The role of ICTs and public-private cooperation for cultural heritage tourism. The case of Smart Marca / Il ruolo delle ICT e della cooperazione pubblico-privati per il turismo culturale. Il caso di Smart Marca

This paper analyzes the opportunities related to public-private cooperation for the implementation of information communication technologies (ICTs) to promote cultural heritage tourism. After a literature review on the role of cooperation between private and public sectors and the most relevant information communication technologies (ICTs) for the promotion of cultural heritage, the analysis moves to travel apps, by illustrating features, main trends and some applications of this technology to cultural heritage and tourism. In the second part, the connection between tourism, cultural heritage and digital technologies is analyzed through the description of Smart Marca app, which, starting from the cooperation between local public and private entities, exploited ICTs to promote cultural tourism in Fermo area (Marche Region, Italy).  Il contributo analizza le potenzialità della cooperazione pubblico-privata nella progettazione e realizzazione di nuove tecnologie dell’informazione (ICT) per la promozione del turismo del patrimonio culturale. Dopo una rassegna della letteratura dedicata al ruolo della collaborazione tra pubblico e privato e delle ICT per la promozione del patrimonio culturale e lo sviluppo turistico di un territorio, l’articolo focalizza l’attenzione sulle applicazioni mobili di viaggio, illustrandone trend e caratteristiche, nonché alcuni esempi di applicazione di questa tecnologia al patrimonio culturale e al turismo. Nella seconda parte, la connessione tra turismo, patrimonio culturale e ICT viene analizzata attraverso la descrizione dell’app Smart Marca, che, a partire dalla cooperazione tra enti pubblici e attori privati, ha utilizzato le nuove tecnologie per promuovere il turismo culturale nel territorio fermano (Regione Marche, Italia)

The Tourist Experience in Boston, 1848-1910: American History, Middle-Class Leisure and the Development of Urban Tourism

This project analyzes a selection of representative guidebooks produced between 1848 and 1910, to illustrate the development of a tourist industry in Boston and to indicate how the changing nature of the city influenced a similar change in the tourist experience. It also provides the necessary context in which to place this narrative. Part I introduces two key elements essential to understanding the relevance of urban tourism in Boston: the city’s experiences with the national phenomena of electrification and urban planning in the mid- to late-nineteenth century, and Boston’s distinctive role in nineteenth-century America’s developing national identity and history. In Part II, an interpretation of Boston guidebooks during this time period can be seen as providing a unique way of viewing Boston’s history—the writers of these guidebooks are presenting their city as they knew it to us, visitors not from another place, but from another time. They tell us what they think is important to know about Boston, and their words highlight the pride they took in their city as well as hint at underlying social tensions and changes in progress. Readers of this project, then, can experience Boston of the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries as tourists themselves, and thus gain a better awareness of how that experience is essential to understanding urban tourism’s importance in the history of the American city

A comparison of the preferred visual characteristics of selected resort hotels and casinos along the Las Vegas Strip

This study examined preferences among visual characteristics of selected Strip resort hotels and casinos in Las Vegas, Nevada. Objectives included identification and description of common factors in preference decisions based on psychographics and photographic images used; Preference assessments were collected from Las Vegas tourists and from local Professionals including Resort Hotel Management and Architects through an interview and a survey using a four point rating scale. Preferences were determined from photographs depicting various Las Vegas resort hotel and casino imagery. Preferential judgements and comparative appraisals were used to identify visual characteristics in the photos. Both qualitative and quantitative techniques were used in analyzing the data

VISITORS’ PERCEPTION OF DESTINATION ATTRACTIVENESS: THE CASE OF SELECTED KIMBERLEY RESORTS

Published ThesisTourism is more frequently referred to as the world's biggest and fastest growing industry. Together with this trend, the importance of visitor perception has been increasingly analysed and is considered a significant factor in destination attractiveness. An investigation of the impact of destination attributes on frequency of visitors and their intention to return could demonstrate the strengths and weaknesses of a destination by assessing its attractiveness level. This study analyses destination attractiveness and the influence of these attributes on visitors’ perception. Information and knowledge about destination attractiveness can assist with development and planning, marketing, and can also improve management of a destination. In other words, the more impressed visitors are with the destination, the greater visitation frequency is expected. However, very few studies have been conducted on visitors’ perception of destination attractiveness for a South African resort. The purpose of this study was therefore to determine the current overall perception of visitors to selected resorts near Kimberley, Northern Cape, South Africa. The study also focused on developing a list of attributes which influence the destination attractiveness. Another focus was to determine whether the attractiveness of the resorts affected the visitation level and frequency of visitors to the resorts. The research design falls under the qualitative and quantitative paradigm and was divided into two parts: literature and empirical research. The population of the study included domestic visitors who visited Langleg and Riverton resorts and stayed for at least one night. A structured questionnaire was used to collect data from 400 visitors to the selected resorts during the December holiday period of 2015. The main findings of the study indicate that visitors to selected Kimberley resorts perceive the attributes as being average to poor quality. Despite this, it is evident from results that majority visitors to Langleg and Riverton resorts wish to revisit the resort and would recommend the resort to others. Chapter 5 portrays the results in detail. These outcomes contribute to Sol Plaatje tourism by assisting Kimberley resort managers to identify and satisfy tourists’ needs and to make recommendations on how to improve destination attractiveness at selected Kimberley resorts

