International Tourism Development Research Articles

TOURISM MARKET IN THE WORLD AND IN RUSSIA: MODERN STATE AND DEVELOPMENT PROSPECTS

Tourism plays a significant role in the GDP, job creation, and employment in many countries. According to the statistics of the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) and Oxford Economics, there was a rapid recovery in the tourism sector in 2022, with its contribution to the global GDP increasing by 22% on an annual basis, reaching $7.7 trillion US dollars. There is a direct link between the trends in the development of the tourism industry and overall economic, technical, and social achievements. In recent years, the structure of tourist flows to the Russian Federation has changed significantly due to geopolitical and socio-economic factors.
 The aim of this research is to analyze the development of tourism in the post-pandemic period, taking into account the impact of international sanctions against Russia and restrictions on the travel of Russian citizens abroad.
 The objects of the study were tourist flows, their structure and dynamics, as well as a quantitative assessment of the entities and actors associated with tourism activities.
 This work is based on the authors’ own research and data provided by state statistics. Statistical methods and methods of general scientific research, including observation, data collection, and comparison of two or more objects to identify common and distinctive features, were used for analysis.
 Results. The paper presents economic indicators of the hospitality industry’s development, analyzes statistical indicators of the hospitality market for the years 2018-2022 and their structure. Problems and current trends in the development of the tourism and hotel markets in the Russian Federation are identified.
 Application of results. The results can be applied in the scientific and practical activities of regional authorities in addressing issues related to the development of international and domestic tourism.

The Automated Information System “Perimeter” is a Tool for the Modernization of Information and Technical Support of Sanitary and Quarantine Control

Sanitary and quarantine control (SQC) at the state border of the Russian Federation is the first barrier to the importation and subsequent spread of diseases on the territory of the country. Every year the number of registered outbreaks of infectious diseases in the countries of the world increases, which entails an increase in published information, some of which is unreliable and requires verification. At the same time, against the background of the development of international tourism, increase in passenger traffic, the risk of infectious diseases importation into the territory of Russia rises manifold, which creates the need for modernization of information and technical support of the SQC. In connection with the above, the aim of the work was to develop a scientifically substantiated system of informatization and digitalization of SQC, which resulted in the introduction of an automated risk assessment system as regards importation of dangerous infectious diseases (AIS “Perimeter”) at all sanitary-quarantine checkpoints (SQP). Materials and methods. The information system was created using the following software platforms: Laravel, VueJs. The official websites of the Ministries of Health of the respective countries, data from the official regional websites of WHO, regional centers for disease control and prevention (CDC), and data from the ProMED-mail system were used as sources of information on infectious morbidity in the countries of the world. Results and discussion. Implementation of AIS “Perimeter” has brought about the maximum possible efficiency in the targeted informing of SQP officials about the current epidemiological situation in the countries of the world; an effective tool for monitoring the situation at the federal level in real-time mode. It facilitates the work of SQP, staff related to conducting standard operational procedures, due to considerable decrease in the volume of routine activities to keep records. The proposed in the AIS expert risk assessment as regards importation of infectious diseases allows SQP employees, based on reliable information, to make timely decisions on the need to conduct SQC and exclude erroneous actions in the essential set of measures within the framework of SQC implementation, while minimizing subjectivity with respect to decision making.

Air transport implications in tourist destinations

Most of the travel destinations rely almost entirely on air services for their visitor traffic. Air transport facilitates integration into the economy and provides vital connectivity on a: • National, • Regional, • International scale between countries, • Promoting tourism growth, Create employment opportunities in tourist 11 UNWTO, eLibrary, https://www.e-unwto.org/doi/abs destinations. Over time, the rate of growth will gradually slow down, from 3.8% in 2011 to 2.5% in 2030, but on top of growing base numbers. The total economic impact of travel and tourism can be assessed by measuring current and capital expenditures in each of the fields including those by: • consumers, • businesses, • government. The adequate system of Air transport is an essentialm requirement for the successful development of tourism to many destinations. The emergence of LCC,s contributed to the increase in tourist arrivals. There is a powerful synergy between the development of International Air transport and International tourism. Air transport contributes to consumer welfare and travel and tourism provide substantial socialbenefits, including: • Increasing understanding of different cultures and nationalities which facilitatesmcloser international integration,m • Improving living standards by widening choice Air transport contributes to sustainable development and makes a major contribution to sustainable development by supporting andpromoting international tourism. Tourism helps reduce poverty by generating economic growth, providing employment opportunities, increasing tax collection, and by fostering the development and conservation of protected areas and the environment

