Using Agent Analyst to Model Tourist Destination Choices

Spatially-explicit simulation of human-environment interaction is a  topic of increasing discussion within the field of GIScience.  Agent- based modelling (ABM) is one approach to creating a simulation model  of entity interaction.  Agent-based modeling (ABM) techniques have  proven useful for simulating non-linear, emergent behaviour within a  target system.  This type of dynamic, multi-actor interaction is  prevalent in the field of tourism and is an area well suited to study  with ABMs.  This paper outlines one conceptual approach to studying  tourist behaviour within a landscape of competitive destinations.   Agent Analyst is a recently developed computer program that couples  geographic information systems (GIS) with an ABM.  This type of  integration provides both a temporal component to traditional GIS  analysis, as well as allowing agent-based modelling to occur on a  more realistic landscape.  This paper provides “proof of concept” for  Agent Analyst as a viable modelling platform and produces a basic  model of tourist destination choice and interactions in the province  of Nova Scotia.  As a preliminary exploration, the emphasis of this  paper is on evaluating Agent Analyst software itself, more precisely  its modelling functionality, user interface and general potential of  the software as a spatially-explicit agent-based modelling platform.