This paper examines the relationship between tour operators and their existing tourism destinations. The intent is to help the tour operators plan strategically for building the sustainability of their destinations. A Framework for Strategic Sustainability Development, based on scientific consensus, was used to structure this work. Interviews with tour operators and tourism experts gave practical insight complementing the literature review and case studies analysed during the research. The key findings were the need for tour operators to: consider a whole-systems perspective; cooperate with the tourism destination to build a common vision of success and a clear understanding of sustainability; and to prioritise their actions based on achieving the vision. From this the authors proposed guidance notes to assist tour operators in addressing these barriers. The paper concludes that tour operators can play a major role in building a sustainable society while perpetuating the tourism industry. In order to do so their actions must be chosen and managed correctly. This involves cooperation with the destinations throughout the strategic planning process and for all involved to be on the same page in terms of the end goal, a sustainable society.

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to investigate how Huddinge municipality works with destination development and marketing. Method: We have used both quantitative and qualitative method. Data has been collected from primary and secondary sources relevant to the study. Theory: Consists of theories of destination, marketing, development. Result: The result of the study is that a municipality today can do without tourism. / Syfte: Syftet med denna studie är att undersöka hur Huddinge kommun arbetar med destinationsutveckling och marknadsföring Metod: Vi har använt oss av kvantitativ och kvalitativ metod. Data har samlats in från primära och sekundära källor som är relevanta för studien. Teori: Består av teorier om destination, marknadsföring, utveckling och vem som räknas som turist. Resultat: Studiens resultat är att en Svensk kommun idag kan klara sig utan turism.

Doctor of Philosophy / Department of Hotel, Restaurant, Institution Management & Dietetics / Ki-Joon Back / Understanding association members’ meeting participation behaviors is the key to the well-attended meeting, which is a common goal of both associations and host destinations. However, little research has contributed to theoretical development in this area, and the lack of a theoretical framework has negatively influenced the validity of existing research. Thus, this study attempted to explain association members’ meeting participation behaviors, using a conceptually sound model of meeting participation, which was developed based on existing human behavior theories: the theory of reasoned action (TRA) and the theory of planned behavior (TPB). Another main objective of this study was to test the validity of the meeting participation model (MPM). By comparing the utility of three competing models (TRA, TPB, and MPM), this study confirmed the effectiveness of the meeting participation model (MPM) in explaining association members’ intentions to attend the annual meeting. The proposed meeting participation model was empirically examined using the data collected from 245 members of the International Council on Hotel, Restaurant, and Institutional Education (CHRIE). The results of model development revealed that the MPM fits the data very well, providing a systematic view of the decision-making process of association meeting participation. In addition, the findings of the model comparison using the structural equation modeling (SEM) revealed that all three competing models successfully provide a theoretical base for understanding association members’ meeting participation behaviors. Specifically, the MPM provided a fuller understanding of meeting participation intention by adding two predictor variables (destination image and past meeting participation experience) to the TPB. This study is the first research effort to investigate what makes association members attend, or not attend, association meetings based on theoretical frameworks. TRA and TPB provided the necessary theoretical ground to develop the meeting participation model (MPM). By adding a domain specific predictor variable (destination image) and a non-volitional habitual construct (past experience) to the original latent constructs conceptualized in pure TRA/TPB models, the MPM emerged as a theoretically strong and parsimonious framework for understanding association members’ meeting participation behaviors. The results of the current study present a strong step toward providing practical as well as theoretical implications for future convention research.

Doctor of Philosophy / Department of Architecture, Planning & Design / John W. Keller / Some parts of rural America are experiencing unprecedented demographic and cultural changes as immigrant settlement patterns shift from traditional gateway cities to rural regions that have enticing economic opportunities. In particular, southwest Kansas has become a magnet for immigrant workers and their families. Between 2007 and 2008, Finney County became a majority-minority county (Callebs, 2009). However, lack of affordable housing and limited housing stock has strained communities and become an obstacle for newly settling immigrants (Stull, 2011). This study aims to redress the limited research on immigrants in rural regions and focuses specifically on the cultural experiences of Finney County Hispanic immigrants regarding integration into the local housing community. This qualitative case study is designed using the housing career framework (Murdie, 2002) to capture the factors that influence the housing experience of Hispanic immigrants. The 25 participants were recruited using snowball sampling and convenience sampling techniques. Based on the participant’s language preference, the in-depth interviews were conducted in English or Spanish. This study has found that the mission of community planning has to be a multifaceted process to address the varied needs of immigrant families. Community planners and policy makers can use the information this study provides to better serve the immigrant Hispanic community, which is expected to grow over the coming years.

