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Publication Water, Tourists, and Community Equity: a scenario analysis for Destinations in the United StatesXin, Kuang; Day, Gordon JonathonWater resource management has long been a vital component of sustainable development. At destinations where tourism is among the largest economic sectors, a remarkable increase in water consumption could draw challenges to environmental and social assets. The complex relationship between tourism, water and community has yet to be explored. This study attempts to explore the complex nexus between tourism, water resources, and destination community. It builds on the assumption of various climate change scenarios to impacts and reactions to stakeholders within the nexus. This study aims to answer (1) who are the water stress and conflict generators at the selected destinations? (2) What are the geo-political and policy discourses on water resource rights that shape the tourists' visitation, spending, and behaviors and the local tourism industry? And (3) How could destination policymakers set future water management structures that equally address the water right in fulfilling the needs of multiple stakeholders?Publication Technology Adoption in the Lodging Industry: Antecedents of the growth EV charging amenitiesDay, Jonathon; Alavipour, RoyaAs the accommodation sector grapples with reducing tourism's carbon footprint, major hotel brands are committed to reducing carbon emissions and supporting e-mobility. As the growth of electric vehicles changes the road transportation system, hoteliers can contribute to expanding electronic mobility and meet the needs of their consumers in a new way by meeting their changing needs (Fitt, 2022). In spite of the current low penetration of the EV market, the pace of change has dramatically increased, and it is obvious that the transition to electric vehicles is underway (Saxman & McWilliams, 2022). Growth in EVs is expected as a result of several factors, including increasing policy support, technological advances, and environmental factors, such as consumer demand (Yong & Park, 2017). As a result, there is an immediate need for hoteliers to respond to consumer demand.Publication Examining Pilots as Serious Leisure Travelers to Air Show EventsPham, Kim; Chhabra, Deepak; Wise, NickSerious leisure (SL) is an extensively research area in literature. However, pilots performing in airshows remains an under-researched line of inquiry. This (in-progress) study examines the motivations of a niche cohort: pilots. Stebbins SL attributes (perseverance, significant personal efforts, career, durable benefits, strong identify, and unique ethos) are used to determine if they are evident in the flying/performing hobby of the pilots. Additionally, this study offers insights on how performing in airshows can contribute to overall well-being. A mix of content analysis and semiotic analysis is employed. Data include narration content (e.g., reviews, journal writings) and visual content (e.g., photos, signs), collected from online platforms and event sites (such as airshow sites). Findings confirm that pilots flying/performing in airshows is a SL activity and is influenced by social factors and the influence of media. Based on the results, several strategic implications are offered from airshow marketing and event management standpoints.Publication Value Co-destruction and Residents' Perceptions in Yellowstone National ParksArmadita, Filza; Day, JonathonGrowing concerns about the declining health of national park destinations have risen. Contributing to these problems are destructive human behaviors that violate National Park Service protocols. Residents of communities near these National Parks have shown their concerns on social networking sites such as Twitter and Facebook, using imagery to visualize their concerns. The limited literature on residents' perception of these destructive human behaviors shows that despite such access to information, tourism scholars have paid little attention to the issue or relevant concepts such as Value Co-destruction. The term VCD is derived from Value Co-creation, which theorizes that value is created through a dyadic exchange between more than one type of actor in a service exchange. There is limited work exploring VCD in tourism, and only some have explored the antecedents to VCD that is contextually specific. Thus, this study will explore evidence of VCD by observing destructive human behaviors in Yellowstone National Park.Publication The Role of Relationship in Determining Event Satisfaction AttributesXiao, Ranyue; Downey, Jeffry P; Petrick, James FWhile extensive research has focused on satisfaction and loyalty relating to tourism destinations and tourism festivals/events, that research has tended to be centered on the drivers of satisfaction and loyalty. The current study uses discriminant function analysis to assess the role of relationship or marital status on the drivers of satisfaction and loyalty. The results suggest that married couples, singles, and those in relationships have distinctly different drivers of satisfaction when it comes to festival attributes. Specifically, the study suggests that married couples’ satisfaction is more strongly related to the festivals’ facilities and souvenirs than singles and those in relationships, while singles satisfaction appears to be driven by activities and entertainment. The study proposes important theoretical and practical implications for marketing tourism festivals and events and suggests future research to expand the results to