Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Management, 2025
The Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Management (JHTM) recently celebrated its 30th anniversary... more The Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Management (JHTM) recently celebrated its 30th anniversary, a significant milestone reflecting its enduring contribution to research in tourism, hospitality, and events. As part of the celebrations, the senior editorial board of JHTM has prepared this perspective paper, one of several initiatives marking this occasion. The paper critically examines research published in JHTM, focusing on seven key topics: Events & Festivals; Experience Design and Management; Destination Marketing & Management; Service Management; Information & Communication Technologies (ICT); Sociocultural Impacts of Tourism; and Climate Change & Environmental Concerns. Our reflections analyse the primary areas of focus in existing research, the knowledge established so far, the methodologies that have shaped this understanding, and the gaps that persist. We also identify priorities for future research to foster a more sustainable and innovative tourism future, proposing novel approaches to advance knowledge in these fields. Overall, the paper aims to provide valuable, actionable insights that ignite academic dialogue, inspire and guide future research directions, and drive meaningful innovation. By doing so, we aim to support both the evolution of the discipline and impactful contributions to the tourism, hospitality and events industry.
The present study aims to determine how tourism-related mobile games generate tourism visit inten... more The present study aims to determine how tourism-related mobile games generate tourism visit intention. Drawing upon the technology acceptance model (TAM), the study seeks to find out the context-specific considerations that exert a greater influence on the intention to visit destinations associated with the mobile game. Using a quantitative approach, data from 263 respondents were collected in Malaysia via an online survey. Partial least-squares structural equation modelling was used to perform latent variable analysis. The findings show the significant effects of perceived ease of play and motivation to play on attitude and intention towards visiting the game destination. In particular, motivation to play is found to exert a greater effect on visit intention. Contradictory results about perceived enjoyment and the importance of motivation are also highlighted. This study adds to the literature that calls for the expansion of the TAM to include context-specific considerations to articulate tourism gamification behaviour and the (un)intended effect on tourism visit intention. Specifically, the importance of context to TAM is unveiled through the motivation to play games related to tourism on a mobile phone. In contrast, this study points to the negligible influence of perceived enjoyment of games on intention to visit.
This study examines how Singapore's flagship newspaper, The Straits Times (ST), framed relationsh... more This study examines how Singapore's flagship newspaper, The Straits Times (ST), framed relationships between migrant workers (MWs) and non-state actors (NGOs, companies and individuals) during the Covid-19 pandemic. We propose the conceptual lens of national wokeness as a mediatisation strategy of positive self-presentation to overcome international criticisms concerning the outbreak of the Covid-19 virus amidst neglected MW dormitories, and to repair the nation's reputational damage. The study identifies five key discursive themes: Provision, Participation, Awareness, Inclusiveness and Humanisation; the analysis of which shows different shades of wokeness in narrativising Singaporeans' emergent social consciousness and benevolent efforts to address unmet health and social needs arising from the marginalised status of MWs in Singapore. This study shows how the pandemic offered a rare moment for a nation to pause and potentially reset its apathetic, racist and classist attitudes towards its MWs, and raises for reflection Singaporeans' longer-term commitment to social change concerning MWs' welfare after the pandemic passes.
Sister-city relations have been in existence for decades, though little has been written about ho... more Sister-city relations have been in existence for decades, though little has been written about how they manifest outside of economic trade and investment opportunities. Towards greater sociocultural exchanges and potential in terms of economic and sociocultural gains are conceptualised. This pracademic viewpoint proposes two frameworks to address the risks, and how to approach new sister-city partnerships in the future.
Coral reefs are a vital landscape for ecotourism though they remain precarious due to climate cha... more Coral reefs are a vital landscape for ecotourism though they remain precarious due to climate change and natural disasters. This research seeks to elucidate insights as to how green investments in the form of coral reef insurance are conceptualized and operationalized in some parts of the world, where early innovators have been witnessed. Drawing from sentiment analysis of 116 journal articles and other gray literature (book chapters, industry reports, etc), the findings suggest that while there is optimism towards the use of insurance as a vehicle for reviving coral reef ecotourism, there remains some skepticism and lack of a willingness to pay motivation in other parts of the world. Theoretical and managerial implications for future landscapes of reef insurance are proposed.
