State Level Research: Typology and Direction

The increasingly competitive environment for travelers dollars compels state travel offices to review their long term plans. An important part of that planning process is the role research will play in understanding travelers behavior. The types of research states might find most useful is the subject of this paper. Research studies are aggregated into four categories delineated as: Assessment, Monitoring, Product Positioning and Forecasting. Examples of each categorical type are briefly reviewed in terms of function and expected outputs. A strategy for designing an optimum research mix is also suggested

Mature Market\u27s International Travel Characteristics and Images of the People\u27s Republic of China

Very little research has been conducted on the mature market (50+ years) with respect to travel. However, the size and economic spending power of this group makes it a significant force in the travel marketplace. The purpose of this article is to profile portions of the mature market predisposed to travel to the People\u27s Republic of China and analyze Before/After touristic images the groups held of the country. Some notable findings were 1) the individuals profiled in this study were frequent international travelers with over one-third traveling internationally three or more times a year, 2) they preferred traveling in family groups, 3) friends and relatives were the most commonly utilized sources for international travel information but the external search process also included other business provided sources, 4) Historical attractions followed closely by a category described as People had the highest attractiveness ratings although there was some evidence to suggest that expectations exceeded reality as most of the attributes contained in the Historical and People categories had lower attractiveness scores for the After visitation group than for the Before visitation group, 5) five of the ten service attributes were rated significantly higher by the After visitation group than for the Before visitation group. The study raises many questions about the mature market and their travel behavior. The need for further research is quite evident to more fully understand this significant group of travelers

EXAMINING THE ECONOMIC IMPACT OF TOURISM: WHO GETS TO CLAIM THE GOLD?

Korištenje metodologije ekonomskog utjecaja za procjenu važnosti turističkih atrakcija može biti problematično. Prvi problem povezan je s načinom uporabe te tehnike, konkretnije s utvrđivanjem onoga što se zaista mjeri tom tehnikom. Drugi je problem u tome kako se dobiveni podaci koriste. Ovaj rad analizira jedno istraživanje procjene ekonomskog utjecaja vinske industrije u saveznoj državi Iowa u Sjedinjenim Američkim Državama. Poznato je, naime, da se mnoge vinarije smatraju primarnim turističkim atrakcijama te je stoga važno razumjeti njihovu važnost za lokalna gospodarstva kako bi se počele donositi učinkovite politike razvoja. Korištenjem različitih pristupa za procjenu gospodarskog utjecaja u radu se pokazuje i raspon raznih vrijednosti koje mogu biti predmet procjene. S tim u vezi propitujemo i korištenje netočnih podataka, što je važno s obzirom da netočne i precijenjene ocjene ekonomskog utjecaja mogu dovesti do pogrešno usmjerenih politika kod ostalih primarnih turističkih atrakcija koje se ne prepoznaju kao one koje dodaju vrijednost nekom odredištu.The use of economic impact methodology to assess the importance of tourist attractions can be problematic. The fi rst issue is how the technique is utilized and what actually gets counted. The second issue is how the derived information is utilized. This paper discusses a study to estimate the economic impact of the winery industry in the state of Iowa in the United States. Many wineries are viewed as primary tourist attractions and it is important to understand their importance to local economies in order for effective development policy to be enacted. Using different approaches to measuring economic impact we show the range of values that can be estimated. From this we pose several concerns about the use of inaccurate. The use of inaccurate and overestimated economic impact assessments can lead to misdirected policy with other primary attractions not recognized as providing any value to a destination

How to Avoid a COVID-19 Research Paper Tsunami? A Tourism System Approach

COVID-19 reaction policies have had the effect of putting the tourism economy into a form of forced hibernation. Currently there is speculation about what will happen as tourism begins to emerge from its dormant state. In this article, we use the concept of a system to analyze the potential research implications of COVID-19 effects on tourism. In doing so, we firmly place tourism within the concept of a system that relies on a steady flow of money from tourists to function. Three scenarios, each with two end states, to cover the array of potential reactions and recovery from the pandemic are presented. An impact grid is constructed to be able to follow the effects of policies and interventions on tourism objects and subjects. Examples of how research may use the grid to uncover impacts are presented. Conclusions reinforce the need for a system approach to guide COVID-19 tourism research

