Mapping the sensory values in the core zone area of Melaka world heritage site

The influence of sensory experience in generating positive tourist experience has emerged to be a cutting- edge trend in studies pertaining to geography and marketing in tourism, particularly in terms of tourism sense-making. The literature has projected absence of the fundamental comprehension related to the formation of ‘tourist space’ via tourist consumption and valuation towards available cultural heritage attractions based on their sensory experience. Critical shift in the objectivism approach from the light of valuing sensory experience has motivated the exploration of survey mapping method in this study. Hence, this study employed the survey mapping method derived from the landscape planning approach, in which a guide map was designed for international tourists to value each attraction during their visit at the Core Zone Area of Melaka World Heritage Site. The data gathered from 268 respondents were classified into five sensory mappings that reflected the concentration of sensory values of visual, gustatory, auditory, olfactory, and tactile perceptions. Visualisation of sensory mapping had been based on the classification of positive, moderate, and negative sensory values. The outcomes from these sensory mappings signify the notion of ‘tourist space’ or ‘honey pot’ among tourists based on their sensory experiences in the Core Zone area of Melaka World Heritage Site. This exploration of the survey mapping method has contributed to a critical discussion on the methodological approach, whereby most studies concerning sensory experience are dominated by the qualitative approach. Therefore, the study results could strengthen the management and planning by highlighting the significance of sensory quality in conserving and preserving momentous cultural heritage attractions

Application of mcdm approach to evaluate the critical success factors of total quality management in the hospitality industry

Although many studies have focused on significant role of total quality management (TQM) in literature, little attention has been paid to using the fuzzy multiple criteria decision making (FMCDM) for analysis TQM factors especially in the context of hospitality. The purpose of this study is to identify, prioritize and evaluate the TQM critical success factors (CSFs) in hospitality industry by integrating the theory of fuzzy sets, quantitative and qualitative approaches. Primary criteria to evaluate TQM CSFs are achieved by the literature survey, and the Fuzzy Delphi Method (FDM) has been used by experts for evaluating of soft and hard TQM CSFs. In the following step, we employed the Fuzzy Analytic Hierarchy Process (FAHP) to find the weights of criteria. The results of this study indicated that, internal and external cooperation had the first rank among other CSFs in hospitality industry. In addition, the second and third rank in soft aspect includes customer focus and leadership respectively. The findings of this study shown guidance to practitioners and managers of quality to implement of TQM in their organizations, effectively by using the suggested set of identified TQM CSFs

The influence of service quality on satisfaction: does gender really matter?

Purpose: This study examining the influence of service quality on satisfaction and to investigate whether satisfaction varies between male and female in response to the perceived service quality in the Malaysian tourism context. Design/methodology/approach: The population of the study is tourists travelling to Malaysia. A sample was drawn using a multi-stage sampling method and 301 completed questionnaires were analysed with structural equation modelling. Findings: The findings show that service quality is positively associated to satisfaction and the relationship is found to be moderated by gender. Additionally, the findings also show that the service quality perceived by women is found to influence the satisfaction level greater than that of men’s in the tourism context. Research limitations/implications: Other demographic variables, such age, culture, education level, and income must also be considered in future study and when developing marketing strategies. Practical implications: The gender differences is significant moderator between service quality and satisfaction in tourism context. Tourism service providers who target on women’s market are recommended to allocate more resources and attention on the important aspects namely, reliability, considerability and empathy and tangiblility aspects in order to increase the satisfaction level among female tourists. Originality/value: The findings validates the findings of previous studies by examining the moderator role of gender in the relationship between service quality and satisfaction in Malaysian context.Peer Reviewe

ENGAGING UNIVERSITY’S ROLES IN SOCIAL INCLUSION

This paper presents the role of a public university in Malaysia in engaging into social inclusion responsibilities. The partial results of archival data and focus group discussion are presented from the actual study. The findings explain on how a university impacted on improving society through providing facilities and services to their neighbor

The role of lifestyle in creating tourists' destination image and destination loyalty

Recently, the issue of causal relationship between destination image and destination loyalty is a crucial subject across the scholars in the topics of tourism area, particularly to clarify positive image and positioning of destinations. The objectives of this study are to scrutinize causal relationships between destination image and destination loyalty as well as the lifestyle of tourists as a novel contribution in psychographics, especially by illustrating the mediation role of lifestyle. Also, the administrated questionnaires have been distributed in the survey. For sampling frame, probability approach is employed by regarding random sampling from 232 out of 258 tourists participated on-site of Kuala Lumpur. The employed approaches for testing causal relationships are Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) features. Both construct reliability and validity are established for the proposed model (i.e. Destination Image-Lifestyle-Destination Loyalty). The findings disclose that destination image significantly associates to lifestyle and destination loyalty. While lifestyle is partially mediated the relationship between destination image and destination loyalty. Finally, the researchers realized that if the destination management could fulfill tourists' desires which are adapted on their lifestyles, it leads to create a positive image and positioning as intentions to visit or recommend the destination

