Abstract: This paper attempts to investigate the factors that influence hotel managers- attitudes towards sustainable tourism practices (STP) in Kuala Lumpur and the state of Selangor in Malaysia. The study distributes 104 questionnaires to hotels ranging from one star to five-star categories including budget hotels. Out of this figure, 60 copies of the questionnaires were returned and analyzed. The finding revealed that of all the seven factors investigated, only the variables measuring incentives and knowledge have significantly influenced sustainable tourism practices in the country. Therefore, government and other green bodies within the country should continue to provide hotels with incentives for sound technologies. Moreover, the government agencies should continue to educate hoteliers on the relevance of environmental protection for the successful implementation of sustainable tourism practices.
Abstract: Amphawa is the most popular weekend destination for
both domestic and international tourists in Thailand. More than 112
homestays and resorts have been developed along the water
resources. This research aims to initiate appropriate environmental
management system for riverside tourist accommodations in
Amphawa by investigating current environmental characteristics.
Eighty-eight riverside tourist accommodations were survey from
specific questionnaire, GPS data were also gathered for spatial
analysis. The results revealed that the accommodations are welled
manage in regards to some environmental aspects. In order to reduce
economic costs, energy efficiency equipment is utilized. A substantial
number of tourist accommodations encouraged waste separation,
followed by transfer to local administration organization. Grease
traps also utilized in order to decrease chemical discharged, grease
and oil from canteen and restaurants on natural environment. The
most notable mitigation is to initiate environmental friendly cleansers
for tourist accommodation along the riverside in tourism destinations.
Abstract: Application of Information Technology (IT) has
revolutionized the functioning of business all over the world. Its
impact has been felt mostly among the information of dependent
industries. Tourism is one of such industry. The conceptual
framework in this study represents an innovation of travel
information searching system on mobile devices which is used as
tools to deliver travel information (such as hotels, restaurants, tourist
attractions and souvenir shops) for each user by travelers
segmentation based on data mining technique to segment the tourists-
behavior patterns then match them with tourism products and
services. This system innovation is designed to be a knowledge
incremental learning. It is a marketing strategy to support business to
respond traveler-s demand effectively.
Abstract: The aim of this study is to discuss the relationship between tourist awareness of environmental issues and their own recreational behaviors in the Taipei Guandu Wetland. A total of 392 questionnaires were gathered for data analysis using descriptive statistics, t-testing, one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and least significant difference (LSD) post hoc comparisons. The results showed that most of the visitors there enjoying the beautiful scenery are 21 to 30 years old with a college education. The means and standard deviations indicate that tourists express a positive degree of cognition of environmental issues and recreational behaviors. They suggest that polluting the environment is harmful to the natural ecosystem and that the natural resources of ecotourism are fragile, as well as expressing a high degree of recognition of the need to protect wetlands. Most of respondents are cognizant of the regulations proposed by the Guandu Wetland administration which asks that users exercise self-control and follow recommended guidelines when traveling the wetland. There were significant differences in the degree of cognition related to the variables of age, number of visits and reasons for visiting. We found that most respondents with relatively high levels of education would like to learn more about the wetland and are supportive of its conservation.
Abstract: Tourists- eyes will often be attracted by the unique
phenomenon of the roadsides: betel nut beauties (pronounced as
binlang xishi in Mandarin), if they drive on the roads of Taiwan.
Sitting in the neon-lit glass stalls with attractive dress on the roadsides,
betel nut beauties usually sell betel nuts to the passing truckers or car
drivers with much of their efforts. Moreover, in order to attract
peoples- eyesight and increase the sales volume, the young girls are in
skimpy clothing to promote betel nuts or beverages to their customers.
Therefore, when the Chinese tourists come to Taiwan, to see the
unique betel nut beauty phenomenon has become one of their greatly
interested things or even a “must see". This paper describes betel but
beauties in Taiwan, explained why the Chinese tourists like to see
them in Taiwan and proposed propositions for examination.
Abstract: Environment both endowed and built are essential for
tourism. However tourism and environment maintains a complex
relationship, where in most cases environment is at the receiving end.
Many tourism development activities have adverse environmental
effects, mainly emanating from construction of general infrastructure
and tourism facilities. These negative impacts of tourism can lead to
the destruction of precious natural resources on which it depends.
