Tourism and Travel Commons^™

The Missing Link In Urban Tourism: Connecting Leisure, Accessibility And Resident Participation For Enhanced Value, Juliana Juliana, Amelda Pramezwary, Arifin Djakasaputra, Moh Muhlis Anwar, Ferry Jie

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

This study aims to explore the interrelationships between urban leisure opportunities, accessibility of cultural resources, residents’ active engagement in urban tourism and their perceptions of tourism value. By examining these dynamics, the study seeks to provide insights into fostering sustainable urban tourism that benefits both residents and visitors. A quantitative research design was employed, utilizing a structured survey distributed to urban residents. Partial least squares-structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) was used to analyze the relationships among variables, supported by reliability and validity tests. Bootstrapping techniques further assessed the robustness of the hypotheses. The results indicate significant positive relationships among the studied …

Antecedents Of Domestic Visitor’S Memorable Experiences And Gender Difference: A Heritage Tourism Context, Siamak Seyfi, S. M. Rasoolimanesh, Erose Sthapit, C. Michael Hall

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

This study explores the interplay between visitor engagement, authenticity, and destination image in shaping memorable tourism experiences (MTE) within the realm of domestic heritage tourism, as well as the potential moderating role of gender in these relationships. Data were collected in the historic city of Kashan, Iran through a self-administered questionnaire and a combination of Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) and multi-group analysis was employed to test the hypotheses. The results strongly support the influence of visitor engagement, authenticity, and destination image on various dimensions of MTE. Additionally, noteworthy gender differences emerged, revealing that authenticity has a more …

Scale Development For Measuring Sustainability Of Urban Destinations From The Perspectives Of Residents, Tourists, Businesses And Government, S. M. Rasoolimanesh, Shi Y. Chee, Atchara Salee

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

This study develops four subjective scales to measure a destination’s sustainability from the perspectives of residents, tourists, businesses and government agencies. Using the expert opinion survey, participants were asked to evaluate the initial list of indicators based on five aspects of sustainability, including economic, socio-cultural, environmental, political and technological sustainability for each stakeholder group. Then, the scales were validated using partial least squares - structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) and confirmatory composite analysis (CCA). This article has a unique theoretical contribution by developing four scales to measure the sustainability of destinations from the perspective of four main stakeholders. Moreover, this article …

Sacred Or Sacrificed Placemaking: A Contested Fan Pilgrimage Site For Rural Tourism Development, Timo Thelen, Sangkyun Kim, Tomohiro Kai, Eerang Park

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

The concept of placemaking describes the transformation and development of a site directed by the local authorities. This longitudinal study examines the emergence of a fan pilgrimage site in rural Japan and the subsequent placemaking process to establish it as a popular culture tourism site. The study uncovers friction among stakeholders and backlash against the top-down placemaking approach from both residents and fans, whose attitudes are more critical and impactful than those of non-fan tourists towards making the place. The study contributes to a nuanced understanding of placemaking dynamics and complexity by drawing on a non-Western context and its particularities, …

What Makes An Airbnb Experience Memorable? A Text Analysis Using Leximancer, Eunjung Kim, Songshan Huang

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

This study explores the factors that contribute to memorable experiences in the context of Airbnb. An open-ended question, ‘Please describe your most memorable experience with Airbnb’, was asked in the survey, and a total of 824 valid responses were obtained. The qualitative analysis of the data was conducted using Leximancer. The findings highlight the significance of the ‘Stay’, ‘Home’, ‘Family’, ‘Host’, ‘Beach’, and ‘Use’ themes, each playing a vital role in creating memorable experiences. In particular, the present study extends these findings by offering a more nuanced understanding of these dimensions, with specific themes emerging in relation to different demographic …

Digitalisation As A Vehicle Of Expansion Of Tourism Industry, Nehad Laila Sanju, Ghialy Yap, Shrabani Saha, Mahfuzur Rahman

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Despite increased interest both from scholars and policymakers, most research on digital transformation in the tourism sector focuses on demand-side factors. However, supply-side factors, specifically how the adaptation of information and communication technology benefits the industry, are somewhat scant. Applying Institutions and Economic Theory, this study examines the role of digitalisation in tourism development by employing the advanced bias-corrected method of moments dynamic panel model along with the Arellano-Bond, Arellano-Bover/Blundell-Bond method of moments for around 123 countries, including economic categorisations from 1995 to 2020. The results reveal that tourism is found to be positively and significantly correlated with digitalisation. Notably, …

From Mindset To Practice: How Employees’ Attitudes Impact Tourism Businesses’ Sustainability Practices, S. Mostafa Rasoolimanesh, Shi Y. Chee, Neethiahnanthan A. Ragavan

