Supply-side Stakeholders Research Articles

Journey towards unlocking intangible heritage’s tourism potential: supply-side perceptions, involvement and dynamics

ABSTRACT This research addresses the challenges and opportunities in integrating Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) into Cultural Heritage Tourism (CHT) offerings. Despite the growing interest in ICH, comprehensive research on its effective incorporation into CHT is lacking. Qualitative research was used employing interviews with 13 representatives from four case study areas known for their significant ICH offerings in the Dutch-speaking regions of Belgium and the Netherlands. Three research questions were formulated and tested to understand stakeholder collaboration, knowledge levels, and the complexities surrounding the term ‘ICH.’ The findings reveal a deficiency in stakeholder cooperation and varying levels of knowledge among supply-side stakeholders. The term ‘ICH’ itself was found to be complex but manageable through education and ethical sensitivity. The study recommends the involvement of an impartial mediator to facilitate stakeholder collaboration and suggests that heritage communities should be actively engaged in the process. Limitations include focusing on specific cultural and linguistic groups and incomplete stakeholder representation. The research has practical implications for policy formulation and Destination Management Organisations (DMOs) and offers a nuanced understanding of the challenges and solutions for integrating ICH into CHT.

Razvoj veština kao indikator napretka digitalizacije srpskog turizma

In the tourism and hospitality sector, digital skills become one of the critical factors as they enable organizations and professionals to effectively utilize and adapt to the latest technological developments, improving the overall travel experience and/or operational efficiency of service providers. Based on the previous, this paper aims to evaluate the digital skills of supply-side stakeholders in Serbia's tourism and hospitality sector and to determine the main factors that influence their level of proficiency. By analyzing primary data from 418 respondents, the findings indicate a notable gap in advanced digital skills, which is particularly emphasized among administrative officers, primarily tourist inspectors. Additionally, multinomial logistic regression shows that the education and employment sector (catering, tourism agencies, tourism guides, tourism organizations, tourism inspectors and administrative officers) are factors associated with the level of digital skills. The results allow stakeholders to review the possibilities for improving skills, especially in the public sector, to address current skills gaps and prepare the workforce for future technological developments to ensure the sector's resilience and competitiveness in the global market.

Exploring the cultural anthropology of gastronomic tourism: Supply-side stakeholders' perspectives and experiences of Suzhou-style cakes

This study adopts a cultural anthropology theoretical lens to explore the tourism experiences of Suzhou-style cakes from the perspective of supply-side stakeholders. A qualitative case study of Suzhou-style cakes was conducted, involving participant observation and semi-structured interviews with food producers, food retailers, restaurateurs, food consultants, tourism providers, tour organisers, and government officials in Suzhou, a heritage city in China. The findings reveal that Suzhou-style cakes connote a culturally bound identity at the personal level and a socially bound identity at the community level, whereas, at the regional level, they connote a geographically bound identity. These connotations form the basis for the touristic attractiveness of Suzhou-style cakes and their contribution to authentic experiences. As a result, gastronomic tourism is essentially about cultural anthropology by exploring a complex interweaving of gastronomy and cultural, social, and place identities through the practices of multiple stakeholders. This study adds to the literature by giving voice to supply-side stakeholders and by providing evidence to capture the richness of the relationships between the concepts of food, culture, identity, and place.

An Examination of the Supply-Side Stakeholders’ Views towards Health Tourism Investments in the Region of Thessaly, Greece

The study aims to examine the views of local executives and managers in Thessaly, Greece related to the potential profitability of investing in the health tourism industry. Furthermore, the study attempts to shed some light on the factors that affect their views about health tourism investments. The data are collected through self-administered questionnaires to stakeholders in facilities that have the potential, or they are already, engaged in the health tourism industry. The sample is collected from a wide range of facilities, namely hotels, hospitals, private clinics, rehabilitation centres and nursing homes. Kendall’s tau-b correlation statistics and logistic regression models are employed to detect the driving forces on the formation of attitudes towards health tourism investments. Current research regarding health tourism in Greece is rather limited. In addition, the majority of relevant international studies examines factors shaping the demand side. The present study utilizes a sample from the supply side, thus of stakeholders in related sectors and can enhance our knowledge about their stances towards health tourism investments and the factors shaping these stances.

Tools and resources used to support implementation of workplace healthy food and drink policies: A scoping review of grey literature.

This study aimed to identify and evaluate tools and resources used to support the implementation of workplace healthy food and drink policies, primarily in Australia and New Zealand. A scoping grey literature review included searches of government agencies and non-governmental organisations' websites in six English-speaking countries, public health nutrition intervention databases and Google search engine queries. Paper-based and digital tools were included if they were written in English, referred to within a policy or on a policy's website, and primarily targeting supply-side stakeholders. Tools were evaluated on two domains: 'Features' (summarised descriptively) and 'Usability and Quality' (with inter-rater reliability scores calculated using an intraclass correlation coefficient). Twenty paper-based tools were identified relating to Australian (n = 14) and New Zealand (n = 6) policies, and a further six digital tools were identified from Australia (n = 3) and Canada (n = 3). Target audiences included workplace managers, food providers and suppliers. The paper-based tools focused on general implementation guidance. In contrast, digital tools tended to support specific elements of policy implementation. 'Usability and Quality' scores ranged from 2.9 to 4.5 (out of 5.0) for paper-based tools, and 3.9 to 4.2 for digital tools, with a moderate agreement between reviewer scores (intraclass correlation coefficient 0.523, p = 0.010). A range of tools have been developed to support the implementation of workplace healthy food and drink policies. Understanding the strengths and limitations of current tools will assist in developing improved aids to support policy implementation.

Accounting for stakeholder engagement in developing countries: proposing an engagement system to respond to sustainability demands

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to present an in-depth examination of stakeholder engagement processes in non-governmental organisations (NGOs) from the perspective of NGO managers to enhance accountability and the effectiveness with which aid services are delivered. Specifically, demand-side (downward) accountability and the implications of an accountability system that is predominantly supply-side (upward) focused are explored.Design/methodology/approachThis study draws on evidence gathered from 25 in-depth interviews with representatives of leading NGOs in Nigeria to explore and uncover the nature of stakeholder engagement and accountability processes in their respective organisations. This study shows prospects for entrenching organisational reform that balances power and influence that benefits the less economically powerful demand side of the stakeholders. A relevant aspect of stakeholder theory was used to frame the analysis.FindingsThe study reveals an overlay of a blanket engagement system and a seeming reluctance of NGOs to disclose critical information to the demand-side stakeholders (DSS), and suggests ways to meet sustainability demands and address the militating concerns. A perceived lack of understanding and prospects or outcomes of demand-side accountability are central to this; however, engagement outcomes that account for impact rather than output are explored and reported. The findings suggest that proper accountability involves adequate stakeholder engagement which is a prerequisite and paramount for sustainability.Research limitations/implicationsThis study primarily delineates NGO managers’ views on NGO engagement and accountability dynamics. Future research may explore the perspectives of downward stakeholders themselves. The study highlights the concern for NGOs to maintain a defined stakeholder engagement process that resists external forces that may impact on their operations and derail their mission, resulting in duplication of services.Practical implicationsThe study shows the implications of donors’ influence on accountability practices which can be improved by re-structuring supply-side stakeholders to significantly include DSS accountability requirements in the key performance indicators of NGOs in developing countries. The authors present a nuanced perspective to aid delivery and access that ensures improved services and more effective, impactful and sustainable aid which is of practical relevance to NGOs and their accountability mechanism.Originality/valueThis study deepens the understanding of the dynamics of stakeholder engagement and accountability processes and shows that the most effective way to deploy aid funds to meet sustainability goals is to draw on the experiences and local knowledge of the DSS. This would require an effective and results-driven dialogue among all the stakeholders involved. The proposed engagement and management framework contribute to theory and practice by fostering multi-stakeholder cooperation, DSS accountability and the advancement of sustainable development

A Comparative Analysis of E-Government in Jamaica and Singapore: An Exploratory Study of Supply-Side Factors

ABSTRACT The paper compares the case of Jamaica, which despite a two-decade-long journey, has experienced unsatisfactory progress in implementing e-Government, with that of Singapore, which has achieved considerable success, despite being small island-states of similar-sized populations with British colonial histories, with both nations gaining their independence around the same time in the mid-1960s. Qualitative data gathered from interviews and documentation from supply-side stakeholders were analyzed to better understand the drivers for, and barriers to, the successful implementation of e-Government initiatives. Based on the existing literature, a novel conceptual framework was used to guide the data collection and analysis process. This enabled the presence of previously identified drivers and barriers for e-Government initiatives to be assessed in the context of both countries. The study was also able to surface new and additional factors influencing e-Government implementation, which have not been previously identified within the e-Government research literature, namely Administration/Leadership, e-Readiness, and Communication. The research findings enabled practical and actionable recommendations to those leading e-Government initiatives in Jamaica to improve implementation by overcoming forces that hinder progress. The findings from this study are limited as the research draws on data from limited sources in just two countries.

Supply side stakeholders’ viewpoints about medical tourism in India and the effects of COVID 19

Medical tourism is a field where healthcare and travel both coincide. Herein, people from different parts of the world travel to different countries in order to avail world-class treatment at an affordable price. With the onset of COVID-19 pandemic, this industry has been hit hard. However, this industry has still reflected back the waves of COVID-19 and has emerged better. This paper has made an effort to comprehend the viewpoints and opinions of the providers that accept medical tourism in India. The participants were selected using judgement and snowball sampling. The data was gathered through semi-structured interviews conducted using both face-to-face method as well as telephonic method. The data was then analysed using Atlas.ti software to highlight the various factors affecting medical tourism as well as its interaction with COVID19 pandemic.

Co-opting overtourism: tourism stakeholders’ use of the perceptions of overtourism in their power struggles

Many tourism destinations are facing overtourism situations, where the increase in visitors negatively impacts on residents’ life. Even if the perceptions of overtourism amongst residents have been analysed, the use of that perception by other key stakeholders remains largely unexplored. The discursive co-optation of the concept of overtourism amongst supply-side stakeholders, governmental and civil society stakeholders, provide a unique insight to discuss the use of power through tourism-related discourses and to face societal challenges in tourism destinations. Taking Majorca (Spain) as a case study, we carry out semi-structured interviews to government officials, tourism suppliers (e.g., hoteliers, cruise companies, intermediaries, holiday rentals), NGOs and researchers, to analyse how the perception of overtourism is used by those actors to promote their own agenda, often in opposition to the interests of other stakeholders. The article offers a dual contribution: on the one hand, it shows how the term “overtourism” is co-opted by supply-side stakeholders to justify their own interests and strengthen their agendas. On the other hand, we argue that the lack of consensus on how to address overtourism shows the limits of stakeholder theory to solve societal challenges, and the need of perspectives of social justice to build consensuses around the issue of overtourism.

Bioenergy for Community Energy Security in Canada: Challenges in the Business Ecosystem

Bioenergy represents a viable renewable alternative for the many off-grid remote communities in Northern Canada that rely on diesel-based energy infrastructure. Despite the abundance of forest-based biomass, bioenergy for heat and power in Canada is used primarily in industrial contexts. Community-scale bioenergy, although growing, has been limited. Supply chain challenges, institutional and policy arrangements, and community perspectives indicate a need to better understand the ‘business ecosystem’ for bioenergy in Canada. The ecosystem includes technologies, community contexts, suppliers, developers, and policy makers. In this study, we explore the bioenergy business ecosystem challenges and perspectives from supply-side stakeholders. Interviews were conducted with representatives from the government, industry, and community—all working in bioenergy. The results indicate the following challenges facing the bioenergy ecosystem, with respect to community energy security: lack of cross-jurisdictional consistency in legislation and policies across Canada, structural issues such as subsidized energy and utility ownership, and misdirected support for local capacity building in the bioenergy sector. We also find that the existing support systems are prone to misuse, pointing to efficiency gaps in investment flows. The insights that emerge from this work, especially from industry stakeholders, are meaningful for communities and policy makers alike.

Are tourism strategies responsive to critical events?

In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic brought tourism to an abrupt halt. Supply-side stakeholders suddenly found themselves in a lockdown with unusable assets, unprofitable investments and jobs in jeopardy. Using qualitative research, we take a closer look at how they dealt with this unprecedented crisis in the Slovenian urban destinations of Ljubljana and Maribor. Our results show that existing policy and strategy mechanisms did not equip the supply-side stakeholders to tackle the pandemic challenges. However, both institutional ad hoc responses were quick and to some extent adequate.

Factors influencing implementation of health-promoting interventions at workplaces: Protocol for a scoping review.

IntroductionHealth-promoting interventions at workplaces can be effective in modifying lifestyle-related behavioral risk factors for non-communicable diseases (NCDs). However, the interventions are not always successful in the real-world setting, and the evidence for effective strategies to implement the interventions has been limited. We propose a scoping review to identify the topics in need of study and areas for future research on barriers to and facilitators of the implementation of workplace health-promoting interventions.Materials and methodsThis scoping review will explore these issues from the perspective of supply-side stakeholders, who have a direct role in the implementation of these interventions. An electronic systematic search of MEDLINE (using PubMed), Web of Science, and Scopus databases from 1986 to 2022, in accordance with the PRISMA-ScR guidelines, will be performed. Supplementary hand searching will be undertaken with reference lists from included articles and consulting with relevant stakeholders. Two authors will be responsible for individually screening the corresponding articles by first reading the titles and abstracts and then the full texts to assess whether they meet the inclusion criteria. Data extraction will be conducted using standardized data collection forms, and data analysis will be aligned to the consolidated framework for implementation research (CFIR), a determinant framework of factors affecting implementation, using a directed content analysis approach.DiscussionWe will present the findings from this review at national and international conferences and submit them to a peer-reviewed journal for publication. Future workplace interventions will significantly benefit from this comprehensive scoping review to identify factors that enable improvement of the implementation, and the barriers to improvement, of evidence-based health-promoting interventions at workplaces.

Integrated management of heritage sites: scale development and validation

PurposeThe study explores the possibility of developing a valid scale for integrated management of heritage sites to bring a holistic approach to heritage properties' conservation practices.Design/methodology/approachThe study followed the exploratory sequential method. An in-depth interview was adopted for exploring indicators, and a questionnaire survey was administered for descriptive analysis.FindingsCultural resources conservation strategies have been analyzed from a tourist, local communities and stakeholder's perspective with local-specific indicators. The study indicates that a multi-dimensional approach that integrates tourists, local communities and other stakeholders-based indicators can be developed at the destination level for the integrated management of heritage properties. Tourist-centric, local community-specific and stakeholder-oriented approaches could act as catalysts for more pragmatic conservation practices in the local areas based on the site-specific indicators.Research limitations/implicationsThe study is limited to lesser-known heritage sites located in the southern provincial states of India. The technical conservation strategies on the structure and architecture are not part of the study. Theoretical implications on the study of this kind can contribute to the literature as it throws light on future studies seeking local-centric conservation and management practices of heritage sites hitherto less explored in the domain of conservation science. The scale provides insight into the appropriate form of intervention that the local communities, tourists and other stakeholders can do at the heritage sites, hence the possibility of garnering the attention of other discipline strivings towards the conservation of heritage sites and to apply along with other relevant variables. It is expected that the study might expedite the knowledge accumulation in conservation science.Practical implicationsThe scale can be used in a similar context for the integrated management of heritage sites. The study can assist the policymakers and planners in seeking the support of stakeholders, local communities and tourists for the implementation of heritage conservation and management programs. Such a local-centric management strategy promoting responsible consumption and production could contribute to SDG 12. Further, the study can also contribute towards SDG 11.4, which calls for strengthening the effort to protect and safeguard cultural and natural heritage. This scale can be a tool for destination management organizations (DMOs) to understand the level of intervention of local communities, tourists and other stakeholders at the heritage site.Social implicationsThe integrated management approach of heritage conservation immensely helps the lesser-known heritage sites the world over as such structures are out of the focal point of government funding and other conservation efforts. The synergy of the integrated approach could protect lesser-known unfunded heritage sites, and thereby, the cultural reflections of the community concerned can be made available for future visitors’ consumption.Originality/valueThe study attempted to understand the conservation approaches for lesser-known heritage sites with the support of both demand and supply-side stakeholders. Such a collaborative approach is the first of this kind in the conservation of heritage sites in India.

Barriers and facilitators to the implementation of nutrition standards for school food: a mixed-methods systematic review protocol.

Background: The importance of nutrition during childhood and the high prevalence of child and adolescent obesity has resulted in several countries implementing nutritional standards for school food as a way of providing healthy school food environments. Yet, there has been less focus on the barriers and facilitators influencing the process of implementing school food standards. This mixed-methods systematic review aims to address this evidence gap by synthesising the empirical evidence on the factors that may influence the implementation of school food standards. Methods: This mixed-methods systematic review will use qualitative, quantitative and mixed-methods evidence from peer-reviewed publications retrieved from the following databases; PubMed, CINAHL, Scopus, EMBASE, Medline, PsycINFO and Web of Science. Grey literature will be accessed through Google Scholar, Open Access Theses and Dissertations, OpenGrey, RIAN, EThOS, ProQuest, WorldCat, Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations, and public health organisation websites will also be accessed. Screening reference lists and citation chaining of all included studies will also be undertaken. No restrictions on publication date or language will be applied, however, only primary research studies relevant to supply-side stakeholders will be eligible for inclusion. Study quality will be assessed using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool. Study titles and abstracts will be screened to decide whether the full-text manuscript should be retrieved. For screening reliability, a second review author will assess a random sample of 20%. Kappa statistics will be used to assess inter-rater reliability, with values of 0.75 and higher representing high agreement. Two authors will independently extract data and factors reported to influence implementation. This will be synthesized using the Theoretical Domains Framework. Discussion: A comprehensive understanding of these factors can provide guidance to relevant stakeholders to enhance the adoption, implementation and sustainability of nutrition standards for school meals. Systematic review registration: PROSPERO CRD42019117904.

Stakeholders Perspective on Competitiveness and Sustainability of Farm Destinations

Farm tourism is becoming one of the Philippines’ most profitable businesses. The potential of farms has prompted the formation of farm destinations in the province of Cavite. Considering its emergence, seeking the best approach to preserve competitiveness is vital towards farms’ long-term viability. The purpose of this study is to examine the perspectives of farm tourism supply-side stakeholders on the competitiveness and sustainability of farm destinations in upland Cavite. Specifically, to determine their degree of agreement on destination competitiveness in terms of inherited, created, and support resources, situational and demand conditions, and destination management; and their degree of agreement on economic, social, and environmental sustainability. Descriptive-correlational research was employed on the data gathered from 158 participants. The data analyses used were weighted mean, standard deviation, Pearson-r correlation, and multiple regression. The findings revealed that the supply-side stakeholders “Agree” on competitiveness and on the sustainability of farm destinations. The result of the regression analysis showed that situational conditions, destination management, and demand conditions are predictors of sustainability and that there are positive and significant relationships between competitiveness and sustainability. The result suggested the need to strengthen farm destination accessibility, uplift the livelihood of residents, and enhance the farms green marketing strategies.

Barriers and facilitators to the implementation of nutrition standards for school food: a mixed methods systematic review protocol.

Background: The importance of nutrition during childhood and the high prevalence of child and adolescence obesity has resulted in several countries implementing nutritional standards for school food as a way of providing healthy school food environments. Yet there has been less focus on the barriers and facilitators influencing the process of implementing school food standards. This mixed methods systematic review aims to address this evidence gap by synthesising the empirical evidence on the factors that may influence implementation of school food standards. Methods: This mixed methods systematic review will use qualitative, quantitative and mixed methods evidence from peer reviewed publications retrieved from the following databases; PubMed, CINAHL, Scopus, EMBASE, Medline, PsycINFO and Web of Science. Grey literature will be accessed through Google Scholar, Open Access Theses and Dissertations, OpenGrey, RIAN, EThOS, ProQuest, WorldCat, Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations, and public health organisation websites will also be accessed. Screening reference lists and citation chaining of all included studies will also be undertaken. No restrictions on publication date or language will be applied, however, only primary research studies relevant to supply-side stakeholders will be eligible for inclusion. Study quality will be assessed using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool. Study titles and abstracts will be screened to decide whether the full text manuscript should be retrieved. For screening reliability, a second review author will assess a random sample of 20%. Kappa statistics will be used to assess inter-rater reliability, with values of 0.75 and higher representing high agreement. Two authors will independently extract data and factors reported to influence implementation. This will be synthesized using the Theoretical Domains Framework. Discussion: A comprehensive understanding of these factors can provide guidance to relevant stakeholders to enhance the adaption, implementation and sustainability of nutrition standards for school meals. Systematic review registration: PROSPERO CRD42019117904.

Medical travellers’ perspective on factors affecting medical tourism to India

ABSTRACT The objective of this study is to identify the demographic profile and explore the factors from N-600 patient’s perspective, affecting their decision to travel to India for medical tourism. Hypothesis findings for second-order structural model met the model-fit criteria. The findings suggest that medical tourism is a two-factor construct, which includes medical treatment and holiday; and that information search, surgery waiting-time, hospital employees, hospital precision, and quality accreditation are significant factors. Practical implications of findings suggest that the supply-side stakeholders should work in partnership to form policies to provide medical travellers/tourist centered-care for positive healthcare outcomes.

Urban Jewish heritage and its (in)visibility: perspectives from Navarre, Spain

ABSTRACT Throughout the Middle Ages, Jewish quarters, known as juderías, were vibrant spaces in Navarrese cities and towns. However, although Jewish past significantly contributed to Navarre's historical identity and has occupied an important place in regional historiography, Jewish heritage has only recently awakened interest in historians, archaeologists and local councils. This article aims to carry out case studies of three different juderías, specifically in Tudela, Estella and Pamplona, as cultural and tourist assets and discuss the weaknesses and strengths of their touristic potential. Tudela has been making use of this potential for several years now, while Estella only rather recently began to explore the diverse ways of taking advantage of its latent qualities. On the contrary, to date, Pamplona seems to have totally ignored the Jewish component of its medieval past. This article argues that the (in)visibility of Jewish heritage is an apt indicator of the recognition that supply-side stakeholders give this cultural and touristic asset.

Implementing smokeless tobacco control policy in Pakistan: a qualitative study among Naswar supply chain actors

ObjectiveTo obtain insights into the perceptions of barriers and facilitators to implementation of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) among smokeless tobacco (SLT) supply chain actors in the...

Barriers and facilitators to the implementation of nutrition standards for school food: a mixed-methods systematic review protocol

Background: The importance of nutrition during childhood and the high prevalence of child and adolescent obesity has resulted in several countries implementing nutritional standards for school food as a way of providing healthy school food environments. Yet, there has been less focus on the barriers and facilitators influencing the process of implementing school food standards. This mixed-methods systematic review aims to address this evidence gap by synthesising the empirical evidence on the factors that may influence the implementation of school food standards. Methods: This mixed-methods systematic review will use qualitative, quantitative and mixed-methods evidence from peer-reviewed publications retrieved from the following databases; PubMed, CINAHL, Scopus, EMBASE, Medline, PsycINFO and Web of Science. Grey literature will be accessed through Google Scholar, Open Access Theses and Dissertations, OpenGrey, RIAN, EThOS, ProQuest, WorldCat, Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations, and public health organisation websites will also be accessed. Screening reference lists and citation chaining of all included studies will also be undertaken. No restrictions on publication date or language will be applied, however, only primary research studies relevant to supply-side stakeholders will be eligible for inclusion. Study quality will be assessed using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool. Study titles and abstracts will be screened to decide whether the full-text manuscript should be retrieved. For screening reliability, a second review author will assess a random sample of 20%. Kappa statistics will be used to assess inter-rater reliability, with values of 0.75 and higher representing high agreement. Two authors will independently extract data and factors reported to influence implementation. This will be synthesized using the Theoretical Domains Framework. Discussion: A comprehensive understanding of these factors can provide guidance to relevant stakeholders to enhance the adoption, implementation and sustainability of nutrition standards for school meals. Systematic review registration: PROSPERO CRD42019117904