Attacks on Private Hire Taxi Drivers in Oldham Essay Example

Attacks on Private Hire Taxi Drivers in Oldham Essay For three days in May 2001 the eyes of the nation, and a sizable part of the world, were on Oldham. The town whose main claim to fame was that it was once the cotton spinning capital of the world was thrust into the limelight for the less worthy reason that it was the scene of the worst racially motivated riots in fifteen years. (Ritchie, 2001) Since the riots of May 2001 there has been an increased occurrence of violent attacks on taxi drivers being reported in both local and national media, these attacks culminated in January 2003 in the murder of Izra Hussain, an Asian private hire taxi driver and father of six. The aim of this report is to try to find out whether these attacks are racially motivated. In the Dictionary of race and Ethnic Relations (1984) E. E. Cashmore defines prejudice as learned beliefs and values that lead an individual or group of individuals to be biased for or against member of particular groups. Prejudice is therefore about what people think and is not necessarily translated into actions. Discrimination, on the other hand, is about actions. Cashmore defines it as the unfavourable treatment of all persons socially assigned to a particular category. Both prejudice and discrimination are often based on stereotypes about particular groups of people. In order to research these attacks we are going to use various methods, making sure that we follow the three most prominent criteria for the evaluation of social research, which are according to Bryman (2001) are reliability, replication and validity. Reliability is concerned with the question of whether the results of a study are repeatable. Reliability according to Bryman is very close to another criterion of research- replication and more especially replicability. We will write a custom essay sample on Attacks on Private Hire Taxi Drivers in Oldham specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Attacks on Private Hire Taxi Drivers in Oldham specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Attacks on Private Hire Taxi Drivers in Oldham specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer It sometimes happens that researchers choose to replicate the findings of others. The final and in many ways the most important criterion of research is validity. Validity is concerned with the integrity of the conclusions that are generated from a piece of research. With these criteria in mind, the following methods of collecting data for this report have been chosen. The main body of data has been gained from a semi-structured interview using a mixture of open and closed questions. A structured interview entails the running of an interview schedule by the interviewer. The aim is for all interviewees to be given exactly the same context of questioning. For the purpose of this research the interviews were conducted in person by visiting the interviewees in their work situation. The sample for this research was taken from private hire taxi drivers, figures from Oldham Metro Councils licensing Department (2003) state that there are approx 800 drivers working and that they are split roughly 60% Asian and 40% UK/White. Given these figures, 20 respondents, 12 Asian and 8 UK/White were chosen. This meant going to various private hire taxi offices in the Oldham area. In a personal interview, the interviewer may respond to signs, such as puzzlement or unease, by restating the question or attempting to clarify the meaning of the question. This may entail prompting, when an interviewer suggests a possible answer to a question to the respondent. Bryman (2001) states that prospective respondents have to be provided with a credible justification for the research in which they are being asked to participate and for giving up their valuable time. The results from the interview were noted by writing down the respondents replies. To back up our main body of research, a quantitative content analysis of local newspaper and taxi trade magazines. In analysis we sought to quantify the contents in terms of predetermined categories. In this case we looked for individual stories, which portrayed physical assaults on taxi drivers, by counting individual stories and then analysing the nature of assault and the types of perpetrators involved. The local newspaper archive was used and sources from the last 2 years were analysed. The analysis of the taxi trade magazine, which was carried out on-line, was used to see if these attacks took place nationally. Bryman (2002) states that content analysis is a very transparent research method; it can allow a certain amount of longitudinal analysis with relative ease. Pawson (1995) argues that formal content analysis is not without its problems. Simply counting the number of items tells you nothing about their significance, and the meanings of the text or images being studied can only be implied. Our research found that out of 20 respondents, 12 where of Asian, Pakistani or Bangladeshi descent, and 8 described themselves as of White UK descent. The age of the respondents was between 25 and 65. Of the 20 respondents 17 were married, 2 were co-habiting and one was single. It should be noted that all of the Asian respondents were married and all had children. All the drivers interviewed described themselves as self-employed private hire taxi drivers. They worked on average 60 hours a week; this was usually split between days and evenings. The evening work was mostly on Friday and Saturday. Shifts of 12 hours were not unusual at busy times. Oldham is a mixed urban and rural town on the edge of the West Pennines, most of the private hire taxi offices (22 in all) are situated in the town centre, but the drivers cover the whole borough. When asked about attacks on private hire driver 19 out of the twenty respondents reported that they had suffered some form of attack or abuse.

