Destination image in travel magazines: A textual and pictorial analysis of Hong Kong and Macau

Based on the analyses of texts and pictures in the top six outbound travel magazines in Mainland China, this article presents an evaluation of the destination images of Hong Kong and Macau as portrayed in 88 travel articles over a three-year period. The results showed that the projected destination images of Hong Kong and Macau were dominated by attributes related to culture, history, and art and leisure and recreation. Hong Kong was often described by image attributes such as places and attractions, shopping, cuisine and food, hotels, and the creative industries. For Macau, history and heritage, places and attractions, gambling, cuisine and food, and hotels were the most often reported. During the study period, Hong Kong and Macau witnessed several significant changes in the image attributes featured in both texts and pictures. These changes were partly influenced by news and events over the period. In this article, implications for destination marketing organizations and directions for future research were suggested

Tourism-themed internet portals – are new media creating a new tourist? A case study of Polish students

Internet media have an influence on many tourism-related issues. This article presents the results of research into the role of tourism-themed portals in the trips taken by Polish university students between 2010 and 2012. The research sought to answer the following questions: whether tourism-related internet media have an influence on the students’ behaviour before, during the trip and when they arrive at their destination; how often they are used by the respondents during their trips; and whether Polish students actively participate in internet media by voicing their opinions. As it appears, internet media serve as one of the “travel companions” for young people. They are used when preparing the trip, the vast majority “take them” with them and check them during the trip, while almost half of them check them on vacation, e.g. to share their experience over the internet

Analysis of Chinese travel blogs of New Zealand

The Chinese outbound tourism market is a fast growing source market for many destinations. However, more research is needed to better understand the Chinese outbound tourism market and its diversity and complexity. Again, it can be argued that consistent monitoring of what is a fast evolving market is required, even where prior research has been undertaken. The aim of this research is to provide the tourism industry with a better understanding of the Chinese tourist market and the attitudes of Chinese visitors with specific reference to New Zealand. Consequently perceived destination image, travel motivations, and patterns of online communications of and about New Zealand were identified by analysing travel blogs written by Chinese tourists. Given that there were 181 million bloggers existing in China by the end of 2009 (CNNIC, 2009), blogs written by Chinese visitors have a significant market value for tourism organisations and marketers. This study used content analysis to identify the perceived destination image held by Chinese tourists to New Zealand. In this study, the analytical process was divided into two parts, namely photographic and textual analysis. In each of the two parts, qualitative content analysis was first undertaken, and then followed by secondary quantitative analysis to support the findings discerned through the qualitative process. By analysing 6968 photographs and 408 blog entries posted by Chinese visitors, an image of New Zealand as a tourism destination was identified. The findings revealed that the main components of New Zealand, as perceived by Chinese visitors, were that it possessed a protected ecological environment, offered a variety of activities, and had a highly developed society with a “Pakeha” culture. The research also indicated that Chinese cultural norms played an important role in the process of decision making, perception formation and interpretation. These norms included the desire of harmony, Li, Junzi Aspiration, and a respect of authorities. The results of the study also included details about travel patterns in dining, accommodation, and tourism activities. These results indicated that content analysis of visual and textual materials provides rich information about perceived destination image, travel preference, and online information search behaviours. Online photographs and narratives posted by visitors are not only valuable information source for potential visitors who read the blogs, but can also be an effective way to understand the Chinese market. Based on the results, it can be concluded that blogs are important, and point a way by which destination marketing organisations can seek to influence potential visitors. For example, blog celebrities are an effective way by which to attract thousands of readers to know more about the country. The use of the Chinese language and creating special arrangements for Chinese festivals are shown to be effective means by which hosts can display a friendly attitude to their Chinese guests. With more and more countries being granted Approved Destination Status (ADS) by the Chinese government, Chinese citizens have more choices as to where to travel overseas, thereby intensifying competition for their custom. It is vital for tourism destinations to promote their unique features through all possible channels according to different target markets. Additionally, because service quality is a crucial issue for group tourists, consistent monitoring the travel blogs is an effective way of facilitating the improvement of the service quality of tourism product suppliers

A Comparison of The Effectiveness of Various Social Media Platforms in Promoting Restaurants

The primary focus of this research is on how social media impacts the Colombian restaurant industry. Social media, without a question, has a significant impact on today's youth. Social media has a significant impact on a wide range of human activities. Using social media, such as Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter has a significant influence on the behavior of many people. Despite this, little is known about the impact of social media on the restaurant industry. In addition to fashion, entertainment, and eating habits, there are several other things that may be affected by social media. Social media's impact on Colombian eateries was examined in this research. Five eateries in Colombia's capital city of Bogota were found through an internet search that included a glance at their social media pages. This study's evidence was matched to the data from these social media accounts as part of a literature review. This document outlines the study's recommendations and limitations. Social media may help restaurants in Colombia run more efficiently and generate more money if utilized appropriately, according to the study

