This essay will examine in which way festival tourism can affect the physical location of a festival and to operationalize this we implemented a case study of the music festival Storsjöyran. Storsjöyran is a Swedish music festival held annually in the city of Östersund and since the festival, with the accompanying festival week, attract up to 300 000 visitors annually, we wanted to see what impact the festival contributed to from a development perspective of the destination. The method for gathering data has consisted of both qualitative and quantitative approaches and the data was collected via interviews and questionnaires. We also presented various theories about festival tourism and destination development, as well as previous research on urban festivals. The conclusion is that Storsjöyran contributes to a variety of factors which can help Östersund to a destination development and increased tourism. The essential and most prominent effect we have seen is in what way Storsjöyran helps Östersund to become a vibrant and attractive city and how the festival contributes to the people living there can feel proud of their city.

Ecotourism has increased in demand and aided destination development within many destinations over the past decade. Many Germans have shown an increase of interest in nature-based tourism, and for travelling to Scandinavia. The study examined German tourist behaviour and German visitor trends to Scandinavia. Sweden has become an attractive holiday destination for many international guests including Germans. A case study of destination Ansättfjällen was conducted regarding the low awareness level by international summer tourists. An analysis of the current situation of the destination was conducted and recommendations were provided for future solutions to improve promotion to German ecotourists. Due to the fact that such research about destination Ansättfjällen was not done previously, it was necessary to primarily use qualitative research approach and using an abductive method with a tendency to an inductive manner. Based on the tourism attractiveness, various aspects of destination development had to be examined. One of the final conclusions of the study was the need to do further research about this destination, due to being at development stage of the Butler’s Model and improve stakeholder collaboration within the destination locally and regionally.

Purpose: The paper seeks to provide insights into the application of internet communication technologies with social media in tourism industry from the perspectives of destination marketing organizations (DMOs), evaluating their effectiveness for tourism destination marketing management. The specific purpose is to uncover the important role online marketing with practice of social media to build the destination brands and engage the audience to reach potential visitors. Design/methodology/approach: Qualitative case-study method generates understanding of approach on digital innovation in DMOs’ marketing. In-depth interview allows exploration of how online marketing strategies with practice of social media used in destination branding processes and engagement of the audience. Findings: DMOs need to realize the role online marketing and social media activities in marketing tourism destination and engage the audience to reach the potential visitors. Social media as one of internet communication options is an area of growth in the online marketing communication  DMOs need to emphasize the wide participation in online marketing and social media activities to achieve benefits. DMOs have to be in the place where the visitors are. Integrating online marketing and social media activities with traditional marketing is an essential marketing strategy for today’s DMOs. Practical implications: Understanding the role of online marketing and social media in building destination brands and creating audience’s engagement may contribute to the success of marketing strategies and correspondingly to the destination’s ability to increase the competitiveness. Research limitations/implications: This study offers the contributions to the need of creating online marketing strategies and leveraging social media activities. However, it probably suffers from the fact that it has been conducted in a specific DMO. Therefore it would be evaluated in comparison with the results of other DMOs to generalize the patterns. Originality/value: The study contributes to debates on the use of social media in destination marketing, the value of the study lies in a new approach to the role of online marketing and social media focusing on building destination brands