The Worlds 17 Smallest Countries

The World's 17 Smallest Countries The 17 smallest countries in the world each contain less than 200 square miles in area, and if you were to combine them, their total size would be just a bit larger than that of the state of Rhode Island. These independent nations range in size from 108 acres (a good sized shopping mall) to just over 191 square miles. From Vatican City to Palau, these small countries have maintained their independence and established themselves as contributors to the worlds economy, politics, and even human rights initiatives. All but one of these countries are full-fledged members of the United Nations and the one outlier is a nonmember by choice, not by inability. This list includes the worlds tiniest countries, from smallest to largest. Vatican City: 0.2 Square Mile Of these 17 smallest countries in the world, Vatican City- which in fact is the smallest country in the world- is perhaps the most influential in terms of religion: It serves as the spiritual center of the Roman Catholic church and home of the Pope. Vatican City, officially called The Holy See, is located within a walled area of the Italian capital city of Rome. Vatican City has a population of about 800 citizens, none of whom is a native permanent resident. Many more commute into the country for work. Vatican City officially came into existence in 1929 after the Lateran Treaty with Italy. Its government type is ecclesiastical and its chief of state is, actually, the Pope. Vatican City is not a member of the United Nations by its own choice. Monaco: 0.77 Square Mile Monaco, the worlds second smallest country, is located between southeastern France and the Mediterranean Sea. The country has only one official city, Monte Carlo, which is its capital and is famous as being a resort area for some of the worlds richest people. Monaco is also famous due to its location on the French Riviera, its casino (the Monte Carlo Casino), several smaller beaches, and resort communities- all squeezed into less than one square mile. Nauru: 8.5 Square Miles Nauru is a very small island nation located in the South Pacific Ocean in the region of Oceania. Nauru is the worlds smallest island country at an area of just 8.5 square miles. Naurus population is about 11,000 people. The country is known for its prosperous phosphate mining operations in the early 20th century. Nauru became independent from Australia in 1968 and was formerly known as Pleasant Island. Nauru has no official capital city. Tuvalu: 10 Square Miles Six of the nine islands or atolls comprising Tuvalu have lagoons open to the ocean, while two have significant non-beach land regions and one has no lagoons. In addition, none of the islands has any streams or rivers and because they are coral atolls, there is no drinkable ground water. Therefore, all of the water used by Tuvalus people is gathered via catchment systems and is kept in storage facilities. Tuvalu has a population of about 12,000, 96 percent of whom are Polynesian. This small countrys capital is Funafuti, which is also Tuvalus largest city. Its official languages are Tuvaluan and English. San Marino: 24 Square Miles San Marino is landlocked, completely surrounded by Italy. It is located on Mt. Titano in north-central Italy and is home to 32,000 residents. The country claims to be the oldest state in Europe, having been founded in the fourth century. San Marinos topography mainly consists of rugged mountains, and its highest elevation is Monte Titano at 2,477 feet. The lowest point in San Marino is Torrente Ausa at 180 feet. Liechtenstein: 62 Square Miles European Liechtenstein, doubly landlocked between Switzerland and Austria in the Alps, is merely 62 square miles in area. This microstate of about 36,000 is located on the Rhine River and became an independent country in 1806. The country abolished its army in 1868 and remained neutral and undamaged during World War I and World War II. Liechtenstein is a hereditary constitutional monarchy, but the prime minister runs its day-to-day affairs. Marshall Islands: 70 Square Miles The Marshall Islands, the worlds seventh smallest country, consists of 29 coral atolls and five main islands spread out over 750,000 square miles of the Pacific Ocean. The Marshall Islands are located about halfway between Hawaii and Australia. The islands are also near the equator and the International Date Line. This small country with a population 68,000 gained independence in 1986; it was formerly part of the Trust Territory of Pacific Islands, administered by the United States. Saint Kitts and Nevis: 104  Square Miles At 104 square miles (slightly smaller than the city of Fresno, California), Saint Kitts and Nevis is a Caribbean island country of 50,000 residents that gained independence from the