{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,4,10]],"date-time":"2026-04-10T11:12:20Z","timestamp":1775819540532,"version":"3.50.1"},"reference-count":55,"publisher":"Emerald","issue":"1","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2016,2,1]],"date-time":"2016-02-01T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1454284800000},"content-version":"tdm","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/www.emerald.com\/insight\/site-policies"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":[],"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2016,2,1]]},"abstract":"<jats:sec><jats:title content-type=\"abstract-heading\">Purpose<\/jats:title><jats:p>\u2013 The purpose of this paper is to present a novel approach for niche-market tour identification, with the objective to obtain a better segmentation of target tourists and support the design of tourism products. A proposed system, namely the Niche Tourism Identification System (NTIS) was implemented based on the proposed scheme and its functionality was showcased in a case study undertaken with a local travel agency.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title content-type=\"abstract-heading\">Design\/methodology\/approach<\/jats:title><jats:p>\u2013 The proposed system implements automated customer market segmentation, based on similar characteristics that can be collected from potential customers. After that, special-interest tourism-based market strategies and products can be designed for the potential customers. The market segmentation is conducted using a GA-based<jats:italic>k<\/jats:italic>-means clustering engine (GACE), while the parameter setting is controlled by the travel agents.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title content-type=\"abstract-heading\">Findings<\/jats:title><jats:p>\u2013 The proposed NTIS was deployed in a real-world case study which helps a local travel agency to determine the various types of niche tourism found in the existing market in Hong Kong. Its output was reviewed by experience tour planners. It was found that with the niche characteristics can be successfully revealed by summarizing the possible factors within the potential clusters in the existing database. The system performed consistently compared to human planners.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title content-type=\"abstract-heading\">Originality\/value<\/jats:title><jats:p>\u2013 To the best of the authors\u2019 knowledge, although some alternative methods for segmenting travel markets have been proposed, few have provided any effective approaches for identifying existing niche markets to support online inquiry. Also, GACE has been proposed to compensate for the limitations that challenge<jats:italic>k<\/jats:italic>-means clustering in binding to a local optimum and for its weakness in dealing with multi-dimensional space.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.1108\/intr-08-2014-0204","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2016,1,21]],"date-time":"2016-01-21T07:37:55Z","timestamp":1453361875000},"page":"167-185","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":24,"title":["An online niche-market tour identification system for the travel and tourism industry"],"prefix":"10.1108","volume":"26","author":[{"given":"C.H.","family":"Wu","sequence":"first","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"G.T.S.","family":"Ho","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"C.H.Y.","family":"Lam","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"W.H.","family":"Ip","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"K.L.","family":"Choy","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Y.K.","family":"Tse","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]}],"member":"140","reference":[{"key":"key2020121820183377900_b1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Chang, D.X. , Zhang, X.D. and Zheng, C.W. (2009), \u201cA genetic algorithm with gene rearrangement for k-means clustering\u201d, Pattern Recognition , Vol. 42 No. 7, pp. 1210-1222.","DOI":"10.1016\/j.patcog.2008.11.006"},{"key":"key2020121820183377900_b152","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Chen, X. and Fang, Y. (2013), \u201cEnterprise systems in financial sector \u2013 an application in precious metal trading