Seeing Old San Juan, PR through the Lenses of Tourists and Residents: An Analysis of User-Generated Photographs

Vacationing is the event where most photographs are taken (Baerenholt et al. 2004) as taking pictures is an important way in which the tourist gaze is enacted. According to Urry (2002), the tourist gaze, or the ways of seeing, identifies what is the “extraordinary” and the “other” in the tourist experience. Therefore, residents and tourists may portray or perceive a tourism destination differently. Using social semiotics as a methodological framework, this paper analyzes the photographs posted by residents and tourists in the context of Old San Juan, an important historic destination in Puerto Rico, to identify commonalities and differences. A total of 1,064 photographs were analyzed for this study

Monitoring food marketing to children: A joint Nordic monitoring protocol for marketing of foods and beverages high in fat, salt and sugar (HFSS) towards children and young people

The protocol describes methods for how to monitor marketing of foods and beverages high in fat, salt and sugar towards children and young people at a given time as cross-sectional studies, as well as allowing for monitoring of trends. The data provided could also be used for evaluation purposes, for instance providing relevant data for evaluating regulation practices and schemes in the respective countries; to study advertising and marketing practices, contents and forms over time. In addition to being a tool for monitoring purposes within each country, the protocol will also enable comparisons between the Nordic countries by establishing a joint understanding on how each marketing channel should be monitored. The protocol has been developed as a Nordic project between representatives and experts from Iceland, Finland, Sweden, Denmark and Norway together with international experts

The Cowl - v.78 - n.21 - Apr 10, 2014

The Cowl - student newspaper of Providence College. Volume 78 - No. 21 - April 10, 2014. 28 pages

"Happy Belly in Paradise": A case study of "Authentic" meal experiences at cooking classes in Bali

Master's thesis in International Hospitality ManagementMore people are in search of authentic culinary experiences to get a glimpse of someone else’s kitchen techniques, as well as their lifestyle. One of the emerging trends is cooking classes at a tourist destination. Cooking classes in a private home are favorite forms of food tourism. The purpose of this study is to gain a better understanding of what aspects influences tourists' perceptions about the authenticity of a meal experience at a cooking class. This research adopted a phenomenological approach and qualitative research method. A qualitative approached based on observations, semi-structured in-depth individual interviews with eleven participants, and secondary data material that consisted of cooking class' webpages, guest comments from trip advisor, blogs and video material via online sources were reviewed to collect the required data. The findings based on collected data from cooking classes in Bali indicate that participants perceive their meal experience at a cooking class as 'authentic'. Participants stated that being at the local market where the local people do their trading, listening to stories about Balinese traditional rituals and legends, also being able to cook in a local family compound, using traditional cooking methods with local chefs and staff are the most important aspects that influences the authenticity of a meal experience at a cooking class

Celebrity chefs: class mobility, media, masculinity

There is an unprecedented construction of contemporary celebrity unique to the figure of the chef. This thesis considers the position of chefs in celebrity culture, and the construction of a particular kind of authoritative celebrity identity, with an emphasis on empirical research. I examine the effects of celebrity culture on the work of chefs and in terms of gender, taste, and class. I argue that the commercial kitchen is a space that institutionalises masculinity, and that popular media and celebrity culture augment the process of institutionalisation. This thesis also considers the production of economies of cultural capital across different platforms and in different forms. I position social media as a key site that produces global economies of cultural capital, and that facilitates diverse modes of consumption and production of cultural capital. Celebrity culture has altered the way chefs are perceived by consumers and the media. In response to celebrity culture, chefs’ work has moved outside the kitchen and is becoming increasingly abstract. Intellectual labours enable class and social mobility and articulate taste, positioning celebrity chefs as middle class rather than working class. Celebrity chef culture has created what I call the ‘chef economy’, within which restaurants trade on the brand and celebrity status of their chefs. This thesis provides a close examination of celebrity chef culture, drawing on principles of ethnographic research and one-on-one interviews with chefs who have extensive experience working with popular media and have negotiated celebrity culture in their work. My ethnographic approach and empirical research responds to suggestions for more empirical data in celebrity studies (Ferris 2010; Turner 2010b, 2013). Through developing a multimedia, multi-sited ethnography, in addition to in-depth interviews with chefs, I offer a discussion on the changing nature of celebrity culture and the changing labours of the chef