Tourism and Travel Commons^™

Rebuilding Possible: Pilgrimage And Learned Helplessness, Christianna Soumakis

International Journal of Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage

Learned helplessness is a belief in one’s own powerlessness which may develop after repeated exposure to stressful situations ranging from domestic abuse to public education. It is associated with pessimism, passivity in the face of obstacles, and depression. Pilgrimage, conversely, is associated with agency — striking out on one’s own in search of physical, emotional, cognitive, and / or spiritual transformation. Combining psychological literature with my personal experience as a pilgrim, special education student, artist, art facilitator for people with special needs, and professor, I argue that walking pilgrimages such as the Camino de Santiago offer a comprehensive opportunity to …

Navigating Liminal Moments Through Pilgrimage: Insights From The Journey Of St. Clare Of Assisi, Alexandria M. Egler, John V. Kruse

International Journal of Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage

During the late hours of Palm Sunday in 1209, Clare Offreduccio embarked on a pilgrimage that would come to define her as a leader and role model for women. In an act of faith and bravery, St. Clare of Assisi abandoned her life as a noble and all of the security, power, and privilege that came with it. In so doing, she denied the marriage plans her family had for her that would advance their political, social, and economic future. By exiting her home through the door of death and then the city of Assisi through one of the fortified …

The Kyoto Trail: Sacred Sites On A Pseudo-Pilgrimage, Wayne E. Arnold, John A. Shultz

International Journal of Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage

How should we conceive of a secular walking trail that traverses a country’s premier holy sites in and around its spiritual capital? The Kyoto Trail is something of an oddity in comparison to the plentiful sacred walking paths throughout Japan. The 84-kilometer circuit probes and circumambulates the city of Kyoto via a horseshoe-like arc. It links an array of holy mountains with lush realms of nature and connects dozens of famous pilgrimage locations of exceptionally varied descriptions. However, while the trail sometimes overlaps with medieval pilgrimage routes, it is a relatively new course, established in the early 1990s through initiatives …

Pilgrimage: A Growing Global Phenomenon - Editorial, Dane Munro, Dagnachew Leta Senbeto, Ian S. Mcintosh

International Journal of Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage

Editorial and introduction to Special Issue of papers presented at Sacred Journeys 11th Global Conference - Pilgrimage: A Growing Global Phenomenon, Waijun Kaikan Conference Center, Chion-In Buddhist Temple, Kyoto, Japan, July 1-4, 2024

A Sacred Mountain And Storytelling About Pilgrimage: Contemporary Religious Practice Of Incense Associations At Mount Tai, Ziqi Xuan

International Journal of Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage

As a form of pilgrimage in China, the Chaoshan jinxiang (朝山進香, ‘offering incense towards the mountain’), is a ritual that has garnered significant academic attention. However, research on contemporary incense offering practices remains inadequate. Grounded in fieldwork conducted from September 2023 to January 2024, this paper delves into the pilgrimage practices of local incense associations at Mount Tai, a historical site steeped in profound religious significance for centuries. Within the framework of collective memory studies, the paper posits that the contemporary practices of incense offering used to connect with spiritual beings during the pilgrimage to Mount Tai highlight a shift …

Juegos Panamericanos Y Parapanamericanos 2023. Estudios Sobre El Impacto Social, Turismo, Voluntariado, Y Equilibrio De Género, Gonzalo A. Bravo, Daniel Duclos-Bastías, Jorge Silva-Bórquez, Jose María López-Gullón, Jose Miguel Vegara-Ferri, Salvador Angosto-Sánchez, Melissa L. Roco-Olivares, Patricio A. Rubilar-Arancibia, David Gallegos-Meza, Natasha Santos-Lise

Faculty & Staff Scholarship

During the Santiago 2023 Pan American and Parapan American Games, held between October and November of 2023 in Santiago, Chile, six researchers from universities in the United States, Spain and Chile, conducted data collection for four research studies. These studies focused on: (1) the Games’ social impact on residents; (2) tourist profiles and their evaluations of the event; (3) volunteer motivations, empowerment, satisfaction, and future intentions; and (4) progress toward gender equity in Pan American sport organizations. Over 13,000 responses were collected. Findings on social impact showed improved public perception, enhanced infrastructure, a better city image, and a stronger sense …

Ijrtp Volume 12(Iii) Editorial / Introduction, Dr. Taruna

International Journal of Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage

Editorial / Introduction to Special Issue derived from Papers Presented at International Conference on Religious Tourism (ICRT-2023), held at the Department of Management Studies, Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University Lucknow, (U.P), India, 27-28 March 2023

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 …

Contextualising Hotel Career Behaviour: Testing A Sociocultural And Organizational Career Model, Franklin Akosa, Songshan (Sam) Huang, Hossein Ali Abadi, Jun Wen

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

This study applies Social Cognitive Career Theory (SCCT) to develop and empirically test a contextual model of hotel career outcomes in Ghana, focusing on how social and organizational factors shape employees' career attitudes and intentions. Drawing on survey data from 769 frontline hotel employees, Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) was employed to assess both the measurement and structural models. The results reveal that subjective norms significantly and positively influence career attitudes. Transformational leadership not only strengthens employees' career attitudes and intentions but also moderates the relationship between subjective norms and career attitudes, amplifying their positive effect. Additionally, favourable …

Complex Tapestry Of Ebooking Determinants: A Moderation Analysis Of Short-Term Rental, E. A. Ndaguba, K. Brown

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

The objective of this study is to investigate the multifaceted determinants influencing booking intentions in the dynamic landscape of short-term rentals. Drawing on established theories in consumer behaviour and hospitality management, the research aims to shed light on the interplay of factors such as price, occupancy rate, reviews, superhost status, instant book feature, listing type, and their potential moderation. By synthesising these insights, the study seeks to provide a deeper understanding of the complex decision-making processes of potential guests in the evolving context of modern hospitality and short-term accommodation platforms.

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, …

The Economic And Environmental Impact Of Shinkansen And High-Speed Rail Infrastructure: A Comparative Analysis Of Economic Growth And Carbon Emissions Reduction, Dillan R. Victory

SPARK Symposium Presentations

The development of Japan's high-speed rail system, the Shinkansen, has played a pivotal role in the country's post-war economic resurgence. Introduced in 1964 with the Tokaidō Shinkansen, this transformative infrastructure investment significantly reduced travel times, bolstered economic activity around station hubs, and facilitated regional development by enabling urban decentralization. This paper explores the long-term economic benefits of high-speed rail, including its impact on land value, business expansion, and carbon emissions. The case study of the Linear Chuo Shinkansen, Japan's latest maglev project, underscores both the economic promise and the political resistance to expansion, particularly in regions such as Shizuoka.

Using …

The Sustainability Of The Outdoor Recreation Industry: Studied Through Mountaineering In Teton County, Wy, Samantha Olstein

Student Research and Publications

No abstract provided.

Introducing Sustainable Development Goals In College Curricula: A Way Forward, Christy Ashley, Jason D. Oliver, Hillary Leonard

Markets, Globalization & Development Review

The commentary proposes a blueprint to help guide curriculum innovations, partnerships, and teaching interventions that incorporate the United Nations sustainable development goals (SDGs) into the curriculum. It suggests the utilization of AACSB’s Societal Impact Canvas with Ancona et al.’s (2007) Leadership Capabilities (Sensemaking, Relating, Visioning, Inventing) to provide a blueprint for mission-aligned SDG integration at a local level. It provides an illustrative example from the University of Rhode Island (USA), where the focus is on the Blue Economy. It aims to provide practical guidance for how a college or university can efficiently organize to gain stakeholder input that helps enhance …

Identifying Intangible And Biocultural Heritage Elements Toward Environmental Understanding: Engaging Stakeholders Through Art, Martha B. Lerski

