Differentiating education and training needs

This paper adds to the understanding of tourism human resources by the inclusion of culture and ethnicity perspectives. Through examples drawn from a multiethnic environment in Malaysia, the implications of ethnic-driven policies on different ethnic groups' involvement in tourism are examined and the appropriateness of the current approaches to tourism education and training are assessed. The views of tourism students of different ethnic backgrounds are presented with their education needs and employment expectations. The significance of culture, religion and ethnicity factors that affect different ethnic groups' perception and choice of tourism employment are discussed.     

Identifying mobility service needs for disabled air passengers

One outcome of air transportation deregulation policies worldwide is the growing number of passengers, including people with a disability. Because social equality is recognized as a worthwhile objective, providing an environment at both the airport terminal and on-board aircraft that eases travel for those with various impairments is an objective airlines and airport authorities increasingly view as important, and which they monitor. In order to understand the disabled traveler’s wants and needs, this paper applied importance-performance analysis (IPA) to examine the perception of, and satisfaction with, air transportation services. Data from a sample of 130 respondents with lower extremity function impairment is presented in this research. The results show the service needs are different across three levels of disability categorized as minor, moderate, and severe.     

Health inspection reports as predictors of specific training needs

This study examined the impact of inspector and operation type on restaurant inspection scores and estimated the probability of each violation found by each inspector and operation type. General linear models and a logistic regression model were employed to analyze 1,067 regular routine inspection results. The results of this study showed that inspector and operation type significantly impacted inspection scores, explaining 28.07% of the variation in scores. A significant difference was found in the prediction of the probability of each violation found by inspector and operation type. The estimated probability of each violation being found by inspector during a specific inspection of operation ranged from 0% to 47.9%. The probability of each violation occurrence by inspector and operation type was considered as specific training needs for inspectors and restaurant managers. Possible implications are suggested for training programs for inspectors and restaurant managers to improve standardized results of inspection.     

Tourism in Malaysia competing needs in a plural society

Tourism development in Malaysia is constrained by certain socioeconomic and political factors which require planning considerations beyond the traditional concerns for growth and promotion. Apart from the New Economic Policy which calls for racial-spatial economic restructuring and indigenization of control, tourism development in Malaysia requires reconciliation with the less than liberal religious and cultural orientations of the populace. This paper presents an overview of the socioeconomic impacts of tourism with particular reference to the role of ethnicity in the development of the tourist industry.     

Do airline self-service check-in kiosks meet the needs of passengers?

This study aims to (i) explore the importance and performance of services provided by kiosks and (ii) identify managerial strategies to increase kiosk attractiveness in order to be a viable option for passengers. The service attributes influencing service quality were first determined via the critical incident technique (CIT), following which a questionnaire was designed for data collection. Relative to an identified distribution (Ridit) values were applied to conduct the importance–performance analysis (IPA) rather than the mean values of raw ordinal scores. Our results indicate that potential kiosk users expect their check-in environment to be highly controlled. Airlines may mitigate frequent flyers’ resistance to kiosks by providing additional benefits or seat-selecting privileges. Finally, kiosks are expected to be light and compact, and should be installed near the luggage conveyor belt to provide satisfactory service for both airlines and passengers in the limited space available.     

Big data research in hospitality: From streetlight empiricism research to theory laden research

There is little doubt that Big Data is taking the center stage in academic research. For such reason this Editorial Viewpoint is intended to help authors drive a research agenda that is not only innovative but grounded in theory. An opportunity exists to demystify the view that with vast amount data the numbers will speak for themselves. Researchers can assist by creating synergies between Theory-driven and Data-driven research, especially since theory should play a critical role in driving critical dialogue about generating new knowledge. The goal of hospitality research with Big Data should be to create a virtuous research cycle between theory and data that generates knowledge and provide a better understanding that advances a more robust hospitality theory. This will help us rethink and inquire what constitutes knowledge in order to better understand the past, present, and future of hospitality research.     

Accommodating the needs of disabled hotel guests: Implications for guests and management

The purpose of this study are two-fold: (1) to identify disabled guests’ perceptions of their hotel experiences, and (2) to identify the feasibility of implementing disabled guests’ suggestions in hotel design and service policies. Interviews were conducted with leaders of national organizations serving disabled persons and hotel executives. The responses from guests with mobility impairments offered the most suggestions and the greatest need for special accommodations. The mobility disability segment echo those from the hearing and visual impairments segments, with all respondents indicating a need for better staff sensitivity training. Easily implemented suggestions were made for hotel managers to consider when attracting and accommodating guests with disabilities. If adopted by the industry, the recommendations will help hotel operators improve the hotel experiences of guests with disabilities.     

Integrating venturesomeness and consumption needs: effects on destination choice along the TALC

This research studies destination choice based on Plog’s venturesomeness concept, incorporating the effects of four consumption needs from the theory of market choice behavior. An empirical test in the context of destinations in two stages of Butler’s tourism area life cycle (TALC) showed that venturesomeness does not predict behavioral intentions as postulated by Plog. However, results demonstrated that epistemic and emotional (functional and social) needs are predictors of preference for novel (mature) destinations, supporting the original conceptualization of Plog’s psychographic framework. The findings shed light on a long-time debated model in the tourism literature.