Nina M. Ray

Legacy tourism: the search for personal meaning in heritage travel.

Abstract In recent years, the existence and nature of the heritage tourism market has attracted substantial attention in the tourism industry. There appears to be a sub-segment of the heritage market that consists of tourists who have a personal connection with their heritage beyond a general relationship of collective ancestry. Those that travel to engage in genealogical endeavors, to search for information on or to simply feel connected to ancestors and ancestral roots are categorized as legacy tourists. This paper describes the heritage tourism market, discusses distinguishing characteristics that identify legacy tourists, and emphasizes to tourism managers the importance of recognizing and responding to this segment.

Ebilities tourism: an exploratory discussion of the travel needs and motivations of the mobility-disabled.

Abstract With the 1990 passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the earlier Air Carrier Access Act, US marketers began to pay some attention to one of the most important but overlooked of all market segments. This article discusses the importance to the travel and tourism industry of the US disabled market, concentrating on the mobility-challenged travelers, which number 36 million (Murphy & Baig, 1997). Post-ADA literature regarding marketing to the disabled is reviewed and results are reported of a focus group with one support group attended by wheelchair-bound members and survey respondents attending an Abilities Expo. Data are also collected from general tourists, eleven percent of whom indicated that they have a physical disability. Survey respondents reveal that word-of-mouth, the Internet and travel guides serve as the most important sources of information when planning travel. The main special interests they pursue while vacationing involve nature activities, often participating in sports. A temporary disability or “slowing down” does not stop their enjoyment of travel, especially nature travel. Tourism operators, especially those involved with heritage and nature activities, should consider appealing to the mobility challenged, as they do not shy away from travel. They are, however, careful in planning their travel and are impressed by “personal inspection” of hospitality facilities and accommodation.

Guiding tourists to their ancestral homes

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to introduce measures of the motivation of tourists who travel to their ancestral homes. A set of learning exercises is presented for students and managers to apply understanding of these motives to tourism strategies.Design/methodology/approach – The paper provides a brief review of the literature of heritage tourism and the special segment concerning travel with genealogical objectives. Survey data on motives to seek out ancestors are provided with learning exercises to link motives to tourism planning.Findings – Data on the importance of multiple motives are presented with analytical measures of their overall importance levels and of differences between US and UK samples.Research limitations/implications – The motivational variables and data collection are primarily exploratory, focusing on samples that are interested in genealogy and heritage tourism. Further research could certainly be expanded to cover broader populations of tourists and genealogists.Practical ...

Alienation in the Distribution Channel: Conceptualization, Measurement, and Initial Theory Testing

Of all the social phenomena that have been investigated in the distribution channel context – including power, conflict, dependence, role performance, and opportunism – one that has escaped attention until now is alienation. Borrowing from traditional behavioral science and consumer behavior, the following monograph defines the concept of distributor alienation and elaborates a method for its measurement. After surviving a validation regimen, the measure is applied within the confines of a test of a theoretical model. The results may provide a preliminary framework for a future structure of channel alienation theory.

Lewis and Clark and the Corps of Discovery: Re‐enactment Event Tourism as Authentic Heritage Travel

Abstract Heritage tourism has evolved to include study of sub‐segments who travel to attend and participate in historical event re‐enactments. In the US, the bicentennial of the Lewis and Clark expedition to the Pacific coast and back again is being commemorated from its point of departure to its end. This paper is an exploratory study of a sample of re‐enactment tourists who attended three of the Lewis and Clark events. The role that re‐enactment tourism plays in heritage tourism is examined and preliminary findings on perceptions of nostalgia and authenticity of the re‐enactment products and events are presented. Preliminary managerial benefits and suggestions for host communities are provided.

Measurement and Modeling of Alienation in the Distribution Channel: Implications for Supplier–Reseller Relations

Abstract Of all the social phenomena that have been investigated in the distribution channel context—including power, conflict, dependence, role performance, and opportunism—one that has escaped attention until now is alienation. Borrowing from traditional behavioral science and consumer behavior, the following paper defines the concept of distributor alienation and elaborates a method for its measurement. After surviving a validation regimen, the measure is applied within the confines of a theoretical model test. Results may reveal some practical guidance for those managing relations with channel partners, and even provide a preliminary framework for a future structure of channel alienation theory.

Discussing Snow with the Eskimos: A Course on Language Issues in Multicultural Business

This paper begins with an investigation of past research regarding interdisciplinary teaching efforts at the college level, especially those in which the business school has joined together with colleagues in the humanities. A description follows of an in terdisciplinary course, one which combined the fields of linguistics and marketing. Merging these disciplines allowed students and faculty to explore issues such as: language diversity, including the world’s various “Englishes,” product labeling and branding, negotiation styles, and language issues in global advertising. Suggestions are included for those who wish to offer a similar course at their institution.

“It Broadens Your View of Being Basque”: Identity Through History, Branding and Cultural Policy

The purpose of the paper is to address what is the impact of the synthesis between Basque history, branding identity and Law 8/1994 on Basque identity in the homeland and Diaspora. Naturally occurring brands combine history, anthropology, sociology, and marketing to explain the phenomenon of communities defined by a sense of place. Focusing on both the Basque Country and Basques in Boise, Idaho as one case study, the authors discuss how the naturally occurring brand and cultural policy of the Basque people became formalized 20 years ago with Law 8/1994. The article addresses who the Basques are and how they have branded themselves through language, place, industry, food, drink, and culture. Similarities to other communities are explored so that other ethnic/cultural communities can learn from this Diaspora cultural policy discussion.

Vacations by the Book

While the author of this paper has in the past been frustrated by the lack of students’ knowledge of their own culture, Blackmon (1998) reports that “America is becoming a nation of culture” (p. A1). Americans are buying “serious books,” attending the opera and symphony, foreign and “arts” cinema, and eating at “fine dining” restaurants. High levels of wealth, education, and cultural exposure (sometimes due to high technology) provide the explanations. While certainly marketers at opera companies and theaters are encouraged by this news, other not-so-obvious industries are affected.

“It was the Trip of a Lifetime”: Viking Ancestors, their Descendants and their Legacy Tourism Motivations and Behavior

One tourism segment consists of those whose family history leads them to travel to visit the sites of their ancestors’ origin. Of specific interest in this study are people who have an interest in Norwegian ancestry. Coincidently, Norway also wants its sons and daughters to come home, targeting those with “with Viking ancestry.” Primary research objectives were to determine the motives for and importance of travel to ancestral homes, differences in this motivation for varied subsamples, and develop insights into legacy tourism that will serve tourism managers. Survey respondents of Norse ancestry in the United States and the Shetland and Orkney Islands of Scotland were recruited from meetings and activities of cultural and historical societies. Norse Scottish Islanders indicate “quest” as more important than U.S. Norse groups since Scottish islands are more proximate to the Norwegian homelands. Top motives for all groups (both Norse and those not of Viking descent) are “personal connection”, “connection with place”, “intellectual challenge”, “obligation to ancestors”, “discovering continuities”, and “completing the circle”. Overall, Norse descendant motives resemble descendants of other populations.