include destinations.Publication Marketing and Sustainable Tourism: A Rapid Systematized literature reviewDay, Jonathon; Kour, GurpreetThe role of marketing in promoting sustainability in tourism has been a topic of debate, with some researchers viewing it as a hindrance to sustainability due to its focus on increasing tourist numbers and commodifying tourism. However, others believe that marketing can positively promote sustainability. A more holistic view of marketing is needed in the tourism literature to address this issue. This study aims to identify how marketing can effectively communicate a destination's sustainable attributes to attract an environmentally conscious traveler. The authors conducted a rapid literature review of empirical evidence from the last two decades and evaluated important domains of study in tourism and marketing for sustainable tourism practices. The study proposes a future research agenda to address identified empirical gaps from three perspectives - Communication, Consumer, and Stakeholder. The authors advocate for a more holistic approach to marketing that prioritizes creating sustainable tourism experiences. This research encourages the involvement of marketing practices to achieve ESG goals of caring for the environment, creating a positive impact on society, and upholding good governance. Overall, critical views and further research are necessary to improve sustainable tourism marketing.Publication A plan for developing a Bio-tourism in Umm Qais Village in JordanAlzoubi, Mahdi; ALDABABNEH, JanetteThis research will present a plan to develop Bio-Tourism in Umm Qais and its surroundings. Bio-Tourism plan in Umm Qais will contribute to the economic development of the region and the employment of the local community leading to improvements in the standards of living by counting on it as a source of income.. This study is based on the existence of historical and cultural elements, the distinctive geographical location, the archaeological site that witnessed several civilizations, and the existence of a local community- that does not directly benefit as much as it hopes from the tourism activity in the region. A Bio-Tourism pattern will contribute to the benefit of the tourist and the local community, while preserving the sustainability of cultural and natural environment at the same time; as it is the first study that will be conducted toPublication The Impact of the COVID-19 Crisis on Individuals’ Leisure BalanceYoon, Hyunseo (Violet)The COVID-19 crisis has significantly influenced the tourism industry. There have been numerous studies about the impact of COVID-19 on the tourism industry. However, how the COVID-19 crisis influenced individuals’ leisure life has been rarely focused on. This study proposes that the travel restriction during the COVID-19 lockdown disrupted the leisure balance of individuals between tourism and other leisure activities informed by the Core and Balance Model of Family Leisure Functioning. This study adopted a phenomenology approach to answering the research question. Data was gathered from a large college population in the Midwest of the U.S. A total of 20 semi-structured interviews were conducted. This study is expected to provide the tourism industry with insights into recovery and reaction strategies for any future travel-restricted situations and contribute to the expansion of the Core and Balance Model of Family Leisure Functioning to the individual leisure setting.Publication Creative Tourism: A Shared Space for Agri-Food TouristsBaby, Jibin; Barbieri, Carla; Knollenberg, WhitneyTourism destinations are developing competitive advantage through Creative Tourism (CT) by designing inventive ways to stimulate tourists' senses. CT allows visitors to personalize unique and authentic experiences through enthusiastic participation in cultural activities. Agri-food tourism (agritourism, culinary tourism, craft-beverage tourism) shares elements with CT in several ways. This study seeks to identify the elements of CT and indicators of memorability associated with agri-food tourism and to compare them across the three types of agri-food tourists. Data will be collected from survey panels among the three agritourist types and control group (beach tourists) following an experimental design based on hypothetical travel scenarios. The study findings will help advance the scholarship of CT and the destinations' readiness to welcome tourists seeking authentic and memorable experiences. Identifying which CT elements are more memorable can help destinations to increase their competitiveness as memorability entices intentions to revisit and refer the destination to others.Publication Introducing a Framework to Develop a User Typology for the Visit NC Farms Mobile AppBrune, Sara; Knollenber, WhitneyAssessing marketing approaches to promote agritourism (i.e., visiting a working farm for recreation or education) can greatly advance sustainable rural livelihoods. Mobile apps represent an underutilized opportunity to market agritourism through a widely used technology that already influences consumer decision-making in other areas. Understanding mobile app users’ characteristics (e.g., demographics, motivations, intentions) by developing a user typology can improve mobile app functionality and provide farmers useful insight into agritourists’ interests. In this paper, we introduce the theoretical and methodological approach to develop a mobile user typology using the Visit NC Farms mobile app in North Carolina. We will survey users departing from the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology to develop a user typology for the Visit NC Farms mobile app. In doing so, we will advance the knowledge of mobile apps as marketing tools to promote agritourism contributing to the knowledge of tourism apps in general.Publication Saving an Australian icon: koala (Phascolarctos cinereus)Tkaczynski, Aaron; Rundle, SharynIn February 2022, the koala (Phascolarctos cinereus) was upgraded to an endangered species in Queensland (QLD), New South Wales (NSW) and the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) due to flooding, bushfires and urban development causing significant decline in this marsupial’s numbers in these locations. This paper presents a call for tourism action to save an Australian icon through sustainable tourism initiatives. Studies demonstrating the role that the tourism sector can play in koala conservation are minimal, suggesting there is considerable room for improvement to ensure koalas can be experienced by current and future generations. Through applying a triple bottom line approach, an agenda for sustainable tourism action to conserve koalas is outlined.Publication A Qualitative Study on the Perceptions of Soft Commitment Devices in TourismFei, Ailin; Day, JonathonThe negative impacts of mass tourism is attracting attention and tourism destinations are looking for ways to promote responsible travel behaviors among tourists. Commitment devices are being used to promote such behaviors. There are two types of commitment devices: soft and hard. studies have explored how soft commitment devices are being perceived by tourists. This study will explore the perceptions of three soft commitment devices being implemented in the tourist experience through the tourists’ perception. This study will provide key insights into the positive and/or negative attitudes toward the commitment devices being used to increase sustainable travel behaviors among tourists. Data will be collected through semi-structured interviews. The results of this study will reveal how tourists interpret the use of soft commitment devices and their perceived impact of such tools. This paper provides new insights about the practicalities of soft commitment devices used to promote sustainable travel behavior.Publication Is Tourism to Blame? Short-Term Rentals and Housing Availability in MontanaWeddell, Melissa; Bigart, ElenaMontana experienced almost 12% population growth between 2010 and 2021, with its largest increase of 1.7% between 2020 and 2021. This growth has been concentrated in Western Montana, specifically in areas like Bozeman, Missoula, and Kalispell. This is in unison with the growth of short-term rentals (STR), bringing perceptions of both positive and negative impacts on the communities, hosts, and guests. Platforms like VRBO and Airbnb have streamlined the process for owners and renters to communicate and transact. The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated the demand for STR as people were looking for accommodations with little human interaction and remote workers that could stay for extended lengths of time. While these rentals benefited tourists, communities struggled with housing shortages, affordability, and inflation (Furukawa & Onuki, 2019). Moreover, tourism soon became a key cause in the narrative that was causing the housing crisis (Clancy, 2020). This research aims to understand the factors and broader context of government policies that contribute to tight housing markets in Montana, which has over 12 million visitors in contrast to 1 million residents.Publication The Impact of Travel Participation on Alleviating Loneliness and Social Isolation for Older AdultsWang, Weixuan; Cole, Shu TOlder adults are at higher risk of becoming isolated and lonely, as they would experience many changes in life circumstances, including but not limited to retirement, loss of partners or friends, financial changes, and health decline. Loneliness and social isolation not only affect the quality of life among older adults but also can pose physiological and health risks for them. Therefore, more attention is needed to study and design programs to encourage social connectedness, and social support for older adults and alleviate the impact of loneliness and social isolation among older adults. Travel requires various social interactions that can bolster social connectedness, interrupt lonely feelings and provide health benefits to older adults. This project intends to determine whether travel participation can help alleviate the influence of loneliness and social isolation for older adults and explore the effect on their health and life satisfaction.Publication Wine tourism and the senior market spending behaviors: A qualitative approachLopez Llantuy, Nikol K; Zheng, TianshuWine tourism has increased in popularity in the United States. Nevertheless, many wineries located in rural areas are not well known and have been understudied. On the other hand, the senior market has demonstrated to have great potential for tourism. However, studies regarding senior tourism behaviors including spending, are scant. This research aims to reduce this research gap by analyzing spending habits of senior population who visit rural wineries. By using a qualitative approach this study will be able to: a) Identify the characteristics and profile of senior travelers; b) Determine the underlaying reasons of senior visitors’ expenditure patterns; c) Provide theorical and practical implications related to rural wine tourism. Those implications will help business owners and policy makers develop strategies that