Tourism Workers Research Articles

Fieldwork in pro-poor tourism: a reflexive account

ABSTRACT Tourism studies pay relatively little attention to the importance of reflexivity and metacognition. This article highlights the integral importance of explicitly considering reflexivity and metacognition issues as part of the research process when studying pro-poor tourism (PPT). Hence, the paper presents a reflexive and metacognitive account of the challenges and obstacles encountered while undertaking ethnographic fieldwork in PPT. Drawing on the first author’s research experiences in Vietnam with informal tourism workers, it reflects the positional, ethical, and methodological challenges faced during and after the fieldwork. This article is the first to provide a critical reflection on fieldwork in PPT, thereby adding to the conceptual recognition of the importance of reflexivity and metacognition in tourism studies overall. It also shares deeper insights into the difficulties associated with research that involves poor people, whose voices remain largely absent from tourism studies.

Human resources and workforce shortages in Jeju Island due to islandness: The challenges faced by former hospitality and tourism professionals

Workforce management is a problem in many islands. Although the Jeju tourism department and local business offer attractive promotions and opportunities, due to the demands faced by tourism professionals, many have left their positions in Jeju and returned to the mainland Korean peninsula. The purpose of this study is to explore the motivations, career decisions, and turnover behaviours of a group of former tourism professionals who had previously worked in Jeju for a period of less than two years. Based on social cognitive career and motivation theory, the study was guided by two research questions: 1) Why did the participants leave their positions in Jeju after less than two years of career development? and 2) How did the participants describe their working and living experiences in Jeju as professional tourism workers? The data from 42 participants indicated that overloaded responsibilities and unbalanced schedule, financial consideration, and personal consideration were the three major reasons for leaving Jeju. This study aims to help local businesses and governments to understand employees’ motivations, career decisions, and turnover behaviours. Further, this research seeks fill gaps in the literature regarding workforce shortages and tourism management for islands and remote regions, particularly in East Asia.

Isostrain among tourism employees in Tunisia during COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract Background Psychological and social factors related to work activity can improve or deteriorate the physical and mental health of employees. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, the psychological well-being of workers has been strongly affected. Particularly, jobs with isostrain characterized by high work demands and low work control, coupled with low social support, place employees at highest risk for poor mental health. We aimed to assess the factors associated with isostrain among employees in the tourism sector in Sousse. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted between September and November 2020 among tourism workers belonging to 12 hotels and restaurants in Sousse, Tunisia, using a self-administered questionnaire. ‘Isostrain’ was assessed using the Karasek questionnaire. ‘Isostrain’ is a situation where there is a combination of ‘jobstrain’ (‘tension at work') and low social support (score below the median of the group). SPSS 20 software was used to analyze the data. Results A total of 226 workers were included. The mean age was 38.2 ± 9.6 years. The sex ratio was 2.7. The majority of employees (64.8%) were working at workplace during COVID-19 lockdown. The prevalence of isostrain was 5.4%. Isostrain was reported by 5.7% of women (p = 1). All workers older than 50 years did not have isostrain (p = 0.6). Moreover, isostrain was found among 6.6% of workers with less than 5 years of work experience (p = 0.4), 4.8% of married employees (p = 0.7), and 7.6% of employees with a university education (p = 0.53). Conclusions Isostrain can affect employees in the tourism sector. Social support should be promoted among workers to ensure good mental health. Key messages • Prevalence of isostrain in tourism sector of Sousse during COVID-19 pandemic is quite high. • Preventive strategies of mental health should be promoted at workplace in Tunisia.

Balish lexion in the Tanah Lot tourism area

English as an international language has an essential role in the world of tourism, as one of the most important capitals for workers in the tourism sector, including those classified as a lower class, such as acung traders, masseurs, parking attendants, shop or stall assistants, and so on. Initial observations showed that these tourism workers generally used market English or ‘Balinese English’ in their daily profession, which is called Balish in this article. Balish used by tourism workers has been ‘naturalized’ by adopting some features of local languages, especially Balinese and Indonesian, such as lexicon, grammar, and expressions/phrases. This article discussed the Balish lexicon used by tourism workers in the Tanah Lot Tourism Area, Bali, to improve their welfare.