THEORETICAL BASICS OF INTERNATIONAL TOURISM RESEARCH

The article is devoted to the study of the theoretical foundations of international tourism research. It is noted that foreign experience can help the tourism industry of other countries to attract foreign investments, create new jobs and improve the quality of tourist services. The essence of the concept of “international tourism” has been defined. The socio-economic prerequisites for the development of international tourism have been studied. It is noted that tourism is one of the most dynamically developing branches of the world economy, which makes a significant contribution to the social, cultural and economic development of countries. Ukraine, as a large Eastern European country, has a powerful tourism potential, but it is not yet fully utilized. The relevance of the study of the development of tourism in Ukraine based on the European experience is the need to evaluate and adapt the best practices of the tourism industry, which are successfully applied in the European Union and other countries. The introduction of European experience can contribute to the effective development of tourism in Ukraine, attracting more foreign tourists, increasing the amount of foreign exchange earnings and raising the standard of living of the population. In this diploma work, we propose to conduct a detailed analysis of the European experience in the field of tourism and explore the possibilities of its implementation in Ukraine. The research is aimed at identifying advanced strategies and tools for tourism development that could be successfully adapted to Ukrainian conditions. The object of research is international tourism. The subject of the study is the experience of the development of international tourism. Consequently, the consequences of globalization and growing international cooperation have become essential for the development of international tourism in EU countries. Socio-economic preconditions play an important role in stimulating and supporting this sector, which has become a key driver of economic growth and cultural exchange in the EU.

Состояние и факторы развития международного туризма в странах Ближнего Востока

Development of international tourism is a key direction for economic diversity of Middle Eastern countries. It provides favorable long-time economic aspects and enhances positive image of the region. The purpose of the research is to assess the current state and identify the factors of development of international tourism in the Middle East in order to validate priorities for tourism development applying specific features of each country. Based on comprehensive analysis of the main indicators of tourism, authors identified significant differentiation among countries and different contributions of tourism service exports to the development of national economies. The largest contribution of tourism service export is made by Lebanon, Jordan, Bahrain and the UAE to the national GDP and by the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Egypt to the national exports. In terms of aggregate service exports the Palestinian Authority, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, Egypt and Iraq have the highest contributions. The leading countries in the region are the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt, which account for two-thirds of the tourism service exports in the Middle East. Based on determining the average values for the region for each indicator, the authors ranked countries into "above average" and "below average" groups to account for the specific characteristics of tourism development in each country. Through the analysis, the authors justified and classified positive and destructive factors of tourism development in the region. The following priorities for tourism development were formulated for countries: focusing on the development of modern tourism infrastructure, especially in Yemen, Lebanon, Bahrain, and Kuwait; promoting tourist attractions; restoring tourist trust in the region's security (Syria, Iraq, Palestinian Authority, Israel, etc.); diversifying the tourism product (UAE, Qatar, Israel, Egypt, Saudi Arabia); providing comprehensive services (UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain); deepening intergovernmental cooperation and creating a joint regional tourism product (for all countries in the region).

THE ROLE OF THE TOURISM ACTIVITY IN THE DEVELOPMENT ECONOMY OF OUR COUNTRY

This article discusses the role of the tourist network in the development of the economy of our country. Information is provided that the tourism industry is becoming one of the locomotive industries that make a significant contribution to the economy of the Republic of Uzbekistan, and that the status of the strategic sector of the economy in our country is showing its first signs. Tourists visiting Uzbekistan mainly left for the purpose of historical and cultural tourism, but in subsequent years there has been an increase in the number of other types of tourism, in particular, the number of tourists arriving from far abroad for the purpose of pilgrimage. It is also noted that the development of the tourism sector, together with the development of other industries, will lead to the creation of additional jobs and employment of the population. It is reported that the development of tourism can serve as a factor in the development of other sectors of the economy, that the development of this sector is important for stabilizing the economy of Uzbekistan, that the place and role of tourism in the national economy of our Republic are determined by the competitive advantages of Uzbekistan in the field of international tourism, the importance of this sector in the development of international relations and its contribution to the economic growth of the country. Taking into account that tourism has a strong cumulative impact on all other industries, it is believed that today there is a need for further development and improvement of the tourism complex of our republic, ensuring its entry into a highly developed industry - the system of international tourism, that all of them require the improvement of legal regulation in the field of tourism, that the Government of our republic actively supports the development of international and national tourism, and that a large number of legal documents aimed at improving activities in this area have been adopted.

