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Article
Publication date: 8 June 2012

Annalisa Tirella, Carmelo De Maria, Giuseppe Criscenti, Giovanni Vozzi and Arti Ahluwalia

The traditional tissue engineering approach employs rapid prototyping systems to realise microstructures (i.e. scaffolds) which recapitulate the function and organization of…

Abstract

Purpose

The traditional tissue engineering approach employs rapid prototyping systems to realise microstructures (i.e. scaffolds) which recapitulate the function and organization of native tissues. The purpose of this paper is to describe a new rapid prototyping system (PAM‐modular micro‐fabrication system, PAM2) able to fabricate microstructures using materials with different properties in a controlled environment.

Design/methodology/approach

Computer‐aided technologies were used to design multi‐scale biological models. Scaffolds with specific features were then designed using custom software and manufactured using suitable modules. In particular, several manufacturing modules were realised to enlarge the PAM2 processing material window, controlling physical parameters such as pressure, force, temperature and light. These modules were integrated in PAM2, allowing a precise control of fabrication parameters through a modular approach and hardware configuration.

Findings

Synthetic and natural polymeric solutions, thermo‐sensitive and photo‐sensitive materials can be used to fabricate 3D scaffolds. Both simple and complex architectures with high fidelity and spatial resolution ranging from ±15 μm to ±200μm (according to ink properties and extrusion module used) were realised.

Originality/value

The PAM2 system is a new rapid prototyping technique which operates in controlled conditions (for example temperature, pressure or light intensity) and integrates several manufacturing modules for the fabrication of complex or multimaterial microstructures. In this paper it is shown how the system can be configured and then used to fabricate scaffolds mimicking the extra‐cellular matrix, both in its properties (i.e. physic‐chemical and mechanical properties) and architecture.

Details

Rapid Prototyping Journal, vol. 18 no. 4
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1355-2546

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 10 November 2021

Rita R. Carballo, Carmelo J. León and María M. Carballo

This paper aims to study the influence of gender on the theoretical and empirical relationships between tourists’ risk perceptions and both destination image and behavioural…

1020

Abstract

Purpose

This paper aims to study the influence of gender on the theoretical and empirical relationships between tourists’ risk perceptions and both destination image and behavioural intentions.

Design/methodology/approach

An empirical study was carried out with potential tourists at home in Germany and the UK considering travelling to Spain, Egypt, Morocco, Brazil, Colombia and Indonesia. Data were analysed using structural equation modelling with multi-group analysis.

Findings

Results show that gender moderates the theoretical relationships between risk perception and both destination image and behavioural intentions. Risk perception is higher for women than for men and depends on the type of risks and the characteristics of the destination. Women are more likely than men to reduce their visit to a destination whenever there is an increase in their risk perceptions. However, the influence of risk perception on destination image is higher for men than for women. Thus, results prove there are significant gender differences in the theoretical relationships between risk perceptions and destination image and visiting intentions.

Originality/value

This paper provides new evidence on the gender differences in risk perceptions in tourism and their impact on destination image and visiting intentions, showing that whenever there are higher risks at a tourist destination women do change more than men their behavioural intentions. The results are useful for designing risk management and promotion policies at destinations that avoid the masculinisation bias, thereby considering the impact of gender differences on travel behaviour and consumption decisions.

目的

本文研究了性別對遊客風險感知與目的地形象和行為意圖之間的理論和實證關係的影響。

设计/方法

對考慮前往西班牙, 埃及, 摩洛哥, 巴西, 哥倫比亞和印度尼西亞的德國和英國的潛在遊客進行了一項實證研究。使用具有多組分析的結構方程建模來分析數據。

研究结果

結果表明, 性別調節風險感知與目的地形象和行為意圖之間的理論關係。 女性的風險認知高於男性, 這取決於風險類型和目的地的特徵。每當風險認知增加時, 女性比男性更有可能減少前往目的地的次數。然而, 男性的風險感知對目的地形象的影響要高於女性。 因此, 結果證明風險感知與目的地形象和訪問意圖之間的理論關係存在顯著的性別差異。

独创性/价值

本文提供了關於旅遊風險認知的性別差異及其對目的地形象和訪問意圖的影響的新證據, 表明每當旅遊目的地的風險較高時, 女性的行為意圖變化確實比男性多。結果有助於在目的地設計風險管理和促銷政策, 避免男性化偏見, 從而考慮性別差異對旅行行為和消費決策的影響。

关键词:

行為 目的地 性別 性別化 形象 風險

文章类型:研究型论文

Propósito

Este artículo analiza la influencia del género en las relaciones teóricas y empíricas entre las percepciones de riesgo de los turistas y la imagen del destino y las intenciones de visitar.

Diseño/metodología/enfoque

Se ha llevado a cabo un estudio empírico a turistas potenciales en Alemania y Reino Unido que consideran viajar a España, Egipto, Marruecos, Brasil, Colombia e Indonesia en un futuro próximo. Los datos se analizaron utilizando un Modelado de Ecuaciones Estructurales con Análisis Multigrupo.

Resultados

Los resultados muestran que el género actúa como variable moderadora en las relaciones teóricas entre la percepción del riesgo, la imagen del destino y las intenciones de comportamiento. La percepción del riesgo es mayor para las mujeres que para los hombres y depende del tipo de riesgo y de las características del destino. Las mujeres están más dispuestas que los hombres no visitar un destino cuando aumenta la percepción del riesgo. Sin embargo, la influencia de la percepción del riesgo en la imagen del destino es mayor para los hombres que para las mujeres. Por tanto, los resultados demuestran que existen importantes diferencias de género en las relaciones teóricas entre las percepciones de riesgo, la imagen del destino y las intenciones de visitar.

Originalidad

Este estudio proporciona nuevas evidencias sobre las diferencias de género en las percepciones de riesgo en turismo y su impacto en la imagen del destino y las intenciones de visitar, demostrando que cuando aumenta el riesgo en un destino turístico, las mujeres estarán más dispuestas que los hombres a cambiar de destino. Los resultados son útiles para el diseño de políticas de promoción y gestión de riesgos en destinos desde la perspectiva de género, considerando las diferencias de género en los comportamientos de viaje y las decisiones de consumo.

Palabras clave:

Comportamiento, Destino, Género, Perspectiva de género, Imagen, Riesgo

Tipo de papel

Trabajo de investigación

Details

Tourism Review, vol. 77 no. 3
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1660-5373

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 14 October 2019

Rita R. Carballo, Carmelo J. León and María M. Carballo

Lanzarote, Spain, as a tourism destination, suffered a rapid tourist expansion for many years, and this has endangered its sustainability. The purpose of this study is to…

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Abstract

Purpose

Lanzarote, Spain, as a tourism destination, suffered a rapid tourist expansion for many years, and this has endangered its sustainability. The purpose of this study is to investigate the case of overtourism and its consequences for the local population and the environment, and to identify ways to mitigate this issue.

Design/methodology/approach

The study uses a case study approach. Data obtained from tourists visiting the destination were used to examine three key aspects of tourism development, namely, the arrival of tourists to the island, the accommodation offer and the growth of the population. Social awareness with environmental values and protection of the island’s natural resources were the main engine to establish measures to mitigate overtourism.

Findings

The analysis shows rapid growth in the arrival of tourists to the island and how it affected the accommodation offer and the population. It explores the solution that the authorities of the island took to solve the problem of disorganized growth of tourism and makes reference to the importance of managing the image of a destination to contribute to tourism sustainability.

Originality/value

This research proposes practical solutions to tackle overtourism at a destination which has been used by the United Nations as an example to establish sustainable tourism development guidelines. It proposes a unique mitigation strategy which is derived from the use of natural recreation.

Details

Worldwide Hospitality and Tourism Themes, vol. 11 no. 5
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1755-4217

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 30 November 2018

María Vidales and Carmelo García-Pérez

The purpose of this paper is to analyse, from an empirical point of view, the importance of each of the main sources of funding in developing countries (foreign direct investment…

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to analyse, from an empirical point of view, the importance of each of the main sources of funding in developing countries (foreign direct investment, official development assistance, external debt and remittances) in achieving sustainable, social and inclusive development.

Design/methodology/approach

The methodology followed to achieve this purpose is the construction of three econometric models. The general model incorporates as a dependent variable the Human Development Index (HDI) and, as explanatory variables, the four sources of funding indicated above, as well as three exogenous variables (human capital, corruption and natural resources). This model is complemented by two extensions that aim to analyse the behaviour of explanatory variables in reducing inequalities and improving each of the HDI components.

Findings

The results of the estimations of the econometric models show that foreign direct investment and remittances are the sources of funding with the greatest impact on achieving development. Moreover, official development assistance while not making a positive contribution to the achievement of development as a whole, could be adequate to reduce inequalities.

Originality/value

The added value of this paper consists in carrying out a joint analysis of these four sources of funding because previous researches focussed the attention on some of them, drawing partial conclusions. The conclusion of this study is that the four sources of funding analysed can be considered complementary to promote sustainable and inclusive development, although foreign direct investment has a much more important role.