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Recognizing that attitudes can drive positive behavioral intentions, the study examines the effects of tourism business employees’ attitudes toward sustainable tourism on their involvement in economic, socio-cultural, environmental, political, and technological sustainability practices. The results of the 389 questionnaires completed by the employees revealed that employees’ attitudes toward sustainable tourism significantly affect the involvement of tourism businesses in sustainable practices. Importantly, these insights suggest that tourism businesses should prioritize cultivating a pro-sustainable mind-set among employees, enhancing training that links sustainability and business viability, and continuously aligning their sustainability strategies with changing societal standards. This study contributes to the literature on …

Regional Tourism Destination Brand Identity Formation Via Social Media: A Mixed Methods Study, Stephanie Meek, Violetta Wilk

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

This study examines the influence of social media on regional destination brand identity, addressing post-COVID-19 challenges for regional destinations through the Adaptive Control of Thought-Rational (ACT-R) theory framework. We conducted two studies: a qualitative analysis of 2325 social media user-generated content posts using Leximancer, and a quantitative survey of 1239 potential tourists using structural equation modelling (SEM) with AMOS. The qualitative study identified distinctive brand associations for the regional tourism destination, which informed Study 2. The quantitative study demonstrated that electronic word of mouth (eWOM) on social media has a positive influence on perceptions of regional tourism destination brand identity, …

The Impact Of Film Factors On Destination Image And Travel Intention: A Comparative Study Between Vietnamese And Korean Film Industry, Gavin Northey, Hoa Hong Pham, Colette Gallagher, Steve D’Alessandro, Phan Thi Minh Thu, Quan Ha Minh Tran, Trang Thị Thùy Dương

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Film tourism represents a growing opportunity for destination marketers, yet limited research examines how specific filmic components within a film’s dramatic architecture influence destination image and travel intention. This study addresses this gap through a sequential explanatory mixed-methods design comprising three phases. First, a pre-test (n = 360) using exploratory factor analysis identified and validated four film components: plot, culture and tradition, scenery, and humanism. Second, a between-subjects quasi-experimental study with Vietnamese viewers (n = 792) employed partial least squares structural equation modeling to test how Korean versus Vietnamese films differentially influence domestic and international travel intentions. Third, semi-structured interviews …

From Virtual To Reality: The Influence Of Digital Engagement And Memorable Experiences On Tourist Revisit Intentions, Tz-Li Wang, Muhammad Azizurrohman

ASEAN Marketing Journal

Research Aims: This study investigates the role of Digital Engagement in mediating the relationship between Marketing Mix, Destination Image, and Revisit Intentions in the tourism industry. It also examines how Technology Adoption and Memorable Tourism Experiences moderate this relationship, providing a deeper understanding of the factors that enhance tourist loyalty in a digitally driven travel environment.

Design/Methodology/Approach: A quantitative research design using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) was applied to analyze survey data collected from international tourists who visited Taiwan. The study assessed the direct, indirect, and moderating effects of key tourism variables using reliability and validity tests, …

The Strategy Of Taman Mini Indonesia Indah As An Educational Cultural Tourism Destination For Generation Z Students, Yoga Akbar Bramantya

Journal of Indonesian Tourism and Policy Studies

The Merdeka Belajar Program is a new policy of the Ministry of Education and Culture of the Republic of Indonesia that provides students with the freedom to learn, pays attention to their natural talents, and gives teachers and students the freedom to innovate. This program is designed based on the needs and desires of students, and utilizes educational tourism objects as a means of learning. Taman Mini Indonesia Indah (TMII) is one of the educational tourism destinations that is suitable for learning about Indonesian culture and diversity through detailed miniatures. TMII displays miniature traditional houses from various provinces with the …

Flight To Fraud, Emily Davis, Ricardo Partida

Capstones

Taxi hustlers are an enduring, intractable issue for New York City's airports. Through analysis of city data, court documents, and on-site observations, this investigation reveals how unauthorized drivers exploit travelers, charging excessive fares while posing safety risks. Despite public awareness campaigns and enforcement efforts by the Port Authority and others agencies, the problem continues to evolve. NYCity News Service reporters Emily Davis and Ricardo Partida investigate how these hustlers operate in plain sight of airport authorities.

