Research report: GIS‐oriented analysis of tourist time‐space patterns to support sustainable tourism development

Abstract

Tourism and tourism development create major changes in the environment. To determine their impact on environmental sustainability, it is necessary to understand tourist behaviour. Time, space and context are important components in describing tourist time-space behaviour. Tourist time-space analysis requires specific data about a visitor's time spent, locations visited, routes chosen, information used, perception and motivation. To date, most researchers have analysed spatial tourism data with statistics. This approach requires data for each period and for each possible location in the region. The enormous amount of data and tables makes it difficult to see spatial relations. Geographical information systems are specifically designed to handle spatial relationships. Four types of relevant data can be distinguished: (1) tourist characteristics, (2) actual time-space behaviour, (3) landscape elements and tourist locations (accommodations, cities/villages, facilities, areas) and (4) images added to these locations. To analyse time-space behaviour, a method is proposed consisting of two steps: (1) obtain an overall insight into the use of the physical environment by tourists, and apply exploratory spatial data analysis techniques and dynamic cartography; and (2) construct and analyse tourist recreation complexes using network analysis techniques. Pattern analysis is undertaken with mapping and graphing techniques and accessibility studies for actual and potential approximations of the links and nodes in the network. The results of these analyses can be applied to achieve more sustainable planning.

A spatial–temporal analysis of hotels in urban tourism destination

“…The former uses GIS systems that are specifically designed to handle spatial relationships to integrate four types of relevant data: tourist characteristics (e.g., Lau and McKercher, 2006), actual temporal-spatial behavior (e.g., Shoval et al, 2011), landscape elements and tourist locations (e.g., Brown, 2006), and the images added to these locations (e.g., Gaughan et al, 2009). Then, a decision-support model is added to the GIS to analyze the overall temporal-spatial behavior and to obtain some optimal conclusions (Bahaire and Elliott-White, 1999;Beedasy and Whyatt, 1999;Bertazzon et al, 1997;Boers and Cottrell, 2007;Brown, 2006;Dye and Shaw, 2007;Gaughan et al, 2009;Lau and McKercher, 2006;Perez et al, 2003;Shoval et al, 2011;Van der Knaap, 1999). The second type of application uses GIS not only to integrate data, but also to analyze the spatial patterns of tourism (Allen et al, 1999;Atasoy, 2010;Farsari and Prastacos, 2004;Porter and Tarrant, 2001).…”

Ecological and economic valuation of the Potengi estuary mangrove wetlands (NE, Brazil) using ancillary spatial data

“…The route was uploaded in the program CartaLinx v. 1.1 as vector file in order to compare with the possible scope of mangrove forest which serves as a backdrop in such transfers identified in the field by map. The data in vector format allowed measuring the perimeters of forest viewed by users of each tourism service (Clarklabs 1999;Van Der Knaap 1999).…”

First and Repeat Visitor Behaviour: GPS Tracking and GIS Analysis in Hong Kong

“…A number of studies have attempted to analyse movement patterns of tourists using a route map and trip diary method, although such a technique has not been used specifically to compare first-time and repeat visitors. For example, Mings and McHugh (1992) used maps, while Oppermann (1995), Van der Knaap (1999) and Haldrup (2004) have used either trip diaries or a combination of maps and diaries in their studies of inter-destination movements. McKercher and Lau (2008) are among the few researchers to attempt to apply such a technique to analyse movement patterns within a destination.…”