Tourism and Travel Commons^™

Developing Sustainable Medical Tourism: A Framework In The Perspective Of Developing Countries, Abel Ansporthy Mamboleo Dr.

Journal of Sustainability and Resilience

This study reviewed the literature to develop the framework for sustainable medical tourism in developing countries. According to the findings, the development of a sustainable tourist destination necessitates the involvement of various stakeholders and adherence to sustainability principles. The framework suggests five essential tasks for sustainable medical tourism development. It contributes to the knowledge of sustainable medical tourism by suggesting the framework for analysing a specific situation for the development of a medical tourist destination. It provides a better understanding of sustainable medical tourism operations by integrating medication, travel, hospitality, and tourism. Moreover, it contributes to the sphere of medical …

Women Walking: Experiences Of Sacred Time On Mexican Guadalupan Pilgrimage, Sadie Yates

International Journal of Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage

Each July, 60,000 Catholic pilgrims walk from their home state of Querétaro, Mexico, to the Basilica of the Virgin of Guadalupe in Mexico City, a journey totaling 17 days and 450 km. Roughly 25,000 of these pilgrims are women, who walk in their own group, one day ahead of the men (Catholic News Agency, 2018). The goal of this pilgrimage is to see the Virgin of Guadalupe, a strong symbol of Catholic and Mexican identity since her original appearance to an indigenous peasant man in 1531. Yet, for many of these women pilgrims, the pilgrimage process is just as important …

A Spiritual Pilgrimage To A Celtic Homeland: Searching And Internalising In Grief From Stone To Sea. A Collaborative Autoethnography, Laura Lewis, Eunice Gorman

International Journal of Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage

This collaborative autoethnography poses the research question; How does one’s experience of grief and anticipatory grief mobilise pilgrimage journeys to ancestral homelands? Two theoretical constructs found in the academic literature related to grief and loss are explored for their influence on both authors’ respective pilgrimage journeys to the Celtic ancestral homeland of their deceased and ‘vanishing’ fathers in Wales and Ireland. The theoretical constructs explored through an extensive review of paternal personal documents of one author (Laura), revealed thematic ideas that could be best understood through an elaboration of the academic literature(s) that inform understandings of grief and bereavement. These …

Ijrtp Volume 12(Iv) Table Of Contents, Ian S. Mcintosh, Dane Munro, Dagnachew Leta Senbeto, Kevin A. Griffin, Carlos Fernandes, Razaq Raj

International Journal of Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage

Special Issue: 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

Khuralgarh Sahib: A Pilgrimage Destination For Adi Dharm Followers, Anna V. Bochkovskaya

International Journal of Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage

In the 1920s, a protest movement named Ad(i) Dhar(a)m, or Original Religion, emerged in the British province of Punjab with the aim of establishing a religious identity for the untouchable castes and low-caste people, basically from the Sikh community. The Adi Dharmis venerated Sant (Saint) Ravidas, a medieval mystic poet, a Chamar or tanner by origin. The list of their gurus also included Maharishi Valmiki, the legendary first poet — Adi Kavi, or the author of Ramayana, as well as two low-caste Bhakti poets — Kabir and Namdev.

The colonial Census of 1931 listed Adi Dharm as a new religion …

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 …

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. …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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.

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, …

Value Co-Creation In Live Streaming Through Tourism Scenes: A Contextual Marketing Perspective, Jun Yu, Chaowu Xie, Songshan Huang

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Purpose: This study aims to identify a value co-creation framework for live streaming through tourism scenes (LStTS). It also clarifies the value attributes of LStTS and makes an empirical test. Design/methodology/approach: The study used a mixed-method approach. In Study 1, a total of 12,216 pieces of viewers’ comments and ten web news reports were coded and analyzed employing a grounded theory approach. In Study 2, data were collected from 587 Douyin e-commerce users. Exploratory factor analysis and partial least squares structural equation modeling were used to test the value co-creation framework of LStTS. Findings: In Study 1, six value attributes …

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 …

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 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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …