Introduction to the Special Issue: Emerging Tourisms and Tourism Studies in Southeast Asia

King, Victor T.

doi:10.12982/ajtr.2017.008

Cited by 3 publications

References 60 publications

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Visit, Revisit, or Stay Longer? A Case of Emerging Tourism Destination

Adruce¹,

Ting²,

Puah³

et al. 2021

AJBR

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Despite substantial extant literature on tourists’ visiting behavior, little is known about the intention to visit, revisit, and stay longer in an emerging destination. Sarawak is an emerging destination that has demonstrated the capability to attract tourists from China. The present study lays the groundwork for the exploration of Chinese tourists’ main motives to visit, revisit, and stay longer in Sarawak based on push and pull factors. A qualitative research design was adopted, following which 355 interviews were conducted over two stages of data collection. All transcriptions were then analyzed using thematic analysis. The findings revealed three categories related to the intention to visit Sarawak, namely “China residents who have not been to Sarawak”, “China residents who have been to Sarawak”, and “China residents who consider having a longer stay in Sarawak”. In addition, the pull and push factors influencing their visiting intention were assessed. This case study offers an explanatory model that informs local stakeholders on the significant motivation factors that attract Chinese tourists to Sarawak. From a managerial standpoint, local agencies, tourism promoters, and marketers could expend more resources to advertise Sarawak’s attractions, such as ethnic food, festivals, multi-cultural heritage, adventures, and nature.

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Visit, Revisit, or Stay Longer? A Case of Emerging Tourism Destination

Adruce¹,

Ting²,

Puah³

et al. 2021

AJBR

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Faith Manifest: Spiritual and Mindfulness Tourism in Chiang Mai, Thailand

Choe

Regan

2020

Religions

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From books to movies, the media is now flush with spiritual and wellness tourist-related images, films, and fiction (which are primarily produced in the West) about Southeast Asia. Combined with the positive effects of spiritual practices, greater numbers of tourists are travelling to Southeast Asia for mindfulness, yoga, and other spiritual pursuits. Influenced by popular mass media coverage, such as Hollywood movies and literary bestsellers like Eat Pray Love (2006) and tourism imaginaries about particular peoples and places, spiritual tourists are visiting Southeast Asia in increasing numbers. They travel to learn about and practice mindfulness, so as to recharge their batteries, achieve spiritual fulfillment, enhance their spiritual well-being, and find a true self. However, there is a notable lack of scholarly work around the nature and outcomes of spiritual tourism in the region. Owing to its Buddhist temples, cultural heritage, religious history, infrastructure, and perceived safety, Chiang Mai in Thailand, in particular, has become a major spiritual tourism destination. Based on participant observation including informal conversations, and 10 semi-structured interviews in Chiang Mai during two summers in 2016 and 2018, our research explored why Western tourists travel to Chiang Mai to engage in mindfulness practices regardless of their religious affiliation. We explored their faith in their spiritual practice in Chiang Mai. Rather than the faith implied in religion, this faith refers to trust or confidence in something. Interestingly, none of the informants identified themselves as Buddhist even though many had practiced Buddhist mindfulness for years. They had faith that mindfulness would resolve problems, such as depression and anxiety, following life events such as divorces, deaths in family, drug abuse, or at least help free them from worries. They noted that mindfulness practices were a constructive means of dealing with negative life events. This study found that the informants sought to embed mindfulness and other spiritual practices into the fabric of their everyday life. Their faith in mindfulness led them to a destination where Buddhist heritage, history, and culture are concentrated but also consumed. Whilst discussing the preliminary findings through a critical lens, the research recommends future research pathways.

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Digitization and Smart Tourism

Varghese

2021

Handbook of Research on Future Opportunities for Technology Management Education

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Commitment to technology, sustainability, innovation, and accessibility has not only improved the quality of life but has also created a niche for luxury tourism with smart tourism eco-space. Smart tourism destinations (STD) need vigorous, well-connected stakeholders with the help of a technological platform for data exchange. Instant data exchange creates extremely large data sets known as big data. This chapter aims to contribute to the understanding on how smart tourism destinations could potentially enhance luxury tourism that is more personalized to meet visitors' unique needs and preferences. Developing smart tourism destinations can be an effective mode to engage all the stakeholders and tourists. In improving destination performance, smart tourism ecosystem applies social media analytics and smart tourism technologies. This chapter aims to relate local area as smart tourism local service systems (S-TLSS) and luxury tourism.

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Introduction to the Special Issue: Emerging Tourisms and Tourism Studies in Southeast Asia

Cited by 3 publications

References 60 publications

Visit, Revisit, or Stay Longer? A Case of Emerging Tourism Destination

Visit, Revisit, or Stay Longer? A Case of Emerging Tourism Destination

Faith Manifest: Spiritual and Mindfulness Tourism in Chiang Mai, Thailand

Digitization and Smart Tourism

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