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game park reserve
Game park reserves are owned either privately or
governmentally for the purpose of limited noneconomic
and economic human interaction with
wildlife and their habitats found within their
boundaries. Hunting for sport is sometimes permitted,
but most reserves protect the habitat and
animals from destruction and permit only the
viewing and photography of the wildlife found
therein.
game theory
CAROLYNM.DAUGHTERY,USA
Game theory is a mathematical modelling tool
used in various social science applications. Unlike
traditional economic methodology, economic
and business game theory models do not
ignore the influence of an individual's actions on
others and vice versa. Therefore, the methodology
is useful in modelling tourism and hospitality
situations where individuals and firms
operate in an interdependent, competitive environment.
In a game theory model, each decision maker
�player) has a plan of action �strategy) and is
assumed to be a utility �payoff) maximiser. Four
categories ± perfection, symmetry, certainty and
completeness ± define the type of information the
players use in forming their strategy. Finding a
solution to a game often involves calculating an
equilibrium, that is, finding a strategy profile in
which each player's strategy maximises the payoff,
given that the others are using their own strategies.
Several studies in the field of game theory
provide interesting insights into tourism and
hospitality phenomena. For example, a game
model of convention pricing shows how convention
planners and the hotel `agree' on room rates, and
reveals the conditions under which the hotel is
more likely to maximise profitability when using
yield management. Franchising, a dominant
form of contract among hospitality firms, is better
understood thanks to another game theory model
that explores the role of royalties �the revenuesharing
agreement) and monitoring �the franchiser
effort to ensure the prescribed business format).
Game theory might prove useful in modelling
service quality in restaurants and hotels where
information asymmetry causes difficulties in trade.
These difficulties and the adequate remedies for
them can be successfully analysed using tools
provided by game theory. Other promising areas
for applications include mergers and acquisitions in
the lodging industry, location and product differentiation
of planned attractions, advertising and
promotion of destinations, and the optimal structure
of distribution channels of tourism packages
�see also promotion, place).
Further reading
Lal, R. �1990) `Improving channel coordination
through franchising', Marketing Science 9�4): 299±
318.
Schwartz, Z. �1996) À dynamic equilibrium pricing
model: a game theory approach to modelling
conventions' room rate', Tourism Economics 2�3):
251±64.
ÐÐ �1997) `Game theory: mathematical models
provide insights into hospitality industry phenomena',
Hospitality Research Journal, 21�1): 48±
70.
Shubik, M. �1984) Game Theory in the Social Sciences ±
Concepts and Solutions, Cambridge, MA: MIT
Press.
gastronomy
gastronomy 245
ZVI SCHWARTZ, USA
Gastronomy comes from the title of a fourth
century bc Greek poem `Gastronome', about
food. In modern usage, the term refers to the art
and science of fine dining. It can also indicate
culinary rituals or consuetudes, particularly those
of a sophisticated or highly developed character.
Restaurants at destinations known for their
native foods and cuisine become tourism
attractions in their own right.
MICHAEL NOWLIS, FRANCE