bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Economic Growth, Exchange Rate and Remittance Nexus: Evidence from Africa
Authors: Lawal Adedoyin Isola , Salisu Afees Adebare , Asaleye Abiola John , Oseni Ezeikel , Lawal-Adedoyin Bukola Bose , Dahunsi Samuel Olatunde , Omoju Emmanuel Oluwasola , DickTonye Abigail Oyeronke , Ogunwole Elizabeth Bolatito , Babajide Abiola Ayopo
Published: May 2022

This paper examined the nexus between economic growth and exchange rate, remittances, trade, and agricultural output based on data sourced from 1980 to 2018 for 10 selected African economies. We employed both the Dumitrescu and Hurlin time-domain Granger causality test and the Croux and Reusens frequency domain Granger causality test. Results from the time-domain test suggests that causality only exists between economic growth and both exchange rate and trade, with no significant relationship between economic growth and both remittances and agricultural output. When we employed frequency domain model in our analysis, the results suggested that there is a bi-directional temporary and permanent causality between economic growth and exchange rate, trade, agriculture, and remittances. Our results suggest the validity of both the J-Curve and Marshall–Lerner hypotheses in the studied economies. Our study offers some relevant policy implications.
A Fuzzy Imperfect Production Inventory Model Based on Fuzzy Differential and Fuzzy Integral Method
Authors: Manna Amalesh Kumar , Cárdenas-Barrón Leopoldo Eduardo , Dey Jayanta Kumar , Mondal Shyamal Kumar , Shaikh Ali Akbar , Céspedes-Mota Armando , Treviño-Garza Gerardo
Published: May 2022

In the inventory theory, to treat the uncertainty, the fuzzy set concept is used in order to provide a feasible approach to deal with the uncertainty problem. In this research work, a fuzzy economic production quantity model with interactive fuzzy demands is proposed. In a production process, in the beginning, the system is assumed to be in a controlled state in which only perfect items are manufactured. Later, the manufacturing production process shifts to be an out-of-control-state system; producing both perfect and imperfect items simultaneously, this is considered as a fuzzy state. The defective production rate is also taken into account as a fuzzy state. Here, the selection process of produced items is realized during the production period. With the aim of studying the practical feasibility of the fuzzy economic production inventory model along with a sensitivity analysis of some parameters, different numerical examples are illustrated.
The essence of art: cultural and psychological discourse
Authors:   Institute of Philosophy of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Rozin V.M.
Published: May 2022

The author starts from the concepts and understanding of the art of M. Bakhtin and L. Vygotsky, which he analyzed in his other works. For a better understanding of the theses, three cases are examined and analyzed — the novel by Israeli writer Meir Shalev “Two bears came out of the forest”, a poem by Marina Tsvetaeva and the process of opening an artistic image by a small child. Several issues are discussed: problems that could worry Shalev and his readers, some features of the author's work that made it possible to create the artistic reality of this work, the features of artistic reality, the mental mechanism that generates strong emotions of readers. The techniques and means of expression used by Shalev in the course of creating his novel are analyzed. The factors (semiotic, personal, cultural) that determine the independent existence of artistic reality, as well as the naturalness and realism of its events are analyzed. These events are more real and natural because Shalev opens the way for the reader to the events of artistic reality, allows him to see the whole, emphasizes the most important. An important role is played by the genius of Shalev as a storyteller, his wonderful language. It is concluded that the necessary conditions for the creation of artistic reality and the living of its events are the semiosis of art and a special form of human life in art (leisure according to Aristotle, “non-utilitarian form of life” according to the author).
Human and society. Didactic materials for independent work of 10th grade students of educational institutions
Authors:   Russian State Pedagogical University named after A.I. Herzen, Dokuchaev I.I.
Published: May 2022

The series of publications was prepared on the basis of a teaching manual addressed to 10th grade schoolchildren of schools studying the integrative course “Social Studies” (section “Man and Society”), and is a set of materials for independent work. The content of the manual fully meets the requirements of the Federal State Educational Standards of Basic General Education and work programs for secondary (complete) education in social studies. The presented theoretical and practical material reveals the main aspects of social life: the essence and functional characteristics of consciousness and activity, ideas about society and social institutions as a system, types of societies, views on culture as a cumulative spiritual experience and “collective memory”, its main institutions — science, religion, morality, education, art. Particular attention is paid to the definition of social progress and global problems of mankind.
Planning the organization's staffing need for a specific planning period
Authors:   Moscow University for the Humanities, Lychkan Leonid Petrovich
Published: May 2022

