Tourism and Travel Commons^™

Dynamic Knowledge Practices In Tourism Village Development: An Activity Theory Perspective, Xianyang Hu, Jie Chen, Songshan (Sam) Huang

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

This study investigates why tourism village development models often fail to replicate success despite cultural and geographic similarities. Using activity theory and knowledge management concepts, we analyze two adjacent Chinese villages to trace explicit knowledge flow and examine disrupted tacit and indigenous knowledge practices. Findings show that while surface-level knowledge transfer occurs, contradictions within activity system elements, especially the marginalization of indigenous knowledge and community capacity, hinder effective knowledge application. Knowledge flow is inherently nonlinear and deeply context-dependent. We develop a comparative activity system model that highlights how success hinges less on knowledge transfer and more on the integration of …

Overservice Backfires: The Impact Of High Robot Attentiveness On Tourists' Discontinuous Usage Intentions, Jinwei Wang, Yingzong Tang, Xin Chen, Songshan (Sam) Huang

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

AI-powered robots can meet both functional and emotional consumer service needs through proactive engagement. Yet, excessive attentiveness may produce unintended negative outcomes. Drawing on conservation of resources theory, this research employs four studies and a single-paper meta-analysis to investigate how highly (vs. moderately) attentive robotic service influences tourists' intentions to discontinue use. Results show that highly attentive robotic service increases discontinuous usage intentions, and this effect unfolds sequentially through perceived threat to freedom and emotional exhaustion. Furthermore, information sensitivity and technology anxiety moderate the relationship between robotic attentiveness and discontinuous usage intentions. These findings offer strategic insights for tourism practitioners …

Connectivity And Tourism Flow In Small Island Developing States, Edmir Luciano Dos Santos Ferreira, João Paulo Madeira

International Journal of Islands Research

Tourism in Small Island Developing States (SIDS) faces unique sustainability challenges, with connectivity emerging as a critical factor. These nations, often situated in remote locations, encounter significant accessibility constraints and limited infrastructure, which restrict tourist flows and adversely affect economic development. The primary aim of this paper is to analyse the relationship between connectivity and tourism flows in SIDS, exploring how connectivity, proxied by geographical and cultural-political distance, influences tourism in these regions. Furthermore, the study seeks to determine whether belonging to different SIDS regions or exhibiting varying levels of development helps destinations attract greater tourist flows, by examining several …

Check-In With A Chatbot: How Robots Are Redefining The Smart Hotel Experience, Jiaxin Sylvia Wang, Xiaoxiao Fu

Rosen Research Review

The research by Wang and Fu explores how guests perceive and experience smart hotels, with a particular focus on human–robot interaction. Analyzing 546 online reviews from Chinese travelers, the study identifies five key dimensions of guest gratification: utilitarian, sensual, social, experiential, and overall satisfaction. Guests praised smart servicescapes, robot efficiency, and novelty, while also expressing emotional connections and expectations for personalized interaction. The findings offer hospitality leaders a roadmap for designing smart hotel experiences that are not only functional but emotionally engaging.

Co-Working With Machines: How Service Robots Shape Frontline Employee Experiences And Well-Being, Cynthia Mejia, Hannah A. Crandell, Emily Broker, Mindy Shoss

Rosen Research Review

The research by Mejia, Crandell, Broker, and Shoss reveals the complex realities faced by restaurant workers navigating the rise of service robots. Through in-depth interviews with 42 frontline employees, the study uncovers how robot adoption affects collaboration, productivity, emotional well-being, and perceptions of job security. While robots reduce physical strain and offer entertainment value, they also spark frustration, resentment, and fears of displacement. This research offers hospitality leaders a human-centered roadmap for integrating service robots in ways that support—not replace—the workforce.

When Robots Say Sorry: Emotions, Apologies, And The Future Of Service Recovery, Ruby Hong Ngoc Nguyen, Ngoc Tran Nguyen, Murat Hancer

Rosen Research Review

The research by Nguyen, Tran Nguyen, and Hancer reveals how human–robot collaboration and apology styles shape customer retention after service failures. Using experimental scenarios, the study shows that robots can effectively lead recovery efforts—especially when paired with economic apologies—while human involvement enhances the impact of social apologies. Comfort emotions and continued robot usage mediate the path to loyalty, offering hospitality leaders a blueprint for designing emotionally intelligent service recovery strategies.

Reviews That Reveal Return: When Guest Feedback Becomes A Predictor Of Future Visits, Jeong-Yeol Park, Wookjae Heo, Jongwon Lee, Shinyong Jung

Rosen Research Review

The research by Park, Heo, Lee, and Jung reveals how online hotel reviews do more than express opinions—they predict whether guests will return. By blending the Theory of Planned Behavior with machine learning, the study uncovers how attitudes, social influence, and perceived control embedded in review language shape actual revisit behavior. This innovative approach transforms unstructured text into actionable insights, offering hospitality professionals a powerful new lens on customer loyalty.

Paws And Persuasion: How Dog Influencers Shape Hotel Booking Decisions, Wei Wei, Lu Zhang, Tianyu Ying, Yanyan Zheng

Rosen Research Review

The research by Wei, Zhang, Ying, and Zheng explores how pet influencers—specifically dog influencers on Instagram—impact hotel booking intentions. Through two experiments, the study reveals that message appeal (rational vs. emotional) interacts with audience characteristics like prior experience and perceived attractiveness of the pet influencer. Rational messages are more persuasive for less experienced travelers and when the pet influencer is perceived as less attractive. Emotional messages, while engaging, are less effective in these contexts. This research uncovers the nuanced power of pet influencer marketing and offers practical strategies for hospitality marketers seeking to tap into the booming “cute economy” of …

Intelligence Unleashed: How Generative Ai Is Rewriting The Rules Of Tourism Education And Research, Tarik Dogru, Nathana Line, Lydia Hanks, Fulya Acikgoz, Je'anna Abbott, Selim Bakir, Adiyukh Berbekova, Anil Bilgihan, Ali Iskender, Murat Kizildag, Minwood Lee

Rosen Research Review

The research by Dogru, Line, Hanks, Acikgoz, and colleagues explores how generative artificial intelligence (GAI) is transforming higher education and academic research in tourism and hospitality. From personalized learning to automated data analysis, GAI offers unprecedented opportunities— but also raises ethical and legal concerns. The study frames GAI as a disruptive innovation, challenging traditional models of teaching, authorship, and intellectual property. It calls for structural changes in curricula, transparent policies, and collaborative efforts to ensure responsible integration. With tools like ChatGPT already reshaping classrooms and research labs, this paper offers a timely roadmap for educators, researchers, and administrators navigating the …

Level Up Your Stay: How Energy-Saving Games Are Changing Green Hotel Loyalty, Aili Wu, Juhee Kang, David J. Kwun, Wei Wei

Rosen Research Review

The research by Wu, Kang, Kwun, and Wei reveals how gamification—specifically achievement-based energy-saving games—can transform hotel guests’ attitudes and behaviors toward sustainability. By integrating achievement-goal theory and the theory of planned behavior, the study shows that when guests feel challenged and motivated, they are more likely to engage in green practices and return to the hotel. Interestingly, perceived control over the game sometimes reduces revisit intentions, suggesting that too much ease can lead to boredom. Guests with prior green hotel experiences respond even more positively to gamified sustainability. This research offers a fresh perspective on how hotels can use game …

When Customers Collide Online: The Hidden Power Of Approval In Digital Service Failures, Wei Wei, Lu Zhang, Bobbie Rathjens, Sean Mcginley

Rosen Research Review

The research by Wei, Zhang, Rathjens, and McGinley reveals a surprising twist in how restaurant customers respond to online interactions after a service failure. When fellow customers chime in—either with support or mockery—their comments can dramatically shape how the original complainant feels, engages, and judges fairness. But the real game-changer? Whether the customer craves approval. Those with low need for approval react strongly to the tone of others’ comments, while high-approval seekers remain emotionally steady. This study uncovers the psychological undercurrents of electronic customerto- customer interaction (eCCI), offering fresh insights into empathy, justice, and digital engagement in hospitality.

Putting Humanity First In Service Robotics: For Me, Robotics Is About Giving Hospitality Teams The Breathing Room To Care More Deeply For People., Manuel Rivera, Cynthia Mejia

Rosen Research Review

In an engaging conversation with Juan Higueros, Co-Founder and COO of Bear Robotics, we explore his vision for human-centered robotics and how technology can empower hospitality teams to deliver deeper, more meaningful guest experiences.

Sky-High Expectations: How Drones And Emotions Are Reshaping Food Delivery In Africa, Frank Badu-Baiden, Weisheng Chiu, Eudora Hagan, Victor Anderson Hodibert

Rosen Research Review

The research by Badu-Baiden, Chiu, Hagan, and Hodibert unpacks the emotional, social, and psychological puzzle behind consumer acceptance of drone food delivery in Ghana. Using complexity theory and fsQCA, the study shows multiple adoption paths. Motivation, emotion, perceived risk, and social influence shape intention and willingness to pay. Positive emotions and usefulness drive interest, while privacy concerns and negative feelings hinder it. Trust and cultural context matter deeply.