Analysis of Lisbon visitors’ internet access behavior: behavior analysis through the identification of clusters

Project Work presented as the partial requirement for obtaining a Master's degree in Data Driven Marketing, specialization in Marketing IntelligenceThis master's thesis focuses on clustering the internet access behavior of urban visitors in the Lisbon urban area. To promote smart city development, the study aims to provide insights into visitors' behaviors while accessing the internet in Lisbon, enabling improved decision-making processes for city management, and enhancing the overall online and offline experience for visitors. The over-tourism phenomenon has put a strain on infrastructure, public transportation, and cultural heritage sites. Therefore, innovative methods are needed for effective smart city management, particularly in urban mobility. The increasing availability of Wi-Fi networks during travel has generated valuable data that can be used to develop groundbreaking approaches to understanding visitors’ behaviors and mobility patterns in urban areas. This knowledge enables the analysis and clustering of urban visitors' behavior, contributing to improved decision-making processes in smart city management

Re-evaluation of coastal cultural heritage resources : case study of North Carolina southeastern coastal region

Humans have had a long history of interconnectedness with the sea and ocean due to the use of natural resources available in the coastal areas. These interactions have influenced the natural landscape and played a crucial role in the formation of coastal cultural heritage. Coastal cultural heritage, a continuum of land and sea, is an important part of our cultural resources in the coastal areas. Presently, coastal cultural heritage has not been well-integrated into coastal management plans as a cultural resource. the values of cultural heritage have theoretically been recognized in benefiting people and its role in sustainable development. However, the qualitative and comparative analysis of coastal management experiences show that many valuable cultural heritage assets have been overlooked as resources in coastal management schemes. Acknowledging the significance of cultural heritage in Brunswick Country coastal area, the current study address three topics: 1) assessment of the impact of natural and environmental factors on coastal cultural heritage and identifying the heritage items that have been marginalized for variety of different reasons; 2) considering a new evaluation of a selected marginalized cultural heritage (fishing cultural heritage) and assessing the role of cultural heritage for fishing communities wellbeing; and 3) finally exploring the feasibility of developing a cultural tourism in Brunswick County directed at fishing communities. The study applies a multidisciplinary approach for data collection, analysis and evaluation purposes. A synthesis approach is applied and data from different sources on cultural and archaeological resources, and natural-environmental factors are compiled. ArcGIS software is used for analyzing data and creating risk maps for cultural heritage. In addition, several interviews and photo elicitation methods are used for understanding the viewpoints of local fishing communities regarding their cultural heritage resources. Content analysis, a series of graphs and quantitative analysis are applied to understand the state of cultural tourism in Brunswick County on fishing communities. The result of the first part of study shows that there are several sites that are in potential risk zones. However, more site-specific data are required for better assessment. The second section concluded that fishing communities respect their material culture. There are sites, buildings and objects related to fishing that are of sociocultural significance for fishing communities in Brunswick County. However, many of these items are suffering lack of attention and also abandonment. The study on tourism revealed that although there is interest in visiting fishing heritage, lack of information and proper publicity on fishing cultural heritage resulted in overlooking fishing cultural heritage sites as a tourist attraction. The study concludes that a balanced integrated and interdisciplinary evaluation of different cultural resources can enhance our understanding of the holistic values of cultural heritage as a resource to benefit people. Passing this understanding to managers and policy makers will help to improve future planning aimed at sustainable development. Better decisions require concrete evidence that demonstrates how re-evolution of cultural capital in regards to different aspects of communities and society can lead to outcomes that improve human well-being in the short and long term. This evidence should combine natural-environmental, cultural, economic, and social data

Unlocking the Benefits of Outbound Incentive Travel: A Comprehensive Review Study

