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1 – 10 of over 1000
Article
Publication date: 1 February 2016

Jitimon Angskun, Sasiwimon Korbua and Thara Angskun

This paper aims to focus on time-related factors influencing on an itinerary planning system. The research objective is to produce an itinerary planning system which balances…

Abstract

Purpose

This paper aims to focus on time-related factors influencing on an itinerary planning system. The research objective is to produce an itinerary planning system which balances between the limited time of traveler and the number of tourist attractions they can visit. This system should facilitate travelers by presenting candidate itineraries that visit attractions as much as possible under several time-related factors.

Design/methodology/approach

To achieve the goal, an itinerary planning system has been designed and developed. The system considers several time-related factors including acceptable total travel time specified by travelers, time-related factors at an attraction (e.g. time zones, opening hours and visiting time) and time-related factors of traveling (e.g. road obstructions, weather, date and time and rest time). A routing algorithm which is aware of these time-related factors has been introduced to find candidate itineraries.

Findings

The performance of developed itinerary planning system has been evaluated by measuring speed and accuracy of seven traveling situations under different time-related factors. The experimental results indicate that the proposed routing algorithm spends less planning time than the traditional exhaustive routing algorithm. The efficiency of the proposed algorithm over the exhaustive algorithm is approximately 46 per cent while the accuracy is equal. Additionally, this designed system is evaluated by usability testing from nine experts. The evaluation is performed by measuring the user satisfaction level with the ability of user–system interaction. The results show that the overall system usability is in very satisfied level.

Research limitations/implications

The designed itinerary planning system has three limitations. First, Google maps technology could not find information of some tourist attractions because these places were marked with several coordinates on the map. Second, holiday periods are manually kept into the database of system; therefore, it is necessary to annually and manually update the information. Third, the developed system is an online planner; thus, the speed of system depends on the bandwidth of users.

Practical implications

The designed itinerary planning system considers time-related factors as much as possible and more than the existing planning systems. This implies that the designed system is one of the most accurate planning systems in practice. Thus, the tourism business could rely on the developed itinerary planning system to help travel agents plan a travel itinerary properly and receive an accurate and up-to-date travel explanation to their customers.

Originality/value

This research proposes the novel design and implementation of an itinerary planning system which can suggest candidate itineraries, which visit maximum attractions under several time-related factors.

Details

Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Technology, vol. 7 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1757-9880

Keywords

Book part
Publication date: 25 July 2008

Kenneth F. Hyde

Independent travelers are those vacationers who have booked only a minimum of their transportation and accommodation arrangements prior to departure on the vacation. Independent…

Abstract

Independent travelers are those vacationers who have booked only a minimum of their transportation and accommodation arrangements prior to departure on the vacation. Independent travel is an important and growing sector of worldwide tourism. Choice of vacation itinerary for the independent vacation represents a complex series of decisions regarding purchase of multiple leisure and tourism services. This chapter builds and tests a model of independent traveler decision-making for choice of vacation itinerary. The research undertaken employs a two-phase, inductive–deductive case study design. In the deductive phase, the researcher interviewed 20 travel parties vacationing in New Zealand for the first time. The researcher interviewed respondents at both the beginning and the end of their New Zealand vacations. The study compares pre-vacation research and plans, and actual vacation behaviors, on a case-by-case basis. The study examines case study narratives and quantitative measures of crucial variables. The study tests two competing models of independent traveler decision-making, using a pattern-matching procedure. This embedded research design results in high multi-source, multi-method validity for the supported model. The model of the Independent Vacation as Evolving Itinerary suggests that much of the vacation itinerary experienced in independent travel is indeed unplanned, and that a desire to experience the unplanned is a key hedonic motive for independent travel. Rather than following a fixed itinerary, the itinerary of an independent vacation evolves as the vacation proceeds. The independent traveler takes advantage of serendipitous opportunities to experience a number of locations, attractions and activities that they had neither actively researched nor planned.