United Kingdom in 1983. Of the two primary islands that make up Saint Kitts and Nevis, Nevis is the smaller of the two and is guaranteed the right to secede from the union. Saint Kitts and Nevis, located in the Caribbean Sea between Puerto Rico and Trinidad and Tobago, is the smallest country in the Americas based on its area and population. Seychelles: 107  Square Miles Seychelles is 107 square miles (just smaller than Yuma, Arizona). The 88,000 residents of this Indian Ocean island group have been independent of the United Kingdom since 1976. It is located northeast of Madagascar and about 932 miles east of mainland Africa. Seychelles is an archipelago with over 100 tropical islands and is the smallest country that is considered part of Africa. Seychelles capital and largest city is Victoria. Maldives: 115  Square Miles The Maldives is 115 square miles in area, slightly smaller than the city limits of Little Rock, Arkansas. However, only 200 of the 1000 Indian Ocean islands which make up this country are occupied. The Maldives is home to about 400,000 residents. The Maldives gained independence from the United Kingdom in 1965. Currently, the main concern for the islands is climate change and rising sea levels since the countrys highest point is only 7.8 feet above sea level. Malta: 122  Square Miles Malta, officially called the Republic of Malta, is an island nation located in southern Europe. Malta is one of the worlds smallest and most densely populated countries with a population of over 475,000. The archipelago making up Malta is located in the  Mediterranean Sea  about 58 miles south of the island of Sicily and 55 miles east of  Tunisia. Its capital is Valletta, and the countrys highest point is TaDmerjrek, located on the Dingli Cliffs, which tops out at just 830 feet. Grenada: 133  Square Miles The island nation of Grenada features the volcanic Mount St. Catherine. Nearby, underwater and to the north, lie the playfully named volcanoes  Kick Em Jenny and Kick Em Jack.  Grenada, whose population is about 107,000, has a capital named Saint Georges. After the overthrown and execution of Prime Minister Maurice Bishop in 1983, which led to the installation of a pro-communist government, U.S. forces invaded and captured the island. After U.S. forces withdrew in late 1983, elections were held in 1984 and Grenadas constitution was restored. Saint Vincent and the Grenadines: 150  Square Miles St. Vincent is known for its pristine coastline, which provided an authentic colonial backdrop for the filming  of Pirates of the Caribbean.The country is located between the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean, north of Trinidad and Tobago. Most of the residents of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, whose capital is Kingstown, are Anglican, Methodist, and Roman Catholic. The countrys currency is the Eastern Caribbean dollar, which is fixed to the U.S. dollar. Barbados: 166  Square Miles Barbados is not a sleepy Carribean island. The island nations vibrant culture is expressed in its lively Bajan  festivals,  nightlife, and friendly people. Barbados is located in the easternmost section of the Caribbean islands, in the West Indies north of Venezuela. Its capital is Bridgetown, and its 286,000 residents speak English and are mainly Protestant or Roman Catholic. The countrys currency is officially the Barbadian Dollar, but the U.S. dollar widely accepted. Antigua and Barbuda: 171  Square Miles Antigua and Barbuda, a British Commonwealth, is nicknamed the Land of 365 Beaches and maintains a​  very low crime rate. The country is also located in the  Eastern Caribbean Sea on the boundary with the Atlantic Ocean. Its capital is St. Johns, and its nearly 101,000 residents speak English, the official language, as well as Antiguan Creole. The residents are mainly Anglican, followed by Roman Catholic and other Protestant denominations. Antigua and Barbudas currency is also the Eastern Caribbean dollar. Andorra: 180  Square Miles The independent Principality of Andorra is co-governed by the president of France and Spains Bishop of Urgel. With just over 70,000 people, this mountainous tourist destination tucked in the Pyrenees between France and Spain has been independent since 1278 but serves as a testament to multinationalism celebrated throughout the European Union. Palau: 191 Square Miles Palau is known as a mecca for divers, who say its waters are some of the planets best. This republic is made up of 340 islands, but only nine are inhabited. The country was featured a few years ago on a season of the television show Survivor. Palau has been independent since 1994 and is home to about 21,500 residents, two-thirds of whom live in and around the capital Koror. The country also offers forests, waterfalls,  and beautiful beaches.

