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This study examines the potential impact of the transition to battery operated electric vehicles (EVs) from internal combustion powered passenger vehicles (ICEs) on domestic drive tourism. It asks two core questions: whether EVs will hasten the move to a net zero domestic tourism sector and whether and how EVs will transform domestic tourism. The study, conducted in Queensland, Australia in mid-2023, concludes EVs will have a limited impact on drive tourism in the short to mid-term. Moreover, the substantial desire to continue to use traditional modes of transport or to substitute flying for driving suggests that transition to net zero tourism will remain an aspirational goal and not a realistic outcome of the shift to EVs.

Abstract Mechanisms of inheritance remain poorly defined for many fitness-mediating traits, especially in long-lived animals with protracted development. Using 6,123 urinary samples from 170 wild chimpanzees, we examined the contributions of genetics, non-genetic maternal effects, and shared community effects on variation in cortisol levels, an established predictor of survival in long-lived primates. Despite evidence for consistent individual variation in cortisol levels across years, between-group effects were more influential and made an overwhelming contribution to variation in this trait. Focusing on within-group variation, non-genetic maternal effects accounted for 8% of the individual differences in average cortisol levels, significantly more than that attributable to genetic factors, which was indistinguishable from zero. These maternal effects are consistent with a primary role of a shared environment in shaping physiology. For chimpanzees, and perhaps other species with long life histories, community and maternal effects appear more relevant than genetic inheritance in shaping key physiological traits.

The social complexity hypothesis for the evolution of communication posits that complex social environments require greater communication complexity for individuals to effectively manage their relationships. We examined how different socially uncertain contexts, reflecting an increased level of social complexity, relate to variation in signalling within and between two species, which display varying levels of fission–fusion dynamics (sympatric-living chimpanzees and sooty mangabeys, Taï National Park, Ivory Coast). Combined signalling may improve message efficacy, notably when involving different perception channels, thus may increase in moments of high social uncertainty. We examined the probability of individuals to emit no signal, single or multisensory or combined (complex) signals, during social approaches which resulted in non-agonistic outcomes. In both species, individuals were more likely to use more combined and multisensory signals in post-conflict approaches with an opponent than in other contexts. The clearest impact of social uncertainty on signalling complexity was observed during chimpanzee fusions, where the likelihood of using complex signals tripled relative to other contexts. Overall, chimpanzees used more multisensory signals than mangabeys. Social uncertainty may shape detected species differences in variation in signalling complexity, thereby supporting the hypothesis that social complexity, particularly associated with high fission–fusion dynamics, promotes signalling complexity.

Abstract This grey literature review documents koala (Phascolarctos cinereus) conservation initiatives applied across 12 local government areas in South East Queensland, Australia. To overcome threats to koalas' survival, the grey literature indicates that local governments in this region focus on wildlife management solutions, wildlife signage, habitat restoration projects and koala awareness campaigns. Despite these measures, land clearing of koala habitat to cater for urban population growth combined with recent bushfires and floods have contributed to the decline of koalas in this region. Recommendations to enhance progress include greater usage of the grey literature in peer review work and further application of social marketing to encourage residents to uptake behaviors that can mitigate threats to koalas, including slowing down when driving in koala zones, participating in citizen science, and leashing dogs when walking in native bush areas. The need for collaborative efforts aimed at conserving the koala from potential extinction is indicated. This paper provides an approach that can be applied to track progress on coordinated efforts to conserve koalas.

