Gardens, farms and theme parks see greatest increase in visitors in England in 2015

Posted . Filed under News, Research.

Gardens, farms and theme parks see greatest increase in visitors in England in 2015


Results from our latest Annual Attractions Survey show farms, gardens and theme parks reported the biggest growth in visitors with 7% increases for each on last year and wildlife attractions and country parks reporting 4% growth. Of the most visited free attractions, the British Museum again topped the list for the eighth year with 6.8 million visitors, followed closely by the National Gallery with 6 million visitors and the Natural History Museum with 5.3 million visitors. The Tower of London remained the most visited ‘paid for’ attraction with 2.8 million visits followed by Westminster Abbey and Kew Gardens which saw 1.6 million visitors each.  In terms of regional visitor admission trends, the East Midlands, West Midlands and the South West saw the most significant growth across all attractions.

 

Annual Survey of Visits to Visitor Attractions: Latest results

2015 visitor admission trends

The results from this survey are reported annually, providing an overview of the visitor attraction sector.

The survey is carried out through a mix of online and postal interviewing. This approach means we’re unable to verify results provided by individual attractions beyond a very basic ‘sense check’. Read more about ourmethodology (PDF, 123KB)(link is external).

Survey users should also be aware that the lists of English attractions included in the report only feature those that choose to participate and make their results public.

The Annual Survey of Visits to Visitor Attractions is an official statistic and is produced in adherence with the Code of Practice for Official Statistics (2009). You can find out more about what this means by visiting Official Statistics.

If you have any queries about the survey,get in touch. Results of the survey are published according to our release timetable.

2015 Headline results

RANK Most visited PAID attractions Most visited FREE attractions 
Name of attraction Number of Visitors in 2015 Name of attraction Number of Visitors in 2015

(E) = Estimate
1 Tower of London 2,785,249 British Museum 6,820,686
2 Westminster Abbey 1,664,850 National Gallery 5,908,254
3 Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew Gardens 1,622,821 Natural History Museum 5,284,023
4 St Paul’s Cathedral 1,609,325 Tate Modern 4,712,581
5 Chester Zoo 1,516,808 Brighton Pier 4,600,000 (E)
6 Windermere Lake Cruises, Bowness 1,482,899 Victoria and Albert Museum 3,888,374
7 Flamingo Land Theme Park and Zoo 1,470,828 Science Museum 3,356,212
8 Stonehenge 1,366,765 Alexandra Park and Palace 2,800,000 (E)
9 ZSL London Zoo 1,265,911 National Portrait Gallery 2,145,486
10 Drayton Manor Theme Park 1,210,141 British Library 1579570 (E)
11 Royal Academy of Arts 1,096,608 National Maritime Museum 1,358,964
12 RHS Garden Wisley 1,087,927 Tate Britain 1,284,519
13 Roman Baths 1,044,802 Imperial War Museum London 1,102,655
14 Colchester Zoo 964,050 MAC Birmingham 1,028,371
15 Eden Project 960,029 Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery 909,935
16 Canterbury Cathedral 957,355 Museum of London 872,978
17 Houses of Parliament 928,855 Ashmolean Museum 848,359
18 Tatton Park 875,000 Museums Sheffield: Millennium Gallery 764,639
19 Tower Bridge Exhibition 786,603 Horniman Museum and Gardens 758,868
20 Royal Observatory Greenwich 778,865 Durham Cathedral 755,000 (E)

 

The Research and Knowledge Exchange (RKE) Development Framework: Academic Publishing

Posted . Filed under Research.

dev_frameworkThe Research and Knowledge Exchange (RKE) Development Framework,  ‘Academic Publishing‘ pathway targets academics, experienced or new to academic publishing. Workshop titles include ‘Open Access, BRIAN and the Impact Module’, ‘Writing a good abstract’, ‘Dealing with editors’, ‘Writing an academic paper’, ‘Targeting high quality journals’, ‘Writing Academy’ and ‘How to update your Staff Profile Pages using BRIAN’.

We’ll be populating the the OD website with more information and the booking link over the coming weeks. We’ll also be providing a timetable of all events as soon as possible. In the meantime, updates will be posted on the BU Research Blog and the Faculty blogs.

New Research Paper Gonzalez, J., Parra-Lopez, E., Buhalis, D., 2017, The loyalty of young residents in an island tourism destination: An integrated model, Journal of Destination Marketing & Management (in Press)

Posted . Filed under News.

New Research Paper Gonzalez, J., Parra-Lopez, E., Buhalis, D., 2017, The loyalty of young residents in an island tourism destination: An integrated model, Journal of Destination Marketing & Management (in Press)

The loyalty of young residents in an island tourism destination

Abstract

This paper investigates the factors that influence the loyalty of young residents as tourists in their home destination in the context of domestic tourism. The interest in studying the loyalty of this particular population segment stems from their consumption potential, their influence, and for the triple role they can play as tourists in the destination, as residents in the destination and as collaborators with local tourism companies. The setting for this study is one of growing domestic tourism in a destination made up of islands, the Canary Islands (Spain). The importance of this kind of research for island destinations arises from the negative impacts of tourism that island destinations suffer more than others, often with negative repercussions on loyalty. This paper studies the role of tourism companies, the product, the place and the young residents themselves in the formation of loyalty.

staycation, familiarisation,

A sample of 678 young residents from the Canary Islands responded to an ad hoc questionnaire of 22 items. The descriptive analysis highlights that young residents value to varying degrees all the variables included in the model (tourism companies, place, product and tourist variables). The discriminant analysis shows that there are no significant differences in the perceptions of young residents according to gender, island of residence or the number of trips made within the destination, which confirms the generational nature of the study and the possibility of extrapolating the results. Using the causal model proposed, the formation of loyalty among young residents is explained. In this model, the variables related to the company and the product hardly influence loyalty formation among young residents when these variables are integrated into the same model with place variables (identity, attachment and familiarity). These variables initiate the chain of cause and effect that culminates in the formation of satisfaction and loyalty among tourists, relegating company and product variables to the background.

Keywords

  • Domestic tourism;
  • Young residents;
  • Tourist loyalty;
  • Familiarity;
  • Place attachment;
  • Place identity;
  • Tourist satisfaction

  • Highlights

    •The loyalty of young resident as tourists is analyzed in an internal tourism context
    •A model of loyalty formation is proposed that integrates variables related to tourism companies, to the tourist destination as a product, as well as variables relating tourists to the place and to tourists themselves.
    •Latent variables are generated related to the company and destination as a product comprising generally observed variables, which previously have been studied in isolation.
    •The variables of place (place identity, place attachment and familiarity) initiate the chain of direct and indirect effects involved in the formation of tourist loyalty.
    •The influence of place variables (place identity, place attachment and familiarity) in loyalty formation is greater than that of company-related variables and those of destination, when all variables are integrated into the same model.

Job for graduate at HAT Tourism Marketing http://hatmarketing.com/

Posted . Filed under Alumni News, Featured, Student Experience.

 

Job at HAT Tourism Marketing HAT Tourism Marketing

Position Title: Account Coordinator
Reports To: Managing Director
Department: Sales and Marketing
Location: based in Tolworth, (near Kingston).    

Interested applicants should apply direct sending their c.v. and covering letter to the MD, Kevin Brett kevin@hatmarketing.com 

Main Tasks:

To support sales and marketing activity on behalf of assigned client accounts, as well as providing sales and marketing support to line manager and/or Managing Director, to raise our client(s) profile and ensure the maximum sales potential is realised.

 

Key Responsibilities:

  • Ensure that efficient and effective processes are implemented and followed through including management of tour operator contracts, client assets and keeping documents up to date
  • Ensure web audits are conducted frequently on behalf of each of the appointed client accounts.
  • Execute specific sales follow up on behalf of the sales team for specific sales calls, meetings and /or trade shows.
  • Handle trade and consumer enquiries (via email, telephone and fax).
  • Assist with preparation and dispatch of savings cards to tour operator clients
  • Maintain accurate and most up to date records and documents in HAT’s central Dropbox folders
  • Maintain the HAT travel trade database.
  • Maintain and update information on www.hatmarketing.com
  • Maintain and update information on www.attractionscollection.com
  • Maintain and update rich content on the HAT Resources portal
  • Maintain, update and communicate the Travel Trade Concessions Programme to the travel industry and maintain “deals” with HAT clients
  • Daily social media posts and ongoing social media strategy
  • Support the PR Director with specific media relations needs
  • Prepare and send the HAT Chat monthly newsletter to trade partners
  • Prepare and send monthly market updates to HAT clients
  • Preparation and delivery of client product training to tour operator call centres and sales offices
  • Assist with organising, and attending, sales missions, trade shows, fam trips, research groups, trade training seminars, workshops and events
  • Assist with appointment setting for sales missions and trade shows
  • Responsible for all day to day administrative tasks including sales statistics analysis, website monitoring and the preparation of marketing documents and plans.
  • Keep abreast of the client(s) business by reading and researching market data, product profiles etc.

