Challenges and potential of the Semantic Web for tourism

The paper explores tourism challenges and potential of the Semantic Web from a theoretical and industry perspective. It first examines tourism business networks and explores a main theme of network interoperability - data standards- followed by technology deficiencies of Web 1.0 and 2.0 and Semantic Web solutions. It then explicates Semantic opportunities and challenges for tourism, including an industry perspective through a qualitative approach. Industry leaders considered that the new Web era was imminent and heralded benefits for supply and demand side interoperability, although management and technical challenges could impede progress and delay realisation

Future eDestination Marketing: Perspective of an Australian Tourism Stakeholder Network.

Tourism destinations are difficult to manage because of the complex relationships of their diverse public and private stakeholders. At the same time, strategic marketing efforts are important for destinations to foster positive consequences of tourism, particularly given the range of opportunities and challenges created by the emergence of social media that destinations can use advantageously. This article aims to explore future eDestination marketing from Australian tourism stakeholder network perspectives. Workshops were convened in July 2012 in Melbourne, Australia, for select stakeholders invited to contribute to the futures national tourism technology strategy. They presented a stakeholder network approach to futures strategy development that aims to contribute to that used in recent national tourism plans and strategies for Australia developed by the government. Building on theories of stakeholder networks and futures, the article demonstrates the value of a futures stakeholder network method compared to traditional government approaches by critically analyzing outcomes of both

Development and Evaluation of Dissolving Microarray Patches for Co-administered and Repeated Intradermal Delivery of Long-acting Rilpivirine and Cabotegravir Nanosuspensions for Paediatric HIV Antiretroviral Therapy

Purpose Whilst signifcant progress has been made to defeat HIV infection, the efcacy of antiretroviral (ARV) therapyin the paediatric population is often hindered by poor adherence. Currently, two long-acting (LA) intramuscular injectablenanosuspensions of rilpivirine (RPV) and cabotegravir (CAB) are in clinical development for paediatric populations. However, administration requires access to healthcare resources, is painful, and can result in needle-stick injuries to the end user.To overcome these barriers, this proof-of-concept study was developed to evaluate the intradermal delivery of RPV LA andCAB LA via self-disabling dissolving microarray patches (MAPs).Methods Dissolving MAPs of two conformations, a conventional pyramidal and a bilayer design, were formulated, withvarious nanosuspensions of RPV and CAB incorporated within the respective MAP matrix. MAPs were mechanically robustand were capable of penetrating ex vivo skin with intradermal ARV deposition.Results In a single-dose in vivo study in rats, all ARV MAPs demonstrated sustained release profles, with therapeuticallyrelevant plasma concentrations of RPV and CAB detected to at least 63 and 28 d, respectively. In a multi-dose in vivo study,repeated MAP applications at 14-d intervals maintained therapeutically relevant plasma concentrations throughout theduration of the study.Conclusions These results illustrate the potential of the platform to repeatedly maintain plasma concentrations for RPVand CAB. As such, these MAPs could represent a viable option to improve adherence in the paediatric population, one thatis capable of being painlessly administered in the comfort of the patient’s own home on a biweekly or less frequent basis

White paper: Understanding, informing and defining the regulatory science of microneedle-based dosage forms that are applied to the skin

The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated pre-clinical and clinical development of microneedle-based drug delivery technology. However the regulatory science of this emerging dosage form is immature and explicit regulatory guidance is limited. A group of international stakeholders has formed to identify and address key issues for the regulatory science of future products that combine a microneedle device and active pharmaceutical ingredient (in solid or semi-solid state) in a single entity that is designed for application to the skin. Guided by the principles of Quality by Design (QbD) and informed by consultation with wider stakeholders, this ‘White Paper’ describes fundamental elements of the work in an effort to harmonise understanding, stimulate discussion and guide innovation. The paper discusses classification of the dosage form (combination/medicinal product), the regulatory nomenclature that is likely to be adopted and the technical vocabulary that best describes its form and function. More than twenty potential critical quality attributes (CQAs) are identified for the dosage form, and a prioritisation exercise identifies those CQAs that are most pertinent to the dosage form and that will likely require bespoke test methods (delivered dose, puncture performance) or major adaptions to established compendial test methods (dissolution). Hopefully the work will provide a platform for the development of dosage form specific guidance (from regulatory authorities and/or international pharmacopoeias), that expedites clinical translation of safe and effective microneedle-based products

Understanding ASEAN Tourism Collaboration – Preconditions and Policy Framework Formulation

Intergovernmental collaboration in tourism among ASEAN nations has received little attention in the literature despite the significant contribution tourism makes in the region. This paper helps improve our understanding of the phenomenon by providing empirical evidence that explains the preconditions that gave rise to ASEAN tourism and the formulation of its policy framework. It is suggested that, to truly realize the vision of economic integration and sustainable tourism development, continuous efforts are required to establish, promote and protect the common interests of member countries. Policy-makers should also strive for a good balance between pragmatism and mechanism when implementing policies

A framework for analyzing intergovernmental collaboration - The case of ASEAN tourism

Intergovernmentalcollaboration in tourism among ASEAN nations has received little attention in the literature despite the significant economic contribution that tourism makes in the region. This paper helps to improve our understanding of the phenomenon by providing an overview of the progress made since 2002, and exploring the factors that facilitated and hindered progress. It was found that many of the suggested measures in the action plan, 'Roadmap for Integration of Tourism Sector’, were either not implemented at all or are overdue, although relatively significant progress was made in travel facilitation and human resources development. The authors suggest that current theories of collaboration do not adequately explain the patterns of ASEAN tourism. The paper seeks to expand the boundaries of theory by presenting aframework of collaboration which dissects the facilitators and inhibitors along three dimensions: stakeholders, resources, and processes and mechanisms. Recommendations to expedite and strengthen the collaboration are then formulated

A MODEL OF ASEAN COLLABORATION IN TOURISM

Intergovernmental collaboration in tourism among ASEAN nations has received little attention in the literature despite the significant contribution that tourism makes to the region. In this paper, the authors propose a model that displays the mechanism of ASEAN tourism collaboration. The model emphasizes the environments in which collaboration takes place. It also highlights the interactivity of various components: among actors, between the institutional arrangement and the actors, and the feedback mechanisms between the collaborative process and the preconditions of collaboration. The model captures the unique features of this collaboration and helps to expand the boundaries of existing theories and thus contribute to our knowledge of the key drivers of successful tourism collaboration among nations

Understanding ASEAN Tourism Collaboration – Preconditions and Policy Framework Formulation

Intergovernmental collaboration in tourism among ASEAN nations has received little attention in the literature despite the significant contribution tourism makes in the region. This paper helps improve our understanding of the phenomenon by providing empirical evidence that explains the preconditions that gave rise to ASEAN tourism and the formulation of its policy framework. It is suggested that, to truly realize the vision of economic integration and sustainable tourism development, continuous efforts are required to establish, promote and protect the common interests of member countries. Policy-makers should also strive for a good balance between pragmatism and mechanism when implementing policies

Forecasting the Economic Impacts of Events and Conventions

Governments often receive requests to provide funding to support special events and conventions because of their alleged positive impacts, economic and otherwise, on a destination. In these circumstances, a framework of assessment is required to determine the extent of support, if any, that is to be given to alternative events. In a companion article (this issue), a framework was developed for assessing “tangible” and “intangible” impacts of events and conventions. This article shows how the framework can be used as a forecasting tool to inform government as to the “deservedness” of different events and conventions to receive public funding.</jats:p