UNVEILING ASTROTOURISTS’ PROFILES. ACTIVITIES, MOTIVATIONS, ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL BENEFITS AND EXPERIENCES
Keywords:
Astrotourism, Astronomical Tourism, Astrotourist, Stars, Artificial Neural Networks, Multilayer Perceptron
Abstract
This research aims to determine the variations that occur in the socio-demographic profile (gender, age, educational level and income) of the visitor interested in astrotourism based on some questions about the activities they carry out related to astronomy, motivations, economic and social benefits and the assessment of experiences about astrotourism through data gathered by a questionnaire. An artificial neural network is developed to generate potential “identikits” or estimated profiles of astrotourists based on the replies incorporated into the model and easily customisable by the researcher, this being especially useful in the development of products and services adapted to astrotourism.
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References
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Otoo, F. E., Kim, S., & Choi. Y. (2020). Understanding senior tourists’ preferences and characteristics based on their overseas travel motivation clusters. Journal of Travel & Tourism Marketing, 37(2), 246–257. https://doi.org/10.1080/10548408.2020.1740136
Páskova, M., Budinská, N. & Zelenka, J. (2021). Astrotourism – Exceeding limits of the earth and tourism definitions? Sustainability, 13(1), 373. https://doi.org/10.3390/su13010372
Pearce, P. L. (1982). Perceived changes in holiday destinations. Annals of Tourism Research. 9(2), 145–164. https://doi.org/10.1016/0160-7383(82)09944-5
Revilla, M., & Ochoa, C. (2017). Ideal and Maximum Length for a Web Survey. International Journal of Market Research, 59(5), 557–565. https://doi.org/10.2501/IJMR-2017-039
Rodrigues, A. L. O., Rodrigues, A. & Peroff, D. M. (2015). The sky and sustainable tourism development: A case study of a dark sky Reserve implementation in Alqueva. International Journal of Tourism Research, 17(3), 292–302. https://doi.org/10.1002/jtr.1987
Rodrigues, Á., & Loureiro, S. M. C. (2022). Analysing the strength of novelty and meaningfulness in astrotourism experiences: the mediating role of hedonism. Consumer Behavior in Tourism and Hospitality, 17(4), 453–467. https://doi.org/10.1108/CBTH-01-2022-0027
Rodrigues, A., Loureiro, S. M. C., Lins de Moraes, M. & Gomes Pereira, R. (2022a). Memorable tourism experience in the context for astroturism. Anatolia. https://doi.org/10.1080/13032917.2021.2015695
Rodrigues, A., Loureiro, S. M. C., & Prayag, G. (2022b). The wow effect and behavioral intentions of tourists to astrotourism experiences: Mediating effects of satisfaction. International Journal of Tourism Research, 24(3), 362–375. https://doi.org/10.1002/jtr.2507
Rodrigues, A., Pereira, R. & Rodrigues, A. I. (2020). Exploring the potential of nightscape photography for tourist: Preliminary insights. Tourism Analysis, 25(2-3), 215–225. https://doi.org/10.3727/108354220X15758301241738
Rumelhart, D. E., & McClelland, J. L. (1986). Parallel distributed processing: Explorations in the microstructure of cognition. MIT Press.
Saipradist, A. y Staiff, R. (2007). Crossing the cultural divide: Western visitors and interpretation at Ayutthaya World Heritage Site. Thailand. Journal of Heritage Tourism, 2(3), 211–224. https://doi.org/10.2167/jht061.0
Soleimani, S., Bruwer, J., Gross, M. J., & Lee, R. (2019). Astro-tourism conceptualisation as special-interest tourism (SIT) field: A phenomonological approach. Current Issues in Tourism, 22(18), 2299–2314. https://doi.org/10.1080/13683500.2018.1444021
Tapada, A., Marques, C. S., Marques, C. P. & Costa, C. (2021). Astrotourism: A literatura review and framewrk for future search. Enlightening Tourism. A Pathmaking Journal, 11(2), 291–331. https://doi.org/10.33776/et.v11i2.5189
Valverde-Roda, J., Solano-Sánchez, M. Á., García-García, L., & Aguilar-Rivero, M. (2023). Cultural heritage tourism in Granada. A multilayer perceptron approach. Journal of Tourism and Cultural Change. https://doi.org/10.1080/14766825.2023.2167519
Van Wyk-Jacobs, L. (2018). Astro-Tourism as a Catalyst for Rural Route Development. University of Pretoria. https://repository.up.ac.za/bitstream/handle/2263/70036/VanWyk-Jacobs_Astro_2018.pdf?sequence=1
Callegaro, M., Lozar Manfreda, K. & Vehobar, V. (2015). Web Survey Methodology. SAGE. https://dx.doi.org/10.4135/9781529799651
Charlier, B. & Bourgeois, N. (2013). “Half the park is after dark” Dark sky parks and reserves: New concepts and tools to grant nature heritage status. Espace Géographique, 42(3), 200–212. https://doi.org/ff10.3917/eg.423.0200
Collison, F. M. & Poe, K. (2013). “Astronomical tourism”: The astronomy and Dark Sky Program at Bryce Canyon National Park. Tourism Management Perspectives, 7, 1-15. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tmp.2013.01.002
Correia, A., Kozak, M, & Ferradeira, J. (2013). From tourist motivations to tourist satisfaction. International Journal of Culture.Tourism and Hospitality Research, 7(4), 411–424. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJCTHR-05-2012-0022
Couper, M. P. (2000). Review: Web Surveys: A Review of Issues and Approaches. The Public Opinion Quarterly, 64(4), 464–494. http://www.jstor.org/stable/3078739
Díaz de Rada Igúzquiza, V., Domínguez Álvarez, J. A., & Pasadas del Amo, S. (2019). Internet como modo de administración de encuestas (Vol. 59). CIS.