 

Key Skills and Knowledge:

  • Qualification to degree level ideally with a relevant sales and marketing qualification
  • A minimum of 6 months sales and marketing experience
  • Ideally previous experience of working within the travel and tourism industry
  • A thorough understanding of the work of the Company
  • Outstanding written and verbal communication skills
  • Ability to work to strict deadlines and capable of managing and prioritizing their workload
  • Ability to work and thrive in a multi tasked and fast paced environment on their own and within a team
  • Proficiency in MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Publisher and Outlook
  • Flexible approach and a can-do attitude essential
  • Analytical and methodical approach

 

Critical Competencies:

  • Relationship building: Builds effective relationships through positive communication that motivates and influences others. Is honest and trustworthy, a valued team member and actively involved in achieving team objectives.
  • Technical competence: Uses technical / job knowledge and experience, incorporating functional skills and broad based business knowledge, to meet and exceed job requirements / customer expectations.
  • Customer focus: Passionately meets or exceeds customer expectations.       Enters the customer’s world through listening and understanding. Nurtures relationships by recognising and delivering on customer needs and opinions.
  • Innovation: Embraces creativity, innovation and is open to new ideas. Innovates to improve current working practices / products / technologies to provide business opportunities.

Join us on events organised by the Department of Tourism and Hospitality Bournemouth University

Posted . Filed under News.

Join us on events organised by the Department of Tourism and Hospitality Bournemouth University

Wednesday 21st September Bournemouth Tourism Awards Launch (To be confirmed) 17:00-20:00

6th Workshop on Tourism Management and Related Issues 
Krakow Poland 22-23 September 2016
http://www.eiasm.org/frontoffice/event_announcement.asp?event_id=1181

Krakow

Bournemouth Coastal Bid http://coastalbid.co.uk/ Meeting Wednesday 5th October 12:00-17:00 (to be confirmed) 

Tourism Management Institute Annual Convention 2016 ‘TMI Annual Convention’ –

Bournemouth, 11-12th October 2016 http://www.tmi.org.uk/event/11/tmi-annual-convention-2016.htm 

TMI-accreditations-course search

2nd November Dorset Tourism Summit 10:00-18:00 (to be confirmed)

7th-9th November World Travel Market – Travel Trade Show – WTM London

Co-creating the future of tourism, University of Aveiro, Portugal May 17th – 19th, 2017
https://www.ua.pt/invtur/

invtur

INVTUR2019

__________________________________________________

New paper Boes, K., Buhalis, D., Inversini, A., 2016, Smarttourism destinations: ecosystems for tourism destination competitiveness”,International Journal of Tourism Cities, Vol. 2(2), pp.108 – 124 http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/IJTC-12-2015-0032

Posted . Filed under News, Research.

New research paper  Boes, K., Buhalis, D., Inversini, A., 2016, Smarttourism destinations: ecosystems for tourism destination competitiveness”,International Journal of Tourism Cities, Vol. 2(2), pp.108 – 124  http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/IJTC-12-2015-0032

Abstract Grounded in service-dominant (S-D) logic, the purpose of this paper is to explore the core components of smartness to present a framework for the development of the smart tourism destination. The paper explores the core components of smartness through case study analysis of well-established smart cities.  The paper conceptualises smartness and argues ICT, leadership, innovation and social capital supported by human capital are core components of smartness. Although ICT is a critical enabler for smart tourism destinations, it is insufficient on its own to introduce smartness. The combination of hard and soft smartness components within a S-D logic ecosystem structure holds the potential for sustained competitive advantage and enhancement of quality of life of both residents and tourists in smart tourism destinations. Originality/value – The paper extends the application of S-D logic to the context of smart tourism destinations, specifically to examine the smartness concept as a means for competitiveness in tourism destinations.

