Center for Sustainable Tourism
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Item Open Access Consumer Purchasing in Sustainable Tourism : Attraction Sustainability and Its Impact on Decision-Making(East Carolina University, 2014) Rubright, Heather L.; Kline, Carol; Sustainable TourismThe green movement has generated an increase in research on consumer behavior towards green products and services. The purpose of this study was to explore the factors that influence consumers to choose sustainable attractions and to develop a better understanding of whether the sustainable features of an attraction impact sustainable attraction selection by visitors. The results show that the environmental practices of an attraction were not as important to visitors as other factors such as reputation, price, and the activities at the site. The results also demonstrate that when selecting among green factors, certification of a site and eco-furnishings play the largest role in determining the likelihood of visitation to a sustainable attraction.Item Open Access Investigating Energy Consumption of Coastal Vacation Rental Homes(East Carolina University, 2014) Myers, Sam; Abdel-Salam, Tarek; Sustainable TourismIn 2007, vacation rental properties in the United States accounted for more than 22% of the domestic lodging market. These properties are a unique segment of the lodging industry due to their residential design and commercial use. Coastal vacation rental properties represent the largest supply, demand and value of the nation's vacation rental supply. In the case of North Carolina's Outer Banks, tourism is the area's largest source of income, with vacation real estate agencies being the largest accommodation provider. This study uses a multiple regression analysis to investigate the energy consumption of 30 vacation rental homes on Hatteras Island. Hatteras Island's abundant supply of vacation rental homes provided a diverse sample to study energy consumption with a wide range of houses regarding size, age, and location. Since very little research has been conducted on the energy consumption of vacation rental homes, this study aims to contribute detailed information regarding the energy consumption of unique accommodation sector.Item Open Access Exploring the Role of Photography in Agritourism Marketing(East Carolina University, 2014) Joyner, Leah; Kline, Carol; Sustainable Tourismthe purpose of this study is to explore which elements of photographs used in the marketing of agritourism are most effective at reaching consumers. The application of the grounded theory method serves as the methodology for identifying consistent themes in the data. Data was collected through focus group based discussion based on a set of photographs that represent potential visual marketing aids in agritourism. The photographs that served as the conversation platform during focus groups were all taken on pasture based livestock farms that participated in an agritourism pilot project in West Virginia. Participants selected for focus groups were stakeholders in tourism, including farmers who participate in agritourism, tourists who may or may not have visited a farm, and community members such as visitors center employees and restaurant owners. The conversation of each focus group was recorded and transcribed, and served as the primary source of data for this study. The transcriptions of the interviews were scrutinized through content analysis, and were subsequently coded according to the themes that emerged in responses. The data from this study identifies patterns of centrality within specific demographic groups involved in agritourism, and is intended to better equip farmers, agritourism coordinators, tourism planners, and destination marketing directors in the development of their marketing strategies by providing them with insight into the different reactions that photographs of agritourism might illicit for members of their potential audience.Item Open Access Diversifying Eastern North Carolina Heritage Sites : Tour Guides' Perspectives(East Carolina University, 2014) Hoggard, Wilson M.; Avenarius, Christine; Sustainable TourismTour guides from six Eastern North Carolina heritage sites were interviewed to assess minority participation. The sites in this study focus on museums, plantations, and towns. A further comparison was done between site ownership: private and state. The interviews were coded, which provided themes to reasons behind lack of participation, what exhibits minorities show interest in, and potential solutions to boost minority participation. Sites were also assessed on how the information located within each site was presented. In order to perform site assessment, content from a guided tour along with inventorying of site gift shops was completed. Finally, recommendations were assessed based off of the guides' interviews and the tours.Item Open Access Types of Forecast and Weather-Related Information Used among Tourism Businesses in Coastal North Carolina(East Carolina University, 2014) Ayscue, Emily P.; Curtis, Scott; Sustainable TourismThis study profiles the coastal tourism sector, a large and diverse consumer of climate and weather information. It is crucial to provide reliable, accurate and relevant resources for the climate and weather-sensitive portions of this stakeholder group in order to guide them in capitalizing on current climate and weather conditions and to prepare them for potential changes. An online survey of tourism business owners, managers and support specialists was conducted within the eight North Carolina oceanfront counties asking respondents about forecasts they use and for what purposes as well as why certain forecasts are not used. Respondents were also asked about their perceived dependency of their business on climate and weather as well as how valuable different forecasts are to their decision-making. Business types represented include: Agriculture, Outdoor Recreation, Accommodations, Food Services, Parks and Heritage, and Other. Weekly forecasts were the most popular forecasts with Monthly and Seasonal being the least