forecasting\u201d, Enterprise Information Systems , Vol. 7 No. 4, pp. 558-568.","DOI":"10.1080\/17517575.2012.698022"},{"key":"key2020121820183377900_b3","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Chen, Z.Q. , Ip, W.H. , Wei, Y.F. and Wu, C.H. (2012), \u201cChaos particle swarm algorithm for energy consumption optimization in wireless sensor networks\u201d, Sensor Letters , Vol. 10 No. 8, pp. 1830-1835.","DOI":"10.1166\/sl.2012.2623"},{"key":"key2020121820183377900_b4","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Cordon, O. , Herrera-Viedma, E. and Lopez-Pujalte, C. (2003), \u201cA review on the application of evolutionary computation to information retrieval\u201d, International Journal of Approximate Reasoning , Vol. 34 Nos 2-3, pp. 241-264.","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ijar.2003.07.010"},{"key":"key2020121820183377900_b5","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Dalgic, T. and Leeuw, M. (1994), \u201cNiche marketing revisited: concept, applications and some European cases\u201d, European Journal of Marketing , Vol. 28 No. 4, pp. 39-55.","DOI":"10.1108\/03090569410061178"},{"key":"key2020121820183377900_b6","unstructured":"Dattorro, J. (2005), Convex Optimization & Euclidean Distance Geometry , Meboo Publishing, Palo Alto, CA."},{"key":"key2020121820183377900_b7","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Dolnicar, S. (2002), \u201cA review of data-driven market segmentation in tourism\u201d, Journal of Travel & Tourism Marketing , Vol. 12 No. 1, pp. 1-22.","DOI":"10.1300\/J073v12n01_01"},{"key":"key2020121820183377900_b8","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Dolnicar, S. , Kaiser, S. , Lazarevski, K. and Leisch, F. (2012), \u201cBiclustering: overcome data dimensionality problems in market segmentation\u201d, Journal of Travel Research , Vol. 51 No. 1, pp. 41-49.","DOI":"10.1177\/0047287510394192"},{"key":"key2020121820183377900_b9","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Duan, L. and Xu, L.D. (2012), \u201cBusiness intelligence for enterprise systems: a survey\u201d, IEEE Transactions on Industrial Informatics , Vol. 8 No. 3, pp. 679-687.","DOI":"10.1109\/TII.2012.2188804"},{"key":"key2020121820183377900_b10","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Duan, L. , Xu, L. , Liu, Y. and Lee, J. (2009), \u201cCluster-based outlier detection\u201d, Annals of Operations Research , Vol. 168 No. 1, pp. 151-168.","DOI":"10.1007\/s10479-008-0371-9"},{"key":"key2020121820183377900_b11","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Farrell, B.H. and Twining-Ward, L. (2004), \u201cReconceptualizing tourism\u201d, Annals of Tourism Research , Vol. 31 No. 2, pp. 274-295.","DOI":"10.1016\/j.annals.2003.12.002"},{"key":"key2020121820183377900_b12","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Fritzsche, M. , Kittel, K. and Blankenburg, A. (2012), \u201cMultidisciplinary design optimization of a recurve bow based on applications of the autogenetic design theory and distributed computing\u201d, Enterprise Information Systems , Vol. 6 No. 3, pp. 329-343.","DOI":"10.1080\/17517575.2011.650216"},{"key":"key2020121820183377900_b13","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Frochot, I. and Morrison, A.M. (2001), \u201cBenefit segmentation: a review of its applications to travel and tourism research\u201d, Journal of Travel & Tourism Marketing , Vol. 9 No. 4, pp. 21-45.","DOI":"10.1300\/J073v09n04_02"},{"key":"key2020121820183377900_b151","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Haley, R.I. (1968), \u201cBenefit segmentation: a decision-oriented research tool\u201d, Journal of Marketing , Vol. 32, pp. 30-35.","DOI":"10.1177\/002224296803200306"},{"key":"key2020121820183377900_b14","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Hassan, S.S. (2000), \u201cDeterminants of market competitiveness in an environmentally sustainable tourism industry\u201d, Journal of Travel Research , Vol. 38 No. 3, pp. 239-245.","DOI":"10.1177\/004728750003800305"},{"key":"key2020121820183377900_b15","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Ho, G.T.S. , Ip, W.H. , Lee, C.K.M. and Mou, W.L. (2012), \u201cCustomer grouping for better resources allocation using GA based clustering techniques\u201d, Expert Systems with Applications , Vol. 39 No. 2, pp. 1979-1987.","DOI":"10.1016\/j.eswa.2011.08.045"},{"key":"key2020121820183377900_b16","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Ho, L.A. , Kuo, T.H. and Lin, B. (2010), \u201cInfluence of online learning skills in cyberspace\u201d, Internet Research , Vol. 20 No. 1, pp. 55-71.","DOI":"10.1108\/10662241011020833"},{"key":"key2020121820183377900_b17","unstructured":"Holland, J.H. (1975), Adaption in Natural and Artificial Systems , University of Michigan Press, Ann Arbor, MI."