Predicting Travel Behavior by Analyzing Mobility Transactions

Urban planning can benefit tremendously from a better understanding of where, when, why, and how people travel. Through advances in technology, detailed data on the travel behavior of individuals has become available. This data can be leveraged to understand why one prefers one mode of transportation over another one. In this paper, we analyze a unique dataset through which we can address this question. We show that the travel behavior in our dataset is highly predictable, with an accuracy of 97%. The main predictors are reachability features, more so than specific travel times. Moreover, the travel type (commute or personal) has a considerable influence on travel mode choice.

Hotel Brand Loyalty—A Systematic Literature Review

The aim of this study was to analyze hotel brand loyalty (HBL) based on a systematic literature review conducted according to the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analysis (PRISMA) statements. Following these statements, we searched two databases (Scopus and Web of Science) for studies containing the term ‘hotel brand loyalty’. Additionally, the backward and forward snowballing methods were applied. Only empirical studies concerning loyalty towards brand hotels were included, resulting in 26 studies in the final review. The quality of the various studies was evaluated according to the Joanna Briggs Institute critical appraisal checklist. The studies included in the systematic review were analyzed in three areas: general details and study design (authorship, year of publication, type of study, research country or location, characteristic of the sample population, the purpose of stay or travel, type of hotels, hotel brands), research specifications (factors/variables, hypotheses, measurement items, data analysis), and general findings (findings related to HBL and managerial recommendations). To summarize the results, word cloud visualization was applied. For studies included in the systematic review, HBL was analyzed on two levels: in the context of factors determining the guest/tourist loyalty to the hotel brands (such as frequently mentioned brand awareness, brand image, and perceived quality) as well as those pertaining to models of brand equity. This highlighted the need for managers to perform activities in terms of brand experience and shape long-term relationships in order to strengthen loyalty to hotel brands.

Characterization of Birdwatching Demand Using a Logit Approach: Comparative Analysis of Source Markets (National vs. Foreign)

Birdwatching is a tourism activity that relates closely to protected natural spaces and that helps contribute to the balance between economic, social and environmental aspects of sustainability. In some European countries (the United Kingdom, Germany, Holland), this recreational activity has a large number of followers, making it a new segment of tourist demand with great possibilities for growth. The objective of this study is to identify the main characteristics of the demand for birdwatching in one of the European territories having a high resource supply, as is the case with Extremadura (Spain). To do this, a logit modelization has been proposed in order to estimate the probability of going birdwatching in the region, based on a random sample of over 3000 tourists that visited the region in 2017. This characterization of birdwatching demand was carried out using variables such as gender, age, type of travel, type of lodging, and assessment of tourism services. Given that the national and the foreign demand of this tourism modality may present distinct behaviors, and therefore, specific characterizations, a structural change test (Chow test) was also conducted in order to determine to what extent these two segments of demand, based on the source markets, have (or do not have) distinguishing features.

Journaling to Develop a Study Abroad Course for Business Majors

Objective - This research explored the cultural and educational insights in Thailand to develop a study abroad course for Business Communication students including a pre-departure segment followed by a trip to Thailand. The context was a small mid-western teaching university in the United States of America. Methodology/Technique – The primary researcher collected textual data by means of keeping a daily journal in Thailand including visits and stays in both urban and rural areas for over a period of two months. The journaling included reflections on the primary researcher’s observations and comments about learning sites, opportunities and cultural activities. The data collection also included videotaped interviews, photos of sites, local people, and cultural artifacts to be utilized in the course. Finding & Novelty - Content analysis of the journal yielded three sets of themes which resulted in the development of the course: a) Identification of opportunities to develop and practice intercultural sensitivity, intercultural development, and intercultural competencies; b) recognition of cultural artifacts to bring awareness to the culture of the country visited; and c) identification of a set of practical issues related to international travel. Type of Paper: Empirical. Keywords: Curation, experiential learning, journaling, study abroad, social enterprise, reflection. Reference to this paper should be made as follows: Ward; J.G; Ward Y.D; Jones; S. 2020. Journaling to Develop a Study Abroad Course for Business Majors, Global J. Bus. Soc. Sci. Review, 8(1): 30 – 40. https://doi.org/10.35609/gjbssr.2020.8.1(4) JEL Classification: A30, A39.

Tourist motivation: an integral approach to destination choices

Purpose The purpose of this study is to discuss prevalent socio-psychological models which examine how tourists’ needs and motivations affect their destination choices by collectively considering Plog’s (1974) psychographic profiles, Cohen’s (1979) tourist typology and Peace’s (1988) travel career ladder. The current study argues that no single model can adequately explain tourists’ destination selection process as well as travel behaviors and introduces a new integrated perspective of existing psychological models. Design/methodology/approach Examining responses from 202 Hong Kong residents who have travel experience, this study divides the respondents’ psychographics into three types. Findings Using multinomial logit model (MNL) analysis, the study finds that tourists’ travel motivations and destination settings can be varied by their psychographics types. The findings also reveal that tourist’s psychographic types can be varied by demographics, travel type, frequencies, duration, purpose and destination setting. Originality/value The study provides implications for tourism marketers as well as the tourism literature by suggesting an integrative approach for a better understanding of tourist motivations.

Determinants of trip duration for international tourists in Norway; a parametric survival analysis

How long a tourist stays in a host country acts as an indicator of tourism industry’s contribution towards the national economy. The purpose of this study is to examine how socio-demographic characteristics of international tourists, their travelling purpose, tourism products and characteristics of the destination influence the length of stay in Norway, by estimating a parametric survival model. Total cost of trip, purpose of travel, type of accommodation and transportation, age of tourist and geographical area are key elements that explain the variation in the length of tourist stay in Norway. The Cox proportional hazard model with time-independent covariates indicates the survival probability of tourists with less budget constraints and younger ages is higher than that of low-spending tourists and elderly travelers. Moreover, tourists with the purpose of friend and family visitation are at lower risk of leaving Norway than are tourists with other purposes. In terms of tourism products, choosing camping sites as the type of accommodation and road transport as the mode of transportation are associated with the highest survival probability. Another key finding is that tourists stay longer in northern Norway than in southern Norway; hence, on average, tourists’ overall expenditures are higher in northern Norway.

Transverse Stiffness and Guiding Characteristics Analysis of Compliant Linear Guided Mechanism

This paper presents a novel compliant linear guided mechanism (CLGM) to replace traditional spring and translation joint to transfer motion and force with its advanced guiding characteristics. In view of the incompatible relationship between axial stiffness and transverse stiffness of CLGM, eight kinds of CLGMs were developed by using building block approach based on fixed-guided flexure beam. The finite element analysis (FEA) models of eight CLGMs were built to complete numerical analysis on the force-displacement in axis and off-axis direction with same geometric sizes. The FEA results show that the structure configuration of Type 2-Type 8 can achieve a larger axial travel, Type 2 and Type4 have the advanced guiding characteristic with higher ratio of axial/transverse stiffness. Analysis indicates that the building block approach is an efficient method to complete the conceptual synthesis of compliant mechanism and FEA is effective on the structure optimization for the required compliance and stiffness in axial and transverse direction.