Reinforcing social cohesion in a post-war destination via tourism

Multicultural societies within nation-states framework have encountered sectarian divides, ethnic conflicts, civil wars and often face the complex challenge of upholding and strengthening social cohesion. The notion of social cohesion is complex, multidimensional and needs to be fostered and maintained through good governance and community involvement. Social cohesion in a post-war or post conflict country is very fragile depending on the extent of the period of war and destruction. In order to encourage social cohesion in post-war country, there is a need for a catalyst that can kick start the process of social cohesion. Post war countries use tourism in a reconstruction stage, as tourism is also a contemporary form of acculturation and specifically specialised forms of tourism has been recommended by many researchers as well. However, tourism impacts may be positive or negative. Hence the possibility of tourism to act as a catalyst in a post-war context still needs to be verified. The aim of this conceptual paper is to analyse the relevance of tourism as a catalyst for social cohesion in the context of a post-war scenario. It provides an understanding of the notion of social cohesion; questions the prospect of tourism to act as a catalyst in a post war scenario and talks about the assessing of social cohesion via tourism. The methodology uses content analysis based on literature and policies in relation with tourism and social cohesion. Findings support the validity of tourism as a catalyst and propose a framework for assessing social cohesion via tourism

Sri Lanka, Tourism for a brighter future? A review of the 2011 tourism blueprint

Tourism is considered to have the potential to generate foreign exchange revenue, create jobs for all levels, support handicraft and export industries, promote art and subsidise the development of transportation infrastructure; as it's a vector of development, governments try to coordinate planning with national development and objectives (Richter & Richter, 1985). In the case of Sri Lanka, a developing country under reconstruction following a long and destructive civil war, tourism has also been perceived as a tool for postwar reconstruction and reconciliation. Thus, a blueprint document; the 'Sri Lankan Tourism Development Strategy 2011 – 2016', which is a five year master plan, whose objectives are to distribute national economic benefits through tourism to economic development and national social cohesion, was published. Can it really be a bridge for reconstruction? This conceptual paper aims to assess the tourism reality in post war Sri Lanka in the light of the blueprint document. It will review the policy with regards to; firstly public or private tourism development, secondly domestic or international tourism, thirdly special interest or mass tourism and fourthly tourism supply or resources focusing on the distribution of benefits. The paper concludes summarising the key points identified for reviews in the government tourism development strategy. It contributes to the literature on Sri Lankan tourism development post war, notably to review the official five year plan blueprint in its recognition. The discussions in the paper help to build a body of knowledge on understanding tourism policy in the context of national reconstruction and social cohesion

Tourism planning and a nation's vision: a review of the tourism policy of Sri Lanka

As tourism is a vector of development, governments try to coordinate planning with national development objectives. In Sri Lanka, a post-war country, tourism has been perceived as a tool for post-war reconstruction and reconciliation. A blueprint document; the ‘Sri Lankan Tourism Development Strategy 2011-2016’, whose objectives are to distribute national economic benefits through tourism to economic development and national social cohesion, is guiding tourism development. Can it really be a bridge for reconstruction? This conceptual paper aims to assess the tourism reality in post-war Sri Lanka in the light of the blueprint document, by reviewing the policy with regards to; public or private tourism development, domestic or international tourism, special interest or mass tourism, tourism supply or resources focusing on the distribution of benefits. It concludes identifying gaps between the government tourism strategy, socio-economic and political situation. It contributes to the literature on Sri Lankan tourism development post-war, notably to review the tourism blueprint in its recognition and helps to build a body of knowledge on understanding tourism policy in the context of national reconstruction and social cohesion

A Scoping Review of the Hospitality Industry and Tertiary Partnership to Prepare Work-ready Graduates

This paper is a literature review, aimed to provide a comprehensive understanding of the collaboration between the hospitality higher educational sector and the industry to prepare work-ready graduates. A scoping review of 111 research papers published between April 2000 and September 2021 in reputable hospitality and tourism journals was conducted. Research revealed different perceptions between industry employers, educators, and students about competencies required of entry-level hospitality employees. Previous studies confirmed the positive impact of the industry-university collaboration on enhancing hospitality graduates’ employability. The work-integrated model has been widely implemented to develop hospitality students’ skill sets. Thus, hospitality higher education institutions need to adapt to the constantly changing business environment and present graduates with sufficient industry knowledge and skills. This study adds to the current literature on hospitality competencies expected from tertiary education graduates and highlights the appropriate methods to ensure effective industry-academia partnership. Generally, hospitality students and educators place more value on industry knowledge and technical skills. Hospitality tertiary educators should, thus, seek industry inputs more proactively to redesign their education programs, and industry professionals should engage and offer more support to higher education institutions to raise the quality of potential candidates

A Scoping Review of the Hospitality Industry and Tertiary Partnership to Prepare Work-ready Graduates