Keywords ICT, Tourism competitiveness, Smart city, Smart tourism destination Paper type Research paper

http://www.academia.edu/27392229/Smart_tourism_destinations_ecosystems_for_tourism_destination_competitiveness

New paper by Janet E. Dickinson, , Julia F. Hibbert, Viachaslau Filimonau Mobile technology and the tourist experience: (Dis)connection at the campsite Tourism Management Volume 57, December 2016, Pages 193–201

Posted . Filed under Research.

New paper by Janet E. Dickinson, , Julia F. Hibbert, Viachaslau Filimonau  Mobile technology and the tourist experience: (Dis)connection at the campsite Tourism Management Volume 57, December 2016, Pages 193–201  doi:10.1016/j.tourman.2016.06.005

Highlights

•50% of tourists have some desire for mobile disconnection.
•Tourists have dilemmas regarding mobile connectivity.
•Digital engagement has a small effect on desire for mobile disconnection.
•Developers of digital solutions should not assume the tourist is ‘always connected’.

Abstract

Mobile technology is playing an increasing role in the tourist experience and a growing body of tourism research has focused on this area. There is often an implicit assumption that tourists embrace mobile connectivity and relatively little research has explored the tourist experience of disconnection, whether purposeful or imposed by technological limitations. This study explores the desire for digital (dis)connection during camping tourism. Data compiled using interviews and a survey revealed that the tourist is not ‘always connected’ and up to 50% have some desire to disconnect. There is ambiguity about mobile technology use in tourism with dilemmas regarding the value of connectivity versus the desire to ‘get away from it all’. The analysis found digital engagement had a small effect on desire for disconnection however, patterns were not marked. The findings have implications for mobile technology solutions in tourism.

Keywords

  • Mobile technology;
  • Smartphone;
  • Digital connection;
  • Tourist experience
Corresponding author.

© 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

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Janet Dickinson is a Professor at Bournemouth University. Her research interests focus on mitigation of and adaptation of tourism to climate change, digital technology, the sharing economy, social representations and time.

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Julia Hibbert is a Research Fellow in the Faculty of Management at Bournemouth University. Her research interests include the role of personal and social identity in tourism mobility, understanding travel behaviour and sustainable transport systems.

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Viachaslau Filimonau is Senior Lecturer in Hospitality Management at Bournemouth University (UK). His research interests include sustainable mobilities, environmental management and environmental impact assessment as applied in the context of tourism and hospitality.

Harry Mills studying BA (Hons) International Hospitality Management at Bournemouth University

Posted . Filed under Student Experience.

What are you studying currently and what do you enjoy most? 

“I’m currently studying BA (Hons) International Hospitality Management. In September I will be starting my placement year, doing Events and Fundraising for a Dorset based charity.”

harryWhy did you choose Bournemouth University?

“I chose BU because of the area, I loved that the beach was so close by and the fact that everyone at the University seemed really close. The course really appealed to me, over other Universities, and I liked the fact that the placement was in the 3rd year, instead of the 2nd year, like it is as so many other Universities. The practical element of the course also really appealed to me as I love to learn through hands on experience.”

How would you describe your course?

“I would say my course is incredibly challenging but at the same time rewarding. You can expect to be writing lots of assignments and essays and you can expect to be doing lots of group work. There is a huge amount of contact time, doing seminars and lectures and you will probably end up spending lots of your time reading and in the library, to support your studies. However, the end result really is worth it, you’ll learn so much more than you thought you would and if you put the time and effort in you’ll be rewarded with good marks.”

Are there any particular aspects of your course that you feel will help you succeed after graduating?

“Definitely! All the units on my course are geared to helping you succeed in industry. From the finance units to marketing and operations, they’re all units that you can apply in the real world. I’m particularly looking forward to the consultancy project and the Events and Conference Management in my final year.”

How would you describe your BU experience overall, so far?

“My experience at BU so far really has been life changing. I know it’s such a cliche thing to say but it really has. I’ve learned so much, not just on my course, but about myself and I’ve made some great friends. The social life here really is what you make of it, it’s all out there for the taking, you just have to go and seize it!”