The article discusses the provisions related to personnel (human resources) planning and certain aspects of such planning, in particular, planning the organization's staffing needs for a certain prospected period for the organization's development and implementation of its targets and plans. It is shown that at the heart of building a management system in an organization and, in particular, in building a personnel management system and planning the organization's staffing needs, there is a dialectical approach that allows considering management issues in their constant interconnection, motion, and development. This means that emerging phenomena and contemporary realities are studied from the old to the new. In this case, a person, an employee carrying out one or another production activity, is in the center of study and research. However, an individual employee, being a member of an organization, is always interconnected with others and, therefore, the entire management process should be considered comprehensively, taking into account the behavioral aspects of each as part of the overall management system. All these features of planning the organization's need for human resources for a certain planning period are the subject of consideration in this article.
Implementation of tracking system correction methods in the Simulink package from MATLAB CAD
Authors:   Bauman Moscow State Technical University, Moscow, Yudachev S.S. , Sitnikov S.S. ,   Bauman Moscow State Technical University, Moscow, Monakhov P.A. ,   Bauman Moscow State Technical University, Moscow, Gordienko N.A. ,   Bauman Moscow State Technical University, Moscow
Published: May 2022

CNC equipment is flexible, versatile, and has high performance. The use of such equipment significantly changes the nature of production and makes it mobile, meeting the requirements for continuous improvement and updating of mechanical engineering products. However, CNC machines are quite complex, and their acquisition is associated with large financial costs, therefore, the problem of efficient use of CNC machines is a priority for most mechanical engineering enterprises and is inextricably linked with the need to write various programs. Variants of the implementation of sequential, parallel correction and feedback correction methods in the Simulink package from MATLAB CAD are proposed. When performing the work, customizable library blocks are used, which are available for students to access on the official website of the software manufacturer. Schemes for each correction method with a description of the included blocks are presented. The output of the results and the comparison of the obtained data is carried out using a software oscilloscope built into the package, which allows clearly understanding the difference between the schemes. A comparison is made on the example of various types of signals for the most objective assessment of the quality of signal correction by one method or another. The practical significance of the work is familiarization with the MATLAB CAD Simulink package and consideration of possible ways to implement these correction schemes, as well as availability of the same schemes for self-construction in this CAD. This work can be used not only for teaching students of higher educational institutions in the field of development, debugging and coding of electronic and radio-electronic devices in terms of describing the algorithm of their work, but also for organizing laboratory work on courses of disciplines related to this topic, as well as when creating and designing real devices in production. Familiarization and study of this programming language are conducted within the walls of one of the leading engineering universities of the Russian Federation, the Bauman Moscow State Technical University.
FOLDED SURFACES IN ARCHITECTURE
Authors:   Рeoples’ Friendship University of Russia (RUDN University), STRASHNOV S.V. , MABHENA S.M. ,   Рeoples’ Friendship University of Russia (RUDN University), ALBOROVA L.A. ,   Рeoples’ Friendship University of Russia (RUDN University)
Published: May 2022

There is now a growing interest in the design and construction of shells whose median surfaces cannot be defined by analytic formulas, i.e. it is difficult to apply geometric modeling, and shell structures of the folded type formed by the intersection of flat or curvilinear elements. These structures are executed in the style of digital architecture or experimental methods. Based on the research of descriptive and analytical geometry, architects in the 20th and early 21st century created many memorable folded structures of various purposes. This is illustrated in the article on the example of many flat-sided structures. The illustrations found on the Internet and the author's personal photos were used. Based on the carried-out research it is concluded that flat-sided folds were used very widely in various fields of architecture and construction. The availability of numerical methods of calculation makes it possible to design structures of various degrees of complexity. This is confirmed by references to numerous sources used. However, some architects disagree with this conclusion, believing that despite many attempts on folding, it remains one of the least studied forms in architecture.
Arsenic Removal Technologies: Mapping Global Research Activities (1970-2019)
Authors: AKTAS Kemal , KARADİREK İ. Ethem , GOKTEPE Duygu Hazal , ASİLTÜRK Meltem , ERDEM Ayça
Published: May 2022