promote the development of wine tourism in the country.Publication Resident willingness to pay for "local, ecologically sustainable and cultural food production and consumption" in HawaiiItoga, HollyThis study is part of a larger objective to produce data to develop an appropriate marketing campaign for ecologically sustainable and cultural food production for consumption through data analysis on key audience, industry leaders, and Hawaii's food production. This paper covers a smaller (n=100) study as a mode for survey of locals willingness to pay for "ecologically sustainable and cultural food production and consumption". Through our findings we establish a statistically significant willingness to pay more for consumption of food grown through ecologically sustainable and cultural food production in Hawaii.Publication Putting Research into Practice: Three examples of communicating academic research to industry partnersKnollenberg, Whitney; Schroeder, Ashley; Post, Hailey; Savage, AnnThis poster presentation provides an overview of three examples of how academic research can be translated to providing key findings for tourism industry practitioners. Each example offers insights into the format, depth, and distribution strategies that help ensure academic research can be put into practice. Key recommendations include: 1.) using formats like a PowerPoint slide deck to share research findings so that practitioners can integrate findings into presentations for stakeholders; 2.) creating a series of short reports that each have a different theme from the findings to make key takeaways easier to find and process; 3.) partnering with industry members to develop a research outcome that serves their needs and academic metrics (e.g., completion of a Master’s thesis, undergraduate education); 4.) leveraging industry partners to provide them with content to share with their members while maximizing the distribution of research outputs.Publication Extending tourism from main attractions to industrial areas of the city with the help of art tourism beautificationSlak Valek, NatasaWhile work on tourism gentrification in general and the role of aesthetics of gentrification in tourism in particular has been conducted, the nexus between particular aspects of gentrification, such as gentrification aesthetics, and specific forms of tourism, such as art tourism, deserves more attention. Specifically, less has been written on how local stakeholders affected by gentrification understand gentrification aesthetics and their potential role in promoting forms of art tourism. To fill in this gap, through a quantitative survey, this paper explores the opinions of a group of business owners in Mussafah, an industrial and commercial area in Abu Dhabi that could be potentially turned into an art tourism destination. we use a recall technic to explore a spontaneous support towards aesthetics and art from business owners, regression analyses to understand how the type and content of selected art predicts gentrification support, and chi-square tests to research the differences between respondents who support the place to become a creative place and those who do not. Using the findings of this research, we propose a model for extending tourism to more industrial areas.Publication Understanding the effect of astrotourism participation on visitors post-trip behaviorRussell, Zachary A; Soulard, JoelleLight pollution has negative impacts on human and animal health while being completely preventable. When interviewing managers at International Dark-Sky Association (IDA) designated dark sky parks, it became apparent that involvement in the daily operations of the park sparked an increased awareness to the value of dark nighttime skies. This study seeks to apply the transtheoretical model of behavior change to participation in astrotourism activities. This would allow us to understand whether limited participation in astrotourism (such as a singular trip) can significantly increase awareness about light pollution enough to lead to a change in personal outdoor lighting. To do this, we plan to use an experimental design with a pre- and post-test methodology. We expect that results would indicate a behavioral change that manifests in the changing of outdoor lighting fixtures and general support for limiting light pollution in their communities.Publication UNDERSTANDING TOURIST MOTIVATIONS IN VISITING CURRENT AND FORMER CONFLICT ZONESLuongo, Michael; Sydnor-Bousso, SandraLocations recovering from conflict encounter difficulty rebuilding their tourism sectors. Factors include infrastructure devastation and persistent perception of danger. This work seeks to answer the following research questions: For those who do venture into these locations soon after war or in the midst of it, what are their characteristics and motivations? Would understanding these early travelers allow recovering locations to target them through early marketing to speed tourism sector recovery and overall economic rebuilding, perhaps leading to a faster shift in outside perceptions? Methodology is a mixed methods approach with primary emphasis on qualitative analysis of 10 interviews with recent travelers to Iraq. Questions examine motivations, perceptions, media research, prior travel frequency, among other factors, along with a Risk-Taking Behavior survey. Subjects are recruited from tour companies and independent travelers. The researchers will also test robustness of traditional analysis of qualitative data by a comparative analysis using both traditional and data analysis software such as NVivo.