Popular Tourist Destination Research Articles

Aspect-Based Sentiment Analysis of Hotels in Bali on Tripadvisor Using BERT Algorithm

The covid pandemic that began in 2020 has caused enormous losses worldwide, including in Indonesia. Human-to-human contact is the source of the transmission of the covid virus, so the government urges people to maintain cleanliness when interacting. Bali is a popular destination for foreign and domestic visitors in Indonesia. Hospitality businesses in Bali unquestionably face a high risk of covid transmission; consequently, changes in hotel business processes are unavoidable; the implementation of new business processes can have a negative effect on business performance. In order to maintain Bali's reputation as the most popular tourist destination in Indonesia, the government must evaluate the performance of several hotel services that have implemented new business processes. The Aspect-Based Sentiment Analysis (ABSA) methodology can be utilized for performance evaluation. One of the finest algorithms for analyzing text, Bidirectional Encoder Representations from Transformer (BERT), is required for sentiment analysis. The data consists of textual customer evaluations of hotels in Bali that have implemented a new protocol or Standard Operational Procedure (SOP), retrieved from the Tripadvisor website. In the form of a number of evaluations of various aspects of the hotel, the research results can assist the government in analyzing the performance of hotels in Bali based on predetermined criteria.

Peningkatan Kemampuan Kreatifitas Dikalangan Pengrajin Souvenir Dalam Meningkatkan Kualitas Produk

Bonto Bahari is one of the sub-districts in Bulukumba district which is a famous tourism destination in South Sulawesi. Beach tourism and the business of making phinisi boats are the attractions that are most in demand by tourists. As one of the popular tourist destinations, the business of making souvenirs as souvenirs is a business that is in great demand by the people of Bonto Bahari. The availability of wood raw materials and the skills of the community in making phinisi boat souvenirs that have been passed down for generations are important factors in the development of this souvenir business. However, in its development, the Phinisi ship souvenir business has not been maximized in sales. The use of marketing strategies by utilizing digital marketing has been carried out but limited to social media. Business actors are more focused on tourists who come to the gallery. So that this condition causes sales to depend on the number of tourists visiting Bonto Bahari. This community service activity is carried out to help business actors analyze their potential and weaknesses. By conducting training and mentoring, it is hoped that business actors will be able to better understand their potential, weaknesses and strengths and be able to develop the right strategy in developing their business.

EFFECT OF VEGETATION AND BUILDING DENSITIES TO URBAN THERMAL COMFORT (CASE STUDY OF DENPASAR CITY)

Denpasar is the capital of Bali Province, which is one of the most popular tourist destination in Indonesia. Anthropogenic activities have changed the land use and land cover (LULC) that affect the land surface temperature (LST) and thermal comfort. Good quality of thermal comfort can improve the livelihood of its citizen as well as the tourists. This research aims a) to analyses the density distribution of vegetation and buildings, b) to map the distribution of LST and thermal comfort, and c) to analyses the effect of vegetation and building density on thermal comfort in Denpasar City. LST and thermal comfort were extracted using Landsat 9. Thermal comfort was assessed using urban thermal field variance index (UTFVI). Then, Pearson correlation and simple regression were applied to investigate the relationship and effect of Effect of vegetation and building densities to urban thermal comfort. In general, high density of vegetation is located in the northern part of North Denpasar District, north and east of East Denpasar District, and south of South Denpasar District. High density buildings are scattered in the southern Denpasar District, the western eastern Denpasar District, the northern South Denpasar District, and parts of the West Denpasar District. Low UTFVI values indicate good thermal comfort. Greater vegetation and lower building densities are likely to have an impact by improving thermal comfort levels in a location. This research can be served as a guidance in urban heat island mitigation as well as ecological restoration planning.