Escario-Sierra, F., Álvarez-Alonso, C., Moseñe-Fierro, J. A., & Sanagustín-Fons, V. (2022). Sustainable Tourism, Social and Institutional Innovation—The Paradox of Dark Sky in Astrotourism. Sustainability, 14(11), 6419. https://doi.org/10.3390/su14116419
Evans, J. R., & Mathur, A. (2005). The value of online surveys. Internet Research, 15 (2), 195–219. https://doi.org/10.1108(10662240510590360
Fayos-Solá, E., Marín, C. & Jafari, J. (2014). Astrotourism: No réquiem for meaningful travel. Pasos, 12(4), 663–671. https://doi.org/10.25145/j.pasos. 2014.12.048
Foundation Starlight (2022a). Starlight Certification. https://fundacionstarlight.org/contenido/42-certificaciones-starlight.html
Foundation Starlight (2022b). Listado- destinos turísticos Starlight. https://fundacionstarlight.org/contenido/49-listado-destinos-turisticos-starlight.html
Frippiat, D. & Marquis, N. (2010). Web Surveys in the Social Sciences: An Overview. Population, 65, 285–311. https://doi.org/10.3917/popu.1002.0309
García-García, L., Solano-Sánchez, M. Á., Muñoz-Fernández, G. A., & Moral-Cuadra, S. (2021). Flamenco experience in Córdoba, Spain: estimating tourist profiles by multilayer perceptron’s artificial neural networks. Journal of Cultural Heritage Management and Sustainable Development. https://doi.org/10.1108/JCHMSD-06-2021-0109
Huimina, G. & Ryan, C. (2012). Tourism destination evolution: a comparative study of Shi Cha Hai Beijing Hutong businesses’ and residents’ attitudes. Journal of Sustainable Tourism, 20(1), 23–40. https://doi.org/10.1080/09669582.2011.610511
Jacobs, L., Du Preez, D. A. & Fairer-Wessels, F. (2020). To wish upon a star: Exploring astro tourism as vehicle for sustainable rural development. Development Southern Africa, 37(1), 87–104. https://doi.org/10.2080/0376835X.2019.1609908
Joseph, S., Ulahannan, J. P., & Piramanayagam, S. (2022). Importance–Performance Analysis of Destination Attributes of an Emerging Astrotourism Destination in Kerala, India. New Space, 10(1), 101–111. https://doi.org/10.1089/space.2021.0032
Kement, Ü., Cavusoglu, S., Çalık, I., & Durmaz, Y. (2023). The effect of environmental value and ecological worldview on eco-recreative attitude: An application in Turkey. Tourism & Management Studies, 19(2), 7–19. https://doi.org/10.18089/tms.2023.190201
Kim, J. H. (2014). The antecedents of memorable tourism experiences: The development of a scale to measure the destination attributes associated with memorable experiences. Tourism Management, 44, 34–45. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tourman.2014.02.007
Moral-Cuadra, S., Solano-Sánchez, M. Á., Menor-Campos, A., & López-Guzmán, T. (2022). Discovering gastronomic tourists’ profiles through artificial neural networks: analysis, opinions and attitudes. Tourism Recreation Research, 47(3), 347‒358. https://doi.org/10.1080/02508281.2021.2002630
Nunnally, B., & Bernstein, I. R. (1994). Psychometric Theory. Oxford University.