Importance of Nonprofits in the current economy and society Research Paper

Importance of Nonprofits in the current economy and society - Research Paper Example sed level of production as the world economy gained from the effects of the second world war, coupled with the high technological adaptation changed the reasoning and thinking of most people in the world. As such, different cultures developed because of these factors. While discussing the counterculture movement of the 1960s, this paper will pay particular attention to the hippie movement, the new left movement and the women movement that led to the growth of feminism and equality among women and men. During the 1960s and the early 1970s, various political movements emerged in the west. Regarded as the new left, countries taking part in these movements advocated for political change their countries. These movements attracted mostly the middle class of the United States and the middle class. While most of the earlier movements advocated for labor changes in their countries, the new west movement advocated for social changes in the United States and other western countries (Roussopoulos 127). Particularly in the United States, mass campus protests and radical leftist movements characterized the New Left movement. The New Left movement also criticized the Old Left ideologies, which saw an increase in civil unrests in the United States. Due to the authoritarian leadership style that characterized the old left politics and organizational leadership, there was the need for a change. In order to end this, the New Left movement aimed at ending the period of authoritarian rule by advocati ng for democracy at both the national government and the organizational level. It is important to note that during the 1960s, there was a rapid growth in the middle class among the American population (Skrentny 66). Coming from the Second World War, the economy was undergoing dynamic changes, especially in the level of investment by the people and other government agencies. As such, jobs were easy to come across. The development in the countries, private sector, coupled by the increase in

Globalisation Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 5

Globalisation - Essay Example The terms became prominent during the 1990s with the end of the Soviet Union Cold war. This is a major change which is steady and is one which includes complete integration of various countries. Globalisation refers to the interaction among different countries in order to work together to develop the global economy. Here there is generally an integration of economies and societies across the world. Globalisation is an opportunity that opens us many different areas for more interaction among people across the world (Kose, 2003). In terms of social as well as business activities, globalisation opens up opportunities to allow better communication and interaction without the issue of locations or borders. Stephen Gill explains globalisation to be a method which helps in reducing the costs by means of transaction and Trans – border movements of goods as well as capital and other factors of production. Guy Brianbant has however explained globalisation to be a process which includes a number of different factors like the improvement of communication, financial markets, and also internationalisation of the companies and growth of the multinational companies along with better mobility of people and factors like capital, data, goods and ideas. He has however also taken into account the negative aspects of globalisation i.e. higher mobility of infections, diseases and pollution (Mooney & Evans, 2007). This provides an overall and well rounded explanation of the process of globalisation and takes into account all perspectives of globalisation. Globalisation as has been discussed has impacted almost every country in the world, either positively or negatively. Here in the case of UAE, the country has been of interest and the collaboration between the country and other international locations has played a major role in the development of the country (Patapan, 2007). The Government of

Freire as a Lens for The Bluest Eye and Enders Game Essay

Freire as a Lens for The Bluest Eye and Enders Game - Essay Example In another work of Orson Scott, Enders Game, we see characters missing their values in the futures for not considering their past events. All these pieces of literature depict characters that are not capable of comprehending and moving on without their past background or characters that are not able to lay away their own past. Paulo’s stimulating critique of the dominant education banking model leads to his autonomous proposals of problem-posing education in which men and women develop the power to observe the way they exist in their world critically with, and in which they get themselves in. They come to see later that the earth, not as a static realism but a reality of the process of transformation (Peter 201). This offers to us, and especially all of those who have experienced subordination through an obligatory assimilation policy a path in which we comprehend what it signifies to come to a cultural voice. It is a process always involving pain and hope; a process in which, as obligatory cultural jugglers, we can approach subjectivity, transcending entity positions in a society hosting us yet is alien. Paulo condemnation of oppression was not simply the intellectual exercise often found among many pseudo critical educators and facile liberals. His intellectual brilliancy and courage in denouncing the configurations of oppression got entrenched in an intensively real and material understanding, as he recounts in his letters to Cristina. Problem-posing education is a revolutionary futurity (Peter 34). Therefore, it is prophetic (and, by itself, hopeful). Hence, it matches up to the historical character of humankind. Hence, it asserts women and men as creatures who transcend themselves, for which immobility characterizes a fatal threat, creatures that move ahead and look forward. Looking at the past have only been a way of understanding further clearly who and what they are with the intention that they can more intelligently build the future. Thus, it id entifies