Influence of interactive thematic maps on tourist perceptions: a network analysis (original) (raw)

A Structural Analysis of Destination Travel Intentions as a Function of Web Site Features

Journal of Travel Research, 2006

This study used the technology acceptance model to assess the influence of tourism Web site characteristics on perceived Web site usefulness in planning a trip. Furthermore, the impact of Web site usefulness on intentions to travel to a destination was examined using structural equation modeling analysis. Consumer characteristics such as previous visits to the destination or its Web site, online travel-planning experience, and Internet use were included in the model. The results showed that motivating visuals and trip information functionality were significant predictors of Web site usefulness. Web site usefulness was a significant predictor of intent to travel to the destination, whereas previous visits to the destination or its Web site had significant but small negative influence on intentions to travel. The motivating visuals factor was also a significant direct predictor of intentions to travel to the destination, whereas trip information functionality had indirect influence on...

Journal of Travel & Tourism Marketing An Open Source Web-Mapping System for Tourism Planning and Marketing

Core retail management functions include defining market areas and profiling customers. For tourism enterprises, market areas are geographically dispersed with many customers residing beyond the immediate area surrounding the attraction. Visualization and analysis of these distributed market areas are significantly enhanced by the capabilities of Geographic Information System (GIS) technology and help to support management objectives. Unfortunately, many businesses are unable to utilize GIS due to its complexity and expense. This study develops a decision support tool for tourism planning and marketing that is customized and easy to use, employs open source software to reduce expense, and allows for broad accessibility via web delivery. Users can easily visualize and examine the spatial distribution of their own United States (US) client origins and visitation patterns along with relevant tourism-specific and general demographic information. This functionality can be beneficial in developing or augmenting business plans or marketing strategies, and for informing tourism theory.

Thematic tourism as an important segment in the business of modern tour operators

Turisticko poslovanje, 2014

The aim of this paper is to point out to a growing trend of interests of modern tourists for various forms of thematic tourism, as a response to the tendency of uniformity of consumers' lifestyle, which globalization has brought. Thanks to their central place in the tourism system and their expertise, tour operators play a key role in the creation of new programs, 'tailored' to the taste of modern tourists. For that purpose, a number of theoretical assumptions and examples from practice have been analyzed and the method of understanding cause-and-effect relationships is used, in order to examine the role of tour operators in application of new thematic programs. The need to emphasize the special customers' requirements regarding travel services creates an additional problem to tour operators. It indicates the trend of individual trips, which requires a change in choice of markets and product differentiation. The research findings suggest the conclusion that tour operators need to adapt their business strategies to new market conditions, using advantages of information technology in designing diverse thematic programs, which will enable tourists to perceive other local values and express their individuality looking for authentic experiences.

Social Network Analysis as a Valuable Tool for Understanding Tourists’ Multi-Attraction Travel Behavioral Intention to Revisit and Recommend

Sustainability

In order to better understand tourists’ multi-attraction travel behavior, the present study developed a research model by combining the social network analysis technique with the structural equation model. The object of this study was to examine the structural relationships among destination image, tourists’ multi-attraction travel behavior patterns, tourists’ satisfaction, and their behavioral intentions. The data were gathered via an online survey using the China panel system. A total of 468 respondents who visited multiple attractions while in Seoul, Korea, were used for actual analysis. The results showed that all hypotheses are supported. Specifically, destination image was an important antecedent to multi-attraction travel behavior indicated by density and degree indices. In addition, the present study confirmed that density and degree centrality, the indicators of tourists’ multi-attraction travel behavior, were positively related to tourist satisfaction. The current study re...

Distribution of tourists within urban heritage destinations: a hot spot/cold spot analysis of TripAdvisor data as support for destination management

Current Issues in Tourism

The emergence of social media and Web 2.0 has a notable impact upon the tasks of destination managers as these platforms have developed into influential mechanisms affecting tourist behaviour. This paper shows how Destination Management Organizations (DMOs) can reap the benefits of the Web 2.0 revolution as it serves as an important source of user-generated information, bringing novel opportunities for data-driven destination management. To test the applicability of user-generated content for destination management, this paper analyses restaurant reviews from five Flemish art cities which were retrieved from the Web 2.0 platform TripAdvisor. Getis-Ord hot spot analysis revealed spatial clusters of frequently ('hot spots') and rarely ('cold spots') reviewed restaurants in four out of the five art cities. By comparing these spatial patterns, the digital footprints of tourists were uncovered and discussed with DMO directors. Found patterns appeared to reflect local policies aimed either at concentrating tourism, as in Bruges, the city with the most prominent hot spot, or spreading tourism over time and space as seen in Antwerp and Ghent where less prominent hot spots were present. The visualization proved to be a valuable input when discussing tourism management and fuelled the sharing of knowledge between the destinations.

Geocollaborative portals and trip planning: users’ perceptions of the success of the collaborative decision making processes

2009

As more and more travelers wish to create their personalised trip itineraries, the provision of geographical information and services on travel websites is an unavoidable necessity. The evolution of geoportals, geocollaborative portals and web 2.0 present numerous opportunities and services for making the trip planning process less complex and time consuming, more efficient and more social and collaborative for travelers and their travel companions. This paper aimed at exploring the use and impact of geocollaborative ...

Using Interactive Maps as Tourism Information Source–The Case of DESTOUR

… technologies in tourism …, 2004

Tourism is increasingly applying innovative technological solutions regarding communication with tourists. A project of the Industrial Section and the Office for Industrial Innovation of South Tyrol developed a Tourist Information Technology cluster within the Cluster Alpine Network (CAN) as South Tyrolean companies still possess idle potentials which could be pooled and improved within the framework of clusters and competence centers. CAN South Tyrol is to build an economic network which will offer small-and medium-sized companies especially in outlying areas the opportunity to co-operate with other companies in the region. One cluster was developed within the field of Information Technology and tourism: three start-up enterprises specialized in destination management system (DMS), geographical information systems (GIS) and 3D/360 grade picture animation, have integrated their competencies for creating an innovative product for the tourist sector called DESTOUR. DESTOUR is an interactive information, communication and distribution system for tourist destinations based on geographical maps integrating tourist information, such as accommodations and tourist services, and online booking.

Online and offline information sources used by international tourists and their effectiveness in constructing destination attributes

KDI School, 2020

Tourism is an important industry globally and a critical industry for Indonesia. Despite the importance of tourism to Indonesia's economy, there is a general view that the industry has untapped potential. Given Indonesia's prodigious tourism resources and strategic geographical location, it fails to draw the highest possible tourist numbers and receipts. Government has implemented some ambitious and strategic efforts to boost the number of foreign tourists to Indonesia. However, the country still lags behind its regional competitors in number of foreign tourists and receipts. Therefore, this study investigates information sources, both online and offline, as the lifeblood of the travel and tourism industry. Using factor analysis, information source attributes were examined to discover the rationale behind the selection of sources by international tourists. This paper also analyzed which sources used and constructed destination attributes, in acknowledgement of the significance of a destination image as a factor of travel decision making. This research focuses on international tourists and uses Bali as the case study. Results indicate that international tourists use both online and offline sources. The findings also indicate that the main reasons for the selection of sources are the interactivity and usergenerated content of sources. The results of this research can be used in tourism policy and marketing strategies by central and local governments as well as tourism communities.

Mapping the concepts evoked by a destination: an approach to the study of a holistic destination image

Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Technology, 2021

Purpose This study aims to demonstrate the application of computer-aided text analysis (CATA) software in identifying primary associations and impressions of a specified tourist destination. Design/methodology/approach The Leximancer software is applied on primary information to analyze the concepts evoked by a destination. Because no specific planning has been done for destination image marketing strategies for rural tourism in Andalusia, this study visualizes and determines clusters of the main attributes associated with this destination. Findings The analysis identifies the main clusters among associations and impressions of the destination that can be useful in developing strategies. Research limitations/implications Only a target segment is studied, with a relatively small sample size. Practical implications Leximancer can not only be applied to online user-generated content, but primary information can also be mapped to generate a holistic destination image. Furthermore, ident...