Beach Erosion Assessment and Tourism Viability Analysis at Mandarmani Coast, West Bengal, India

Mandarmani is a popular seaside tourist destination in Coastal West Bengal, India. The geomorphologically dynamic and ecologically diverse terrain falls within an active coastal belt with strong erosion but limited accretion. It is important to monitor and predict changes in beach morphology and shoreline over a short and long timescale to identify the specific drivers of such changes and their related impacts. While manual ground surveying techniques are relatively more accurate for this purpose, Remote Sensing and GIS techniques are proven to be more applicable as they are relatively accurate, cost-effective, less time-consuming and can cover a large coastal belt. The present paper analysed the beach morphology and shoreline changes along the Digha-Mandarmani coast of West Bengal using RS & GIS as a tool and fish net model to demarcate the erosion and accretion zones, to project the future shoreline position and understand the risk of climatic hazard on the tourism establishments and their sustainability in this region in future. Such a study would help in taking informed policy choices by the planners on such growing tourism destinations developed over time, often violating the existing coastal zone regulations and thus without required environmental clearances. Should be protected with public investment to safeguard the business hub, or will be allowed to face its natural consequences?

USE OF PAINTING SALES WEBSITE AS A MARKETING COMMUNICATION MEDIA IN TAKMUNG VILLAGE, BANJARANGKAN SUB-DISTRICT, KLUNGKUNG DISTRICT

Takmung village is one of several in the Klungkung area. Takmung Village has a popular tourist destination known as "Nyoman Gunarsa Classical Painting Museum," which is famous for its paintings. However, Takmung Village itself is less known to the public as a village of artists. In contrast to Kamasan Village, Takmung Village's artists are much less known, and many of them do not have their stalls or time to sell their artworks. The use of websites comes in handy in this problem, which helps artists to advertise their services and sell their artwork online. Aside from providing information and selling its products, a website works as an indirect representation of its professionalism and legitimacy. In addition to the local artist, it helps introduce other artists. Therefore, by utilizing the art on this website, artists from various parts of the Klungkung district can also become famous. This study created the Griya Art House, an art gallery, implementing the Research and Development methodology as its foundation. Data Flow Diagrams and Entity Relationship Diagrams are used in this study's website creation procedure. The final result of this study stated that the effectiveness of the sales website on the purchasing power of paintings was demonstrated to be effective with a total of three product purchases. The creation of this website is expected to be able to contribute to the community in Takmung Village, Banjarangkan District, Klungkung Regency, especially artists as assistance in the form of website applications that are applied in marketing their work.

The beauty of Volendam city and its culinary issues for Indonesian tourists

Volendam in the Netherlands is a popular tourist destination with its beautiful attractions and diverse traditional culture. However, for Indonesian tourists visiting the city, finding halal food and Asian specialties can be a challenge. The limited selection of restaurants serving halal and Asian specialties, such as Indonesian food, may affect Indonesian tourists' satisfaction and desire to return to Volendam in the future. This research discusses the beauty of Volendam's marine tourism and its culinary issues for Indonesian tourists. The study was conducted using a qualitative approach, by collecting data through exploration of literature studies and direct observation through visits and interviews with travel business practitioners who have visited there more than 2 times. The study results show that marine tourism is the main attraction for Indonesian tourists when visiting Volendam City. In this study, the relevant communication paradigm approach is the constructivistic paradigm which can give strength to the correlation between the solution of culinary issues and the needs of Indonesian tourists, but this approach tends to be subjective and more difficult to measure objectively. Therefore, the constructivistic approach must be balanced with other approaches such as the positivistic approach to provide a more complete understanding of the culinary issue. It is hoped that this research can provide benefits in the form of useful information for Indonesian tourists visiting Volendam City and local tourism stakeholders in improving culinary choices for Indonesian tourists in this city.

Tourism in Jembrana, Bali: A Hidden Gem Unveiled

The island of Bali in Indonesia has long been renowned as a popular tourist destination, attracting millions of visitors each year. While regions like Ubud, Kuta and Seminyak dominate the tourist scene, Jembrana, a lesser-known district for foreigners located in the western part of the island, offers a unique and authentic travel experience. Its natural beauty, cultural heritage, and commitment to sustainable tourism make it a promising destination that combines exploration, relaxation, and environmental consciousness. Cultural Heritage and Festivals Jembrana is deeply rooted in Balinese culture and tradition. Despite its potential, Jembrana faces several challenges in developing its tourism industry. Limited transportation infrastructure and connectivity to other tourist hubs pose obstacles to attracting a larger number of visitors. Additionally, the lack of international promotion and marketing efforts has hindered the district's visibility in the global tourism market. To overcome these challenges, collaboration between the government, local communities, and private sector stakeholders is essential. By investing in infrastructure, marketing, and collaborative efforts, Jembrana can position itself as a sustainable tourism destination, contributing to the economic development of the district while preserving its rich cultural heritage and pristine natural landscapes. As travelers venture beyond the popular tourist spots of Bali, Jembrana's hidden wonders await, ready to enchant and captivate those who seek an extraordinary and meaningful travel experience.

