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Active senior travelers have different approaches to technology

A study by the University of Eastern Finland found that active senior travelers can be divided into three groups: Adventurous Experimenters, Meticulous Researchers, and Fumbling Observers. The use of technology is closely linked to travel behavior, and each group has unique preferences for destination choice and information technology ...

SourceUniversity of Eastern Finland·JournalInformation Technology & Tourism·DateSep 28, 2015

Policy action urgently needed to protect Hawaii's dolphins

A new study from Duke University finds that a combination of federal regulations and local community-based conservation measures are urgently needed to protect spinner dolphins in Hawaii. The research suggests that managing the bays where dolphins rest should be tailored to each bay's unique use, rather than relying on a one-size-fits-...

SourceDuke University·JournalJournal of Sustainable Tourism·DateDec 17, 2014

Tourism poses a threat to dolphins in the Balearic Islands

A study led by the University of Barcelona found that tourism, fishing, and sea transport are compromising the wellbeing of common bottlenose dolphins in the Pityusic Islands. The researchers estimate there are only a few hundred dolphins in the area, and conservation measures are needed to protect them.

SourceSpanish Foundation for Science and Technology·JournalJournal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom·DateDec 11, 2014

'Suicide tourism' to Switzerland has doubled within 4 years

The number of people from Germany and the UK opting for assisted suicide in Switzerland has more than doubled between 2008 and 2012. Neurological conditions such as paralysis and Parkinson's disease account for nearly half of all cases, with women being 40% more likely to choose this option.

SourceBMJ Group·JournalJournal of Medical Ethics·DateAug 20, 2014

The brand tourism effect: When do lower status consumers boost luxury brands?

A study in the Journal of Consumer Research found that brand tourists, or fans of a luxury brand, can inspire feelings of membership pride and enhance the brand's prestige. This 'brand tourism effect' is distinct from brand immigrants, who claim group membership, and has positive implications for companies managing selective brands.

SourceUniversity of Chicago Press Journals·JournalJournal of Consumer Research·DateMay 21, 2014

Cruise tourists spend less

Researchers found that cruise tourists spend an average of NOK 300 per day onshore, compared to NOK 600 for camping and hotel tourists. This is due to the all-inclusive nature of cruises and low budget options.

SourceThe University of Bergen·JournalTourism Management Perspectives·DateApr 30, 2013

Portrayal of spring break excess may be stereotypes gone wild

Researchers analyzed studies on spring break from 1980 to 2010 and found no conclusive evidence of increased extreme behaviors. Instead, they suggest that campus behaviors are a good predictor of how students will act during spring break. The media portrayal of spring break may not accurately represent the full experience.

SourcePenn State·JournalTourism Review International·DateJan 16, 2013

Payoff lacking for casino comps

A study by Temple University researchers found that free room giveaways are less profitable than alternative comps such as free travel and parking. In fact, casinos could see an $8.45 return on every dollar spent on their own travel and parking promotions compared to only a $2.51 return on room, food, or beverage giveaways.

SourceTemple University·JournalJournal of Hospitality & Tourism Research·DateOct 2, 2012

Note to waitresses: Wearing red can be profitable

Researchers found that male patrons give higher tips to waitresses wearing red, with a difference of up to 26.1% more than those not wearing red. The study suggests that red increases the physical and sexual attractiveness of women, leading to increased tipping behavior.

SourceSAGE·JournalJournal of Hospitality & Tourism Research·DateAug 2, 2012

New Au. sediba fossils discovered in rock

South African scientists have made a groundbreaking discovery of a large rock containing significant parts of a skeleton of an early human ancestor, believed to be the remains of 'Karabo', the type skeleton of Australopithecus sediba. The fossil will be unveiled live online and in a laboratory studio for the first time in history, allo...

More people staying connected on vacation

A Michigan State University study reveals that easy online access and personal devices have made the digital divide disappear during vacations. People are using their phones to plan, check weather forecasts, and access local information, showing a significant shift in how travelers use technology on holiday.

SourceMichigan State University·JournalAnnals of Tourism Research·DateJun 8, 2012

Botswana, climate and tourism

The Okavango Delta, Botswana's largest tourist draw, is vulnerable to climate change impacts on wildlife and wetlands. Climate change could jeopardize the country's $2 billion tourism sector, with over 50,000 visitors annually.

SourceInderscience Publishers·JournalInternational Journal of Tourism Policy·DateJun 6, 2012

Brain size and a trip to Disneyland

A new study suggests that human creativity may have evolved as a way for parents to bond with their children, passing on cultural knowledge and traditions. This theory challenges the idea that creativity emerged from courtship behaviors, proposing instead that it arose from parental influences.

SourceInderscience Publishers·JournalInternational Journal of Tourism Anthropology·DateNov 15, 2010

Transplant tourism poses ethical dilemma for US doctors

A recent study examines the ethics of transplant tourism, where patients travel to countries like China and India for transplantation. US medical societies have crafted guidelines to advise clinicians on caring for transplant tourists, who may face sub-standard care and post-transplant infections.

SourceWiley·JournalLiver Transplantation·DateJan 26, 2010

Study examines ethical dilemmas of medical tourism

A new study published in Developing World Bioethics argues that Argentinean fertility clinics are increasingly marketing themselves to international health care consumers offering all-inclusive packages with fixed prices for fertility treatments, citing non-accredited clinics as a concern for consumer safety and effectiveness.

SourceUniversity of Montreal·JournalDeveloping World Bioethics·DateOct 7, 2009

Combining sun, sand and science in the Bahamas

Researchers from the University of Miami collaborated with developers to establish a sustainable development project in the Bahamas. The Baker's Bay Golf and Ocean Club project employed environmental scientists to guide construction, resulting in key findings on environmental impacts and mitigation measures.

SourceUniversity of Miami·JournalJournal of Sustainable Tourism·DateSep 29, 2009

The tourist trap

Scientists from the University of Leeds and the Zoological Society of London have found that mosquitoes are regularly hitching a ride on tourist boats and breeding with existing populations.

Majority of doctors skeptical of organ transplantation practices in China

A study by the University of California San Francisco found that US and foreign transplant physicians express serious concern about organ procurement in China, citing coercion of organ donors and substandard medical practices. The majority of doctors surveyed would not provide post-transplantation care to patients who underwent liver t...

SourceWiley·JournalClinical Transplantation·DateApr 22, 2009