with the faction which engages populace as beings conscious of their incompletion — a historical faction which has its point of a different approach, its objective and Subjects (Peter 59). All these views by Paulo are not looking to its present but only determined with the future of mankind. The future cannot be properly assessed without considering the present and past. The present life appears to be influenced significantly by the past, and the future influenced by the past and present. I am not sure if Orson Scott specifically wrote Ender's Game to a youth audience, or if it got colored as a book for teens due to the age of the protagonist. Often, it reads like a young adult title. There are some real tough ethical issues that present themselves, but even if they do not interest the reader, the story moves forward in a convincing way. The book works as an apparent reading, and as something heftier. In the future, aliens threaten the Earth, and though the earth won the round, it was not a quite reassuring victory. The military equipment is hard at work, trying to work out how to formulate the victory stable, how to protect the earth from the inevitable second round. In doing this, they turn to children. Their goal is to find children with the correct temperament and sufficient aptitude that they can be shaped into soldiers in a defense force that can win resolutely. Contrast to his siblings, who are

Group Packaged Tours And Individual Tours Tourism Essay

Group Packaged Tours And Individual Tours Tourism Essay In the recent past, the world has been through a fast paced transformation of lifestyle and preferences. This has been marked by tremendous changes in the way people spend on leisure and recreation especially on tourism. Likewise, many economies have been facing hard economic times forcing creativity and cost saving strategies to take toll in the delivery of goods and services. Specifically, tourism is a very ancient activity which ranges from field executions, adventure tours, special-interest tours, regional or city tours, fully escorted tours and group tours (Fay, 2002). Despite all these forms of tourism, harsh economic times have led to emergence of package tours which are holidays where a variety of services are paid for once and for all. Basically the costs are inclusive of all necessities that a person on voyage may find essential. Such tour packages come with services such as accommodation, transport, tour guides, insurance, transfer costs between sites, entrance fees paid t o warders at scenic attraction sites, tickets to events and meals. The costs also vary depending on time schedules or number of days to be spends on tour sites, ability and willingness to pay for the goods and services. To this end we discover that tourism is a recreation activity which is conducted at a persons convenience therefore it is a leisure activity. Tourism being a leisure activity, it is worth noting that over a short time frame the consumer behavior is bound to be irregular pegging on the fact that expenditure on recreation is seasonal if not cyclic. In this paper, there is need to establish fundamental differences between group packaged and individual tours, their merits and demerits, and finally try to integrate the two forms of tourism for the sake of saving costs. Consumer behavior entails the study of processes used by individuals, organizations and groups of buyers to acquire and dispose services, products, goods, ideas or experiences in order to satisfy human wants. Human wants are psychological therefore buyers are guided by social anthropology as well as economics. Through the study of consumer behavior, marketing managers are better placed to make subtle decisions regarding market segments they wish to exploit. In addition, comprehending the behavior pattern of customers will fashion strategic managers with essential data necessary to facilitate decision making. This research is double faced since it provides comparisons between group tours and individual tours while at the same time exploring strengths and possible bottlenecks associated with both forms of tourism. In a nutshell fundamental elements of individual consumers are brought to light since they are dictated by behavior variables and demographics. In the end, the research will establish if the psychology of a consumers is dependent on friends, family, society, class or reference groups. The behavior of customers is so dynamic since buyers patterns are literally unpredictable, it therefore requires a distinction in the roles played by consumers ranging from being a payer, a user or a buyer of a product. By so doing a researcher will have an easy time predicting consumer patterns of clients and establishing relationship marketing techniques; this is a very powerful asset used in the analysis of consumer behavior because it establishes a keen interest in redefining the meaning of marketing. On the other hand relationship marketing emphasizes on the need for rediscovering customers while placing a greater importance on the need to retain current customers, manage customer relationships, customize and personalize a one to one marketing approach. Tour Packages and their Applicability to Consumer Behavior Today there are many types of tourism packages basing on the suitability, convenience, cost and affordability. Researchers have established that these many packages have emanated from the need for service providers to meet the varied desires and needs of customers. Tour agents and brokers find it prudent to design various packages and assign them with respective cost element which makes these packages affordable depending on the willingness of the customers to spend. While other customers will want a customized and economic tour package, extravagant or fun loving customers will prefer a prestigious treatment during their voyage. The packages can be broken down further into; first, special interest tours which are excursion focused on a specific area of interest for instance sports, arts, agriculture, and culture (Wang Hsieh Huan, 2000). Secondly, adventure tours which are sight sees designed to encourage customer participation for a period of time that has been agreed upon by the tour agents. It is based