Aspects Of Tourism Research Articles

Women Informal Business Tourists in Urban Southern Africa

Across sub-Saharan Africa, a substantial economy benefits from informal business tourism. In Southern Africa, the central element in informal business tourism is women's activities, who are informal cross-border shoppers and traders. The article investigates this neglected aspect of informal business tourism and unpacks the organisation of the key circuits of informal business tourism in urban Southern Africa. Major findings disclose that Johannesburg is established as the pivot of these regional shopping circuits. In the post-apartheid period, an infrastructure emerged in the inner city of Johannesburg to facilitate the operations of informal business tourists. The entrepôt operates as a transit tourism space, a conduit for channelling mainly Chinese products to destinations elsewhere in Africa. It is a space that connects the formal to the informal and the local to the global. Arguably, the practices of these informal business tourists are shaping new economic spaces in urban Southern Africa. The drivers and multiple challenges of women participants are explored through a synthesis of the recorded experiences of Zimbabwean women.

STRATEGI PENGEMBANGAN EKOWISATA HUTAN MANGROVE DI DESA PERANCAK KABUPATEN JEMBRANA BALI

The mangrove forest ecotourism area in Perancak Village, Jembrana Regency is one of the tourist attractions that has interesting potential to be developed. However, there are emerging problems such as a decrease in the number of visits, lack of promotion, and lack of infrastructure improvement, so there is a need for a strategy and program for the development of mangrove forest ecotourism that pays attention to the sustainability aspect of tourism. The purpose of this study is to analyze and formulate a strategy for the development of mangrove forest ecotourism program as a sustainable tourism attraction in Perancak Village. The data analysis techniques used are qualitative descriptive and SWOT analysis with data collection techniques through observation, interviews, literature studies, and documentation. The results of the study show that the ecotourism of the Perancak mangrove forest has tourism potential that can be developed. The development strategies and programs that are considered effective to support the development of Perancak mangrove ecotourism are the diversification of educational tourism products by creating mangrove conservation day and sustainable fishing programs, strengthening the quality of tourism products through infrastructure improvement programs and the recruitment of local tour guides, the use of digital media by creating social media accounts accompanied by videos of ecotourism potential, the preparation of ecotourism branding materials Highlight visual elements and interesting stories of ecotourism, strengthen the quality of local communities through socialization and empowerment of the local economy, partnerships with private institutions and other tourism businesses, add tourist attraction facilities, improve the quality of the ecotourism environment and increase involvement and cooperation with external parties.

Word-of-mouth referrals between patients are a critical component of medical tourism for pediatric hematopoietic cell transplantation.

The increasing popularity of medical tourism has sparked interest from policymakers, researchers, and the media. Factors influencing medical tourism include service quality, availability, economics, and cultural differences. This study aims to analyze the key factors that influence destination selection for medical tourists. We conducted a thorough examination of hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) data from the pediatric population at our institution from 2006 onwards, focusing on the aspect of medical tourism. Most connections to services were made through encounters in patients' daily lives and environments, such as word-of-mouth (WOM) from previously treated patients, family, or friends; connection through other services; referral from health care professionals; and seeing the service in their neighborhood. The results of our study indicate that the outcomes of these patients were comparable to those of patients with unrelated donor HCT who were not from an international background. Approximately 55% of our patients were referred to those who previously received treatment. Effective WOM referrals between patients are essential to the success of a medical tourism business. Patients referred to hospitals tend to have higher satisfaction rates and are more likely to become repeat customers. This ultimately leads to increased revenue and a stronger reputation in the industry. Additionally, positive feedback from satisfied patients can significantly enhance an organization's reputation and attract more potential clients. Chinese tourists and Taiwanese people share language and history. Engaging in direct conversations with physicians regarding personal matters has proven to be more effective than depending on the translator. WOM referrals are critical components of the medical tourism industry. The results indicate that WOM referrals play an essential role in conveying patients' experiences, leading to increased revenue and a stronger reputation in the industry.