Innovating in the Tourism Industry Through Virtual Reality (VR) and Education in the Hotel Business

In the interdisciplinary co-operation of experts in the fields of technology, hospitality, and pedagogy, a 3D training module was created, which simulates the environment of a hotel reception. Key elements of communication between hotel staff and various types of guests were identified, and variant scenarios of communication situations were prepared. Scenarios are based on the principles of effective simulation. The methodology of training communication skills of hotel employees using virtual reality tools was compiled on the basis of foreign research in the field of using virtual reality in training processes. The tool is a pilot test in teaching tourism workers, specifically for the development of their communication skills in dealing with clients. The paper presents, in detail, a model of virtual reception and methodology of communication skills training, which was verified on students who are preparing to work in tourism, as well as on hotel staff with experience.

QUALITY OF EDUCATION IN CROATIA AND PERSPECTIVES OF QUALITY MANAGEMENT OF EDUCATION — APPLICATIONS OF RESEARCH ON TOURISM DEVELOPMENT

In recent years education has been in the process of reorganization, especially when education has faced major challenges due to the coronavirus pandemic. Today, emphasizing the importance of human potential, the management of educational institutions and the quality of the entire education system face certain challenges. Based on many years of research, the authors note that management has not achieved a necessary level of cognition being a vital component of efficient management. In Croatia, there is a large deficit of students enrolled in high school tourism courses. On the other hand, Croatia, as one of the most developed tourist destination on the Mediterranean, is in a state of high demand for quality and educated tourism workers. With regard to this issue, in this paper, the authors proposed a project for research of competences of school principals for the function of managing educational institutions.

Country image effects after the Brexit crisis. A cross-cultural comparison

PurposeIn the context of Brexit, this study aims to analyse whether the worsening of the UK’s image might have triggered: worse feelings towards the tourism workers and a decrease in the final intention to travel to the UK. This paper compares responses from high and low-context tourists to identify at which target the reactions are more intense.Design/methodology/approachHypotheses were formulated in a general model based on the theory of reasoned action applied to Country Image in the tourism sector, comparing the model in high (150 responses) versus low-context (406 responses) scenarios. Structural equation modelling methodology was used.FindingsThe intention to travel to the UK worsens when two out of the three dimensions of country image worsen (aesthetical and functional) and also when feelings towards workers in this country worsen. Related to cross-cultural differences, the main effect on feelings towards workers comes from the normative dimension of the UK’s image, together with the aesthetic perception. Moreover, travellers’ intentions are influenced by functional and aesthetic perceptions of the country as well as feelings towards workers. High-context cultures showed a significantly stronger effect of the aesthetic dimension of the country on feelings towards workers.Originality/valueThis paper tries to advance the understanding of how feelings towards employees in the UK can determine future visits to this destination. In addition, some cultural differences may explain why low-context cultures are more affected by the worsening of the UK’s image after Brexit.

Evaluasi Materi Bahasa Inggris Mahasiswa Program Studi Manajemen Tata Boga di Politeknik pariwisata

English has a role that varies according to its function. In the hotel and restaurant sector, the staff in charge of serving customers both local and foreign customers. For this reason, English language skills also need to be prioritized. However, it is found that many English teachers are not related to the needs of students, one of which is in the Culinary Arts department at the Bali Tourism Polytechnic. This study uses a descriptive method with the concept of English for Specific Purposes (ESP) which is divided into subjective data analysis and objective data analysis. Subjective analysis data were collected through questionnaires distributed to 15 tourism workers or graduate users in restaurants and hotels, while objective analysis data was carried out through analysis of material documents that had been given to students. From this analysis, it can be seen that the types of English skills that must be mastered by students of the Culinary Arts department at the Bali Tourism Polytechnic include listening, speaking, writing, and reading where speaking and listening skills are needed.

Strengthening Prosperity and Peace through Code of Ethics Embedded Responsible Tourism: How Far It Works for Trekking Porters (deprived workforce) in Nepal?