Boarding By Biometrics: How Smart Technology Is Reshaping Passenger Experience, Xiaoting Chi, Frank Badu-Baiden, Seongseop (Sam) Kim, Junwei Cao, Elena-Nicoleta Untaru, Heekyoung Jung, Heesup Han

Rosen Research Review

The research by Chi, Badu-Baiden, Kim, Cao, Untaru, Jung, and Han explores how biometric boarding transforms airline travel. Using technology acceptance, agenda setting, and behavioral reasoning theories, the study reveals how ease of use, usefulness, media exposure, and attitudes shape adoption. Findings stress convenience, engagement, and targeted communication, with age and gender influencing responses. For airport managers and designers, the research offers practical strategies for secure, efficient, and passenger-centered boarding systems.

The Pleasure Principle: Why Enjoyment May Be The Missing Link In Ai Adoption, Arthur Huang, Ahmet Bulent Ozturk, Tingting Zhang, Efren De La Mora Velasco, Adam Haney

Rosen Research Review

The research by Huang, Ozturk, Zhang, de la Mora Velasco, and Haney reveals a compelling insight: enjoyment—not just efficiency—is a key driver of whether guests will continue using AI in hospitality and tourism. By expanding the expectation-confirmation model, the study shows that perceived enjoyment, alongside performance and satisfaction, plays a pivotal role in shaping future use intentions. This shift toward hedonic value reframes how hoteliers and tourism professionals should design and promote AI services. The findings suggest that delight, fun, and emotional resonance are just as important as functionality when it comes to long-term engagement with AI-powered experiences.

A Spiritual Passage From Santiago To Sligo: Celtic Pilgrimage From St. John’S Eve To Queen Maeve’S Procession, Nichole Lariscy Ph.D.

International Journal of Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage

This paper explores the spiritual dimensions of Celtic pilgrimage through a comparative analysis of two journeys: the Celtic Camino, primarily known as the English Way to Santiago, in Galicia, Spain, and the pilgrimage to Queen Maeve’s Cairn in Sligo, Ireland. It examines how invented traditions and mythological narratives contribute to a sense of ancestral connection and spiritual homecoming. The study employs autoethnographic narrative and theoretical frameworks including Simon Coleman’s concept of laterality and Jenny Butler’s observations on neo-pagan re-sacralisation of the landscape. Field observations, personal reflections, and literature review inform the analysis. The paper identifies ritual, festival, and storytelling as …

Editorial: Exploring The Personal, Spiritual, Cultural, And Historical Dimensions Of Sacred Journeys, Ian S. Mcintosh, Abu Bakr Sirajuddin Cook, Nichole Lariscy Ph.D.

International Journal of Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage

The papers in this special issue of the International Journal of Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage represent a rich sampling of offerings from the annual Sacred Journeys conferences held in Kyoto (Japan) in 2024 and Canberra (Australia) in 2025. Collectively, they explore pilgrimage as a transformative and multifaceted practice that encompasses personal, spiritual, cultural, and historical dimensions.

The Transformative Essence Of Liminality: Pilgrimage And The Example Of St. Francis Of Assisi, John Kruse

International Journal of Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage

Looking at the life of St. Francis of Assisi (1181/2–1226) through the lens of liminality can help to understand this complex figure. Anthropologist Victor Turner, for example, has explored Francis’s embrace of poverty as a means of experiencing liminality and the communitas that accompanies it. Three episodes in the life of Francis in particular constitute liminal experiences in that Francis left behind old ways of being, crossed thresholds, and experienced transformation: his encounter with lepers, his renunciation of possessions and coinciding embrace of poverty, and his encounter with Sultan Malik al-Kamil. Understanding these episodes as liminal experiences not only helps …

Ijrtp Volume 14(I) Table Of Contents, Ian S. Mcintosh, Abu Bakr Sirajuddin Cook, Nichole Lariscy Ph.D., Kevin Griffin, Razaq Raj, Carlos Fernandes

International Journal of Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage

IJRTP Volume 14(i) Table of Contents

Special Issue papers from annual Sacred Journeys conferences held in Kyoto (Japan) in 2024 and Canberra (Australia) in 2025.

Pilgrimage On Paper: A Contemplative Writing Practice, Angelika Halstead

International Journal of Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage

Autobiographers, poets, and journal keepers have always intuitively known the transformative and healing power of personal writing. Some people write in a cathartic way to empty themselves of stored up emotions and experiences. Having freed themselves from old baggage they are prepared for their lives to take new directions. Others write because they want to find out what they think and make meaning of their lives. They write in pursuit of truth and find that as they become honest and face the truth their lives change and their stories turn into new and re-storied versions. It is also known that …