Abstract Globalization is forcing many American college students to re-evaluate their perspective on foreign travel. If they are offered an opportunity to improve their cultural relativity skill set by immersing themselves into a new culture, the more astute students might choose to embark on that journey especially if it would result in resume enhancement. This paper focuses upon a group of twelve community college students' cross-cultural experiences, navigation techniques, and adaptation methods as student interns teaching conversational English in Changchun, China for a period of nine to thirteen weeks in spring 2011. Several areas of interest emerged from their experiences and observations to allow for pedagogical inquiry: the global divide between Chinese and American cultural and educational initiatives; utilization of social, economic, and cultural capital by some but not all participants; successful teaching methods to deal with different learning styles; and negotiation of identities to become effective teachers and cultural ambassadors. The body of analysis, conclusions, and interpretations sections identifies the successes and failures of the twelve subjects and suggests that there is importance to this ethnographic study for sociology and education scholars. The bottom-line significance becomes apparent as more future college graduates will be seeking work both inside and outside the US in education and business fields. As employers peruse college graduates' resumes for something substantially unique, a candidate who has lived and worked in an emerging foreign country can be a huge advantage for their career aspirations.

published_or_final_version / Architecture / Master / Master of Landscape Architecture

Coastal counties in the United States have placed a new emphasis on tourism related employment. The shift away from normal maritime work, such as fishing and import/export shipping has ushered in an era of service-oriented economies and communities scattered along the US coast lines. This trend which is associated with the transition from Fordism to post-Fordism can be seen most prevalently in Florida's Tampa Bay region. The counties that make up Tampa Bay include Citrus, Hernando, Hillsborough, Manatee, Pasco, Pinellas, and Sarasota.The lure of sandy beaches and blue seas are the obvious tourist draws to any tropical locale, including the Tampa Bay region. But it is blatantly shortsighted to pinpoint locational attributes as the only factor in creating a tourist economy. This study hopes to make a contribution to the tourism literature in human geography by considering the role of non-locational attributes which are crucial to the growth and development of tourism-driven economies along the coastal US.

Etik kring bilder i annonser har diskuterats mycket, speciellt modell-, ochproduktbilder har kritiserats. Det tycks dock saknas forskning om acceptanskring efterbehandling av landskapsfotografier som ofta används vidmarknadsföring av turistmål. En webbenkätundersökning genomfördes medbildexempel för att undersöka vilken nivå av efterbehandling som ansågsverklighetstrogen, tilltalande och accepterbar i sådana annonser. Slutsatsenblev att fotografier där exponeringen korrigerats för att skapa en tydligare bildvar det mest accepterade. Skillnader i åsikter mellan åldrar, kön, de som haroch inte har tidigare erfarenhet av fotografi och retuschering diskuterades ochdet visade sig att kvinnor och de utan tidigare erfarenhet var lite mer kritiskatill efterbehandling. Det framkom att en del betraktare kan accepteraytterligare efterbehandling om den genomförs för att sälja en specifik känslaoch så länge inte betraktaren kan känna sig vilseledd. / The ethics on pictures in advertising have been widely discussed, especiallymodel, and product photographs have been criticized. There seems to be ashortage of research on acceptance of image processing of landscapephotographs that are often used in advertisements for tourist destinations. Aweb survey with example pictures was conducted to examine what level ofimage processing was deemed life like, appealing and acceptable in those kindsof advertisements. The conclusion was that photographs where the exposurehad been corrected to create a clearer picture was the most acceptable.Differences in opinions between ages, genders and those with or withoutprevious experience about image processing were discussed and it showedthat women were slightly more critical to image processing. Those withprevious experience were generally more okay with image processing. Someviewers accept further processing if it is done to sell a specific feeling and doesnot make the viewer feel mislead.

