Environmental Interpretation: Towards a globally relevant model for communicating with tourists from culturally diverse backgrounds. Environmental interpretation, a widely accepted approach to communicating with tourists in North America, Latin America and the U.K., is based on communication research undertaken mainly by researchers in western cultures or focused on Anglo-Saxon audiences. This project advances theory and practice by critically examining the relevance of this model for communic ....Environmental Interpretation: Towards a globally relevant model for communicating with tourists from culturally diverse backgrounds. Environmental interpretation, a widely accepted approach to communicating with tourists in North America, Latin America and the U.K., is based on communication research undertaken mainly by researchers in western cultures or focused on Anglo-Saxon audiences. This project advances theory and practice by critically examining the relevance of this model for communicating with visitors from a range of cultural backgrounds. Environmental messages, communication media and the application of environmental interpretation principles are experimentally manipulated to evaluate their relative effectiveness in communicating with international and domestic visitors from culturally and ethnically diverse backgrounds, as a basis for refining the model for wider application.Read moreRead less
Better destination image data through lower cognitive load measures. This project will develop survey question formats which require less cognitive effort from respondents, leading to: (1) better market insight and improved business strategies for the tourism industry; (2) better tourism consumer behaviour theories; and (3) the collection of higher quality image data by market researchers for their clients.
Reducing plate waste in hotels - which interventions are most effective? This project aims to quantify the comparative effectiveness of belief-based and choice-architecture-based interventions in reducing food waste generated by tourists at hotel buffets. Expected outcomes include: new insights into effective triggers of pro-environmental tourist behaviour; the first empirical data on carbon emissions caused by plate waste in tourism; an automatic plate waste measurement system and benchmarking ....Reducing plate waste in hotels - which interventions are most effective? This project aims to quantify the comparative effectiveness of belief-based and choice-architecture-based interventions in reducing food waste generated by tourists at hotel buffets. Expected outcomes include: new insights into effective triggers of pro-environmental tourist behaviour; the first empirical data on carbon emissions caused by plate waste in tourism; an automatic plate waste measurement system and benchmarking app for monitoring and comparison; and effective practical measures to reduce avoidable food leftovers generated by tourists. This should provide significant benefits by: lowering food cost for the struggling tourism industry, reducing carbon emissions, and contributing to Australia’s aim of halving food waste by 2030.Read moreRead less
The Theory and Practice of International Tourism Demand Modelling. The volatility inherent in tourism flows and limited data availability are crucial issues in estimating and testing tourism demand models, and providing accurate predictions of international tourism. This project analyses critically the theoretical and finite sample properties of alternative techniques for evaluating the empirical performance of international tourism demand models. The significance of the project is the developm ....The Theory and Practice of International Tourism Demand Modelling. The volatility inherent in tourism flows and limited data availability are crucial issues in estimating and testing tourism demand models, and providing accurate predictions of international tourism. This project analyses critically the theoretical and finite sample properties of alternative techniques for evaluating the empirical performance of international tourism demand models. The significance of the project is the development of an optimal method for estimating and testing tourism demand and volatility, an evaluation of alternative statistical techniques using extensive Monte Carlo simulation experiments, and the dissemination of research findings regarding sensible econometric practice to policy-makers in the private and public sectors. Read moreRead less
Reducing global tourism carbon emissions . With over 6 billion vacation trips annually, tourism is a major and fast-growing contributor to climate change. To support a climate-centred tourism policy, this Project aims to construct a world’s first global database that answers three key questions: 1) if tourism carbon footprint increases in direct proportion to its consumption, 2) how quickly tourism can decarbonise emissions, and 3) can tourism deliver better carbon performance than other sectors ....Reducing global tourism carbon emissions . With over 6 billion vacation trips annually, tourism is a major and fast-growing contributor to climate change. To support a climate-centred tourism policy, this Project aims to construct a world’s first global database that answers three key questions: 1) if tourism carbon footprint increases in direct proportion to its consumption, 2) how quickly tourism can decarbonise emissions, and 3) can tourism deliver better carbon performance than other sectors? The outcomes include new theoretical and empirical knowledge about the impacts, drivers, and trade-offs of tourism's carbon emissions. A significant benefit of this Project is to identify mitigation policies that can better balance tourism economic yield and emissions stabilisation.Read moreRead less