Through the lens of social identity theory, this study aims to identify which motivations are pertinent for Christian conference attendance. It also aims to determine what constitutes religiosity for attendees and if Christian conference attendance is dependent on attendees' religiosity, demographics, and/or ministry role. Based on survey responses (N = 209) collected at four Australian Christian conferences that were analyzed using correlation analysis, it was concluded that although motivations are largely correlated, spiritual encouragement and congregating with like-minded people are the dominant motivations for attendance. Religiosity comprised beliefs, emotions, and behavior. Chisquare analysis determined that attendees are of different ages, education, and ministry roles, and analysis‐of‐variance identified respondents that exhibited high religiosity are differentiated on their demographics. Binary regression identified that Christian conference motivation was largely dependent on attendees??? religious behavior. To further satisfy attendees, it is recommended that Christian conference organizers promote the need for togetherness and spiritual encouragement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A dog festival represents a form of pet tourism where attendees can celebrate dogs and be equipped with dog management skills. Despite dog festivals' growth across the globe, little is known about attendees' motivations to frequent these events. This study seeks to identify if attendees can be differentiated based on their motivations to frequent a dog festival and to determine whether segments can be distinguished based on their sociodemographics, origin, information sources utilized, and postfestival evaluations. Through applying TwoStep cluster analysis across five DogFest festivals in Southeast Queensland, two segments are identified. Learners are motivated to learn about dogs whereas celebrators are motivated for entertainment. Learners rated the postfestival higher and had a smaller household size. Dog education should remain the focus with social and other fun activities provided to attract dog owners who may not necessarily be thinking about training, allowing attendees who are attracted by fun to learn. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Early-life experiences, such as maternal care received, influence adult social integration and survival. We examine what changes to social behavior through ontogeny lead to these lifelong effects, particularly whether early-life maternal environment impacts the development of social communication. Chimpanzees experience prolonged social communication development. Focusing on a central communicative trait, the “pant-hoot” contact call used to solicit social engagement, we collected cross-sectional data on wild chimpanzees (52 immatures and 36 mothers). We assessed early-life socioecological impacts on pant-hoot rates across development, specifically: mothers’ gregariousness, age, pant-hoot rates and dominance rank, maternal loss, and food availability, controlling for current maternal effects. We found that early-life maternal gregariousness correlated positively with offspring pant-hoot rates, while maternal loss led to reduced pant-hoot rates across development. Males had steeper developmental trajectories in pant-hoot rates than females. We demonstrate the impact of maternal effects on developmental trajectories of a rarely investigated social trait, vocal production.

Abstract Background In animals with altricial offspring, most growth occurs after birth and may be optimized by post-natal maternal care. Maternal effects on growth may be influenced by individual characteristics of the mothers, such as social status, individual investment strategies and the length of association with offspring. The prolonged juvenile dependence seen in humans is a distinctive life history adaptation, which may have evolved to facilitate sustained somatic and brain growth. In chimpanzees, offspring are typically weaned at approximately 4 years old, yet immature individuals continue to associate with their mothers for up to 10 years beyond weaning. Whether this lengthy association or the individual characteristics of mothers influences growth patterns in this species is not clear. The relationship between urinary creatinine and specific gravity is an established non-invasive measure of muscle mass in humans and chimpanzees. We analysed the urinary creatinine and specific gravity of 1318 urine samples from 70 wild chimpanzees from the Taï Forest, Ivory Coast aged 4 to 15 years. Results We showed a clear increase in urinary creatinine levels with age in both males and females, replicating established growth curves in this species and reaffirming this measure as a reliable proxy for lean body mass. Comparing those who experience maternal loss (orphans) with non-orphan chimpanzees, maternal presence beyond weaning age and into late juvenility positively influenced offspring muscle mass throughout ontogeny such that orphans had significantly less muscle mass than age-matched non-orphans. In age-matched offspring with mothers, those with high-ranking mothers had greater muscle mass. Accounting for variation in muscle mass attributable to maternal presence, we found no effect of maternal investment (length of inter birth interval, from own birth to birth of following sibling) on offspring muscle mass. Conclusion Chimpanzee mothers have an extended and multi-faceted influence on offspring phenotypes. Our results suggest that maternal investment extends beyond lactation and into early adulthood and has clear benefits to offspring physical development. Therefore, prolonged juvenile dependence, although unique in its form in human societies, may be a trait with deeper evolutionary origins.

