Tourism and Travel Commons^™

Cover And Table Of Contents Vol 2(Ii)

International Journal of Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage

No abstract provided.

The Return On Investment For Undergraduate Degrees In Hospitality And Tourism Management, Asli D. Tasci, Abraham Pizam, Robertico Croes, Po-Ju Chen

Rosen Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works

Increasing concerns regarding the value of higher education in the USA have motivated several organizations to calculate the return on investment (ROI) for college education by employing diverse methodologies. This study evaluates these methodologies by using data from a survey of alumni of Rosen College of Hospitality Management at the University of Central Florida. The results reveal that the highly publicized low ROI for college education might be inaccurate, confusing and misleading for several reasons, among which is the assumption of zero income while studying, causing debt to be the total of a student’s expenses. Data reveal that Rosen College …

The Economic Review Of The Travel Industry In Montana: 2014 Biennial Edition, Kara Grau, Jake Jorgenson, Norma P. Nickerson

Institute for Tourism and Recreation Research Publications

This review provides current and historical data of nonresident travel and tourism in Montana, and offers the industry's economic contributions to the state.

Searching For Lodging: An Analysis Of Selected Pismo Beach Hotels' Search Engine Marketing Practices, Christopher J. Kumata

Recreation, Parks, and Tourism Administration

Search engines connect users to websites and became a distribution channel for many products. In the case of hotels, it is essential that the hotel’s website appears among the top results when potential customers search for lodging in a certain area. The purpose of this study was to examine search engine marketing best practices and performance among non-national hotels in Pismo Beach, California. The researcher performed popular keyword searches to evaluate performance and examine strategies of the top performing hotels. The analysis discovered that the top hotels shared website design characteristics, the majority of search engine optimization is performed by …

Nepali Corporate Culture Of Giving: Investigating Practices Of Corporate Social Responsibility, Taylor Knoop

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

The purpose of this research is to explore corporate Nepal’s definition of corporate social responsibility (CSR), how these definitions influence corporations’ activities and the motivation and rationale behind giving. Multiple factors are impacting the practice of CSR, such the historical influence, personality of industry sector, post-conflict recovery efforts, and trust and transparency in giving. However, corporations’ definition of CSR contradicts the type and level of activities they engage in. The rhetoric is often stronger than the action undertaken, although there is slight trend towards a more incorporated social responsible business model, particularly in the financial and tourism industries. The primary …

Preliminary 2014 Montana Nonresident Traveler Expenditures And Economic Contribution, Kara Grau

Institute for Tourism and Recreation Research Publications

This report shows the 2014 preliminary economic contributions, expenditures, and average daily spending of nonresident visitors to Montana.

An Importance-Performance Analysis Of Multigenerational Preferences In Guestroom Technology, Sidian Lan

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

This study focuses on generational preferences in terms of guestroom technology. The hospitality technology industry has indicated guestroom technology as their highest priority in terms of hospitality technology investment. Previous studies have investigated in-room technology amenities and ranked them in order of importance and performance. However, it is uncertain which guestroom specific technologies should they invest in when it comes to different generations. Each generation is fundamentally different from the others because each generation was born in different eras with different societal changes. These generations have different values, ideas, needs, and communication skills. Hoteliers are investing time and money into …

Factors Influencing The Perceived Impacts Of Medical Tourism Development On Quality Of Life, Courtney Suess

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

A structural model is proposed and empirically examined that investigates factors influencing how residents perceive medical tourism's impact on quality of life domains and behavioral responses. A model based on social exchange is adapted as the basis of theory that medical tourism in a destination will affect community conditions and living experiences, which in turn influence residents' support for its development and tax paying behavioral intentions. Analyzed factors influencing how residents perceive medical tourism's affect on community conditions and living experiences underlying quality of life include overall community satisfaction, satisfaction with healthcare, attitudes towards medical tourism and economic performance.

Chinese Outbound Tourists Food Consumption In The U.S.: An Extension Of The Theory Of Planned Behavior, Kaiyang Wu

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Although Chinese outbound tourists made enormous economic contribution to the U.S. restaurant industry, they seem to have the tendency to consume Chinese cuisine solely during their international trips. This study applies structural equation modeling (SEM) to evaluate different behavioral beliefs' impact on the intentions of Chinese outbound tourist unfamiliar ethnic food consumption in the U.S. Additionally, this research combines the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) and food neophobia, a food-related personality trait to better explain Chinese outbound tourists' food rejection behavior in the U.S.

Results of this study showed safety concern, acceptance of table manners, perceived communication gap and food …

A Study Of Airbnb As A Potential Competitor Of The Hotel Industry, Quynh Nguyen

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

The purpose of the study is to examine Airbnb as a possible competitor of the hotel industry using Peteraf and Bergen’s broad-based competitor identification tool. Unlike existing empirical research on the subject, the study takes a qualitative approach to answer the research question. The results of the study assist hotel operators in determining the competitiveness of Airbnb and the need for a business response to the service.

The Influence Of National Culture On Tipping Behavior, Zina Abraham

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

The purpose of this professional paper is to explore the various factors that contribute to cultural differences in tipping behavior. This meta-analysis of the current research can be applied to understand the tipping habits of international tourists in Las Vegas, a relatively unexplored topic.

Creation Of A Professionalism Scale For Hospitality Students: An Exploratory Study, Tammie Kaufman, Peter Ricci

Rosen Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works

The hospitality industry is dependent on a professional staff to exceed guests’ expectations. Existing research has focused primarily on the various attributes necessary for success in the hospitality industry. The primary focus of this research was professionalism and hospitality students’ self-perception of their professional attributes. Data collected from a focus group of hospitality human resource managers were used to develop a professionalism scale. The scale produced five factors that explained 53.6% of the variance in the responses. Students were more likely to agree in their preparedness for the interview process, but less in agreement of their preparedness for workplace issues. …

Reflective Epilogue: Concerns In Tourism Safety, Peter Tarlow

International Journal of Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage

No abstract provided.

The Effects Of Terrorism On The Travel And Tourism Industry, David Mc. A Baker

International Journal of Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage

The impact of terrorism on the travel and tourism industry can be enormous. It can lead to unemployment, homelessness, deflation, and many other social and economic ills. The contribution of tourism for many countries is so great that any downturn in the industry is a cause of major concern for many governments. The repercussions are left in many other industries associated with tourism like airlines, hotels, restaurants and shops that cater to the tourists and allied services. Terrorism is an enigmatic and compelling phenomenon, and its relationship with tourism is complex and multifaceted. This paper aims to clarify this relationship …

Understanding Perceptions And Attitudes To Risk In The Tourism Industry, Anthony Clayton, Lourdes Cisneros Mustelier, Maximiliano E. Korstanje

International Journal of Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage

An increasingly complex and rapidly-evolving array of risks presents one of the greatest challenges for decision-makers in all sectors, including the transport and tourism industry. The prospects of an international destination can be profoundly damaged in minutes as a result of a major outbreak of infectious disease, a natural disaster or a terrorist incident. It is therefore vital to understand the changing nature of risk and the ways that risks are perceived and understood, especially as people tend to respond to the perception of risks rather than actual risks, which means that their responses are not always rational and can …

Security Guards And Counter-Terrorism: Tourism And Gaps In Terrorism Prevention, Luke Howie

International Journal of Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage

Organisation operating in the tourism industry are high priority targets for terrorists. In the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks tourism destinations, hotels and modes of public transportation have regularly been targeted by terrorists seeking to convey their violent message. As such, leaders and managers in the tourism industry carefully plan their security and counter-terrorism responses, often involving the hiring of security guards. It is here that I believe a significant gap in counter-terrorism preparedness exists. I argue that protecting tourism destinations is only possible if consideration is given the effectiveness of security guards and understanding that their well-being will impact …

Lessons Learnt From The Westgate Shopping Mall Terrorist Attack In Nairobi, Kenya: Involving The Meetings, Incentives, Conferences And Exhibitions Sector In Crisis Communications, Ashley Schroeder, Lori Pennington-Gray, Kelly Bricker

International Journal of Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage

The terrorist attacks in Nairobi Kenya have been widely disseminated by the world media, thus, affecting the long-term interests of stakeholders. The tourism industry is made up of a vast number of these stakeholders, with the operating sector alone including the accommodation, tourism services, transportation, entertainment, food services, adventure and outdoor recreation, attractions, meetings, incentive, conventions, and exhibitions (MICE), and travel trade sectors. Within each operating sector, there is also a variety of different stakeholders in various segments and organisations. The purpose of this manuscript is to examine tourism crisis communications surrounding the Westgate Shopping Mall attacks in Kenya. The …

Tourism And Terror: A Case Study: Israel 1948-2012, Erik H. Cohen

International Journal of Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage

Israel is a popular tourist destination which has by afflicted by varying levels of terrorism against civilians over the course of its history. A longitudinal analysis of data pertaining to tourism and terrorism is undertaken to examine how terrorism affects patterns of tourism. It is found that on the macro-level, tourism to Israel continues to grow although it experiences periodic declines corresponding with times of high terrorist activity. National and religious subpopulations of tourists react differently terrorism at the destination. Overall, Jews are proportionally more likely than non-Jews to continue to visit Israel during times of conflict, but this varies …

Terrorism, Tourism And Worker Unions: The Disciplinary Boundaries Of Fear, Maximiliano E. Korstanje, Geoffrey Skoll, Freddy Timmermann

International Journal of Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage

When the world seems poised on the brink of a never ending cycle of terrorism, the present paper polemically explores some of its historical roots. The first anarcho-terrorists in 19^th century, fought to improve the working conditions of people. Some of them used violent tools, hosting civilians as targets. Others, convinced by the futility of their efforts to change the order, opted for organizing workers in factories. It is widely accepted that tourism came from the social, political, technological developments in the nineteenth century. We compare terrorist attacks with workers’ strikes, because they come from the same developments. We …

Guest Editorial: Americans Post 9/11: From Pride To Terror, Maximiliano E. Korstanje

International Journal of Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage

No abstract provided.

Introduction, Kevin A. Griffin, Razaq Raj

International Journal of Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage

No abstract provided.

Cover And Table Of Contents

International Journal of Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage

No abstract provided.

Intercultural Interactions Outside The Classroom: Narratives On A U.S. Campus, Xinran Lehto, Liping A. Cai, Xiaoxiao Fu, Yi Chen

Rosen Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works

This study provides a picture of the interactional experiences between domestic and international undergraduate students outside the classroom on a US campus. Based on 9 focus group sessions, 8 distinctive themes emerged as a result. The study revealed some similarities but many differences between domestic and international students, illuminating the lack of and barriers to intercultural learning. The findings highlight the challenges and opportunities currently faced on US campuses, thereby making a timely contribution to efforts at developing students’ readiness to be successful in a global and multicultural environment.

Customer Satisfaction Index Of Singapore 2014: Q3 Results, Institute Of Service Excellence, Smu

Research Collection Institute of Service Excellence (2007-2024)

The Customer Satisfaction Index of Singapore (CSISG) computes customer satisfaction scores at the national, sector, sub-sector, and company levels. The CSISG serves as a quantitative benchmark of the quality of goods and services produced by the Singapore economy over time and across countries. This is the CSISG’s eighth year of measurement.

Occupational Self-Perceptions Of Hotel Employees: An Exploratory Study, Arie Reichel, Galia Fuchs, Abraham Pizam, Yaniv Poria

Rosen Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works

This study aimed to reveal the occupational self-perceptions of rank-and-file employees in the Israeli hotel industry. Due to the exploratory nature of the study a qualitative research approach was adopted. The findings are based on 40 semistructured interviews with current and former Israeli hotel employees. The results revealed that almost all participants had disconcerting negative perceptions of rank-and-file occupations in the Israeli hotel industry. The themes emerged as relevant to the understanding of employees' occupational self-perception were classified into four groups: working conditions, occupational profile, job characteristics and requirements, and moderating factors linked with the reputation of the hotel and …

Montana Dragon Boat Festival: 2014, Brian Battaglia, Megan Schultz

Institute for Tourism and Recreation Research Publications

The purpose of this study was to provide the organizers of the Montana Dragon Boat Festival with an understanding of their attendees and the total money spent by those surveyed in the event area. The population of interest was participants and attendees of the 2014 Montana Dragon Boat Festival.

An Ri Ra Montana Irish Festival: 2014, Brian Battaglia, Megan Schultz

Institute for Tourism and Recreation Research Publications

The purpose of this study was to provide the organizers of the An Ri Ra Montana Irish Festival with an understanding of their attendees and the total money spent by those surveyed in the event area. The population of interest was participants and attendees of the 2014 An Ri Ra Montana Irish Festival.

The Curaçao North Sea Jazz: A Lustrum Churning Economic And Promotional Opportunities For Curaçao, Manuel A. Rivera, Robertico R. Croes, Kelly J. Semrad

Dick Pope Sr. Institute Publications

The experience of the first lustrum of the Curaçao North Sea Jazz Festival (CNSJF) has been nothing short of astonishing and spectacular. Since 2010, nearly 45,000 international tourists have attended the festival contributing US$75 million to the local economy. These international tourists stayed on average 6.07 days on the island and spent nearly US$263 per day. More significant is that this daily average expenditure by international tourists attending the festival was nearly four times higher than the typical tourists visiting Curaçao. The spending performance prompted by the festival is indeed impressive news in a tourist environment typified lately by stagnation …

Utopias Misplaced: The Cost Of Outsourcing Dystopian Poetics To North Korea, Seo-Young J. Chu

Publications and Research

This is a slightly revised version of the text of a talk that I (Seo-Young Chu) gave as part of the Fall 2014 Franke Lectures in the Humanities at Yale University. I'm sharing the text here to make the lecture more accessible. Topics include: North Korea/the DPRK, the "uncanny body politic," the uncanny valley, "dystopian poetics," what it means to outsource dystopian poetics, the intersection of aesthetics and politics. Authors/artists mentioned include: Thomas Hobbes, Mary Shelley, David Mitchell, Marjane Satrapi, Song Byeok, Sun Mu, Masahiro Mori, Andy Warhol. The talk also discusses the James Bond film Die Another Day.

Mountain Madness Airshow: 2014, Brian Battaglia, Megan Schultz

Institute for Tourism and Recreation Research Publications

The purpose of this study was to provide the organizers of the Mountain Madness Airshow with an understanding of their attendees and the total money spent by those surveyed in the event area. The population of interest was participants and attendees of the 2014 Mountain Madness Airshow.