Ron Lennon

Multi-Course Comparison of Traditional versus Web-Based Course Delivery Systems

The purpose of this paper is to measure and compare the effectiveness of a Web-based course delivery system to a traditional course delivery system. The results indicate that a web-based course is effective and equivalent to a traditional classroom environment. As with the implementation of all new technologies, there are some pros and cons that should be considered. The significant pro is the element of convenience which eliminates the constrictive boundaries of space and time. The most notable con involves the impersonal nature of the online environment. Overall, we found the web-based course delivery system to be very successful in terms of learning outcomes and student satisfaction. The Journal of Educators Online, Volume 4, Number 2, July 2007

A test of a theoretical model of consumer travel behaviour: German consumers' perception of Northern Ireland as a tourist destination.

Data for this study were collected from German travel consumers at the ITB Travel Trade Fair in Berlin, Germany. The subsequent study empirically tested the influences of information source and travel experience on the perception of Northern Ireland as a safe place. In addition, the influences of information source and travel experience were tested in relation to the perception of Northern Ireland as a travel destination. Some sources of information about Northern Ireland were found to have a positive influence on perceptions, while one (direct mail) had a negative influence on the perception of Northern Ireland as a safe place. The only aspect of travel experience that had a significant influence on the perceptions of travel consumers was whether respondents had visited Northern Ireland before. The eventual premise that was examined was the effect that these previous two perceptions might have on a German travel consumer’s behavioural intentions toward visiting Northern Ireland in the future. The model developed by Lennon et al. in 1999 depicts these relationships. The study supported the influence of the travel consumers’ perceptions of Northern Ireland as a safe place and as a German travel destination on future behavioural intentions to visit Northern Ireland.

Northern Ireland Prospects for Hotel Investment and Tourism Recovery

Northern Irelands tourism officials face the considerable task of building the provinces tourism business. Officials have conducted studies and begun policies to improve both the provinces attra...

The Development and Testing of a Behavioral Intentions Model: A Longitudinal Study

ABSTRACT This paper develops and tests a model that illustrates the development of travel behavior intentions. Two separate studies were conducted, that measured the perceptions of German travel consumers regarding Northern Ireland (NI) as a tourist destination. The studies were conducted at the ITB Berlin (1999 and 2000) Travel Trade Fair. Northern Ireland was chosen as the travel destination because the 1998 Good Friday peace agreement gave hope that tourism to NI would again increase (after two years of decreases). We focused on German consumers because they are considered to be an important segment for NI tourism. The results of the study indicated that 81% of those interviewed had a good or very good impression of NI, and 59% considered it safe or very safe. The model itself illustrated that the travel consumers utilize both external and internal information for developing their perceptions and ultimately their behavioral intentions. Yet, the results also illustrated that travel consumers were more dependent on external information. Overall, the results of the study provide important managerial implications, and further the development and study of a model that helps to explain the development of behavioral intentions in travel consumers.

The prospects for tourism in Northern Ireland.

Notes the weakness of tourism in Northern Ireland prior to the cease‐fire of 1994 and the increased interest in Northern Ireland as a tourist destination which followed the cease‐fire. Considers the role of the Department of Economic Development and the Northern Ireland Tourist Board. Brings together the relevant findings from most of the published material on Northern Ireland tourism from the start of the troubles to the cease‐fire from academic, consultancy and government sources. Incorporates the results of two post‐cease‐fire studies carried out by the authors.