Unconventional Tourism Services Based on Autonomous Vehicles

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1		Mark Miskolczi	--	2442	2022-03-31 08:16:26	\|
2	update layout and references	Rita Xu	-457 word(s)	1985	2022-03-31 08:47:12	\|

This entry is adapted from the peer-reviewed paper 10.3390/su14063691

The spread of autonomous vehicles (AVs) could fundamentally change tourism-related mobility in the near future. However, the empirical research on tourism impacts is still very limited.

autonomous vehicles (AVs) unconventional tourism services q methodology

1. Introduction

Innovative technologies and new mobility services of the fourth industrial revolution (Industry 4.0) are rapidly transforming the supply of tourism services. Although fully autonomous vehicles (AVs) have not yet entered the market, partial automation has already had an impact on tourism. It is, therefore, essential to be prepared for the spread and potential impacts of AVs ^[1]. In contrast, the literature on tourism does not focus much on the potential risks and benefits of AVs. This is supported by previous research ^[2] that addressed the impact of AVs on commuting travel. The exploration of this topic area was typically in the Global North, which highlights future research opportunities.

The relevance of this research is also supported by the fact that AVs are expected to be first adapted for long-distance trips, hence the need to explore the tourism side of the topic ^[2]. Furthermore, since COVID-19, the use of personal vehicles to get to and from a destination has also become even more valued ^[3].

To the best of the knowledge, except for one study ^[4], no research examines the attitudes of tourism service providers to the emergence of AVs, even though this technology may lead to the creation of new, unconventional tourism services in the future.

There are several approaches to unconventional (or non-conventional) tourism in the literature. It can refer to tourism solutions that primarily benefit local communities and not visitors to the destination. It can be called unconventional if it represents an alternative route to capitalist tourism. It can also be unconventional if it goes against and criticizes mass tourism or traditional tourism. However, the approaches all represent something unique in tourism services ^[1].

2. Expected Impacts of AVs on Tourism and Mobility

Since automation is a quite complex and incremental innovation, the basic definition of the technology needs to be clarified. First, researchers explain the different levels of AVs and then introduce some current initiatives and the expected impacts of AVs on tourism.

2.1. The Incremental Nature of Automation (SAE Levels)

Automation is an innovation of the fourth industrial revolution (Industry 4.0), which is rooted in the acceleration of information and communication technologies (ICTs) in the second half of the 20th century. The questions around AVs are numerous and variable; therefore, the knowledge of industrial and consumer behavior is limited. Regarding AVs, researchers discuss the incremental technology that is not only free of human intervention but is able to transport by itself. The current technology described as self-driven still depends on decisions made by a human driver. The real self-driving experience is getting closer, however, with the help of intense development.

Based on international standards, researchers can distinguish five levels of automation as suggested by the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) ^[5]:

▪: Level 0: The only controller of the vehicle is the human driver; the phase is described as a complete lack of automation.
▪: Level 1: The only controller of the vehicle is still the human driver, but there are supporting functions (e.g., change in the direction or speed, occasional automated steering of the wheel).
▪: Level 2: The only controller of the vehicle is still the human driver, but the supporting functions can be applied simultaneously. Cars currently available for purchase belong to this category (e.g., Tesla Model 3).
▪: Level 3: The role of the human controller is necessary, but the continuous observation of the surroundings is not required; the car is able to handle the driving operations. Yet when the car notifies the driver, the driver must take control of the vehicle.
▪: Level 4: The car can control every task for the duration of the journey. The presence of the human driver is optional in this phase as the system does not require them to take control of the vehicle. Based on the predictions of top companies in the automotive industry (Tesla, BMW, Google Waymo), cars with a high level of automation can be expected in the mid-2020s.
▪: Level 5: All aspects of driving can be owned and sustained by the car. Whether steering wheels and pedals will be needed for manual control remains an open question at this stage of development. How future road users will react to the complete removal of the driving experience is uncertain.

Based on SAE levels, researchers can see that lower automation (SAE Levels 2–3) does not change mobility patterns much, while higher automation (SAE Levels 4–5) might completely change tourists’ travel preferences and conventional tourism services. Tourists are typically the first users of this new technology, while for commuters, higher driving frequency and experience result in lower AV level preferences ^[6].

There are already destinations where AVs have been introduced and are undergoing public trials. The Lake District National Park (UK) is planning to introduce AVs on SAE Level 3 as a sustainable transport solution ^[7]. Gatwick Airport (London, UK) offers the autonomous solution as a shuttle service for passengers ^[8]. In Beijing’s Haidan Park (China), the Apollo minibus is operated on SAE Level 4 automation, where tourists can experience 700 m of autonomous driving, free of charge. Seven passengers are allowed to use the vehicle at a time, on a predetermined route, at a limited speed (15 km/h), and there is a supervisor on board ^[9]. In the city of Sion (Switzerland), AVs are being tested on public roads, carrying 11 passengers at 20 km/h. As these are SAE Level 4 vehicles, a safety supervisor is also on board ^[4]. The Dubai Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), the local roads and transport authority, is set to become the first taxi operator in the emirate to switch to pure electric and autonomous vehicles. The first vehicles are planned to be on the road in 2023, and the company “Cruise” will have exclusive service rights for autonomous taxis until 2029. Dubai will thus become the first non-US city in the world to operate electric autonomous vehicles. The fleet should reach the target of 4000 vehicles by 2030 ^[10].

