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Perceptions and preferences of tourist attractions: A non-metric multidimensional scaling approach
PUBLICATIONS IN REVIEW
located in different regions of the nation. A Gompertz Model is selected to e x a m i n e the relation between state t o u r i s m advertising and t o u r i s t g e n e r a t e d tax revenue a n d a procedure is developed which yields a p p r o x i m a t i o n s of the p a r a m e t e r s in the model. Newton's a p p r o x i m a t i o n is u s e d to yield a n a p p r o x i m a t i o n of the m i n i m u m desirable level of state advertising. Results from this part of the s t u d y i n d i c a t e t h a t the state of L o u i s i a n a is advertising below the m i n i m u m desirable level of state advertising. A generalized procedure to optimally allocate a n y given advertising budget over a n y n u m b e r of regions is developed. Finally the effect of energy s h o r t a g e s on the travel m a r k e t in general is discussed. • The D e m a n d for International T o u r i s m and Travel: Theory a n d Measurement. Stanley Noval, Ph.D. Princeton University, 1975 [January 1976:4658]. The theory portion is a n analysis of the general e q u i l i b r i u m properties of a n abstract travel market which incorporates b o t h the d i m e n s i o n s of space a n d time while the empirical part is a n e c o n o m e t r i c analysis of one p a r t i c u l a r m a r k e t - - t h e m a r k e t for i n t r a - E u r o p e a n Tourist. The model of t o u r i s m developed h a s features in c o m m o n with models used in u r b a n economics to explain ~ relationships between h o u s i n g prices a n d c o m m u t i n g distances. In a reversal of these models, c o n s u m e r s are a s s u m e d to reside in the central p l a c e - - t h e " o r i g i n " - - a n d to take trips to resort d e s t i n a t i o n s on the periphery. The second part of the dissertation is an a t t e m p t to a s s e s s q u a n t i t a t i v e i m p o r t a n c e of the various factors believed to influence the p a t t e r n or s t r u c t u r e of international tourism. It involves the use of statistical t e c h n i q u e s to determine the flow of t o u r i s m between pairs of countries in the absence of stochastic disturbances. The explanatory variables used in previous empirical models are evaluated in t e r m s of the theoretical results of this dissertation. It is found t h a t the general equilibrium properties of the model are broadly c o n s i s t e n t with the gravity approach to the e s t i m a t i o n of i n t e r a c t i o n flows. Data was gathered from visitor arrivals in selected E u r o p e a n c o u n t r i e s a n d the regression analysis t e n d s to indicate a greater t h a n u n i t a r y income elasticity of d e m a n d for foreign travel a n d a d i s t a n c e e x p o n e n t (friction factor) of approximate unity. • Perceptions a n d Preferences of Tourist Attractions: A Non-Metric M u l t i d i m e n s i o n a l Scaling Approach. Robert Vincent Stumpl; Ph.D. C l a r e m o n t G r a d u a t e School, 1976 [July 1976:451]. Focuses on an empirical s t u d y of c o n s u m e r a t t i t u d e s toward the major commercial t o u r i s t a t t r a c t i o n s located in Los Angeles and Orange Counties in 1982 ANNALSOF TOURISMRESEARCH
619
PUBLICATIONS IN REVIEW
S o u t h e r n California. A c o n s u m e r behavior model is developed to look at the steps u s e d d u r i n g the cognitive process in choosing a t o u r i s t attraction. The model first looks at the u n d e r l y i n g dimens i o n s of space c o n s i s t i n g of t o u r i s t a t t r a c t i o n s perceived by the total population. Next individual saliencies toward each a t t r i b u t e are isolated for each subject. T h e n the preferences of the a t t r i b u t e s for each subject are found. T h e s e a t t r i b u t e s are t h e n correlated w i t h a t t e n d a n c e in order to d e t e r m i n e w h i c h a t t r i b u t e s are used in the choice process. Also a look at travel time, price of a d m i s s i o n , a n d the t o u r i s t a t t r a c t i o n s ' s u c c e s s is included. Attention was directed to the problems of the t e c h n i q u e s of n o n - m e t r i c m u l t i d i m e n s i o n a l scaling methodology a n d each problem was a t t a c k e d individually before c o n t i n u i n g with the next step. Three u n d e r l y i n g factors were f o u n d to explain the peoples' perceptions of t o u r i s t attractions. The m o s t i m p o r t a n t a t t r i b u t e is the ability to participate in the offerings of t o u r i s t a t t r a c t i o n s d i s t i n g u i s h e s t h e m from o t h e r passive experiences, like the m o v i e t h e a t e r . The o t h e r a t t r i b u t e s allow one to fantasize a n d feel nostalgic w i t h no e m b a r r a s s m e n t . The high stand a r d s of landscaping, cleanliness, a n d safety are t a k e n for g r a n t e d d u r i n g the decision process. [] []