This thesis offers new models for participatory and performative interventions in sites of heritage tourism through a theorized practical engagement. Drawing on both Tourism Studies and Performance Studies, the primary aim of these interventions is to reveal and provoke ways of seeing and using these sites as places of multiple meanings rather than as ones constricted and bounded by normative heritage narratives in their production and management. The experimental phase of the project discussed in the thesis includes three contrasting case studies: GeoQuest, Sardine Street, and Water Walk. These are each analysed and evaluated through my development of a ‘mythogeographic’ framework that includes the performative techniques of layering, rhizomatic interweaving, the making of 'anywheres' and the self-mythologising of the activist. The thesis charts a trajectory through praxis, from developing models for ambulatory, signage-based and ‘mis-guided’ interventions to be undertaken by performance ‘specialists’, towards a dispersal of their tactics for use by heritage tourists in general. It thus describes a related change in the balance of the research methodology from ethnographic participant observation towards practice-as-research (PaR), the latter of which both generated and enacted knowledge and understanding. This PaR took the form of various visits and forays to and across heritage sites and landscape, and also the production of a ‘toolkit’ of handbook, pocketbook, website and online short films for the dispersal of tactics and a strategy that is eventually called ‘counter-tourism’. The thesis thus includes the publications A Sardine Street box of tricks, Counter-tourism: the handbook, Counter-tourism: a pocketbook and the DVD, Tactics for counter-tourism, as well as their fully theorized critical contextualisation. These represent a PaR enquiry that attempts to creatively express my research findings from productions made in the field through a popular form of writing and presentation that is capable of inspiring general, ‘non-specialist’ tourists to make their own performance interventions in heritage sites.

The intent of this research was to identify the effectiveness of a destination brand as determined by international tourists visiting the destination. The Caribbean can be viewed as a homogeneous region to many individuals seeking sun, sand, and sea; therefore, product differentiation is essential. Destination branding represents and distinguishes a country among competing nations. This concurrent mixed methods study set forth to investigate the effectiveness of the Saint Lucia destination brand. The following objectives underlie this research: i) to explore how the current destination brand was chosen, ii) to evaluate tourists’ perceptions and images of the destination, iii) to explore the relationship between tourists’ perceptions and destination choice, and iv) to evaluate the extent to which the destination brand influenced destination choice. The research findings indicate a lack of awareness concerning the new destination brand. A lack of brand communication and insufficient exposure has been detrimental to the overall success of the destination brand. A conceptual model for the development process of a destination brand was suggested to enhance destination brand effectiveness. The six essential stages include market research, destination image, targeting and positioning, brand identity, communication of the brand, and continuous monitoring and evaluation throughout. It is recommended to engage in monitoring and improvement initiatives of the brand to better gauge its effectiveness; to enhance exposure of the brand through effective niche marketing initiatives that showcase the diversity and unique attributes of Saint Lucia; and finally, to work towards transforming the destination brand into a national brand.

Sekso turizmas - kelionė į svečią šalį, kurios metu užmezgami seksualiniai santykiai su lankomos šalies gyventoju yra pagrindinis/dalinis kelionės tikslas ar netikėtai atsiradusi galimybė, kuria pasinaudojama. Sekso turizmu vadinama globalizacijos sekoje naujai iškilusi ir sparčiai besiplečianti turizmo atšaka. Jei anksčiau seksualinių santykių svečiose šalyse ieškantys turistai savo kelionių kryptimis rinkdavosi Azijos ar Lotynų Amerikos šalis, tai šiandieniniame turizmo kontekste sekso turistų kelionių keliai driekiasi per visus pasaulio kontinentus, apimdami įvairias pasaulio šalis. Darbe pristatomo tyrimo tikslas yra ištirti Lietuvoje viešinčių svečių šalių turistų patirtis, jų požiūrį į Lietuvą, kaip sekso turizmui patrauklią šalį. / Sex tourism is defined as tourism that involves sexual relations between tourists and locals. Some tourists travel with the specific intention of participating in sexual activity, for others it is not anticipated. It is a vast and growing global phenomenon. If earlier Asia and Latin America were the most popular destinations for sex tourism, now such tours spread all over the world. The aim of the paper is to analyze tourists’ journey experiences: what tourists think about Lithuania, do they see Lithuania as destination for sex tourism.