on the customers gaining firsthand experience of the trip depending on their physical capabilities. This package is more enjoyable if practiced in groups since it entails physical activities thus encouraging bonding and socialization. Examples are mountain climbing, diving, skiing, diving and cycling (Solomon, 2004). Thirdly, there are regional or city tours. They last for a span of one day within which the tour participants have to visit areas of interest within specific places in the city. The places visited could be religious, cultural, and historical and the tour agents have to provide the tourists with meals and refreshments as stated in the package agreement. Down the list is group tours which follow a pre-arranged or fixed schedule. This type of a tour is specific on the number of participants required making it very tricky for the organizers to establish the needs of each and every customer in the group. On the other hand, tour agents would want to capitalize on the large numbers in order to increase their profit margins or else they might go at a loss for entangling themselves in unprofitable group tour arrangements. The number of people in a group will definitely be limited to the mode of transport being used and availability of accommodation facilities. It also entails accompaniment by tour guides who may divide the groups into sub groups to ease movement and save on time which is a cost determinant. Finally is the fully escorted tour where a traveler is offered security by a specialized security firm. It is an expensive type of tour since it entails offering of personalized services for instance security against hostility since most of these tour packages are educational in nature, the tour guides or escorts are more often than not authentic inhabitants of a place (Shell, 2009). They are therefore equipped with knowledge on history and cultures making them expensive. On the other hand they are very resourceful making them a preferred choice for the lovers of fully escorted tours. The consumer behavior under each of this classification is very unpredictable because most of the customers decisions is influenced by affordability, family, culture and above all, by the spirit of adventure. Methodology According to secondary data collected by a group of consumer behavior analysts; eight people were sampled basing on the social welfare function and assumptions of anonymity, decisiveness, anonymity, neutrality, monotonicity, homogeneity, unanimity and Pareto optimality (Schwartz, 2004). The results collected by this group of researchers will be helpful in elucidating the main points on consumer behavior analysis. With the understanding that marketing is a special program designed by an organization to satisfying customers needs, the productive system employed by tourist firms is regulated beginning from production levels in such a way that it will market services offered by the firm and increase profitability. The marketing managers often design strategies that maximize on revenues while cutting down on costs and expenditures. In the research it was discovered that tour agents dealing in group package tour enjoy economies of scale because they pay for services in bulk. Likewise a strategic manager could conduct a parallel research similar to that undertaken by consumer analysts in Hong Kong. The research could emphasize on the comparison of the stimulus listed in the consumer behavior black box model shown below (Schiffman Kanuk, 2007). In considering the stimulus listed in the black box model, it will act as a research tool or a guided questionnaire which limits the researcher on the scale of coverage in terms of establishing consumer behavior in relation to tourism and the motive behind how consumers spend their incomes leisure and recreation. ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS BUYERS BLACK BOX Marketing Stimuli Environmental stimuli Buyer Characteristics Decision process Buyers response Product Price Place Promotion Economic Technological Political Cultural Demographic Natural Attitudes Motivation Perceptions Personality Lifestyle Knowledge Problem recognition Information search Alternative evaluation Purchase decision Post-purchase behavior Product choice Brand choice Dealer choice Purchase timing Purchase amount A diagrammatic representation of the black box model (Foxall, 2005) The model shown above identifies the interaction between stimuli, decision processes, consumer characteristics and responses as portrayed by consumers during the research. Using the model, consumer behaviors can be noted depending on the stimuli for instance interpersonal and intrapersonal stimuli. The model is a reflection of the black box theory which attempts to explain behavior of consumers in service related industries such that marketing managers use these stimuli to draw relationships between them and consumer response (Kuester, 2012). In addition the black box model encloses buyers psychology and characteristics which are the main determinants of consumer responsiveness. Under this section, the researcher established that tourists are driven by conscious judgment of the both group package and individual tours hence establishing a fair ground for rational decision making. Findings As it was reported by Heung Chu (2000) in a Chinese Journal; Important factors affecting Hong Kong consumers choice of a travel agency for all-inclusive package tour, a sample research was conducted in Hong Kong which is a very big city boasting of being among the best metropolitan cities in the world. Although the sample population of one city cannot be a representative of the consumer patterns portrayed by tourism industries around the world, it would be wise to use the report on Hong Kong since the city is fast paced and employees get exhausted due to long working hours with little time to rest. Given such working environments, employees get some times-off to relax (LeBlanc, 2002). It was established that most people prefer all inclusive group package tours to individual tours. The services are provided by tourism agencies that can be found through online platforms such as company websites. According to the findings collected using an open ended questionnaire it was discovered th