Arsenic contamination in drinking water poses worldwide threat to public health and requires emergency actions in some parts of the world. Several technologies have been used to overcome arsenic contamination issues and to meet the arsenic concentration limitations for public health. In this study, research tendencies on arsenic removal technologies were evaluated. A total of 4083 publications, published between 1970 and 2019, on arsenic removal from drinking water, groundwater and wastewater were retrieved from Web of Science (WoS) database. A bibliometric analysis was carried out and word frequency along with visualization map analysis were used to provide a quantitative analysis, and an overview on the current research trends and research prospects. The results showed that annual output of the “arsenic removal” subject increased significantly after the year 2000. “Article” was the most preferable publication type, and “Journal of Hazardous Materials” had the highest publication number. The most productive country in terms of number of total articles on arsenic removal was China. Also, the South-East Asian countries highly contributed to the literature. “Adsorption” was found to be the most frequently researched arsenic removal technology and nanotechnology plays a significant role in the adsorption development.
Adventure sports and nature-based tourism: Assessment of canyoning spots in the North Region of Portugal
Authors: Correia Alexandra I. , Silva Goretti , Rachão Susana
Published: May 2022

The growing demand for natural areas and outdoor activities in the last decade, even more noticeable in the COVID-19 worldwide pandemic situation, has led to the intensification and diversification of nature-based tourism supply in many regions, including the provision of adventure recreation activities, such as canyoning.  However, and despite the increasing interest of companies, destinations, and academia in this specific type of activity, there is limited information on resources, practice conditions, and assessments based on specific, objective criteria. This information is critical for a more competitive development and positioning of regions for this activity, and to meet tourists’ increasingly demanding expectations. Therefore, this paper aims at building upon the identified research gap, by characterizing and evaluating the existing conditions for canyoning activity in the North Region of Portugal, This evaluation of twenty-seven canyoning spots. was done based on an assessment matrix, comprised of specific criteria, grounded on the literature review and semi-structured interviews with companies’ owners/managers and experts. The study concludes that the activity is evolving in the region and there is still potential for development, due to morphological, favourable conditions. Moreover, the region offers different spots, often inserted in protected areas, with unique landscapes and natural diversity, which is attractive for tourism. The presentation of an assessment matrix (that allows the characterization and evaluation of canyoning spots on a systematic approach in different geographic contexts) makes this study a contribution to the literature on nature-based,  adventure tourism and recreation activities.
Winery Word of Mouth: the Role of Brand Prestige, Brand Credibility and Wine Experience
Authors: Santos Sara , Caldas Fábio , Espírito Santo Pedro , Augusto Luísa , Oliveira Adriana
Published: May 2022

Although tourism has been heavily affected by the COVID-19 pandemic crisis, its potential as an economic activity that enables the economic and social development of the regions is recognized. As a result of concerns caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, tourist agents seek to diversify their offers. In this situation, whether because of the knowledge and interest of tourists in the wine sector or because of the credibility and prestige of some brands with greater notoriety in the sector, wine tourism can be an essential stimulus for the attractiveness of tourists and international investors.

Wine is a product of a highly differentiated experience, and tourists who visit wineries that produce wine seek to know the wine production process and have a unique experience with wine brands. These tourists who visit wine cellars seek information through specialized websites, blogs or magazines and highlight the role of word-of-mouth recommendations.

Thus, this study aimed to investigate the influence of brand prestige, brand credibility, and brand experience on wine and wineries' word of mouth (WOM). It was carried out a cross-sectional study using a quantitative methodology. Data collected from a sample of 207 individuals were analyzed using PLS structural equation modeling using SMART PLS software. The main results obtained confirm that the credibility and prestige of the brands have a crucial role in the word of mouth of wine cellars.
Learning by doing:
Authors: Vasconcelos Sandra , Melo Carla , Melo António , Liberato Dália
Published: May 2022

Having a strong affinity and interdependence with a wide range of sectors and industries, tourism is, by nature, an interdisciplinary field. However, despite this realization, there are still different barriers to the development of interdisciplinary research and active collaborative projects within Tourism Higher Education. In addition to these barriers, there is also a disarticulation between tourism curricula and what practitioners perceive as being key skills within the industry. Hence, as the context in which the tourist activity takes place becomes more competitive, resulting in a pressing need for skilled and multifaceted professionals, educational institutions and tourism educators are increasingly being challenged to overcome these barriers and come up with creative projects that can help bridge the gap between academia and the labour market.