The Role of International Tourism Management in Developing Countries and Mechanisms for improving it (Iraq as a Model)

Through the study of Iraq as a model, this research aims to identify mechanisms for improving the management of international tourism in developing countries. The insights gained from Iraq's experiences can provide valuable lessons and recommendations for policymakers, tourism organizations and other stakeholders involved in the promotion and development of international tourism. The researcher relied on reliable data from the World Bank website on international tourism revenues for Iraq for the past years to be a tool for predicting future revenues for the next four years, and the results were a positive correlation between the World Bank data and the forecast data for Iraq according to a set of statistical tests that were done according to the statistical program (spss).

AZƏRBAYCAN RESPUBLİKASININ MAKROİQTİSADİ İNİKŞAFINDA TURİZMİN ROLUNUN TƏHLİLİ

In the article, the current situation in the international tourism market, its development dynamics, and general economic effects are presented. The changes in international tourism and the impact of the post-pandemic period on the tourism sector were studied, and growth forecasting was researched. The article investigates the effects of the tourism industry on the macroeconomic development of Azerbaijan, its share in the GDP, the changes that occurred during the global pandemic, the state's policy in this field, and the development trends in the post-pandemic period. At the same time, the changes occurring in the tourism industry were analyzed using the main statistical figures and international experience was studied. The article mentions that in the post-pandemic period, the increase in domestic tourism in the country ensures the profitability of tourism enterprises in the regions. The development of international tourism in the country includes the presentation of products by destinations, the advertising of attractive places, and the presentation of services aimed at target countries.

The current state of development of international tourism

Over the past two decades, tourism has become one of the most profitable sectors of the world economy. The last three years for the development of international tourism have been difficult. 2020–2021 were problematic due to the global COVID-19 pandemic. In 2022, there was a rapid increase in international tourism, but this growth was complicated by military operations on the territory of Ukraine and restrictions imposed on Russia. The article discusses the importance of tourism for the world economy and for national economies.

Domestic Tourism Strategies and its Implications on Economic Growth: Case Study of Rwandan National Parks

Domestic tourism is a critical part of tourism development in Rwanda. However, most of the government’s efforts have been concentrated on the development of international tourism. This focus has resulted in considerable growth in the country’s most significant contributor to the national economy. While the impact of domestic tourism has been addressed in the latest developed Rwanda’s National Tourism Strategy, the initiatives set forward have had minimal effects. This paper aimed to address the issue of an increased focus on domestic tourism contribution in developing the economy of Rwanda besides international tourism. The rationale for this paper supports a strong motivation for a more dedicated approach by Rwanda’s tourism stakeholders (public and private) to develop the country’s domestic tourism market alongside the international market with reference to the national parks of Rwanda. The population under this study was composed of three different groups of respondents at three national parks in Rwanda. These were local residents living adjacent to the three national parks under study; the park authorities and government officials (policymakers) in tourism and conservation-related matters, and tourism and conservation experts. The researcher developed a structured questionnaire that was administered to the selected respondents. The administration of the questionnaire was done by the researcher with the help of three research assistants. The researcher used descriptive analysis to analyse the data. The data collected using the open-ended questions were analysed using content analysis. The study established that domestic tourism is yet to be developed in Rwanda. The study also reported that domestic tourism has the potential of leading to significant economic development by supplementing revenue generated by foreign tourists

International Marine Tourism

In today’s globalised and open world, international marine tourism needs renewal, reorganisation and definition of perspectives, including in the context of the concept of sustainable development. In order to determine the state and possible prospects for the development of international marine tourism in the context of sustainable development priorities, a bibliometric and contextual analysis of the conclusions and recommendations of selected scientific publications was carried out. Relevant publications since 1987 were searched using the Dimensions research database search engine. This analysis identified the trend in the number of publications, the most numerous research categories according to Fields of Research and the Sustainable Development Goals, the most productive journals and the network of authors. As a result of the contextual analysis of the selected articles, the need for (1) management reforms and (2) scientific research at all levels, in accordance with the concept of sustainable development and the Global Code of Ethics in Tourism, (3) clustering and externalization of marine tourism in accordance with the orientation towards specific community and (4) further development of the blue economy and protection and restoration of natural resources of coastal areas as a basis for marine tourism activities. The results of the research can be useful for the scientific community, the general public and specialists in the field of bibliography.

International Tourism and its Impact on World Politics and World Economy

International tourism is one of the most dynamically developing forms of international trade. In the economy of a particular country, it performs a number of important functions: it is a source of foreign exchange earnings and a means of providing employment for the population; contributes to the balance of payments; contributes to the diversification of the economy, providing stimulating effects on industries serving the tourism sector; increases the attractiveness of the country as a sphere of international entrepreneurship and business cooperation; creates incentives for the inflow of foreign capital into the national economy.
 The main feature of international tourism is the crossing of state borders. The greater the differences between states, the greater the obstacles to the free movement of people. The simplification (tightening) of formalities has an impact on international tourist flows, providing (or, conversely, hindering) the movement of people. The complex and confusing procedure for issuing travel documents, violation of the deadlines for their consideration or arbitrary deviation, the introduction of severe restrictions on imports and currency exchanges, which determine the level of consumption of goods and services by tourists, do not contribute to the development of international tourism. From this point of view, customs declarations and inspections act as a deterrent and lead to a reduction in tourist trips.
 Another feature of international tourism is economic in nature and is revealed through the impact it has on the country's balance of payments. Foreign tourists, paying for goods and services, ensure the flow of currency into the budget of the host country, thereby activating its balance of payments, which is why the reception of foreign tourists is called active tourism. On the other hand, the departure of tourists abroad is associated with an outflow of currency from their country of permanent residence. International payments for tourism operations of this kind are reflected in the liability of the balance of payments of the country supplying tourists, and tourism itself is characterized as passive. The division into active and passive, based on the characteristics of the reflection of the financial results of tourism activities in the balance of payments, is inherent only in international tourism and does not apply to domestic tourism.Keywords: Tourism, World Tourism Organization, Recreation, Visitor, Statistics, World Politics, World Economy

Tools for the Development of Regional Medical Tourism Programs: International Experience

Background. Internationalization of global healthcare and, in particular, the development of international medical tourism, informs the creation of a strategy for the development of domestic medical tourism programs in regions, states, or provinces using various tools for each stage of market development. 
 Purpose. This article aims to identify, classify, and analyze the development tools for regional medical tourism programs applied in the countries recognized as international destinations for medical tourism. 
 Methods and materials. The study data are based on foreign and domestic scientific publications in the field of international medical tourism and the export of medical services. The authors analyzed publications on the development of regional medical tourism programs in the media and performed content analysis of scientific publications in peer-reviewed scientific journals.
 Results. The internationalization of global healthcare has a significant influence on cross-border private medical travel (medical tourism), thus encouraging the development of both national and regional healthcare. The existing global practice of 19 countries in regional medical tourism provides an extensive development toolkit that includes more than 70 tools focusing on various aspects of the elaboration and implementation of opportunities for regional medical tourism and the export of medical services. The tools can be implemented in one of the four stages of market development: introduction, growth, maturity, and decline. The first stage is characterized by the prevalence of tools related to analysis and the development of the market base. The growth stage focuses on market expansion. At the third stage, the first tools aimed at offering better price for medical services appear. The stage of market decline is focused on the expansion of the target consumers by increasing the financial accessibility of medical tours. At the same time, the third and fourth stages are characterized by a limited number of support tools, which can be explained by the relative immaturity of the global medical tourism market and the focus on programs designed for the international market rather than on increasing economic efficiency. Therefore, in the following years, the scientific and professional communities will focus on the development and implementation of tools that can increase the reflow of financial resources expended on market development.
 The results of this study can be useful to the subjects of the Russian Federation that are interested in the development of regional strategies in terms of the federal project on the development of the export of medical services as part of the “Healthcare” national project.