at tourists have different needs and expectations. The needs could be ranked in a descending chronology starting with price, itinerary, accommodations, meals, transportation, departure date and time, hotel facilities, reputation and last on the list is brand of travel agency. The needs portrayed by the consumers influence how customers purchase packages for their tours. The group of consumer behavior analysts observed that out of the eight customers that were sampled from Hong Kong city to fill in the questionnaires, six of them identified price to be the number one determinant of consumer behavior. It therefore becomes evident that customer needs are limited by the size of their wallets hence some customers may prefer going for a group package tour rather than individual tour not because they desire to but because they are limited by their income or budget. This is where the need for integrating group package tours with individual tours so as to satisfy customers who have a desire of individual tour but want to also look for the benefit of lower price and lower hassle which group packaged tour could offer. It is after prices have been considered that other factors in the needs bracket are made too surface which means that they are not as essential as price factors. Only four correspondents stated to care about the itinerary drafted by the travel ag ents. On the same note four other customers supported accommodation mattered while touring because they could opt for adventure group package tours so that they can pitch tents in the wild and spend the night in company of other tourists (Heung Chu, 2000). Only three people considered modes of transportation as a determinant in deciding between group package and individual tour. They stated reasons such as maintaining their reputation and class which makes it evident enough that in our situation, transportation is but a secondary determinant in determining customer behaviors. Moving down with our analysis on the needs of customers and how it determines their selection of a suitable tour package, it becomes imminent that only one person would have issues with hotel facilities. The customer in question is after luxurious offers which can be best offered by under the fully escorted individual tour package since they can proffer spa and hot spring services which is a luxury. The main factor behind these findings is that customers have varied attitudes, motivations and perceptions and this influences their tour consumption behavior. Pros of Group Package Tours Group package tours are cost saving because they travel agencies buy the packages in bulk therefore they can compete for services in the tourism industry for instance hotels and scenic site. In addition, the agencies enjoy economies of large scale or impulsive buying of packages thus their rates can be discounted or subsidized (Dellaert Ettema Lindh, 1998). The benefits can trickle down to customers through subsidized prices. The same effect is spread to meals making them affordable. Secondly, the operators take the bigger part of responsibility that could otherwise have been passed on to the tourist in the case of individual tour. In the event that something goes amiss then the operators or agencies involved will be charged with the responsibility of solving problems on behalf of the tourists. Group package tours are time saving and convenient since the agents deal with making travel and accommodation arrangements. This saves on time an individual tourist could spend putting in place orders and booking appointments with several services providers. From the outward aspect people traveling in groups will socialize along the way. Besides, people traveling in groups are assured of quality since tour operators have specialized in analyzing customer behavior hence they are away of tour companies offering best services and they are able to establish areas that would be fascinating to the tourists. Some advantages will also be accrued by the travel agents who take the initiative of organizing group package tours at affordable rates. Agents get paid 10% commissions for their job. Cons of Group Package Tours To some extent, group package tours are inflexible because tourists have to follow a given schedule and wait for schedules regarding travel, because it entails a collection of many people. Also, travel agents find it tricky to organize and control groups especially during off peak seasons when the number of people willing to go on tours is below breakeven point. The operators may also be faced with challenges beyond their control but they will have to bear the brunt of angry group tourists who might not be willing to understand. Pros of Individual Tours Some countries attach a more personal touch to tourists using individual tour option. China is an example of a country where individual tours are cheaper and a ticket to receiving special treatment such as personal care, sense of control, handy services and time flexibility (Engel Blackwell, 2006). Moreover, a tourist opting for private tours is bound to enjoy flexibility of schedules since he or she could have the opportunity of doing exactly what they want to do unlike in a group tour where everything is fixed and hard to negotiate. In addition, a family with children should think of using private or individual tour since the parents can plan events that will be perceived relevant to both age groups involved. Cons of Individual Tours Private tours are expensive in relation to group packaged tours because of the bulk involved. Whereas the latter enjoys economies of large scale buying of goods and services, the former has to go through the hustle of paying for each and every individual services hence it is expensive. Conclusion From the above comparisons the research established that consumer behavior is key in weighing the best option between group packaged tours and individual tours (Kotler Bowen Makens, 2003). To find the best alternative to integrate individual and group package tours, then agents will have to work out a strategy that will work to the advantage of both groups. This means that an agent may have to prepare new rates and schedules which allow tourists interested in having a taste of both travel and tour arrangements