Media tourism in the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone as a new tourist phenomenon

Abstract. Every year, the number of tourists in the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone is increasing. The most numerous visitors are journalists who come to perform their official duties. At the same time, researchers have not yet shown interest in such an interesting and important tourist phenomenon. The purpose of this article is to describe a new phenomenon of media tourism in the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone and its features. The study was conducted with a help of a qualitative case study analysis method. The websites of the state and private enterprises and mass media publications based on the results of trips to the territory for 2013-2017 were analyzed. As a result, the specific features of journalists who visit the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone were identified. Such journalists mainly have confidence in the absence of a threat to health (55%), developed empathy (45%) and imagination of thinking (45%). Consequently, the tragedy of history and the gloomy appearance of the territory, the suffering of local residents make it attractive to journalists. In addition, due to personal interest, the voluntary travel motive (61,5%) prevails over conditional forced travel (38,5%). At the same time, the attention of journalists to the territory is attracted due to the activities of tourists. The authors describe the so-called «compensation effect», when the reduction of tourists' attention to the territory is balanced by an increase in the attention of the mass media. The presence of risk explains the predominance of men among journalists in the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone (54%). For example, women can better assess the risk due to greater vulnerability. The peculiarity of journalists' work in the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone is the risk of radiation exposure and ethical controversy. The study shows that journalists' inherent positive world perception and profound sense of professional duty can successfully overcome these obstacles. The results of the study can be used by the following researchers to identify ways and strategies for promoting media tourism in the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone. The benefit of this study is to draw attention to a new unexplored tourist phenomenon. Mass media have a great influence on the formation of a positive attitude towards the territory and attracting the attention of tourists. Taking into account the specific features of media tourism will help to attract more tourists and improve the quality of rendering service to journalists

Customer empowerment in tourism through Consumer Centric Marketing (CCM)

We explain Consumer Centric Marketing (CCM) and adopt this new technique to travel context. Benefits and disadvantages of the CCM are outlined together with warnings of typical caveats Value: CCM will be expected as the norm in the travel industry by customers of the future, yet it is only the innovators who gain real tangible benefits from this development. We outline current and future opportunities to truly place your customer at the centre and provide the organisation with some real savings/gains through the use of ICT Practical Implications: We offer tangible examples for travel industry on how to utilise this new technology. The technology is already available and the ICT companies are keen to establish ways how consumers can utilise it, i.e. by providing ‘content’ for these ICT products the travel industry can fully gain from these developments and also enhance consumers’ gains from it. This can result in more satisfied customers for the travel (as well as ICT) companies thus truly adopting the basic philosophy of marketin

Outcomes from institutional audit: specialist institutions: second series

Consideration of the 59 audit reports published between December 2004 and August 2006 shows that 15 relate to institutions which define themselves as 'specialist' in their missions. These institutions vary considerably in size, and include institutions which are specialist by function as well as by subject. A small number of the institutions had degree awarding powers in their own right, but most worked with one or more awarding institutions or were constituent colleges of the University of London. The frameworks, structures and procedures which support the management of quality in specialist institutions are not significantly different from those in the rest of the sector. The audit reports indicate that the institutions were making efforts to meet the challenges posed, for example, to effective committee operation, by having only a small number of staff or a distinctive organisational structure. A number of the audit reports discuss the institutions' recognition of the potential for insularity resulting from their specialist nature and the steps taken to counter this. These include ensuring the involvement of external peers in programme design, approval and review, the active involvement of professional practitioners in aspects of teaching and learning and the provision of opportunities for placement and work-based learning within the curriculum. However, in a small number of cases, the audit reports note that institutions had been very slow to engage with elements of the Academic Infrastructure. A collegiate culture and a strong commitment to the professional development of staff is characteristic of specialist institutions. The audit reports also describe a commitment to hearing and responding to the student voice, often associated with the effective use of informal systems for gathering feedback, as a feature common to many of the institutions. This is also reflected in the levels of academic and personal support and guidance available to the students. The distinctive learning experience and environment is often supported by specialist learning resources which reflect the professional and vocational orientation of many of the specialist institutions. The audit reports indicate that on the whole, specialist institutions have appropriate arrangements in place for maintaining academic standards and managing and enhancing the quality of learning opportunities provided for students. The institutions are responding to the challenges posed by their specialist nature and their often small size, as well as capitalising on the opportunities presented by their distinctive nature and ethos

Tribal Corridor Management Planning: Model, Case Study, and Guide for Caltrans District 1, Research Report 10-01

In Northern California, tribal governments and personnel of the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) District 1, have applied innovative context-sensitive solutions to meet a variety of transportation challenges along state highways that traverse tribal lands. This report describes and discusses the efforts under way and offer suggestions for continuing and extending these initiatives through the development of Tribal Corridor Management Plans (TCMPs). The methods employed in this project are multidisciplinary and include: (1) content analysis of existing corridor management plans; (2) literature review to identify “best practices;” (3) participant observation; (4) interviews with local stakeholders; (5) focus group interviews with Caltrans personnel; and (6) landscape analysis. This study’s authors conclude that Caltrans District 1 staff and tribal governments share common goals for highway operations; however, progress —while significant—has been somewhat hampered by geographic and administrative challenges. It is recommended that Caltrans and the tribes seek early and frequent communication and collaboration to overcome these obstacles. Further, they identify several examples of non-standard design elements that could be incorporated into highway improvements to enhance local sense of place among both residents and travelers. A preliminary TCMP for the segment of State Route 96 that lies within the boundaries of the Hoopa Valley Indian Reservation is presented as an example. Beyond its role as a guide for initiating tribal corridor projects within Caltrans District 1, the report should prove instructive for any efforts to enhance sense of place within transportation byways, particularly in Native communities

Work-based and work-related learning in Higher National Certificates and Diplomas in Scotland and Foundation Degrees in England: a comparative study: final report

This final report draws on findings from the four stages of a comparative study of Higher National Certificates/Diplomas (HNC/Ds) in Scotland and Foundation Degrees (FDs) in England that was undertaken jointly by researchers in the Centre for Research in Lifelong Learning (CRLL) at Glasgow Caledonian University (GCU) and the Open University (OU). The overall study has examined and explored the following issues: the demand drivers and how far they differ in both countries; the differing policy and funding frameworks in place in Scotland and England; the different types of provision which have emerged and the roles of different stakeholders in shaping this provision; the consequences of these models for the experiences of the learners involved; and progression of students into further study or employment

The Bidirectional Relationship between Art and Business

There has long been an established relationship between art and business, finding its roots in the Industrial Revolution when the effects of arts on the economy were first explored. Since then, creative economies have been influenced by adaptation of businesses through urban development and revitalization and by continuous growth in artistic and cultural spaces. Capturing the relationship between arts and urban design, cultural districts establish strong economic communities within vastly creative, business- and culture-centered spaces. Current research provides insight to the economic, social, and cultural outcomes of creative economies. As a contribution to that narrative, I will use this analysis to further explore the bidirectional relationship between the art and business sectors. I will first cover historical artistic influences on the economy- how art has become a top economic developer. Then, I will analyze how art is currently affecting economic development and, alternatively, how modern business and brands cultivate artistic spaces and the creation of art. Finally, I will outline six cultural district subtypes and their characteristics, and I will use these definitions to classify prominent art districts in Arkansas among them