Activity Loyalty and Recreation Participation: A Conceptual Perspective

Marketers have long had an interest in understanding consumers\u27 purchasing/usage patterns. This paper proposes a conceptual definition of activity loyalty. This variable may be central to understanding why individuals develop different rates and frequency of participation

Assessment of International Tourists\u27 Perception on Local Foods in Tanzania

Consumption of local food is broadly recognized as an essential part of tourists’ experience. Locally distinctive food can be important both as a tourism attraction in itself and in helping to shape the image of a destination. Local food experiences have the potential to contribute considerably to sustainable development, help maintain regional identities and support agricultural diversification. While local foods have the potential to reduce poverty in rural communities, their image and perception to tourists remain largely unexamined. The aim of this paper is to evaluate the way international tourists perceive local food in Tanzania. Data was collected using questionnaires (N = 540) at Kilimanjaro International Airport (KIA), which serves tourists who have just completed their visits from the most popular “Northern Circuit” of Tanzania National Parks. The findings show that (74.5%) of the respondents agreed that overall local food was of good quality and (58.5%) agreed that local food was safe to eat. However, respondents felt strongly that the hotels they stayed in did not provide many varieties of local foods (42.3%) or sufficient information about local foods (36.5%)

Crisis Management in Tourist Destinations

Whether natural or caused by people, disasters have been and continue to be a part of life that communities must deal with. Tourism destinations are especially vulnerable to disaster occurrences due to their economic dependence on visitors and the need to maintain a positive image of attractiveness and safety for continued success. The past decade has witnessed numerous natural disasters in tourist destinations around the world; therefore, community leaders, local governments, and major industries need to be prepared for the worst. The 1989 Hurricane Hugo experience in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina was managed by a local non-profit organization comprised of volunteer community and industry leaders. The Hugo experience demonstrated the need to have a plan of action to follow after disaster occurrences. Telephone interviews were conducted with tourism leaders around the country and written inquiries were made to locate a tourism crisis management plan. The lack of information led to the development of the Myrtle Beach Tourism Crisis Management Manual, to assist the travel and tourism industry respond to and manage natural disasters in an effective manner

International Tourism: An Unrecognized Potential in Rural Tourism Development

This paper presents an overview of international tourism and its role in rural economic development. It briefly describes the current approaches to rural economic development followed by a brief look at international tourism 1n the United States, and the potential for tourism in rural areas is examined. An initial step in assessing the extent to which international tourists visit rural America is determining the factors which currently attract those visitors to rural areas. The purpose of this paper is to profile potential international travelers to rural areas

Issues in Rural Community Tourism Development

Policy makers are turning to tourism as a potential industry force that may bring both economic and demographic stability to American rural communities. The systematic planning and appropriate utilization of community related physical, economic, and socio-cultural attributes is the key to the establishment of sustainable tourism. This paper focuses on several issues that are increasingly recognized as critical factors in the community system. Both quality of life and sense of place are emphasized. The paper concludes with broadly defined guidelines for future planning toward sustainable development

A PRELIMINARY INVESTIGATION ON THE IMPLICATIONS OF 3D VIRTUAL WORLDS IN DESTINATION MARKETING

Second life has been used by the travel and tourism industry as a collaborative and commercial tool for communicating with travelers as well as tourism enterprises in the areas of destination marketing (e.g. Tourism Ireland), business management (i.e. Starwood Hotels; Crowne Plaza; STA travel agents). However, few studies have applied theory to understand the significance of 3D virtual worlds to tourism destinations. Thus, the intent of the present study is to test the applicability the Self-Determination Theory in understanding the use of Second Life in destination marketing and its association to develop consideration and awareness for potential customers in their destination choice

An Investigation of Selected Factors on Golfer Attachment

While little change has occurred in the total number of golfers in the United States, the total number of golf courses is rapidly increasing (3). This increase in market competition has made it vital for resort owners and managers to examine the variables which influence golfers to use and return to their facilities. A relationship that appears to form between golfers and golf courses which has been neglected is place attachment. The purpose of this study was to examine whether or not place attachment actually occurs on a golf course. A second purpose was to investigate the relationship between attachment and a golfer\u27s proximity to the course, gender, age, frequency of play, handicap and income. A third purpose was to examine the relationship between attachment to course and overall satisfaction and perceived value. Subjects (N=l,397) were randomly selected by tee times stratified by weekday and weekend and season of the year at six different Cleveland Metro Parks golf courses. Of the golfers that participated, the average age was 49.9, 70.2% were married, 79.9% were male, and the median household income was $50,000 to$59,999. Results show that a distinct variable of attachment emerged from golfers\u27 perceptions. Further, age, frequency of play, perceived value and overall satisfaction were all found to have strong relationships to attachment. Managerial implications and applicability are discussed

Collegiate Fan Allegiance and Twitter\u27s Role Using the Revised Psychological Continuum Model (PCM): A Case Study of Clemson Men\u27s Basketball Fan

The purpose of this study is to investigate the Twitter\u27s role in the formation of team allegiance through the revised Psychological Continuum Model (PCM) by creating James and Funk (2006). Although collegiate sports programs are using social media to communicate with their fans, little research about how social media impacts the formation of team allegiance has been done. The primary focus will be to analyze how individuals interact with a sports team via Twitter and how those interactions form allegiance. Twitter, a new communication technology platform, is, at present, one of the most popular sites and communication technologies among both individuals and organizations (Clavio, 2011). Twitter also offers a beneficial platform as a strategic marketing tool, enabling fans to elevate team allegiance within the sports realm. This study will also specifically determine whether observing people’s interactions on Twitter is an effective way to study the developing relationship between individuals’ awareness and emotions related to watching sports games and their allegiance toward specific sports team. This research will also help sports marketers learn about sports consumers’ behaviors, needs, and motivations online, which will help shape internet marketing communication