In addition to pledging economic prosperity, the existing body of knowledge reveals that tourism can bring and accelerate peace. The trek/tour operators can play an important role in this process through the application Code of Ethics (CoE) embedded responsible tourism. However, trekking porters' case in Nepal is not only under researched but also against the above set assumption. In this context, the key focuses of this article is to assess the existing CoE embedded responsible tourism policies and practices and examine the key items related with porters' portering profession.
 Methodologically, this research has utilized mixed information (qualitative and quantitative). Within the constructivist research paradigm, forty trek operators which employee trekking porters, were surveyed. Additionally, seven trekking porters (as the center actor of this research) and few leaders of tourism workers' unions were also interviewed. The findings reveal that CoEs emerge as valuable basis for assuring prosperity and peace. It finds improvements on key measuring items like porters' minimum wages, carrying loads, safety gears and clothes, and emergency evacuation in the management of trek operators but with sporadic lapses too. The existing tourism policies and strategies are found highlighting the need of CoEs but silent on the nitty-gritty of such ethics. This paper recommends for recruitments of all porters' through policy led establishment of a national Porter Referral Center (PRC) and all jobs assignments through mandatory job contracts. Finally, it necessitates for both ethics and regulation to go hand in hand for making tourism a true peace builder.

Local habitus and temporal overtourism in Yogyakarta

PurposeThis paper aims to unpack personal narratives of local residents in relation to the effects of overtourism in Yogyakarta, Indonesia. The paper uses Pierre Bourdieu’s concept of habitus to understand how local residents cope with temporal overtourism.Design/methodology/approachFindings were gathered from observations and interviews. Interviews were conducted with 12 informants, consisting of local small-to-medium enterprise tourism entrepreneurs, local informal tourism workers and a group of locals uninvolved in tourism.FindingsThe paper has two key findings. First, locals uninvolved in tourism show empathetic behavior toward the locals involved in tourism despite their experiencing negative effects of tourism. The involved locals, for their part, were aware of the importance of resolving issues with the uninvolved locals through regular communication so as to secure the sustained future of tourism. Second, the use of social capital by involved and uninvolved locals reflects the local Javanese culture and value system in which social harmony and integration are paramount.Research limitations/implicationsLocal habitus forms and informs locals’ perceptions on temporal overtourism issues. It enables an understanding on how locals manage the effects of overtourism in Yogyakarta. The habitus, which is greatly influenced by Javanese values, creates attitudes and behaviors which are empathetic and tolerant.Practical implicationsTo avoid the potential conflict when overtourism explicitly or implicitly frustrates locals, policy should be formulated by taking into account the findings of this paper on the local habitus. The study contributes to the overtourism debate by looking at the inter-relationship of local social structures and cultural context with local responses to temporal overtourism.Originality/valueUsing the concept of habitus, this research deepens existing understanding on the local responses toward overtourism. This research expects to theoretically enrich and complexify debates on tourism–habitus nexus in tourism studies.

Going the extra (s)mile: Countermeasures to emotional labour dysregulation in Australian reef tourism

Emotional labour is important to the performance of interactive service work in the tourism industry. However, emotional labour dysregulation, defined as a difficulty in managing emotions in daily routines, may lead to negative outcomes. This study aimed to fill an important gap by gaining a better understanding of perceived countermeasures for effectively managing emotional labour dysregulation in tourism workers. Using snowball sampling to recruit participants, eight focus groups were conducted with 42 reef workers in Cairns (Australia), using a novel scenario-based technique for knowledge elicitation. Findings outline countermeasures to emotional labour dysregulation according to two themes: (1) individual-level strategies, and (2) broader system factors. Both themes deal with the demands of emotional labour. Knowledge about countermeasures to emotional labour dysregulation has the potential to support employees and in turn influence positive tourism experiences which can help the industry to achieve business success and positive customer reviews.

SPA AND WELLNESS TOURISM - THE EXAMPLE OF THE CITY OF SKOPJE

Spa and wellness tourism today is a reality that companies engaged in the hotel industry must be aware of when setting up their facilities. It was considered before that this type of tourism is related only to the clientele that uses it for health reasons. It is no longer the case. Other people are potential consumers of this type of tourism. It stems from the fact that consumers who use such services have greater and more sophisticated requirements and want to meet other types of needs. The main thing is that in this process, the additional value must be obtained in which both parties will be satisfied - consumers and providers of these services. This type of tourism, in turn, implies the need for more extensive investment in providing that content, and therefore in that process, there is a need for greater engagement of the community. It means appropriate aid by providing various types of financial assistance - non-repayable funds (grants), loans with lower interest rates and other types of assistance, especially of a logistical nature. Also, there is a need for the proper education of the local tourist workers for providing this type of services, including an appropriate promotion of the broader interested community for the possibility of using spa and wellness tourism in the tourist facilities throughout the calendar year. These were the main reasons for writing this paper, and we focused on assessing the real situation in terms of spa and wellness tourism within the municipality of Skopje. For that purpose, we constructed a survey questionnaire and by analyzing the obtained answers, using appropriate statistical tools and methods, we gained appropriate knowledge regarding the development of this type of tourism to achieve sustainable economic growth.

