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Research on the relationship between automation services and tourism has been rapidly growing in recent years and has led to a new service landscape where the role of robots is gaining both practical and research attention. This paper builds on previous reviews and undertakes a comprehensive analysis of the research literature to discuss opportunities and challenges presented by the use of service robots in hospitality and tourism. Management and ethical issues are identified and it is noted that practical and ethical issues (roboethics) continue to lack attention. Going forward, new directions are urgently needed to inform future research and practice. Legal and ethical issues must be proactively addressed, and new research paradigms developed to explore the posthumanist and transhumanist transitions that await. In addition, closer attention to the potential of “co-creation” for addressing innovations in enhanced service experiences in hospitality and tourism is merited. Among others, responsibility, inclusiveness and collaborative human-robot design and implementation emerge as important principles to guide future research and practice in this area.

New Zealand's "100% Pure" tourism campaign draws heavily on the country's natural resources. Indeed, it is predominantly images of the landscapes of the country that feature in the popular advertising campaign, including those that suggest a bucolic, rural idyll. Along with tourism, primary food production is a significant part of the New Zealand economy, and a significant part of any rural landscape. This research analyzes how rural landscapes and primary production could provide the foundations from which visitors could experience and "taste" the foodscapes of Canterbury. A content analysis of the foodscapes presented in food tourism marketing collateral of the region revealed a predominantly wine-related foodscape, with a lesser focus on the producers, foods, and cuisine of the rural landscape. This did not accurately or comprehensively reflect primary production in the region, and several significant omissions were noted. The results suggested that further research is required to fully understand the relationship between foodscapes and tourism before opportunities to develop and embed foodscapes as part of both the New Zealand and Canterbury regional tourist experiences can be identified.

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The current pandemic (Covid-19) disrupted businesses and challenged societies all over the world. In particular, destinations are being urged to keep the attraction and value of their products and services in post-pandemic tourism recovery programs. Drawing from a qualitative study based on published reports and research, and using participant observation, this research analyses the situation of tourism in Akaroa, South Island of New Zealand, during the coronavirus outbreak and the first stages of the recovery process. Results of the research show that while crisis management led to the closure of the sector due to strict social and travel restrictions, the confinement measures adopted by the government and the progressive reopening of the country has resulted in a shift from “cruise tourism” into a gradual return of “domestic tourism”. This paper argues that local peoples’ perspectives must be kept in mind when developing a tourism recovery strategy. This case study also shows that because of the nature of changing working environment, there is potential to change local demography in the form of an increase in residents putting pressure on local infrastructure. In a rural and marine environment, local stakeholders’ attention is required to focus on “quality” of tourism rather than “quantity”. Nature-based resources and outdoor activities are expected to be the critical ingredients for tourism’s immediate and sustainable future.