Laura Jane Lawton

Resident perceptions in the urban-rural fringe.

Abstract Recognizing the importance of tourism in the urban–rural fringe of developed countries, this study examines resident perceptions of tourism on Tamborine Mountain, a destination in the urban–rural fringe of Australias Gold Coast. A cluster analysis of residents revealed that “supporters” constitute one-quarter of the population, and tend to be newer arrivals who have greater contact with tourists. “Neutrals” comprise one-half of the population and acknowledge economic benefits, but are ambivalent about social impacts. The rest are “opponents” who concede only that tourism generates employment. Anti-tourism sentiments focus on one congested location, suggesting that the proper management of this area could lead to even more positive perceptions.

Overnight Ecotourist Market Segmentation in the Gold Coast Hinterland of Australia

Very little is known about the characteristics of overnight ecolodge patrons. This study reports on the results of a questionnaire that was completed by 1,180 individuals who had stayed at least one night in either of two well-known ecolodges in Lamington National Park, Australia. A cluster analysis on 37 items pertaining to ecotourism behavior revealed three distinct groups. “Harder” ecotourists reflect a high level of environmental commitment and affinities with wilderness-type experiences, while “softer” ecotourists are much less committed on either dimension. “Structured” ecotourists, by comparison, reveal a strong pattern of commitment but a level of desire for interpretation, escorted tours, and services/facilities that is usually more associated with mass tourism. The marketing implications of these findings are considered.

Visitor Attitudes toward Tourism Development and Product Integration in an Australian Urban-Rural Fringe

A cluster analysis involving 1,244 visitors to six popular recreational sites in the hinterland of Australia’s Gold Coast revealed diverse attitudes toward tourism development and product integration in this urban-rural fringe, although biocentric tendencies and a desire to maintain the hinterland in its present condition were dominant in all clusters. Hinterland protectives (n = 206) are not supportive of integrating the hinterland with the Gold Coast tourism product, while hinterland sharers (n = 406) strongly support integration and increased visitation. Hinterland neutrals (n = 231) do not have strong opinions about this issue, and integration ambivalents (n = 345) are caught between the desire to preserve and integrate the hinterland. Significant differences between the clusters were identified by site, motivation, group size, repeat visitation, duration of visit, age, residence, and education. These results indicate distinct dynamics in the urban-rural fringe and will potentially assist the sustainable tourism and recreation development of such areas.

Resident Perceptions of Tourist Attractions on the Gold Coast of Australia

Personal construct theory was used to identify resident perceptions of 12 elicited tourist attractions on the Gold Coast of Australia. A cluster analysis of these residents revealed nature-biased (45%), unenthusiastic (40%), hinter-land hesitant (8%), and enthusiastic (7%) groupings, with significant differences occurring in gender, length of residence, and age. The finding that tourist attractions positively influence residents’ quality of life despite the assessment of built attractions as commercialized, touristy, expensive, and noisy/hectic may owe to the status of the Gold Coast as a tourism city. Tourism overall is perceived less positively than its constituent attractions, which may reflect the relatively less positive perceptions of one attraction in particular, Surf-ers Paradise. Revitalization of this iconic tourism district may therefore improve overall attitudes toward tourism among residents.

Visitor Loyalty at a Private South Carolina Protected Area

Visitor loyalty is necessary to generate a virtuous cycle of people—park symbiosis, but knowledge about loyalty expectations is insufficient. A survey of 300 repeat visitors to South Carolina’s Francis Beidler Forest, a private protected area, yielded a hierarchical pattern of loyalties, with positive overall place identity attitudes and positive intentions on site referrals, future visits, and engagement in advocacy. However, also evident were ambivalent place dependency attitudes, ambivalent intentions about donating and paying higher entry fees, and unwillingness to volunteer. Cluster analysis yielded exclusive loyalists (23%) preferring Beidler above other sites, nonexclusive loyalists (31%) not preferring the site, referral and repeat loyalists (33%), and ambivalent loyalists (13%) displaying low levels of loyalty uniformly. Attribute satisfaction levels were very high across clusters. Income, education, residency, and birding skill level all significantly differentiated the clusters. Implications for the marketing and product development of such sites are considered.

Customer Satisfaction in the Australian Timeshare Industry

This study used a survey instrument to ascertain cus tomer satisfaction levels among nearly 2,000 Australian timeshare unit owners. While owners exhibited relatively high overall satisfaction, these levels have declined from the levels recorded in previous surveys and do not translate into an equally high propensity to purchase again or to recom mend timesharing to others. These patterns, along with variations in reactions among different age groups, continu ing concerns about sales techniques, and varying satisfac tion levels with internal and external attributes of units, high light management issues confronting the sector.

Understanding Residents’ Perception Changes toward a Mega-Event through a Dual-Theory Lens

This study attempts to integrate social exchange theory (SET) and social representations theory (SRT) in understanding residents’ perception changes throughout a mega-event’s full life cycle. A three-wave survey approach was employed to track local residents’ evolving attitudes toward the 2010 Shanghai Expo. Results showed that Shanghai residents’ perceived impacts at the community level were more positive than at the individual level. Residents’ visit status (i.e., whether they attended the event or not) did not appear to substantially influence their perceptions of impacts at either level, albeit attendees did demonstrate more favorable attitudes on several aspects. Most residents held similar perceptions at the beginning of and six months after the Expo had concluded, but their perceptions at the Expo’s conclusion were the most negative. This study supports that SET and SRT are distinctly operative in different contexts but can complement each other in explaining residents’ perception changes.

Travel Agency Threats and Opportunities: The Perspective of Successful Owners

ABSTRACT In-depth interviews with 19 owners of exceptionally successful US-based conventional travel agencies revealed negative public perceptions of travel agencies to be the main external threat facing the sector. Misplaced faith in Internet-based cybermediaries, unqualified travel agents, negative mass media coverage and failure to attract young entrants were constituent sub-themes. Public outreach was identified as the main opportunity to counter these perceptions, with inherent interest in travel and the need for geographical awareness revealed as sub-themes. Other threats were unfavorable relations with some vendors, and geopolitical and economic uncertainty. Other opportunities were niche products and markets, Internet technologies, and consolidation and reduced competition.

Birding Festivals, Sustainability, and Ecotourism: An Ambiguous Relationship

A survey of 108 U.S.-based birding festivals reveals overall basic adherence to ecotourism criteria, although cluster analysis reveals four distinct subgroups whose members are labeled as normatives (47%), minimalists (30%), recruiters (15%), and fund-raisers (8%). Formal identification with ecotourism through promotion or membership was low and did not predict cluster membership or increase in visitor numbers. Hence, while ecotourism organizations could benefit from an influx of birding festival memberships, the reciprocal benefits for birding festivals with regard to performance and sustainability outcomes are unclear.

A profile of older adult ecotourists in Australia.

Abstract A survey of 1,140 ecolodge patrons in the Lamington National Park district of Queensland, Australia, found that the older adult (65+) component was similar to their younger counterparts in adhering to the basic ecotourism criteria of preferring natural environments, learning experiences, and sustainable practice. However, older adults differed with respect to the facilitation of these experiences, preferring a higher level of comfort and less risk. Significant differences were also noted in gender, income, motivations, activities and group composition. The study suggests that older adults constitute a distinctive ecotourist market for which targeted marketing and product development Strategies are warranted.