Kenneth F. Backman

A Preliminary Investigation into the Psychographics of Nature-Based Travelers to the Southeastern United States:

The purpose of this study was to determine if psychographic research, which attempts to look at the life-style characteristics of tourists, can be used to differentiate segments of the nature-based travel market. Furthermore, it attempted to determine whether differ ences exist between members of the resulting segments with respect to their travel behavior, environmental attitudes, and demographic characteristics. This information should be useful to nature-based tourism marketers and planners in developing tourism products that will be attractive to various target markets.

Involvement and opinion leadership in tourism

Abstract Nature-based tourism, science tourism, and ecotourism are some of the emerging and growing trends in special-interest tourism. This study utilized a southeastern sample of the United States who had an interest in travel and the environment. A modified Dillman total design method survey was used to collect the data. The study demonstrated that widely used concepts of marketing are applicable for nature-based tourism. Results indicate that highly involved nature-oriented travelers tend to be more receptive to information concerning the travel product or destination and spread that information willingly. Findings of this study suggest that opinion leaders take more trips and use slightly more information sources.

An Investigation into the Psychographics of Senior Nature-Based Travellers

Nature-based travellers are usually assumed to be a homogeneous group of travellers, but several studies have begun to identify certain different segments in this market. The purpose of the current...

Modeling demographic change and characteristics in the analysis of future demand for leisure services

Abstract Populations are likely to grow slowly, age significantly, and show increased proportions of minorities in the coming decades. Such factors have received extensive attention as determinants of leisure behavior, but models for projecting future demand for leisure services have often failed to incorporate adequately the simultaneous interactive effects of age, race/ethnicity, and population growth. A cohort‐component population projection model employing age, sex, and race/ethnicity population detail and rates of participation in 10 different recreational and leisure activities is used to examine these interactive effects on the number of future participants in Texas. This number is significantly affected by age and race/ethnicity effects, apart from effects due to population growth, with some activities showing slower growth and others increased growth, due to aging and race/ethnicity effects. Clearly, models employing detailed information on demographic characteristics must be utilized to plan ade...

Assessing the temporal stability of hunting participation and the structure and intensity of constraints: a panel study.

The intent of this panel study of Virginia hunters/non-hunters (N = 497) was to assess the temporal stability of: hunting participation; perceived constraint factor structure and intensity; and the interrelationship of participation and constraints. Findings suggest that participation/non-participation patterns were stable across time periods for the population, yet dynamic at the individual level. Antihunting Attitude and Preference to participate in other activities, Costs associated with hunting, Access and Opportunity to hunt, Work and Family Commitments and perceptions about hunting on Public Lands were viewed consistently as constraints by respondents. Although the structure of perceived constraints appeared stable, the intensity varied significantly over time and distinguished among participation groups. Given that most constraint research is psychologically grounded, it appears more appropriate to employ research designs (e.g., panel, repeated measures) that allow individual-level analyses. The Antihunting Attitude and Preference constraint, key to understanding behavioral response, deserves a more in-depth examination.

Demographic Change in the United States in the 1990s and the Twenty-first Century: Implications for Fisheries Management

Abstract Projected decreases in rates of population growth, an aging population, and an increase in minority residents will affect the demand for sport fishing with implications for management. Age and race/ethnicity-specific projections of the U.S. population and of participation in fishing are used to examine the impacts of future demographic trends on the number and characteristics of anglers. Results suggest that the rate of increase in the angler population will decline, the population will become older, and the population will have larger minority components. These changes may require increased services for elderly and minority residents at a time when they are exempt from license fees or require lower access costs, respectively. As their numbers increase, older age and minority groups are likely to enjoy greater political power. Managers are likely to find themselves forced to address the needs of these groups in more direct and visible ways than had previously been required. This will require mana...

Creative tourism: a preliminary examination of creative tourists’ motivation, experience, perceived value and revisit intention

Purpose – The purpose of this study is to investigate the relationships between tourists’ motivation, experience, perceived value and revisit intentions to creative tourism destinations. The ever-growing concept of creativity has been introduced into the tourism field. Creative tourism has been viewed as a strategy to regenerate destinations physically, culturally and socially. To develop tourism products and provide services that integrate the concept of creativity to satisfy tourists’ needs by developing a more active and long-lasting form of experience, this study aims to examine tourist consumption psychology in the context of creative tourism destinations. Past studies have identified motivation, perceived value and experience as three major antecedents affecting tourists’ revisit intentions. Design/methodology/approach – The empirical study was carried out in three popular creative tourism spots, Meinong, Shuili and Yingge, located, respectively, in the north, middle and south Taiwan. These creative...

Advertising and Publicity: Suggested New Applications for Tourism Marketers

This research explores two of the basic tools used by tourism marketers: advertising and publicity. Message stimulus is the independent variable and consists of two parts: message presentation (i.e., publicity or advertising) and message sequencing (i.e., publicity only, publicity then advertising, advertising only, or advertising then publicity). Four dependent variables are organized in two categories: message acceptance (i.e., perceived credibility, message strength) and message response (i.e., attitude toward the destination, purchase intent). Results of the study show that publicity, in either presentation or sequencing, created significantly higher mean scores than advertising for credibility, message strength, and purchase intent. This study reaffirms that publicity is an important element in the tourism marketing mix. Furthermore, it suggests that a publicity-then-advertising strategy is most effective at persuading potential tourists to visit a specific destination.

Examining visitor mindfulness at a cultural event.

This study examined visitor mindfulness at a cultural festival. Mindfulness is considered a state of being that requires individuals to engage in active information processing, enabling them to be adaptive and responsive to information in their surroundings. Mindfulness is believed to result in more learning, high satisfaction, greater understanding, and greater feeling of control over behavior. Event managers must find ways to enhance visitor satisfaction as well as minimize negative impacts that result from events, and encouraging visitor mindfulness could contribute to these outcomes. This study took place over a 2-week period in July 2005 at the Winnipeg Fringe Theatre Festival in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. Results presented demonstrate that the more interested visitors were in the festival the higher they scored on the mindfulness scale. Visitor level of mindfulness was positively related to their satisfaction with the event and their feelings of control over their own contribution to impacts. Implications for event managers are discussed.

How potential tourists react to mass media marketing: advertising versus publicity.

Abstract The purpose of this research is to examine the persuasive effects of message presentation (i.e., advertising or publicity) on the effectiveness of marketing a tourist destination. This research attempts to test whether there is a difference between advertising and publicity on message acceptance and message response. Four dependent variables are studied: message strength, perceived credibility, attitude toward the destination, and purchase intent. Results of the study show that publicity created significantly higher mean scores than advertising for three of the four dependent variables tested. This study confirms that publicity is an important element in the tourism marketing mix. It also adds empirical evidence to Gartners (1993) typology of image change agents, supporting publicitys effectiveness in developing the touristic image.