A content analysis of Visiting Friends and Relatives (VFR) travel research
- Authors: Yousuf, Mohammad , Backer, Elisa
- Date: 2015
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Management Vol. 25, no. (2015), p. 1-10
- Full Text: false
- Reviewed:
- Description: Visiting Friends and Relatives (VFR) travel is a significant form of tourism worldwide. Scholarly research into VFR commenced in 1990 and since then only one review of the literature has been conducted, which was a content analysis based exclusively on journal articles. That research, based from 1990 to 2010 highlighted that only 39 VFR articles had been published in tourism journals. Given the small number of publications identified, it was felt that an analysis encompassing a wider selection of publication forums and extended to 2015 would be valuable to scholarship. This research also considered citations and outputs by individual authors to determine where research is being derived from. The findings of this research identified recent growth in VFR travel research from wider publication forums, including conference papers and theses. However, VFR has made the most presence through book chapters in recent years. VFR research has historically focused on the commercial and marketing aspects, but more recently has turned to furthering understanding of the social aspects by giving particular importance to the VFR hosts and migration topics for the future direction of VFR research. © 2015 The Authors.
An introduction to the future
- Authors: Yeoman, Ian , Robertson, Martin , McMahon-Beattie, Una , Backer, Elisa , Smith, Karen
- Date: 2015
- Type: Text , Book chapter
- Relation: The future of events and festivals Introduction p. 3-9
- Full Text: false
- Reviewed:
- Description: What is the present state of events and festivals research? The growth of the events industry and the provision of events, in all its many forms, is documented often, and by many. However, there has been far less said about the growth of its content, of its research base and the progress of this research in the future. Lockstone- Binney, Robertson and Junek (2013: 176) comment that core areas of event management knowledge will ‘need to be rebalanced with new knowledge areas to ensure that the events industry is ready to adapt to global competition, the rapidly changing business environment and possible global crisis’. For some time, Professor Don Getz has charted the evolution of events as an area of study and research, its capacity to progress in new directions, and the opportunity to create new discourses (Getz, 2007, 2008, 2012). He suggests events can be considered as an area of study, and that it can develop with – as well as go beyond – the management disciplines, and, accordingly, build interdisciplinary theory. Currently, while there are many researchers representing an array of disciplines involved in the discussion of festivals and events, they rarely work together. "From introduction"
Implementing VRF travel stategies
- Authors: Backer, Elisa , Hay, Brian
- Date: 2015
- Type: Text , Book chapter
- Relation: VFR travel research : International perspectives p. 87-105
- Full Text: false
- Reviewed:
- Description: Introduction - Visiting friends and relatives (VFR) travel has been highlighted through previous research and through a number of the preceding chapters as being historically ignored and underestimated by both researchers and tourism marketing practitioners. As noted in Chapter 5, scholarly interest into VFR really only commenced in 1990, and for the next two decades only 39 tourism journal articles dedicated to VFR were published (Griffin, 2013). Due to definitional issues, the scale of VFR travel both in terms of the number of trips and their value remains unclear. The value of the segment is consistently raised in the literature (Backer, 2007, 2010a, 2011, 2012; Braunlich & Nadkarni, 1994, 1995; Morrison et al., 1995; Seaton, 1994; Seaton & Palmer, 1997; Seaton & Tagg, 1995; Yaman, 1996). Given the size and potential impact of the VFR market, it is surprising that the quanitity of VFR research is so limited. However, a new wave of academic research which seeks to better understand the full economic, social and political impact of VFR travel may be encouraging an awakening in industry circles, resulting in the development of more specific and targeted VFR campaigns. This chapter outlines seven case studies - from Australia, Scotland, Ireland and Wales - and discussed the rationale for such campaigns. The conclusions outline the common themes and issues from the case studies, and in particular highlight the need for the campaigns to provide clearer evidence of the economic, social as well as political benefits from VFR travel.
Industry perceptions of events futures
- Authors: Backer, Elisa
- Date: 2015
- Type: Text , Book chapter
- Relation: The future of events and festivals Chapter 7 p. 84-98
- Full Text: false
- Reviewed:
- Description: This chapter explores the perceptions of event managers of the future of events, and how the way they perceive future events may influence what future events will be. Events in the future are likely to witness increased professionalism, greater scrutiny, and increased difficulty obtaining sponsorships and volunteers, but be easier to access both improved transport/transit routes and virtual experiences. Improved health and an ageing society are likely to results in events catering to a wider age bracket and have a wider age bracket of event staff.
