Simulating tourists' behaviour using multi-agent modelling

Corniglion, Sébastien and Turnois, Nadine (2011): Simulating tourists' behaviour using multi-agent modelling. Published in: Research Challenges in Information Science (RCIS), 2011 Fifth International Conference on (19 May 2011): pp. 1-9.

Abstract

We discuss who should be in charge of providing data relevant to marketing segmentation for the tourism industry. We describe the difficulties of using the most commonly found consumer behavioural models within an information system, and oppose them to a novel approach in marketing segmentation, based on outgoings analysis. We use agent-modelling techniques, based on cellular automaton rules and stochastic processes to implement our model and generate sales data. We then present our algorithm to identify similarly behaved tourists, showing that the commonly used “nationality” variable for segments discrimination is not efficient. We conclude with some test runs results discussion and possible further research tracks.

• Item Type: MPRA Paper
• Language: English
• Keywords: Simulation; Stochastic processes; Cellular automata; Tourism; Business; Public Policy Issues; Management techniques; Marketing; Market segmentation; Customer behaviour model
• Subjects: M - Business Administration and Business Economics ; Marketing ; Accounting ; Personnel Economics > M3 - Marketing and Advertising > M31 - Marketing; C - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods > C6 - Mathematical Methods ; Programming Models ; Mathematical and Simulation Modeling > C63 - Computational Techniques ; Simulation Modeling; L - Industrial Organization > L8 - Industry Studies: Services > L83 - Sports ; Gambling ; Restaurants ; Recreation ; Tourism

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