Publications and Research

Grounded in a case study in Barbuda in the Caribbean, this research examines sustainability from the perspective of what arts and heritage can contribute to community engagement and local and broader understandings about the environment. This article documents a growing body of literature recognizing the role of arts and culture, including local knowledge and traditional ecological knowledge (TEK), in climate change endeavors. Art and TEK present expansive world views. Contextual information situates research done on the island of Barbuda pre- and post-Hurricane Irma. Visual arts workshops engaged community members in mixed methods research. Results documented cultural elements, particularly intangible and …

Shore Leave : Rare, Brief And In Danger Of Extinction, Maria Carrera-Arce, Raphael Baumler, Bikram Singh Bhatia, Lei Du

Reports

Shore leave for seafarers is generally accepted as a custom, if not a right, essential for well- being and pressure relief from the responsibilities of life on board. However, it is clear that the ability of seafarers to take shore leave has been seriously eroded and may even be facing extinction.

The combination of workload on board and limited time in port make it virtually impossible for seafarers to make time for shore leave. Commercial pressures have increased, and there is a serious risk that facilities available for seafarers will decline due to a lack of demand.

The culprits are …

Curaçao's Tourism Transformation: Building A Legacy Of Growth, Manuel Rivera, Margaret Zorrilla

Dick Pope Sr. Institute Publications

Tourism in Curaçao has experienced remarkable growth, with total arrivals increasing from 582,400 in 2023 to 700,242 in 2024. This surge reflects the island’s rising appeal as a destination and sets the foundation for the significant economic contributions that follow.

Where Music Shapes A Legacy, Manuel Rivera, Margaret Zorrilla Cortez

Dick Pope Sr. Institute Publications

The 2025 Curaçao North Sea Jazz Festival (CNSJF) reinforced its reputation as one of the Caribbean’s leading cultural events, delivering substantial economic benefits, an outstanding visitor experience, and deepening loyalty to both the festival and Curaçao. CNSJF 2025 stands as a powerful engine for Curaçao’s economy, a benchmark for festival experiences, and a driver of lasting loyalty and advocacy for both the event and the island. Its legacy is not only musical but also economic and cultural, shaping how visitors connect with Curaçao for years to come.

Analyzing Real-Time Behavioral Shifts In Response To Tourism Policy Using Google Trends Data And Advanced Difference-In-Differences (Did) Methods, Aaron Bradley Scott

Doctor of Business Administration Dissertations

Google Trends is a publicly available aggregate search data portal that allows researchers to capture and review search interests. This dissertation analyzes real-time behavioral shifts resulting from tourism policy changes in Venice, Italy using Google Trends data. This work contributes to the current literature in DiD modeling, by using information-seeking behavior that is ahead of observable, lagged, outcomes. Through the integration of recent DiD advancements, this work further extends DiD applications in tourism econometrics, and a case-example of real-world tourism policy assessment. This dissertation highlights changes in search behavior immediately following policy implementation. Additionally, this work highlights Google Trends as …

Confronting Indecision, Lane Allison Murray

ENGS 15.11: Design and Education

This course aims to increase students' understanding of indecision and how to confront it. The class provides insight into how the fear of the unknown holds people back from making decisions and about understanding one's values as a means to combat indecision. Students and teachers alike explore instances of indecision and evaluate their own impulses & thought processes by reflecting on the deeper reasons for their choices. Students will increase their comfort level of asking themselves and their peers questions about the values that guide them and, in doing so, strengthen their relationships with themselves and others.

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 …

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, …

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 …

Accessible Tourism: Tourists With Physical Disability - Segmentation Based On Perceived Travel Barriers, Changjiang Tao, Songshan Huang, Jin Wang, Guanghui Qiao

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Purpose: This study aims to explore the heterogeneity of the tourist market for people with a physical disability (PwPD) based on travel barriers, to serve them better, from a tourism marketing perspective. Design/methodology/approach: A market segmentation analysis was conducted on a sample of 480 PwPD in Sichuan Province, China, based on their perceived travel barriers. Data were obtained through three on-site and four online surveys. A four-step factor-item mixed segmentation, including factor analysis, cluster analysis, discriminant analysis and chi-square tests, was applied to examine the differences among PwPD tourist market segments in terms of various demographic characteristics, disability conditions (e.g. …

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 …

The Effect Of Climate Change On Different Types Of International Visitors In Western Australia, Ghialy Yap, Charbel Bassil

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

This paper examines the effects of climate change on tourist arrivals to Western Australia, which we classify according to the purpose of their visit (business, education, holiday, visitors of friends and relatives (VFR), and employment). We construct a temperature variability indicator that measures the deviation of extreme temperatures from the average temperature. Overall, the results reveal that temperature variabilities have long-term diminishing effects on tourist arrivals, specifically VFR, visitors for employment and education. Surprisingly, unusually low-temperature variability negatively affects tourist arrivals more than unusually high-temperature variability. This suggests that cooler temperatures than expected could lead to tourists’ dissatisfaction and reduce …

Towards Carbon Neutrality In Tourism: Pathways And Future Research Directions, Pezhman Hatamifar, Kourosh Esfandiar, Zahed Ghaderi

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Achieving carbon neutrality (CN) in tourism is essential for mitigating climate change, yet existing literature provides limited guidance on effective pathways. This review addresses this gap by examining key strategies for carbon-neutral tourism, integrating both mitigation and adaptation approaches across three pathways: individual actions, industry initiatives, and destination policies to advance CN goals in tourism. This review found that achieving CN in the tourism industry necessitates a multifaceted approach involving stakeholders at various levels, from individuals to destination managers and policymakers, on both the supply and demand sides. Additionally, addressing behavioral changes, ethical considerations, and transparent carbon offset programs are …

The Impacts Of Digital Technology Use And Tourism Expenditure On Women’S Family Status: Evidence From China, Jinwei Wang, Juan Hu, Yachen Zhang, Xin Wang, Alastair M. Morrison

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

The status of women is an influential factor in supporting the stable development of families and societies. How to improve women’s status has become a focus in gender studies, with emerging digital technologies and tourism expenditure thought to have potential impacts. This research investigated relationships among digital technology use, tourism expenditure, and women’s family status using survey data from the China Family Panel Studies (CFPS). The impacts were determined through developing baseline regression and stepwise regression models. The main findings were: (1) Digital technology use had a significant and positive effect on women’s family status, and there were differences among …

Phase-Specific Pandemic Survival Strategies: Insights From Tour Operators, Kai Xin Tay, Thanam Subramaniam, Jeniffer Kim Lian Chan, Neethiahnanthan Ari Ragavan, S. Mostafa Rasoolimanesh, Joaquim Dias Soeiro

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and a significant and negative impact on the tourism sector, and effective strategies were required to resolve pertinent challenges. The present study sought to appraise the survival strategies of Malaysian tour operators through a systematic literature review and in-depth interviews with 26 tour operator firms. The findings were discussed by employing a reactive, adaptive, protective, and proactive (RAPP) framework to underscore phase-specific strategies. The first phase included decreasing operational expenditures and staff layoffs. The second phase encompassed retraining existing staff while diversifying the current business scope. The third phase prioritised protecting financial integrity, engaging …

Preparing Tourism, Hospitality And Events Graduates To Be Industry Ready: Extending The Three-Factor Model Of Authentic Learning, Eliza Kitchen, Edmund Goh, Effie Steriopoulos, Tracy Harkison, Colin Drake, Martin Robertson, Erwin Losekoot, Lynn Waterston

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Authentic learning is a critical pedagogy and curriculum requirement in higher education to better prepare students for future workforce requirements. As such, educators adopt a range of authentic learning tasks such as work-integrated learning, industry reports, and field trips to enable student engagement in current industry issues. Although such actions are practical and have valuable impact on students, there has been little effort to narrow the theoretical gap. The present study addresses this by extending the authentic learning three-factor model (construction of knowledge, disciplined inquiry, and value beyond school) to evaluate the perceptions of educators in THE higher education towards …