Yield applied to destination management: an inefficient analogy

This paper reports on a research project that examines the use of yield as a performance indicator for destination management. It reviews the history, definitions and use of yield and yield management in hospitality and transport businesses and then examines how these ideas have been transferred to the literature of tourism destinations. A series of recommendations on usage of the term 'yield' are provided

Studying World Heritage visitors: The case of the remote Riversleigh Fossil Site

World Heritage listing aims to provide protection for the planet's most precious natural and cultural sites. Listing can also increase awareness and visitation, particularly as presentation is a tenet of the World Heritage Convention. Visitor management, based on empirical research, is therefore required to ensure an appropriate balance between these, often conflicting, obligations of protection and presentation. Many World Heritage visitor studies have considered iconic, accessible, international tourism destinations that are facing issues of visitor congestion and threatened heritage values. To provide a balanced understanding of World Heritage tourism, further research is required, particularly focusing on various site types and different World Heritage visitors. To support this agenda, this research identified a lesser-known World Heritage Area with low visitation levels, developed a self-administered visitor questionnaire appropriate for the site, and studied the visitor characteristics, motivations, and experiences. Findings regarding visitors to the remote Riversleigh World Heritage Site in Australia indicate that these visitors differ from visitors to iconic World Heritage Areas, although motivational aspects are similar. The outcomes of the research have informed the visitor interpretive plan developed by the state government responsible for delivering on the Convention requirements for the Riversleigh World Heritage Site, and provide a visitor questionnaire that can be used, or further developed, for other sites

One Vision? Or many Visions? Trends and developments in tourism, hospitality, event and leisure degree programs throughout Australia

There have been numerous changes to the offerings of tourism, hospitality, event and leisure undergraduate degree programs throughout Australia, since the initial hospitality programs of the mid 1970s. In addition there is increasing complexity within this educational market place, with varying provider types, agreements between institutions, multiple campus offerings, and program nesting to name a few. While studies have considered the growth of program offerings, many studies focus on one, or occasionally two, of these related program areas, such as tourism, and/or hospitality. This paper reviews the changes in the bachelor degree offerings throughout Australia across all four areas: tourism, hospitality, events and leisure, considering the changes between 2005 and 2010. Such an analysis is of value to program directors reviewing their offerings in this increasingly competitive and everchanging arena

Looking into the future through the past: a comprehensive review of managing tourism in World Heritage Sites (1989-2019)

World Heritage Sites (WHSs) have been increasingly the subject of tourism research over the past three decades. There have been numerous studies of tourism in particular WHSs, some research that compares multiple WHSs, and occasional reviews that focus on particular regions, topics, or issues. Yet no comprehensive review of academic research on tourism and WHSs has been conducted to synthesize the research effort. In response, this study adopts a meta-analysis approach, reviewing 374 research papers, that examine tourism and WHSs. Preliminary findings highlight the focus of research on particular areas and types, such as Natural WHSs in Australia; primary quantitative data predominately collected through questionnaires; and themes relating to visitor, management, and stakeholder aspects. If we can access and understand the body of knowledge that has been generated by hundreds of studies of tourism and WHSs, we can be proactive to build on this knowledge and address the gaps that are important for the sustainable future of WHSs, and the tourism that occurs within these precious places

The Maldives: A sustainable tourism success story?

For many Small Island Developing States (SIDS) tourism has emerged as a panacea for their inherent development constraints. This is certainly the case for the Maldives which is considered by many to be an example of ‘successful’ sustainable tourism development. It is within this context that this paper chronicles some of the key activities in the development of the Maldivian tourism industry. The paper argues that while tourism has done much to improve the overall economic situation of the country, the financial returns accrued from tourism flow out of the country, and those that are kept within the Maldives are not widely distributed amongst the local population. This paper illustrates that despite tourism being promoted as a sustainable development tool, local employment and subsequent increase in income of local communities has not been fully realized. Consequently tourism in the Maldives is not as ‘successful’ or ‘sustainable’ as it is often claimed to be

The local gaze: Social inhibitors to engagement in the Maldivian tourism industry

Advocators of tourism development in small island developing states (SIDS) promote tourism in policy agendas on the grounds that it can enhance the lives of local people through the creation of employment and income streams. However, empirical research conducted in the Maldives, a SIDS in the Indian Ocean, highlighted an array of social, human resource, economic, institutional and religious factors that inhibit the participation of the local community in the Maldivian tourism labour market. This paper specifically examines the findings related to the social factors that were identified as: negative images of the industry; proximity to home and work; social isolation; parental influence; effect on family life while working away from home island; role of woman as mother; the lack of awareness of tourism jobs; social problems at workplace; disinterest in tourism employment; tourism industry being male dominated; and issues with safety and security at the workplace. A number of these findings are discussed, as is the role of tourism operators and the Government in addressing the social inhibitors to tourism employment in the Maldives

Women's participation in tourism: A case from the Maldives

Women are key participants in the tourism labor market. Maldivian women are recognized as being among the most emancipated in South Asia and the Islamic world. There is no institutional discrimination along gender lines in access to education, health services, or for jobs in the public sector (The World Bank 2004). However, the proportion of women working in the Maldivian tourism industry is relatively low. This chapter explores one of the key outcomes of a broader study on the participation of locals in the Maldivian tourism industry. The role of government in balancing religion, politics, and economy is considered imperative in positively influencing local tourism labor market participation and employment for women. Copyrigh

Knowledge exchange and networks: A new destination for tourism internships?

Traditional host-student internships always aim to provide positive real-world learning outcomes for students. The industry partners are often considered to benefit from the arrangement, primarily through recruitment opportunities and achieving corporate and social responsibility objectives. Supplementary host benefits can include knowledge exchange, such as receiving innovative ideas and the latest theories from the students, as well as developing a collaborative relationship with the university. It is these, usually peripheral, benefits that emerged as the key positive outcomes for the tourism industry stakeholders of an innovative destination immersion internship, conducted by the School of Tourism, The University of Queensland. A third key outcome, identified through the in-depth interviews, and not usually associated with internships, was engagement with the destination network. This paper reports on the industry participant's expectations, experiences and satisfaction with the destination-based internship program. In particular, the research considers the benefits and challenges beyond the established internship literature. The findings of this study show that there is broader scope and reciprocity from internship programmes than has previously been identified in the literature