Local impacts, global prospects : The future of VFR travel
- Authors: Backer, Elisa , King, Brian
- Date: 2015
- Type: Text , Book chapter
- Relation: VFR travel research : International perspectives p. 207-218
- Full Text: false
- Reviewed:
- Description: Introduction - In this final chapter, the editors present readers with thoughts about the future of VFR travel, rather than summarise the various preceding chapters. This chapter synthesises the previous discussions about the profiles and characteristics of VFR travellers by considering prospective future trends and research opportunities. The future of VFR is apporached thematically and anticipates likely trends on the basis of examples drawn from the various settings that were explored in previous chapters. The link between VFR and events is introduced, in anticipation that this will be an important growth area. There is a brief discussion about citation trends as a means of understanding how research has been developing and will progress. The editors share some ideas about where VFR travel is heading and about industry and research opportunities. Though acknowledging that long-term speculations are possible, they note the statement by Abraham Lincoln that 'the best thing about the future is that it comes only one day at a time'. On the basis that the future of VFR begins today, the chapter adopts a short-to-medium-term outlook on the basis that this will be more meaningful for readers and for future scholarship about VFR travel.
The evolution of visiting friends and relatives (VFR) travel research : A content analysis
- Authors: Yousuf, Mohammad , Backer, Elisa
- Date: 2015
- Type: Text , Conference paper
- Relation: 25th Council for Australian Tourism and Hospitality Education Annual Conference; Gold Coast, Queensland ; 2nd-5th February 2015 ; published in CAUTHE 2015 - Rising tides and sea changes : Adaptation and innovation in tourism and hospitality p. 363-375
- Full Text: false
- Reviewed:
- Description: Visiting Friends and Relatives (VFR) travel is a significant form of tourism worldwide. Scholarly research into VFR commenced in 1990 and since then only one review of the literature has been conducted, which was a content analysis based exclusively on journal articles. That research, based from 1990-2010 highlighted that only 39 VFR articles had been published in tourism journals. Given the small number of publications identified, it was felt that an analysis encompassing a wider selection of publication forums would be valuable to scholarship. This research has undertaken a content analysis extending to 2014 that includes conference papers, book chapters and theses as well as tourism journal articles. The findings identified a growth in VFR travel conference papers and theses, but VFR has had little presence through book chapters. VFR research has historically focused on the commercial aspects, but more recently has turned to furthering understanding of the social aspects.
The future of events and festivals
- Authors: Yeoman, Ian , Robertson, Martin , McMahon-Beattie, Una , Backer, Elisa , Smith, Karen
- Date: 2015
- Type: Text , Book
- Relation: Routledge Advances in Event Research Series
- Full Text: false
- Reviewed:
The value and contributions of VFR to destinations and destination marketing
- Authors: Backer, Elisa , Morrison, Alastair M.
- Date: 2015
- Type: Text , Book chapter
- Relation: VFR travel research : International perspectives p. 13-27
- Full Text: false
- Reviewed:
- Description: Introduction - As outlined in the introductory chapter of this book, Visiting Friends and Relatives (VFR) travel is a substantially large tourism segment throughout the world. Indeed, it is surprising that, despite the size of VFR travel, Destination Marketing Orgainisations (DMOs) have generally failed to consider VFR travel in any major way. Given the important role that DMOs hold in terms of marketing tourism, the understanding that DMOs have concerning VFR travel is an important key to grasping how VFR is perceived by industry. It is therefore appropriate that a chapter is dedicated to discussing the value and contributions of VFR travel to destinations.
VFR travel : Its true dimensions
- Authors: Backer, Elisa
- Date: 2015
- Type: Text , Book chapter
- Relation: VFR travel research : International perspectives p. 59-72
- Full Text: false
- Reviewed:
- Description: Introduction - As outlined in Chapter 1, VFR travel is a form of tourism that is substantial in scale and can be beneficial to industry operators. As the oldest form of travel (Backer, 2011) it is therefore surprising that tourism academic research only commenced in 1990 and that, relative to its size, little research has been done. Seven reasons outlining why VFR travel has been neglected were outlined in 2007 (Backer, 2007) and an eighth was subsequently added (Backer, 2010a). These reasons are presented in Chapter 7 of this book. However, a number of them warrant discussion in this fifth chapter. One of these reasons in 'tourism textbooks'. Despite its size, VFR travel is given, at best, a cursory mention in tourism textbooks and VFR has minimal presence in the relevant texts (Backer, 2009). Present by way of a single column or table, or by a few paragraphs at best, VFR barely makes it to the index of many tourism textbooks and does not even rate a place in the index of the others. Some improvement in coverage has occurred recently (for example Morrison, 2013; Weaver & Lawton, 2015). However, this still falls short of having a chapter or a book dedicated to such a sizeable field.
