Smartphone Adoption amongst Chinese Youth during Leisure-based Tourism: Challenges and Opportunities.

With the spread of Information communications technology (ICT) in China, the tourism industry has come to recognize the importance of examining the factors that influence adoption of smartphones during leisure-based tourism among Chinese youth, a vital segment in what the world’s greatest domestic, inbound, and outbound 10 tourism market will be by 2020. Using data collected from undergraduate students at a university in China, this study, based on the technology acceptance model (TAM) and theory of reasoned action (TRA), found that an extended model can predict travelers' intentions. A detailed profile of Chinese youth and their smartphone usage is provided, and the managerial implications of increased adoption of Internet-capable smart- 15 phones during leisure-based tourism are also explored

Análisis del impacto de las OTA en las reservas de los hoteles. caso de estudio: Bogotá

The purpose is to analyze the impact of online travel agencies (OTA) reservations on the probability of making reservations on the hotel website. For this purpose, from January 26 to February 26, 2016, the reservations made at 10 hotels located in Bogota (Colombia) of the GHL Hotel Chain were analyzed through the official website of the hotel and OTA. It was found that 6,8% of reservations are made through the hotel websites, while OTA groups make up 93,2% of the bookings. Booking.com was the OTA where the biggest number of reservations were made, with 55,3%, followed by Expedia.com, with 29,1%. The present research is the first in Latin America to analyze the reservations made through OTA’s and to compare them with those received by the hotel website. Likewise, it analyzes, the percentage and number of reservations by different OTA’s, allowing to gain insight into the interests of the guests at the time of booking.El objetivo del presente trabajo fue analizar el impacto de las OTA En la probabilidad de realización de reservas en la página web de un hotel. Con este fin, del 26 de enero al 26 de febrero de 2016 se observaron las reservas realizadas en 10 hoteles de la Cadena Hotelera GHL de Bogotá (Colombia) por medio de la página web y OTA. Se encontró que el 6,8 % de las reservaciones fueron hechas mediante la página web del hotel, mientras que el 93,2 % se hicieron por intermedio de OTA. La OTA que registró el mayor número de reservas fue Booking.com, con el 55,3 %, seguida por Expedia.com, con un 29,1 %. La presente investigación es la primera en América Latina en llevar a cabo un análisis de las reservas mediante OTA y compararlas con la página web de un hotel. También analiza el porcentaje y número de reservaciones por las diferentes OTA. &nbsp

Evaluating E-Relationship Marketing Features on Hotel Mobile Apps

The advent of technology has changed the course of marketing in both the academic and the business field. Given the increasing number of mobile transactions, hotel companies have launched mobile applications (apps) as an alternative e-relationship marketing (e-RM) channel. This study modified a progressive five-level e-relationship building model. The model was employed to evaluate e-RM features of the top 10 hotel companies’ mobile apps. The results indicated that these hotel companies maintained e-RM feature sophistication at the lower levels (Basic and Reactive), but relatively speaking, they did not utilize e-RM features extensively at the higher levels (Accountable, Proactive and Partnership). The findings implied that hotel companies employed mobile apps as a communication channel to provide basic information and allow for transaction rather than to deliver better customer values and strengthen long-term relationships

Enhancing travel experience with the combination of information visualization, situation awareness, and distributed cognition

With the new forms of travel introduced by new technologies of transportation and communication, a satisfied travel experience could be affected by various factors before and during a trip. Especially for road trips, traveling by car provides freedom on time control while leading to more possibilities of rescheduling initial plans made under time constraints. When overwhelmed with the need for changed travel context to avoid unexpected events that will require a serious change of initial plans, travelers need to find and access helpful contextual information quickly. This is a context-related decision making process that requires amplifying human situation awareness and supporting distributed cognition, since travel information offers multiple choices. To solve this problem, I applied information visualization as the main design solution. When comparing it with a traditional representation of lists, information visualization displays the advantages of visual representation of abstract data to clarify and depict the information and amplify cognition while improving travel experience intuitively in the domain of user experience design. Therefore in this thesis I will address the approach of implementing recontextualized situation awareness, distributed cognition, and information visualization in a travel-aid system. By using both theoretical and practical design perspectives, I will discuss how to enhance travel experience with represented contextual information that users desire or expect before and during a road trip. I will also explore the new values of this design with strategic business support. Additionally, after conducting research and analysis on existing interaction design parts, I selected a smartphone app to serve as a proper platform with connected multifunctions. Briefly, I begin the thesis with a review of previous theories and aspects of travel planning, information visualization as it relates to travel, situation awareness, and distributed cognition in the design context and related smartphone apps. Then I discuss the process of identifying the specific issues to be solved or improved with a preliminary research of empirical study, followed by an interview, online survey, insights synthesis, and business model design. After a visual-system design was developed, heuristic evaluation was employed to assess the outcome. Lastly, a new round of refined design results is introduced based on outcomes of the evaluation

Tourism Distribution Channels in European Island Destinations

Purpose Advances in information communication technologies (ICTs) have changed the tourism distribution channels model as traditional players continue to disappear or change their business model as new players and channels emerge due to technological developments. Therefore, the present study aims to propose a tourism distribution channels model for European Island destinations. Design/methodology/approach Using an exploratory approach, interviews with 34 tourism stakeholders were conducted at ITB Berlin and WTM London in March 2014 and March/November 2016, and analyzed using thematic analysis. Findings The findings revealed that a number of changes have taken place within the distribution channels market over the past six years. The disappearance of incoming travel agents has increased, while new forms of online communication and distribution have appeared. In particular, social media, online review sites, and mobile channels play an increasingly important role for hoteliers. Practical implications ICTs change the online landscape for tourist distribution in Island destinations and practitioners should make use of new online channels and be aware of disappearing tourism players to remain competitive. Originality/value First, this paper provides indications for the increased disintermediation in regard to incoming travel agents within the Cretan hospitality and tourism industry. Second, it investigates the issue of tourism distribution channels using a broad range of key tourism and hospitality players in order to provide a tourism distribution channels model for future reference. Finally, this study offers implications for the development of distribution strategies for tourism businesses and hoteliers in Crete

Virtual reality tourism : the new frontier or the end of the journey?

Prior to the COVID-19 outbreak, the tourism industry was a mega-industry. Although virtual reality (VR) is a relatively new development in tourism, due to COVID-19 it has literally transformed and improved the industry, particularly in the fields of marketing, sustainability and virtual worlds. VR is held to provide tourists with the “ultimate” tourist experience. The reason is that tourists no longer have to experience any of the negative aspects associated with conventional tourism. Despite the benefits and popularity of VR, a key question arises: will VR be the end of conventional tourism or can it be considered as a new tourism frontier? Therefore, the main purpose of the study is to address this question by focusing on the role of VR in tourism, especially in the context of South Africa. In addition, the study provides a detailed background of VR in general and in terms of tourism; types of VR tourism; the benefits and drawbacks of VR in tourism; and finally, the study compares conventional tourism models with VR in order to highlight the similarities. It concludes that VR does not in essence substitute conventional tourism, but rather it can be considered as a tourism niche in its own right, even if only as a futuristic prospect. For this to actualise, there are three major concerns that need to be addressed in the future; physical interaction; a full sensorial experience and the question of revenue.Thesis (PhD (Heritage and Cultural Tourism))--University of Pretoria, 2021.Post grad UP fundingHistorical and Heritage StudiesPhD (Heritage and Cultural Tourism)Unrestricte

Análise da arquitetura de informação dos aplicativos móveis (APP) em turismo : um estudo sobre a cidade de Curitiba (PR)

Orientador : Alexandre Augusto BizMonografia (graduação) - Universidade Federal do Paraná, Setor de Ciências Humanas, Curso de Graduação em TurismoInclui referênciasResumo : Com a rápida evolução da tecnologia móvel, redes móveis e o surgimento dos aplicativos móveis, especialmente no contexto do turismo, este trabalho tem como objetivo analisar como estão arquitetadas as informações referentes à usabilidade dentro dos aplicativos móveis (APP) ligados à prática da atividade turística no âmbito da cidade de Curitiba (PR). Para atingir o objetivo proposto, foi inicialmente elaborado um marco conceitual onde se explorou os conceitos da tecnologia da informação e comunicação, tecnologia móvel, redes móveis e dispositivos móveis. Além dos aplicativos móveis, no que tange os conceitos e sua aplicação no contexto do turismo. Por fim, apresentou-se por base de dados documentais que o comportamento do consumidor online vem se alterando e que grande parte desta mudança tem relação com estas novas tecnologias. A pesquisa tem caráter qualitativo e estrutura-se em duas etapas: a primeira que foi a conceituação do objeto de pesquisa. A segunda se contempla a análise dos aplicativos móveis e de seus respectivos conteúdos, criando mapas de processos para cada aplicativo e comparando-os entre si tendo como base de análise os conceitos explorados no marco teórico perante a sua aplicação no turismo. Como resultados, obteve-se a arquitetura dos aplicativos que são executados no contexto da cidade de Curitiba e através desta caracterização e especificidade de cada aplicativo foi possível criar uma arquitetura de aplicativo móvel voltada para o Curitiba Região e Litoral Convention & Visitors Bureau, abrangendo os segmentos tratados que possibilita a utilização por parte dos conveniados, turistas e da própria captação de eventos (utilizado pela administração da instituição) para a cidade

