Thailand's tourism faces rising risks over long term

2016 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Large Scale ◽  
Terrorist Attack ◽  
Fourth Quarter ◽  
Security Risks ◽  
Tourist Destination ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Tourism Sector ◽  
State Restrictions ◽  
Tourism Revenue

Subject Outlook for the tourism sector. Significance The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) expects tourism to meet or exceed 2016 targets of 2.58 trillion baht (72.3 billion dollars) in revenue and 30 million visitors. Tourism revenue grew 13% year-on-year in the first three quarters of 2016, and advanced bookings suggest that fourth-quarter growth will be equally strong. Impacts A royal transition would temporarily affect tourism due to state restrictions on celebrations. Long-term slowdown in tourism growth will require new efforts to diversify the economy, especially to create jobs. Security risks to tourism would rise substantially if a major tourist destination suffers a large-scale terrorist attack.

scholarly journals Chromosomal Rearrangements in Salmonella enterica Serovar Typhi Strains Isolated from Asymptomatic Human Carriers

mBio ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 2 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
T. David Matthews ◽  
Wolfgang Rabsch ◽  
Stanley Maloy
Keyword(s):  
Salmonella Enterica ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Chromosomal Rearrangements ◽  
Growth Conditions ◽  
Genetic Changes ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Long Term Storage ◽  
Bacterial Chromosomes ◽  
Over Time

ABSTRACTHost-specific serovars ofSalmonella entericaoften have large-scale chromosomal rearrangements that occur by recombination betweenrrnoperons. Two hypotheses have been proposed to explain these rearrangements: (i) replichore imbalance from horizontal gene transfer drives the rearrangements to restore balance, or (ii) the rearrangements are a consequence of the host-specific lifestyle. Although recent evidence has refuted the replichore balance hypothesis, there has been no direct evidence for the lifestyle hypothesis. To test this hypothesis, we determined therrnarrangement type for 20Salmonella entericaserovar Typhi strains obtained from human carriers at periodic intervals over multiple years. These strains were also phage typed and analyzed for rearrangements that occurred over long-term storage versus routine culturing. Strains isolated from the same carrier at different time points often exhibited different arrangement types. Furthermore, colonies isolated directly from the Dorset egg slants used to store the strains also had different arrangement types. In contrast, colonies that were repeatedly cultured always had the same arrangement type. Estimated replichore balance of isolated strains did not improve over time, and some of the rearrangements resulted in decreased replicore balance. Our results support the hypothesis that the restricted lifestyle of host-specificSalmonellais responsible for the frequent chromosomal rearrangements in these serovars.IMPORTANCEAlthough it was previously thought that bacterial chromosomes were stable, comparative genomics has demonstrated that bacterial chromosomes are dynamic, undergoing rearrangements that change the order and expression of genes. While mostSalmonellastrains have a conserved chromosomal arrangement type, rearrangements are very common in host-specificSalmonellastrains. This study suggests that chromosome rearrangements in the host-specificSalmonella entericaserovar Typhi, the causal agent of typhoid fever, occur within the human host over time. The results also indicate that rearrangements can occur during long-term maintenance on laboratory medium. Although these genetic changes do not limit survival under slow-growth conditions, they may limit the survival ofSalmonellaTyphi in other environments, as predicted for the role of pseudogenes and genome reduction in niche-restricted bacteria.

scholarly journals Lost in migration: document quality for batch conversion to PDF/A

2018 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Roland Erwin Suri ◽  
Mohamed El-Saad
Keyword(s):  
Large Scale ◽  
Software Tool ◽  
Batch Processing ◽  
Digital Archives ◽  
Adobe Acrobat ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Text Document ◽  
File Formats ◽  
Long Term Preservation