Adolescence is a critical period of development with increased sensitivity toward psychological stressors. Many psychiatric conditions emerge during adolescence and animal studies have shown that that acute stress has long-term effects on hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis function and behavior. We recently demonstrated that acute stress produces long-term electrophysiological changes in locus coeruleus and long-lasting anxiety-like behavior in adolescent male rats. Based on prior reports of increased stress sensitivity during adolescence and increased sensitivity of female locus coeruleus toward corticotropin releasing factor, we hypothesized that the same acute stressor would cause different behavioral and physiological responses in adolescent female and adult male and female rats one week after stressor exposure. In this study, we assessed age and sex differences in how an acute psychological stressor affects corticosterone release, anxiety-like behavior, and locus coeruleus physiology at short- and long-term intervals. All groups of animals except adult female responded to stress with elevated corticosterone levels at the acute time point. One week after stressor exposure, adolescent females showed decreased firing of locus coeruleus neurons upon current injection and increased exploratory behavior compared to controls. The results were in direct contrast to changes observed in adolescent males, which showed increased anxiety-like behavior and increased spontaneous and induced firing in locus coeruleus neurons a week after stressor exposure. Adult males and females were both behaviorally and electrophysiologically resilient to the long-term effects of acute stress. Therefore, there may be a normal developmental trajectory for locus coeruleus neurons which promotes stress resilience in adults, but stressor exposure during adolescence perturbs their function. Furthermore, while locus coeruleus neurons are more sensitive to stressor exposure during adolescence, the effect varies between adolescent males and females. These findings suggest that endocrine, behavioral, and physiological responses to stress vary among animals of different age and sex, and therefore these variables should be taken into account when selecting models and designing experiments to investigate the effects of stress. These differences in animals may also allude to age and sex differences in the prevalence of various psychiatric illnesses within the human population.

Abstract: Thrombocytopenia is a significant complication of chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Platelet factor 4 (PF4; CXCL4) is a negative paracrine of megakaryopoiesis. We have shown that PF4 levels are inversely related to steady-state platelet counts, and to the duration and severity of chemotherapy- and radiation-induced thrombocytopenia (CIT and RIT, respectively). Murine studies suggest that blocking the effect of PF4 improves megakaryopoiesis, raising nadir platelet counts and shortening the time to platelet count recovery. We examined the ability of 2-O, 3-O desulfated heparin (ODSH), a heparin variant with little anticoagulant effects, to neutralize PF4's effects on megakaryopoiesis. Using megakaryocyte colony assays and liquid cultures, we show that ODSH restored megakaryocyte proliferation in PF4-treated Cxcl4−/− murine and human CD34+-derived megakaryocyte cultures (17.4% megakaryocyte colonies, P < .01 compared with PF4). In murine CIT and RIT models, ODSH, started 24 hours after injury, was examined for the effect on hematopoietic recovery demonstrating higher platelet count nadirs (9% ± 5% treated vs 4% ± 4% control) and significantly improved survival in treated animals (73% treated vs 36% control survival). Treatment with ODSH was able to reduce intramedullary free PF4 concentrations by immunohistochemical analysis. In summary, ODSH mitigated CIT and RIT in mice by neutralizing the intramedullary negative paracrine PF4. ODSH, already in clinical trials in humans as an adjuvant to chemotherapy, may be an important, clinically relevant therapeutic for CIT and RIT.

The biological embedding model (BEM) suggests that fitness costs of maternal loss arise when early-life experience embeds long-term alterations to hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis activity. Alternatively, the adaptive calibration model (ACM) regards physiological changes during ontogeny as short-term adaptations. Both models have been tested in humans but rarely in wild, long-lived animals. We assessed whether, as in humans, maternal loss had short- and long-term impacts on orphan wild chimpanzee urinary cortisol levels and diurnal urinary cortisol slopes, both indicative of HPA axis functioning. Immature chimpanzees recently orphaned and/or orphaned early in life had diurnal cortisol slopes reflecting heightened activation of the HPA axis. However, these effects appeared short-term, with no consistent differences between orphan and non-orphan cortisol profiles in mature males, suggesting stronger support for the ACM than the BEM in wild chimpanzees. Compensatory mechanisms, such as adoption, may buffer against certain physiological effects of maternal loss in this species.