Developing Human Capital for Rural Community Tourism: Using Experiential Learning Approach

AbstractCommunity awareness, lack of tourism knowledge and skills are the basic constraints that limit the ability of the local people to actively participate in the tourism planning and development. In Malaysia, Miso Walai Homestay at Kinabatangan, Sabah was recognized as one of the best Community Based Tourism Model not only at national level but at the international level. Thus, this study was to explore the process of community capacity building particularly on the aspect of awareness, knowledge, skills as well as attitude of the rural community that enable them to involve themselves in tourism planning. This study applies a qualitative approach by conducting in-depth interview with key informants. All the data were analyzed using thematic analysis. The results of the study showed that about 3 years has been used by the NGO together with the pioneer MESCOT members for the capacity building particularly on the human capital development. The knowledge, skills as well as awareness of the local people have been developed through experiential learning approach

Laser Vaporization of Mouth Lesions, an Overview

Lasers are utilized in dentistry as a therapeutic tool or as an auxiliary tool. The major purpose of employing lasers in dentistry is to overcome the difficulties that are currently observed in traditional dental treatment treatments. The laser is used in hard tissue applications such as caries prevention, bleaching, restorative removal and curing, cavity preparation, dentinal hypersensitivity, growth modulation, and diagnostics, whereas soft tissue applications include wound healing, removal of hyperplastic tissue to uncover impacted or partially erupted teeth, photodynamic therapy for malignancies, and photo-stimulation of herpetic lesions. Lasers' capacity to perform minimally invasive operations with minimum patient discomfort has proven effective in the patient delivery system in dentistry practice. The availability of lasers with various wavelengths has produced a surgical panacea, and laser technology has replaced traditional surgical techniques in many oral surgical operations

Antimicrobial resistance among migrants in Europe: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND: Rates of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) are rising globally and there is concern that increased migration is contributing to the burden of antibiotic resistance in Europe. However, the effect of migration on the burden of AMR in Europe has not yet been comprehensively examined. Therefore, we did a systematic review and meta-analysis to identify and synthesise data for AMR carriage or infection in migrants to Europe to examine differences in patterns of AMR across migrant groups and in different settings. METHODS: For this systematic review and meta-analysis, we searched MEDLINE, Embase, PubMed, and Scopus with no language restrictions from Jan 1, 2000, to Jan 18, 2017, for primary data from observational studies reporting antibacterial resistance in common bacterial pathogens among migrants to 21 European Union-15 and European Economic Area countries. To be eligible for inclusion, studies had to report data on carriage or infection with laboratory-confirmed antibiotic-resistant organisms in migrant populations. We extracted data from eligible studies and assessed quality using piloted, standardised forms. We did not examine drug resistance in tuberculosis and excluded articles solely reporting on this parameter. We also excluded articles in which migrant status was determined by ethnicity, country of birth of participants' parents, or was not defined, and articles in which data were not disaggregated by migrant status. Outcomes were carriage of or infection with antibiotic-resistant organisms. We used random-effects models to calculate the pooled prevalence of each outcome. The study protocol is registered with PROSPERO, number CRD42016043681. FINDINGS: We identified 2274 articles, of which 23 observational studies reporting on antibiotic resistance in 2319 migrants were included. The pooled prevalence of any AMR carriage or AMR infection in migrants was 25·4% (95% CI 19·1-31·8; I2 =98%), including meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (7·8%, 4·8-10·7; I2 =92%) and antibiotic-resistant Gram-negative bacteria (27·2%, 17·6-36·8; I2 =94%). The pooled prevalence of any AMR carriage or infection was higher in refugees and asylum seekers (33·0%, 18·3-47·6; I2 =98%) than in other migrant groups (6·6%, 1·8-11·3; I2 =92%). The pooled prevalence of antibiotic-resistant organisms was slightly higher in high-migrant community settings (33·1%, 11·1-55·1; I2 =96%) than in migrants in hospitals (24·3%, 16·1-32·6; I2 =98%). We did not find evidence of high rates of transmission of AMR from migrant to host populations. INTERPRETATION: Migrants are exposed to conditions favouring the emergence of drug resistance during transit and in host countries in Europe. Increased antibiotic resistance among refugees and asylum seekers and in high-migrant community settings (such as refugee camps and detention facilities) highlights the need for improved living conditions, access to health care, and initiatives to facilitate detection of and appropriate high-quality treatment for antibiotic-resistant infections during transit and in host countries. Protocols for the prevention and control of infection and for antibiotic surveillance need to be integrated in all aspects of health care, which should be accessible for all migrant groups, and should target determinants of AMR before, during, and after migration. FUNDING: UK National Institute for Health Research Imperial Biomedical Research Centre, Imperial College Healthcare Charity, the Wellcome Trust, and UK National Institute for Health Research Health Protection Research Unit in Healthcare-associated Infections and Antimictobial Resistance at Imperial College London