2.2. Potential Benefits of AVs from the Tourist Perspective

Previous research has shown that AVs will primarily be used for leisure ^[2] rather than non-leisure activities ^[9]. Research on the topic ^[11]^[12]^[13] revealed that respondents would use autonomous taxis more as tourists than as residents, which also demonstrates the significant impact of AVs on tourism-related mobility.

While traveling, tourists can also engage in other activities ^[14]^[15]^[16]^[17]^[18]: watching TV, relaxing, sleeping, reading, taking photos, eating, playing games, and gathering information. On SAE Level 5, tourists are even able to travel alone ^[19]^[20], which will be a major opportunity for people with disabilities ^[21]. Importantly, it is also expected that tourists will travel more often and greater distances by AVs ^[20]. The proliferation of AVs might help overcome barriers in terms of unfamiliar traffic rules and environments ^[22], making car rental easier for international tourists solving the problem of jet lag or the anxiety that comes from unusual traffic rules or conditions ^[8]. It also provides freedom of travel for people without a driver’s license ^[23], is a more convenient solution for people under stress ^[24], and reduces isolation by providing easier access to services ^[14].

2.3. Changes in Tourism-Related Mobility

In terms of tourist mobility, there are two main categories of changes expected from AVs: accessing a destination and intra-destination mobility.

2.3.1. Access to a Destination for Tourism Purposes

In infrastructurally developed destinations, AVs can compete primarily with short-distance mobility services (e.g., rail, bus, public transportation) ^[2] and become alternatives to taxis ^[15]^[25] as well. As AVs can be a viable alternative for tourists on short-haul trips, it is expected that low-cost airlines will switch to long-haul trips ^[8] to preserve their competition. Due to the rapid and early market growth of AVs ^[26], traditional taxis will have to fulfill a new function, i.e., they will have to provide additional services (e.g., tour guiding) to compete with AVs.

2.3.2. Intra-Destination Tourism Mobility

AVs could have both positive and negative impacts on urban traffic in the future. It is important to note that AVs are primarily suited to urban transport and will therefore spread first to urban areas and then to rural areas. Initially, they can only travel along a defined route. Adverse weather conditions can cause problems ^[4], which will make the service less accessible to areas with low infrastructure ^[25].

In urban areas, however, there are several transport benefits that can be gained from the spread of AVs. Through efficient route selection and more efficient use of traffic lanes ^[27], congestion can be reduced ^[28], leading to improved urban traffic flows ^[29]. However, scholars ^[8] predict this is for shared vehicle use. Individual vehicle use tends to increase traffic, and as the number of AVs increases, this may cause congestion around the must-see tourist attractions.

In response to this, there might be some car-free destinations where tourists can only park outside the center and access the city by shared AVs ^[4]. As AVs spread, the design of cities may also change. Research suggests that in urban spaces, fewer parking spaces will be needed ^[2]^[30]. By eliminating parking spaces, green spaces can be created ^[31], which can increase the livability of cities. Thus, the spread of AVs can also increase the sustainability of tourism, thus having a positive impact on the environment, which is a priority for the sector these days ^[32]. The freed-up areas can be used for pedestrian and cycling facilities ^[27] or urban parks. The development of check-in points will also transform shopping districts, as they drop shoppers off at the store and pick them up later ^[8].

2.4. Expected Changes in Conventional Tourism Services Due to AVs

2.4.1. The New Dimension of Car Use

With the spread of full automation (SAE Level 5), driving as an activity will disappear, transforming it into a unique experience ^[25]. Destinations, where AVs appear for the first time, can enhance their image and strengthen their attractiveness ^[4]. At the same time, the spread of AVs can also promote cooperation between operators and destinations. Due to the seasonality of tourist destinations, it may make sense to share AVs between destinations with different seasons, e.g., ski areas in winter and lakes in summer. This will require flexibility and that these areas are geographically close to each other ^[4].

2.4.2. Sightseeing and City Tours

AVs can transform many areas of conventional tourism services. One of the most likely changes relates to sightseeing tours. Several studies have discussed pre-planned, AV-based sightseeing tours ^[8]^[25] and the resultant expected decline in walking and hop-on-hop-off tours ^[25]. However, with the proliferation of AVs currently, conventional bikes, Segways, and walking tours may become niche products in the longer term ^[25]. The new types of sightseeing tours will be algorithm-based, favoring those operators who pay more to be included on the itinerary, i.e., multinational operators will be favored over local businesses ^[8]. However, the automation of hiking trails can also raise problems such as the possibility that some of the less attractive, but the real face of destinations may remain hidden from tourists.

2.4.3. Hotel Industry, Restaurants, and MICE Tourism

The use of AVs will not only affect tourism during the day. As AVs are also suitable for overnight travel ^[33] and can be used for sleeping, the significance of accommodation services might be decreased in the long run. In addition to hotels selling rooms for a couple of hours, AVs can provide a more convenient alternative to the airport’s sleeping pods ^[25] and can be applied as mobile motels by both business and leisure travelers ^[8].

AVs will also be suitable for holding meetings ^[24]^[25], which might result in the displacement of smaller meeting and conference rooms from the market. AVs could function as mobile restaurants in the future, combining sightseeing and restaurant services like dinner cruises ^[8]. The creation of mobile restaurants could also boost wine tourism, as the consumer does not have to drive the vehicle.

There are diverging views on what pricing can be expected for AVs. In the airport environment, they have emerged as a free service in the areas tested, but in the near future, it may also represent a price premium for users due to their benefits and novelty.

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