This paper is a literature review, aimed to provide a comprehensive understanding of the collaboration between the hospitality higher educational sector and the industry to prepare work-ready graduates. A scoping review of 111 research papers published between April 2000 and September 2021 in reputable hospitality and tourism journals was conducted. Research revealed different perceptions between industry employers, educators, and students about competencies required of entry-level hospitality employees. Previous studies confirmed the positive impact of the industry-university collaboration on enhancing hospitality graduates? employability. The work-integrated model has been widely implemented to develop hospitality students? skill sets. Thus, hospitality higher education institutions need to adapt to the constantly changing business environment and present graduates with sufficient industry knowledge and skills. This study adds to the current literature on hospitality competencies expected from tertiary education graduates and highlights the appropriate methods to ensure effective industry-academia partnership. Generally, hospitality students and educators place more value on industry knowledge and technical skills. Hospitality tertiary educators should, thus, seek industry inputs more proactively to redesign their education programs, and industry professionals should engage and offer more support to higher education institutions to raise the quality of potential candidates

Sustainable tourism development in Vietnam: a case of Hue

This study aims to further integrate sustainability into the social and cultural practices of Hue. It offers an analysis of current strategies that inform decision-making in Hue’s tourism sector and makes suggestions that could further improve the existing policies. Even though Hue is a city with great potential, it is facing a number of challenges brought on by environmental degradation and uncontrolled urbanisation. Researchers point to a number of issues that impede the social, economic, and environmental development of Hue. Attention is paid to cultural events and sustainable urban development. Findings suggest that current cultural preservation efforts offer a solid foundation for future cultural development though community participation and cultural education are needed to facilitate further growth. This descriptive study employs comprehensive literature review and the Four Sphere sustainability framework to guide data collection and analysis. Further, thematic analysis is used to interpret the various aspects of the current tourism development strategies in Hue. This holistic approach highlights how different policy decisions within Hue guide the destination's development and its ability to preserve and support its human, natural and cultural capitals

An investigation into post-Covid 19 travel intention

Tourism industry has been impacted severely by the contagious global pandemic Covid-19 (Coronavirus Disease). Travel patterns were heavily influenced by the media engagement and coverage of the pandemic, which resulted in a growing health-protective behaviour. The assessment of safety and risk, largely weighed down on the travel decisions and perceptions related to destination image. The key focus of this research is to understand the role of mediating factors in altering the relationship between destination image perception and, its influence on travel behaviour, post-Covid19 crisis. While the Protection Motivation Theory model forms the basis of the research, this study further proposes an adapted model that provides new insights on the mediating roles of media engagement in influencing tourist health-protective behaviour and travel intentions post Covid-19 pandemic

Reflections of a Qualitative Researcher: Structuring a Qualitative Research Methodology–An Illustration from a PhD Thesis

Selecting the methodological approach is a critical decision as it largely determines the effectiveness of the research. Encapsulating the research approach as a chapter in a thesis is often a challenge to many young researchers, despite the abundance of guides on PhD thesis writing and on the various approaches to research methodologies. However, most guides are descriptive and fail to provide appropriate illustrations of a methodology chapter especially in qualitative research. In a qualitative methodology chapter, key factors are the assumptions, theoretical lens, and worldviews on the topic, making qualitative methodology chapter less definite, more subjective and lacks a conventional model. This chapter addresses the need for qualitative research samples and aims to advance the understanding of writing a qualitative research methodology chapter by providing essential guidelines. The guidelines are drawn from an actual qualitative research methodology chapter of a PhD thesis in the field of tourism and social cohesion

Tourism contested spaces in the post war regions of Sri Lanka

Former war regions of Sri Lanka have opened up for tourism. This paper aims to explore the various discourses of spaces pertaining to tourism portrayal,practices and representation in the post-war regions in view of how it is shaping the destination and its promotion. It examines the spaces through auto-ethnographic observations through tourist sites,reviews tourism promotion and tourism supply. In doing so, it also confirms that the spaces are contested and the marginalisation and racialised discourse of the conceived space and the state narrative

Book review of "Fundamentals of Planning and Developing Tourism" by I.B. Kastarlak and B. Barber. New Jersey, NY, USA, Prentice Hall, 2012. ISBN: 978-0-13-507881-5

[Extract] Fundamentals of Planning and Developing Tourism focuses on planning and sustainable development of tourism in destinations of diverse economic markets for constructing social changes, sustainable growth and alleviating poverty. The major aspect highlighted in this book is the significance of tourism development within the context of national development in a developing country or region. It is well structured in five major parts. The first part discusses principles of planning and developing tourism with four chapters providing an understanding of the tourism product, identifying the role of tourism development, world development, and tourism trends, introducing a broad theory of tourism planning and development, fundamentals for sustainable tourism and advancing to discuss general and special interest based tourism