These effects vary between locations; and its effect on a hill
destination is highly critical. This study aims at developing a
Sustainable Tourism Planning Model for an environmentally
sensitive tourism destination in Kerala, India. Being part of the
Nilgiri mountain ranges, Munnar falls in the Western Ghats, one of
the biological hotspots in the world. Endowed with a unique high
altitude environment Munnar inherits highly significant ecological
wealth. Giving prime importance to the protection of this ecological
heritage, the study proposes a tourism planning model with resource
conservation and sustainability as the paramount focus. Conceiving a
novel approach towards sustainable tourism planning, the study
proposes to assess tourism attractions using Ecological Sensitivity
Index (ESI) and Tourism Attractiveness Index (TAI). Integration of
these two indices will form the Ecology – Tourism Matrix (ETM),
outlining the base for tourism planning in an environmentally
sensitive destination. The ETM Matrix leads to a classification of
tourism nodes according to its Conservation Significance and
Tourism Significance. The spatial integration of such nodes based on
the Hub & Spoke Principle constitutes sub – regions within the STZ.
Ensuing analyses lead to specific guidelines for the STZ as a whole,
specific tourism nodes, hubs and sub-regions. The study results in a
multi – dimensional output, viz., (1) Classification system for tourism
nodes in an environmentally sensitive region/ destination (2)
Conservation / Tourism Development Strategies and Guidelines for
the micro and macro regions and (3) A Sustainable Tourism Planning
Tool particularly for Ecologically Sensitive Destinations, which can
be adapted for other destinations as well.
Abstract: The authors have been developing several models
based on artificial neural networks, linear regression models, Box-
Jenkins methodology and ARIMA models to predict the time series
of tourism. The time series consist in the “Monthly Number of Guest
Nights in the Hotels" of one region. Several comparisons between the
different type models have been experimented as well as the features
used at the entrance of the models. The Artificial Neural Network
(ANN) models have always had their performance at the top of the
best models. Usually the feed-forward architecture was used due to
their huge application and results. In this paper the author made a
comparison between different architectures of the ANNs using
simply the same input. Therefore, the traditional feed-forward
architecture, the cascade forwards, a recurrent Elman architecture and
a radial based architecture were discussed and compared based on the
task of predicting the mentioned time series.
Abstract: While service quality is acceptably most valued in the tourism industry, the issue of safety and security plays a key role in sustaining the industry success. Such an issue has been part of Thailand-s tourism development and promotion for several years. Evidently, the Tourist Police Department was set up for this purpose. Its main responsibility is to deal with international tourists- safety and confidence in travelling within Thai territory. However, to strengthen the tourism safety of the country, it is important to better understand international tourists- safety concerns about Thailand. This article seeks to compare international tourists- safety needs and Thai tourist polices- perception towards the tourists- safety concern to determine what measure should be taken to assure the tourist of Thailand-s secure environment. Through the employment of quantitative and qualitative methodological approaches, the tourism safety need of international tourists from Europe, North America and Asia was excavated, how Thai tourist polices and local polices perceived the international tourist-s safety concern was investigated, and opinion and experiences about how the police deal with international tourists- problems in eight touristic areas were also explored. A comparative result reveals a certain degrees of differences in international tourists- safety needs and Thai polices- perception towards their needs. The tourism safety prevention and protection measure and practice are also suggested.
Abstract: Tourism industry is an important sector in Malaysia economy and this motivates the examination of long-run relationships between tourist arrivals from three selected European countries in Malaysia and four possible determinants; relative prices, exchange rates, transportation cost and relative prices of substitute destination. The study utilizes data from January 1999 to September 2008 and employs standard econometric techniques that include unit root test and cointegration test. The estimated demand model indicates that depreciation of local currency and increases in prices at substitute destination have positive impact on tourist arrivals while increase in transportation cost has negative impact on tourist arrivals. In addition, the model suggests that higher rate of increase in local prices relative to prices at tourist country of origin may not deter tourists from coming to Malaysia
Abstract: Tourism industries are rapidly increased for the last
few years especially in Malaysia. In order to attract more tourists,
Malaysian Governance encourages any effort to increase Malaysian
tourism industry. One of the efforts in attracting more tourists in
Malacca, Malaysia is a duck tour. Duck tour is an amphibious
sightseeing tour that works in two types of engines, hence, it required
a huge cost to operate and maintain the vehicle. To other country, it is
not so new but in Malaysia, it is just introduced, thus it does not have
any systematic routing yet. Therefore, this paper proposed an
optimization technique to formulate and schedule this tour to
minimize the operating costs by considering it into Travelling
Salesman Problem (TSP). The problem is then can be solved by one
of the optimization technique especially meta-heuristics approach
such as Tabu Search (TS) and Reactive Tabu Search (RTS).