The growth of ageing populations has seen a popularity surge in seniors travelling for healthy ag... more The growth of ageing populations has seen a popularity surge in seniors travelling for healthy ageing. While senior tourism is stereotypically associated with group travel, our study has identified a novel trend-senior solo travel. Despite the growing prominence, this segment remains under-researched. This paper proposes a healthy ageing travel framework, examining the motivations of senior solo travellers in body, mind, and spirit dimensions. Utilising an exploratory netnographic methodology, the study investigated 13 video blogs (vlogs) on senior solo travel posted by individuals sharing their travel experiences on the YouTube platform, and transcribing using thematic analysis with NVivo generated three main themes and nine sub-thematic motivational components. The results illuminate the intricate interplay of physical comfort, an active lifestyle, autonomy, cognitive stimulation, meaningful connection, and pursuing passion among senior solo travellers. These insights are crucial for developing targeted travel interventions promoting healthy ageing among seniors exploring the world independently.
Business event legacies are widely promoted, but academic research remains in its infancy. This i... more Business event legacies are widely promoted, but academic research remains in its infancy. This industry viewpoint seeks to excavate business event legacies from websites of member destinations within the Best Cities Alliance, given that it claims it is a network of best practices related to impacts and legacies. It was observed that 8 out of the 12 destinations feature legacies on their websites and that environmental legacies were the most frequently listed areas of impact. Interestingly, social legacies were identified more often than economic legacies, even though some of these indicators suggest that changes may only be realised in the long-term future. Most of the exemplars of Best Cities Alliance destinations also showcase business event legacies in situ rather than considering how pre-and post-event legacies can be intentionally designed. Derived from the outcomes of this industry viewpoint (or the lack thereof) has led to the development of a process approach to business event legacy consideration and operationalisation.
Several destinations have jumped on the TikTok bandwagon to explore consumer reactions and motiva... more Several destinations have jumped on the TikTok bandwagon to explore consumer reactions and motivations towards visit intentions, though these are largely limited to point-in-time surveys. Using the example of Penang, Malaysia, this research contributes to the paucity of knowledge surrounding TikTok in tourism by analysing contents generated from the destination management organisation, travel influencers, and other tourists participating in a TikTok competition for the destination. Drawing from Burke's Pentadic analysis, the findings reveal the sociological interactions where the performativity of the short videos are staged by different users with the destination as the backdrop. Theoretical and managerial implications are highlighted to inform current and future practices of TikTok (re)presentation in tourism, and how the platform can be used distinctively to socially interact with various target markets and stakeholders.
Quiet quitting has emerged as an area of concern for businesses and societies in the wake of the ... more Quiet quitting has emerged as an area of concern for businesses and societies in the wake of the 'Great Resignation' following COVID-19. While there is an emerging body of work surrounding the motivations of quiet quitting as a rejection of being enslaved to one's work, little is known as to the implications of this phenomenon on Asian businesses. This viewpoint provides an overview of the literature to date and explores the steps Asian businesses should take to address potential quiet quitting proclivities among the existing and future workforce. In particular, businesses need to consider how COVID-19 has changed the landscape of work and generated psychological stresses among employees working from home, who have had to deal with their professional and private lives concurrently (Liu 2023). To combat quiet quitting in this new era, it is imperative to rethink work cultures, with an emphasis on facilitating greater autonomy in how work is performed (where applicable) and accordingly re-evaluating employment contracts.
Journal of university teaching and learning practice, Aug 15, 2023
Widening participation has been a vehicle to facilitate access and support towards the successful... more Widening participation has been a vehicle to facilitate access and support towards the successful completion of university studies for underrepresented groups who are less likely to pursue higher education. Yet, despite its widely accepted importance and adoption across countries such as Australia and the United Kingdom, studies to date remain largely fragmented -often employed through the lens of a single institution, or a particular priority group. Amidst this backdrop, universities and other higher education providers are increasingly probed as to their role in supporting social capital mobility, of which widening participation plays a vital component in delivering wider societal imperatives. In addition, the COVID-19 effect has worsened university participation and completion rates, as the global pandemic has placed vulnerable students (often those involved in widening participation initiatives) in more precocious conditions than ever before. Nevertheless, the purpose of this paper is to conduct a systematic literature review comprising 102 journal articles that derive 15 meta-themes to provide a timely introspection of widening participation, show key trends over time, and chart future areas of investigation for scholars and practitioners in this space. Practitioner Notes Practitioner Notes 1. Widening participation should be personalised 2. A collaborative effort involving universities, students and governments can lead to more coherent widening participation processes 3. COVID-19 has triggered a rethink of how to approach widening participation 4. At present widening participation is reactive, and highly fragmented 5. Best practices can help to inform global widening participation practices
This article focuses on migrant workers (MWs) during Covid-19 in Singapore. A second wave of Covi... more This article focuses on migrant workers (MWs) during Covid-19 in Singapore. A second wave of Covid-19 transmissions in MW dormitories in 2020 had cast a spotlight on this vulnerable population, amidst inter/national criticisms of the national government for oversight. From a critical discourse studies perspective, we examine how the national newspaper attempted to restore a positive self-image of the Singapore government, through the discursive mobilization of ‘ideological circles’. These ideological circles involve, variously, positive and negative discursive presentational strategies of the Singapore government, its MWs, selected regional governments, and their MWs. The study unpacks the ideological mechanisms at work in the restoration of the government’s reputation as well as examines the implications for MWs in Singapore as perpetual ‘others’.