Details

Social Responsibility Journal, vol. 15 no. 5
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1747-1117

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 9 October 2017

Rita R. Carballo, Carmelo J. León and María M. Carballo

This paper aims to investigate the perception of risk by international travellers. There are multiple risks facing tourism that contribute to the formation of perception of risk…

1186

Abstract

Purpose

This paper aims to investigate the perception of risk by international travellers. There are multiple risks facing tourism that contribute to the formation of perception of risk. It is necessary to identify the different types of risks that are perceived in tourist destinations. This paper suggests policies and techniques to mitigate the risk perceptions in tourism.

Design/methodology/approach

A preliminary questionnaire survey was conducted to test the types of risks that are perceived in international destinations. The data were further analysed with factor analysis to measure the dimension of risk perceptions.

Findings

The main results point to the existence of five types of risk affecting tourists during international travel: health risk, risk of suffering from crime and delinquency, accident risk, environmental risk and risk from disasters. Result shows that uncontrollable risks are perceived as more important than those which are more controllable.

Originality/value

As the existing literature on perception of risk in tourism does not contain a substantially detailed discussion relating to types of risk in international destinations and its contribution to the formation of risk perceptions, this paper may contribute to a better understanding of risk perception. The results could assist in decision-making and have implications for the management of risks.

Details

Worldwide Hospitality and Tourism Themes, vol. 9 no. 5
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1755-4217

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 15 July 2022

Jason Yip, Wendy Roldan, Carmen Gonzalez, Laura R. Pina, Maria Ruiz and Paola Vanegas

This study aims to investigate the collaboration processes of immigrant families as they search for online information together. Immigrant English-language learning adults of…

Abstract

Purpose

This study aims to investigate the collaboration processes of immigrant families as they search for online information together. Immigrant English-language learning adults of lower socioeconomic status often work collaboratively with their children to search the internet. Family members rely on each other’s language and digital literacy skills in this collaborative process known as online search and brokering (OSB). While previous work has identified ecological factors that impact OSB, research has not yet distilled the specific learning processes behind such collaborations.

Design/methodology/approach

For this study, the authors adhere to practices of a case study examination. This study’s participants included parents, grandparents and children aged 10–17 years. Most adults were born in Mexico, did not have a college-degree, worked in service industries and represented a lower-SES population. This study conducted two to three separate in-home family visits per family with interviews and online search tasks.

Findings

From a case study analysis of three families, this paper explores the funds of knowledge, resilience, ecological support and challenges that children and parents face, as they engage in collaborative OSB experiences. This study demonstrates how in-home computer-supported collaborative processes are often informal, social, emotional and highly relevant to solving information challenges.

Research limitations/implications

An intergenerational OSB process is different from collaborative online information problem-solving that happens between classroom peers or coworkers. This study’s research shows how both parents and children draw on their funds of knowledge, resilience and ecological support systems when they search collaboratively, with and for their family members, to problem solve. This is a case study of three families working in collaboration with each other. This case study informs analytical generalizations and theory-building rather than statistical generalizations about families.

Practical implications

Designers need to recognize that children and youth are using the same tools as adults to seek high-level critical information. This study’s model suggests that if parents and children are negotiating information seeking with the same technology tools but different funds of knowledge, experience levels and skills, the presentation of information (e.g. online search results, information visualizations) needs to accommodate different levels of understanding. This study recommends designers work closely with marginalized communities through participatory design methods to better understand how interfaces and visuals can help accommodate youth invisible work.

Social implications

The authors have demonstrated in this study that learning and engaging in family online searching is not only vital to the development of individual and digital literacy skills, it is a part of family learning. While community services, libraries and schools have a responsibility to support individual digital and information literacy development, this study’s model highlights the need to recognize funds of knowledge, family resiliency and asset-based learning. Schools and teachers should identify and harness youth invisible work as a form of learning at home. The authors believe educators can do this by highlighting the importance of information problem solving in homes and youth in their families. Libraries and community centers also play a critical role in supporting parents and adults for technical assistance (e.g. WiFi access) and information resources.

Originality/value

This study’s work indicates new conditions fostering productive joint media engagement (JME) around OSB. This study contributes a generative understanding that promotes studying and designing for JME, where family responsibility is the focus.

Details

Information and Learning Sciences, vol. 123 no. 7/8
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2398-5348

Keywords

Abstract

Details

The Development of the Maltese Insurance Industry: A Comprehensive Study
Type: Book
ISBN: 978-1-78756-978-2

Book part
Publication date: 23 September 2022

Rita R. Carballo, Carmelo J. León and María M. Carballo

The purpose of this chapter is to evaluate and discuss the factors that underpin tourists' perceptions of anti-COVID-19 practices in tourist accommodations and destinations, as…

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this chapter is to evaluate and discuss the factors that underpin tourists' perceptions of anti-COVID-19 practices in tourist accommodations and destinations, as well as in tourists' experience, satisfaction and behaviour, in order to make recommendations for managers at hotels and tourist destinations.

Design/Methodology/Approach

A survey at tourist accommodations in the Canary Islands was conducted to collect data, and 431 questionnaires were part of the final analysis. The data were analysed with the SPSS27 statistical processing software. Various multivariate techniques such as correlation analysis and factor analysis were used to analyse the data.

Findings

The results reveal that anti-COVID-19 practices at the accommodation are the most important for tourists to feel safe in their visit to the destination. The most important factors in the tourists' experience during the pandemic are those related to communication and behaviour. Satisfaction after COVID-19 is perceived higher if places or items for cleaning and disinfestation are provided to tourists and rooms are naturally ventilated, while intentions to visit after COVID-19 are highest to visit local destinations.

Practical Implications

The results of the research will support scholars and practitioners to recognise the importance of factors that influence anti-COVID-19 practices, tourists' experience, satisfaction and behaviour during the pandemic. In addition, the research offers policy recommendations for maximum benefits for the tourism industry in the Canary Islands and others tourist destinations.

Originality/Value

The chapter was an original primary and exploratory study that surveyed tourists to determine their perceptions of anti-COVID-19 practices, experience, satisfaction and behaviour during the pandemic. The results reveal the most important factors in the construction of the analysed variables, and may be used as a starting point for further hospitality marketing research.

Details

Tourism Through Troubled Times
Type: Book
ISBN: 978-1-80382-311-9

Keywords

Book part
Publication date: 7 March 2022

Rita R. Carballo, Carmelo J. León and María M. Carballo

Tourist decision-making has served as a valuable source in shaping management strategies and firm development by the tourism and hospitality industry. The influence of children on…

Abstract

Tourist decision-making has served as a valuable source in shaping management strategies and firm development by the tourism and hospitality industry. The influence of children on sustainable leadership is becoming increasingly important for service industries. However, little research has been dedicated to the role that children play in the sustainability of the tourism industry. The aim of this chapter is to understand the roles of children promotion of sustainability leadership. The chapter provides insight into the role of children on sustainability management and assesses their perceptions of environmental sustainability. A total of 346 questionnaires were collected. The results indicate that children may influence sustainable leadership management by the roles as thinkers, actioners and transformers of tourist destinations. Relevant management and marketing implications were discussed, and the results provide a perspective about planning and development to increase tourist satisfaction. The research shows that children have great potential for future sustainability management of the tourism industry.

Details

Children in Sustainable and Responsible Tourism
Type: Book
ISBN: 978-1-80117-657-6

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 19 January 2023

Giorgia Maria D'Allura, Andrea Calabrò and Marco Santangelo

The aim of this paper is to theorize on and empirically extend the understanding of the adoption of codes of ethics within the context of family firms. The authors contend that in…

Abstract

Purpose

The aim of this paper is to theorize on and empirically extend the understanding of the adoption of codes of ethics within the context of family firms. The authors contend that in family firms the adoption of code of ethics is a process emerging from social interaction.

Design/methodology/approach

Through a multiple case study design the authors analyze family firms that have not yet adopted a code of ethics and untangle the process that could potentially lead to that choice.

Findings

The authors’ main finding suggests that the institutional context impacts on the adoption of codes of ethics. Furthermore, in first generation the adoption of codes of ethics is hindered by the presence of the founder and the existence of strong family ties. In subsequent generations as founder centrality is reduced the owning-family considers more the possibility to adopt such codes to preserve the family's reputation in the local community.

Research limitations/implications

First multiple views also from external stakeholders could be added; second, an international perspective using cross-country cases could add more nuances on how cultural and institutional aspects shape the adoption of codes of ethics differently across national contexts.

Practical implications

The authors’ findings inform family business owners on the importance of adopting code of ethics to support the formalization of the family value system.

Originality/value

The authors advance the debate on codes of ethics in family firms by disentangling the process through which those codes may be adopted to institutionalize and formalize the family values, history and tradition.

Details

Journal of Family Business Management, vol. 13 no. 4
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2043-6238

Keywords

1 – 10 of 32