},{"key":"key2020121820183377900_b18","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Hsieh, T.C. , Yang, K.C. , Yang, C. and Yang, C. (2013), \u201cUrban and rural differences: multilevel latent class analysis of online activities and e-payment behavior patterns\u201d, Internet Research , Vol. 23 No. 2, pp. 204-228.","DOI":"10.1108\/10662241311313321"},{"key":"key2020121820183377900_b19","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Hsu, H.C.C. and Sung, S. (1997), \u201cTravel behaviors of international students at a Midwestern university\u201d, Journal of Travel Research , Vol. 36 No. 1, pp. 59-65.","DOI":"10.1177\/004728759703600109"},{"key":"key2020121820183377900_b20","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Hsu, H.C.C. , Kang, K.S. and Wolfe, K. (2002), \u201cPsychographic and demographic profiles of niche market leisure travelers\u201d, Journal of Hospitality & Tourism Research , Vol. 26 No. 1, pp. 3-22.","DOI":"10.1177\/1096348002026001001"},{"key":"key2020121820183377900_b21","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Huang, B. , Li, C. and Tao, F. (2014), \u201cA chaos control optimal algorithm for QoS-based service composition selection in cloud manufacturing system\u201d, Enterprise Information Systems , Vol. 8 No. 4, pp. 445-463.","DOI":"10.1080\/17517575.2013.792396"},{"key":"key2020121820183377900_b22","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Ibrahim, E.E. and Gill, J. (2005), \u201cA positioning strategy for a tourist destination, based on analysis of customers\u2019 perceptions and satisfactions\u201d, Marketing Intelligence & Planning , Vol. 23 No. 2, pp. 172-188.","DOI":"10.1108\/02634500510589921"},{"key":"key2020121820183377900_b23","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Jalilvand, M.R. and Samiei, N. (2012), \u201cThe impact of electronic word of mouth on a tourism destination choice: testing the theory of planned behavior (TPB)\u201d, Internet Research , Vol. 22 No. 5, pp. 591-612.","DOI":"10.1108\/10662241211271563"},{"key":"key2020121820183377900_b24","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Jin, C. , Li, F. , Wilamowska-Korsak, M. , Li, L. and Fu, L. (2014), \u201cBSP-GA: a new genetic algorithm for system optimization and excellent schema selection\u201d, Systems Research and Behavioral Science , Vol. 31 No. 3, pp. 337-352.","DOI":"10.1002\/sres.2280"},{"key":"key2020121820183377900_b25","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Kerschbaum, F. (2008), \u201cBuilding a privacy-preserving benchmarking enterprise system\u201d, Enterprise Information Systems , Vol. 2 No. 4, pp. 421-441.","DOI":"10.1080\/17517570802372468"},{"key":"key2020121820183377900_b26","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Kim, D.J. , Kim, W.G. and Han, J.S. (2007), \u201cA perceptual mapping of online travel agencies and preference attributes\u201d, Tourism Management , Vol. 28 No. 2, pp. 591-603.","DOI":"10.1016\/j.tourman.2006.04.022"},{"key":"key2020121820183377900_b27","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Kim, K.J. and Ahn, H. (2008), \u201cA recommender system using GA k-means clustering in an online shopping market\u201d, Expert Systems with Applications , Vol. 34 No. 2, pp. 1200-1209.","DOI":"10.1016\/j.eswa.2006.12.025"},{"key":"key2020121820183377900_b28","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Koc, E. and Altinay, G. (2007), \u201cAn analysis of seasonality in monthly per person tourist spending in Turkish inbound tourism from a market segmentation perspective\u201d, Tourism Management , Vol. 28 No. 1, pp. 227-237.","DOI":"10.1016\/j.tourman.2006.01.003"},{"key":"key2020121820183377900_b29","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Krishna, K. and Murty, M.N. (1999), \u201cGenetic k-means algorithm\u201d, IEEE Transactions on Systems, Man, and Cybernetics \u2013 Part B: Cybernetics , Vol. 29 No. 3, pp. 