VFR travel : Progressing towards greater recognition
- Authors: Backer, Elisa , King, Brian
- Date: 2015
- Type: Text , Book chapter
- Relation: VFR travel research : International perspectives p. 1-10
- Full Text: false
- Reviewed:
- Description: Introduction - As a form of tourism, Visiting Friends and Relatives (VFR) travel is global in its reach and is recognised in academe and industry as being substantial in its scope. It may also be the oldest form of travel (Backer, 2011), with the first recognised VFR traveller being Celia Fiennes, who constructed travel schedules around visits to friends and relatives between 1685 -1712 (Leiper, 2004). Despite its size and long history, VFR has been largely overlooked by academics and practitioners. Whilst some academics have researched the field, VFR travel is considerably behind other spheres of tourism in terms of understanding and awareness.
VFR travel : Well-known but not known well
- Authors: Backer, Elisa
- Date: 2015
- Type: Text , Conference paper
- Relation: 25th Council for Australian Tourism and Hospitality Education Annual Conference; Gold Coast, Queensland ; 2nd-5th February 2015 ; published in CAUTHE 2015 - Rising tides and sea changes : Adaptation and innovation in tourism and hospitality p. 55-66
- Full Text: false
- Reviewed:
- Description: In terms of visitor numbers, VFR is a large form of travel. Whilst VFR is well-known by tourism academics and practitioners, little is known about this form of travel. Research is relatively new, commencing in 1990; and few researchers have taken much interest in the topic. Only one study has attempted to measure the size of VFR, which developed a national size model based on extrapolating primary research undertaken in contrasting destinations to a national level. That study estimated that VFR represented 48% of Australia’s domestic visitor market. The aim of this research was to ascertain the size of VFR and reveal key profiles and characteristics using a large dataset, derived from Tourism Research Australia’s (TRA) National Visitors’ Survey (NVS) data (2010-2013). Analysis of those data (n=111,566) revealed VFR represents 48.3% of Australia’s domestic overnight visitor market, who stay the same length of time as non-VFRs but spend significantly less.
VFR travel research : International perspectives
- Authors: Backer, Elisa , King, Brian
- Date: 2015
- Type: Text , Book
- Relation: Aspects of Tourism No. 69
- Full Text: false
- Reviewed:
- Description: This is the first book to explore research on visiting friends and relatives (VFR). In many countries VFR is the largest single travel-related market and for some regional economies accounts for over half of all tourism flows. In assembling an international collection of quality VFR-related research the editors present the profiles, characteristics, opportunities and behaviours of VFR travel for the benefit of researchers, industry practitioners and educators. This holistic and international approach to understanding VFR travel provides a state of the art understanding of the context, dynamics and implications of VFR travel and will be an essential resource for postgraduate students, researchers and also practitioners.
The demographic Dividend of VFT Travel: Evidence from Australia conference
- Authors: Backer, Elisa , King, Brian
- Date: 2014
- Type: Text , Conference paper
- Relation: Global Tourism & Hospitality Conference and Asia Tourism Forum
- Full Text: false
- Reviewed:
- Description: Visiting friends and relatives (VFR) travel is a large and important form of tourism in most developed countries. In Australia, VFR travel accounts for 48% of all tourism. Recent research has provided valuable insights into the length of stay, origins, mode of travel, and expenditures of VFR travellers. However, less attention has been devoted to their demographic attributes. To date, no research has compared the demographic attributes of all VFR travellers with those applicable to Non-VFRs. Based on a sample of 81,579 that covers the period 2010-2012, the present research demonstrates that the demographic profiles of VFRs and Non-VFRs in Australia are markedly different. It was found that a higher proportion of Non-VFRs were working full-time, living in capital cities and earning higher levels of household income. In contrast, a higher proportion of VFRs were working part-time, studying, or undertaking home duties. They were also significantly more likely to be pensioners or unemployed, part of a smaller household and earning a lower household income. They were more likely to be older and living alone. It is notable that socioeconomically disadvantaged groups have been acknowledged in the literature as being less engaged in tourism. However the present research provides evidence of their active participation in VFR travel. It is concluded that the provision of VFR travel opportunities may offer those who are not in a position to engage in other forms of tourism with prospective tourism related experiences.