Aiming to describe an interdisciplinary project focusing on soft skills within different tourism subsectors, this paper will draw on a literature review, project outputs and two questionnaires, as to describe its implementation and overall results. Mostly based on students’ perceptions and determining whether they are aligned with the industry’s current demands and expectations, in addition to a general description, it will crosscut different perspectives, analysing the importance attributed to soft skills by students and prospective employers. Deriving from this analysis and the project’s scope, the authors will also put forward a reflection regarding the impact of the project on not only student’s perceptions regarding soft skills, but also on the affordances of the project to develop transversal competences, making a case for other innovative initiatives. As a result, the final section of the paper will include references to lessons learnt and future research directions.
COVID-19 Outbreak and Tourism: The State of the Art
Authors: Sainaghi Ruggero
Published: May 2022

This paper looks at tourism and hospitality pandemic literature and asks two research questions. The first identifies the main topics analyzed, while the second investigates future research avenues. Manual coding of 230 studies using a grounded theory approach identified 11 topics. An empirical research framework was proposed and organized around four blocks: companies, tourists, destinations, and the whole tourism system. Current literature focuses mainly on the business aspect and analyzes the strategies implemented by companies to deal with the coronavirus outbreak. Intention to travel is the main focus for the tourist block, while impact studies attracted the majority of studies at the destination level. The main tourism topic that is analyzed is post-coronavirus tourism. The conclusions of this paper identify possible research avenues for each topic (analytic research agenda) and also consider the framework as a whole (holistic value).
An Emotional Intelligence Training Program in the Tourism Sector
Authors: Kallou Sofia , Kikilia Aikaterini , Kalogiannakis Michail
Published: May 2022

Abstract: In a competitive and continually changing tourism and hospitality sector the need for high qualified and motivated human resources, which meet the current and future business demands is more than ever imperative. As tourism is expected to thrive in the coming years, it is essential for tourism employees to have intrapersonal and interpersonal abilities that lead to positive interactions with customers, contributing to their memorable emotional experiences and delivering at the same time benefits to the tourism industry. On the other hand, putting emphasis on Emotional Intelligence development, through innovative training programs and educational methods, can lead to qualified personnel, which apart from cognitive abilities can also develop emotional abilities, significant for the tourism sector. In this framework, an education and training program that implements Transformative Learning theory, based on critical reflection, rational discourse, and experience, can motivate tourism employees to get outside of their comfort zones and change their assumptions, their dysfunctional beliefs, their values, and the way of being in the world. In a multicultural environment, such as the tourism field, the implementation of Transformative Learning can lead individuals to be more inclusive, open to new cultures and ideas, re-establishing their perspectives and behaviors to be more functional. Additionally, the utilization of digital learning environments, which are extremely popular in the recent years and characterized by flexibility and ubiquity, can contribute to the effectiveness of the learning process and the improvement of Emotional Intelligence. This research presents a training program that embraces the advantages of digital learning environments utilizing Transformative Learning as a pedagogical tool for the development of Emotional Intelligence in the tourism sector.
Factors that affect the perception of the tourist destination of Braga
Authors: Pereira Manuel , Gomes Sofia , Faria Sílvia , Ferreira Pedro
Published: May 2022

This study aims to understand the tourists’ perception about the city of Braga (Portugal), bearing in mind four explanatory dimensions for choosing a destination – Destination’s Loyalty; Destination’s Identity; Destination’s Competitiveness and Destinations’ Image. This approach introduces a multidimensional concept of a tourist destination as a relationship between tourists and the places they visit. A cross-sectional study was conducted based on the administration of a structured questionnaire to a sample of 220 non-resident tourists in the city of Braga. Hypotheses were tested using Partial Least Squares and confirmed the four explanatory dimensions as variables impacting in the visitors’ perceptions of this tourist destination. Results suggest that some demographic variables have a statistically significant effect on the perception of this touristic destination. This study brought to the discussion four explanatory factors of tourist destinations, focusing on the city of Braga. It provides clear insights on what to consider when strategically planning on how to make or keep Braga as an interesting place for tourists to visit and keep coming back.
User's Profile of a Portuguese Thermal Establishment: Empirical Study
Authors: Vaz Márcia , Alves Maria José , Ferreira Fernanda , Costa Vânia , Rodrigues Cristina , Fernandes Paula Odete , Nunes Alcina
Published: May 2022