Purpose The objective of this research was to contribute to the literature on incentive travel programs and provide a foundation for future research in this area. To highlight the social implications of outbound incentive travel programs, including their potential impact on employee well-being, customer relationships, tourism, economic development, and the environment. Theoretical Framework A framework for knowledge generation and theory development in incentive travel is attempted through the literature review.   Design/ Method / approach A chronological analysis of the literature on incentive travel and event tourism is the focal point of this study. With reference to seminal contributions, key terms and concepts are underlined. Journals, publications, and research pertaining to this topic have been reviewed using content analysis. Each article was subjected to a series of content analyses, where the type of content, nature of the research, theme and sub-theme, publication year, type of journals, area or city focus, type of data and analysis tool used, respondent and author profile were all taken into consideration. A total of 45 papers were categorized according to the year they were published and then analyzed using the descriptive analysis approach. Findings The findings of the study are likely to provide a comprehensive understanding of outbound incentive travel programs and their potential benefits and challenges, and offer practical guidance for organizations looking to implement these programs in a responsible and effective manner.   Research, Practical & Social implications The study may identify gaps in the existing literature on outbound incentive travel programs, highlighting areas for future research and exploration.   Originality/ value the study has the potential to contribute to both academic research and practical applications related to outbound incentive travel programs, and may have broader implications for organizational culture, values, and social responsibility

Management requirements for tourist landing sites in the maritime Antarctic and a model plan for Deception Island, South Shetland Islands

Increasing tourist visits to the Maritime Antarctic potentially threaten to damage scientific research, and the environment of landing sites. The current obligatory and hortatory requirements have been developed to control activities of tourists, and not to manage the land they use. This protection is insufficient to mitigate such latent problems. This thesis investigates the Antarctic Treaty System (A TS), in particular the Madrid Protocol of 1991 (Protocol), to elucidate the requirements desirable to manage individual landing sites. The Area Protection and Management System of Annex V of the Protocol provides for two designations, Antarctic Specially Managed Area (ASMA) and Antarctic Specially Protected Area (ASPA), which could be a method to achieve this. The ASMA was identified as the more appropriate method. Annex V requires a management plan for an ASMA. Plans from six other wilderness areas are evaluated to determine common criteria that are essential for management. The requirements for an ASMA contain all of these criteria, except those pertaining to enforcement by a sovereign authority. Without provisions for enforcement, an ASMA could not be considered as effective as plans elsewhere in the world. However, when sufficient information is provided to a tour operator the enforcement provided by self-regulation at tourist-landing sites has generally proven to be effective. A management plan is developed in compliance with the regulatory and hortatory requirements and by implementing the criteria determined essential in this study. Three areas of Deception Island are used as a case study to demonstrate that an effective management plan for tourist landing sites can be drafted. Furthermore, the format developed in this study should be considered as a model for future ASMA management plans.Digitisation of this thesis was sponsored by Arcadia Fund, a charitable fund of Lisbet Rausing and Peter Baldwin

Kenya tourism marketing plan (2015/2018)

This marketing plan project is a culmination of extensive strategies with the use of experiential marketing to address issues confronting the Kenyan tourism industry in order to have a sustainable tourism sector. Following the terrorist attack carried out by Islamist militants’ belonging to al-Shabaab terrorist organization on Nairobi’s Westgate shopping mall in September 2013, tourist forecast has gone down sharply with an average of 20% fall in tourists’ arrivals which is likely to have an impact on the tourism sector in Kenya. Even before the deadly attack on Westgate, the most lethal attack by Islamist terrorists in 15 years in Kenya, the government through the Kenya tourist board had announced that in 2013 tourist arrivals were down by 12%, at 495,978, according to an October 2013 report by Bloomberg. Tourism revenues were also down by 7.4%, over FY12/13 (July-June) to reach KES96.24bn, according to a September 2013 report on the local Capital FM website. Beyond 2013, much will depend on how quickly the Kenya tourist board can regain control of the situation. The Kenyan government believes that the Westgate mall attack was a 'one-off' incident, with a low probability of a similar event happening again over the short term period. Germany, United States, United Kingdom, Australia, Italy, France and Canada continue to be the key source market however; the Kenya tourist board can make continued growth stronger from new emerging markets in order to increase new arrivals into the country. The marketing plan outlines the objectives to be implemented and provides the implementation strategy, activity plans, monitoring and evaluation plans, financial requirements projections and proposes a new structure of experiential marketing. A number of regional forces are identified that will impact tourism into the country including global, social and economic forces, emerging trends in visitor motivations and behavior, emerging forces in experiential marketing. A major component of the strategy identifies target markets for Kenya to commensurate with the level of resources that will be available for marketing and promotion, in keeping with the forces and trends identified and the nature of the Kenya tourism environment. The agreed upon target market segments are: generic/mass travel, experiential travel, creative travel, adventure seeking travel, senior/extended/long stay travel, and business related travel. The strategy phases the development of the target markets over the years of the marketing strategies in order to yield the best opportunity for results. A core activity in developing a marketing strategy is determining the nature of experiences Kenya offers in tourism. The strategy’s experience development process will continue to develop within the context of the products identified which will be promoted regionally: culture/heritage, nature, community-based. Each county in the country has a significant number of attractions and experiences and the challenge of the country is to bring these together in a creative and innovative way in order to encourage tourists to visit more than one county in Kenya