Tourism and Travel Commons^™

A Study Of Push And Pull Motivational Factors Of Religious Tourism In India, Niharika Singh, Somesh Dhamija, Aruna Dhamija

International Journal of Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage

This study investigates the motivational factors that drive both foreign and domestic religious tourists to visit Vrindavan, one of India’s most famous Hindu religious sites. Using an established push and pull framework, the research explores why tourists choose Vrindavan as a destination for religious tourism. Based on existing theoretical and empirical studies, the researchers developed a quantitative approach, employing a three-part questionnaire to collect data from 598 visitors. Through Principal Component Factor Analysis, the study identified five key push factors and four pull factors, with religious beliefs and cultural enjoyment being the most prominent. The findings confirm the relevance of …

Visitor Experience Model At The Marian Shrine Of La Vang, Younghee Lee, Hyo Dan Cho

International Journal of Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage

This research explores tourists’ experiences at La Vang in Vietnam. La Vang as a place of Catholic Marian apparition, is a sacred pilgrimage site that holds great religious significance for Catholics. This study employs both qualitative and quantitative methodologies to develop a model of the visitor’s experiences at La Vang. The initial qualitative study involved in-depth interviews and participant observation. Subsequently, the findings of the qualitative study were validated in the second quantitative study, which involved 75 surveys with residents of Macau who visited La Vang. This study proposes seven key scales measuring tourists’ experiential aspects at the sacred place. …

Religious Festivals: A Niche Celebration To Foster Economic And Socio-Cultural Sustainability, Pooja R, Sathiyabamavathy K Dr

International Journal of Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage

Festivals are a distinct type of celebration and have the potential to boost the economic and socio-cultural aspects of tourism. This case study analysis focuses on the Chithirai festival, a well-known and recognised religious festival in South India that attracts many visitors yearly. The festival is celebrated in Madurai, southern Tamil Nadu, popularly known as India’s cultural capital. The unique Chithirai festival commemorates various narratives from Hindu scriptures, the most notable of which is the celestial wedding of Goddess Meenakshi and Lord Sundareswaran. This article delves into the festival’s economic and socio-cultural contributions and its historical and religious implications. The …

Exploring Models Of Reflective Practice To Aid The Understanding Of Pilgrimage Experience, Chris Hall

International Journal of Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage

This paper explores the use of models of reflective practice to aid reflection and sense making for a walking pilgrimage experience and analyses the challenges of using such a model in this context. The paper then examines whether Greenia’s definition of pilgrimage experience can be used as a model to aid reflection. This is subsequently applied to a 5-day walking pilgrimage experience and its effectiveness assessed.

Miracles Have Subjective Meaning For Religious Travellers, Even If They Are Not Supernatural, Stephen F. Haller

International Journal of Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage

Miracles still play a role in religious tourism even though it is impossible to distinguish them as divinely inspired, rather than derived from ‘mere’ psychological causes. One might ask whether it matters to a religious tourist or pilgrim that the adoption of a religious attitude to the mysteries of miracles is not grounded in religious belief in the supernatural. Are religious tourists and pilgrims not just inventing comforting illusions in wilful ignorance?

This philosophical paper will relate a few examples of miracles; and explain how the experience of miracles is a subjective experience, and not an objective belief in a …

Review Of: Pilgrimage Aotearoa. Haerenga Tapu Aotearoa: Your Guide To 100 New Zealand Sites, By Jenny Boyack And John Hornblow, Ian S. Mcintosh

International Journal of Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage

Review of: Pilgrimage Aotearoa. Haerenga Tapu Aotearoa: Your Guide to 100 New Zealand Sites, by Jenny Boyack and John Hornblow. Review by Ian McIntosh.

Sustainability In The Cruising Industry: Innovations In Air Quality, Energy Efficiency, And Waste Management, Fikret Durmus, Mi Ran Kim

ICHRIE Research Reports

The cruise industry, a cornerstone of the global hospitality and tourism sector, faces increasing scrutiny over its environmental impact. As passenger numbers grow, so does the industry's responsibility to adopt sustainable practices. This report examines key innovations in air quality management, energy efficiency, and waste management, highlighting the industry's transition from historically high emissions and waste production to advanced sustainability initiatives. Key focus areas include evolving maritime regulations, adopting cleaner propulsion technologies, integrating energy-efficient solutions, and improving waste treatment practices. Findings indicate that industry leaders are investing in liquefied natural gas engines, exhaust gas cleaning systems, and onshore power supply …

