Tourism is one of the prime manifestations of the ‘great acceleration of humankind’ since the Ant... more Tourism is one of the prime manifestations of the ‘great acceleration of humankind’ since the Anthropocene started around 1950. The almost 50-fold increase in international tourism arrivals has substantial implications for environmental sustainability, but these have not yet been fully explored. This paper argues that a full exploration requires the study of tourism as a complex socio-ecological system. Such approach integrates environmental processes and stakeholder behaviour and puts feedbacks in the spotlight. Systemic insights can inform strategies to address tourism’s problematic environmental performance. The paper finds that systems approaches in tourism research are rare and identifies a number of challenges: the large number of stakeholders involved; the heterogeneity of stakeholders; and the lack of transdisciplinarity in tourism research. The paper then argues that agent-based modelling can help address some of these challenges. Agent-based modelling allows to run simplified tourism systems with heterogeneous stakeholders and explore their behaviour, thus acting as living hypotheses. They do this by: (1) representing tourism’s dynamics in a systemic, intuitive and individual-based way; (2) combining theories from different domains; (3) unpacking the link between stakeholder behaviours and emergent tourism system patterns; and (4) connecting researchers and stakeholders. Agent-based models allow representation of heterogeneous agents driven by plausible needs, who perceive local context and interact socially. Companion modelling is identified as a promising tool for more effective stakeholder inclusion.
Agent-based modelling (ABM) is an emerging approach in tourism research. Despite the natural fit ... more Agent-based modelling (ABM) is an emerging approach in tourism research. Despite the natural fit between theories of tourism as a complex, interconnected system, and the generative approach supported in ABM, there has been only limited integration within mainstream tourism research. This research letter reports on a recent gathering of tourism ABM researchers to define the main challenges that face the adoption of ABM in tourism research. These include technical, communications, and novelty issues. In response to these challenges, three potential strategies to ease adoption are outlined: education, awareness, and interdisciplinary teams. These findings are framed as a call for increased attention to the fit of ABM within tourism research, and a framework for negotiating constraints to adoption of this technology.
The practice of Revenue Management has received widespread acceptance in the international hospit... more The practice of Revenue Management has received widespread acceptance in the international hospitality industry yet a lack of best practice in terms of organizational integration persists. This paper follows the notion that revenue management is first and foremost a human activity, dependent on knowledge exchange and concerted decision within revenue management teams. One critical attribute of effective teams is group cohesion. The authors contrasted communication networks of 38 revenue management teams by means of social network analysis to identify the antecedents and consequences of group cohesion. It was found that industry employment, age and revenue management experience define the structure of communication networks and that awareness of other’s expertise is central in explaining differences team performance across the sample. The findings highlight the issue of knowledge asymmetry in teams and suggest that the Revenue Manager occupies a more active role as an information broker in order to enhance group decision making.
This paper presents a review of the methods of the science of networks with an application to the... more This paper presents a review of the methods of the science of networks with an application to the field of tourism studies. The basic definitions and computational techniques are described and a case study (Elba, Italy) used to illustrate the effect of network typology on information diffusion. A static structural characterization of the network formed by destination stakeholders is derived from stakeholder interviews and website link analysis. This is followed by a dynamic analysis of the information diffusion process within the destination demonstrating that stakeholder cohesion and adaptive capacity have a positive effect on information diffusion. The outcomes and the implications of this analysis for improving destination management are discussed.
Cerchiamo in questo articolo di indicare in che modo la bellezza possa essere considerata un fatt... more Cerchiamo in questo articolo di indicare in che modo la bellezza possa essere considerata un fattore di crescita economica e sociale e quale possa essere la sua importanza. Facciamo questo percorrendo una linea che lega la bellezza alla creatività e quindi all’innovazione, notoriamente uno dei motori principali dello sviluppo, soprattutto in un mondo globalizzato e altamente tecnologico e competitivo, e nel quale una parte significativa delle tradizionali differenze in termini di spazio, tempo, dimensioni e potere economico sono state profondamente modificate.