Details

Advances in Culture, Tourism and Hospitality Research
Type: Book
ISBN: 978-1-84950-522-2

Article
Publication date: 24 August 2012

Tuan‐Dung Cao and Quang‐Minh Nguyen

The growth of online data and services on the Web have have led to the Web become an indispensable tool for the tourist industry. It is not denied that various approaches bring…

Abstract

Purpose

The growth of online data and services on the Web have have led to the Web become an indispensable tool for the tourist industry. It is not denied that various approaches bring benefits for visitors, in supporting their searching for tourist attractions, such as interesting places for the visit, eating or staying. However, like a coin has two sides, too much information would present a difficulty for people when planning their journeys. Generally, tourists usually have problems when trying to find satisfactory accommodation if references to nearby restaurants, sights or event locations are lacking. In addition, travelers suffer from the information overload when they look for information about potential destinations, events and related services. Providing relevant and up‐to‐date information for the tourists with different personal interests is still a challenging task for the tourist guide information systems. The purpose of this paper is to propose a semantic approach for searching tourist information and generating travel itinerary.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper focus on introducing an ontological model for representation of tourist resources as well as traveler's profile. Based on this model, smart user interfaces facilitating the semantic search have been implemented in the mobile travel guide application. In addition, the authors propose an algorithm for generating travel itinerary which combines semantic matching with ant colony optimization technique.

Findings

The Semantic Tourist informAtion Access and Recommending (STAAR) system, which has been implemented to promote the travel activity in Hanoi, reveals the advantages of the semantic approach in the development of smart application with ontology‐based, user‐friendly interface and high precision information search features. An experiment was conducted to show that the proposed algorithm generates travel itinerary relevant to both criteria of itinerary length and user interest.

Originality/value

This paper presents a novel algorithm for planning a travel itinerary that is optimized on the length as well as semantically matching the user interests.

Details

International Journal of Web Information Systems, vol. 8 no. 3
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1744-0084

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 5 January 2018

Veena Jadhav, Seetha Raman, Nitin Patwa, Krishna Moorthy and John Pathrose

Social media has fundamentally changed the leisure travel behavior of Singapore residents. The purpose of this paper is to focus on Facebook and its impact on travel behavior. The…

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Abstract

Purpose

Social media has fundamentally changed the leisure travel behavior of Singapore residents. The purpose of this paper is to focus on Facebook and its impact on travel behavior. The study focuses on Singapore residents.

Design/methodology/approach

A total of 16 input and five output variables were tested, with a sample of 203 Facebook users residing in Singapore. Primary data modeling was done using ADANCO, a structural equation modeling tool that uses composite modeling approach for hypothesis testing. The analysis performed an estimated structural model and then determined the best model fit by measuring reliability, validity and path analysis and estimating model parameters.

Findings

Research findings indicate that Facebook has had a strong behavioral influence on the frequency of travel, itinerary planning and social sharing, while it had no impact during the destination-selection stage of travel planning.

Originality/value

Facebook’s influence on leisure travel behavior confirms the theory of planned behavior proposed by Icek Ajzen. From Facebook’s perspective, the outcome of this study is helpful in recommending the best use of the platform for destination providers.

Details

International Journal of Tourism Cities, vol. 4 no. 2
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2056-5607

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 29 November 2022

Phoebe Yueng-Hee Sia, Siti Salina Saidin and Yulita Hanum P. Iskandar

Mobile travel apps (MTA) smart features were identified based on recent travel application (app) trends and a literature review of MTA smart features. Subsequently, the MTA…

Abstract

Purpose

Mobile travel apps (MTA) smart features were identified based on recent travel application (app) trends and a literature review of MTA smart features. Subsequently, the MTA features that could be prioritised to increase user interest in MTA were determined. The MTA smart feature development challenges that should be mitigated were also identified.

Design/methodology/approach

The app identification and selection were based on the one-stop solution characteristics containing the common function of travel apps and eight MTA smart features. A total of 193 Apple apps and 250 Google apps were identified, where 36 apps that met the inclusion and exclusion criteria based on the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses flowchart were selected for evaluation.

Findings

The high user ratings for apps from both app stores revealed the acceptance of smart technology in the tourism industry. Geolocation tracking services, travel itinerary generators, and real-time personalisation and recommendation were the three major features available in the included MTA. The challenges of MTA with smart features were highlighted from the tourism organisation, app developer and user perspectives.