The thermal tradition plays an important role for society by naturally promoting and improving individuals' well-being. Thermal treatments help cure diseases and prevent pathologies, including mental and social ones, providing users with a better quality of life. At the same time, such a wellness activity introduces leisure components resulting from a more holistic perspective on health and well-being. Given the importance of this topic, which just recently started to be the object of empirical studies in Portugal, the present study aims to identify the profile of those who attend a thermal spa. For this purpose, a self-administrated questionnaire was applied to the Termas de Chaves' users during the 2021 thermal season, i.e., between August and November. A convenience method of non-probability sampling allowed to obtain a sample of 220 thermal users. This establishment, located in the sub-region of Alto Tâmega, North of Portugal, has 300 years of history and vast experience in providing thermal services for different audiences. To better understand and identify the features of the thermal spa user, sociodemographic data were analysed and identified the characteristics, motivations, behaviours, preferences, and perceptions of the thermal spa users under study. The data collected was submitted to treatment through an exploratory quantitative analysis. The distribution data analysis was elaborated using frequencies, centrality and variability descriptive measures complemented by TwoStep cluster analysis. The results showed that most of the participants in Chaves thermal spa are women, with an average age of 69 years (SD=12.556), married, retired, and living in the northern region of Portugal. They seek these services in the season between summer and autumn, for medical advice, mainly for therapeutic reasons, and stay in the thermal spa, on average, for 14 days (SD=2.667). Moreover, the cluster analysis identifies three different groups of users to which thermal stakeholders should consider different policy approaches. By defining the users' profile, this empirical research presents a practical contribution since it provides a strategic orientation for the thermal establishments' stakeholders aiming, essentially, at the (re)qualification of supply and the increase of demand, thus contributing to the sectoral and regional competitiveness.
Question of Sustainability
Authors: Brett Michael
Published: May 2022

The Kruger National Park is the largest protected area in South Africa. The park was opened to tourists in 1927 at a time when private automobiles were becoming a feature of South African cities. Since 1927 there has been a 67,879-fold increase in tourists until 2019. The current number of tourists is 1.8 million exceeds that of any other savannah, wildlife-based national park in Africa by at least four-fold and poses the danger of overtourism. The total number of tourists that can be accommodated by accommodation within the Kruger National Park is 7400, which is high for an African national park. The paper examines historic tourist trends and the regional concentration of tourist facilities within the park. Due to its accessibility, the southern region, which comprises 21.9% of the park, receives 73.9% of tourists and has 32.9% of the 2,562-kilometre road network and 49.8% of tourist beds. A survey of members of a social media group found that 90.9% believe the southern region is overdeveloped. Open Safari Vehicles (OSVs) could be part of an Alternative Transportation Programme (ATP) as they transport an average of 5.9 tourists, compared to an average of 2.4 tourists per private automobile. A survey was conducted on the same social media site to ascertain attitudes towards OSVs, which now account for 16.7% of the park’s tourists.  A total of 1,320 responses were recorded and 29.24% believed that OSV drivers have no regard for other park users, while others regarded these vehicles as an important contribution to park conservation and management.
Developing a smart destination. Insights from Slovakia
Authors: Dzúriková Lenka , Maráková Vanda , Timko Martin
Published: May 2022

Incorporating smart tourism into development priorities is the key aspect for tourism destinations and therefore, it should be approached accordingly. In theory, smart tourism development is considered as a factor in achieving sustainable competitiveness of tourism destinations. The application of smart destination shifts the destination development; however, the progress is under-researched so far. The efficient destination management requires tools for measuring smart tourism development. For that reason, the aim of this paper is to apply the methodological framework for measuring smart tourism development in a selected Slovak destination (the Banská Bystrica region). We have applied the methodology based on the Valencian Network of Smart Destination Indicators. The methodology was adapted to the availability of the input data at a regional level in Slovakia and tested in the Banská Bystrica region (NUTS 3). The obtained findings reveal that the Banská Bystrica region is aware of the need to implement smart solutions to improve the quality of life in the region for its residents, as well as visitors. The paper provides recommendation on what data needs to be collected and how these data can be obtained at a regional level in order to assess smart tourism development. The research conducted has further applicability in different destinations and on different levels. However, it is limited by the availability of the input data, which can determine the applicability of the indicators in Slovakia.
Sustainable Tourism in the Pandemic Era: A Case Study of Japan
Authors: Silanteva Olesia
Published: May 2022

The sustainable tourism concept has been evolving continually and respectively with modern society’s views on sustainability. The tourism industry constantly faces new challenges showing weak points and providing opportunities for further concept development. With the focus on Japan as a case study, this empirical research discusses the insights of key stakeholders about managing sustainable tourism development during the crisis. This research takes the COVID-19 pandemic as an example of a crisis, which provides an opportunity for the sustainable tourism concept for further evolution. The results indicated that public and private sector stakeholders have different visions of sustainable tourism development. Japan’s current public sector approach to it implies resolving the issue of overtourism in main tourism destinations and providing comfortable living for local communities. However, it does not have any implications for making tourism more resilient to external crises. The proposals of stakeholders for response measures for future sustainable tourism development and related policies included the establishment of a crisis management system in the tourism sphere, focus on the development of domestic tourism, creation of proper guidelines for the tourism industry for actions in case of crisis, revision of traditional tourism techniques, the establishment of “new lifestyle”/adaptation to “with Corona” era, focusing on online business/ tourism experience, focus on the development of small groups tours and individual tours, development of flexibility and adaptivity to changes in social conditions, incorporation of public health-related issues, non-contact content expansion, individual approach to different areas, and regional cooperation incorporation.
The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Portuguese events: the case of Northern Portugal
Authors: Silva Maria de Fátima Matos , Borges Isabel , Oliveira Sofia
Published: May 2022

