This study investigates whether hotel choice attributes decompose into comparable configurations for two important guest groups served by hotels: business and leisure travelers. Each group's responses were factor analyzed and the factor congruency technique was then employed to ascertain the extent of similarity between them. Results indicate that the congruence between the business and leisure travelers is weak in terms of the importance of the factors and their correspondence. Implications of the results are discussed.

Bibliography: pages 78-84. / The aim of this project was to assess the image of museums in Cape Town society in the context of the changing needs of South African people. A questionnaire examining museum-visiting habits and perceptions of the role of museums was distributed to parents via nine schools in Cape Town. Each school represented a different socioeconomic package so that the sample included parents with varying educational status and incomes. Parents of school-going children were sampled because they may be predisposed towards museums as institutions that offer their children educational and recreational opportunities and, therefore, represent a best-case scenario. The majority of the sample had visited a museum. A relationship exists between museum-visiting and higher socioeconomic status. Museum- visiting, though, was not limited to people with a higher level of education. Parents who were actively involved in a broad range of leisure activities were most likely to have visited museums. Although socioeconomic status and participation in leisure activities are related, museum-visitors appear to have leisure-lifestyles and not level of education in common. The results showed a contradiction in parents' attitudes towards museums; the image of museums was good but the image of the museum experience was often bad. This was particularly the case for infrequent museum-visitors. This group also experienced a feeling that 'museums are for a different type of person', which may explain why they do not visit despite believing that museums are worthwhile institutions. Museums appear to be perceived as institutions that offer children opportunities for learning and recreation. This could be the reason why young adults or seniors do not participate in museum programmes. This survey also showed that museums were associated with research on and preservation of the past. Black parents, though, were least likely to make this association and it is possible that the emphasis of most museums on the post-colonial past of South Africa is one reason why Black South Africans do not visit museums. There does, though, exist a generally positive image of the role of museums. The emphasis placed on leisure-learning or semi-leisure by young and old people in the townships does indicate that museums could meet an important need for constructive leisure opportunities.

