VISITOR BEHAVIOR RESPONSE TO THE THERMAL ENVIRONMENT IN OUTDOOR TOURISM AND THE POTENTIAL INFLUENCES OF PRICING STRATEGY
Keywords: Weather, Physiologically Equivalent Temperature, Zoological Park, Tourism, Recreation, Leisure, Management, Pricing, Strategy, Tourist, Climate
Abstract
Improved understanding of the many interfaces between weather, climate and society today can provide an improved baseline when modeling human-behavior under future scenarios of climate change. Within the largely-outdoor economic segment of tourism, recreation, and leisure (TRL), previous research has shown how both weather and climate impact the industry. This paper expands on such research by reviewing how weather possibly influences visitor attendance and how admission pricing may interact in this relationship. Specifically, this is achieved by examining weather, climate, and attendance data at the Indianapolis and St. Louis zoological parks over a period of approximately one decade. On peak days of attendance, findings indicate that visitors at St. Louis Zoo appear to show slightly greater preferences for warmer conditions than visitors at Indianapolis Zoo. Regarding the lowest days of attendance, visitors at both locations appear to display more aversion to cold thermal stress conditions than hot thermal stress conditions. Subtle differences …show more content…
Better understanding how TRL-sector participants behave during specific weather conditions can establish a stronger foundation by which research can forecast future behavior patterns (Rutty and Andrey, 2014; Kent and Sheridan, 2010; Nicholls et al., 2008; Scott and Jones, 2006; Scott et al.,
Keywords: Weather, Physiologically Equivalent Temperature, Zoological Park, Tourism, Recreation, Leisure, Management, Pricing, Strategy, Tourist, Climate
Abstract
Improved understanding of the many interfaces between weather, climate and society today can provide an improved baseline when modeling human-behavior under future scenarios of climate change. Within the largely-outdoor economic segment of tourism, recreation, and leisure (TRL), previous research has shown how both weather and climate impact the industry. This paper expands on such research by reviewing how weather possibly influences visitor attendance and how admission pricing may interact in this relationship. Specifically, this is achieved by examining weather, climate, and attendance data at the Indianapolis and St. Louis zoological parks over a period of approximately one decade. On peak days of attendance, findings indicate that visitors at St. Louis Zoo appear to show slightly greater preferences for warmer conditions than visitors at Indianapolis Zoo. Regarding the lowest days of attendance, visitors at both locations appear to display more aversion to cold thermal stress conditions than hot thermal stress conditions. Subtle differences …show more content…
Better understanding how TRL-sector participants behave during specific weather conditions can establish a stronger foundation by which research can forecast future behavior patterns (Rutty and Andrey, 2014; Kent and Sheridan, 2010; Nicholls et al., 2008; Scott and Jones, 2006; Scott et al.,