Symposium - Call for Papers

Call for Papers on

“Segmentation of the travel market”

Symposium at the International Conference on Tourism Development and Management (ICTDM 2009)

11th – 14th September 2009, Kos Island, Greece

Organised by
Dr. Miguel Moital, Senior Lecturer in Events Management, Bournemouth University, UK

SCOPE
In order to complement the regular program of the conference, this symposium aims to bring together practitioners and academics to discuss new and emerging topics related to the segmentation of the travel market. While segmentation is a relatively well established area in tourism research, there are still many challenges to overcome. This symposium will provide a key opportunity to discuss and exchange ideas regarding novel approaches to segmentation of the travel market that capitalise on technological developments, advances in consumer behaviour research and the changing face of consumer behaviour. The Symposium aims to examine the current state of segmentation perspectives and methodologies, as well as widen the study and depth of understanding of segmentation in a tourism context. This will be achieved by stimulating discussion and an exchange of ideas between professionals, academics, researchers, policy-makers, consultants, practitioners, government officials and postgraduate students from tourism, hospitality and management related fields.

TOPICS OF INTEREST

Researchers and practitioners are invited to submit high quality papers that focus on some of the key issues and challenges of segmenting the travel market, including (but not limited to) the following themes:

• Theoretical or conceptual papers that introduce new perspectives on the segmentation of the travel market
• Integrative reviews (including meta-analyses) that synthesise existing literature and identify opportunities for future research
• Reassessments of prior segmentation research with insightful refinements
• Empirical studies testing existing and novel segmentation methodologies

Specific topic areas include (but are not limited to):

• Segmentation strategies
• Cross cultural and international segmentation
• Historical developments
• Identification and profile of emerging travel segments
• Comparison of consumer trends by specific segments (e.g. slow travellers, e-tourists, adventure travellers)
• Choice and evaluation of segmentation bases (e.g. psychographic, demographic, attitudinal, behavioural)
• Critique and refinement of the factor-cluster approach
• Combining segmentation bases
• Methods of data analysis for segmentation research
• Methods for assessing the internal/external validity of segments

SUBMISSION AND PUBLICATION OF PAPERS
Abstracts of no more than 300 words should be submitted electronically by June 10th, 2009 to Dr. Miguel Moital (e-mail: mmoital@bournemouth.ac.uk). The abstract should include title, name(s) of author(s), affiliations, postal and e-mail addresses. It must be typed using Times New Roman, 12-point font, single spacing with justified alignment. Abstracts of all papers presented at the symposium will appear in the conference’s book of abstracts and there will be an edited volume of Conference proceedings. In addition, papers presented at the symposium will be considered for a special issue of the International Journal of Tourism Policy, guest edited by the organiser of the symposium.
For further enquiries regarding conference fees, conference programme, recommended accommodation, maps/instructions, and registration forms, please visit the conference's website