A thesis submitted to the Faculty of Arts in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the Doctor of Philosophy in the Centre for Recreation and Tourism at the University of Zululand, 2000. / As the world's tourism and hospitality industry sees the dawn of the new millennium, the twenty-first century, tourism and hospitality managers will begin to face many pragmatic challenges and opportunities. The fundamental issue which is identified in this study is the maintenance of high standard of quality of service in order to remain a competitive advantage within South Africa as well as the global tourism and hospitality market as a whole. The main areas of concentration this study is expecting to see tourism management changes in the new millennium include: the role played by new technologies, the business practices and general consumer demands. This research seeks to investigate the nature of managerial work in tourism and hospitality industries, specifically in hotels, travel agency, tour operators and tourism authorities. In a given situation, the begging question is whether this work fundamentally similar or different from that which is done in other industries? Furthermore, this study endeavours to find out what determines the nature of that work and, in so doing, puts forward approaches to the management process in the tourism and hospitality industry, specifically those which have to be adopted in the new millennium. As such, the main objectives of the study include the following: (a) To discover how managers intend to cope with the various changes that they will be exposed to in the new millennium, xm (b) To look at the present profile of managers and their expected profile changes in the new millennium, (c) To examine the evolving strategies that are being put in place to cope with challenges and strategies for the new millennium, (d) To examine and put forward a responsible approach to planning and development of the tourism and hospitality industry, (e) To resolve the conflict between the front-office managers who perceive their section of the hotel as separate from the rest of the establishment, (f) To establish a balance between the various components of the tourism product in terms of both quality and capacity. For example, infrastructure and the environment, accommodation and transportation, attractions and services, (g) To understand the need and development of appropriate training facilities and programmes, which are intended to both maximise employment opportunities and achieve the desired standards of quality. To achieve these objectives the study uses two fields of management studies available and relevant to changes in tourism and hospitality. These are: (a) current management functions in the tourism and hospitality business, and (b) the wider field of management, which focuses on managerial work as a whole. The methodology that used for this study are a combination of qualitative and quantitative methodologies utilising techniques such as focus groups, observation, in-depth interviews, telephone interviews, mail questionnaires and the non-participant observation technique. The latter technique was the most preferred method of data collection, because it offered the best alternatives, such as allowing for the simultaneous collection of qualitative and quantitative data. The breakdown of the final sample included four (4) tour operators, five (5) travel agents, two (2) provincial tourism authorities and 250 tourism and hospitality customers. A quantitative approach using statistical techniques was used for the 250 customers, whereas the case study approach was used to analyse the rest of the sample. In these cases the meanings and interpretations of the researcher were used as the main interpretative approach for the views and actions of the managers. However, this was balanced with the managers' interpretations of events. The main and general conclusions that were arrived at, with the help of the above methodologies, were that the tourism industry in the new millennium should move with the customer and therefore planning should be flexible in order to accommodate the customer at all times. Future growth strategies for tourism and hospitality management designed to keep customers satisfied, are those that use a combination of advertising, product innovation, service improvement changes in product and service, with more emphasis on direct selling, entailing personal contact with the customer. It is also evident from the findings that business travelers in the Durban area would prefer branded tourism and hospitality products rather than their counterparts in Pietermaritzburg and Richards Bay would. On the whole, the preference for both business and leisure customers is for branded products. Travel agents believe that the bulk of their business comes from business customers and in the future, the emphasis is expected to be on the business traveler market. Tour operators are looking at buying smaller travel agents that they can use as retail outlets and heavy concentration on the domestic tourism and hospitality market. Tourism authorities are expected to concentrate on supporting community projects as a means of creating employment in the provinces. The intimidation of tourists in the provinces is because the community believes that tourists are the reason for increased crime, high prostitution, sexually transmitted diseases and an increase in the price of basic food and rent. The customer in the new millennium is expected to be very different, and rate standard requirements higher than the willingness to pay. The reality of the situation creates a desperate need for tourism and hospitality managers to search actors and forces in the business environment that may be utilised to the advantage of managers. One element that needs to be introduced urgently in all tourism and hospitality organisations is training in customer care. The study points to a very advanced technological environment, with emphasis on product design and the size of the capital of the organisation. The pages that follow will answer these questions and look at other issues in the study in greater detail.

Participation in couple leisure is related to marital satisfaction as well as lower divorce rates; however, Americans seem to have less time available to participate in couple leisure and may have a harder time attaining role balance. There is currently limited research about how role balance may affect leisure as well as how couples manage to balance their leisure time with their other responsibilities, ensuring they have time to spend together in high interaction leisure. We also know very little about other possible benefits couples may experience as a result of participating in couple leisure and the factors that may either facilitate or constrain positive leisure. Using a qualitative approach to data collection and analysis, and informed by symbolic interaction theory, I interviewed nine couples in order to explore the phenomenon of newlywed couple leisure, and address these issues. Couples found significant benefits and meaning through participation in couple leisure activities. They also perceived that participation in leisure together increased satisfaction with their marriages. Many factors were found to constrain or facilitate a positive leisure experience, including time, money, and others. It was found that role balance plays a large part in finding time to participate in leisure as a couple. Being able to role balance helped couples to better enjoy the benefits and meaning couple leisure provided.

No description available.

Health research has demonstrated that regular leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) during pregnancy and the postnatal period may play a crucial role in managing the physical and psychological challenges that women face during these times of transition. The purpose of this dissertation was to investigate LTPA patterns during pregnancy and in the postnatal period and identify social-cognitive correlates associated with regular LTPA. Three inter-related studies were conducted. The purpose of Study 1 was to conduct an in depth month-to-month investigation of LTPA from 3 months prior to conception to 7 months following childbirth. An assessment of 309 pre and postnatal women revealed that LTPA started to decline in the first trimester of pregnancy, continued to decline at a steady rate until childbirth and then increased during the postnatal period. In addition to illustrating the average growth curve, the results from the multi-level moding analyses indicated substantial individual variability around the average growth curve. Future research should identify social cognitive factors that are associated with LTPA during this time of transition. Accordingly, Study 2 investigated psychosocial correlates of LTPA during pregnancy. The study engaged pregnant women in the listing of salient barriers to LTPA at 4 different time points during pregnancy (e.g., pregnancy weeks 18, 24, 30 and 36) and examined if barrier self-efficacy as well as a general measure of exercise self-efficacy were associated with LTPA during pregnancy. A total of 1168 barriers were content analyzed, yielding nine major themes. Hierarchical regression analyses supported both forms of self-efficacy as predictors of LTPA. While Study 2 examined LTPA during pregnancy, Study 3 focused on the postnatal period. The first objective was to identify postnatal women's perceived LTPA barriers and outcome expectations. In general, the barriers reported were consistent with barriers experienced by both asymptomatic and symptomatic populations as well as previous research examining barriers to exercise among postnatal women. The results of the open-ended outcome expectation elicitation generated a large number of physical, psychological and social outcome expectations. Approximately 90% of all outcome expectations listed under each category were classified into four groups. The second objective of Study 3 was to examine if outcome expectation likelihood, exercise self-efficacy and barrier self-efficacy were associated with LTPA. In support of our hypothesis, and consistent with social cognitive theory, self-efficacy was significantly associated with LTPA. For many women engaging in regular LTPA during pregnancy and following the birth of a child is a challenge. The average growth curve results from Study 1 are promising; however the random effects analyses was significant indicating substantial individual variability about the average growth curve. Study 2 and Study 3 identified a number of salient barriers to LTPA which may hinder the initiation and maintenance of regular LTPA. Study 3 also identified salient outcome expectations that may severe a motivational factors to engage in LTPA. The results suggest that self-efficacy represents an important social cognition is linked to higher levels of LTPA in the postnatal period. In conclusion, barrier and exercise self-efficacy may be important targets for intervention efforts to promote LTPA during pregnancy. / Thesis / Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Using ethnographic methods, the present study explored volunteer participation in an urban farm in Austin, Texas, USA. Researchers spent three years documenting the activities of participants via participant observation and interviewing. Guided by the concept of civil leisure, researchers analyzed voluntary participation in the farm as a form of leisure practice that was oriented towards civic issues. Analysis indicated that participation was understood as a means of (1) fostering self-reliance through peer education, (2) establishing and strengthening place-based social networks, and (3) addressing civic concerns related to infrastructure and food security. These findings are interpreted within the context of Bauman's concepts of liquid modernity (2000. Liquid Modernity. Malden, MA: Polity Press) and liquid fear (2006. Liquid Fear. Malden, MA: Polity Press). On the basis of the findings and interpretations, recommendations are made to suggest ways in which municipalities might cultivate residents’ civic impulses, especially as relates to urban agriculture.

No description available.

The purpose of this study was to discover what families perceive as the benefits of participating in family volunteering; specifically service missions and the substantive impact the experience had on the families. A grounded theory approached was used. Five families were identified through a criteria-based snowball sampling technique. The data were analyzed using constant comparison. Based on the data analysis a core category emerged that encapsulated the result of the family service experience. The core category was coined, "family deepening." Family deepening encompassed the essence of the process the families in this study experienced. In order to achieve family deepening the participants in this study participated in a purposive, unique, shared, interactive, and challenging experience. Additionally, they experienced sacrifice. All these attributes appeared to contribute to the process of achieving a family deepening experience.

The purpose of the study was to examine the leisure patterns of nonresident fathers while spending time with their child(ren), and to examine leisure constraints, leisure facilitators and nonresident fathers' satisfaction with family leisure activities. Four instruments were used to collect the data. Family leisure involvement was measured using the Family Leisure Activity Profile (FLAP), leisure constraints were measured using the Nonresident Father Leisure Constraint Scale (NFLCS), leisure facilitators were measured using the Nonresident Fathers' Leisure Facilitator Scale (NFLFS), and family leisure satisfaction was measured using the Family Leisure Satisfaction Scale (FLSS). The sample was nonresident fathers (n=129) from 36 states in the U.S. The data supported leisure constraints as a significant predictor of nonresident fathers' satisfaction with family leisure involvement, and their family leisure patterns. The data did not support, however, leisure facilitators as contributing to fathers' satisfaction with family leisure involvement or leisure patterns.