Radon concentrations in the Sudwala cave, South Africa

There has been a growing interest in the effect of radon gas on humans visiting caves. A radon survey was consequently done in the Sudwala tourist cave close to Nelspruit in the eastern part of South Africa to determine the radon exposure of tourists and guides. The Sudwala cave, which evolved in karst geology, is a popular tourist destination. Twenty-eight electret ion chambers were placed in various locations throughout the cave for a period of 24 h. Radon concentrations varied between a minimum of 255 Bq/m3 and a maximum of 1822 Bq/m3 with a geometric mean of 750 Bq/m3. The radon levels were found to be relatively stable up to 600 m from the entrance, after which they sharply increased. This suggests that different processes disperse radon in the initial and deeper parts of the cave. It was concluded that this is the result of natural cave ventilation which is caused by changes in ambient barometric pressure. Despite the measured level being higher than the World Health Organization (WHO)’s mitigation level of 200 Bq/m3, the occupational exposure is quite low due to the frequency and duration of a typical cave tour and therefore poses no risk to the tourists and tour guides.

Shoreline change detection using DSAS technique: Case of Saint Martin Island, Bangladesh

Saint Martin, Bangladesh's only coral island, is a popular tourist destination and a blue economy hub. Saint Martin's shoreline constantly changes due to natural and manmade erosion and accretion. Since no previous work has been done, this research uses geospatial and statistical methods to evaluate spatial and temporal shoreline changes on Saint Martin Island from 1974 to 2021 and anticipated changes between 2032 and 2042. The study used the Normalized Difference Water Index and Tasseled Cap Transformation tools to extract shorelines from the United States Geological Survey (USGS) Landsat satellite images with resolutions of 60 m in 1974 and 30 m in 1988, 2001, 2013, and 2021. Then, the Digital Shoreline Analysis System (DSAS) calculated shoreline change for each year using End Point Rate (EPR), Linear Regression Rate (LRR), and Net Shoreline Movement (NSM) methods. Global Positioning System (GPS) was also used to measure accuracy and shoreline change intensity. Around 253 transects were placed at 50 – m intervals along the island's coast, with approximately 55% of the transects indicating erosion, the remaining indicating accretion, and just 1% in stable condition. The research reveals that Uttar Para experiences the most dramatic shoreline alterations among the five coastal zones, with minimum erosion rates of −2.21 m/yr due to high tidal waves. Aside from that, Dakhin Para has the highest accretion rates, up to a maximum of 4.81 m/yr, due to the coral colonies' protection. Nazrul Para, Purba Para, Majer Para, Deil Para, and Eastern Galachipa erode and accrete moderately. Paschim Para, Uttar Para, and the eastern edge of the Dakhin Para coastline length are exceptionally high-risk areas, according to the Shoreline Length Intensity Index. In contrast, there is a low-risk index on the western side of the Dakhin Para and Deil Para coastlines. The LRR technique yields the best shoreline change estimates, with average erosion at −2.13 m/yr and accretion at 1.4 m/yr across 12.65 km from 1974 to 2021. The Kalman Filter Model (KFM) predicts Saint Martin's coastline will erode at a minimum rate of −2.33 m/yr by 2032 and -2.73 by 2042. Conversely, the coastline could accrete 2.09 m/yr in 2032 and 2.45 m/yr in 2042. Lower NRMSE values of 0.09 provide a highly accurate KFM for shoreline validation methods. Shoreline validation has an NRMSE of 0.16, indicating better agreement between field-derived and satellite-based shoreline positions. Finally, recognizing eroding and accreting hotspots along the Saint Martin Island coast can assist academicians, policymakers, and stakeholders. The research enables coastal researchers to comprehend regional shoreline dynamics.

An African West Nile virus risk map for travellers and clinicians.

