Introducing Web GIS to a Remote Island: Long Caye, Lighthouse Reef, Belize

This project focuses on the flexibility of web GIS’ integration at a small scale. The study area of this project was on Belize’s tropical island, Long Caye. Its private owners sought to share its features to adventurous tourists and potential land investors. The effectiveness of its low-quality geographic information delivery and lack of a centralized source for property data were problematic for management to reach higher efficiency levels. The web applications created in this project serve the purpose of public education and land administration by transforming traditional descriptions of the island features onto an interactive interface. The two final deliverables were scalable applications with a target audience being either the general public or the island owners. The results paved the way for further exposure of the island to GIS to enhance the system behind maintaining Long Caye’s treasures

Travelers’ responses to online information on consumer-generated media for travel-related services

This research is aimed to investigate how travel consumers respond to online information posted in Consumer-Generated Media. It was examined the impact of consumer characteristics (risk propensity and Internet experience), information characteristics (information valence and information quality), and source characteristics (source identity and similarity) on consumer perception of information credibility, trust in the travel services being discussed, and intention to purchase the services. Hypotheses and research questions were proposed based on the concept of uncertainty reduction and information processing. A 3x2 between-subject experimental research design was developed. Information valence and source identity were manipulated. The survey was conducted at several popular tourist destinations in Bali involving 1939 real travel consumers holidaying in Bali as participants.Results show significant effects of risk propensity, information quality, and similarity on perception of information credibility, trust in travel services being reviewed, and intentions to purchase the services. Internet experience was found not significant in affecting credibility, trust, and purchase intention. The study also confirmed the main and interaction effects of information valence and source identity on perception of information credibility, trust in travel services being reviewed, and intentions to purchase the services. Information with identified source was perceived to be more credible and leads to greater trust and consumer purchase intention than unidentified information. Balanced information was found to have greatest impact on credibility, trust, and intention. Positive information was suggested to have the least impact on credibility, as well as negative information on trust and purchase intention. The interaction of balanced information with identified source was found to have the greatest influence on credibility, trust, and intention, while negative information with unidentified source was found to have the least effect. Several conceptual, methodological, and research contributions offered by this study are also discussed

Evaluation of natural and anthropogenic potеntial of Srem in the function of ecotourism sustainable development

Становиште да је човек одвојен од свеукупног екосистема планете Земље и да су његове потребе примарне у односу на остала жива бића, довело је до угрожавања основних ресурса (вода, ваздух, земљиште), али и неповратног губитка појединих врста флоре и фауне. Због тога одрживи, односно уравнотежени развој треба да буде принцип на коме се заснива развој свих делатности, укључујући и туризам. Очуваних делова природе је све мање, те се повећава потреба за путовањима у пределе у којима је сачуван изворни изглед пејзажа. Екотуризам се управо јавља као спона између потребе за заштитом природе и њеног свесног коришћења. У докторској дисертацији анализирано је административно подручје Срема, које је подељено на седам општина. Спроведена је евалуација природних и антропогених потенцијала простора за развој одрживог екотуризма. Поред класичне туристичке валоризације у истраживању је коришћена и анализа погодности, заснована на примени географског информационог система и аналитичког хијерархијског процеса, а са циљем издвајања локација погодних за развој одрживог екотуризма. Вредновање је извршено на основу пет група критеријума (топографија, остале природне особености, заштита природних ресурса, приступачност, карактеристике заједнице), у оквиру којих је дефинисано 11 поткритеријума. Тежинским преклапањем добијена је синтезна карта на којој су приказане четири категорије погодности: најпогодније, погодно, маргинално погодно и непогодно. Резултати су показали да се погодни простори за развој одрживог екотуризма налазе у оквиру заштићених природних подручја и у њиховим заштитним зонама. Са друге стране, у појединим општинама се погодне локације налазе и изван поменутих зона, у просторима у којима је природа очувана и у којима се налазе атрактивни природни и културни ресурси. На основу добијених резултата предложени су потенцијални туристички производи округа и припадајућих општина. Такође, указано је на постојеће развојне изазове и могућности за њихово превазилажење.The attitude that humans are separated from the overall ecosystem of the planet Earth and that their needs are primary compared to other living beings has led to the endangerment of basic resources (water, air, and soil), but also the irreversible loss of certain species of flora and fauna. Therefore, sustainable, i.e. balanced development should be the principle on which the development of all activities, including tourism, is based. There are fewer and fewer preserved parts of nature, and the need for travels to areas where the authentic landscape has been conserved is increasing. Sustainable ecotourism appears as a link between the need to protect nature and its conscious use. The doctoral dissertation analyzed the administrative area of Srem, which is divided into seven municipalities. An evaluation of the natural and anthropogenic potentials of the area for the development of sustainable ecotourism was carried out. In addition to the classic tourist valorization, the research also used land suitability analysis, based on the application of a geographic information system and analytical hierarchical process, intending to identify locations suitable for the development of sustainable ecotourism. The assessment was carried out based on five groups of criteria (topography, other natural features, protection of natural resources, accessibility, and community characteristics), within which 11 sub-criteria were defined. As a result of weighted overlay analysis, a synthesis map was obtained showing four suitability categories: most suitable, suitable, marginally suitable, and unsuitable. The results showed that suitable areas for the development of sustainable ecotourism are located within protected natural areas and in their protective zones. On the other hand, in some municipalities, suitable locations are also found outside the mentioned zones, in areas where nature is still preserved and where there are attractive natural and cultural resources. According to the obtained results, potential tourism products of the district and associated municipalities were proposed. Furthermore, the existing development challenges and opportunities for overcoming them were highlighted

Evaluation of natural and anthropogenic potеntial of Srem in the function of ecotourism sustainable development

Становиште да је човек одвојен од свеукупног екосистема планете Земље и да су његовепотребе примарне у односу на остала жива бића, довело је до угрожавања основних ресурса(вода, ваздух, земљиште), али и неповратног губитка појединих врста флоре и фауне. Због тогаодрживи, односно уравнотежени развој треба да буде принцип на коме се заснива развој свихделатности, укључујући и туризам. Очуваних делова природе је све мање, те се повећавапотреба за путовањима у пределе у којима је сачуван изворни изглед пејзажа. Екотуризам сеуправо јавља као спона између потребе за заштитом природе и њеног свесног коришћења.У докторској дисертацији анализирано је административно подручје Срема, које јеподељено на седам општина. Спроведена је евалуација природних и антропогенихпотенцијала простора за развој одрживог екотуризма. Поред класичне туристичкевалоризације у истраживању је коришћена и анализа погодности, заснована на применигеографског информационог система и аналитичког хијерархијског процеса, а са циљемиздвајања локација погодних за развој одрживог екотуризма. Вредновање је извршено наоснову пет група критеријума (топографија, остале природне особености, заштитаприродних ресурса, приступачност, карактеристике заједнице), у оквиру којих је дефинисано11 поткритеријума. Тежинским преклапањем добијена је синтезна карта на којој су приказанечетири категорије погодности: најпогодније, погодно, маргинално погодно и непогодно.Резултати су показали да се погодни простори за развој одрживог екотуризма налазе уоквиру заштићених природних подручја и у њиховим заштитним зонама. Са друге стране, упојединим општинама се погодне локације налазе и изван поменутих зона, у просторима укојима је природа очувана и у којима се налазе атрактивни природни и културни ресурси. Наоснову добијених резултата предложени су потенцијални туристички производи округа иприпадајућих општина. Такође, указано је на постојеће развојне изазове и могућности зањихово превазилажење.The attitude that humans are separated from the overall ecosystem of the planet Earth and thattheir needs are primary compared to other living beings has led to the endangerment of basicresources (water, air, and soil), but also the irreversible loss of certain species of flora and fauna.Therefore, sustainable, i.e. balanced development should be the principle on which the developmentof all activities, including tourism, is based. There are fewer and fewer preserved parts of nature,and the need for travels to areas where the authentic landscape has been conserved is increasing.Sustainable ecotourism appears as a link between the need to protect nature and its conscious use.The doctoral dissertation analyzed the administrative area of Srem, which is divided into sevenmunicipalities. An evaluation of the natural and anthropogenic potentials of the area for thedevelopment of sustainable ecotourism was carried out. In addition to the classic touristvalorization, the research also used land suitability analysis, based on the application of a geographicinformation system and analytical hierarchical process, intending to identify locations suitable forthe development of sustainable ecotourism. The assessment was carried out based on five groups ofcriteria (topography, other natural features, protection of natural resources, accessibility, andcommunity characteristics), within which 11 sub-criteria were defined. As a result of weightedoverlay analysis, a synthesis map was obtained showing four suitability categories: most suitable,suitable, marginally suitable, and unsuitable.The results showed that suitable areas for the development of sustainable ecotourism are locatedwithin protected natural areas and in their protective zones. On the other hand, in somemunicipalities, suitable locations are also found outside the mentioned zones, in areas where natureis still preserved and where there are attractive natural and cultural resources. According to theobtained results, potential tourism products of the district and associated municipalities wereproposed. Furthermore, the existing development challenges and opportunities for overcomingthem were highlighted

Indicadores do comportamento online e tendências da procura turística: as ferramentas Google Trends e Google Analytics

Doutoramento emTurismoO presente trabalho de investigação tem como objetivo mostrar a capacidade das ferramentas Google Trends e Google Analytics para fornecerem indicadores, quase em tempo real, sobre os interesses e comportamentos online coletivos, com base nas pesquisas realizadas no Google e nos movimentos dos visitantes nos sites, respetivamente. Para tal, iniciou-se a investigação com uma revisão da literatura e análise de dados secundários que permitiu: conhecer as políticas, indicadores e estatísticas oficiais do turismo, a utilização da Internet e as potencialidades da web analytics, principalmente do Google Trends e Google Analytics para os agentes do turismo, bem como as determinantes, modelos e tendências da procura turística. O estudo empírico centrou-se na análise dos dados primários obtidos com as ferramentas e na relação dos dados online com os dados oficiais publicados sobre o turismo, focando-se a análise no território nacional e regiões. Os resultados obtidos mostram que o padrão de comportamento e interesses dos indivíduos que pesquisam no Google a partir do território nacional sobre os subsetores do turismo, recursos e destinos turísticos é muito similar ao verificado na realidade, e do cruzamento dos dados das pesquisas online sobre alojamento com as dormidas nos estabelecimentos hoteleiros em Portugal constatou-se que existe uma forte correlação entre os dados, com um desfasamento temporal que varia com o local de acesso à Internet do individuo. Além disso, demonstrou-se a capacidade dos dados do Google Trends como indicador avançado da procura turística em Portugal, e desenvolveram-se novos indicadores para medir o interesse online interno e externo pelo turismo em Portugal e suas regiões. Adicionalmente, foram analisados os dados obtidos através da ferramenta Google Analytics referentes ao site do turismo do Alentejo (www.visitalentejo.pt), demonstrando-se que estes fornecem informação útil para compreender o comportamento e perfil do visitante ao nível de um destino turístico regional. A tese contribuiu para mostrar o potencial da Internet como fonte de dados, e a possibilidade de utilização desses dados para obter conhecimento na área do turismo e prever com melhor precisão a procura turística de Portugal, antes da publicação oficial da informação estatística sobre o setor.This PhD thesis aims to show the Google Trends and Google Analytics tools capabilities in providing near real time indicators for the collective online behaviour and interests, based on searches performed on the Google search engine and the movements of visitors on websites, respectively. To this end, we began the research with a literature survey and secondary data analysis, which allowed understanding the policies, the indicators, the official tourism statistics, and the utilisation in general of the Internet. Moreover, the potential of web analytics tools, namely Google Trends and Google Analytics for tourism agents, as well as the determinants, models and trends in tourism demand, were analysed. The empirical study was carried out based on the analysis of primary data obtained with the web analytics tools and the relationship of online data with official published tourism data, focusing the analysis on the Portuguese national and regional territory. The obtained results show that the pattern of interests and behaviour of individuals searching on Google from the national territory for information about the sub sectors of tourism, resources and tourism destinations is very similar to that seen in reality. By crossing the data from online searches on accommodations with overnight stays in hotels in Portugal it was found that there is a strong correlation between the data, with a time lag that varies with the individual Internet access location. Furthermore, it was demonstrated the capability of Google Trends data as a leading indicator of tourism demand in Portugal, and developed new indicators to measure internal and external online interest concerning the Portuguese tourism demand. Additionally, data obtained from Google Analytics tool related to the Alentejo site (www.visitalentejo.pt) was analysed, demonstrating that this provides useful information for understanding the behaviour and visitor profile at the level of a regional tourist destination. The thesis contributed to demonstrate the potential of the Internet as a source of data, and the possibility of using this data to gain knowledge in the field of tourism, before the official publication of statistical information about this industry, and to predict with greater accuracy the tourism demand in Portugal