Tourism as a catalyst for resilience: Insights from a literature review on crisis adaptation and regional development

The work discusses the increasingly popular concept of today, resilience, and examines its tourism aspects, presenting the interdisciplinary nature of the definition and the different meanings. International and Hungarian tourism research still needs to address the issue sufficiently. Tourism, one of the most dynamically developing economic sectors, is mainly responsible for territory creation. At the same time, the presence and expansion of tourism have brought the extent of change in systems to the forefront, thus giving rise to a renewed examination of the issue of resilience. The current research shows further relevance: - The tourism is an open system, on the one hand it is exposed to many external factors (e.g. natural disasters, economic recession, epidemics, political conflicts, terrorist attacks), and on the other hand it continuously influences its environment (the latter is also referred to when reporting the results). - Resilience is vital for the sustainability of tourism. - Due to the acceleration of the flow of information, tourism today reacts much more sensitively to political, economic and health crises observed in the world. At the same time, the question arises as to how one can include a tourism product in resilience, as well as how to measure whether tourism is the right path to resilience or whether tourism can be the key to resilience in a geographical area or how resilience can be an opportunity, and whether it can mean the same opportunity for everyone, and how can everyone make use of it? Our research aimed to examine the evolution of tourism and its closely related geographical space’s resilience to crises and identify. We aimed to identify possible paths of adaptation that would allow us to follow the path towards resilience. The tourism research community and regional development practitioners thematically mapped out possible responses to tourism and geographical space crises. Researchers have yet to publish work on this topic, and we consider our work to be missing. To achieve our aim, namely to examine the diversity of adaptability in this field, we have collected literature. To do this, we used ResearchGate, a global research community connectivity platform. Using the platform's search engine, we reviewed 50 academic articles. We typed "tourism and resilience" into the search engine and took the first 50 works as a sample. We investigated how resilience manifests in the relationship between tourism (tourist destination) and geographical space. It observed resilience in three aspects: 1. When tourism is the cause of resilience. 2. When tourism is in a situation where it has had to recover resiliently. 3. When tourism is a key factor in the resilience of geographical space. Among our results, the importance and outstanding role of examining resilience can be seen. This is confirmed by the geographical coverage and diversity of the 50 studies, which were carried out in 26 different countries. Statistical analysis provides evidence of the relationship (or lack of it) between developed and developing countries. The schematic diagrams (3 of them), which provide an opportunity to analyze the complex role of tourism in different contexts, are considered to be a truly new and original result of the article. They could provide an excellent basis for future research and policymakers.

Editor’s Letter

Welcome to the 54th issue of our journal, where we present diverse research articles that delve into contemporary issues across various fields. This issue combines empirical studies and theoretical explorations illuminating different aspects of business, tourism, food preferences, and organizational culture. We aim to provide insightful analyses and foster a deeper understanding of these multifaceted topics.

Can Halal Tourism in Lombok be Sustainable? A Case Study of Stakeholder Perspective

This study explores the potential of Indonesia, particularly Lombok, as a leading halal tourism destination. Despite being ranked first in the Global Muslim Travel Index (GMTI) by 2023, Indonesia has yet to meet its target of attracting 25% of foreign tourists as Muslims by 2022. Lombok plays a key role in this vision, yet stakeholders hold divergent views on the sustainability of halal tourism there. Discussions on the business and environmental aspects of halal tourism, with respect to stakeholder synergy and innovation, are still limited. This research aims to examine how stakeholders perceive halal tourism in Lombok and the ways in which they collaborate and innovate to ensure its sustainability. A qualitative approach was employed, using a case study method. Data were collected through in-depth interviews with five purposively selected stakeholders, chosen for their significant involvement in sustaining halal tourism. The data were analysed using Atlas.ti software to ensure accurate representation. Findings reveal contrasting stakeholder views on the future of halal tourism in Lombok. While some support it for its uniqueness, others express concerns about possible restrictions and favour alternative tourism types. For sustainability, stakeholder synergy and innovation are essential. Key measures include creating direct flight routes from Muslim-majority countries, fostering local partnerships, and promoting environmental and business sustainability. Additionally, government-driven initiatives like international events and halal certification could attract more tourists, while education and training would empower local communities.