Abstract: Medical Tourism is a new development in Taiwan
recently. The willingness and barriers of potential tourists from
China to participate medical tourism are studied. A questionnaire
survey is conducted and the SPSS software is used to analyze data.
The results show that under one fifth of respondents express full
medical tourism participation willingness. Among travel barriers
toward medical tourism, “insufficient information of medical tourism
trip", “not enough time", “no companion", “worrying about
unsatisfied itinerary." are perceived the most important barriers.
Abstract: We present the results of a case study aiming to assess the reflection of the tourism community in the Web and its usability to propose new ways to communicate visually. The wealth of information contained in the Web and the clear facilities to communicate personals points of view makes of the social web a new space of exploration. In this way, social web allow the sharing of information between communities with similar interests. However, the tourism community remains unexplored as is the case of the information covered in travel stories. Along the Web, we find multiples sites allowing the users to communicate their experiences and personal points of view of a particular place of the world. This cultural heritage is found in multiple documents, usually very little supplemented with photos, so they are difficult to explore due to the lack of visual information. This paper explores the possibility of analyzing travel stories to display them visually on maps and generate new knowledge such as patterns of travel routes. This way, travel narratives published in electronic formats can be very important especially to the tourism community because of the great amount of knowledge that can be extracted. Our approach is based on the use of a Geoparsing Web Service to extract geographic coordinates from travel narratives in order to draw the geo-positions and link the documents into a map image.
Abstract: The purpose of this study is to analyze the cognitive
and travel experience the situation of the tourist attraction of the sport
tourism in Penghu. This study used a questionnaires, the main island
of Taiwan to Penghu in the way of marine sports tourists adopted the
designated convenience sampling method, a total of 1447 valid
questionnaires. After statistical analysis, this study found that: 1.
Tourists to Penghu sports tourism attraction cognitive as “good air
quality, suitable for water activities". 2. Tourists in Penghu's tourism
experience, “Let me taste the delicious specialties and snacks". 3. The
attraction of the sport tourism, travel experience and perceived value
are correlated, and both the perceived value with a high degree of
predictive ability. Based on the findings of this study not only for
Penghu's tourism industry with the unit in charge of the proposed
operating and suggestions for future research to other researchers.
Abstract: In order to explore the relationship of promotion activities, destination attribute and destination image of Vietnam and find possible solutions, this study uses decision system analysis (DSA) method to develop flowcharts based on three rounds of expert interviews. The interviews were conducted with the experts who were confirmed to directly participate or influence on the decision making that drives the promotion of Vietnam tourism process. This study identifies three models and describes specific decisions on promotion activities, destination attributes and destination images. This study finally derives a general model for promoting the Tourism Industrial Service Network (TISN) in Vietnam. This study finds that the coordination with all sectors and industries of tourism to facilitate favorable condition and improving destination attributes in linking with the efficient promotion activities is highly recommended in order to make visitors satisfied and improve the destination image.
Abstract: The main purpose of this study is to analyze the
relationship of leisure agriculture park visitors on tourist destination
image, environmental perception, travel experiences and revisiting
willingness. This study used questionnaires to Xinshe leisure
agriculture park visitors- targeted convenience sampling manner total
of 636 valid questionnaires. Valid questionnaires by descriptive
statistics, correlation analysis and multiple regression analysis, the
study found that: 1. The agricultural park visitors- correlations exist
between the destination image, perception of the environment, tourism
experience and revisiting willingness. 2."Excellent facilities and
services", "space atmosphere comfortable" and "the spacious paternity
outdoor space" imagery, of visitors- "revisiting willingness predict. 3.
Visitors- in leisure agriculture park "environmental perception" and
"travel experience, future revisiting willingness predict. According to
the analysis of the results, the study not only operate on the
recommendations of the leisure farm owners also provide follow-up
study direction for future researchers.
Abstract: The purpose of this study is to analyze the islands
tourist travel information sources, as well as for the satisfaction of the
tourist destination services. This study used questionnaires to the
island of Taiwan to the Penghu Islands to engage in tourism activities
tourist adopt the designated convenience sampling method, a total of
889 valid questionnaires were collected. After statistical analysis, this
study found that: 1. tourists to the Penghu Islands travel information
source for “friends and family came to Penghu". 2. Tourists feel the
service of the outlying islands of Penghu, the highest feelings of
“friendly local residents". 3. There are different demographic variables
affect the tourist travel information source and service satisfaction.
Based on the findings of this study not only for Penghu's tourism
industry with the unit in charge of the proposed operating and
suggestions for future research to other researchers.
Abstract: The main aim of the current study was to examine the
effect of emotional intelligence on retention. The study also aimed at
analyzing the role of job involvement, as a moderator, in the effect of
emotional intelligence on retention. Using data gathered from 241
employees working with hotels and tourism corporations listed in
Amman Stock Exchange in Jordan, emotional intelligence, job
involvement and retention were measured. Hierarchical regression
analyses were used to test the three main hypotheses. Results
indicated that retention was related to emotional intelligence.
Moreover, the study yielded support for the claim that job
involvement had a moderating effect on the relationship between
emotional intelligence and retention.
Abstract: The aim of this paper is to propose a mathematical
model to determine invariant sets, set covering, orbits and, in
particular, attractors in the set of tourism variables. Analysis was
carried out based on a pre-designed algorithm and applying our
interpretation of chaos theory developed in the context of General
Systems Theory. This article sets out the causal relationships
associated with tourist flows in order to enable the formulation of
appropriate strategies. Our results can be applied to numerous cases.
For example, in the analysis of tourist flows, these findings can be
used to determine whether the behaviour of certain groups affects that
of other groups and to analyse tourist behaviour in terms of the most
relevant variables. Unlike statistical analyses that merely provide
information on current data, our method uses orbit analysis to
forecast, if attractors are found, the behaviour of tourist variables in
the immediate future.
Abstract: The rapidly increasing costs of power line extensions
and fossil fuel, combined with the desire to reduce carbon dioxide
emissions pushed the development of hybrid power system suited for
remote locations, the purpose in mind being that of autonomous local
power systems. The paper presents the suggested solution for a “high
penetration" hybrid power system, it being determined by the
location of the settlement and its “zero policy" on carbon dioxide
emissions. The paper focuses on the technical solution and the power
flow management algorithm of the system, taking into consideration
local conditions of development.
Abstract: The purpose is to study the model and characteristic of
participation of the suitable community to lead to develop permanent
water marketing in Bang Noi Floating Market, Bangkonti District,
Samutsongkhram Province. A total of 342 survey questionnaire was
administered to potential respondents. The researchers interviewed
the leader of the community. Appreciation Influence Control (AIC)
was used to talk with 20 villagers on arena. The findings revealed
that overall, most people had the middle level of the participation in
developing the durable Bang Noi Floating Market, Bangkonti,
Samutsongkhram Province and in aspects of gaining benefits from
developing it with atmosphere and a beautiful view for tourism. For
example, the landscape is beautiful with public utilities. The
participation in preserving and developing Bang Noi Floating Market
remains in the former way of life. The basic factor of person affects
to the participation of people such as age, level of education, career,
and income per month. Most participants are the original hosts that
have houses and shops located in the marketing and neighbor. These
people involve with the benefits and have the power to make a water
marketing strategy, the major role to set the information database. It
also found that the leader and the villagers play the important role in
setting a five-physical database. Data include level of information
such as position of village, territory of village, road, river, and
premises. Information of culture consists of a two-level of
information, interesting point, and Itinerary. The information occurs
from presenting and practicing by the leader and villagers in the
community.All of phases are presented for listening and investigating
database together in both the leader and villagers in the process of
participation.