Events, as forms of leisure and tourism, have had an exponential growth, visible in academic studies, but also as a new form of communication. Acting as important tools for territorial dynamization, they are assumed as generators of development opportunities for a region and leverage the positioning of a strong and positive image for tourist destinations.

COVID-19 has had an impact on almost all aspects of our life. Many industries have faced significant revenue losses and contracted in terms of their growth and, naturally, one of the worst affected by the pandemic was the events industry. This pandemic crisis has introduced an unparalleled level of doubts regarding the type of events that will take place in the coming years and how they will be produced. Also, with restrictions and a population less willing to be in the physical presence of others, it's important to understand how participants are facing the possibility to attend future events.

This research study aims to investigate and understand the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the tourism sector, particularly on the events industry, especially in the North of Portugal. It is also analysed how Portuguese were affected by the cancellation and/or postponement of events and also how they anticipate the future of this area. It is also analysed the risk and fear management and its relationship with the pandemic.

In methodological terms we present a literature review to support the theoretical basis of the ongoing research work. We also used secondary sources of information, namely studies carried out among entrepreneurs of the sector, to identify supply concerns. In addition, an online survey was applied, via email and social networks, using snowball sampling. The study allowed us to collect data on how the Portuguese have been affected and what their expectations are regarding alternatives and the return to face-to-face events. The results show the importance of managing the risks, the resilience and adaptability of professionals and participants to a new paradigm in the events industry.
Critical success factors for developing and managing agri-tourism: A South African approach
Authors: Van Zyl Christelle Charlien , Van der Merwe Peet
Published: May 2022

While the agri-tourism sector is constantly growing, academic research on the development and management of this sector is limited in South Africa. The agri-tourism sector includes over thirty different activities and attractions. These can be categorised as outdoor recreation, educational experiences, entertainment, hospitality services or on-farm direct sales.  It can be challenging to identify a single method for sustainability and success. Although many farmers develop agri-tourism products/services on their farms to generate additional income, several fail because of a lack of planning and management. Part of this planning is to identify the critical success factors needed to successfully manage an agri-tourism business. Research on the critical success factors of agri-tourism has been conducted in several countries, including India, the USA, Europe and Taiwan; however, a South African approach has not yet been investigated.

This study aims to identify critical success factors needed to develop and manage agri-tourism within South Africa, based on various agri-tourism activities and attractions. By following a qualitative research method, these factors were identified through semi-structured in-depth interviews with farmers already managing a successful agri-tourism business. The findings indicated themes such as market research and marketing, customer satisfaction, staff including the need for employees to be happy, financial and business planning, employees’ and employer’s personalities, location and having a unique concept. These themes include elements such as a constant offering of quality products and services, being enthusiastic about your product/service, and understanding what your client wants. Many of these findings are consistent with the success factors identified in other countries, such as customer satisfaction, providing a quality product, good marketing methods and good customer service. As many respondents indicated a lack of prior planning and business analysis when developing their agri-tourism business, these success factors may be used as guidelines for South African farmers who do not know where to start when considering agri-tourism their farms.
Analysis of Sustainability Reporting Practices of the Global Airline Industry
Authors: Johansson Eljas
Published: May 2022

Sustainability reporting (SR) has become a standard practice for many organisations worldwide. The purpose of this paper is to explore and develop our understanding of the global airline industry’s SR practices. Content analysis was employed to map which reporting frameworks the global commercial airline industry has recently used to report their non-financial impacts. Additionally, comparisons were made in the application of SR between geographical regions. The results indicate that two-thirds of the global airline companies had not published sustainability reports online (reporting period 2019). The Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) was the most widely used reporting instrument from the five major non-financial reporting organisations’ frameworks. Also, over two-thirds of the reports had used the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as a reference framework or referenced SDGs in other ways. This paper provides one of the broadest overviews of global airline SR practices. It is expected that the results will be of interest to practitioners and scholars in aviation SR.
Measuring social tourism sustainability in Porto municipality: the views of residents
Authors: Silva Goretti
Published: May 2022

In the previous decade, tourism planning and destination management efforts have focused on sustainability, particularly in its environmental pillar. In the last years though (and especially in destinations with high growth rates and risks of over-tourism)  the social dimension has gained importance, also as a consequence of increasing awareness about the need and relevance of governance for the sector.

