title: Ethnic minority tourism in China – Han perspectives of Tuva figures in a landscape

authors: Yang, Jingjing

subjects: ethnic tourism

abstract: Ethnic or indigenous tourism has attracted significant academic research, but with the exception of Taiwan's minorities much of the research in the English language journals has been dominated by the perspective of western tourists gazing upon the minorities. Additionally such studies have tended to be quantitative in nature. This paper studies the attitudes of Han tourists towards the Tuva minority of Kanas Scenic Area and reports results derived from 650 respondents. Equivalencies with western-based research are found, with about only 11 per cent of tourists having any significant interest in minority cultures, although evidence exists that Tuva and their Kazakh neighbours contribute to destination image as figures in the landscape – a landscape that is attractive to Han tourists for aesthetic and relaxation reasons. However, while simpler analysis is found to be effective in creating clusters, a causal model fails due to issues of auto-correlation and multi-collinearity, which problems may be pertinent in other studies that report the gaze of a majority on the culture of the minority. The implications of both findings and research method are discussed.

text: Ethnic minority tourism in China – Han perspectives of Tuva figures in a landscape Ethnic or indigenous tourism has attracted significant academic research, but with the exception of Taiwan's minorities much of the research in the English language journals has been dominated by the perspective of western tourists gazing upon the minorities. Additionally such studies have tended to be quantitative in nature. This paper studies the attitudes of Han tourists towards the Tuva minority of Kanas Scenic Area and reports results derived from 650 respondents. Equivalencies with western-based research are found, with about only 11 per cent of tourists having any significant interest in minority cultures, although evidence exists that Tuva and their Kazakh neighbours contribute to destination image as figures in the landscape – a landscape that is attractive to Han tourists for aesthetic and relaxation reasons. However, while simpler analysis is found to be effective in creating clusters, a causal model fails due to issues of auto-correlation and multi-collinearity, which problems may be pertinent in other studies that report the gaze of a majority on the culture of the minority. The implications of both findings and research method are discussed.

year: 2013

title: Voluntary disclosure in emerging countries: A literature review

authors: Zaini, Syeliya Md

subjects: Voluntary disclosure

abstract: Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to explore the approaches used by researchers in examining the influences of external factors towards voluntary disclosure in emerging countries.
Design/methodology/approach – The data collected in this study were collected through a review of empirical literature based on 35 articles published between 1998 and 2013. The sample articles on the link between external factors and the level of voluntary disclosure were located by searching keywords in the most relevant social science research databases such as Business Source Premier, Emerald full text, JSTOR, Science Direct, Scopus, and Social Science Research Network.
Findings – The results reveal that research in voluntary disclosure practices by companies in emerging countries remains low. The majority of studies employed content analysis to examine the extent of voluntary disclosure practices. Results from studies show that greater regulatory enforcement in the region and an increase in stakeholders’ comprehension about their rights and choices with regards to business activities can influence the majority of the companies to provide voluntary disclosure. The literature revealed that social responsibility and environmental information are the popular categories of voluntary disclosure, while risk and human capital/intellectual capital are the least popular categories.
Research limitations/implications – The paper is limited to a review of 35 articles.
Practical implications – The study provides avenues for policymakers and regulators to carry out reforms on voluntary disclosure practices.
Social implications – The findings may provide insights to capital market regulators when conducting effective regulation and supervision of information transparency in listed companies.
Originality/value – Since limited studies exist that examine voluntary disclosure in emerging countries, little is known about the implications of external factors such as a country’s policy, regulations, stakeholders, and business environment on voluntary disclosure practices. This paper contributes to filling this gap by a review of articles of empirical research on voluntary disclosure in emerging countries.