COVID-19 Impact on Community-Based Homestay Tourism Villages in the Annapurna Conservation Area

Community-based homestay tourism program is one of the recently growing rural tourism enterprises in Nepal. It has been regarded as economic chain for upgrading rural livelihood in several parts of Nepal, preferably in nearby location of popular tourist destinations, which strongly support ecotourism and rural development. The outbroke of COVID-19 developed a global shock and damaged the tourism sector of globe including Nepal. The pause of tourism activities and halt of traveler’s movement had increased crisis in the tourism sector of the country as well as local level, interrupting the economic aspect of whole nation. This study analyzed the impact of COVID-19 lockdown on ecotourism in conservation area, particularly in homestay tourism villages of Machhapuchhre Rural Municipality of Kaski district, Nepal by collecting household level data from 40 households. The study further analyzed the positive and negative effects of lockdown in economic, environmental and socio-cultural aspects of homestay tourism. COVID 19 had constructively impacted on the environment sector by proper solid waste management and less fuel wood consumption but negatively impacted on economic and socio-cultural aspect of homestay tourism, which caused reductions in income, visitors flow and employment. Hence, we need to adopt supporting strategy to promote community-based homestay tourism by the government.

Advantages and disadvantages of virtual tourism

This article examines theoretical and applied issues that arise in tourism activities when using innovative technologies of virtual reality. The position is argued that virtual tourism is an additional tool and cannot replace the real tourist experience, but can create new impressions, even those that are impossible under normal conditions. The subtleties of the boundary that exists between real and virtual tourism depends on the psycho-emotional attitude and perception of the tourist (user) of the tourist experience using virtual reality technologies. The purpose of the research is: analysis of positive and negative qualities of virtual tourism based on a comprehensive review of experimental research by foreign scientists in this field; study of the importance and impact of virtual tourism on the development of the tourism industry in general as a necessary element of the stage of rejuvenation of this sector of the economy; identifying the further place of virtual tourism in the field of tourist activity as an additional tool for providing tourist services, or the main one, which will depend on the attitude of tourists to this technology. Within the framework of our research, attention is paid to the positive and negative aspects of virtual tourism. Among the positive ones, such as saving money and time, the possibility of obtaining a tourist experience for persons with limited physical capabilities, receiving tourist services anywhere and at any time, improving the ecological situation in the world by minimizing the impact on the environment and ensuring the sustainability of the environment are highlighted environment Among the negative features of virtual tourism, one can highlight such as the lack of personal contact and the necessary human interaction, the limited view provided by virtual tours, which does not allow users to move freely or explore certain areas of interest, which leads to a narrower view of the area. In any case, the development of virtual tourism is useful and necessary not only as a successful marketing solution, but also for the rejuvenation of the tourism sector.

CRUISE TOURIST EXPERIENCE: AN ANALYSIS FROM TRIPADVISOR REVIEWS

Cruise tourism has grown in popularity, making it essential to understand the experiences of tourists who choose this unique mode of travel. This study examines the cruise tourist experience through the analysis of TripAdvisor reviews, focusing on key factors that shape customer satisfaction and overall travel experience. Utilizing content analysis, a comprehensive dataset of cruise reviews was analyzed to identify recurring themes such as service quality, onboard activity, and perceived value The results indicate that positive cruise experiences are heavily influenced by personalized service, high-quality food, and diverse entertainment offerings, while negative experiences often stem from overcrowding, service delays, and itinerary changes. This research provides valuable insights into the aspects of cruise tourism that enhance or diminish customer satisfaction. These findings offer practical implications for cruise operators looking to improve service quality and enhance the overall travel experience for cruise passengers. Further research recommendations are provided to explore variations in experience across different demographics and cruise types.

Analisis Pengaruh Wisata Halal terhadap Kepuasan Pengunjung dan Minat Berkunjung Kembali (Studi Kasus Wisata Halal di Kota Bandung)

This study aims to analyze the effect of halal tourism on visitor satisfaction and interest in visiting again, with a case study in Bandung City. Halal tourism is a tourism concept that meets halal requirements, not only on food, but also on all aspects of services and facilitiesThe method used in this study is quantitative, with primary data collection through questionnaires distributed to visitors at several halal tourist sites in Bandung. Respondents in this study were tourists who visited these locations. Data analysis is done using Structural Equation Modeling (SEM-PLS), which helps in testing and analyzing relationships between variables. The results of the study show that aspects of halal tourism in Bandung, such as the availability of halal food, worship facilities, and services that are in accordance with Islamic principles, have a significant influence on visitor satisfaction. This has a positive effect on the interest of visitors. to revisit the tourist site. This shows that a satisfactory halal tourism experience can encourage tourists to make repeat visits his has a positive effect on the interest of visitors to revisit the tourist site. This shows that a satisfactory halal tourism experience can encourage tourists to make repeat visits. These findings have important implications for tourism developers and city governments, particularly in terms of halal tourism development strategies. The study also provides insight into future research.