433-439.","DOI":"10.1109\/3477.764879"},{"key":"key2020121820183377900_b30","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Lambkin, M. and Day, G.S. (1989), \u201cEvolutionary processes in competitive markets: beyond the product life cycle\u201d, Journal of Marketing , Vol. 53 No. 3, pp. 4-20.","DOI":"10.1177\/002224298905300304"},{"key":"key2020121820183377900_b31","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Li, F. , Xu, L.D. , Jin, C. and Wang, H. (2011a), \u201cIntelligent bionic genetic algorithm (IB-GA) and its convergence\u201d, Expert Systems with Applications , Vol. 38 No. 7, pp. 8804-8811.","DOI":"10.1016\/j.eswa.2011.01.091"},{"key":"key2020121820183377900_b32","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Li, F. , Xu, L.D. , Jin, C. and Wang, H. (2011b), \u201cStructure of multi-stage composite genetic algorithm (MSC-GA) and its performance\u201d, Expert Systems with Applications , Vol. 38 No. 7, pp. 8929-8937.","DOI":"10.1016\/j.eswa.2011.01.110"},{"key":"key2020121820183377900_b33","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Li, M.J. , Ng, M.K. , Cheung, Y.M. and Huang, J.Z. (2008), \u201cAgglomerative fuzzy k-means clustering algorithm with selection of number of clusters\u201d, IEEE Transactions on Knowledge and Data Engineering , Vol. 20 No. 11, pp. 1519-1534.","DOI":"10.1109\/TKDE.2008.88"},{"key":"key2020121820183377900_b34","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Lim, M.K. , Bahr, W. and Leung, C.H. (2013), \u201cRFID in the warehouse: a literature analysis (1995-2010) of its applications, benefits, challenges and future trends\u201d, International Journal of Production Economics , Vol. 145 No. 1, pp. 409-430.","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ijpe.2013.05.006"},{"key":"key2020121820183377900_b35","unstructured":"Macleod, D. (2003), Niche Tourism in Question \u2013 Interdisciplinary Perspectives on Problems and Possibilities , Crichton Publications, Glasgow."},{"key":"key2020121820183377900_b36","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Mykletun, R.J. , Crotts, J.C. and Mykletun, A. (2001), \u201cPositioning an island destination in the peripheral area of the Baltics: a flexible approach to market segmentation\u201d, Tourism Management , Vol. 22 No. 5, pp. 493-500.","DOI":"10.1016\/S0261-5177(01)00004-8"},{"key":"key2020121820183377900_b37","unstructured":"Novelli, M. (2005), Niche Tourism: Contemporary Issues, Trends and Case , Elsevier Butterworth-Heinemann, London."},{"key":"key2020121820183377900_b38","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Poon, A. (1993), Tourism, Technology and Competitive Strategies , CAB International, Oxon.","DOI":"10.1079\/9780851989501.0000"},{"key":"key2020121820183377900_b39","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Portilla, J. , Otero, A. , Rosello, V. , Valverde, J. , Krasteva, Y.E. , de la Torre, E. and Riesgo, T. (2014), \u201cWireless sensor networks: from real world to system integration \u2013 alternative hardware approaches\u201d, in Hashmi, S. (Ed.), Comprehensive Materials Processing , Elsevier, Waltham, MA, pp. 353-373.","DOI":"10.1016\/B978-0-08-096532-1.01313-3"},{"key":"key2020121820183377900_b40","unstructured":"Pyle, D. (1999), Data Preparation for Data Mining , Morgan Kaufmann, San Francisco, CA."},{"key":"key2020121820183377900_b41","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Reaidy, P.J. , Gunasekaranb, A. and Spalanzania, A. (2015), \u201cBottom -up approach based on internet of things for order fulfillment in a collaborative warehousing environment\u201d, International Journal of Production Economics , Vol. 159, pp. 29-40. doi: 10.1016\/j.ijpe.2014.02.017.","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ijpe.2014.02.017"},{"key":"key2020121820183377900_b42","unstructured":"Reid, D. (2003), Tourism, Globalization and Development: Responsible Tourism Planning , Pluto Press, London."