used. MANOVA and ANOVA analyses revealed outdoor-oriented businesses (Agriculture and Outdoor Recreation) as perceiving themselves significantly more dependent on climate and weather than indoor-oriented ones (Food Services and Accommodations). Outdoor businesses also valued short-range forecasts significantly more than indoor businesses. This suggests a positive relationship between perceived climate and weather dependency and forecast value. The low perceived dependency and value of short-range forecasts of indoor businesses presents an opportunity to create climate and weather information resources directed at how they can capitalize on positive climate and weather forecasts and how to counter negative effects with forecasted adverse conditions. The low use of long-range forecasts among all business types can be related to the low value placed on these forecasts. However, these forecasts are still important in that they are used to make more financially risky decisions such as investment decisions.Item Open Access Impacts of Arts Centers on Communities(East Carolina University, 2013) Delconte, John D.; Kline, Carol; Sustainable TourismThe arts and culture have been shown to foster economic development by attracting workers and businesses in the knowledge industry, spur tourism, and improve the housing market. However, regardless of whether the arts and culture have a positive impact on financial capital, they can potentially impact other forms of capital in the community. Small- to mid-sized community based arts centers are effective in drawing people together due to their participatory nature. Recent studies credit community art spaces with enhancing social interaction as well as revitalizing economies. The widely used Community Capital Framework (CCF) is an analytical tool used to observe and critique the relationships among various types of community assets: social, human, financial, creative, built, natural, and political. This study used the CCF to observe the impacts of arts centers and their programs on the various capitals in their surrounding communities. The results demonstrated impacts of arts centers and their programs on social, environmental, and business assets, particularly in the financial, social, cultural, and human capitals, thereby serving as a means to examine sustainability. The results of this study can be used by community leaders as a starting point when discussing the costs and benefits of investing in a new arts center.Item Open Access Sustaining Tourism in Cuba : A Qualitative Examination of Perceived Entrepreneurial Climate Elements among Tourism Industry Professionals(East Carolina University, 2013) Hingtgen, Nathan; Kline, Carol; Sustainable TourismAs the Cuban government seeks to develop a strong private sector and alleviate stress to provide employment for its citizens, creating a climate conducive to private enterprise formation warrants immediate attention. Because tourism is Cuba's biggest industry, many residents may seek to create businesses within this industry as state employment becomes less of a guarantee. Recent trends in tourism show that travelers are demanding increasingly innovative and immersive experiences that benefit local communities and natural environments. However, Cuba is becoming dependent upon low-cost packaged mass tourism, primarily in the destinations of Havana and Varadero, leading to a recent decrease in average visitor expenditure. Allowing Cuban entrepreneurs to work together to develop and introduce creative tourism products may convince tourists to stay longer, spend more money, and visit again in the future. The success of entrepreneurs is vulnerable to a number of external conditions in the environment. These conditions, such as physical infrastructure, financial infrastructure, governance, culture, and human capital, are referred to as the "entrepreneurial climate." Cuba has rich natural, cultural, and social capital resources; however, other conditions within Cuba's entrepreneurial climate currently limit residents' ability to create tourism-related enterprises. Building on previous research, this study examines these entrepreneurial climate conditions to determine which factors are currently limiting or, in some cases, encouraging entrepreneurship related to tourism in Cuba.Item Open Access A Study of Travelers' Foodie Activity Dimensions, Demographic Characteristics, and Trip Behaviors(East Carolina University, 2013) Green, Erin; Kline, Carol; Sustainable TourismPeople who identify themselves as foodies may do so for vastly different reasons. From interests in sustainable agriculture to gardening, they differ in their lifestyles and behaviors. These interests can be grouped into foodie activity dimensions. Through a tourism lens, someone with a strong interest in one of these dimensions may travel longer or spend more money during their travels. This study looks at potential tourists to Minneapolis, Minnesota. Using the theory of involvement, travelers' travel habits and demographics will be studied based on their interest in foodie activity dimensions. These dimensions are segmented based on factor analysis of their enjoyment of food-related activities. The travel habits dimensions are investigated to learn more about their effect on the destination. This information is valuable for destination marketing organizations in order to know which foodie activity dimensions should be targeted through destination marketing efforts or which food-related activities they may want to advertise to potential tourists based on their food-related interests.Item Open Access How do you fly...fish : a look at the connection of environmental behavior to travel and sport involvement of fly fishers in North Carolina(East Carolina University, 2012) Winslow, Thomas W.; Oliver, Jason; Sustainable TourismThe connection between recreation and tourism is not a new concept; the two are frequently in concert in planning, marketing, research, and education. Within the realm of sustainable tourism, it is important to understand the implications that a tourism group has on their environment. Looking