Purpose-This study aims to explore factors that affect gendered consumption (male and female), wi... more Purpose-This study aims to explore factors that affect gendered consumption (male and female), willingness to pay (economic attributes) and the socio-cultural context of Gen-Z consumers towards specialty coffee as compared to other types in Taiwan. Design/methodology/approach-Samoggia and Riedel's (2018) theoretical framework is adopted to examine the concepts of interest. A mixed method approach comprising interviews and experimental taste tests was used to collect data from Gen-Z specialty coffee consumers in a purposive sampling manner. Findings-The findings suggested the effect of price elasticity of demand where specialty coffee was perceived as an expensive commodity by young consumers, and hence, not a regularly purchased item. Nevertheless, specialty coffee was linked to health benefits, and a signal for conspicuous consumptionwhere caf e experiences facilitated self-promotion on sites like Instagram and Facebook. Finally, the findings alluded to a potential gender effect, with more female young consumers likely to consume specialty coffee as compared to their male counterparts. Originality/value-This study is located within the context of Taiwan, which has been a tea-dominated consumption landscape for numerous decades. The use of an experimental design also presents a unique angle to elucidate sensory elements surrounding specialty coffee as a research design for Gen-Z research projects. The study points to the relevance of social context in the consumers' behavioural patterns, which has been largely implicit within consumer behaviour scholarship.
Journal of University Teaching & Learning Practice, 2024
The aims of this research are todescribe recent, global, empirical understandings of the recog... more The aims of this research are todescribe recent, global, empirical understandings of the recognition of prior learning (RPL) and to synthesise and extant knowledge in a way that assists stakeholders in uplifting the transitions to education, employment, or training. RPL matters are particularly important tocurrent sector policy initiatives as reforms to the Australian government’s approach to widening participation in higher educationhave helped in the development of the 2021 National Microcredentials Framework to define, standardise and consolidate RPL for Australian citizens. Furthermore, the recent 2024Australian Universities Accord FinalReport highlights the importance of RPL to facilitate lifelong learning.A systematic review guided by the PRISMA and PICO frameworks identified 65 articles published between 2013-2023, that empirically examined RPL.Using manual thematic analysis, 17 core themes were organised into five meta-themes: 1) the benefits of RPL; 2)the challenges of RPL; 3)RPL processes; 4)institutional processes;and 5) national RPL policy.This article providestimely insights to shape the future RPLresearch agendaas well as RPL practice and policy in Australia and beyond.
Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools such as ChatGPT have taken the world by storm with ... more Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools such as ChatGPT have taken the world by storm with their ease of adoption and perceived usefulness in performing expedited searches and sourcing for required information online. Such tools have also entered the tourism landscape, with consumers, businesses, and destinations seeking to tap into their immense potential and create personalized resources for their intended audiences. However, the rapid evolution of generative AI has almost ignored the ethical, moral, and responsible uses of these technologies. This research note is a timely commentary and introspection of the state of play and calls for greater reflexivity and responsibility to ensure that the tools are not abused to the detriment of tourism stakeholders.
Medical cannabis is an emerging topic of interest as stakeholders come to terms with how the dema... more Medical cannabis is an emerging topic of interest as stakeholders come to terms with how the demand and supply of such controlled substances are regulated across nations. Then, by extension, the provision of medical cannabis has given rise to tourism encounters where people, places, and spaces intersect. However, medical cannabis tourism has received very little attention in scholarly literature. This research note seeks to provide an overview of developments related to medical cannabis, fundamental questions that tourism scholars and practitioners need to be cognisant of, and charts avenues for future research.
Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Management, 2024
As the world moves into an era of economic and environmental uncertainty, disasters (for instance... more As the world moves into an era of economic and environmental uncertainty, disasters (for instance bushfires, earthquakes, floods, and cyclones) and crises (e.g. industrial explosions, wars, and pandemics) pose significant challenges for society and the tourism industry. While destinations seek to rebuild and recover taking into consideration community aspirations, the pace and scale of transformation can often have ramifications in terms of economic, social, and environmental costs incurred. Very often, the costs of infrastructural repair and restoration can lead to destinations seeking expedited and more cost-effective means to build resilient futures. Destination transformation can build or strengthen resilience (e.g., Bui & Saito, 2022) but can also exacerbate existing inequities through disaster capitalism (Wright et al., 2021). While the tourism literature abounds with studies assessing the impacts and the relevance of disaster models in shaping tourism recovery (e.g., Ritchie & Jiang, 2019), governance structures that limit system traps such as those related to disaster capitalism are scarce. Thus, this short communication offers a resilience perspective on disaster capitalism and outlines pathways for researching the two concepts. The notion of disaster capitalism is polarising given that it is characterised by exploiting local communities following a disaster, where developmental/restorative plans are not necessarily consulted nor always in their best interests (Klein, 2007). In a tourism context, prior studies (Cohen, 2011; Fletcher, 2019) have noted that tourism development post-disaster can emerge from disaster capitalism. For instance, home and land grabs in highly desirable coastal areas following disasters for their transformation into tourist destinations have been noted (Cohen, 2011). Disaster capitalism can also manifest in the form of social exclusion, expropriation, and exploitation (Imperiale & Vanclay, 2021; Wright et al., 2021), contradicting the very essence of post-disaster interventions that should lead to empowered communities. Disaster capitalism can manifest at all societal levels during every disaster management phase (Imperiale & Vanclay, 2021). Disaster management literature highlights that system traps, which are problematic system structures that can cause perverse behaviours (Meadows, 2008), occur
Brisbane will stage a more regionally focused Olympics and Paralympics in 2032 when it follows in... more Brisbane will stage a more regionally focused Olympics and Paralympics in 2032 when it follows in the footsteps of a series of mega-city hosts. In this new environment, in which there are challenges finding nations willing even to bid for the event, it is important to understand how sentiment is expressed towards this Games edition, which is being promoted as delivering a sustainable legacy while experiencing different demands, levels of buzz, and risks than previous hosts. This study examines audience emotions towards Brisbane 2032 across 60,929 messages and posts from Facebook, Twitter, Reddit and online media articles between 2021 and 2023. The results highlight positive sentiment overall and outline key themes that the community perceive to be important. However, the findings also indicate early concerns and levels of anxiety towards elements of the Games. The multi-layered analytical approach of this study ensures it progresses beyond general judgements on positive and negative sentiment, providing a more nuanced understanding of emotions towards Brisbane 2032.
The advent of new media technologies has radically altered how heritage tourism is produced and c... more The advent of new media technologies has radically altered how heritage tourism is produced and consumed. Through emerging tools and digital advances, the mediascape for heritage tourism is increasingly competitive thereby requiring careful selection of methods and understanding of markets. This special issue is a timely consolidation of the emerging body of work surrounding heritage tourism and new media spaces, providing global and methodical insights to prompt future application of heightened interactivity and value co-creation amidst a technologically ubiquitous environment.
This article focuses on migrant workers (MWs) during Covid-19 in Singapore. A second wave of Covi... more This article focuses on migrant workers (MWs) during Covid-19 in Singapore. A second wave of Covid-19 transmissions in MW dormitories in 2020 had cast a spotlight on this vulnerable population, amidst inter/national criticisms of the national government for oversight. From a critical discourse studies perspective, we examine how the national newspaper attempted to restore a positive self-image of the Singapore government, through the discursive mobilization of 'ideological circles'. These ideological circles involve, variously, positive and negative discursive presentational strategies of the Singapore government, its MWs, selected regional governments, and their MWs. The study unpacks the ideological mechanisms at work in the restoration of the government's reputation as well as examines the implications for MWs in Singapore as perpetual 'others'.
Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Management, 2025
The Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Management (JHTM) recently celebrated its 30th anniversary... more The Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Management (JHTM) recently celebrated its 30th anniversary, a significant milestone reflecting its enduring contribution to research in tourism, hospitality, and events. As part of the celebrations, the senior editorial board of JHTM has prepared this perspective paper, one of several initiatives marking this occasion. The paper critically examines research published in JHTM, focusing on seven key topics: Events & Festivals; Experience Design and Management; Destination Marketing & Management; Service Management; Information & Communication Technologies (ICT); Sociocultural Impacts of Tourism; and Climate Change & Environmental Concerns. Our reflections analyse the primary areas of focus in existing research, the knowledge established so far, the methodologies that have shaped this understanding, and the gaps that persist. We also identify priorities for future research to foster a more sustainable and innovative tourism future, proposing novel approaches to advance knowledge in these fields. Overall, the paper aims to provide valuable, actionable insights that ignite academic dialogue, inspire and guide future research directions, and drive meaningful innovation. By doing so, we aim to support both the evolution of the discipline and impactful contributions to the tourism, hospitality and events industry.
The present study aims to determine how tourism-related mobile games generate tourism visit inten... more The present study aims to determine how tourism-related mobile games generate tourism visit intention. Drawing upon the technology acceptance model (TAM), the study seeks to find out the context-specific considerations that exert a greater influence on the intention to visit destinations associated with the mobile game. Using a quantitative approach, data from 263 respondents were collected in Malaysia via an online survey. Partial least-squares structural equation modelling was used to perform latent variable analysis. The findings show the significant effects of perceived ease of play and motivation to play on attitude and intention towards visiting the game destination. In particular, motivation to play is found to exert a greater effect on visit intention. Contradictory results about perceived enjoyment and the importance of motivation are also highlighted. This study adds to the literature that calls for the expansion of the TAM to include context-specific considerations to articulate tourism gamification behaviour and the (un)intended effect on tourism visit intention. Specifically, the importance of context to TAM is unveiled through the motivation to play games related to tourism on a mobile phone. In contrast, this study points to the negligible influence of perceived enjoyment of games on intention to visit.
This study examines how Singapore's flagship newspaper, The Straits Times (ST), framed relationsh... more This study examines how Singapore's flagship newspaper, The Straits Times (ST), framed relationships between migrant workers (MWs) and non-state actors (NGOs, companies and individuals) during the Covid-19 pandemic. We propose the conceptual lens of national wokeness as a mediatisation strategy of positive self-presentation to overcome international criticisms concerning the outbreak of the Covid-19 virus amidst neglected MW dormitories, and to repair the nation's reputational damage. The study identifies five key discursive themes: Provision, Participation, Awareness, Inclusiveness and Humanisation; the analysis of which shows different shades of wokeness in narrativising Singaporeans' emergent social consciousness and benevolent efforts to address unmet health and social needs arising from the marginalised status of MWs in Singapore. This study shows how the pandemic offered a rare moment for a nation to pause and potentially reset its apathetic, racist and classist attitudes towards its MWs, and raises for reflection Singaporeans' longer-term commitment to social change concerning MWs' welfare after the pandemic passes.
Sister-city relations have been in existence for decades, though little has been written about ho... more Sister-city relations have been in existence for decades, though little has been written about how they manifest outside of economic trade and investment opportunities. Towards greater sociocultural exchanges and potential in terms of economic and sociocultural gains are conceptualised. This pracademic viewpoint proposes two frameworks to address the risks, and how to approach new sister-city partnerships in the future.
Coral reefs are a vital landscape for ecotourism though they remain precarious due to climate cha... more Coral reefs are a vital landscape for ecotourism though they remain precarious due to climate change and natural disasters. This research seeks to elucidate insights as to how green investments in the form of coral reef insurance are conceptualized and operationalized in some parts of the world, where early innovators have been witnessed. Drawing from sentiment analysis of 116 journal articles and other gray literature (book chapters, industry reports, etc), the findings suggest that while there is optimism towards the use of insurance as a vehicle for reviving coral reef ecotourism, there remains some skepticism and lack of a willingness to pay motivation in other parts of the world. Theoretical and managerial implications for future landscapes of reef insurance are proposed.
The growth of ageing populations has seen a popularity surge in seniors travelling for healthy ag... more The growth of ageing populations has seen a popularity surge in seniors travelling for healthy ageing. While senior tourism is stereotypically associated with group travel, our study has identified a novel trend-senior solo travel. Despite the growing prominence, this segment remains under-researched. This paper proposes a healthy ageing travel framework, examining the motivations of senior solo travellers in body, mind, and spirit dimensions. Utilising an exploratory netnographic methodology, the study investigated 13 video blogs (vlogs) on senior solo travel posted by individuals sharing their travel experiences on the YouTube platform, and transcribing using thematic analysis with NVivo generated three main themes and nine sub-thematic motivational components. The results illuminate the intricate interplay of physical comfort, an active lifestyle, autonomy, cognitive stimulation, meaningful connection, and pursuing passion among senior solo travellers. These insights are crucial for developing targeted travel interventions promoting healthy ageing among seniors exploring the world independently.
Business event legacies are widely promoted, but academic research remains in its infancy. This i... more Business event legacies are widely promoted, but academic research remains in its infancy. This industry viewpoint seeks to excavate business event legacies from websites of member destinations within the Best Cities Alliance, given that it claims it is a network of best practices related to impacts and legacies. It was observed that 8 out of the 12 destinations feature legacies on their websites and that environmental legacies were the most frequently listed areas of impact. Interestingly, social legacies were identified more often than economic legacies, even though some of these indicators suggest that changes may only be realised in the long-term future. Most of the exemplars of Best Cities Alliance destinations also showcase business event legacies in situ rather than considering how pre-and post-event legacies can be intentionally designed. Derived from the outcomes of this industry viewpoint (or the lack thereof) has led to the development of a process approach to business event legacy consideration and operationalisation.
Several destinations have jumped on the TikTok bandwagon to explore consumer reactions and motiva... more Several destinations have jumped on the TikTok bandwagon to explore consumer reactions and motivations towards visit intentions, though these are largely limited to point-in-time surveys. Using the example of Penang, Malaysia, this research contributes to the paucity of knowledge surrounding TikTok in tourism by analysing contents generated from the destination management organisation, travel influencers, and other tourists participating in a TikTok competition for the destination. Drawing from Burke's Pentadic analysis, the findings reveal the sociological interactions where the performativity of the short videos are staged by different users with the destination as the backdrop. Theoretical and managerial implications are highlighted to inform current and future practices of TikTok (re)presentation in tourism, and how the platform can be used distinctively to socially interact with various target markets and stakeholders.
Quiet quitting has emerged as an area of concern for businesses and societies in the wake of the ... more Quiet quitting has emerged as an area of concern for businesses and societies in the wake of the 'Great Resignation' following COVID-19. While there is an emerging body of work surrounding the motivations of quiet quitting as a rejection of being enslaved to one's work, little is known as to the implications of this phenomenon on Asian businesses. This viewpoint provides an overview of the literature to date and explores the steps Asian businesses should take to address potential quiet quitting proclivities among the existing and future workforce. In particular, businesses need to consider how COVID-19 has changed the landscape of work and generated psychological stresses among employees working from home, who have had to deal with their professional and private lives concurrently (Liu 2023). To combat quiet quitting in this new era, it is imperative to rethink work cultures, with an emphasis on facilitating greater autonomy in how work is performed (where applicable) and accordingly re-evaluating employment contracts.
Journal of university teaching and learning practice, Aug 15, 2023
Widening participation has been a vehicle to facilitate access and support towards the successful... more Widening participation has been a vehicle to facilitate access and support towards the successful completion of university studies for underrepresented groups who are less likely to pursue higher education. Yet, despite its widely accepted importance and adoption across countries such as Australia and the United Kingdom, studies to date remain largely fragmented -often employed through the lens of a single institution, or a particular priority group. Amidst this backdrop, universities and other higher education providers are increasingly probed as to their role in supporting social capital mobility, of which widening participation plays a vital component in delivering wider societal imperatives. In addition, the COVID-19 effect has worsened university participation and completion rates, as the global pandemic has placed vulnerable students (often those involved in widening participation initiatives) in more precocious conditions than ever before. Nevertheless, the purpose of this paper is to conduct a systematic literature review comprising 102 journal articles that derive 15 meta-themes to provide a timely introspection of widening participation, show key trends over time, and chart future areas of investigation for scholars and practitioners in this space. Practitioner Notes Practitioner Notes 1. Widening participation should be personalised 2. A collaborative effort involving universities, students and governments can lead to more coherent widening participation processes 3. COVID-19 has triggered a rethink of how to approach widening participation 4. At present widening participation is reactive, and highly fragmented 5. Best practices can help to inform global widening participation practices
This article focuses on migrant workers (MWs) during Covid-19 in Singapore. A second wave of Covi... more This article focuses on migrant workers (MWs) during Covid-19 in Singapore. A second wave of Covid-19 transmissions in MW dormitories in 2020 had cast a spotlight on this vulnerable population, amidst inter/national criticisms of the national government for oversight. From a critical discourse studies perspective, we examine how the national newspaper attempted to restore a positive self-image of the Singapore government, through the discursive mobilization of ‘ideological circles’. These ideological circles involve, variously, positive and negative discursive presentational strategies of the Singapore government, its MWs, selected regional governments, and their MWs. The study unpacks the ideological mechanisms at work in the restoration of the government’s reputation as well as examines the implications for MWs in Singapore as perpetual ‘others’.
