Title: Tourist management based on behaviour characteristics during peak travel period - a case study of Jiuzhaigou

Authors: Weimin Zheng; Peiyu Ren; Peng Ge; Qinghu An; Maozhu Jin

Addresses: Business School, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610065, China ' Business School, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610065, China ' Business School, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610065, China ' University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing, 100083, China ' Business School, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610065, China

Abstract: During the peak travel period, the high concentration of tourists in a short time results in great negative influence for the scenic areas, therefore, more and more researchers from all research areas have paid attention to the protection of the environment of scenic areas for the scarce resources. Traditional researches mainly take the stand of administrators and neglect the tourist's behaviour characteristics. Surveys indicate that tourists perform specific behaviour characteristics during their journey, including choosing travel destinations according to personal preference, avoiding crowded scenic spots, and making the scenic spot, which is nearer, their first choice. This paper proposes shunt strategies based on the three behaviour characteristics mentioned above. With Jiuzhaigou as a case study, the simulation model for Jiuzhaigou tourists' shunt is made. On the basis of this model, the effectiveness of the previous three schemes can be compared. Then, the PCD coordinate coefficient, which can comprehensively reflect the previous three behaviour characteristics, is built. Through the simulation contrast, the strategy based on this coordinate coefficient shows comparatively good features.

Keywords: Jiuzhaigou; peak travel period; tourists; tourism management; behaviour characteristics; scenic areas; travel destinations; personal preferences; crowded destinations; destination adjacency; tourist destinations; simulation; modelling.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEP.2013.054031

International Journal of Environment and Pollution, 2013 Vol.51 No.3/4, pp.222 - 237

Published online: 28 Feb 2014 *

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