at fly anglers in North Carolina, this study proposes a relationship between fly fishing and pro-environmental behaviors, which is consistent with previous literature dating back to the mid-1970s, suggesting a positive relationship between outdoor recreation participation and pro-environmental behavior. This relationship is less when considering consumptive sports over appreciative sports. As a consumptive sport, it is not clear whether fly fishing enthusiasts engage in pro-environmental behaviors and, if so, which fly fishermen/women are most likely to engage in the behaviors. To further analyze this relationship and to determine the existence of a relationship between environmental behaviors and fly fishing travel, the trip profiles of fly anglers are gauged against their expressed environmental behaviors.Item Open Access Factors Influencing Brand Loyalty to Craft Breweries in North Carolina(East Carolina University, 2012) Murray, Alison K.; Kline, Carol; Sustainable TourismIn 2005 North Carolina passed a law allowing breweries to give product samples to employees and guests. The law also changed the definition of a malt beverage and increased the amount of alcohol by volume (ABV) from 6%ABV to 15%ABV, allowing brewers to legally make and distribute high gravity craft brews. Since that law has passed, 23 more breweries have opened in North Carolina (North Carolina Alcoholic Beverage Control 2010 Annual Report). The purpose of this study is to gain a clearer understanding of what factors influence brand loyalty to microbreweries. The study looks at why visitors to Mother Earth Brewery in Kinston, North Carolina and Aviator Brewery in Fuquay-Varina, North Carolina chose to visit and purchase from that microbrewery instead of other breweries by examining concepts used in brand loyalty, access, environmental consumption, connection with the community, quality and satisfaction, desire for unique consumer products, and involvement in the industry. Results show that while access, connection with the community, and satisfaction are important to respondents, connection with the community, satisfaction, and uniqueness are the three factors that most align themselves with brand loyalty. Connection with the community was the most important factor in influencing brand loyalty especially among residents and those born in the study region.Item Open Access Wind Energy and the Tourist Gaze Empowering, Entertaining or Total ―Turnoff(2010-02) Long, Patrick; Reyes, Enrique; Ziegler, GarrettItem Open Access Center for Sustainable Tourism(2010-02) Long, Patrick; Fridgen, JosephItem Open Access Center for Sustainable Tourism, Division of Research and Graduate Studies(2010-02) Long, PatrickItem Open Access Sustainable, Community-Driven,Economic Well-Being(2010-01) Long, PatrickItem Open Access Sustainable Tourism: New Zealand - Aotearoa(2010-01) Adams, ChrisItem Open Access Tarboro Rotary Club(2009-09) Long, PatrickItem Open Access The Business Case for Recycling at Venues and EventsSummer(2009-07) Naar, AlexItem Open Access 2009 NCAF&E Summer Seminar:Going Green at Festivals and Events(2009-07) Naar, AlexItem Open Access STAKEHOLDERS' ATTITUDES TOWARDS SUSTAINABLE TOURISM DEVELOPMENT IN COASTAL COMMUNITIES(East Carolina University, 2011) Knollenberg, Whitney; Fridgen, Joseph; Sustainable TourismAs North Carolina's coastal communities face challenges in maintaining the quality of the natural and cultural resources that drive their tourism economy the need for sustainable actions in tourism development is made apparent. Should tourism planners chart a new course in tourism development, one that includes sustainable actions, stakeholders who will affect or will be affected by the change must be consulted. Residents are critical stakeholders in the tourism development process, as they must regularly contend with the impacts of tourism. There are many second homeowners in the communities examined in this study who must also contend with change that tourism creates. Therefore property owners, both permanent residents and second homeowners, were examined to determine if there are groups of property owners who hold different attitudes toward sustainable actions in tourism development. A sociodemographic profile for each group was created to help planners identify the group's members. By understanding the varying attitudes towards sustainable actions in tourism development and being able to identify property owners who hold those attitudes, planners can ensure that all stakeholders are included in the tourism planning process.Item Open Access LOST IN MAYBERRY/MOUNT AIRY : IMPORTANCE OF TOURIST PROFILES IN SUSTAINABLE TOURISM PLANNING(East Carolina University, 2011) Benjamin, Stefanie K.; Alderman, Derek H.; Sustainable TourismIn sustainable tourism planning it is essential to understand the type of tourist attending and determine the temporal sustainability or longevity of pop-culture festivals, especially those focused around film and television. Mount Airy, North Carolina, was physically transformed in the 1980s to mirror Mayberry, the fictional town of television's The Andy Griffith Show and is currently home to the Mayberry Days Festival. This thesis examines the Mayberry Days Festival to develop a typology of festival visitors and the influence of The Andy Griffith Show on the attendee's motivations. Online survey invitation cards were distributed during the 2010 Mayberry Days Festival in order to gather data on the socio-demographic characteristics, motivations, perceptions, and economic impact of the attendee. Additionally, a framework was developed to identify and analyze the different tourist profiles based on the attendee's behaviors and characteristics to comprehend how sustainable the Mayberry Days Festival will be for Mount Airy in the future. Results suggest that visitors are drawn to Mount Airy for a variety of reasons and that The Andy Griffith Show is not necessarily the main motivator. Long term success of Mount Airy tourism is perhaps linked to building upon it's small town nostalgic image which can be independent of it's association of television.