What advice do you have for any students looking to study at Bournemouth University

“My advice to anyone looking to study at Bournemouth University would be to just come for an Open Day but also come and explore the town and the beach. As soon as you arrive you’ll know if BU is for you. It’s a great location and a great University and you definitely won’t regret coming once you’re here.”

Are you involved with any extra-curricular activities while studying, and what do you think you gain from them?

“Yes, I’m involved in a couple of extra-curricular activities. I’m currently on the BU Falcons, Bournemouth University’s multi award-winning cheerleading team. Before coming to University I never thought I would join a sports team or society. However, I would recommend it to anyone. BU has so many clubs, societies and sports teams that there is bound to be something you can get involved with. Being involved with something other than your course not only gives you that other group of friends but it ensures that your life doesn’t get too “University heavy”. And believe me, the socials are amazing! If you didn’t want to get involved with clubs, societies or a sports team the Student’s Union here offers some amazing other opportunities from RAG (Raising and Giving) to the Green Task Force. With so much going on, there’s no excuse not to get involved. I did LegIt last year, with two of my Cheerleading friends, we ended up in DisneyLand, Paris and it was one of the best weekends I’ve ever had!” harry2

Co-creating the future of tourism University of Aveiro, Portugal May 17th – 19th, 2017

Posted . Filed under News, Research.

International TOURISM conference: Co-creating the future of tourism

University of Aveiro, Portugal, 17–19 May 2017 http://www.ua.pt/invtur/#

International conference

invtur

cocreating the future of tourism

Co-creating the future of tourism

University of Aveiro, Portugal

May 17th – 19th, 2017

Tourism is becoming the world’s leading industry, topping the most important economic sectors. A new ecosystem is emerging that brings together economic, environmental, social and cultural resources to create value for all stakeholders. Tourism is one of the most influential drivers of change globally propelling prosperity and wellbeing for growing numbers of countries.

In spite of its potential there is still a wide gap between the industry and society. Tourism is a social and anthropological phenomenon that percolates civilization, and its infrastructure and equipment are built alongside all the other urban and rural developments. However, tourism knowledge and tourism as science are still overlooked by entrepreneurs and governments.

INVTUR is an internationally acclaimed conference that is now reaching its 4th edition. It is organized by the University of Aveiro (Portugal), since 2010, in cooperation with several foreign partner universities. Each of the previous editions were attended by more than seven hundred delegates, from five continents and more than 30 countries. INVTUR has become a ground of discussion and scientific interaction, held in a modern and lovely city and university, where people seek to improve knowledge. Besides its scientific contribution, INVTUR provides an unforgettable experience from a social point of view, granting opportunities to network and to relax.

The 2017 edition is devoted to fuel discussion and to induce new approaches aimed at exploring emerging paradigms of value cocreation in the marketplace that will fuel the foundation of the new tourism ecosystem. INVTUR 2017 will provide an interactive, dynamic and international platform for academics and practitioners to discuss how to enhance research applications and knowledge management through partnerships. Alongside the conference, a showcase of good practices coming from the tourism industry and organisations will take place. The BIT – Business Innovation Tank will be run in a large marquee, adjacent to the conference rooms, where more than 30 companies and organisations will present innovative experiences in the tourism industry. In parallel to the academic conference, debates among tourism businesses and organisations will take place, with the aim of bridging the gap between academics and practitioners. Participants will, also, have the opportunity to strengthen partnerships with various stakeholders, including academic researchers, industry professionals, and governmental entities, through dialogues on how to better use research outputs for the benefit of the industry.

The conference welcomes works in areas such as:

» Tourism planning, policies and strategies;

» Geography and territory;

» Destination management and modelling;

» Economics of tourism;

» Internationalisation of tourism;

» Consumer behavior in tourism;

» New tourism products;

» Tourism marketing;

» Experience economy;

» Shared economy;
» Creative economy;

» Authenticity;

» Culture and heritage;

» Tourist gaze;

» Sociology of tourism;

» Food tourism;

» Anthropology of tourism;

» Demographics and Mobility;

» Post-modern tourist;

» Research and Education;

» Sustainability and ecotourism;» Hospitality;

» Tourism history;

» Innovation in tourism;

» E-tourism, ICT, and smart tourism;

» Accessible tourism;

» Gender in tourism;

» Tourism networks.