The noradrenergic nucleus locus coeruleus is a key component of the stress circuitry of the brain. During stress, the neuropeptide corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) is secreted onto LC, increasing LC output and norepinephrine concentration in the brain, which is thought to promote anxiety-like behavior. LC is also innervated by several structures that synthesize and release the endogenous opioid peptide enkephalin onto LC upon stressor termination. While the role of CRF neurotransmission within LC in mediating anxiety-like behavior and the behavioral response to stress has been well characterized, the role of enkephalinergic signaling at LC-expressed δ-opioid receptors has been comparatively understudied. We have previously shown that acute stressor exposure increases LC activity and anxiety-like behavior for at least one week. Here, we extend these findings by showing that these effects may be mediated at least in part through stress-induced downregulation of DORs within LC. Furthermore, overexpression of DORs in LC blocks the effects of stress on both LC firing properties and anxiety-like behavior. In addition, intra-LC infusions of enkephalin blocked stress-induced freezing behavior and promoted conditioned place preference. These findings indicate that enkephalinergic neurotransmission at DORs within LC is an important component of the behavioral response to stress and may drive reward-related behavior as well.

Consistent individual differences in social phenotypes have been observed in many animal species. Changes in demographics, dominance hierarchies or ecological factors, such as food availability or disease prevalence, are expected to influence decision-making processes regarding social interactions. Therefore, it should be expected that individuals show flexibility rather than stability in social behaviour over time to maximize the fitness benefits of social living. Understanding the processes that create and maintain social phenotypes requires data encompassing a range of socioecological settings and variation in intrinsic state or life-history stage or strategy. Using observational data spanning up to 19 years for some individuals, we demonstrate that multiple types of social behaviour are repeatable over the long term in wild chimpanzees, a long-lived species with complex fission–fusion societies. We controlled for temporal, ecological and demographic changes, limiting pseudo-repeatability. We conclude that chimpanzees living in natural ecological settings have relatively stable long-term social phenotypes over years that may be independent of life-history or reproductive strategies. Our results add to the growing body of the literature suggesting consistent individual differences in social tendencies are more likely the rule rather than the exception in group-living animals.

Abstract Individuals with more or stronger social bonds experience enhanced survival and reproduction in various species, though the mechanisms mediating these effects are unclear. Social thermoregulation is a common behaviour across many species which reduces cold stress exposure, body heat loss, and homeostatic energy costs, allowing greater energetic investment in growth, reproduction, and survival, with larger aggregations providing greater benefits. If more social individuals form larger thermoregulation aggregations due to having more potential partners, this would provide a direct link between sociality and fitness. We conducted the first test of this hypothesis by studying social relationships and winter sleeping huddles in wild Barbary macaques (Macaca sylvanus), wherein individuals with more social partners experience greater probability of winter survival. Precipitation and low temperature increased huddle sizes, supporting previous research that huddle size influences thermoregulation and energetics. Huddling relationships were predicted by social (grooming) relationships. Individuals with more social partners therefore formed larger huddles, suggesting reduced energy expenditure and exposure to environmental stressors than less social individuals, potentially explaining how sociality affects survival in this population. This is the first evidence that social thermoregulation may be a direct proximate mechanism by which increased sociality enhances fitness, which may be widely applicable across taxa.