Tourism sanctions as a means of China’s economic statecraft: an fsQCA analysis

ABSTRACT This study examines cases to identify sufficient conditions that give rise to tourism sanctions as a means of economic statecraft. Tourism sanctions indicate a state’s restrictions on outbound tourism to achieve diplomatic goals. A fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA) was used to compare relevant cases. Results demonstrated that tourism sanctions are likely to tackle hard security issues when any of the following sets of conditions are present: 1) targets are highly dependent on the source market, but not overall dependent on tourism, or 2) targets are tourism-dependent democracies. Tourism sanctions are typically intended to have a limited impact on a target rather than to topple its economy. Findings shed light on the less discovered aspect of international tourism as most of the cases are comparatively recent and still under researched.

Religious tourism

Religiously motivated travel, such as pilgrimages, is one of the oldest forms of tourism. Over the past fifty years, religiously motivated tourism has experienced significant growth. Religious tourism has evolved in diverse contexts and locations, and it is increasingly explored by scholars from various fields. Existing literature on religious tourism suggests a growing diversification of visitors, who are driven by the diminishing significance of traditional religious beliefs in contemporary societies. Scholars have indicated a global decline in engagement with organised religions, possibly attributed to modern scientific knowledge, rational thinking, and secularisation. Consequently, there is a growing trend where individuals travel to religious and pilgrimage sites that hold personal significance or meaning for them. In the post-pandemic context, more attention should be given to the wellness aspects of religious tourism, including the mental, physical, and spiritual health benefits. Religious tourism, especially in developing regions and remote areas, has been viewed as part of economic diversification strategies. To provide pathways for how religious tourism can actually benefit the local community and economy in practice, there is a need for more in-depth research and analysis. More critical research can explore how economic development influences or impacts poverty alleviation, sustainability, accessibility, and environmental impacts. For future research, beyond tourists’ perspectives, more attention on the perspectives of communities and local stakeholders is required. Since Western contexts, conceptualisations, methodologies, and interpretations still dominate the field, it is essential to incorporate holistic perspectives and understandings from a broader body of scholars. Encouraging local scholarship is important to foster more balanced discussions within this field of study. Methodologies should expand and become more creative, moving beyond quantitative studies and incorporating more fieldwork. Scholars need to address practical problems related to religious tourism sites by collaborating with policymakers, tourism operators, local communities, and religious associations.

Urban Community Participation In Dealing With The Covid-19 Pandemic Through Environment-Based On Covid-19 Handling Policies In The City Of Mataram

The city of Mataram is an area that has a high number of Covid-19 cases in West Nusa Tenggara Province. Covid-19 has seriously impacted all aspects of life, from health, economy, society, culture, and tourism to religious rituals. This study aims to analyze the policies for handling Covid-19 in Mataram City. Second, analyze the form of community participation in efforts to deal with Covid-19 in Mataram City. This study uses the participation theory of Cohen and Uphoff as an analytical tool. This research is qualitative research with a descriptive approach. In- depth interviews, observation, and documentation employed data collection techniques. The results of this study indicate that this environment-based policy for handling Covid-19 effectively suppresses the spread of Covid-19 in Mataram City. This policy is implemented by involving the participation of all elements of government, local leaders, and the community. Community participation in handling Covid-19 starts with high public awareness of Covid-19, then implementing health protocols. Community participation is also seen in the formulation of policies for handling Covid-19, the movement to join a Task Force (Satgas), carrying out self- help movements to help each other, and being involved in evaluating the handling of Covid-19 in the City of Mataram.

