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KEYWORDS: spatial movement , travel itineraries , Hong Kong , geographic information system (GIS) This paper presents preliminary findings of research examining the movement patterns of tourists within a destination. The study focuses on fully independent individual travellers visiting Hong Kong. Little research has been conducted looking at movements within a destination. Macro or inter-destination movement patterns may inform intra-destination movements. Factors affecting tourists ' choices of itineraries give reasons to support the shaping of the patterns. These factors include human factors (type of individual, travel party, motivations, etc), physical factors (destination geomorphology), trip factors (main or secondary destination, first-time or repeat visitor, etc) and the time factor (length of stay in destination, total trip duration). Geographic Information System is used for documenting spatial -temporal movements of tourists through mapping.

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The aim of this article is to discuss some of the operational challenges involved in conducting a broad-based study tracking the movements of tourists within a destination. The authors report on their experiences in conducting a study of tourist movements in Hong Kong. In particular, the article discusses the merits of using different emerging digital tracking technologies and trialing the use of tracking through the mobile phone system. The trial failed due primarily to a lack of cooperation from tourists. They found this technology too invasive. The article concludes with a discussion of factors that others may want to consider when considering conducting similar research.