Behavioural syndromes are a well-established phenomenon in human and non-human animal behavioural ecology. However, the mechanisms that lead to correlations among behaviours and individual consistency in their expression at the apparent expense of behavioural plasticity remain unclear. The ‘state-dependent' hypothesis posits that inter-individual variation in behaviour arises from inter-individual variation in state and that the relative stability of these states within an individual leads to consistency of behaviour. The endocrine stress response, in part mediated by glucocorticoids (GCs), is a proposed behavioural syndrome-associated state as GC levels are linked to an individual's behavioural responses to stressors. In this study, in wild Barbary macaques (Macaca sylvanus), consistent inter-individual differences were observed in both sexes for GC activity (faecal glucocorticoid, fGC concentrations), but not GC variation (coefficient of variation in fGC concentrations). The expression of the behavioural syndrome ‘Excitability' (characterized by the frequencies of brief affiliation or aggressive interactions) was related to GC activity in males but not in females; more ‘excitable' males had lower GC activity. There was no relationship in females between any of the behavioural syndromes and GC activity, nor in either sex with GC variation. The negative relationship between GC activity and Excitability in males provides some support for GC expression as a behavioural syndrome-generating state under the state-dependent framework. The absence of this relationship in females highlights that state-behavioural syndrome associations may not be generalizable within a species and that broader sex differences in state need to be considered for understanding the emergence and maintenance of behavioural syndromes.

The aim of this research note is to identify how attendees to Christian conferences define religiosity. Through employing Leximancer, it is concluded that religious, God, beliefs, and traditions represent the religiosity themes identified by attendees. Religiosity as a term is not seen favorably by responses and its usage should be avoided. Rather, favorable terms such as joy, love, or patience coupled with Christian beliefs and practices should be employed when event researchers seek to see how Christians with a religious interest may respond to certain marketing stimuli when considering attending a Christian conference. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Investigating the repeatability of trait variation between individuals, that is the amount of individual variation in relation to overall phenotypic variation, indicates an upper level of heritability and reveals whether a given trait may be subject to selection. Labile traits are characterized by high levels of flexibility and consequently low trait repeatability is expected. Indeed, research examining glucocorticoid levels in various non-mammal species found low repeatability scores. However, mammals may be different in this respect as (i) differential maternal care early in life has the potential to prime hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis functioning and (ii) allelic variation affecting hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis functioning has been reported. Individuals often differ from each other in average and/or plastic labile trait expression, two aspects that can be described using a reaction norm approach. Both consistent and flexible reaction norm expression has been argued to serve adaptive purposes, depending on the stability and predictability of environmental conditions. Here, we investigated both trait and reaction norm repeatability of urinary cortisol levels in wild adult male chimpanzees. To capture the expression of the circadian urinary cortisol rhythm of individual males over time, urine samples were collected throughout the day. In total data of 30 males collected over a period of 8 years were included in the dataset. No male was sampled over the whole 8-year period however. We found minor levels of trait repeatability but considerable reaction norm repeatability. This implies a minor role of genetic or priming factors on cortisol excretion, but reveals that males differ consistently in average urinary cortisol levels and the shape of the circadian urinary cortisol rhythm. Relating these results to fitness parameters will provide answers to questions on the adaptive value of reaction norm repeatability of this labile hormonal trait in the future.

Strategic microhabitat selection allows animals in seasonally cold environments to reduce homeostatic energy costs, particularly overnight when thermoregulatory demands are greatest. Suitable sleeping areas may therefore represent important resources for winter survival. Knowledge of microhabitat use and potential impacts of anthropogenic habitat modification can aid species conservation through development of targeted habitat management plans. Wild, endangered Barbary macaques (Macaca sylvanus) in logged cedar-oak forest were studied to investigate (1) the hypothesis that macaques select winter sleeping areas with microhabitat characteristics that may reduce thermoregulatory costs, and, if so, (2) how to minimize damage to sleeping areas from logging. Macaques slept only in Atlas cedars (Cedrus atlantica). Consistent with predictions, macaques preferred sleeping in sheltered topography and dense vegetation, which may reduce exposure to wind, precipitation and cold, and preferred large trees that facilitate social huddling. This suggests that Barbary macaques employ strategic nocturnal microhabitat selection to reduce thermoregulatory costs and thus suitable sleeping areas may influence winter survival. To minimize negative impacts of logging on macaque sleeping areas, results suggest avoiding logging in topographical depressions and maintaining cedar densities greater than 250 ha−1 with average breast height greater than 60 cm. This study demonstrates how animal behaviour can be used to guide species-specific habitat management plans.