Hospitality Operators And Cannabis Tourism In The South: Insights On Policy & Regulations, Nick E. Johnston, Kelly Way, Chloe Tyner, Betsy Garrison

ICHRIE Research Reports

Cannabis tourism offers new opportunities for U.S. hospitality, although regional adoption is limited and complex due to diverse legal frameworks. Through qualitative document analysis (QDA) of regulatory frameworks in 14 Southern U.S. states, this study compares policies on consumption, sales, and employment in states with limited or emerging cannabis programs. Findings reveal that hospitality operators can enhance guest experiences by creating private, wellness-focused cannabis environments and advocating for gradual policy adjustments. However, compliance with strict consumption, licensing, and workplace rules is essential to mitigate legal risks. This study highlights the South's cannabis tourism potential within politically conservative markets, suggesting that …

Natural Resource Enterprises - Income Diversification And Conservation Practices Implemented On Private Lands In The United States, Daryl Jones

Journal of Extension

Wildlife-related recreation is popular with Americans spending over $150 billion dollars annually. I have conducted educational workshops (>100 events) to train U.S. landowners in natural resource enterprises development offering recreational hunting, angling, and nature tourism excursions along with conservation management practices to enhance wildlife habitats on their lands. To measure impacts, I conducted a comprehensive mail survey study with participants since 2010. Findings revealed that landowners who initiated these enterprises earned annual incomes and implemented conservation practices on properties. More training for landowners is recommended to increase income diversification and conservation of wildlife habitats and stewardship on private lands.

Gambling-Related User-Generated Content: An In-Depth Analysis Of Slot Machine Vlogs On Youtube, Tiange Xu

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

The growing popularity of social media platforms has transformed how gambling content reaches audiences, with gambling vlogs now attracting millions of viewers outside traditional marketing channels. Despite their reach and potential influence, these user-generated videos remain understudied in gambling research. This study sought to analyze slot machine vlogs by examining their portrayal of gambling experiences, assessing viewer engagement patterns, and identifying the video features associated with higher engagement metrics. Using a comprehensive mixed-methods approach, I analyzed 170 popular YouTube slot machine vlogs and 43,837 viewer comments through advanced analytical techniques. Latent Dirichlet Allocation topic modeling identified four themes in gambling …

High Stakes & High Heels: The Economic Potential Of Merging Gambling With Gentlemens Clubs, Anthony Hernandez, Tony Nohmy

Undergraduate Research Symposium Podium Presentations

Purpose:

• Vegas used to be “Vegas”
• Gambling Hotspot
• Lost the “magic”
• On Property Gentlemen’s Clubs
• Similar to property exclusive restaurants or nightclubs

Small Business Development In The Tourism Industry In Dangriga, Belize, Jonathan R. Kasper

Finance Undergraduate Honors Theses

The thesis, Small Business Development in the Tourism Industry in Dangriga, Belize, examines efforts to bolster economic opportunities and entrepreneurial resilience in a culturally rich but economically underserved town. The project focused on addressing the underperformance of Dangriga’s tourism sector relative to other Belizean destinations, despite its potential. By engaging directly with local entrepreneurs and organizations, the initiative aimed to improve marketing practices, digital presence, and long-term business viability through practical interventions.

Major accomplishments included the development of a reservation-capable website for the Bonefish Hotel, social media and marketing consultations for various small businesses, and advisory work for the …

Creative Brief For North Shores Resort & Marina, Shelby B. King

Marketing Undergraduate Honors Theses

In today’s experience-driven travel market, destinations that offer authenticity, affordability, and a sense of community stand out. North Shores Resort and Marina, located on the scenic northeast end of Lake Ouachita, has long been a hidden gem offering a strong sense of family and community, prolonged camper stays, and more economical pricing compared to nearby marinas. Despite consistently high occupancy rates for boat slips and campsites, North Shores has an opportunity to expand its visibility and grow its customer base through improved marketing strategies. As a former employee with direct insight into the day-to-day operations, I identified key areas where …

Navigating Local Values And External Strategies: Marketing And Development At Mayflower Bocawina National Park, Sophia E. Citro

Economics Undergraduate Honors Theses

This thesis explores the cultural and operational disconnect encountered while developing a marketing strategy for Mayflower Bocawina National Park (MBNP) in Belize. During a summer internship, my partner and I aimed to enhance MBNP’s visibility through targeted marketing initiatives, including website updates, promotional materials, and partnership proposals. However, our efforts revealed a deeper tension between external marketing objectives and the park staff’s prioritization of authenticity and experiential promotion. Through firsthand experience and reflection, this paper analyzes the challenges of aligning development strategies with local values, emphasizing the critical role of community engagement, cultural pride, and participatory planning in sustainable tourism …