Information and Communication Technologies in Tourism 2013, 2013
Research identifying determinants of the adoption for Online Tourism Distribution Platforms by sm... more Research identifying determinants of the adoption for Online Tourism Distribution Platforms by small operators is lacking. A number of solutions have been developed without addressing their needs. In an attempt to address this gap of research, this paper undertakes a series of interviews and focus groups of the European tourism industry. The findings provide the baseline for developing a framework to evaluate the adoptability of Online Tourism Distribution Platforms by SMEs. The framework is applied to evaluate a number of extant technological solutions. Theoretical, methodological and industry implications are outlined in the paper.
Information and Communication Technologies in Tourism 2011, 2011
Web 2.0 and online social networking websites heavily affect today most of the online activities ... more Web 2.0 and online social networking websites heavily affect today most of the online activities and their effect on tourism is obviously rather important. This paper aims at verifying the impact that online social networks (OSN) have on the popularity of tourism websites. Two OSNs have been considered: Facebook and Twitter. The pattern of visits to a sample of Italian tourism websites was analysed and the relationship between the total visits and those having the OSNs as referrals were measured. The analysis shows a clear correlation and confirms the starting hypothesis. Consequences and implications of these outcomes are discussed.
Tourism is one of the prime manifestations of the ‘great acceleration of humankind’ since the Ant... more Tourism is one of the prime manifestations of the ‘great acceleration of humankind’ since the Anthropocene started around 1950. The almost 50-fold increase in international tourism arrivals has substantial implications for environmental sustainability, but these have not yet been fully explored. This paper argues that a full exploration requires the study of tourism as a complex socio-ecological system. Such approach integrates environmental processes and stakeholder behaviour and puts feedbacks in the spotlight. Systemic insights can inform strategies to address tourism’s problematic environmental performance. The paper finds that systems approaches in tourism research are rare and identifies a number of challenges: the large number of stakeholders involved; the heterogeneity of stakeholders; and the lack of transdisciplinarity in tourism research. The paper then argues that agent-based modelling can help address some of these challenges. Agent-based modelling allows to run simplified tourism systems with heterogeneous stakeholders and explore their behaviour, thus acting as living hypotheses. They do this by: (1) representing tourism’s dynamics in a systemic, intuitive and individual-based way; (2) combining theories from different domains; (3) unpacking the link between stakeholder behaviours and emergent tourism system patterns; and (4) connecting researchers and stakeholders. Agent-based models allow representation of heterogeneous agents driven by plausible needs, who perceive local context and interact socially. Companion modelling is identified as a promising tool for more effective stakeholder inclusion.
Agent-based modelling (ABM) is an emerging approach in tourism research. Despite the natural fit ... more Agent-based modelling (ABM) is an emerging approach in tourism research. Despite the natural fit between theories of tourism as a complex, interconnected system, and the generative approach supported in ABM, there has been only limited integration within mainstream tourism research. This research letter reports on a recent gathering of tourism ABM researchers to define the main challenges that face the adoption of ABM in tourism research. These include technical, communications, and novelty issues. In response to these challenges, three potential strategies to ease adoption are outlined: education, awareness, and interdisciplinary teams. These findings are framed as a call for increased attention to the fit of ABM within tourism research, and a framework for negotiating constraints to adoption of this technology.
The practice of Revenue Management has received widespread acceptance in the international hospit... more The practice of Revenue Management has received widespread acceptance in the international hospitality industry yet a lack of best practice in terms of organizational integration persists. This paper follows the notion that revenue management is first and foremost a human activity, dependent on knowledge exchange and concerted decision within revenue management teams. One critical attribute of effective teams is group cohesion. The authors contrasted communication networks of 38 revenue management teams by means of social network analysis to identify the antecedents and consequences of group cohesion. It was found that industry employment, age and revenue management experience define the structure of communication networks and that awareness of other’s expertise is central in explaining differences team performance across the sample. The findings highlight the issue of knowledge asymmetry in teams and suggest that the Revenue Manager occupies a more active role as an information broker in order to enhance group decision making.