Delivery of behavioral change that benefits both individuals and communities requires individuals and organizations to disrupt current practices. Unique skills and strong networks are needed to enact change with those mastering requisites demonstrating the strongest capacity to deliver behavioral changes that communities need. This study critically analyzes the role of a festival as a catalyst for individual and community change. Formative research was applied in three stages. Attendee prefestival expectations of networking and educational opportunities were fulfilled through festival attendance. Skills, ideas, and networks, which were promoted as the key outcomes, were reported by attendees and represented a key driver of their festival attendance. Attendees stated they would modify their workplace practices such as using digital storytelling and increasing community collaboration to benefit their community. Managerial implications included the need for greater networking opportunities during the festival and also the lengthening of sessions to cater for greater discussion among attendees. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Do destinations really matter in domestic tourism when markets as a whole are considered? This study applies push-pull theory to assess destination choice among domestic Australian tourists. Two types of analyses are undertaken. The first compares push factors and pull features across a range of destination classes, while the second conducts a paired-destination analysis investigating differences between like destinations. The study determined that few real differences exist in push factors by either destination class or paired destination set, while virtually no differences were observed in the pull features of individual destinations. The study concludes that many domestic destinations are highly substitutable, creating a challenge for destination marketing organisations. • Tests Dann's push-pull theory in domestic tourism • Highly substitutable push and pull features between destinations • The destination does not matter for most proximate domestic destinations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the reasons why many people are reticent about travelling in a COVID-adapted world. It reports on a study of residents of Southeast Queensland, Australia conducted in mid-2022, up to six months after borders reopened after a prolonged COVID-19 shutdown. About one quarter of respondents were less interested in travel in a COVID-adapted world than they were before the pandemic struck. They were a diverse group whose reasons for their reticence could be categorised into four broad risk groups of: ongoing anxiety; fear of catching the disease; satisfaction risk, and; travel risk as reflected by an overall loss of interest in travel. Each group displayed different COVID-adapted travel patterns that reflect the operationalisation of different risk categories. A follow-up survey conducted in August 2023 confirmed that up to one in four people still have less desire to travel as a result of COVID-19. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Festival service quality is a precursor to competitive advantage and survival, delivering a positive influence on attendee satisfaction and intentions to repatronize in future. Evidence has been built in large-scale festival settings with mixed constructs and findings reported. Less is known about small-scale festivals, which operate within more limited human and financial resource constraints. This study aims to confirm the service quality, satisfaction, and behavioral intention relationship for small-scale festivals. Five hundred and twenty-nine respondents attending four different smallscale festivals participated in an in-person or online self-administered survey. Structural equation modeling confirmed that service quality performance influences behavioral intentions directly and indirectly. Satisfaction and perceived professionalism directly influence behavioral intentions. Environment directly influences repurchase intentions but not when it is mediated by satisfaction. Focusing on delivery of service quality is essential for small-scale festival survival, given its influence on attendees' satisfaction and behavioral intentions. Ensuring festivals are delivered in good environments featuring professional staff is the key to ensuring small-scale festival survival. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite considerable insight into both traditional and social media, the research on these media types is largely mutually exclusive. Consequently, it is largely not known what media tourists use before forming an image of a destination for potential visitation. To provide insight into this phenomena, this study segmented 558 tourists to South Africa based on their media usage and destination image perception. The first segment, experienced South African tourists (39%), did not use media when forming an image of South Africa, but rather focused on their frequent past experience. This segment rated cognitive and behavioral image of South Africa the highest. The second segment, friends and family orientated tourists (21%), utilized personal sources in their destination image formation of South Africa. They also rated the country's image the lowest. The third segment, multiple media usage tourists (40%), employed both traditional and social media in forming their destination image of South Africa. These tourists also rated affective image of the country the highest. While destination