620
1982 ANNALS OF T O U R I S M R E S E A R C H
located in different regions of the nation. A Gompertz Model is selected to e x a m i n e the relation between state t o u r i s m advertising and t o u r i s t g e n e r a t e d tax revenue a n d a procedure is developed which yields a p p r o x i m a t i o n s of the p a r a m e t e r s in the model. Newton's a p p r o x i m a t i o n is u s e d to yield a n a p p r o x i m a t i o n of the m i n i m u m desirable level of state advertising. Results from this part of the s t u d y i n d i c a t e t h a t the state of L o u i s i a n a is advertising below the m i n i m u m desirable level of state advertising. A generalized procedure to optimally allocate a n y given advertising budget over a n y n u m b e r of regions is developed. Finally the effect of energy s h o r t a g e s on the travel m a r k e t in general is discussed. • The D e m a n d for International T o u r i s m and Travel: Theory a n d Measurement. Stanley Noval, Ph.D. Princeton University, 1975 [January 1976:4658]. The theory portion is a n analysis of the general e q u i l i b r i u m properties of a n abstract travel market which incorporates b o t h the d i m e n s i o n s of space a n d time while the empirical part is a n e c o n o m e t r i c analysis of one p a r t i c u l a r m a r k e t - - t h e m a r k e t for i n t r a - E u r o p e a n Tourist. The model of t o u r i s m developed h a s features in c o m m o n with models used in u r b a n economics to explain ~ relationships between h o u s i n g prices a n d c o m m u t i n g distances. In a reversal of these models, c o n s u m e r s are a s s u m e d to reside in the central p l a c e - - t h e " o r i g i n " - - a n d to take trips to resort d e s t i n a t i o n s on the periphery. The second part of the dissertation is an a t t e m p t to a s s e s s q u a n t i t a t i v e i m p o r t a n c e of the various factors believed to influence the p a t t e r n or s t r u c t u r e of international tourism. It involves the use of statistical t e c h n i q u e s to determine the flow of t o u r i s m between pairs of countries in the absence of stochastic disturbances. The explanatory variables used in previous empirical models are evaluated in t e r m s of the theoretical results of this dissertation. It is found t h a t the general equilibrium properties of the model are broadly c o n s i s t e n t with the gravity approach to the e s t i m a t i o n of i n t e r a c t i o n flows. Data was gathered from visitor arrivals in selected E u r o p e a n c o u n t r i e s a n d the regression analysis t e n d s to indicate a greater t h a n u n i t a r y income elasticity of d e m a n d for foreign travel a n d a d i s t a n c e e x p o n e n t (friction factor) of approximate unity. • Perceptions a n d Preferences of Tourist Attractions: A Non-Metric M u l t i d i m e n s i o n a l Scaling Approach. Robert Vincent Stumpl; Ph.D. C l a r e m o n t G r a d u a t e School, 1976 [July 1976:451]. Focuses on an empirical s t u d y of c o n s u m e r a t t i t u d e s toward the major commercial t o u r i s t a t t r a c t i o n s located in Los Angeles and Orange Counties in 1982 ANNALSOF TOURISMRESEARCH
619
PUBLICATIONS IN REVIEW
S o u t h e r n California. A c o n s u m e r behavior model is developed to look at the steps u s e d d u r i n g the cognitive process in choosing a t o u r i s t attraction. The model first looks at the u n d e r l y i n g dimens i o n s of space c o n s i s t i n g of t o u r i s t a t t r a c t i o n s perceived by the total population. Next individual saliencies toward each a t t r i b u t e are isolated for each subject. T h e n the preferences of the a t t r i b u t e s for each subject are found. T h e s e a t t r i b u t e s are t h e n correlated w i t h a t t e n d a n c e in order to d e t e r m i n e w h i c h a t t r i b u t e s are used in the choice process. Also a look at travel time, price of a d m i s s i o n , a n d the t o u r i s t a t t r a c t i o n s ' s u c c e s s is included. Attention was directed to the problems of the t e c h n i q u e s of n o n - m e t r i c m u l t i d i m e n s i o n a l scaling methodology a n d each problem was a t t a c k e d individually before c o n t i n u i n g with the next step. Three u n d e r l y i n g factors were f o u n d to explain the peoples' perceptions of t o u r i s t attractions. The m o s t i m p o r t a n t a t t r i b u t e is the ability to participate in the offerings of t o u r i s t a t t r a c t i o n s d i s t i n g u i s h e s t h e m from o t h e r passive experiences, like the m o v i e t h e a t e r . The o t h e r a t t r i b u t e s allow one to fantasize a n d feel nostalgic w i t h no e m b a r r a s s m e n t . The high stand a r d s of landscaping, cleanliness, a n d safety are t a k e n for g r a n t e d d u r i n g the decision process. [] []
620
1982 ANNALS OF T O U R I S M R E S E A R C H