The Jurassic Park and Ata Modo in Eastern Indonesia

Famous for its distinctive Komodo dragons (Varanus Komodoensis) and features home to underwater ecosystems, the Komodo National Park (KNP) has become a prominent and favorite destination of visitors locally and globally in recent years. Situated in Labuan Bajo, East Nusa Tenggara Province, Indonesia, KNP has three prime islands: Rinca, Komodo, and Padar. The infrastructure development in KNP formulated in 2020 by the central government of Indonesia, including establishing offices, photograph areas, clinics, warehouses, public spaces, and tour guides' offices, raises controversy about this decision. While the government of Indonesia persuaded citizens that this erection was a conservation effort for protection, preservation, and utilization, UNESCO refused this plan by enacting a refusal document and assessing whether the development could affect the property's Outstanding Universal Value (OUV) before the review of the relevant environmental impact analysis by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Additionally, the local people argue this plan will threaten the giant lizard's habitat regarding the entry of heavy equipment and disadvantage local tourism actors. Using a systematic literature review method, this piece collects and discovers a different concept in the issue of infrastructure development in KNP instead of another scholar's perspective. Walpole and Goodwin (2000) find that economics and facilities are the prominent aspects of tourism, while UNESCO considers the environment in development. In contrast to popular belief, this paper indicates a significant role of local people, known as Ata Modo, in the KNP establishment. This paper's findings propose that Ata Modo, as local people/tribes in KNP, should not be relocated from their area and instead be involved in the decision-making process. The bottom-up approach can be executed as a practice in a democratic process. From the fiscal approach, this development will positively impact local people's economy through collaboration and stakeholder participation.

The Impact of Terrorism on Tourism Development in the Republic of Kosovo

In the last twenty years, tourism has faced many terrorist attacks or similar crises, so we can ask the question of what is the connection between terrorism and tourism, how does all this affect global tourism. The targets of terrorist attacks in a certain tourist destination can vary, starting from small objects to complex tourist infrastructure, and the basis of the attacks can be political, economic, religious, or other reasons. This research has special theoretical and practical importance for the development of tourism in Kosovo, but from the aspect of the impact of terrorism on tourism, with special reference to the Republic of Kosovo as a tourist destination. Research related to the impact of terrorism on tourism in the Republic of Kosovo will help us to understand, in essence, the negative effects that terrorism can have on the development of tourism in this country. From this research, we are expected to get to know the most important aspects of terrorism and tourism in modern conditions, but also with the legislation in this field and how it can help prevent terrorist acts in tourist facilities in Kosovo.

An Analysis on Domestic Tourism Development Prospective in Karnali Province, Nepal

The main thrust of this paper is to elucidate various aspects of domestic tourism in the specific context of Karnali Province in Nepal. To elucidate the complex interface between tourism and people, attempt have been made to provide an analysis covering various aspects related to domestic tourism policies, programs, prospects and problems. This research was conducted under Mixed Method research design because the study was described systematically the major problems and prospects of tourism development in the study area. The districts and places for domestic tourism importance have been purposively selected in order to collect valid and reliable data from the local level. Tourism is a complex process related to the work and life of people who live in the tourism potential areas. The tourism phenomenon has to make a perfect match in order to harness the benefits of tourism related activities. This research based article covers various facts of tourism development related phenomena and processes as social, cultural, religious, and natural aspects when come together make a complex form of an integrated rural network.

Examining the AISAS Model and Tourist Citizenship Behaviour in context of Mining Heritage Tourism

Therefore, the objective of the research is to test the effectiveness of the Attention-Interest-Search-Action-Share model in mining heritage tourism but replacing the Action component with tourist citizenship behaviour. This will therefore yield new and key insights because there are few studies conducted in this area. The current study selected 220 tourists through a convenience sampling technique. The gathered data was treated with exploratory factor analysis and structural equation modelling techniques. Confirmatory results found on the acceptance of the first hypothesis, which is Attention Influences Interest, attention becomes very important in ensuring riveting tactics are put in place when promoting mining heritage tourism. The second hypothesis, Curiosity influences Search, is also supported and confirms that only in the condition of a deep level of curiosity, tourists search for information. The third hypothesis is stating that interest influences TCB. The fourth hypothesis postulates that interest influences Share. It supported the sixth hypothesis stating that Search influences TCB. The rejection was of the sixth hypothesis that stated Search influences Share. The seventh theory stated that TCB influences Share, thereby is accepted. These findings bear some significant implications for attaining the sustainable development goals. Precisely, it means that the promotion of mining heritage tourism advances SDG 11—Sustainable Cities and Communities—since this ensures cultural heritage is preserved and contributes to inclusive and sustainable urban development. Likewise, with increased engagement of tourists during citizenship behaviours, this particular act contributes to SDG 12 through the aspect of sustainable tourism and raising awareness. Similarly, the positive experiences that are increasingly wide follow up essentially give rise to SDG 8 through the promotion of tourism as one of the prime movers for improving the economy.