The aim of this paper is thus to address the phenomenon of (over)tourism in the Porto area, and more recently, the zero tourism:  how is tourism affecting residents´ life from their own perspective?  ETIS -European toolkit for sustainable destination management was the indicator system used to develop this exercise, once it has already been adapted to the country's reality by the national tourism authority (Turismo de Portugal).

Results concerning residents´ and local authority representatives’ feelings about tourism and implications to the local community, both from an economic and cultural environment perspective, how these affect the quality of life in the historical centers, are described. The study exposes different perspectives both with regard to advantages and disadvantages, but overall there is evidence that tourist development is widely accepted, considering it does not penalize the well-being of the resident population.  Finally, results are discussed considering existing literature focusing on tourism sustainability in Porto, from a  pre-covid and post-covid perspective.
Pricing Strategies of Porto’s Airbnb New Listings
Authors: Bode Oana Ruxandra , Toader Valentin , Rus Rozalia Veronica
Published: May 2022

Airbnb hosts’ pricing decisions are the choices hosts make when setting the daily rate for their listing of properties. Some Airbnb hosts have a long run approach, charging lower prices to attract more customers and achieve higher occupancy rates, while others have a short-run approach, charging higher prices to maximize the short-run opportunities from the market. The pricing strategy of Airbnb hosts is the key to their eventual success and plays an important role, since it influences their relationship with customers. Airbnb listings can be hard to price. Therefore, each Airbnb host faces an important decision when entering the market: What is the perfect daily rate to charge such that to achieve their goal? Major aspects, such as property location, type (private room, entire home, etc.) and amenities, target customers, other Airbnb competitors, thinking like a guest, the safety and beauty of the neighborhood, seasonality, etc., must be considered. Considering Airbnb’s exponential growth since it started in 2007, it is obvious that establishing a suitable pricing strategy is vital for any new host. The present paper uses information from the new listings in 2020 to investigate different hypotheses that explore the pricing strategies of Airbnb hosts for their new listings on the market. This study highlights, on one hand, the great need for Airbnb to encourage dynamic pricing among its new hosts and, on the other hand, the challenges faced by these hosts when they establish the price. An important characteristic of this article is the set of theoretical and methodological implications for the pricing strategy for the new Airbnb new hosts. Furthermore, this document reinforces the idea that the pricing strategy differs between cities and countries, emphasizing the strategy in the case of the new Airbnb new hosts.
Research on the Applications of Blockchain Technology Within Tourism Industry Ii Vietnam: Proposed Model in Phu Quoc Island
Authors: Ngo Thuyen
Published: May 2022

In recent years, blockchain technology has garnered interest from a diverse range of industries and areas, mostly due to its enormous possibilities for transforming the way data is stored and utilized, enhancing security and transparency, and facilitating transactions.  In light of the rapid advancement of blockchain technology and the trend toward increasing the awareness of its benefits in the tourism sector, the Vietnamese government, particularly Ministry of Culture- Sports and Tourism, has made significant efforts and played a pivotal role in trying to establish an ecosystem, facilitating blockchain technology to gradually integrate into tourism activities. This contemporary study was conducted to ascertain the level of government interest in fostering an environment conducive to the adoption of blockchain technology in Vietnam. To begin, the author collected secondary data on the number of seminars held and sanctioned by local governments in Vietnam about the use of blockchain technology in tourism since 2018. Second, fifteen tourism specialists who work in resorts, travel agencies, and tourism-related enterprises on Phu Quoc Island were chosen to collect primary data using a mix of open- and closed-ended questionnaires. The Delphi technique was used to evaluate the data collected in order to estimate the outcome of a future scenario involving the establishment of a blockchain system on Phu Quoc Island. The findings indicate that local governments are likely to be interested in expanding the legal framework for access to blockchain technology, and tourism organizations are willing to incorporate blockchain technology into their current operations if the legal framework allows for this new technology. According to the findings, there are two distinct views on which business scope should be prioritized first. For example, hotel and resort representatives prefer to integrate booking and luggage checking first, while travel agencies prefer automatic commission allocation for travel parties involved in the entire tourism procedure.
COVID-19 Pandemic and its Effects on the Future of Study-abroad programmes at Selected Universities in South Africa
Authors: Abrahams Elhaam , Bama Hilary Kennedy Nji
Published: May 2022