Šiuo metu vis didesnio dėmesio susilaukia, ne tik poilsiniai, bet ir gydomosios paskirties šalies kurortai, galintys pasiūlyti gydymą bei reabilitaciją. Darbe apžvelgiama gydomojo turizmo struktūra ir teikiamos paslaugos Lietuvoje. Šiuo metu didelio turistų dėmesio susilaukia Birštono kurortas, kuris pasižymi švelniu klimatu, gražia gamta bei teikiamomis sveikatingumo paslaugomis. Taigi tyrimu siekiama išsiaiškinti, kodėl turizmo vartotojai pasirenka būtent šį kurortą. Šiame darbe analizuojami turisto elgsenos veiksniai labiausiai įtakojantys turisto pasirinkimą kur keliauti. Svarbiausias veiksnys įtakojantys turistą yra motyvacija. Taigi darbe, pagal mokslininkų pateiktas keliavimo motyvų kategorijas, identifikuoti ir pateikti pagrindiniai motyvai, dėl kurių turistai pasirenka gydomojo turizmo rūšį Birštone. Raktiniai žodžiai: motyvai, turistų tipai, poreikiai, gydomasis turizmas. Darbo objektas: turistų motyvai, renkantis gydomąjį turizmą. Probleminis klausimas – kokie motyvai įtakoja turistus renkantis gydomąjį turizmą? Darbo tikslas – nustatyti turistų motyvus renkantis gydomąjį turizmą Birštono kurorte. Darbo uždaviniai: 1. Atskleisti turisto poreikių, keliavimo motyvų ir tipo teorines sampratas; 2. Apžvelgti gydomojo turizmo struktūrą ir teikiamas paslaugas; 3. Identifikuoti turistų motyvus renkantis gydomąjį turizmą Birštono kurorte. Svarbiausi rezultatai ir išvados: atlikus teorinę analizę ir tyrimą išsiaiškinta, kad turisto pasirinkimą kur keliauti... [toliau žr. visą tekstą] / -.

Between 1991 and 1996 the number of German second home owners in Sweden increased from about 1,500 to more than 5,500. The purpose of this thesis is to give a comprehensive description and analysis of the German cottage purchases in Sweden, 1991-96. In detail, the motives of the cottage buyers, the circumstances, the geographical patterns of cottage ownership, its diffusion, the integration of the cottage owners, and their expenses in the receiving areas are investigated. The analysis is based on two main sources; (a) an unique database UMCOBASE covering all second homes in Sweden; (b) a survey among 91 German second home owners. Second home ownership is considered as touriste product and as semi-permanent migration to the countryside. These perspectives have in common the importance of the role of the positive image of the countryside. Differences in property prices and climate may also attract second home owners to a specific area. It is argued that changes in the German society form a considerable driving force. Stress and life in the large metropolitan areas as well as the political situation after German reunification contribute not only to this interest for second home living, for the countryside, but also for Sweden, often seen as a shining example. Many German images of Sweden are based on popular writings and movies of the Swedish children's author Astrid Lindgren. Sweden provides the German cottagers with the requested environments and the availability of housing, cheap property prices, and rather short distances make the interior parts of southern Sweden an ideal destination for the mixture of households with different individual motivations and preferences mainly from Hamburg and Berlin. The internationalization of the economy and the globalization of culture make it easier to purchase a second home abroad. In this case, the growth of German second home ownership in Sweden can be considered as a colonization of the Swedish countryside. The diffusion of cottage ownership is enhanced and directed by the innovators who due to their social networks attract new cottagers to the same area. A very important precondition for the increased German interest in Swedish cottages was the decline of the Swedish currency in 1992 allowing purchases at a cheaper price. The fact that the real estate agencies focused on the German market may be another reason for the increase, and also for the distribution of German cottage ownership within Sweden. The German second home patterns are also analyzed employing multiple regression analysis. It is shown that the distance between ferry harbors and second homes is a major restriction for the distribution of German cottage ownership in Sweden. Even future growth will take place in areas where German cottage owners are present today. The multi-functionality of the countryside caused competition regarding land-use and decision-making power between rural residents, tourists, and agents of other interests. Even if second home tourists and the permanent residents share a lot of interests, integration into the local community can be difficult. It is argued that the German cottagers are leisure gentrifiers consuming the countryside as a leisure resource only. Second home owners are faithful tourists who visit the second home area frequently and stay for a long time. This entails that they also spend a considerable amount of money in the host community. Hence, some jobs in the research area are more or less dependent on the expenditures of the German cottage owners. Despite being motivated, most German cottagers have problems integrating into the host community. The German cottagers seem to adapt to this situation by meeting with each other and by applying a conservative eco-strategy, thus converting their surroundings into their imaginary Swedish countryside. The post-war societies in the western world are characterized by rapid changes. The recent interest in second homes can be read as a rejection of modern life, because the cottage might be the continuous place in life. It is argued, however, that the second home is attractive because it blurs the strict separation of everyday life and tourism. / digitalisering@umu

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