International travellers are exposed to pathogens not commonly found in their countries of residence, including West Nile virus (WNV). Due to the difficulty of its diagnosis, little is known about its distribution in Africa. Understanding the geographic extent of risk of WNV infections is a necessity for both travellers and clinicians who advise and treat them, since there is no human vaccine. To date, there is no risk map for WNV infections in humans in Africa. Having a high-resolution risk map for the virus could be of relevance before the trip, to take preventive measures, and after the trip, for appropriate diagnosis of the disease. Virus detection in humans along the African continent were collected from official reports, and published scientific research for the period 1940 to 2020, and then geo-referenced in order to use biogeographical modelling for WNV. Models were based on fuzzy logic and machine learning algorithms and were designed to identify the environmental drivers that explain the distribution of human cases and to locate favourable areas for infections. We elaborated a high-resolution risk map for WNV infections that highlights favourable areas for infections in Africa. Although WNV infections are widely spread across Africa, the risk of the disease is not homogenously distributed. Popular tourist destinations such as Morocco, Tunisia, and South Africa, are high-risk areas for WNV infection.

Analysis of Tourists’ Length of Stay in Pokhara, Nepal

Tourists’ length of stay (LOS) is desired by researchers and tourism business managers because it contributes to tourism earnings. Although Pokhara is a popular tourist destination in Nepal, no previous study has empirically investigated tourists’ LOS. Thus, this study investigates tourists’ LOS in Pokhara, Nepal. The data for this study were collected through a survey of 275 visitors who stayed at least one night in Pokhara. Zero-truncated negative binomial and ordinary least squares regressions were used to model tourists’ LOS and determinants. In general, both methods produce similar estimates. The results suggest that visit frequency, nationality, age, education level, and expenditure are major determinants of tourists’ LOS. Contrary to expectations, gender and satisfaction are not statistically significant indicators. These findings have important implications for tourism managers and policymakers.

ON THE POTENTIAL FOR ENHANCEMENT OF TASHKENT’S TOURISM OPPORTUNITIES

Visitors have always been drawn to our country by its rich history, objects of cultural heritage, instances of craftsmanship, gorgeous nature, and colorful food. Uzbekistan is therefore regarded as one of the most popular tourist destinations in Central Asia. New Uzbekistan is implementing significant reforms in the field of tourism development. In this article, on the basis of the city of Tashkent, the potential for expanding the tourism industry's opportunities is analyzed, along with personal suggestions and comments.

Modelling Sustainable Non-Renewable and Renewable Energy Based on the EKC Hypothesis for Africa’s Ten Most Popular Tourist Destinations

The main purpose of this study was to examine how tourism, GDP, renewable energy, and fossil fuels cause environmental damage. This study examined ten African countries between 1997 and 2021 to test the environmental Kuznets curve (EKC) theory. Egypt, South Africa, Kenya, Morocco, Tanzania, Tunisia, Mauritius, Ghana, Uganda, and Nigeria are the ten African countries with the most tourists. In this paper, the augmented mean group (AMG), mean group (MG), and common correlated effects mean group (CCEMG) models were used to deal with slope heterogeneity (SH), cross-sectional dependence (CSD), and a mix of first-differenced and level stationary variables. Though the inverted U-shaped exists, the findings are significant only for MG. The impact of renewable energy is favorable for the environment and significant for the AMG estimator. Inversely, impact of tourist arrivals and fossil fuels are detrimental for environment and significant. Based on the findings for each country, the tourism-based EKC theory only works for Kenya, Egypt, and Tanzania. The research found that using more renewable energy minimizes CO2 emissions more effectively in almost all countries except Morocco and Ghana. Ghana, Kenya, and Uganda’s CO2 emissions increase when more tourists come from other countries. For the sake of both tourism and the environment, the government must reconsider its tourism policies and implement ones that include renewable energy. The findings of this study assist in the transition to clean energy, aiding in sustainable tourism growth. As a result, selected countries should develop a new tourism plan that focuses on renewable energy sources and protects the environment.

Air Pollution and Its Potential Consequences for Tourism and Career Development from Students' Perspective: A Case Study of the Gdańsk Agglomeration in Poland.