This study seeks to explore the early considerations that COVID-19 induced mobility restrictions placed on study-abroad programmes at universities in South Africa. The study considers how, given the negative impacts that were felt with international travel being largely restricted, universities in the Western Cape province approached study-abroad programmes during the restrictions and post restriction considerations. Data for this pilot study were collected via a mixed-method approach targeting international students and key resource persons through the international offices at four universities in the Western Cape. Twenty-three international students and two key resource persons responded to the pilot. Key indications highlight a European dominance in the demographic distribution of participants while illustrating a steady interest in the study-abroad programmes irrespective of the challenges induced by the pandemic. While the anxieties and uncertainties induced by the evolving nature of the pandemic were noted, emerging trends from the data highlighted areas of focus for future resilience strategies to shore up the sector from future crises, the scale and nature of COVID-19. As a pilot to a broader empirical study, it is hoped that the outcomes will contribute towards the development of conceptual tenets for the sustainable development of the study-abroad programme segment within the international higher education nexus while providing context for proposing mitigating actions and strategies which would help higher education institutions move from a crisis management situation to more long-term resilience planning.
Big Data, Social Media and Employer Branding: An exploratory study from the hospitality industry
Authors: Eser Hazal
Published: May 2022

Abstract:  Purpose: “Data Production” and its analysis are becoming increasingly important for the hospitality industry due to wide mobile technology and social media use. “Big Data” has become an important concept for businesses and requires significant management competences in its usage. Within this scope the purpose of this exploratory study is to exemplify best practices from the concept of Big Data and its relation with social media in understanding how employer branding issues are perceived by hospitality operations.

Design/methodology: Both quantitative and qualitative methods have been used in the study. The study consisted of two parts and data were obtained from lodging operations in Ankara, Turkey.  The first stage consisted of analyzing content of social media sharings from ten 5-star hotels in Ankara, Turkey.  For the second stage, a survey was conducted among 149 employees from the same lodging operations to determine employee’s employer branding perception levels.

Findings: The first part of the study indicated that both international chains and local hotels mostly shared promotional message for employer brand enhancement. Sharings related to motivational messages, social responsibility activities, and events for customers and employees are mostly done by internationals chain hotels. Findings from the second part of the study revealed that international chain hotel employees’ perception of the employer brand is at a higher rate. The study showed that social media usage level of the operations and employees’ perceptions of employer brand concept are consistent. 

Originality: This is an innovative research project. The study integrates the concept of Big Data and social media relations with employer branding issues in hospitality operations. With its quantitative and qualitative nature, the current study shed light to further studies. The sample size and the fact that the study was carried out in 5-star hotels in Ankara are the main limitations of this study.
Co-creation & design- “Living heritage routes” project: memory itineraries for the city of Lamego
Authors: Fernandes Didiana , Vieira Isabel , Santos Paula
Published: May 2022

The “Living heritage routes” project aims to interpret a given geographical area for tourism - the city of Lamego - based on the visual/oral perceptions and memories of the residents, so that it is possible to create tourist proposals, based on co-creation, that involve the local community, students and cultural agents through the contemporary interpretation of the space. The project has three distinct phases: 1st survey of the material and immaterial cultural heritage; 2nd elaboration of tourist itineraries and 3rd realization of an event that promotes and divulges the project - through a historical recreation of the space. The main objectives of this study were to involve the local population in projects that aim to recover and promote the local tangible and intangible cultural heritage. We believe that it is possible to create new cultural and artistic products, such as thematic itineraries, based on the image, perceptions and memories of the resident population, which can attract more visitors, improving the development of sustainable tourism aimed at local culture promoting.

The methodology of this project, as far as its 1st phase is concerned, went through a qualitative approach, using mental maps, accompanied by interview, as a method of enquiry, in order to understand the local community's perception of their urban space. The analysis and interpretation of the mental maps will follow the methodology presented by Kozel (2007). The results obtained through a first analysis of the interviews and the mental maps, applied to 40 residents of the city of Lamego from four different age groups allowed, in a first preliminary analysis, the identification of new natural and cultural tangible and intangible heritage resources, as well as the identification of several points connected to the singularity and identity of the city and its districts. It was also clear that the connection of residents to their districts influences the way they perceive the city, as well as its symbolic and representational icons.

The results reinforce the importance of involving residents, in the co-creation of heritage tourism products, allowing the construction and renewal of the tourism offer in small historical towns.