The relationship between VFR travel and social tourism in Australia
- Authors: Backer, Elisa
- Date: 2014
- Type: Text , Conference paper
- Relation: 11th New Zealand Tourism & Hospitality Conference; Hamilton, New Zealand; 9th-12th December 2014
- Full Text: false
- Reviewed:
VFR travel in practice : Case studies from Victoria, Australia
- Authors: Backer, Elisa
- Date: 2014
- Type: Text , Conference paper
- Relation: 24th Council for Australian Tourism and Hospitality Education Annual Conference; Brisbane, Queensland ; 10th-13th February 2014 ; published in CAUTHE 2014 - Tourism and hospitality in the contemporary world : Trends, changes and complexity p. 44-56
- Full Text: false
- Reviewed:
- Description: Visiting Friends and Relatives (VFR) travel has been highlighted through previous research as being historically ignored and underestimated by both researchers and tourism marketing practitioners. However, a new wave of research may be encouraging an awakening in industry circles as to the economic, social and political benefits. Through three case studies in Victoria, Australia of successful VFR marketing campaigns, the reasons why practitioners have developed such marketing campaigns dedicated to reach and optimise their VFR travel ‘market’ are discussed. In addition, the rationale for such campaigns, and their associated marketing activities along with the measures used to judge their effectiveness are explored. The conclusions outline the common themes and issues from the three case studies, and in particular highlight the need for the campaigns to provide economic, social and political benefits.
Empirical testing of the theory of partial industrialisation in tourism
- Authors: Backer, Elisa , Barry, Brooke
- Date: 2013
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Management Vol. 20, no. 2013 (2013), p. 43-52
- Full Text: false
- Reviewed:
- Description: Businesses that are typically associated as belonging to ‘the tourist industry’ may find that tourists are only part of their business mix and may or may not strategically target tourists as a distinct segment. That is, businesses that serve tourists also serve non-tourists. As such, tourism is only ‘partially industrialised’. Despite being acknowledged three decades ago, only two empirical studies of tourism's partial industrialisation exist in the field. The aim of this research is to examine partial industrialisation in tourism (PIIT) in the Australian inland city of Ballarat, Victoria. This research provides additional empirical evidence to support the theory of PIIT, and provides evidence to highlight that figures often used in industry to support tourism represent a considerable exaggeration of the situation.
Family holidays - Vacation or obli-cation
- Authors: Schanzel, Heike , Backer, Elisa
- Date: 2013
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Tourism Recreation Research Vol. 38, no. 2 (2013), p. 159-173
- Full Text: false
- Reviewed:
Introduction: Social media special issue
- Authors: Backer, Elisa , Hay, Brian
- Date: 2013
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Tourism, Culture and Communication Vol. 13, no. 1 (2013), p. 1-4
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: C4
Burnt at the Student Evaluation Stake – the penalty for failing students
- Authors: Backer, Elisa
- Date: 2012
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: e-Journal of Business Education & Scholarship of Teaching Vol. 6, no. 1 (2012), p. 1-13
- Full Text: false
- Reviewed:
- Description: Student Evaluations of Teaching (SET) are a common device for assessing units and teaching ability in higher education. Despite the wealth of research in the area of SETs, little has been done to examine student and academic perceptions of SETs. This research examined student (n=235) and academic (n=49) perceptions concerning SETs at one Australian regional university. Almost one-third of respondents felt that some students punish academics for failing their work by giving the lecturer low scores on the SET form. Thus, academics can essentially be burnt at the student evaluation stake as punishment for failing students.
- Description: C1
Family tourism : Multidisciplinary perspectives
- Authors: Schanzel, Heike , Yeoman, Ian , Backer, Elisa
- Date: 2012
- Type: Text , Book
- Relation: Aspects of tourism No. 56
- Full Text: false
- Reviewed:
- Description: The family remains at the emotional heart of society, and makes up a significant proportion of the tourism market. However, the concept of family has changed over the decades and there are now different types of families that have their own unique attributes and needs. Families may have one parent or two, who may or may not be of different genders. This cutting-edge book constructs a multidisciplinary perspective on family tourism by discussing various types of families; how parents and children influence travel behaviours now and in the future and how family holidays may also be linked to stress. Family Tourism: Multidisciplinary Perspectives provides a compilation of issues from academic writers around the globe, to provide a range of perspectives linked by a common theme of family tourism with a futures perspective.