PERANCANGAN APLIKASI WHATSAPP CHATBOT UNTUK PARIWISATA DI KABUPATEN PURWAKARTA

Purwakarta Regency has the potential to be a tourist destination that can be visited by tourists in almost all of its areas. Good management from the government and local residents is necessary to ensure the long-term sustainability of these tourist attractions. One aspect of tourism that needs to be well-managed is the information about the tourist areas. The dissemination of information about tourist areas can be done through various platforms, one of which is WhatsApp. WhatsApp application has the highest rating of 92.1% among internet users in Indonesia, making it an effective medium for conveying information about tourism. WhatsApp has a built-in chatbot feature, which makes information delivery more effective as it can be available 24/7 and cost-effective due to its automated nature. In the development of a WhatsApp chatbot, several components need to be considered. First, the WhatsApp application plays a role as the sender and receiver of messages. Next, the Heroku hosting platform is important for implementing the chatbot. The use of the Python programming language is a suitable choice for building the chatbot. Lastly, Twilio serves as the service provider that connects the chatbot with the WhatsApp application, ensuring seamless interaction between the two. After the chatbot is built, blackbox testing is conducted on the WhatsApp chatbot to ensure that the functionality of the input and output align with expectations. The results demonstrate that the WhatsApp chatbot functions well, allowing it to be implemented as a means of providing tourism information in Purwakarta Regency.

STUDY OF TOURISM SUITABILITY AND CARRYING CAPACITY FOR FISHERIES-BASED ECOTOURISM DEVELOPMENT IN JATIGEDE RESERVOIR, WEST JAVA, INDONESIA

A reservoir is a multipurpose dam. The Jatigede reservoir in Sumedang Regency, West Java Province, Indonesia has excellent potential as a Fisheries-based Ecotourism (FbE) development due to its sufficiently wide inundation area, the availability of fish and marine resources, wealth of natural scenery and strategic location. Currently, Jatigede Reservoir is a well-known natural tourism destination and research study area; however, minimal studies have been conducted on the environmental aspects of tourism. This study aims to determine the ecological potential of Jatigede Reservoir as a Fisheries-based Ecotourism (FbE) destination and its suitability and carrying capacity. This research was conducted between 29th August 2022 and 30th June 2023 and consists of a preliminary survey and main research activity. The study area encompasses eight selected areas: (1) Tegal Jarong, (2) Naga Island, (3) Samiah Fishing Spot, (4) Sabeulit Boating Spot, (5) Jemah Island, (6) Buaya Island, (7) Curug Mas, and (8) Cibunut Fishing Spot. The Tourism Suitability Index (TSI) was calculated for two tourism categories: Fishing and boating. The TSI result for the fishing category is “Conditionally Appropriate” while for boating activity is “Very Appropriate”. The total Tourism Carrying Capacity (TCC) for all study areas is about 13.818 visitors/day.

Sea Turtle Conservation and Tourism: A Case Study in North Carolina

This case study focuses on the connections between sea turtles, volunteers, tourists, and other stakeholders in Atlantic Beach, North Carolina in the United States. Background information about sustainable tourism, stakeholder theory, and volunteerism is presented. Then, the dilemma of how to have both sea turtle conservation and sea turtle tourism co-exist is presented, along with complex issues, including those connected with education, training, and volunteerism. The case presents the issues involved with how to develop and maintain a balance between the environmental, socio-cultural, and economic aspects of sustainable tourism in connection with sea turtles.