An Investigation of Tourism, Economic Growth, CO2 Emissions, Trade Openness and Energy Intensity Index Nexus: Evidence for the European Union

Tourism has become one of the most important sectors in many countries, significantly contributing to their economic growth and development. However, the expansion of tourism has also brought about various environmental and social challenges. The relationship between tourism, economic growth, trade openness, and the environment is diverse and complex. The objective of this paper is to investigate the relationship between the international tourism development index, GDP per capita, CO2 emissions, trade openness index as well as the energy intensity index in EU 27, over the 1995–2019 period. A composite index for international tourism was developed using the Principal Component Analysis (PCA). Panel Autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) approach is used to reveal the long- and short-run impact of GDP per capita, CO2 emissions, trade openness index as well as the energy intensity index on the tourism development index. Panel ARDL estimates confirm some of our research hypotheses: at the level of EU countries, there is a short-run relationship between tourism and GDP per capita, but only in a few EU countries, trade openness influences tourism development index. Dumitrescu-Hurlin causality test confirms long-run feedback relationship between tourism development index and trade openness, between tourism development index and CO2 emissions, and between tourism development index and GDP and unilateral causality running from tourism development index towards energy efficiency.

Can tourism development and economic growth mutually reinforce in small countries? Evidence from Singapore

ABSTRACT This study investigates the causal relationships between international tourism development and the economic growth of a global city–state – Singapore – drilling into the temporal details of the tourism-economy nexus in small countries. Many studies have examined whether the tourism-led growth hypothesis or the economy driven-tourism growth hypothesis holds in large developed and emerging countries. Still, relatively few studies examine small countries’ tourism-economy nexus, and the temporal details of the nexus have not been adequately examined. We examine the tourism-economy nexus in Singapore using quarterly data from 1991Q1 to 2020Q4 and the Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) Model, with the long- and short-run dynamics and the feedback loop of the nexus considered. Our statistical findings show that international tourism development leads economic growth by two quarters in Singapore. Also, there are both ‘consistent’ and ‘contemporaneous’ positive feedback loops between tourism development and economic growth, but those loops cannot last for more than a quarter. From the economic perspective, our study reveals that improving tourism activities may accelerate the post-Covid economic recovery of some small countries that rely on tourism. Yet, continuous input is required to sustain the tourism-economy synergy.

SPECIFIC CHARACTERISTICS OF THE DEVELOPMENT OF INTERNATIONAL TOURISM IN THE COUNTRIES OF SOUTH-EAST ASIA

The purpose of this article is to identify the unique characteristics of the development of international tourism in the countries of South-East Asia. In it, the issues of increasing the efficiency of the use of the region's tourism potential are examined, and the tasks and measures to be implemented are outlined.

THE MAIN TRENDS IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF INTERNATIONAL CULTURAL TOURISM

The article considers the main trends affecting the development of international cultural tourism. The main trends that influenced the development of international tourism are shown. It was found that the growing level of education increases the desire of people to know other countries and peoples, to develop permanent contacts with the regions of the world in various spheres of communication. In addition, tourist exchanges between countries have increased the demand for diversity based on the geographical and cultural differences of the countries. Considering the main trends in the development of international tourism, it was noted that recently many countries have begun to develop cultural tourism. That is, the cultural component of international tourism began to gain increased interest from tourists. The cultural factors of attractiveness of certain regions of the world are considered. In particular, the main factors of attractiveness of the European Region, the Mediterranean Region, the East Asian Region, and the South Asian Region are shown. In addition, cultural tourism is developing in France, Hungary, Italy, Spain, Portugal, where it is considered as one of the priority areas of activity. The author concludes that international cultural tourism is steadily developing and can have a very positive effect for many countries. At the same time, the intensive development of cultural tourism is associated with the increased need of people to expand their knowledge in various fields, as well as to increase their intellectual level. The development of international cultural tourism is supported by various incentives, in particular: tax exemptions; simplification of border and customs regime; creation of favourable conditions for investment; increase of budget allocations for infrastructure development; advertising in foreign markets; training; research, etc. Accordingly, the development of the international cultural tourism industry in countries and its regions is based on related types of tourism.

PROBLEMS AND PROSPECTS OF RECOVERY OF UKRAINE DURING AND AFTER THE END OF THE RUSSIAN-UKRAINIAN WAR

The work examines the problems and prospects of restoring Ukraine during and after the end of the Russian-Ukrainian war. Because Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, which began more than eight months ago, has resulted in large-scale human casualties, massive population displacement, and significant infrastructure damage. The impact on economic activity was also enormous: real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) fell sharply, inflation soared, trade was severely disrupted, and the budget deficit rose to unprecedented levels. More than 7 million Ukrainians – about a fifth of the population – have left the country or become internally displaced, which puts pressure on the social protection system. The report said that logistical problems related to the war continue to strain the economy, mainly related to the operation of ports, transport networks, and energy infrastructure. The war also caused an imbalance in the foreign exchange market. Therefore, the article analyzes the main events and development of the economy during martial law in the country, identifies problems, and substantiates the optimal conditions for the future development of Ukrainian tourism, which ranks third among all economic sectors in terms of income in the country’s economy. The essence and main influence of military operations on the development of international tourism in the world are substantiated. The development of the Russian-Ukrainian war, the main events, and the territorial features of the development are analyzed. The countries that are allies of Ukraine are highlighted, and the international aid and support of world powers that Ukraine receives in 2022 are analyzed. Ukrainian and world tourism during the war is characterized, and their main changes and development trends are revealed. The influence of the Russian-Ukrainian war on the economy of Ukraine and the world is revealed, and the humanitarian consequences of the military conflict for the countries of Europe and Ukraine are also predicted. Already existing plans for the restoration of Ukraine’s infrastructure after the end of the war have been analyzed and other possible options for the development of reconstruction have been predicted. The extent to which measures are being prepared to support and restore the tourism industry and the economy and its realism has been established.

International Tourism Policy and Development: Indian Tourism Policy

India is one of the worldwide tourist goals. The current study focused on it in the context of tourism policy and its industry, which is rapidly growing, particularly in Delhi and Mumbai. The rapid growth of India's tourism industry is affected by several factors, including the country's high economic growth rate over the past decade and the fact that it is now one of the more affordable destinations for foreign tourists. Additionally, several significant challenges are associated with developing the Indian tourism industry. To address these challenges and ensure that India's tourism industry continues to increase in the years to come, the government has introduced several new tourism policies aimed at improving the infrastructure available in the country and making it easier for tourists to come and visit. These policies include introducing a dedicated high-speed rail link between Delhi and Mumbai, developing a new visa policy for foreign visitors, and simplifying the process for acquiring permits for filming or photography in popular tourist attractions nationwide. Overall, these policies represent a significant step in developing the Indian tourism industry and will go a long way towards guaranteeing that the country remains a popular destination for tourists worldwide for many years; this study focused on it deeply based on earlier investigations.

Demographic factors affecting Chinese tourists traveling to Thailand in the post-Covid-19 era

Chinese tourists contribute significantly to the development of the tourism industry in Thailand. However, only some studies have systematically discussed the role of demographic factors in developing Thai international tourism. The study aims to research the behavior of Chinese citizens traveling to Thailand in the post-Covid-19 era based on combining the behavioral dynamics, the push-pull theories and demographics. 432 Chinese travelers who have visited Thailand participated in the survey. The scale included four parts: international tourism development in Thailand (A1-A8); pushers (B1-B9); pullers (C1-C8); demographic variables: gender, age, occupation, income, education level, marital status, and location. The study used exploratory factor analysis, confirmatory factor analysis, correlation, and variance analyses with SPSS 26.0. Therefore, exploratory factor analysis identified for this study three factors: F1 (5 items), F2 (3 items), and F3 (4 items). The correlation between F1 and F2 is 0.8, between F1 and F2 is 0.87, between F2 and F3 is 0.79. The findings of the analysis of demographic variables indicate that: gender does not affect tourists’ perceptions and changes; age has a significant impact on the three constructs; monthly income should be considered in the development of inbound tourism strategies; undergraduate and postgraduate visitors showed higher scores for research constructs; there is no need to consider the marital status of tourists. The study suggests that the Thai tourism department pay attention to the push and pull factors that motivate Chinese citizens to choose Thailand to expand international tourism. AcknowledgmentThe authors would like to acknowledge supervisors, family members, and colleagues for their support and guidance.