A multivariate analysis of tourists’ spending behaviour

According to the micro-economic theories regarding consumption behaviour, the determinants affecting the joint propensity of purchasing different goods and services are investigated. For this purpose, a copula-based model is suggested. This is in fact a suitable model to understand whether and how different expenditure categories are dependent with each other. A real application drawn from the tourism field is used to illustrate how the proposed approach works and to demonstrate its flexibility. The findings could guide local practitioners and managers in creating new promotional campaigns able to attract visitors willing to pay on a bundle of goods and services correlated with each other

Consumers' Willingness to Pay for Quality and Safety in Clams

The aim of the research is to estimate the potential demand for certified clams in Italy and to investigate the determinants of maximum amount that respondents are willing to pay for this product. Quantitative analysis was used based on 1,067 face-to-face interviews collected in 3 Italian regions in the north bordering the Adriatic Sea (Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Veneto, and Emilia-Romagna) carried out during 2008. The consumers' willingness to pay (WTP) is measured using a contingent valuation method. In order to estimate separately the determinants of the probability that respondents are willing to pay and the maximum that they are willing to pay, a generalization of Tobit model was adopted. The results indicate that consumers are willing to pay a premium price mainly to purchase better quality products. The research provides some initial insight into consumers' WTP that can be useful for certified fish farming. © 2014 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC

Visitors' awareness of ICZM and WTP for beach preservation in four European Mediterranean regions.

This paper discusses the results of a multi-country survey about private stakeholders' contribution to coastal preservation. It was conducted in four coastal sites of Greece, Italy and France, in order to collect information about beach visitors' perception of Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM) and their willingness to pay (WTP) for beach preservation, intended here as defence from erosion. In order to find out whether ICZM perception is a determinant of WTP, regression analysis is applied. Results show that in these sites respondents have a low level of information about the nature of ICZM, despite local authorities having implemented some ICZM strategies for preserving the coast. Nevertheless, those who are informed about ICZM have a higher probability of paying for beach preservation. This suggests to policymakers that promoting public awareness about ICZM may increase the probability of paying. Finally, some categories of visitors, such as women and young and middle-aged people, have a higher probability of paying than men and older people, thus suggesting a more sensitive attitude to beach preservation. Therefore, policy-makers should also pay attention to the categories of visitors less likely to pay

Short-term changes of blood pressure and aortic stiffness in older patients after transcatheter aortic valve implantation

Background: Both aortic valve stenosis and aortic stiffness are moderators of arterio ventricular coupling and independent predictors of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Studies on the effect of transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) on aortic functional properties are limited. We performed a study to investigate the possible short-term changes in aortic stiffness and other aortic functional properties after TAVI in older patients. Methods: TAVI Care&Cure is an observational ongoing study including consecutive patients undergoing a TAVI procedure. Central and peripheral hemodynamic measurements were measured non invasively 1 day before (T-1) and 1 day after (T+1) TAVI using a validated oscillometric method using a br

A multivariate analysis of tourists’ spending behaviour

According to the micro-economic theories regarding consumption behaviour, the determinants affecting the joint propensity of purchasing different goods and services are investigated. For this purpose, a copula-based model is suggested to understand how different expenditure categories are dependent with each other. A real application drawn from the tourism field illustrates the proposed approach and shows its main advantages. The findings could guide local practitioners and managers in creating new promotional campaigns able to attract visitors willing to pay on a bundle of goods and services correlated with each other

A multivariate nonlinear analysis of tourism expenditures

Independence among different tourism expenditure categories is the most convenient hypothesis for modeling decision–making processes. Nevertheless, the best-suited framework would require dependence among expenditures in order to face individual budget and ordered choices. To this end we provide a new multivariate copula-based logit model with explanatory variables. We applied our tools to the expenditures of the foreign tourists visiting South–Tyrol (Northern Italy), and we underlined the need to go beyond usual independence assumption in order to get more realistic results. The obtained findings are useful for policy makers, marketing experts, and local government in order to know how visitors allocate their travel budget; moreover, they can been exploited to improve the touristic supply by means of ad–hoc promotions, advertising, touristic packages, and attractions

Estudio comparativo de clones comerciales de Tannat (Vitis vinifera L.) en el sur del Uruguay. [Comparative Study of Commercial Clones of Tannat (Vitis vinifera L.) in Southern Uruguay.]

RESUMEN.Tannat es la principal variedad de uva tinta cultivada en Uruguay para la producción de vinos destinados al mercado local y la exportación. En un proceso de reconversión de antiguas plantaciones envirosadas, en la década de los 70s comienzan a introducirse clones seleccionados en Francia, siendo el 398 el más adoptado aún sin experiencia previa de su comportamiento en el país. A fin de comparar el desempeño cualitativo y cuantitativo, ocho clones ENTAV-INRA 398, 399, 472, 474, 475, 717, 794 y 944 fueron plantados, quince plantas por parcela, en bloques al azar con ocho repeticiones. El ensayo, conducido en espaldera alta, con poda larga y sobre portainjerto SO4 , fue evaluado de 2005 a 2010. Diez plantas por parcela fueron raleadas antes de envero y cinco permanecieron con toda su producción. Se evaluó rendimiento, peso y número de racimos por planta junto a parámetros cualitativos de uvas y vinos. Se realizaron análisis sensoriales descriptivos anualmente sobre los vinos por panelistas especializados. Los clones 398, 399 y 475 fueron más productivos, exhibiendo diferencias significativas con el 474. Las uvas de los clones 474 y 717 tuvieron las mejores calidades independientemente del rendimiento. Sus uvas tuvieron los mayores contenidos de sólidos solubles y de antocianos totales y fácilmente extraíbles. Los vinos de estos clones, junto al 398, mostraron los aromas más frutados, más estructurados y menor astringencia. Ello sugiere que ambos deberían considerarse para futuras plantaciones destinadas a vinos de calidad en las condiciones agro-climáticas del Uruguay..-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.SUMMARY.Tannat is the main red wine variety cultivated in Uruguay for the production of wines for the domestic market as well as for export. In a process of reconversion of old virus infected plantations, clones selected in France began to be introduced in the 70´s. Clone 398 was the most adopted, without previous experience of its behavior in the country. In order to compare qualitative and quantitative performance, eight French Tannat ENTAV-INRA clones 398, 399, 472, 474, 475, 717, 794 and 944 were planted, fifteen plants per plot, in a randomized block design with eight replicates. The trial conducted on VSP trellis, with long pruning, and on rootstock SO4 , was evaluated from 2005 to 2010. Ten plants per plot were thinned before veraison, and five remained with all their production. Yield, weight, and number of clusters per plant were evaluated, along with qualitative parameters of grapes and wines. Descriptive sensorial analyzes were carried out annually on wines by specialized panelists. Clones 398, 399 and 475 were more productive, showing significant differences with 474. Clones 474 and 717 had the best grape and wine quality independently of crop load. Their grapes had the highest contents of soluble solids and total and easily removable anthocyanins. The wines of these clones, along with 398, had the most fruity aromas, structure, and minor astringency. This suggests that both clones should be considered for future plantations for high quality wines under the agro-climatic conditions of Uruguay