Link: https://daviscapstone2025.carrd.co/

The Transformation Of The Commercial Airline Industry By Frequent Flyer Programs, Christian Demoras

Honors Program Theses and Projects

Frequent flyer programs (FFPs) started in the 1950s as rudimentary punchcard programs tracking limited customer information. However, at present, they are some of the most dynamic and complex loyalty programs in the world: maintaining external partnerships that have diversified industry economics with billions in annual co-branded revenue; agglomerating big data to create detailed customer profiles, determining their willingness to pay, and dynamically set pricing thereafter; and generating commercial value often exceeding the market capitalizations of their respective carriers. This paper leverages extensive secondary sources to portray the evolution of FFPs and their impact on the larger industry through every major …

Urban Pilgrimage On The Roofs: Analysing The Tourism Potential Of Rooftop Shrines In Ginza, Brigitta Pécsek

International Journal of Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage

The purpose of this research is to contribute to the relaunch of inbound tourism in Tokyo in a sustainable way focusing on rooftop shrines. The centre of this research is the shopping district, Ginza that is full of hidden shrines nestled among and on top of the high-rise buildings. The research aims to find out to what extent tourists in Tokyo are aware of these shrines and whether the ‘Luxurious Ginza’ brand constitutes a barrier to view it as a spiritual space. The mixed methodology used is of qualitative nature, including content analysis of sites, ethnography as well as a …

The Impact Of Prophet Ibrahim’S Supplications In The Qur’An On The Flourishing Of Islamic Pilgrimage, Tariq H. M. Elhadary, Razaq Raj

International Journal of Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage

The supplications of Prophet Ibrahim (pbuh) in the Qur’an have had a significant impact on the flourishing of Islamic Pilgrimage and have also provided spiritual guidance for those who visit these sacred sites. Through his supplications, Prophet Ibrahim (pbuh) expressed his love for the sacred places associated with the Islamic faith. His prayers for both the visitors and residents of these places, are believed to invoke divine blessings and protection upon them. Prophet Ibrahim’s supplications in the Qur’an also encouraged Muslim pilgrims (often referred to as religious tourists) to visit these holy sites by reminding them of the great rewards …

Tourism: A Bridge Between Religions, Deša Karamehmedović

International Journal of Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage

Interreligious dialogue is crucial for cultural, economic, and social progress, fostering cultural development through activities like tourism. To address misunderstandings and biases, continuous development and promotion of interreligious dialogue is essential. This two-way process emphasises the importance of ‘listening and telling’, while respecting differences. Religious tourism serves as a valuable tool for encounters and understanding among diverse communities. This paper tries to address the question of whether there are for interreligious dialogue in tourism that have yet to be applied and could be implemented? The findings from tourism theory indicate that religious encounters primarily take place in sacred places, sacred …

Pilgrimage And Tourism Marketing Concepts, Prospects, And Challenges In Two Developing Countries: Bangladesh And Ghana, Md. Javed Kawsar, Michael Evans, Rashed Khan

International Journal of Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage

This contextual paper analyses the significance of pilgrimage and tourism marketing concepts, prospects, and challenges in two developing countries, Ghana in the West of Africa, and Bangladesh in the South of Asia. The focus of this study is to assess the present marketing and promotion of tourism in the two countries which are different in population size, economy, and tourism contribution towards each country’s GDP.

Within the context of nature-based tourism initiatives in Bangladesh, it is imperative to measure future prospects of tourism marketing ventures related to pilgrimage. The development of marketing for tourism can be helpful for delivering stability …

Ijrtp Volume 12(Ii) Table Of Contents, Kevin A. Griffin, Razaq Raj, Carlos Fernandes, Ivan Dodig

International Journal of Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage

IJRTP Volume 12(ii) Table of Contents

Towards A European Governance Framework For Pilgrimage Routes: Challenges, Opportunities And Recommendations, Maria Laura Gasparini, José A. Cortés Vázquez

International Journal of Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage

Beyond its religious and spiritual traits, pilgrimage is gaining momentum as a sustainable tourism practice, while contributing to several EU priorities, including cultural heritage enhancement, intercultural dialogue, and economic development, particularly in rural areas suffering from depopulation and youth drain. Yet, their potential is hindered by a lack of coordination among the stakeholders involved at interregional and transnational levels, resulting in a far from homogeneous experience along pilgrimage routes. This paper maps out the existing policies and governance frameworks related to pilgrimage in seven European countries (Hungary, Italy, Norway, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia and Spain), identifying gaps between regions and opportunities …

Connecting Lighthouses To Spiritual Tourism: The Case Of The Hellenic Lighthouse Network, Polyxeni Moira, Paraskevi Kakaroucha

International Journal of Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage

Lighthouses operate as carriers of cultural value and encapsulate universal connotations. They are harmoniously integrated in unspoilt landscapes, some of which are considered dystopian. Their delicate albeit resilient structure, settled within dynamic geophysical fields, elicits philosophical quests and metaphysical concerns. Lighthouses are connected to narratives of heroism, solitude, self-efficacy and lunacy, with altruistic keepers and divine or supernatural entities starring in plenty of them. Moreover, lighthouses have been associated with religious facilities and rituals for many centuries. Therefore, they attract people pursuing transformative experiences away from mass tourism locations and could unsurprisingly be included in alternative spiritual tourism itineraries.

Greek …