An investigation on the Acceptance of Facebook by Travellers for Travel Planning

Due to the emergence of social media and web 2.0 applications within the last few years, tourists' travel behaviour and decision-making changed. This study investigates tourists' behavioural intentions to use Facebook for travel planning purposes. To address this objective, a combination of survey and 19 interviews provided qualitative and quantitative data. Results indicated that Information search, Sharing travel experiences and Trust were the main determinants of intention to use Facebook. In particular, travellers view Facebook as a tourism information source, they are more willing to share their experiences on their own profile rather than a providers page and that they trust other tourism related sites more than Facebook. Practical and theoretical implications are discussed

Living Happily in the Era of COVID-19: Philosophical and Positive Psychology Intervention in Secondary Education

In the coronavirus pandemic crisis, the mental well-being of adolescents was significantly burdened and, in this context, an innovative school intervention program was applied and its effect was investigated. The program involved a structured 11-weeks-long psycho-educational intervention on a sample of 11 Greek high school students (aged 16-17 years), combining principles of Epicurean and Stoic Philosophy with Positive Psychology techniques, aiming at promoting their mental well-being and the effective management of the psychological effects of the pandemic crisis. A qualitative methodology was used for data collection, including triangulation and data enrichment, self-referential demographic questionnaires, focus group and group interviews, semi-structured individual oral interviews and written descriptions and narratives. Before the intervention, the students’ needs and expectations were investigated through written narratives and, after the intervention, semi-structured individual oral interviews and group interviews recorded their personal experiences and evaluative judgments. The application of positive techniques of meaning in life, optimism, gratitude and the development of positive relationships, combined with a cognitive reconstruction based on the principles of Epicureanism and Stoicism, had beneficial effects on the participating students, including emotional state improvement, mental well-being enhancement, and improved aspects of quality of life, such as subjective health, cognitive and school performance, family and interpersonal relationships. The highlight of the study was the emergence of the supporting role of Philosophy in the effectiveness of the applied techniques of Positive Psychology in the management of the psychological and social impact of the COVID-19 pandemic

Local community attitudes and perceptions towards thermalism.

Thermalism is enjoying a global resurgence of interest as consumers seek out ethical, natural, and place-based wellness experiences. In Europe, the ‘success rate of healing through thermalism has maintained the high reputation of thermal springs with curative powers’. However, thermalism has been culturally lost in the UK. This study focuses on a UK historical spa site currently undergoing restoration. Once restored, this will be one of three UK's only spa hotels with direct access to natural thermal mineral waters. An ethnographic case study design was used to explore community's perceptions and attitudes towards thermalism and the wellness tourism development model being implemented on location. Findings suggest that memories of the values and virtues of thermalism persist within the community and that, if harnessed, can play a significant role in supporting the local and national wellness agenda. However, findings also suggest that the reintroduction of thermal tourism in the location is perceived by the community as a luxury commodity reserved exclusively for the wealthy and elite members of society. Thermalism is a social and cultural resource and thus attention should be paid to ensure that any wellness tourism development model follows a cultural participatory logic and not solely an economic one

Extended Reality Technologies as A Tool For Managing Crises And Shaping Tourism Safety Perceptions

New technologies are considered by different industries as a useful tool for having an efficient emergency and crisis management. For tourism industry in particular (that involves and is interfacing with multiple other industries), it is critically important to act proactively to a risk situation, to effectively face a disaster, and to reduce the impact of a crisis. This book chapter provides an overview of the Extended Reality (XR) technologies (Augmented Reality [AR]; Virtual Reality [VR]; Mixed Reality [MR]). It discusses opportunities of using XR in tourism, and it provides contemporary examples of XR applications. It also focuses on emergency management via XR in tourism. Finally, it provides specific recommendations for XR use before, during, and after a crisis in order to better prepare for, manage and recover after emergencies and crisis.N/

Challenges in managing peripheral workers within diverse environments.