text: Voluntary disclosure in emerging countries: A literature review Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to explore the approaches used by researchers in examining the influences of external factors towards voluntary disclosure in emerging countries.
Design/methodology/approach – The data collected in this study were collected through a review of empirical literature based on 35 articles published between 1998 and 2013. The sample articles on the link between external factors and the level of voluntary disclosure were located by searching keywords in the most relevant social science research databases such as Business Source Premier, Emerald full text, JSTOR, Science Direct, Scopus, and Social Science Research Network.
Findings – The results reveal that research in voluntary disclosure practices by companies in emerging countries remains low. The majority of studies employed content analysis to examine the extent of voluntary disclosure practices. Results from studies show that greater regulatory enforcement in the region and an increase in stakeholders’ comprehension about their rights and choices with regards to business activities can influence the majority of the companies to provide voluntary disclosure. The literature revealed that social responsibility and environmental information are the popular categories of voluntary disclosure, while risk and human capital/intellectual capital are the least popular categories.
Research limitations/implications – The paper is limited to a review of 35 articles.
Practical implications – The study provides avenues for policymakers and regulators to carry out reforms on voluntary disclosure practices.
Social implications – The findings may provide insights to capital market regulators when conducting effective regulation and supervision of information transparency in listed companies.
Originality/value – Since limited studies exist that examine voluntary disclosure in emerging countries, little is known about the implications of external factors such as a country’s policy, regulations, stakeholders, and business environment on voluntary disclosure practices. This paper contributes to filling this gap by a review of articles of empirical research on voluntary disclosure in emerging countries.

year: 2018-02-05

title: Tangihanga: Through the eyes of young Maori women

authors: Wihongi, Hemaima

subjects: tangihanga

abstract: Tangihanga describes the Māori customary way of approaching death. The aim of this research is to explore the tangihanga experiences of young Māori women. The meanings they create, the learning they experience, and the social relationships they negotiate whilst at tangihanga are of interest. The contribution that tangihanga makes to mediating bereavement, grief and loss will also be investigated. This research seeks to broaden the understanding around the practices, beliefs and meanings that are associated with the processes of Tangihanga as experienced by young Māori women.
This study interviewed young Māori women between the ages of eighteen to twenty four. Face to face interviews were carried out with the use of a semi-structured interview schedule. The interviews provided access to the participant‟s experiences and understanding of tangihanga and the customary practices that are associated with it.
The findings from this study support the notion that the tangihanga is a fundamental event for Māori. The participants found tangi to be a place where their relationships within both their immediate and extended whānau were strengthened. This setting allowed the young women to express their grief in an open and supportive environment surrounded by their whānau. The tangi also provided a place of learning for the young women as they learned about the tikanga and kawa or customary practices in relation to tangihanga. This learning occurred in a number of ways; by observation, through participation and the receiving of instruction from older family members. Thus the tangi provided the opportunity for the transfer of cultural knowledge between generations. These findings suggest that the tangi plays an important role in young women‟s lives as it provides them with access to Māori communities and cultural learning. The challenge for us today is to ensure that these opportunities continue to occur for young Māori women.

text: Tangihanga: Through the eyes of young Maori women Tangihanga describes the Māori customary way of approaching death. The aim of this research is to explore the tangihanga experiences of young Māori women. The meanings they create, the learning they experience, and the social relationships they negotiate whilst at tangihanga are of interest. The contribution that tangihanga makes to mediating bereavement, grief and loss will also be investigated. This research seeks to broaden the understanding around the practices, beliefs and meanings that are associated with the processes of Tangihanga as experienced by young Māori women.
This study interviewed young Māori women between the ages of eighteen to twenty four. Face to face interviews were carried out with the use of a semi-structured interview schedule. The interviews provided access to the participant‟s experiences and understanding of tangihanga and the customary practices that are associated with it.
The findings from this study support the notion that the tangihanga is a fundamental event for Māori. The participants found tangi to be a place where their relationships within both their immediate and extended whānau were strengthened. This setting allowed the young women to express their grief in an open and supportive environment surrounded by their whānau. The tangi also provided a place of learning for the young women as they learned about the tikanga and kawa or customary practices in relation to tangihanga. This learning occurred in a number of ways; by observation, through participation and the receiving of instruction from older family members. Thus the tangi provided the opportunity for the transfer of cultural knowledge between generations. These findings suggest that the tangi plays an important role in young women‟s lives as it provides them with access to Māori communities and cultural learning. The challenge for us today is to ensure that these opportunities continue to occur for young Māori women.

year: 2013