Okech, R., Haghiri, M. & George, B. P. (2012). Rural tourism as a sustainable development alternative: An analysis with special reference to Luanda, Kenya. Cultur: Revista de Cultura e Turismo, 6(3). www.uesc.br/revista/culturaeturismo Accessed 4 June 2016.
Otoo, F. E., Kim, S., & Choi. Y. (2020). Understanding senior tourists’ preferences and characteristics based on their overseas travel motivation clusters. Journal of Travel & Tourism Marketing, 37(2), 246–257. https://doi.org/10.1080/10548408.2020.1740136
Páskova, M., Budinská, N. & Zelenka, J. (2021). Astrotourism – Exceeding limits of the earth and tourism definitions? Sustainability, 13(1), 373. https://doi.org/10.3390/su13010372
Pearce, P. L. (1982). Perceived changes in holiday destinations. Annals of Tourism Research. 9(2), 145–164. https://doi.org/10.1016/0160-7383(82)09944-5
Revilla, M., & Ochoa, C. (2017). Ideal and Maximum Length for a Web Survey. International Journal of Market Research, 59(5), 557–565. https://doi.org/10.2501/IJMR-2017-039
Rodrigues, A. L. O., Rodrigues, A. & Peroff, D. M. (2015). The sky and sustainable tourism development: A case study of a dark sky Reserve implementation in Alqueva. International Journal of Tourism Research, 17(3), 292–302. https://doi.org/10.1002/jtr.1987
Rodrigues, Á., & Loureiro, S. M. C. (2022). Analysing the strength of novelty and meaningfulness in astrotourism experiences: the mediating role of hedonism. Consumer Behavior in Tourism and Hospitality, 17(4), 453–467. https://doi.org/10.1108/CBTH-01-2022-0027
Rodrigues, A., Loureiro, S. M. C., Lins de Moraes, M. & Gomes Pereira, R. (2022a). Memorable tourism experience in the context for astroturism. Anatolia. https://doi.org/10.1080/13032917.2021.2015695
Rodrigues, A., Loureiro, S. M. C., & Prayag, G. (2022b). The wow effect and behavioral intentions of tourists to astrotourism experiences: Mediating effects of satisfaction. International Journal of Tourism Research, 24(3), 362–375. https://doi.org/10.1002/jtr.2507
Rodrigues, A., Pereira, R. & Rodrigues, A. I. (2020). Exploring the potential of nightscape photography for tourist: Preliminary insights. Tourism Analysis, 25(2-3), 215–225. https://doi.org/10.3727/108354220X15758301241738
Rumelhart, D. E., & McClelland, J. L. (1986). Parallel distributed processing: Explorations in the microstructure of cognition. MIT Press.
Saipradist, A. y Staiff, R. (2007). Crossing the cultural divide: Western visitors and interpretation at Ayutthaya World Heritage Site. Thailand. Journal of Heritage Tourism, 2(3), 211–224. https://doi.org/10.2167/jht061.0
Soleimani, S., Bruwer, J., Gross, M. J., & Lee, R. (2019). Astro-tourism conceptualisation as special-interest tourism (SIT) field: A phenomonological approach. Current Issues in Tourism, 22(18), 2299–2314. https://doi.org/10.1080/13683500.2018.1444021
Tapada, A., Marques, C. S., Marques, C. P. & Costa, C. (2021). Astrotourism: A literatura review and framewrk for future search. Enlightening Tourism. A Pathmaking Journal, 11(2), 291–331. https://doi.org/10.33776/et.v11i2.5189
Valverde-Roda, J., Solano-Sánchez, M. Á., García-García, L., & Aguilar-Rivero, M. (2023). Cultural heritage tourism in Granada. A multilayer perceptron approach. Journal of Tourism and Cultural Change. https://doi.org/10.1080/14766825.2023.2167519
Van Wyk-Jacobs, L. (2018). Astro-Tourism as a Catalyst for Rural Route Development. University of Pretoria. https://repository.up.ac.za/bitstream/handle/2263/70036/VanWyk-Jacobs_Astro_2018.pdf?sequence=1
Published
2024-09-23
How to Cite
Solano-Sánchez, M. Ángel, Aja-Valle, J., Arteaga-Sánchez, R., & López-Guzmán, T. (2024). UNVEILING ASTROTOURISTS’ PROFILES. ACTIVITIES, MOTIVATIONS, ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL BENEFITS AND EXPERIENCES. ENLIGHTENING TOURISM. A PATHMAKING JOURNAL, 14(2), 1-16. https://doi.org/10.33776/et.v14i2.8287
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