Prem Chhetri

Determining hiking experiences in nature-based tourist destinations

Abstract Visitor experiences in natural landscapes are considered integral components of visitor satisfaction research. Many studies have considered satisfaction as a cognitive process leading to an emotional state (J. Travel Res. 34(1) (1995) 11; Outdoor Recreation Benchmark 1988. Proceedings of the National Outdoor Recreation Forum, January, Tampa FL, pp. 422–438). Such emotional states are multidimensional and multisensory manifestations that are exhibited in numerous forms. At the same time they are influenced by preferences, values, beliefs and attitudes or in other words, social cognition of a visitor. Numerous techniques have been used to collect data showing the state of emotions/experiences. Techniques range from simple questionnaires administered in situ, to maintaining diaries of individual activities and experiences, to experiential sampling methods such as those adopted by Hull and Stewart (Environ. Behav. 27 (1995) 404). Recently, more expensive but effective instruments have been used such as video (Monitoring and Management of Visitor Flows in Recreational and Protected Areas. Conference Proceedings, pp. 296–301) and sensors using counters (Monitoring and Management of Visitor Flows in Recreational and Protected Areas. Conference Proceedings, pp. 258–263). The purpose of this paper is to document research currently underway, which is attempting to identify the underlying dimensions influencing visitor experiences through natural landscapes. This paper uses the generic term “experience” to cover a wide range of subjective meanings such as moods, emotions and feelings of individuals moving through natural landscapes. The study has conceptualised and empirically created constructs that underpin the character, magnitude and attributes of visitor experiences in natural landscapes. In situ measurements of feelings and experiences were determined via a questionnaire administered to a group of university students hiking along the Pinnacle walking track in the Grampians National Park in western Victoria, Australia. The study has applied two commonly used multivariate techniques, multidimensional scaling and principal components analysis to create constructs that model the nature and magnitude of the visitor experience in natural settings.

Gis-based modelling of recreational potential of nature-based tourist destinations.

Abstract This paper discusses a geographical information system (GIS)-based technique to measure the recreational potential of natural tourist destinations. The technique was developed for a study area in western Victoria, Australia, known as the Grampians National Park (GNP), a popular natural tourist destination. Regression modelling was used to develop a set of predictors of scenic attractiveness derived from data collected via questionnaire administered to a group of university students. The derived output was then overlaid with ‘recreational opportunity potential’ generated for the region. In the final stage, a spatial model of ‘recreational potential’ was developed from output maps over the entire geographical area. The study found that the areas with high recreational potential are concentrated around more popular walking tracks in the Wonderland Ranges near Halls Gap in the north-east sector. However, other underdeveloped areas of high recreational potential are identified and suggested as alternative strategic sites to ease potential pressure developing around heavily used walking tracks. Despite the limited sample group, the developed technique offers park managers a method for predicting recreational opportunities.

Investigating the association between weather conditions, calendar events and socio-economic patterns with trends in fire incidence: an Australian case study

Fires in urban areas can cause significant economic, physical and psychological damage. Despite this, there has been a comparative lack of research into the spatial and temporal analysis of fire incidence in urban contexts. In this paper, we redress this gap through an exploration of the association of fire incidence to weather, calendar events and socio-economic characteristics in South-East Queensland, Australia using innovative technique termed the quad plot. Analysing trends in five fire incident types, including malicious false alarms (hoax calls), residential buildings, secondary (outdoor), vehicle and suspicious fires, results suggest that risk associated with all is greatly increased during school holidays and during long weekends. For all fire types the lowest risk of incidence was found to occur between one and six a.m. It was also found that there was a higher fire incidence in socially disadvantaged neighbourhoods and there was some evidence to suggest that there may be a compounding impact of high temperatures in such areas. We suggest that these findings may be used to guide the operations of fire services through spatial and temporal targeting to better utilise finite resources, help mitigate risk and reduce casualties.

Characterising spatial logistics employment clusters

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is twofold. First to identify economic activities and broader spatial logistics functions that characterise an urban setting, and second to delineate significant spatial logistics employment clusters to represent the underlying regional geography of the logistics landscape. Design/methodology/approach – Using the four-digit Australian and New Zealand Standard Industrial Classification, industries “explicitly” related to logistics were identified and aggregated with respect to employment. A principal component analysis was conducted to capture the functional interdependence of inter-related industries and measures of spatial autocorrelation were also applied to identify spatial logistics employment clusters. Findings – The results show that the logistics sector accounts for 3.57 per cent of total employment and that road freight, postal services, and air and space transport are major employers of logistics managers. The research shows significant spatial clustering of lo...

A Review of Diversity Conceptualizations Variety, Trends, and a Framework

In an attempt to develop a means for researchers to reach a common understanding of the substantive meaning of diversity, this article first reviews different approaches to diversity conceptualizations, identifying three common threads that are incorporated in various diversity definitions. Our discussion examines the variety of diversity conceptualizations by addressing the three key aspects that present two general trends that emerge in the literature. We then propose a framework to unify the fragmented definitions and understandings of diversity. The implications for practice and future research are also discussed.