Practical implications

The findings can guide tourism organisations and app developers on the smart features that MTA should offer for user engagement. Technological organisations could optimise their technology stack by considering the identified smart features. The findings are valuable for scholars in terms of MTA aesthetics and usability to gain acceptability. The development challenges included significant investment in technology, location accuracy and privacy concerns when implementing MTA smart features.

Originality/value

The previous literature mainly focused on evaluating app quality, assessing app functionality, and user ratings using the Mobile Application Rating Scale, and scoping reviews of MTA articles. Contrastingly, this study is among the first in which MTA smart features were examined from a developer-centric perspective. Moreover, it is suggested that MTA includes integrated smart features for better tourism services and market penetration in the tourism industry.

Details

Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Insights, vol. 6 no. 5
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2514-9792

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 15 May 2021

Hao Thi Kim Do, Dung Phuong Hoang and Thuy Thu Pham

This paper aims to examine the factors affecting travelers’ decision to select more than one destination in their trips. Drawn from the rational choice theory, this study posits…

Abstract

Purpose

This paper aims to examine the factors affecting travelers’ decision to select more than one destination in their trips. Drawn from the rational choice theory, this study posits that the selection of multi-destination tours, as a rational choice, is determined by the travelers’ perception of costs and benefits associated with that choice.

Design/methodology/approach

The conceptual model was developed from both an exploratory research with in-depth interview and the literature. A logistic regression model linking four explanatory variables representing perceived benefits and costs of multi-destination option with travelers’ choice of multi-destination trips. The conceptual model is controlled for diversity of travel purposes; tour group size; type of travel arrangement and travelers’ demographic characteristics while the research context of multi-destination travel within Phu Yen – Dak Lak – Gia Lai – Binh Dinh helps control for the characteristics of the destination set (spatial proximity and traffic convenience). The conceptual model was tested based on data collected from 1,361 Vietnamese travelers who have ever visited at least one of the four provinces.

Findings

This study finds that perceived benefits in terms of diversifying tourism experiences and perceived costs of traveling in multiple places compared to taking single trips represent the most significant drivers for tourists’ selection of multi-destination tours. In addition, the diversity of travel purposes and tour group size have a positive and significant impact on the demand for traveling more than one destination in a trip. Moreover, the richer, older and married travelers have a significantly higher tendency to select multi-destination packages.

Practical implications

The research findings provide important strategic implications for promoting multi-destination trips, thereby, maximizing economic benefits from tourism.

Originality/value

While multi-destination travel patterns have been examined empirically in individual studies sporadically without a common theoretical background, this research makes some progress on this front by using the rational choice theory to connect the relative contributions of those factors to the travelers’ choice of multi-destination trips. Specifically, this study provides a new perspective in explaining the selection of multi-destination trips – from tourists’ perceptions about costs and benefits associated with that choice.

Details

International Journal of Tourism Cities, vol. 8 no. 2
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2056-5607

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 1 June 2000

Kenneth F. Hyde

States that there are two general approaches to reasoning which may result in the acquisition of new knowledge: inductive reasoning commences with observation of specific…

60052

Abstract

States that there are two general approaches to reasoning which may result in the acquisition of new knowledge: inductive reasoning commences with observation of specific instances, and seeks to establish generalisations; deductive reasoning commences with generalisations, and seeks to see if these generalisations apply to specific instances. Most often, qualitative research follows an inductive process. In most instances, however, theory developed from qualitative investigation is untested theory. Both quantitative and qualitative researchers demonstrate deductive and inductive processes in their research, but fail to recognise these processes. The research paradigm followed in this article is a post‐positivist (“realist”) one. This is not incompatible with the use of qualitative research methods. Argues that the adoption of formal deductive procedures can represent an important step for assuring conviction in qualitative research findings. Discusses how, and under what circumstances, qualitative researchers might adopt formal deductive procedures in their research. One approach, theory testing by “pattern matching”, is illustrated with a sample application.