Policy Framing Analysis Of The Ministry Of Tourism Of The Republic Of Indonesia Related To The Covid-19 Pandemic On The Kompas.Com National News Portal Website

This study aims to find out how the framing of the Kompas.com news portal regarding the Indonesian Ministry of Tourism's Policy Regarding the Covid-19 Pandemic. This policy was formed so that the community and tourism workers still maintain the health and safety of every individual in the community. There is a need for news framing (Framing) in kompas.com online media. Especially in the policy of the tourism ministry to deal with the Covid-19 pandemic, and how the impacts or complaints that occur in the community and expectations of the government. Assumptions, there are aspects that are highlighted that tend to be forced and put aside, this can be answered by framing analysis. This research on the framing of the policy news of the Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy on the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic uses a qualitative approach with the framing analysis method, the type of descriptive qualitative research. Suggestions that can be given by researchers are suggestions for the government, the online media kompas.com, and also the public in making decisions, policies in gathering news, and in responding to and understanding decisions made by the government.

Tourism workers' perceptions of supporting tourists’ evacuation in emergency situations

Building emergency response systems for tsunamis is a common issue in tsunami prone areas. In these coastal regions, there are many tourist areas as well as residential areas. During the emergency state after an undersea earthquake and tsunami warning issued, tourism workers play a crucial role for tourists to evacuate to safety zones. This study explores tourism workers' perceptions of earthquake and tsunami risks and supporting tourists in the emergency stage following a massive earthquake. To analyze tourism workers' perceptions, we identify constructs of risk perceptions and supporting tourists. Differences in the perceptions among attributes are also illustrated in the analysis. To depict relationships among constructs and attributes, structural equation modeling was applied. The research site is Shirarahama area in Shirahama Town, Wakayama Prefecture, Japan which is a famous tourist and tsunami prone area. The target was tourism workers working in the estimated tsunami inundation area. The number of distributed questionnaires was 346, and the number of valid responses was 196 (56.6%). In the analysis result, the path from the latent variable of the perception of people's confusion to perceived behavioral control was statistically significant and negative. This result indicates that respondents who recognize tourists and other people in the area will be disrupted after a massive earthquake tend to recognize that they may be unable to implement necessary responses. Results also appeared that experience in the discussion of tsunami evacuation responses with colleagues and practical drills affected tourism workers' perceptions better than a seminar, paper material, or non-practical training. In tourist areas, it is essential to repeatedly implement practical drills assuming various situations after earthquakes and discuss and adjust the responses based on the necessary knowledge and accurate sense.

Everest, Everestland, #Everest: A Case for a Composite Visual Ethnographic Approach

Arguably Mount Everest has always been mediatized: its appeal as an idea has existed in part through technologies of visual cultures. Exploring the digital media practices of tourists and the tourism workers, this article considers how imaginaries of Mount Everest that appear through technologies of visual culture relate to experiences of Everest in Nepal. I argue for a composite visual ethnographic approach that entails examining experiences on site in relation to cumulative media and visual texts, both historically and on digital media platforms. The article contributes to an anthropology of mobility through its focus on how digital visual communication becomes constitutive of work and practices in tourism.

The COVID-19 pandemic impact on the global tourism industry SMEs: a human capital development perspective

PurposeThis paper aims to propose a model for increasing human capital competitiveness in the tourism sector in emerging economies. Using Indonesia as an example, the authors study the extent of the COVID-19 pandemic’s impact and the sector’s resilience.Design/methodology/approachData was collected using a survey of 199 tourism workers in Magelang city in Central Java Island. The data was analyzed using structural equation model with Smart PLS.FindingsThe results confirm that social and human capital influence business success. Furthermore, innovation moderates the influence of human capital and social capital on business success.Originality/valueBy conducting a primary survey with the tourism workers and those who work and interact with the tourism industry in Indonesia, the authors show how a promising approach to creating and sharing agile knowledge can enhance the tourism industry micro, small and medium enterprises in emerging economies during and post-COVID-19 pandemic and after.