The purpose of this study is to present the state and variability of air pollution and its potential consequences for the intensity of tourism traffic based on the example of the Gdańsk agglomeration as a very popular tourist destination of Northern Poland. Specifically, the study seeks to answer the question how a future, qualified tourism workforce, such as tourism and hospitality (T&H) students from higher educational institutions (HEIs) located in the investigated area, perceive the problem of air pollution and whether their perception may have a potential impact on their attitudes and career aspirations towards working in the T&H industry after graduation. In this study, both a desk-research method and a questionnaire were used. The main results reveal that although the intensified tourist traffic does not coincide with high concentrations of pollutants and a poor quality of air, it cannot be clearly stated that tourists choose a destination being guided by the condition of ambient air pollution. The findings also show that T&H students are strongly aware of the air pollution problems and its negative consequences for the perceived attractiveness of a tourist destination and its labour market. To the best of the authors' knowledge, this study is among the first to analyse the relationships between air pollution and students' perceptions of its consequences for tourism and for career development in the tourism industry, which is highly dependent on the environmental quality.

Operation Whakaari: the forensic pathology response to the Whakaari/White Island volcanic eruption

White Island/Whakaari is an active volcano situated approximately 48km off the east coast of the North Island. The island is a popular tourist destination. On 9 December 2019 a large eruption occurred while 47 people were visiting the island. The eruption resulted in 22 fatalities (including 2 missing persons) and 25 survivors. This presentation will detail the forensic pathology response to this mass disaster including the management of possible chemical contamination of the deceased, the range of injuries sustained, the retrieval of the deceased from the island, and lessons learned.

Prielbrusye National Park Environmental Changes Due To Increasing Tourism Activity

Prielbrusye National Park is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Russia. In recent years internal tourism development, stimulated by restrictive measures (due to the COVID pandemic and geopolitical situation), resulted in significant growth of tourist flow to the national park’s territory. A surge in anthropogenic load on the park’s geosystems might degrade them and lead to environmental pollution. This research involved chemical studies of natural waters and snow from the south slope of the Elbrus and audit of the most popular tourist trails. The results have shown that in the snow alongside mountain hiking pistes to the Elbrus all the way up to 4,720 m above sea level (a.s.l.) oil stains concentration is up to 38 times higher than maximum acceptable concentration (MAC). Content analysis of heavy metals in snow cover on the Elbrus slopes and in the river Baksan has shown a significant rise in lead load over the period of 2015–2021 from the trace levels to 1.5 MAC, which is the result of increased anthropogenic load on the south slope of the Elbrus mountain. Ground observation of tourist trails has brought to light numerous patches of vegetation trampling, width extension and branching of the main trail, as well as campfire sites. The research results can be used as a rationale to take measures to reduce recreational load, to improve local geosystems’ condition and to develop a plan of action on nature conservation within the park’s territory.

SETTLEMENT OF DEFAULT IN THE CAR RENTAL AGREEMENT AT PT. SURYADITA 88 TRANSPORT IN BADUNG REGENCY

Car rental businesses are now relatively accessible in Badung Regency. Because Badung Regency is a popular tourist destination, numerous individuals have opened car rental services. In Badung Regency, PT Suryadita 88 Transport is one of companies that offers car rental services. In its operation, PT Suryadita 88 Transport is not exempt from issues involving default-causing factors and efforts to resolve defaults. This study aims to uncover the causes of default in the car rental agreement at PT. Suryadita 88 Transport and potential solutions. This study employs the Empirical Law research technique, which correlates the legal aspects of existing issues with their practical application in society. The applicable legal basis is Article 1548 of the Civil Code, pertaining to Leasing. The results revealed that disputes shall be resolved through litigation if they cannot be resolved through alternative mean.

SOPAPEI BEACH TOURISM DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY IN SULI VILLAGE, CENTRAL MALUKU DISTRICT

Sopapei Beach has the potential to be developed and plays a role in increasing community and regional income. The potential of the Sopapei Beach tourism object still needs to be developed again to become the most popular tourist destination in Suli Village, Central Maluku Regency. A strategy is a form of effort made to create and preserve the Sopapei Beach tourist area so that it can be more competitive in attracting tourists. This study aimed to determine the development strategy used by the Sopapei Beach tourism object and the alternative strategies used per the conditions of the Sopapei Beach tourism object. The analysis used is a SWOT analysis, which is an analysis that is intended to see the extent to which the implementation of tourism object development strategies in increasing tourists is based on strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. The study results obtained that the development strategy used by Sopapei beach managers was the strategic focus or a combination of cost leadership. And differentiation to develop Sopapei Beach, managers paid attention to tourists and tourism products on Sopapei Beach to increase the number of tourists visiting. In contrast, the alternative development according to the situation at the Sopapei Beach tourist attraction based on SWOT analysis is the potential for Sopapei Beach tourism objects which include beautiful and excellent and pristine natural panoramas, abundant water sources, and a comfortable tourist atmosphere. So owners and managers must increase cooperation with the local government of Central Maluku Regency, especially the tourism office.We are improving existing tourism products and tourist attractions such as facilities and infrastructure, security, and services, and organizing festivals to improve the quality and quantity of Sopapei Beach.