Details

Qualitative Market Research: An International Journal, vol. 3 no. 2
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1352-2752

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 15 December 2022

Mark Anthony Camilleri and Metin Kozak

This study aims to investigate perceptions about interactive travel websites. The researchers hypothesize that engaging content, the quality of information and source credibility…

Abstract

Purpose

This study aims to investigate perceptions about interactive travel websites. The researchers hypothesize that engaging content, the quality of information and source credibility have a significant effect on the consumers’ utilitarian motivations to continue using them in the future.

Design/methodology/approach

A structured survey questionnaire was used to gather data from 1,287 online users, who were members of two popular social media groups. The methodology relied on a partial least squares approach to analyze the causal relationships within an extended information adoption model (IAM).

Findings

The findings reveal that the research participants perceive the utility of interactive travel websites and are willing to continue using them, particularly the responsive ones. The research participants suggest that these sites are easy to use, capture their attention and offer them useful information on various tourism services. The results also indicate that they appreciate their source credibility (in terms of their trustworthiness and expertise of their curators) as well as their quality content.

Research limitations/implications

This study integrates key measures from the IAM with a perceived interactivity construct, to better understand the individuals’ acceptance and use of interactive websites.

Practical implications

This research implies that service businesses ought to have engaging websites that respond to consumer queries in a timely manner. Hence, they should offer a seamless experience to their visitors to encourage loyal behaviors and revisit intentions to their online domains.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, there are no other studies that incorporated an interactive engagement construct with key constructs from IAM and from the technology acceptance model (TAM). This contribution underlines the importance of measuring the individuals’ perceptions about the engagement capabilities of interactive media when investigating information and/or technology adoption.

Article
Publication date: 30 August 2022

Altaf Husen Sovani

The aim of this paper is to discuss innovations in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, major investments and reforms required to realize transformation in the tourism and…

Abstract

Purpose

The aim of this paper is to discuss innovations in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, major investments and reforms required to realize transformation in the tourism and hospitality industry of the European Union.

Design/methodology/approach

A remedial literature study approach is used to analyze innovations put in place by governments and industry and to determine best practices including new innovations that could help to strengthen hospitality and tourism operations.

Findings

The COVID-19 outbreak and border closures had a significant impact on the tourism and travel sectors. During the pandemic, innovations were needed to address challenges brought on by the border closures, vaccine passports and stricter health and safety requirements. While these innovations helped organizations survive and reinvent themselves, they are not enough for long term sustainability. The need for resilience, effective and well-designed active labor market policies and social protection systems including investment in education and skills training will become basic foundations for sustainability. In order to address these issues, collaboration between government, academia and industry is essential.

Originality/value

The outbreak of COVID-19 and border closures in 2020 created turmoil in the travel and tourism sector. Small- and medium-sized enterprises were damaged and many did not survive. That said, the crisis has given the tourism and hospitality industry an opportunity to rethink the future.

Details

Worldwide Hospitality and Tourism Themes, vol. 14 no. 6
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1755-4217

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 13 November 2020

Po-Yi Hsu, Edward C.S. Ku, Tzu-Ching Lai and Shih–Chieh Hsu

This study investigated how customer orientation and relationships influenced relational benefits via employees' attitudes toward travel agencies and partnership management.

Abstract

Purpose

This study investigated how customer orientation and relationships influenced relational benefits via employees' attitudes toward travel agencies and partnership management.

Design/methodology/approach

Survey questionnaires were mailed to experts of travel agencies in Taiwan. The hypothesis of this study was tested and used a research model characterized by the SEM-PLS approach.

Findings

The findings of this study indicate that the travel service involves a wide range of firms, regardless of internal or external partner management, and to develop the Muslim tourism market sustainability.

Research limitations/implications

From a theoretical perspective, it was found that customer orientation of travel agencies and relationship selling among travel agencies affects partnership management of travel agencies and their employees' attitudes, which were positively associated with the relational benefit of travel agencies.

Practical implications

Travel agencies must maintain continuous collaborative relationships to ensure the sustainable development of the Muslim tourism market.

Originality/value

This study provides a meaningful model for investigating the trend and tourism products of the Muslim tourism market regarding collaboration between travel agencies and partners.

Details

Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Insights, vol. 5 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2514-9792

Keywords

1 – 10 of over 1000