Staying at Work? The Impact of Social Support on the Perception of the COVID-19 Epidemic and the Mediated Moderating Effect of Career Resilience in Tourism

The COVID-19 epidemic has caused dramatic impacts and changes in the tourism industry, and job insecurity and emotional exhaustion have created psychological stress and negative emotions. Social support for Taiwan tourism workers (travel agency, transportation industry, lodging industry, tourism and leisure industry, etc.) plays an important role in their career resilience. However, not all of the potential social support moderators have a critical impact. This study used PLS-SEM analysis to survey 373 respondents by using an online questionnaire to investigate the critical influence of social support on the spread of COVID-19 using career motivation theory. In addition to the direct relationship between the individual’s psychological resilience and social support, the strategy of social support (family and friends, national relief policies and workplace support) is also pointed out. The results of the study illustrate the effectiveness of workplace support in combating the epidemic. This study provides information on effective resistance to the epidemic, how to prolong career resilience during unexpected shocks and stresses, and how to understand the mechanisms of adaptation or resilience in adversity and complements the study of factors and literature base in resilience research. It is also used as a study of the impact factors and industry strategy planning in future research.

Assessing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on tourism workers’ health and well-being in Jordan

The current study assesses the impact of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic on tourism workers’ health and well-being in Jordan by investigating coronavirus threats, financial impacts, resources impacts, social isolation, depression and personal control experienced by tourism workers during the COVID-19 pandemic, and how the threats and impacts of the coronavirus pandemic affect workers’ health and well-being. A quantitative survey method was applied using a questionnaire. Data were collected from a sample of 400 tourism workers in Jordan. The study’s findings revealed that tourism workers are financially strained, socially isolated, psychologically depressed, experiencing a lack of personal control, and have limited resources due to their dread of the pandemic and its negative impacts. It was also found that a significant negative direct effect of perceived coronavirus threats and their impacts on workers’ depression and personal control had a significant influence on workers’ health and well-being. The current study proposed a model of the influence of coronavirus on tourism workers’ health and well-being through their personal control and depression.

The Effect of the Pandemic on the Performance of Tourist Guides and the Practice of Their Professions: A Qualitative Study in the Cappadocia Region

Crises are the turning points where all industries are heavily affected, national economies experience significant problems, and only businesses which develop appropriate strategies and methods can survive. Sometimes natural disasters and sometimes terrorist attacks may cause these crisis periods to occur. In such cases, people first give up on their luxury consumption, such as their touristic travels. This situation makes the tourism sector to be one of the most vulnerable sectors. Tourism is a labor-intensive industry and one of the first sectors affected by such negativities. Therefore, tourism workers particularly feel many difficulties in such periods. One of these affected occupational groups is the tour guiding profession. This study aims to reveal the tour guides' experiences during the pandemic, which caused a significant sectoral crisis, and the effect of these experiences on their performance. The research carried out a qualitative research method and phenomenological research design. Professional tour guides were selected with snowball sampling, which is one of the purposive sampling methods. The ethical compliance of the prepared interview form was endorsed by the Iğdır University Ethics Committee Approval, dated 01.04.2021-No. 2021/12. Interviews were conducted with 20 professional tour guides registered at Nevşehir Chamber of Guides. The audio recordings obtained from the interviews were transcripted and identified as the MAXQDA project. In the study, content analysis was used as the analysis method. Three main themes and ten sub-themes were created using the data from the literature and the field. As a result of the coding process, the most repeated principal theme was determined as "Psychological and Behavioral Results." The most repeated sub-theme was "Professional Dissatisfaction." The research results have revealed that professional tour guides were not satisfied with their profession during the pandemic period, and the pandemic process had unfavorable effects on their performance.

Organizational Communication and Job Insecurity with Work Centrality as a Moderator: A Study on the Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic to Tourism Industry

The economic impact of the Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) pandemic has left many workers to be laid off. It psychologically caused those with jobs to feel insecure, which is known to affect individuals and organizations negatively. Drawing from Hobfoll’s Conservation of Resources (COR) theoretical framework, this study examined the correlation of organizational communication and job insecurity among workers during the COVID-19 pandemic with the moderating role of work centrality. Data were collected from 271 tourism workers in Bali through the purposive sampling technique. The result showed the negative correlation of organization communication towards job insecurity of tourism workers in Bali. The negative correlation between organizational communication and job insecurity became stronger for Balinese tourism workers with high work centrality than workers with lower work centrality. Accordingly, organizations should make a greater effort to communicate with workers about the organization’s stability during the COVID-19 pandemic to attenuate workers’ job insecurity.