An Integrated Tourism Development Project: The Central Region of Ghana

The Republic of Ghana is located in West Africa approximately 750 kilometers north of the equator. As a country it has gone through a series of economic cycles but due to numerous coups, misguided economic policies, and the vagaries of international markets for export goods most growth has been short lived. Since 1990 economic growth has accelerated and the country is currently governed by an elected President and Parliament. One of the main economic development strategies in the last five years has been tourism

SECTORAL HERITAGE CHARACTERISTICS FOR WINE REGION DEVELOPMENT: THE INFLUENCE OF AGRICULTURE, CULTURE AND TOURISM

U sve više globaliziranom svijetu vina za male postsocijalisičke države, poput Hrvatske, poseban je izazov strateško planiranje razvoja vinskih regija. Te države količinom proizvodnje vina ne mogu konkurirati velikim i svjetski poznatim vinskim regijama (Rioja u Španjolskoj, Bordeaux u Francuskoj i dr.). Na prostoru Hrvatske uzgoj vinove loze star je nekoliko tisuća godina, a tradicijsko nasljeđe koje proizlazi iz ekonomske nerazvijenosti još uvijek karakterizira njezine vinske regije. Vinari u Hrvatskoj ograničeni su na proizvodnju malih količina vina te se ne mogu natjecati s velikim, poznatim proizvođačima, ali se uvijek mogu natjecati kroz turističku perspektivu. Cilj rada je konceptualizacija modela revitalizacije vinskih regija u Hrvatskoj temeljem prepoznavanja sektorskih karakteristika tradicijskog nasljeđa. Zaključak se iskazuje utvrđivanjem karakteristika tradicijskog nasljeđa u tri najvažnija sektora (poljoprivreda, kultura i turizam) koji su povezani s proizvodnjom i prodajom vina, utvrđivanjem korištenja tradicionalnih obilježja karakteristika nasljeđa u sektorskim razvojnim planovima te analizom rezultata anonimne ankete koja je provedena u turističkim zajednicama (ruralnih) općina o percepciji tradicijskog nasljeđa za razvoj vinskog turizma.In the increasingly globalized world of wine, strategic planning of wine region development in small post-socialist countries, such as Croatia, represents a particular challenge. These countries cannot compete with large and world-known wine regions (Rioja, Bordeaux etc.) in terms of production volume. However, grapes have been grown on the teritory of the present-day Croatia for several thousand years and pronouced traditional heritage resulting from economic underdevelopment still characterizes Croatian wine regions. Therefore Croatian winemakers, being restricted to making only small quantities of wine, cannot compete against large, well-known producers, but they can still compete from a tourism perspective. This paper aims at conceptualizing a model of wine region revival based on characteristics of traditional heritage. The conclusion is reached by: determining the characteristics of traditional heritage in the three most important sectors (agriculture, culture and tourism) related to wine production and sales, identifying the use of traditional heritage characteristics in sectoral development plans and analysing the results of a survey conducted by destination management organizations of rural municipalities on perceptions of traditional heritage in wine tourism development

A MODEL OF COMPETITIVENESS IN INTANGIBLE CULTURAL HERITAGE TOURISM DESTINATIONS FROM THE KNOWLEDGE-BASED VIEW

U ovom radu predstavljen je model nematerijalne kulturne baštine sa stajališta temeljenog na znanju kojim se proučava njezina uloga u konkurentnosti destinacije. Prvo se razmatra pojam nematerijalne kulturne baštine i njen odnos s turizmom. Zatim slijedi osvrt na značaj konkurentnosti destinacije u kontekstu nematerijalne baštine i potencijala koji će se analizirati u okviru stajališta temeljenog na znanju. Kako je pojam održive konkurentske prednosti ključan u tom okruženju, važno je raspraviti odnose oskudnosti, relevantnosti, autentičnosti vezane uz mjesto, kratkoročne zaštite i prijenosa inherentnog znanja o nematerijalnoj kulturnoj baštini. Na prednostima održivog razvoja temeljenim na nematerijalnoj kulturnoj baštini zasniva se generiranje renti, ali one bi trebale barem djelomično pripadati lokalnoj zajednici/glavnim dionicima u destinaciji.This work presents a model of intangible cultural heritage from a knowledge-based view that studies its role in destination competitiveness. Firstly, the concept of intangible cultural heritage and its relationship with tourism are reviewed. Next, the importance of destination competitiveness in the intangible heritage context and the potential to be analyzed under the framework of the knowledge-based view are addressed. As the concept of sustainable competitive advantage is key in that setting, the conditions of scarcity, relevance, place-embedded authenticity, short-term protection, and transfer of the underlying knowledge of intangible cultural heritage are discussed. Intangible cultural heritage-based sustainable competitive advantages are the basis to generate rents, but those rents should be at least partially appropriated by the local community/key stakeholders at the destination

Economic Impact and Social Benefits Study of Coldwater Angling in Minnesota

Saint Paul: University of Minnesota Extension Service, Tourism Center.This study was conducted of anglers utilizing Minnesota’s northeast region cold-water fisheries in 2000-2001, and was based upon a staged mail-back questionnaire sent to anglers who had purchased a trout/salmon stamp from the Minnesota DNR. The purpose of this study was to investigate the economic and social benefits of coldwater angling participation in the state of Minnesota. Overall 10,297 questionnaires were mailed, and 3,029 returned for a response rate of 33%. Two null hypotheses guided this study: 1. There are no expenditure differences between the different types of coldwater angling investigated. 2. There are no experience differences between the different types of coldwater anglers. The survey looked at access points; bait used; species preferences; preference for fishing location; angler age, gender and education; trip distance; purpose of anglers’ trips; and numerous other behaviors and preferences. It also assessed the economic impact of anglers on local economies. The report notes that “fishing equipment was the largest expenditure in preparation for the trip ($12.57/person/day). Total expenditures at home were$33.90 per person per day. The largest expenses en route and onsite were lodging ($15.39/person/day), prepared food ($12.55/person/day), and gas ($12.70/person/day) totaling$71.31 per person daily. In sum, the typical coldwater angler spent $105.21/day. Overall, anglers were satisfied with their trip, and the quality, size and number of fish caught. The study concludes with the following findings: “There were many differences noted between the five different types of fishing investigated in this study. The differences were substantial, significant, and revealing. The evidence presented strongly argues for rejecting both of the null hypotheses used to guide this research. Therefore, we can state with a high degree of certainty that expenditure differences do exist for anglers between the different types of coldwater angling and that different experiences are sought by anglers engaging in different types of fishing. The research that allowed us to reject both null hypotheses also provides us with some interesting insights into other differences between anglers in the five different fishing types.

Inequality and violent crime: evidence from data on robbery and violent theft

This article argues that the link between income inequality and violent property crime might be spurious, complementing a similar argument in prior analysis by the author on the determinants of homicide. In contrast, Fajnzylber, Lederman & Loayza (1998; 2002a, b) provide seemingly strong and robust evidence that inequality causes a higher rate of both homicide and robbery/violent theft even after controlling for country-specific fixed effects. Our results suggest that inequality is not a statistically significant determinant, unless either country-specific effects are not controlled for or the sample is artificially restricted to a small number of countries. The reason why the link between inequality and violent property crime might be spurious is that income inequality is likely to be strongly correlated with country-specific fixed effects such as cultural differences. A high degree of inequality might be socially undesirable for any number of reasons, but that it causes violent crime is far from proven