},{"key":"key2020121820183377900_b43","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Roberts, S. (1997), \u201cParametric and non-parametric unsupervised cluster analysis\u201d, Pattern Recognition , Vol. 30 No. 2, pp. 261-272.","DOI":"10.1016\/S0031-3203(96)00079-9"},{"key":"key2020121820183377900_b44","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Rong, J. , Vu, H.Q. , Law, R. and Li, G. (2012), \u201cA behavioral analysis of web sharers and browsers in Hong Kong using targeted association rule mining\u201d, Tourism Management , Vol. 33 No. 4, pp. 731-740.","DOI":"10.1016\/j.tourman.2011.08.006"},{"key":"key2020121820183377900_b46","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Smith, M. (1956), \u201cProduct differentiation and market segmentation as alternative marketing strategies\u201d, Journal of Marketing , Vol. 21 No. 1, pp. 3-8.","DOI":"10.1177\/002224295602100102"},{"key":"key2020121820183377900_b47","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Tan, W. , Chen, S. , Li, J. , Li, L. , Wang, T. and Hu, X. (2014), \u201cA trust model for e-learning systems\u201d, System Research and Behavioral Science , Vol. 31 No. 3, pp. 353-365.","DOI":"10.1002\/sres.2283"},{"key":"key2020121820183377900_b48","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Ting, J.S.L. , Tsang, A.H.C. , Ip, A.W.H. and Ho, G.T.S. (2011), \u201cRF-MediSys: a radio frequency identification-based electronic medical record system for improving medical information accessibility and services at point of care\u201d, Health Information Management Journal , Vol. 40 No. 1, pp. 25-32.","DOI":"10.1177\/183335831104000105"},{"key":"key2020121820183377900_b49","unstructured":"Tsiotsou, R.H. and Goldsmith, R.E. (2012), Strategic Marketing in Tourism Services , Emerald Group Publication Limited, Bingley."},{"key":"key2020121820183377900_b50","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Wamba, S.F. , Anand, A. and Carter, L. (2013), \u201cA literature review of RFID-enabled healthcare applications and issues\u201d, International Journal of Information Management , Vol. 33 No. 5, pp. 875-891.","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ijinfomgt.2013.07.005"},{"key":"key2020121820183377900_b51","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Wang, P. , Zhang, J. , Xu, L. , Wang, H. , Feng, S. and Zhu, H. (2011), \u201cHow to measure adaptation complexity in evolvable systems-a new synthetic approach of constructing fitness functions\u201d, Expert Systems with Applications , Vol. 38 No. 8, pp. 10414-10419.","DOI":"10.1016\/j.eswa.2011.02.099"},{"key":"key2020121820183377900_b52","unstructured":"Wedel, W. and Kamakura, W.A. (1998), Market segmentation: Conceptual and Methodological Foundations , Kluwer Academic Publishers, London."},{"key":"key2020121820183377900_b53","unstructured":"Xu, R. and Wunsch, D.C. (2009), Clustering , John Wiley & Sons, Inc., Hoboken, NJ."},{"key":"key2020121820183377900_b54","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Yannopoulos, P. and Rotenberg, R. (1999), \u201cBenefit segmentation of the near-home tourism market: the case of upper New York State\u201d, Journal of Travel & Tourism Marketing , Vol. 8 No. 2, pp. 41-55.","DOI":"10.1300\/J073v08n02_04"},{"key":"key2020121820183377900_frd1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Sheikh, R. , Raghuwanshi, M. and Jaiswal, A. (2008), \u201cGenetic algorithm based clustering: a survey\u201d, Proceedings on Emerging Trends in Engineering and Technology (ICETET\u201908), Nagpur, Maharashtra, July 16-18.","DOI":"10.1109\/ICETET.2008.48"}],"container-title":["Internet Research"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"http:\/\/www.emeraldinsight.com\/doi\/full-xml\/10.1108\/IntR-08-2014-0204","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"text-mining"},{"URL":"https:\/\/www.emerald.com\/insight\/content\/doi\/10.1108\/IntR-08-2014-0204\/full\/xml","content-type":"application\/xml","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"text-mining"},{"URL":"https:\/\/www.emerald.com\/insight\/content\/doi\/10.1108\/IntR-08-2014-0204\/full\/html","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2025,7,24]],"date-time":"2025-07-24T21:36:32Z","timestamp":1753392992000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"http:\/\/www.emerald.com\/intr\/article\/26\/1\/167-185\/186594"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2016,2,1]]},"references-count":55,"journal-issue":{"issue":"1","published-print":{"date-parts":[[2016,2,1]]}},"alternative-id":["10.1108\/IntR-08-2014-0204"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1108\/intr-08-2014-0204","relation":{},"ISSN":["1066-2243"],"issn-type":[{"value":"1066-2243","type":"print"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2016,2,1]]}}}