Purpose-This study aims to explore factors that affect gendered consumption (male and female), wi... more Purpose-This study aims to explore factors that affect gendered consumption (male and female), willingness to pay (economic attributes) and the socio-cultural context of Gen-Z consumers towards specialty coffee as compared to other types in Taiwan. Design/methodology/approach-Samoggia and Riedel's (2018) theoretical framework is adopted to examine the concepts of interest. A mixed method approach comprising interviews and experimental taste tests was used to collect data from Gen-Z specialty coffee consumers in a purposive sampling manner. Findings-The findings suggested the effect of price elasticity of demand where specialty coffee was perceived as an expensive commodity by young consumers, and hence, not a regularly purchased item. Nevertheless, specialty coffee was linked to health benefits, and a signal for conspicuous consumptionwhere caf e experiences facilitated self-promotion on sites like Instagram and Facebook. Finally, the findings alluded to a potential gender effect, with more female young consumers likely to consume specialty coffee as compared to their male counterparts. Originality/value-This study is located within the context of Taiwan, which has been a tea-dominated consumption landscape for numerous decades. The use of an experimental design also presents a unique angle to elucidate sensory elements surrounding specialty coffee as a research design for Gen-Z research projects. The study points to the relevance of social context in the consumers' behavioural patterns, which has been largely implicit within consumer behaviour scholarship.
Journal of University Teaching & Learning Practice, 2024
The aims of this research are todescribe recent, global, empirical understandings of the recog... more The aims of this research are todescribe recent, global, empirical understandings of the recognition of prior learning (RPL) and to synthesise and extant knowledge in a way that assists stakeholders in uplifting the transitions to education, employment, or training. RPL matters are particularly important tocurrent sector policy initiatives as reforms to the Australian government’s approach to widening participation in higher educationhave helped in the development of the 2021 National Microcredentials Framework to define, standardise and consolidate RPL for Australian citizens. Furthermore, the recent 2024Australian Universities Accord FinalReport highlights the importance of RPL to facilitate lifelong learning.A systematic review guided by the PRISMA and PICO frameworks identified 65 articles published between 2013-2023, that empirically examined RPL.Using manual thematic analysis, 17 core themes were organised into five meta-themes: 1) the benefits of RPL; 2)the challenges of RPL; 3)RPL processes; 4)institutional processes;and 5) national RPL policy.This article providestimely insights to shape the future RPLresearch agendaas well as RPL practice and policy in Australia and beyond.
Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools such as ChatGPT have taken the world by storm with ... more Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools such as ChatGPT have taken the world by storm with their ease of adoption and perceived usefulness in performing expedited searches and sourcing for required information online. Such tools have also entered the tourism landscape, with consumers, businesses, and destinations seeking to tap into their immense potential and create personalized resources for their intended audiences. However, the rapid evolution of generative AI has almost ignored the ethical, moral, and responsible uses of these technologies. This research note is a timely commentary and introspection of the state of play and calls for greater reflexivity and responsibility to ensure that the tools are not abused to the detriment of tourism stakeholders.
Medical cannabis is an emerging topic of interest as stakeholders come to terms with how the dema... more Medical cannabis is an emerging topic of interest as stakeholders come to terms with how the demand and supply of such controlled substances are regulated across nations. Then, by extension, the provision of medical cannabis has given rise to tourism encounters where people, places, and spaces intersect. However, medical cannabis tourism has received very little attention in scholarly literature. This research note seeks to provide an overview of developments related to medical cannabis, fundamental questions that tourism scholars and practitioners need to be cognisant of, and charts avenues for future research.
Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Management, 2024
As the world moves into an era of economic and environmental uncertainty, disasters (for instance... more As the world moves into an era of economic and environmental uncertainty, disasters (for instance bushfires, earthquakes, floods, and cyclones) and crises (e.g. industrial explosions, wars, and pandemics) pose significant challenges for society and the tourism industry. While destinations seek to rebuild and recover taking into consideration community aspirations, the pace and scale of transformation can often have ramifications in terms of economic, social, and environmental costs incurred. Very often, the costs of infrastructural repair and restoration can lead to destinations seeking expedited and more cost-effective means to build resilient futures. Destination transformation can build or strengthen resilience (e.g., Bui & Saito, 2022) but can also exacerbate existing inequities through disaster capitalism (Wright et al., 2021). While the tourism literature abounds with studies assessing the impacts and the relevance of disaster models in shaping tourism recovery (e.g., Ritchie & Jiang, 2019), governance structures that limit system traps such as those related to disaster capitalism are scarce. Thus, this short communication offers a resilience perspective on disaster capitalism and outlines pathways for researching the two concepts. The notion of disaster capitalism is polarising given that it is characterised by exploiting local communities following a disaster, where developmental/restorative plans are not necessarily consulted nor always in their best interests (Klein, 2007). In a tourism context, prior studies (Cohen, 2011; Fletcher, 2019) have noted that tourism development post-disaster can emerge from disaster capitalism. For instance, home and land grabs in highly desirable coastal areas following disasters for their transformation into tourist destinations have been noted (Cohen, 2011). Disaster capitalism can also manifest in the form of social exclusion, expropriation, and exploitation (Imperiale & Vanclay, 2021; Wright et al., 2021), contradicting the very essence of post-disaster interventions that should lead to empowered communities. Disaster capitalism can manifest at all societal levels during every disaster management phase (Imperiale & Vanclay, 2021). Disaster management literature highlights that system traps, which are problematic system structures that can cause perverse behaviours (Meadows, 2008), occur
Brisbane will stage a more regionally focused Olympics and Paralympics in 2032 when it follows in... more Brisbane will stage a more regionally focused Olympics and Paralympics in 2032 when it follows in the footsteps of a series of mega-city hosts. In this new environment, in which there are challenges finding nations willing even to bid for the event, it is important to understand how sentiment is expressed towards this Games edition, which is being promoted as delivering a sustainable legacy while experiencing different demands, levels of buzz, and risks than previous hosts. This study examines audience emotions towards Brisbane 2032 across 60,929 messages and posts from Facebook, Twitter, Reddit and online media articles between 2021 and 2023. The results highlight positive sentiment overall and outline key themes that the community perceive to be important. However, the findings also indicate early concerns and levels of anxiety towards elements of the Games. The multi-layered analytical approach of this study ensures it progresses beyond general judgements on positive and negative sentiment, providing a more nuanced understanding of emotions towards Brisbane 2032.
The advent of new media technologies has radically altered how heritage tourism is produced and c... more The advent of new media technologies has radically altered how heritage tourism is produced and consumed. Through emerging tools and digital advances, the mediascape for heritage tourism is increasingly competitive thereby requiring careful selection of methods and understanding of markets. This special issue is a timely consolidation of the emerging body of work surrounding heritage tourism and new media spaces, providing global and methodical insights to prompt future application of heightened interactivity and value co-creation amidst a technologically ubiquitous environment.
This article focuses on migrant workers (MWs) during Covid-19 in Singapore. A second wave of Covi... more This article focuses on migrant workers (MWs) during Covid-19 in Singapore. A second wave of Covid-19 transmissions in MW dormitories in 2020 had cast a spotlight on this vulnerable population, amidst inter/national criticisms of the national government for oversight. From a critical discourse studies perspective, we examine how the national newspaper attempted to restore a positive self-image of the Singapore government, through the discursive mobilization of 'ideological circles'. These ideological circles involve, variously, positive and negative discursive presentational strategies of the Singapore government, its MWs, selected regional governments, and their MWs. The study unpacks the ideological mechanisms at work in the restoration of the government's reputation as well as examines the implications for MWs in Singapore as perpetual 'others'.
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Papers by Aaron Tham