This qualitative study has examined how Sigtuna with its local businesses works to create a united destination image and what challenges that arise in this creation. The methodological approach to collect data consists of qualitative interviews and text and image analyzes. There have been seven interviews with local businesses operating in Sigtuna and they are included in the same network. Analyzes of websites and social media, such as Facebook and Instagram, as well as videos identified as important in the process of communicating the Sigtuna image have been performed. Three theories have been applied in the study to explain what destination image includes as well as significant factors in the creation of image, networking between companies and how image can be conveyed. The results has shown that there are some improvement areas for the destination's common creation of an image. The areas that need to be developed primarily are communication between businesses and the follow up of its common goals. The presentation of the image is mainly through social media, where the historical aspects are presented as an important part of Sigtuna's image. The results also shows that there are challenges and the greatest challenge for the destination is to find a common approach that all business will work towards. / Denna kvalitativa studie har undersökt hur Sigtuna med aktörer arbetar för att skapa en gemensam destinationsimage samt vilka utmaningar som uppstår i detta skapande. De metodologiska tillvägagångssätten för att samla in data är kvalitativa intervjuer samt text- och bildanalyser. Det har genomförts sju intervjuer med aktörer som är verksamma i Sigtuna och ingår i samma nätverk. Analyser av hemsidor och sociala medier, såsom Facebook och Instagram samt videoklipp som utsetts som viktiga i arbetet att förmedla Sigtunas image har utförts. Tre teorier har tillämpats i studien för att förklara vad destinationsimage innefattar samt betydande faktorer i skapandet av image, nätverk mellan företag och hur image kan förmedlas. Resultatet har visat att det finns en del förbättringsområden för destinationens gemensamma skapande av en image. De områden som främst behöver utvecklas är kommunikationen mellan aktörerna samt uppföljningen av dess gemensamma mål. Förmedlingen av image sker främst genom sociala medier där de historiska aspekterna presenteras som en viktig del av Sigtunas image. Resultatet visar även att det finns utmaningar och den största utmaningen för destinationen är att hitta ett gemensamt förhållningssätt som samtliga aktörer ska arbeta utefter.

In this thesis, authors’ main goal is to test two hypotheses to compare if the tourists are more likely to make their destination choice based on user generated photographs on social media, as well as, tourists’ sustainable destination choice based on photographs with sustainable green content. The quantitative research method was used to conduct the survey with experimental design. It was aimed to compare the tourist’ trust in different photo types, the consumers’ trust was expected to be measured by three dimensions: first impression, intention, and persuasiveness, recommended by previous studies. However, the findings revealed that the tourists are not more likely to trust user generated content on social media to make their destination choice.

This master thesis is a follow-up to my bachelor thesis which deals with analysis and design of web application for a company Wedding in Prague Inc. Area of interest for this master thesis is a review of analysis and design of application and its implementation. The main aim of the thesis is to create an online wedding application for this company that organizes and plans weddings. The applications purpose is to provide an optimal informatics support for priority processes of the company. To achieve the aim, it was necessary to review analysis of the application including a review of requirements. And because of the scale of these requirements it was necessary to prioritize these requirements. After that I did a review of original design and then I implemented and tested priority functionality of the application. This topic was chosen because the company needed informatics support of existing processes and needed to provide its customers with wedding pages. These wedding pages will be used for wedding administration and providing wedding participants with information about oncoming wedding. Because no suitable application was found on market it was necessary to develop this application. Firstly, the thesis includes a definition of a destination event management and a description of companys processes. After that there is a review of requirements, use case diagrams and a design of user interface. The next chapter focuses on a review of an application design. This includes class diagram, component diagram and a database design. Chapter after that includes implementation of application using framework ASP.NET and it also includes testing cases for this application. The last chapter includes a user manual which describes the functionality of the applications. Contribution of this thesis is to implement and to test a web application which includes a priority functionality (60% of all functionality). This enables easy administration of all organized weddings. Also, it will help expand reputation of the company.

South Africa’s hosting of the 2010 FIFA World Cup™ came at a time when the position as host of a high-profile mega-event has become a sought-after status for countries worldwide. Not only do these events hold the promise of extensive triple-bottom-line legacies, but they also offer an extremely powerful destination marketing platform. However, no destination is guaranteed success and sustainable competitiveness by being offered the once-off opportunity to host a major international event. This study focuses on the ways and measures in which mega-events can contribute to destination competitiveness in its entirety as depicted in a popular model of tourism destination competitiveness. Existing literature on destination competitiveness and mega-events, as well as comparative case studies of recent mega-events were explored to furnish a set of apparent key success factors for the sustainable hosting of mega-events. This set of factors was then tested within a case study context through the collection of primary and secondary qualitative data. Industry experts from both the tourism and events industries in the City of Tshwane were interviewed on the eve of the 2010 FIFA World Cup™. In addition, strategic documents and other secondary data were investigated to form an understanding of the role of the event as a potential catalyst for destination development. The City’s competitiveness was evaluated before the event, and compared to an evaluation of its perceived competitiveness as a result of the event. Based on the findings, a set of five critical success factors was developed. It includes the need to address eventsm as a strategic destination priority; effective stakeholder identification and role clarification; resource management for the event; alignment of the event strategy with the overall destination marketing strategy; and pro-actively addressing environmental issues. These factors are presented within a timeframe before, during and after the actual event. Through the proposed framework, it may be possible to manage the hosting of events in such a way as to contribute to sustained, holistic competitiveness of the host destination; ensuring alignment with the overall destination marketing and management strategy. / Dissertation (MCom)--University of Pretoria, 2011. / Tourism Management / unrestricted