This paper explores the HR issues that tour operators experience in the planning, coordination and management of tours revolving around cycling events. It does so by using a tour operator based in the UK as a case study and by deploying a qualitative ethnographic approach. This methodology was deemed as the most fitting to enable an in-depth and rich analysis of the issues that characterise the complex management of core (office-based employees) and peripheral workers (tour guides on the event site). Not only do the different operations, time frames, environments and activities within which the employees operate result in the company’s workforce division into two distinctive groups, but they also determine low levels of professional satisfaction and motivation among the tour guides. Investigating the stances held by the company’s employees in relation to the difficulties encountered in the workplace is necessary to develop a strategy that allows for retaining peripheral workers, for creating synergy between the two different teams, and consequently for ensuring the achievement of the organization’s goals and objectives. The findings highlight how the adoption of HR practices that aim at enhancing the company’s internal marketing would entail an optimistic shift in the tour guides’ perception of their position within the company, resulting in improved product delivery and reduced absenteeism, burnout and turnover challengesN/

Let's All Play Together: Motivations of Different Gamification User Types

Gamification is recognized as the next big thing in marketing by using game design elements in a nongame context. Producing desirable experiences and motivating users to remain engaged in an activity is one of the strengths of gamification. The introduction of digital social networks has become the biggest change regarding digital technology, also leading to the evolution and popularity of gamification. Although it is possible to design games, serious games, or gamified systems without knowing who the target users are, it is more likely to create a more engaging experience when these users are identified first. Taking this into consideration, this chapter will look to identify and present the motivations of individuals when using gamification systems. Identifying the motivations behind gamification usage and acknowledging the interaction between them will help organizations understand their audience and create more engaging experiencesN/

Ζώντας ευδαιμονικά την εποχή της COVID-19: Παρέμβαση θετικής ψυχολογίας στη Δευτεροβάθμια Εκπαίδευση