This paper presents a review of the methods of the science of networks with an application to the... more This paper presents a review of the methods of the science of networks with an application to the field of tourism studies. The basic definitions and computational techniques are described and a case study (Elba, Italy) used to illustrate the effect of network typology on information diffusion. A static structural characterization of the network formed by destination stakeholders is derived from stakeholder interviews and website link analysis. This is followed by a dynamic analysis of the information diffusion process within the destination demonstrating that stakeholder cohesion and adaptive capacity have a positive effect on information diffusion. The outcomes and the implications of this analysis for improving destination management are discussed.
Cerchiamo in questo articolo di indicare in che modo la bellezza possa essere considerata un fatt... more Cerchiamo in questo articolo di indicare in che modo la bellezza possa essere considerata un fattore di crescita economica e sociale e quale possa essere la sua importanza. Facciamo questo percorrendo una linea che lega la bellezza alla creatività e quindi all’innovazione, notoriamente uno dei motori principali dello sviluppo, soprattutto in un mondo globalizzato e altamente tecnologico e competitivo, e nel quale una parte significativa delle tradizionali differenze in termini di spazio, tempo, dimensioni e potere economico sono state profondamente modificate.
Information and Communication Technologies in Tourism 2013, 2013
Research identifying determinants of the adoption for Online Tourism Distribution Platforms by sm... more Research identifying determinants of the adoption for Online Tourism Distribution Platforms by small operators is lacking. A number of solutions have been developed without addressing their needs. In an attempt to address this gap of research, this paper undertakes a series of interviews and focus groups of the European tourism industry. The findings provide the baseline for developing a framework to evaluate the adoptability of Online Tourism Distribution Platforms by SMEs. The framework is applied to evaluate a number of extant technological solutions. Theoretical, methodological and industry implications are outlined in the paper.
Information and Communication Technologies in Tourism 2011, 2011
Web 2.0 and online social networking websites heavily affect today most of the online activities ... more Web 2.0 and online social networking websites heavily affect today most of the online activities and their effect on tourism is obviously rather important. This paper aims at verifying the impact that online social networks (OSN) have on the popularity of tourism websites. Two OSNs have been considered: Facebook and Twitter. The pattern of visits to a sample of Italian tourism websites was analysed and the relationship between the total visits and those having the OSNs as referrals were measured. The analysis shows a clear correlation and confirms the starting hypothesis. Consequences and implications of these outcomes are discussed.
A tourism system is complex and dynamic but may be described as a network providing a means to re... more A tourism system is complex and dynamic but may be described as a network providing a means to representing the interactions among its different components. In general, a network is a picture of the connections or relationships among a set of objects (people, hence stakeholder network or social network; organizations, hence organizational network; aviation routes, hence route network). Formal analysis of networks (or network analysis) began in the mathematical field of graph theory, a branch of topology. A graph is an abstract mathematical object composed of nodes (vertices, actors) connected by relationships (links, edges) and can be represented by a matrix (adjacency matrix), thus allowing the use of linear algebra analysis methods.
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Papers by Rodolfo Baggio
within mainstream tourism research. This research letter reports on a recent gathering of tourism ABM researchers to define the main challenges that face the adoption of ABM in tourism research. These include technical, communications, and novelty issues. In response to these challenges, three potential strategies to ease adoption are outlined: education, awareness, and interdisciplinary teams. These findings are framed as a call for increased attention to the fit of ABM within tourism research, and a framework for negotiating constraints to adoption of this technology.
within mainstream tourism research. This research letter reports on a recent gathering of tourism ABM researchers to define the main challenges that face the adoption of ABM in tourism research. These include technical, communications, and novelty issues. In response to these challenges, three potential strategies to ease adoption are outlined: education, awareness, and interdisciplinary teams. These findings are framed as a call for increased attention to the fit of ABM within tourism research, and a framework for negotiating constraints to adoption of this technology.