Enabling tourism, conservation symbiosis by engaging protected area visitors in focused lifelong activism. Rainforests occupy just 0.3% of Australia and are endangered by increasing visitation and urbanisation. This project will transform visitors to rainforest-protected areas from a potential liability to an asset by investigating their willingness to participate in volunteering, fundraising, donating and other forms of park-related activism throughout their lifetime, and using this information ....Enabling tourism, conservation symbiosis by engaging protected area visitors in focused lifelong activism. Rainforests occupy just 0.3% of Australia and are endangered by increasing visitation and urbanisation. This project will transform visitors to rainforest-protected areas from a potential liability to an asset by investigating their willingness to participate in volunteering, fundraising, donating and other forms of park-related activism throughout their lifetime, and using this information to design a prototype park where quality visitor experiences also translate into biodiversity enhancement. Australia as a result will emerge as a world leader in tourism/conservation symbiosis, realising substantial ecological, social and economic benefits from the thriving rainforests that this symbiosis fosters.Read moreRead less
Encouraging voluntary purchasing of carbon offsets. Climate change is one of the most critical challenges societies collectively face today and in the future. Voluntary carbon offsetting offers a solution that avoids politically costly mandatory offset schemes. Yet, currently very few people purchase carbon offsets voluntarily; fewer than 10% of air travellers, for example. There is significant untapped growth potential. This project will (1) profile consumers interested in voluntarily purchasin ....Encouraging voluntary purchasing of carbon offsets. Climate change is one of the most critical challenges societies collectively face today and in the future. Voluntary carbon offsetting offers a solution that avoids politically costly mandatory offset schemes. Yet, currently very few people purchase carbon offsets voluntarily; fewer than 10% of air travellers, for example. There is significant untapped growth potential. This project will (1) profile consumers interested in voluntarily purchasing carbon offsets, (2) identify motivational sub-segments among them, and (3) develop and experimentally test carbon offset offers for domestic flights targeted at these segments. Findings will generalise beyond carbon offsetting for air traffic.Read moreRead less
Developing a transformative tourism model for the South Pacific. In a South Pacific context, this project aims to develop and disseminate a model of tourism that balances economic, social and environmental objectives. In so doing, this project expects to create new knowledge in tourism and sustainable development, while advancing methods of research applicable to diverse stakeholders and settings. Expected outcomes include an enduring community of practice, and a suite of tools, guides and polic ....Developing a transformative tourism model for the South Pacific. In a South Pacific context, this project aims to develop and disseminate a model of tourism that balances economic, social and environmental objectives. In so doing, this project expects to create new knowledge in tourism and sustainable development, while advancing methods of research applicable to diverse stakeholders and settings. Expected outcomes include an enduring community of practice, and a suite of tools, guides and policy briefs for those seeking to promote tourism that enables genuine sustainable development. In addition to improving outcomes for people and places in a region where tourism is a vital industry, this project should support Australia’s engagement with the Pacific, while promoting peace and prosperity in the region.Read moreRead less
Conceptualisation and Measurement of Customer Value: An Application to the Timeshare Industry. Timeshare or resort ownership is a growing industry worldwide. There are more than 110 timeshare properties in Australia, most of which are located in regional communities. This research will benefit these communities through the provision of information to enhance and sustain the development of this expanding industry. The information obtained will assist the collaborating organisation in the transfor ....Conceptualisation and Measurement of Customer Value: An Application to the Timeshare Industry. Timeshare or resort ownership is a growing industry worldwide. There are more than 110 timeshare properties in Australia, most of which are located in regional communities. This research will benefit these communities through the provision of information to enhance and sustain the development of this expanding industry. The information obtained will assist the collaborating organisation in the transformation of the industry, while addressing some of the concerns raised in a 2005 Parliamentary Inquiry. The project examines how consumers obtain value from the timeshare product. The project has the potential to be applied internationally thus providing export opportunities for Australia.Read moreRead less
Consumer preferences for voluntary carbon mitigation in the aviation sector. The demand for aviation is rapidly adding to carbon emissions. Little is known about consumer preferences for aviation carbon offsets and how they evolve over time. This hinders the expansion of voluntary schemes at a crucial period in history. This research will investigate consumers offset preferences and their willingness to pay for aviation carbon mitigation using a novel time series methodology. The project aims to ....Consumer preferences for voluntary carbon mitigation in the aviation sector. The demand for aviation is rapidly adding to carbon emissions. Little is known about consumer preferences for aviation carbon offsets and how they evolve over time. This hinders the expansion of voluntary schemes at a crucial period in history. This research will investigate consumers offset preferences and their willingness to pay for aviation carbon mitigation using a novel time series methodology. The project aims to inform government policies and to help industry to develop carbon offset programs which are more likely to be supported by consumers, thus helping to reduce carbon emissions in the long term. It also aims to profile carbon offsetting groups to support communication activities to increase the size and value of offsets.Read moreRead less