gain maximum benefits from both arrangements. It would be prudent for the costs to be the average of individual tour costs and that of group packaged tours. Therefore a person undertaking the third option should be ready to incur costs at a personal level. The agents will also be responsible for providing only the services agreed upon while neglecting the other services at the expense of the tourist. For instance, assuming someone was interested in the integrated option, he or she will be free from the scheduled group tours thus this will be the perfect opportunity to visit places of ones choice. Under the integrated option, the tourist will have to be pay consult with the travel agent for transport, insurance and accommodation services so that they enjoy subsidized group rates whereas they can determine places to visit on their own while paying for entry fees. The integrated option would be the best option for customers who want to satisfy the desire for individual tour but want to also look for the benefit of lower price and lower hassle which group packaged tour could offer. Practical Application of the Research Much weight of this paper is laid on the aspect of analyzing consumer behavior in relation to tourism and recreation industry. It is based on updated and current information relating the current state to tourism statistics. It lays out a learning outcome fashioned with knowledge on factors influencing buyer behavior. This information is essential to a marketing manager who may be interested in studying the consumer behavior in the tourism and recreation industry for the sake of control management of future forecasting. The study emphasizes that theories of motivation are very applicable in influencing customer behavior towards liking for any of the two forms of tours; group package tour and individual tours (Deaton Muellbauer, 2008). Most customers are guided by motivation which inevitably implies that tourists have a liking for fascination and nature. A strategic manager in conjunction with the marketing manager should strive at using advertisements to create psychographics in the minds of the consumers. All this can be done in a bid to influence or motivate customers into anticipating for such a tour. Travel agents would major their advertisements towards making people to appreciate group packaged tours so as to win a certain segment of the consumer market. In short a manager who approaches the market with caution and intensive analysis of consumer needs will understand the psychology that guide decision making in tourists and capitalize on it during peak seasons. A manager may therefore make us e of Maslows hierarchy of needs to deterring the social class and consequently the motivation behind customers selection among the two classes of tourism. Looking at this report from the customers point of view, a customer who reads this report is bound to justify why he or she tends to behave in a certain way. Mostly, a travel agent will want to create advertisements that motivate customers by driving their instincts into wanting to visit a place, regretting a certain events, nostalgia or fantasies. All this are suitable strategies that can be molded into an individuals perception of holidays. On the other hand, this report may consumer educate consumers on the decision buying process applicable in the tourism industry. According to Burke Resnuk (2001), the stages start with arousal or recognition of need, it then develops into a nagging interest or want, the customer then identifies an alternative assessment of substitute decision choices. These stages finally induce a customer into either group packaged or individual tours.

The Popularity of A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens Essay -- Charle

The Popularity of 'A Christmas Carol' by Charles Dickens I Think that 'A Christmas Carol'' by Charles Dickens is still popular today because it has a good moral story and people still enjoy a good old fashioned ghost story. This is because a lot of us are still interested in the afterlife and if such things as ghosts even exist we are fascinated by them and a novel with ghosts in, we cannot put it down. The moral story which seems even in modern day society to stick with us and we are still very much obsessed with Christmas and the joy that goes with it. Also people who read this book see there is a slight humorous side to the text which seems to make us more interested in the book itself and people like to feel amused, it makes them feel happy. As well as cleverly written text and an emotional side to the story. All of this ensures the survival of the classic story. The theme of the book is all about Christmas, which appeals to us even in today's busy world. People like to read about Christmas because it is a happy time of year and brings joy to lots of people. Also Christmas past brings back memories Such as, the festive joy, the feel of Christmas and the love between family and friends. There are three views on Christmas in the book, Scrooges Bob Cratchitts and Fezziwig. Scrooge can't stand Christmas he thinks it a time of depression and deep gloom e.g. 'What right have you to be merry? What reason have you to be merry?' This shows scrooge to be a grumpy old and generally depressing person at Christmas time. Bob Cratchitts view on the festive time of year is a happy merry and good will to everyone. And finally Fezziwig who ... ...ke the reader think, laugh or cry. Dickens has done this to produce a book that will live on forever. In my opinion the main reason for 'A Christmas Carol' been so popular in modern day society is the moral message. The message that makes you stop and think after you have read the book. The message was well in my opinion: 'Things can only get better'. For instance at the beginning of the story Scrooge was a crusty old man and at the end of the story he saw the light at the end of the tunnel. He made it out of that dark tunnel and shared his Christmas good will with everyone. This moral message will live on forever like the book, read time and time again. Works Cited: Dickens, Charles. A Christmas Carol. Classics of Children's Literature. Ed. John W. Griffith and Charles Frey. 3rd ed. New York: Macmillan, 1992. 197-249.