory. ResultsOf the 16 confirmed measles cases, 11 were young adults aged between 20–35 years and 15 were not age-appropriately vaccinated. The most common genotype detected was D9 (11/16), followed by D4 (1/16) and D8 (1/16). Two imported cases were from the Philippines (D4) and Italy (D9). Of six disease markers, respiratory swab PCR and serum IgM gave the highest percentage (100%) of positive samples for confirmed cases followed by urine PCR (90.9%), serum PCR (66.6%), urine IFA (54.5%) and respiratory IFA (46.2%). ConclusionsMeasles should be considered in the differential diagnosis of a presentation with fever and rash, even in countries in the elimination phase of measles control. Genotyping is a powerful molecular-epidemiological tool to assist low incidence countries towards eradication goals. Improving vaccination coverage remains essential, particularly in young adults and travellers.

A Case of Japanese Encephalitis Virus Infection Acquired During a Trip in Thailand: Table 1

A case of Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) infection is reported in a young traveler returning from Thailand. Clinical suspicion of JEV in travelers returning from endemic areas with neurologic symptoms is warranted. Confirmation of the diagnosis is complex and requires specialized laboratory services. Individualized advice on the costs and benefits of vaccination is recommended.

Motivational brief intervention for the prevention of sexually transmitted infections in travelers: a randomized controlled trial

BackgroundSexually transmitted infections (STIs) are among the frequent risks encountered by travelers. Efficient interventions are needed to improve the understanding of the risks of STIs. We investigated the potential benefits of a motivational brief intervention (BI) and the provision of condoms on the engagement in unprotected casual sex.Methods3-arm randomized controlled trial performed among single travelers aged 18-44 years visiting a travel clinic in Switzerland. The main outcomes were the prevalence of casual unprotected sexual intercourse and their predictors.Results5148 eligible travelers were seen from 2006 to 2008. 1681 agreed to participate and 1115 subjects (66%) completed the study. 184/1115 (17%) had a casual sexual relationship abroad and overall 46/1115 (4.1%) had inconsistently protected sexual relations. Women (adjusted OR 2.7 [95%CI 1.4-5.6]) and travelers with a history of past STI (adjusted OR 2.8 [95%CI 1.1-7.4]) had more frequent casual sexual relationships without consistent protection. Regarding the effect of our intervention, the prevalence of subjects using condoms inconsistently was 28% (95%CI16-40) in the motivational BI group, 24% (95%CI10-37) in the condoms group and 24% (95%CI14-33) in the control group (p = 0.7).ConclusionThis study showed that a motivational brief intervention and/or the provision of free condoms did not modify risky sexual behavior of young travelers. The rate of inconsistently protected sexual relationships during travel was however lower than expectedTrial Registration NumberClinicalTrials.gov: NCT01056536