In the tourism industry local and regional food holds great potential as a contributor to sustainable competitiveness at a destination. However, from an analysis of the literature and promotional material of South African and key international destinations, there is an indication that the contribution of food to sustainable tourism and the marketing of destinations has received very little attention globally as well as in South Africa. A framework and guidelines for developing and implementing food tourism could enable destination marketers and entrepreneurs to optimise the tourism potential of local and regional food. To this end a Strategic Food Tourism Destination Marketing Framework was conceptualised and was based on the findings of a South African situation analysis and international trends and best practices. The South African situation analysis entailed an empirical investigation into food tourism, a key component of destination marketing in South Africa, to determine its current status, future potential and initiatives. Regional and provincial destination marketing organisations were involved in the research process To support the Strategic Food Tourism Destination Marketing Framework, two key tools were developed, namely FOODPAT (a tourism and culinary atlas linked to a geospatial database) and a Product Potential and Attractiveness Tool. The framework and tools were tested in a South African destination, the Winelands of the Western Cape. Its application revealed that the stakeholder users were successfully provided with mechanisms to develop and implement food tourism. This study presents the key components and gives an evaluation of the framework and tools that were developed. Guidelines and recommendations for the development, packaging and marketing of local and regional foods are postulated. Proposals for future research are put forward. AFRIKAANS : Plaaslike en streeksvoedsel het potensiaal om by te dra tot volhoubare kompeterendheid in toerismebestemmings. ‘n Analise van resente literatuur en promosiematerial van Suid-Afrikaanse en sleutel internasionale bestemmings bevestig dat in Suid-Afrika en wêreldwyd relatief min aandag aan die bemarking en bydrae van plaaslike en streeksvoedsel tot volhoubare toerisme en die bemarking van bestemmings gegee is. ‘n Raamwerk en riglyne vir die ontwikkeling en implementering van voedseltoerisme kan bemarkers en entrepreneurs van ‘n bestemming in staat stel om die toerisme potensiaal van plaaslike en streekskos te bevorder en optimaal aan te wend as ‘n bemarkingsmiddel. Gevolglik is ‘n Strategiese Voedseltoerisme Bestemming Bemarkingsraamwerk gekonseptualiseer, gebaseer op die bevindinge van ‘n Suid-Afrikaanse situasie-analise, sowel as internasionale neigings en praktyke. Die Suid-Afrikaanse situasie-analise het ‘n empiriese ondersoek behels van streeks- en provinsiale bestemmings- bemarkingsorganisasies om sodoende die status tans, toekomstige potensiaal en voedseltoerisme inisiatiewe as sleutelkomponent van bestemmingsbemarking in Suid-Afrika te bepaal. As ondersteuning vir die Strategiese Voedseltoerisme Bestemming Bemarkingsraamwerk is twee primêre hulpmiddels ontwikkel, naamlik: FOODPAT (‘n toerisme- en voedselatlas, gekoppel aan ‘n geografiese databasis) en ‘n Product Potential and Attractiveness Tool. Die raamwerk en hulpmiddels is by ‘n Suid-Afrikaanse bestemming, naamlik die Wes Kaapse Wynlande, getoets en het rolspelers sodoende van hulpmiddels voorsien om voedseltoerisme te ontwikkel en te implementeer. Hierdie studie beskryf en evalueer die sleutelkomponente, asook die raamwerk en hulpmiddels wat ontwikkel is. Riglyne en aanbevelings vir die ontwikkeling, verpakking en bemarking van plaaslike en streekskosse word voorgestel. Voorstelle vir toekomstige navorsing word ook aangedui. / Thesis (PHD)--University of Pretoria, 2007. / Tourism Management / unrestricted

Increasingly, gastronomy is playing a role in people’s motivation for travel, and destinations are making food and beverages their main attraction. This study explored the growing field of gastronomic tourism, a type of niche tourism, through the theoretical framework of destination branding theory. Using a qualitative case study research design, this research examined the branding of the emergent region of Prince Edward County, Ontario, Canada as a gastronomic niche tourism destination from the perspective of tourism industry players. Findings indicated that the region turned to gastronomic tourism due to its agricultural history and need for economic development. It was also found that tourism industry players utilized the processes of brand identity, product development, collaboration, support and communication to brand the region. This study contributes scholarly and practical knowledge to the areas of tourism and branding, by providing insight into the development, management and promotion of destination brands.