Exploring The Influence Of Social Media Communication On Destination Branding: A Study Of Saudi Arabia, Abdullah Alshehri

Graduate Theses and Dissertations (2019 - present)

Tourists now find social media important in forming their perceptions and decision criteria when traveling. This Research investigates the impact of destination marketing organizations -generated content and tourist-generated content on tourists' inspiration to visit Saudi Arabia, emphasizing the mediating role of destination image dimensions (cognitive, affective, and sensory) and the moderating role of cultural distance. Based on the Elaboration Likelihood Model, Hofstede Cultural Dimension Theory; the research analyzed a dataset of 237 responses using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM). The findings reveal that destination marketing organizations -generated content and tourist-generated content significantly enhance perceived advertising value, which in …

Gardens Through The Ages: How Public Gardens Impact The Growth Of Society, Abby J. Cutsinger

ATU Scholars Symposium

Throughout history, gardens held a vital role in the development of civilizations, often serving as spaces for food, reflection, and community. The aim of this study was to explore the progression of gardens parallel to Maslow’s hierarchy of needs. Additionally, the study aimed to determine whether gardens help fulfill those needs and, in doing so, influence human morality. To examine these possibilities, the researcher conducted a literature review of historical and contemporary accounts of gardening and its effects on physical and psychological well-being, analyzing these findings through the lens of Maslow’s framework. Additionally, crime rate data were compared across several …

Impact Of Community Gardening On Neighborhood Crime Rates: Research Proposal, Abby J. Cutsinger

ATU Scholars Symposium

Gardening has been a part of human existence from the beginning of time, but people have become distanced from gardening as civilization has grown and urbanized. As this distance has grown, so has the disconnect between people and the basic needs which shape their views of themselves and of society. It is possible that, in the drift away from gardening as communities, humans have become less moral.

The purpose of this study is to determine if community gardening lowers violent crime rates.

This relationship will be gauged by answering the following questions:

• Which type of community gardening benefits community relationships …

Effect Of Street-Pricing Deregulation In U.S. Airports On Customer Satisfaction, Thorsten Merkle, Satheesh Seenivasan, Sushanta Das

ICHRIE Research Reports

This study investigates the impact of pricing policies and food and beverage (F&B) strategies on traveler satisfaction in the dynamic airport environment, with a focus on Phoenix airport in comparison with two other (undisclosed) major U.S. airports. Using a mixed-methods approach that integrates unstructured observations and social media analytics, the research provides a comprehensive understanding of passenger behavior, satisfaction, and spending patterns in airside F&B outlets.

Key findings reveal that traveler satisfaction is driven by factors such as service quality, timeliness, perceived value, and emotional engagement, with price sensitivity playing a relatively minor role. Phoenix International Airport exemplifies a successful …

The Effects Of Restaurant Cancellation Policies And No-Show Awareness Campaigns On Reservation Behaviors, Esther Kim, Jason Tang, Minji Kim, Eun Joo Kim

Department of Hospitality and Tourism Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works

This study addresses the persisting issue of restaurant reservation no-shows by applying the availability heuristic principle to analyze booking behaviors. Three experiments identified cancellation policy features and factors influencing booking and no-show behaviors. Findings confirmed that a cancellation barrier (i.e., strict policy and complex cancellation method) decreases no-show intentions and negatively affects booking intentions. This research suggests that a lenient cancellation policy, an easy cancellation method, and an awareness campaign can encourage positive guest booking behavior and reduce no-shows. Applying the availability heuristic principle to restaurant management, the current research enhances the understanding of psychological factors affecting guest decisions and …

Exploring Green Practices, Opportunities And Challenges Facing Tourism And Hospitality Industry For Sustainable Future In Rwanda, Paul Okumu

Journal of Global Hospitality and Tourism

This article examines the complexities surrounding green tourism practices in the global context with particular emphasis on Rwanda as a case study area. This article explores the opportunities presented to stakeholders and the challenges faced in achieving a sustainable future in tourism and hospitality consumption. The study pays keen interest to understanding the interaction between environmental conservation efforts, socio-economic development, and tourism sustainability. Thorough comprehensive literature review, key concepts and theoretical frameworks of green tourism are explored, laying the foundation for the analysis of previous studies on green tourism evolution globally and in developing countries. The study identifies factors influencing …