Εισαγωγή. Η εμφάνιση και η γρήγορη εξάπλωση της νόσου του νέου κορωνοϊού COVID-19 από τον Μάρτιο του 2020, όταν ο Παγκόσμιος Οργανισμός Υγείας την ανακήρυξε ως πανδημία, προκάλεσε μια παγκόσμια υγειονομική κρίση, με σοβαρές επιπτώσεις και στη σωματική και στην ψυχική υγεία. Μέσα σε αυτή την πανδημική κρίση, τα παιδιά και οι έφηβοι αποτελούν μια πληθυσμιακή ομάδα που χρήζει ιδιαίτερης προσοχής και φροντίδας, καθώς οι αλλαγές εξαιτίας της COVID-19 έχουν επιβαρύνει σημαντικά την ψυχική ευεξία τους. Στο πλαίσιο αυτό, βάσει της υπάρχουσας βιβλιογραφίας, η εφαρμογή παρεμβάσεων Θετικής Ψυχολογίας μπορεί να συμβάλλει στην αντιμετώπιση των διαρκώς αυξανόμενων ψυχολογικών προβλημάτων. Σκοπός. Σκοπός της παρούσας μελέτης ήταν η διερεύνηση της επίδρασης ενός καινοτόμου σχολικού προγράμματος, μιας δομημένης ψυχο-εκπαιδευτικής παρέμβασης διάρκειας έντεκα (11) εβδομάδων σε δείγμα μαθητών δευτεροβάθμιας εκπαίδευσης, που συνδυάζει τεχνικές της Θετικής Ψυχολογίας και αρχές της Επικούρειας και Στωικής Φιλοσοφίας, με στόχο την προαγωγή της ψυχικής ευημερίας των εφήβων και, συνακόλουθα, την αποτελεσματική διαχείριση των ψυχολογικών επιπτώσεων της πανδημικής κρίσης. Μέθοδος. Για την επίτευξη του ερευνητικού στόχου χρησιμοποιήθηκε ποιοτική μεθοδολογία. Για τη συλλογή, τη διασταύρωση και τον εμπλουτισμό των δεδομένων, ως εργαλεία χρησιμοποιήθηκαν αυτοαναφορικά ερωτηματολόγια καταγραφής δημογραφικών χαρακτηριστικών, ομάδα εστίασης και ομαδικές συνεντεύξεις, ημιδομημένες ατομικές προφορικές συνεντεύξεις και γραπτές περιγραφές και αφηγήσεις. Σύμφωνα με τον ερευνητικό σχεδιασμό, η ομάδα εστίασης αποτέλεσε και την ομάδα παρέμβασης, με απουσία ομάδας ελέγχου. Χρησιμοποιήθηκαν συνδυαστικά δύο μέθοδοι δειγματοληψίας, δειγματοληψία ευκολίας ή ευχέρειας και σκόπιμη ομοιογενής δειγματοληψία κριτηρίου. Κριτήρια επιλεξιμότητας του δείγματος ήταν η φοίτηση στη Β΄ Λυκείου και η συμμετοχή των μαθητών στο σχολικό Εργαστήριο Φιλοσοφίας. Το συνολικό μέγεθος του δείγματος ήταν έντεκα (n=11) μαθήτριες. Ο ερευνητικός σχεδιασμός περιλάμβανε, πριν από την παρέμβαση, διερεύνηση, μέσω γραπτών αφηγήσεων, των αναγκών και των προσδοκιών των μαθητριών, και, μετά την ολοκλήρωση της παρέμβασης, καταγραφή των προσωπικών εμπειριών και των αξιολογικών κρίσεών τους, μέσω ημιδομημένων ατομικών προφορικών συνεντεύξεων, αλλά και ομαδικών συνεντεύξεων, σχετικά με τα αποτελέσματα της παρέμβασης. Τη συλλογή των δεδομένων ακολούθησε η κωδικοποίηση, η θεματική ανάλυση και η ερμηνεία τους. Αποτελέσματα. Από τα ευρήματα διαπιστώθηκε θετική επίδραση της παρέμβασης στις μαθήτριες που συμμετείχαν. Η θετική επίδραση αφορούσε στη βελτίωση της συναισθηματικής κατάστασης, στην ενίσχυση της ψυχικής ευδαιμονίας-ευημερίας, στη βελτίωση πτυχών της ποιότητας ζωής, όπως η υποκειμενική υγεία, ο γνωστικός τομέας, η ακαδημαϊκή επίδοση και οι οικογενειακές και διαπροσωπικές σχέσεις, και, κατ’ επέκταση, στην αποτελεσματική διαχείριση των ψυχικών και κοινωνικών επιπτώσεων της πανδημίας COVID-19. Βασικό εύρημα της μελέτης ήταν η ανάδειξη της αποτελεσματικότητας και, κατά συνέπεια, της αναγκαιότητας της φιλοσοφικής πλαισίωσης της εφαρμοσμένης θετικής παρέμβασης. Η ανάδειξη του ενισχυτικού ρόλου της Φιλοσοφίας στην αποτελεσματικότητα των εφαρμοσμένων τεχνικών της Θετικής Ψυχολογίας, ή, αλλιώς, η πρακτική και βιωματική εφαρμογή φιλοσοφικών αρχών μέσω των εφαρμοσμένων τεχνικών της Θετικής Ψυχολογίας, αποτελεί καινοφανές εύρημα στην υπάρχουσα βιβλιογραφία. Συμπεράσματα. Η παρέμβαση θετικότητας, μέσω της εφαρμογής θετικών τεχνικών νοήματος ζωής, αισιοδοξίας, ευγνωμοσύνης και ανάπτυξης θετικών σχέσεων, σε συνδυασμό με μια γνωσιακή αναδόμηση βασισμένη στις αρχές της Επικούρειας και Στωικής Φιλοσοφίας, παρουσίασε ευεργετικά αποτελέσματα στην ψυχική ευημερία εφήβων την εποχή της Covid-19.Introduction. The emergence and rapid spread of the new COVID-19 coronavirus disease since March 2020, when the WHO declared it a pandemic, caused a global health crisis, with serious consequences for both physical and mental health, imposing an unprecedented and long-term social isolation with huge financial problems. In this pandemic crisis, children and adolescents are a population group that needs special attention and care, as the changes due to COVID-19 have significantly burdened their mental well-being. In this context, based on the existing literature, the application of Positive Psychology Interventions may contribute to addressing the ever-increasing psychological problems. Purpose. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of an innovative school intervention program, a structured psycho-educational intervention lasting 11 weeks on a sample of high school students, combining Positive Psychology techniques and principles of Epicurean and Stoic Philosophy, with the aim of promoting the mental well-being of adolescents and, consequently, the effective management of the psychological effects of the pandemic crisis. Method. A qualitative methodology was used to achieve the research goal. For data collection, triangulation and data enrichment, self-referential demographic questionnaires, focus group and group interviews, semi-structured individual oral interviews and written descriptions and narratives were used as tools. According to the research design, the focus group was also the intervention group, with the absence of a control group. Two sampling methods were used in combination, convenience sampling and purposive homogeneous criterion sampling. Eligibility criteria of the sample were the attendance at the second year of Greek Lyceum (at the age of 16 years) and the participation of the students in the school Philosophy Laboratory. The total sample size was 11 schoolgirls. The research planning included, before the intervention, investigation, through written narratives, of the needs and expectations of the students, and, after the completion of the intervention, recording of their personal experiences and evaluative judgments, through semi-structured individual oral interviews, but also group interviews, on the results of the intervention. The data collection was followed by their coding, thematic analysis and interpretation. Results. The findings showed a positive effect of the intervention on the participating students. The positive effect was to improve the emotional state, to enhance mental well-being, to improve aspects of quality of life, such as subjective health, cognitive field, academic performance and family and interpersonal relationships, and, consequently, in the effective management of the psychological and social impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. The main finding of the study was to highlight the effectiveness and, consequently, the necessity of the philosophical framework of the applied positive intervention. The emergence of the supporting role of Philosophy in the effectiveness of the applied techniques of Positive Psychology, or, in other words, the practical and experiential application of philosophical principles through the applied techniques of Positive Psychology, is a new finding in the existing literature. Conclusions. The Positive Psychology intervention, through the application of positive techniques of meaning in life, optimism, gratitude and the development of positive relationships, combined with a cognitive reconstruction based on the principles of Epicureanism and Stoicism, had beneficial effects on the mental well-being of adolescents in the era of COVID-19

Understanding mega-events success and customer satisfaction.

The events industry is growing every year, the number of events is increasing, and their role in society is becoming more significant. Satisfied participants are the key to successful events and the main objective of event organizers. The aim of the article is to understand what costumers consider more important when attending mega-events. A quantitative survey design was adopted by deploying the American customer satisfaction index (ACSI) that included an event specific customer value package in the context of the EXPO Milan 2015 mega-event. Results demonstrate that expectations of visitors, staff, and volunteers vary considerably, and so do the levels of satisfaction. They also highlight that, alongside other customers' priorities such as cleanliness and safety, capacity plays a role in determining satisfaction. This article presents the summarized findings of a broader study.N/

Exploring the relationship between food and spirituality: A literature review

Spirituality is emerging as a novel research area throughout different subjects but being a highly subjective and controversial topic, it very often fails to deliver academically (McSherry and Cash, 2004). Spirituality, in the same way as food, is not merely about theories or concepts but is deeply embedded in the practical elements of life (Salonen, 2018). From that perspective, the conjoint area of research between food and spirituality is auspicious fertile land for new knowledge both for academics and practitioners. The general aim of this review is to synthesize current available literature on spiritual aspects of food consumption in attempt to find reoccurring themes and ultimately establish a useful definition for future research.N/