Exploring the spatio‐temporal dynamics of fire incidence and the influence of socio‐economic status: A case study from south east Queensland, Australia

Using four types of fire incidence, namely calls for property, vehicle, secondary fires and malicious false alarms, this paper explores their spatiotemporal dynamics and the relationship to socioeconomic status. Combining both spatial and temporal dimensions using a novel technique, called the ‘comap’, each incident type is visually explored, arguing that its application permits new insights into their dynamics and allows questions such as – for a particular type of fire incident ‐ what are the salient spatio‐temporal patterns and how do these vary for differing levels of disadvantage, to be answered for the first time.

Modelling the patterns and drivers of tourism related employment for South-East Queensland, Australia - a spatial econometric approach.

Through the application of spatial econometric techniques, this paper examines the spatial patterns of tourism and the role of the underlying geography of urban economic spaces in modelling Tourism Related Employment (TRE) across the South East Queensland (SEQ) region in Australia. Despite a decline in the degree of inequality in the distribution of TRE over the last decade, the SEQ region exhibits a high concentration of TRE along the coast as well as manifesting a strong spatial dependency, that means areas of high employment in the tourism sector tend to have neighbours with high values or vice versa. The economies of agglomeration, dwelling density and accessibility to shopping centres are found to be significant positive predictors of TRE; whilst the proximity to industrial areas and closeness to open spaces are identified to exert negative externalities.

Upstream transport corridor inefficiencies and the implications for port performance: a case analysis of Mombasa Port and the Northern Corridor

The role of efficient ports in the socio-economic prosperity of national and regional economies cannot be overstated. However, their ability to effectively deliver on this role is easily undermined by circumstances in the wider socio-economic context, particularly poor hinterland connectivity. In order to enhance international trade connectivity, many advanced and advancing economies continue to invest significant resources in developing efficient ports and hinterland transport networks. The situation is different in many parts of the developing world, particularly Africa, where poor economic connectivity and inefficient gateway ports result in prohibitively high transportation costs. Focusing on the northern trade and transport corridor in the East and Southern Africa (ESA) region, this article examines how poor hinterland connectivity undermines the performance of Mombasa port. It concludes that, although the port’s management has in recent years invested significantly in performance-enhancing initiatives, their success is limited by a constricted economic environment that is characterised by poor hinterland connectivity and chronic logistics bottlenecks along the arterial corridor.

Spatial forecasting of residential urban fires: A Bayesian approach

The application of GIS-based techniques to analyse incident data such as crime has received a relatively large amount of research interest, the analysis of disaggregate fire incident data, in comparison has been the focus of much less attention. This paper, for the first time applies a Bayesian methodology to generate disaggregate spatial forecasts of residential household fires across metropolitan South-East Queensland (SEQ), Australia. Expected counts of fire for a one year period are calculated for each suburbs across the SEQ region where the expected risk varies from 2 or less fires per year up to 25 fires per year. The application of the Bayesian forecast methodology has the potential to inform policy decisions both from a reactive, resource allocation perspective and a more proactive perspective, such as through spatial targeting to implement preventative measures to reduce fire risk.

Indian Cancer Patients’ use of Traditional, Complementary and Alternative Medicine (TCAM) and delays in presentation to Hospital

OBJECTIVES A majority of Indian cancer patients are often presented with incurable diseases at the latest phase of disease progression. The use of traditional, complementary and alternative medicine (TCAM) has been identified by Indian oncologists as a potential factor for the delay in seeking health from medical practitioners but no research has been conducted to verify such claims. The aim of this study is to identify socio-demographic and disease status differences between TCAM and non-TCAM users among cancer patients in India and associated patterns of seeking professional medical help. METHODS A random survey of 825 cancer patients in one public and one private hospital was conducted in Delhi, India. Using four interviewers, a list sampling technique was used to interview every patient over a four month period, with a response rate of 80%. RESULTS The results showed that 34.3% of cancer patients had used TCAM. The results also demonstrated a statistically significant relationship between the use of TCAM and reported delay in seeking help from clinical medicine (p<0.001). On the other hand, 35.2% of TCAM users reported seeking help immediately after onset of symptoms, whereas 50% of non-users immediately sought help from conventional medicine. Furthermore, 11.5% of TCAM users reported waiting for six months or more after noticing cancer-related symptoms, while only 2.1% of non-users waited this long. CONCLUSION Overall, early diagnosis and intervention is critical for effective treatment of many malignancies. Delays in presentation related to the use of TCAM may be an important factor relating to the high rates of advanced disease on presentation and low survival rates in the care of Indian cancer patients. Further research is needed to explore the reasons for using TCAM and to ensure existing issues of delays in help seeking are addressed.