Det finns ett ökat medvetande om de effekter som turismen medför och för att undvika de negativa effekter som kan uppstå präglas utvecklingen alltmer av ett hållbart och långsiktigt tänkande. Ekoturism är en form av turism som växt fram med utgångspunkt i en sådan filosofi. Den innebär ett förhållningssätt samt även en utvecklingsmodell som strävar efter att gynna destinationen och skapa en lokal ekonomisk tillväxt. De principer som definierar ekoturismen kan ofta identifieras i den samtida planerings- och utvecklingsfilosofin. Studiens syfte är att undersöka hur de principerna kan integrera i utvecklingen på en destination som Kalmar län. Undersökningen utgår från en deduktiv ansats och med en teoretisk utgångspunkt har jag fördjupat mig i den tidigare forskningen för att finna samband där de båda begreppen ekoturism och destinationsutveckling kan ses integrera med varandra. Det teoretiska underlaget har därefter prövats på verkligheten genom ett antal intervjuer med personer som arbetar med utvecklingen i Kalmar län. Materialet har även kompletterats med dokument och information från elektroniska källor. Genom det empiriska materialet har jag sedan kunnat se i vilken utsträckning det finns en överrensstämmelse mellan teorin och empirin. Ekoturism är vanligtvis förknippad som en form av naturturism, men konceptet innefattar även andra dimensioner. För att en verksamhet ska benämnas som ekoturism behöver den vara småskalig och följa vissa etiska regler. Det finns även certifieringar som visar vilka verksamheter som uppfyller de kraven. Den aspekten som det riktas mest kritik mot när det gäller ekoturism är transporten till och från destinationen. För Kalmar län är turismen en viktig näringsgren. Regionen karaktäriseras av de miljöer som finns på landsbygden och i den omgivande naturen, vilket också framhävs i profileringen av regionen. Det arbetas också mycket med att utveckla transportsystemet utifrån en miljömässig hållbarhet. Tillsammans med regionens långsiktiga planering och målsättningen att skapa en hållbar utveckling finns det tecken på hur ekoturismens principer kan integrera i destinationsutvecklingen. / The tourism industry is one of the most expansive industries of today. The industry generates revenue in an increasing amount and provides many people with employment. However, the growing flows of tourists that are travelling affects the places they visit in various aspects. Ecotourism represents a form of tourism that prioritizes the needs of the local society and has a holistic approach to development. The purpose of this thesis is to examine how the dimensions of ecotourism can integrate with the tourism development in a region such as Kalmar län. The thesis is made with a deductive approach and the research is therefore particularly based on different forms of literature but also on a number of interviews. The conclusions imply that the development in Kalmar län can be identified through the different dimensions of ecotourism. Although, it is not explicitly referred to as ecotourism but the general concept is incorporated.

Uppsatsen behandlar hur turismorganisationer på nationell och regional nivå arbetar med turismplanering och turismmarknadsföring för att skapa en bra och sanningsenlig image av Spanien och Costa del Sol i turismsammanhang. I uppsatsen tillämpas en kvalitativ metod. Analysen sker genom texttolkning efter hermeneutiska principer. Symboler tolkas även genom semiotik och metonymi. Uppsatsen beskriver hur turismplaneringen är organiserad i Spanien på nationell och regional nivå och hur dessa nivåers turismorganisationer arbetar med turismens utveckling. En överblick ges över Spaniens turismutveckling och turismmarknadsföring i historiskt och nutida perspektiv. Framtida turismutveckling analyseras med hjälp av främst olika planer – Plan 2020 på nationell nivå och Plan Qualifica på regional nivå. Tidigare forskning inom destinationsmarknadsföring, image och varumärken behandlas. Destinationsmarknadsföringen går ut på att ge turisterna positiva känslor för destinationen. Spaniens symboler och kampanjer tolkas enligt semiotiska modeller. Slutligen behandlas de destinationsproblem som finns på Costa del Sol inom miljömässiga, ekonomiska och sociala områden. Utifrån detta analyseras hur Spanien och Costa del Sol kan föra ut sitt marknadsföringsbudskap på bästa sätt. De slutsatser som dras i uppsatsen är att turismmarknadsföringsbudskapet från nationell och regional nivå måste koordineras. Det behövs också skapas en koherens mellan budskapet som förs fram till kunden och det som kunden upplever på destinationen. Om dessa faktorer samverkar med varandra blir destinationens image bätttre. För att illustrera detta har en modell skapats. Marknadsföringen bör också kombinera välkända symboler med mer nyskapande kampanjer för att få mer uppmärksamhet i den globala konkurrensen mellan olika destinationer. Dessa slutsatser baseras på uppsatsens studie av spanska förhållanden men kan generaliseras till andra destinationer.

This study proposes an alternative travel decision making model and situates its arguments in the Motivation-Opportunity-Ability (MOA) theoretical construct. The MOA model suggests that motivation, opportunity, and ability are major factors influencing decision making. Applying this model in the context of tourism, the proposed model suggests that travel behaviors are determined by self-congruity, functional congruity, perceived travel constraints, constraint negotiation, and self-efficacy. The proposed model and hypotheses were tested in the context of cruise travel. Both qualitative and quantitative methodologies were utilized in this study. Semi-structured interviews with both cruisers and non-cruisers were first conducted to derive measurement items for the interested constructs and to understand how different factors influence travel decision making. An online panel survey was followed to collect quantitative data for testing the proposed theoretical model and hypotheses. Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) was used to test both the proposed model and hypothesized relationships among the constructs. The analyses were performed with Analysis of MOment Structures (AMOS 7.0). All hypotheses except one were supported by the data. The proposed model also had an acceptable fit to the data. Based on the findings, both theoretical and practical implications of the study were recommended.