Customer satisfaction during COVID-19 phases: the case of the Venetian hospitality system

ABSTRACT This work presents a longitudinal analysis of hotel customer satisfaction, making a comparison between pre- and post-pandemic situations, as well as a detailed analysis of the evolution of customer satisfaction throughout the different phases of the COVID-19 crisis. To this end, we used representative microdata from more than 405,000 online reviews of 802 Venetian accommodation facilities. Data were retrieved from the Booking.com platform and cover the 2018–2021 period. Results point to a systematic reduction of customer satisfaction, although the negative effect is non-linear over time. In fact, the magnitude of the effect varies according to the severity of the phase (acute vs. transitional periods) and on the replication number of the phase type (first versus second wave), displaying some adaptation effects. The paper contributes to the literature on sustained crises, with an empirical application to one of the most popular tourist destinations. Our results suggest that hotel managers should respond to critical situations taking care of their customers’ satisfaction identifying their different needs depending on the crises’ phases.

Antarctic tourism: spatial structure and dynamics of international tourist flows (for the seasons of 2011-2020)


 
 
 The theoretical foundations of the origin and development of Antarctic tourism are considered. The first proposals for Antarctic tourism were recorded in 1910, but it was not until the 1920s that the first tourists were able to visit the mainland. The beginning of commercial tourism to the Antarctic was laid by Lars-Erik Lindblad on his cruise liner «Explorer», which in 1966 made the first commercial tourist flight to the continent. In the 1980s of the 20th century, Antarctica was visited annually by about 2,000 tourists. In the 1990s, Antarctic tourism became a mass phenomenon, flights over the Antarctic resumed. The Antarctic Treaty system is considered. In 1959, the Antarctic Treaty was concluded, and in 1961, it established the status quo, which prohibits the making of new territorial claims and the expansion of old claims made before 1959. The treaty declares the freedom of scientific research in the Antarctic. It has been analyzed that the current lack of territorial possessions of one or another country in the Antarctic facilitates the conduct of comprehensive scientific research. It has been established that in Ukraine only one dissertation study is devot- ed to the issues of Antarctic tourism. All other works of scientists are devoted to biological, gravimetric, mineralogical, geodetic, ocean- ographic, physical, geological research of the Antarctic. It has been proven that modern directions of regional complex geographical re- search of the Antarctic are closely related not only to the provision of national interests, but also to the solution of global environmental problems. An analysis of the spatial structure and dynamics of international tourist flows to the Antarctic was conducted for the seasons 2011-2020. During this period, 389,800 people visited the continent. There is a constant increase in the number of visitors. Travel by mode of transport is considered. During the entire period of the study, the largest number of visitors (71.5% of the total number) usedcruise ships / yachts with a landing on the shore with an excursion to the mainland. An analysis of the distribution of tourists by country of origin was carried out. The Top-20 places of Antarctica, which are the most visited, are considered. During the 2016-2017 – 2019-2020 seasons, the number of visits reached 7,086. The top five are occupied by Cuverville Island (9.07% of the total number of visits during the study period), Goudier Island (8.65%), Neko Harbor (8.55%), Whalers Bay (8.24%), Half Moon Island – Chinstrap Colony (7.83%). The station «Akademik Vernadsky” ranks 13th with 194 visits, which is 2.74%. The most popular tourist destinations in East Antarctica for the 2019-2020 season have been reviewed: Amundsen Sea with ship cruises, Cape Evans with small boat cruises and shore landings, Cape Adare with ship cruises, small boat cruises and shore landings from it to the shore. It is noted that at the current stage of the development of society, it is impossible to forecast the tourist flow to the Antarctic for the coming season with the help of economic and mathematical modeling in connection with the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic.