Damian Morgan

Self-reported water and drowning risk exposure at surf beaches

Objective: To document patterns of water exposure at surf beaches by gender and identify factors that predict bather confidence to return to shore if caught in a rip current.

Direct observation measurement of drowning risk exposure for surf beach bathers

Because not all persons bathe at surf beaches, drowning rates based on resident population are likely to be underreported. To facilitate more precise drowning risk exposure data, this study aimed to develop a reliable direct observation measure of frequency and duration for surf beach bather exposure to water, by gender and age group. Bathers were defined as persons entering the water to wade, swim or surf with equipment. Observed bathers were systematically selected entering the water in daylight hours at six patrolled or unpatrolled beaches over 10 days. Variables measured were: weather and water conditions, water entries, duration of water exposure, water exposure location and person factors. The dataset comprised 204 (69.6%) males and 89 (30.4%) females, with males more likely to be in an older age group (p<0.05). Compared to females, males spent longer in the water, were more likely to use surfing equipment, and mainly used a surf zone located farther from the shore in deeper water (p<0.05). Two factors were significant predictors of bathing duration (adjusted R(2)=0.45): main surf zone occupied (based on water depth and distance from shore); and surf equipment used. The study provides new information about water exposure for bathers at surf beaches and new methods for measuring exposure to drowning risk. The findings suggest that overrepresentation of adolescent and adult males in surf beach drowning statistics is in part a product of greater total exposure to the water plus more frequent exposure to deeper water and bathing farther from shore.

Surf Lifeguard Rescues

OBJECTIVEnThis study assessed the utility of lifeguard rescue data for providing information on person and situation factors to inform surf bather drowning prevention research.nnnMETHODSnThe dataset comprised 872 beach-days (daily lifeguard reports) obtained from 26 beaches over a 95-day period in Victoria, Australia.nnnRESULTSnThe rescue rate was 128 per 100,000 in-water bathers. One or more rescues were required on 125 beach-days (14%). Rescue on a beach-day was more likely for offshore wind conditions, relatively high daily air temperatures, and high bather numbers (P < .05). Compared to female bathers, males were more frequently rescued (65%) and more likely (P < .05) to be from a younger age group (30 years or less), although being older was associated with a relatively poorer condition on rescue.nnnCONCLUSIONSnAlthough rescues are proportional to water exposure, frequencies are also influenced by situation and person factors. Bathers at relatively high risk of rescue are hypothesized to be overrepresented in amenable sea and weather conditions, and poor patient condition on rescue may be associated with exposure to a preexisting health condition.

Relevance and Quality in Australian Tourism Higher Education: Educator and Professional Views

Abstract Partnerships between educators and industry professionals can facilitate students tourism career opportunities. Considering this, a mail-out questionnaire was undertaken to assess the attitudes and perceptions of tourism educators (n = 56) and tourism professionals (n = 100) on tourism education issues. Results indicated that one-quarter of professionals believe university tourism majors provide graduates with a competitive advantage and both groups consider tourism/hospitality, marketing and management as important business majors. Competencies in logical thinking, social interaction, tourism knowledge and concepts, and generic skills are also considered important by both groups with specific workplace competencies and professional experience considered relatively less important by educators (p < .05). In conclusion, communication networks jointly facilitatedby academicsand industry are recommended.

Risk, Competence and Adventure Tourists: Applying the Adventure Experience Paradigm to White-Water Rafters

Abstract The utility of the Adventure Experience Paradigm (AEP) as a framework for studying participants experiences in a water-based adventure tourism activity is examined using a convenience sample of white-water rafters (N = 84) in New Zealand. Participants were grouped into challenge conditions based on their self-reports of post-adventure risk and competence. Group comparisons revealed a number of statistically significant differences on the measures of perceived fear, danger, anxiousness, and control (p < .05). However, the results were inconclusive for the concentration measure and no differences were evident on the boredom measure. Implications for adventure tourism operators are suggested and future research recommended.

Implementing flexible learning practices in tourism courses.

ABSTRACT The design and delivery of quality tourist experiences will be the key focus for tourism and hospitality professionals throughout the 21st Century. This outcome will be promoted through educational design and delivery that meet the needs of a diverse range of tourism students. Aspiring towards this aim, a process for introducing flexible learning practices in the development of tourism courses is outlined. This process is then applied to the redevelopment of a tourism project course. To conclude, the utility of flexible learning practices and information and communication technology for delivering quality learning outcomes to students separated by geographic distances is critically appraised with reference to tourism course development.

Flight and fright: the implications of aviation risk and law for flightseeing tourism operators.

Abstract The flightseeing industry has attracted little attention from leisure, recreation, and tourism researchers. To address this gap, the flightseeing industry is reviewed with an emphasis on the potential physical risk managed by flightseeing operators and the legal system under which they operate. The paper firstly discusses the nature of flightseeing and describes two recent flightseeing accidents. The nature of general aviation risk and the aviation legal system is then briefly outlined. Following this, selected aviation court cases are reviewed in consideration of the extent and responsibility for passenger injury, the forms of injury compensated by courts, and flight operators duty of care to passengers. The paper concludes by summarising the risk management implications for flightseeing operators arising from available air transport information sources and the reviewed aviation court cases.