The purpose of this study was to gain an understanding of the structure and antecedents of travelers' behavioral intentions. Understanding travelers' behavioral intentions is an important goal of both destination marketing organizations and host destinations. However, little research has contributed to the theoretical development in this area, and the lack of a solid theoretical framework has negatively influenced the validity of existing research. Thus, this study attempted to explain travelers' behavioral intentions, using a model which was developed based on existing human behavior theories: the theory of reasoned action and the theory of planned behavior. Another major objective of the current study was to test the validity of the proposed model. Based on the theory of reasoned action and the theory of planned behavior, a conceptual framework was established to explain travelers' behavior intention in a tourism context. Attitude was conceptualized as destination image which is a two-dimensional construct including cognitive and affective components. Subjective norms were conceptualized as the combination of normative beliefs and motivation to comply. Perceived behavioral control was conceptualized as constraints which is a three-dimensional construct including intrapersonal, interpersonal, and structural components. An online panel survey was launched in September 2008 to collect data. Respondents were specially asked their perceived image about Texas, what were the barriers preventing them from traveling to Texas, and how their reference groups affected their travel decision to Texas. Totally, 1,448 completed surveys were received and utilized for analysis which included both visitors and non-visitors. The data analysis procedures included six major steps, from descriptive analysis and preliminary data analysis, to model and hypothesis testing. To do so, the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences 16.0 (SPSS) and Amos 16.0 were utilized. The structural relationships between all variables were tested with using structural equation modeling (SEM). Results of the study showed that destination image and subjective norm positively impacted behavioral intentions while constraints negatively affected behavioral intentions. Hence, this research provides important direction for the development of a more comprehensive theoretical framework to explain travelers' behavioral intentions, and presented a step toward offering practical as well as theoretical implications for future research.

Destination Math was a program utilized by Xcellence ISD. A determination if usage of the software had a significant positive effect on math performance was needed. In this study, the researcher created a student database that included the usage data from the comprehensive mathematics software program, Destination Math, and the math residual value, an added value statistic that was derived from the math scores of the 2006 Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills (TAKS) test. An analysis was performed to determine if time spent using the Destination Math software resulted in differences between student usage level groups in regard to the math residual value (MRV). The researcher also looked at the usage levels of teachers and campuses to determine if there were differences in the MRV for different classifications of usage. Certain student classifications were added as independent variables. Since Destination Math was offered in Spanish, it was theorized that the program might be beneficial to students who were designated as Limited English Proficient (LEP). Therefore, this student classification was included as an independent variable. Because research existed that provided evidence that some software contained a gender bias, the student classification of gender was also included as an independent variable. The population for this study included every student in Xcellence ISD in grades 3-11 who took the math portion of the TAKS test during the week of April 18-21, 2006. Altogether, 3177 students were included in the data analysis for this study. This represented 53% of the tested population. Students with no usage data reported by Destination Math were eliminated from the study. While there are a number of cited studies that document score gains with Destination Math, this researcher did not find that residual math scores were significantly different among teacher or campus usage groups. While there was a significant difference between the student usage groups, High users exhibited negative MRVs. The results of this study are consistent with another large quantitative study that involved Destination Math. This researcher feels that there are an ample number of studies that provide evidence that Destination Math can have a positive effect on student math performance. However, the program should not be purchased with the intent to improve significantly the residual math scores.