Tourism in contemporary cities. Proceedings of the International Tourism Studies Association Conference: University of Greenwich, London, UK 17–19 August 2016 Conference Proceedings

The 6th International Tourism Studies Association (ITSA) Biennial conference was held at the University of Greenwich, London, England from 17‐19 August 2016. This was the first time that the conference had been held in Europe and it provided a unique opportunity to meet, hear from and network with tourism scholars and professionals from across Europe, Asia, Australasia, and North and South America. ITSA has a mission to encourage interaction and cooperation between developing and developed countries and the conference was successful in attracting 130 delegates from 29 countries. The main theme of the conference was 'Tourism in Contemporary Cities' with four conference sub‐themes of ‘Tourism Cities and Urban Tourism’, ‘The Chinese Market for European Tourism’, ‘River, Cruise and Maritime Tourism’, and ‘Heritage Tourism in Cities’, The subthemes were chosen to reflect the unique location of the conference on the UNESCO Maritime Greenwich World Heritage Site, and London which is Europe’s most visited tourist destination. The conference also presented ‘Dark Tourism and Cities’ and ‘Tourism and Communist Heritage’ as special sessions

Antecedents of Relationship Quality from the Perspective of British and German Tour Operators and Cretan Hotels

There is limited research into the relationships between tour operators (TOs) and hoteliers from the contrasting perspectives of both sides of the dyad. Only a few studies in the tourism and marketing literature have examined the relationship quality (RQ) as a formative second-order variable, none of these have used the most common dimensions of trust, satisfaction and commitment. This study aims to model the complex antecedents of these RQ dimensions for relationships between British and German TOs and Cretan small-to-medium enterprise (SME) hoteliers; these relationship are explored from the perspectives of both business parties. Data was collected in two stages, with an initial qualitative phase, followed by a subsequent quantitative phase. The study’s qualitative component sought to identify those themes that are important predictors or dimensions of RQ for relationships between British and German TOs and Cretan small and medium-sized hotel organisations. In the first phase of the study, 26 interviews were conducted with various managers and business partners. Twelve were with British and German TOs, and 14 with Greek hoteliers. A thematic analysis revealed eleven key factors that influence RQ: information quality, trust, cooperation, relationship satisfaction, price, communication, customer satisfaction, service quality, commitment, customer relationship management, and mutual goals. The quantitative phase of this study then used those factors to develop two theoretical models of antecedents to RQ and its dimensions: one for Cretan hotel organisations and one for British and German TOs. These models were then tested on 252 SME hotel organisations and 144 British and German TOs in Crete using partial least squares structural equation modelling. The findings broadly support the hypothesised relationships proposed by the two RQ models but show genuine differences between the relationships when looking at essentially the same model from either the Hotelier or the TO perspective. This study makes several significant contributions to the field. Firstly, in this research, a complex model identifying antecedents of the key dimensions of RQ is explored from both sides of the relationship between hoteliers and TOs. Secondly, the examination of RQ as a formative second-order variable alongside its antecedents, as mediated by the formative dimensions of trust, satisfaction, and commitment, is a significant contribution to the tourism and marketing literature. Finally, a model for understanding the relationship dynamics between British and German TOs and Cretan SME hotel organisations is developed and tested, and this study furthers RQ theory both qualitatively, by identifying and adding new potential antecedents, and testing them quantitatively

The Adoption of Smartphone Applications by Airlines

Given the increasing number of smartphone users worldwide, the use of applications as marketing tools can have a significant impact on the tourism industry. More tourism businesses, especially airlines, have begun using smartphone applications as a corporate marketing strategy to cater for customer needs. This article presents the findings of a study of the adoption of such applications in the airline industry. Data on 453 airlines were accessed to investigate whether the company provided smartphone applications and the influence on this decision of different characteristics (such as location and business coverage). The results show that the type of airline has a significant impact on its adoption of smartphone applications. This paper serves as a guide for airline enterprises considering adopting this new technology to enhance future innovation and competitiveness.School of Hotel and Tourism Managemen