marketing organizations (DMOs) need to continue to employ traditional and social media to cater for different consumer learning techniques and different consumer response stages of the largest segment (multiple media usage segments), three fifths of the sample are currently being neglected. Because past experience is incredibly relevant for segment validation and representing destination image of the two smaller segments, the DMO needs to identify through in-depth interviews what South Africa's destination image means to all three segments. This process allows comparisons between the segments to be made. It can identify how these tourists' perception of the country's image has changed with experience and if their perceived image accurately represents what is currently marketed by DMOs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Segmenting target audiences can deliver increases in audiences attending events. An examination of segmentation research progress in the field is needed to assess the extent that researchers are capitalizing on available opportunities. Following the Tkaczynski and Rundle-Thiele framework, this article reviews 90 segmentation articles published from 2010 onwards to examine attendee profiling practices and to assess research practice change over time. Nine research issues have been proposed, which are subsequently discussed. Findings indicate an increase in geographic reach (e. g., Africa and Europe) and a continued dominant focus on on-site self-administered surveys as the data collection method. Both sample sizes and application of multivariate data analysis techniques have increased, and studies are largely employing the same segmentation bases and variables across the two research reviews. Recommendations for future research such as a need for larger sample sizes to warrant segmentation and a greater focus on external validation of segments are outlined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Repeat tourism represents a viable source market that provides a steady source of income for tourism managers. Specifically, only those destinations can rely on repeat tourism to survive in potentially difficult political, environmental or economic conditions who were classed as mature by Richard Butler in his concept of tourism areas cycle (TALC) in 1980. Although research confirms that tourists' previous visitation influences their image perceptions and intention to frequent a destination, limited studies have aimed to identify these implications for sustainable development; specifically, how destinations can develop sustainably to attract and target tourists that are both financially and environmentally viable. This literature gap provides the impetus for this research note. Based on a sample of repeat tourists to South Africa (n = 337), four destination image factors were identified. The two factors, professionalism and experiential, contributed the most destination image variance for repeat South African tourists and also significantly predicted most of their behavioural intentions (i.e. repurchase intentions). Consequently, to develop a potentially sustainable market (e.g. repeat business travel) for a mature destination (South Africa), a focus on professionalism and providing an experience that encompasses the experiential factor items (i.e. fun and enjoyment) will entice positive behavioural intentions such as loyalty and positive word-of-mouth communication. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Targeting festival attendees based on key criterion can provide a greater return on investment for festival organizers. Despite considerable insight into festival attendee segmentation, studies have failed to validate targeted segments, which provides the impetus for this research note. This research segments and targets attendees to six small-scale festivals across three countries by applying Kotler's target marketing criteria (measurability, substantiality, accessibility, actionability). Results suggest that regardless of the country or event type, a targeted small-scale festival segment, labeled as satisfied, involved experience attendees, exists. Implications are outlined and opportunities for future research are considered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines the valuation and use of the transit time leg of a tourism journey. The transit leg of a trip may be perceived as the core component of the trip, an intrinsic part that is valued more or less the same as being at the destination or a chore that must be completed in order to get to the destination. The valuation of transit time is subtle and nuanced and reflects whether the person undertaking the trip has a goal or process orientation. This study develops a conceptual model showing the continuum between process and goal oriented tourists. • Time is the most valuable resource in tourism. It cannot be saved, only spent. • Process oriented tourists value transit time as a core component of the trip. • Goal oriented tourists see transit time as a chore to be completed. • A conceptual framework is developed showing the value of transit time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Limited research has been undertaken to ascertain whether researcher-driven segmentation strategies match the types of tourists targeted by destination marketing organisations (DMOs) in their marketing plans. This omission provided the impetus for this regional spotlight. Based on a sample of 634 self-drive tourists to a regional destination, three valid segments were produced. Comparison of the segments identified using the researcher-driven approach indicated significant differences in age, travel party composition (TPC) and origin. DMOs may be missing the mark, given that the researcher-driven approach identified the proximal mid-aged family segment as the primary segment, even though this segment is not being prioritised by the DMO. • Compares DMO and researcher Fraser Coast drive tourism segmentation approaches. • DMO and researcher prioritise three segments and one segment respectively. • DMOs may be missing the mark. A priority researcher drive segment is ignored. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Perceived risk is identified in the tourism literature as a major deterrent to a potential tourist's likelihood of visiting a destination. Although the physical-related problems that a tourist may encounter while traveling are discussed, research exploring tourist's perceptions of physical perceived risk is limited. As a tourist's prime concern is to experience a destination's offerings with limited or no threats to their safety and well-being, it is essential to identify what represents perceived physical risk for tourism development and planning purposes. To address this research gap, respondents studying in Australia with an interest in traveling to Japan were surveyed. Three factors that represented perceived physical risk were identified. Furthermore, this study determined that personal characteristics differentiated the students based on their perceived physical risk factors. Theoretical and practical implications from this research are outlined and opportunities for future research are provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] Without periodic monitoring, environmental change can easily occur, undetected. [•] We examined ecosystem health at 61 Red Sea sites assessed in the 1980s. [•] Coral cover declined markedly, mirroring increased coastal construction. [•] Although beach oil declined, shore debris has increased significantly. [•] Much of the Red Sea remains healthy but negative changes over 30years are evident. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Festivals act as attractions with drawing power that are strategically utilized as part of a destination's marketing campaign. Although it is argued that festivals can be employed to strengthen, enhance, or change a destination's image, it is essential to first identify a profile of attendees that can then be used to inform future marketing campaigns. This research aimed to segment attendees on the basis of their residency and activity preferences to the Showroom Carnival of Flowers, a major regional festival held in Queensland, Australia. An on-site self-administered questionnaire was utilized and 511 valid surveys were analyzed. Key findings from this research were that the number of residents and tourists were relatively equal and that the difference between the event-related activities for these two segments was insignificant. It was also concluded that whereas daily expenditure is higher for tourists, a large percentage travel from locations in proximity to the region and stay with friends and relatives. Several theoretical and practical implications are provided and opportunities for future research are outlined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Festivals provide many benefits to regions and communities such as tourism expenditure, community pride, and the celebration of culture. Whereas the literature has emphasized the need to incorporate stakeholders into the management of festivals, researchers have not considered how these stakeholders are segmenting their attendees. This article applies a stakeholder approach to attendee segmentation through the utilization of a case study approach with semistructured interviews to profile visitors to Easterfest, an Australian Christian music festival. The results suggest that stakeholders, although not actively segmenting visitors, share many similarities in their description of the characteristics and behavioral patterns of attendees to the festival. Limitations based on the findings are made while future opportunities are also outlined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Domestic tourism represents an attractive market for most countries, in particular for high-cost countries such as Norway. Based on this market's notable size and financial potential, tourism marketers are aiming to attract residents to experience their country's tourism offerings. By identifying the characteristics of domestic tourists such as their preference for nature-based activities, tourism marketers can segment these tourists and target them accordingly. The present study puts forward preferences as a theoretical construct in order to outline preferred nature-based activities in addition to demographic, geographic, and behavioral characteristics as the basis to study variety within domestic nature-based tourism. A total of 1,201 Norwegian residents who exhibit an interest in nature-based vacations in Norway participated in an online questionnaire and were segmented using two-step cluster analysis. The results revealed four valid domestic nature-based activity clusters that differ based on several profiling characteristics. Based on the research findings, several theoretical contributions and recommendations for tourism marketers are provided. Future research opportunities and the limitations of the research are also outlined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]