In this thesis, I have made use of Consumer Strategic Procedure of E-K-B model to study Leisure Farm Tourists ¡V their tour motivation as well as factors that influence their choice of place ¡V to enable the owners of these leisure farms to make suitable changes in order to attract more tourists. Thus, the main purpose of this study is to discuss and analyze the effect of ¡§tour motivation¡¨ and ¡§choice evaluation¡¨ on ¡§tour motivation¡¨, ¡§information search behavior¡¨, and ¡§choice evaluation norm¡¨ respectively ¡V their characters and differences. The questionnaire design for this study is targeted toward grown up individual. A total of 301 valid questionnaires have been collected. Using statistical analysis methods such as Factor analysis, Discriminant analysis, Cluster analysis, One-way ANOVA and Chi-square method, I have examined the data collected and have reached the following conclusions: Ø The frequency of tourists visiting leisure farms during the past 2 years was very low, plus the duration of stay in these places almost never exceeded 2 days. Ø From the result of Factor Analysis on Tourist¡¦s tour motivation we have generated the following 5 compositions ¡V ¡§Human Relationship and Ability Development¡¨, ¡§Physical and Psychological Relaxation and Recuperation¡¨, ¡§Continuous Learning and Development¡¨, ¡§Individual and Spiritual Quest¡¨ and ¡§Relationship Building¡¨. From Information Search Behavior we generated another 3 composition ¡V ¡§Fanatic Information Gatherer¡¨, ¡¨Experience Guided¡¨ and ¡§Last minute gatherer¡¨. From Source of Information we have ¡V ¡§Mass Media¡¨, ¡§Consultants¡¨, and ¡§Professional tour guide¡¨. From Choice Evaluation Norm we generated another 5 compositions ¡V those who care about the environment, those families who enjoy nature and outings, those who like to stay away from the crowd, those who loves danger and excitement, and finally those who love to experience new lifestyle. Ø Depending on tour motivation of the tourist we have dissected the leisure farm tourist into 3 group, and according to their nature we have named them as thus: ² High tour motivation type: this type of tourists has displayed high degree of motivation in all type of compositions and their degree of motivation is significantly higher than those of the other two types. ² Moderate tour motivation type: this type of tourists didn¡¦t display any type of strong dislike or like to any of the above-mentioned compositions. ² Low tour motivation type: this type when compared with other two types of tourists has shown low degree of tour motivation. Ø According to tourists¡¦ degree of loyalty towards the choice of destination, we have divided them into four groups: ² Unconcerned Type: this type of tourist doesn¡¦t show much interest to the attractive features of destination. ² Environmental Type: this type of tourists pays attention to environmental factors, facilities available, family entertainment and natural beauty. ² Scrutinizing Type: this type of tourists is very particular about each and every aspect of the attractive features of the destination. ² Daring and adventurous Type: needless to say this type of tourists are all out for a different lifestyle and seek danger and adventure. Ø Even in searching for information, source of information and selection criteria, the three groups under the Tour motivation category exhibit substantial difference - the High tour motivation type pays a lot more attention to the quantity of information collected, reliability of source of information and attractive features of choice of destination than the other two types. But in case of demographic distribution and tour behavior there aren¡¦t any notable differences between the three groups. The four group under the selection norm category shows differences when analyzed statistically in factors such as tour motivations, information search behavior, sources of information, age, family life cycle, individual income, etc. ¡V those tourists under the Daring and adventurous Type are younger, single or married but doesn¡¦t have any children and not so high income earner. As for those tourists under the Environmental Type, they are more matured, married and have children 6 years or older and monthly income is more than 50,000 NTD. There isn¡¦t any notable difference in

<p>The Chinese outbound tourism is expected to boost within a near future. Recently the market has been very closed due to legislation but as China develops and people are getting richer the demand for travelling abroad increases and the government has to let go of the regulations.</p><p>In order for the Swedish tourism industry to benefit from the growing market, Sweden has to increase the awareness of the nation as a destination among the Chinese.</p><p>Through qualitative research we aim investigate how Sweden through nation branding and marketing can increase its share of the Chinese outbound tourism.</p><p>Except for nation branding a variety of marketing and branding tools are available. Two significant concepts are tourism marketing and destination branding. By utilizing all these different tools or concepts Sweden can raise the awareness of the nation as a possible tourism destination for Chinese outbound tourism. In order to create a comprehensive picture of the market we have also researched the general background of China and the nature of Chinese tourism.</p><p>VisitSweden and the Swedish Institute are two organizations already working with these concepts and other similar strategies and are herefore a natural part of this study. Scandinavian Perspectives and Miki Travel are two major travel agencies bringing Chinese tourists to Sweden and therefore possess great knowledge of the areas of interest. Therefore representatives from these organisations are involved in the empirical findings.</p><p>In order to get the whole picture Chinese citizens and Chinese students are interviewed about their perception of Sweden and tourism preferences.</p><p>The main conclusion of the thesis is that the different actors need to cooperate more and promote certain aspects of Sweden, for example Culture. Even a few obstacles that should be alleviated are identified.</p>