PurposeChanges in file format specifications challenge long-term preservation of digital documents. Digital archives thus often focus on specific file formats that are well suited for long-term preservation, such as the PDF/A format. Since only few customers submit PDF/A files, digital archives may consider converting submitted files to the PDF/A format. The paper aims to discuss these issues.Design/methodology/approachThe authors evaluated three software tools for batch conversion of common file formats to PDF/A-1b: LuraTech PDF Compressor, Adobe Acrobat XI Pro and 3-HeightsTMDocument Converter by PDF Tools. The test set consisted of 80 files, with 10 files each of the eight file types JPEG, MS PowerPoint, PDF, PNG, MS Word, MS Excel, MSG and “web page.”FindingsBatch processing was sometimes hindered by stops that required manual interference. Depending on the software tool, three to four of these stops occurred during batch processing of the 80 test files. Furthermore, the conversion tools sometimes failed to produce output files even for supported file formats: three (Adobe Pro) up to seven (LuraTech and 3-HeightsTM) PDF/A-1b files were not produced. Since Adobe Pro does not convert e-mails, a total of 213 PDF/A-1b files were produced. The faithfulness of each conversion was investigated by comparing the visual appearance of the input document with that of the produced PDF/A-1b document on a computer screen. Meticulous visual inspection revealed that the conversion to PDF/A-1b impaired the information content in 24 of the converted 213 files (11 percent). These reproducibility errors included loss of links, loss of other document content (unreadable characters, missing text, document part missing), updated fields (reflecting time and folder of conversion), vector graphics issues and spelling errors.Originality/valueThese results indicate that large-scale batch conversions of heterogeneous files to PDF/A-1b cause complex issues that need to be addressed for each individual file. Even with considerable efforts, some information loss seems unavoidable if large numbers of files from heterogeneous sources are migrated to the PDF/A-1b format.

The contribution of foresight to improve long-term security planning

foresight ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
pp. 68-83 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sissel Haugdal Jore ◽  
Inger-Lise Førland Utland ◽  
Victoria Hell Vatnamo
Keyword(s):  
Risk Management ◽  
Planning Process ◽  
Terrorist Attack ◽  
Black Swan ◽  
Security Risk ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Security Planning ◽  
Risk Management Methodology ◽  
Security Risk Management

Purpose Despite the common focus on studying future events, the study of risk management and foresight have developed as two segmented scientific fields. This study aims to investigate whether current risk management methodology is sufficient for long-term planning against threats from terrorism and other black swan events, and whether perspectives from foresight studies can contribute to more effective long-term security planning. Design/methodology/approach This study investigates the planning process of the rebuilding of the Norwegian Government Complex destroyed during a terrorist attack in 2011. The study examines whether security risk managers find current security risk management methodology sufficient for dealing with long-term security threats to the Norwegian Government Complex. Findings Current security risk management methodology for long-term security planning is insufficient to capture black swan events. Foresight perspectives could contribute by engaging tools to mitigate the risk of these events. This could lead to more robust security planning. Originality/value The main contribution of this paper is to investigate whether perspectives and methodology from foresight studies can improve current security risk management methodology for long-term planning and look for cross-fertilization between foresight and risk studies. A framework for scenario development based on security risk management methodology and foresight methodology is proposed that can help bridge the gap.

Early impact of Covid-19 on private sector employees finance homeownership in Kingdom of Saudia Arabia

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Raed Khamis Alharbi
Keyword(s):  
Private Sector ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Housing Finance ◽  
Policy Framework ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Financial Uncertainty ◽  
Key Stakeholders ◽  
Negative Impacts ◽  
Future Policy

Purpose For almost two years, the economic shocks and financial uncertainty created by the Covid-19 pandemic have affected all sectors. The private sector employees may be the worst hit. This is because of the lockdown across many countries, including the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), leading to income irregularities. Studies exploring private-sector employees concerning housing finance for the houses purchased and how the lockdown has affected their sources of income for repayment plans are scarce. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the possible early negative impacts of Covid-19 on private sector employees’ housing finance homeownership in KSA. Design/methodology/approach A phenomenology type of qualitative research was used. Data were sourced from three cities (Riyadh, Al-Qassim and Medina) and three mortgage banks across KSA. Virtual interviews via Zoom and WhatsApp video calls were conducted with engaged participants (bankers, government agencies and private sector employees). Thematic analysis was adopted, and the analysed data was presented in themes. Findings Findings show that the partial and full lockdown resulted in income irregularities in many private businesses. Also, findings identified downsizing, leading to large-scale unemployment, half-monthly income for employees, loss of profit, human resources wastage, etc. Findings reveal that because of the economic shock, many homeowners have not been able to meet up with their monthly mortgage repayment obligation. Also, the absence of financial support in form of socioeconomic needs has not helped the matter. Research limitations/implications The paper is limited to the early negative impacts of Covid-19 on private sector employees’ housing finance homeownership in KSA and data collected via Zoom and WhatsApp video calls across the three main cities. The recommendations that will emerge from this study may be adopted by other Gulf and Islamic countries with similar homeownership repayment challenges. Practical implications This study would stir key stakeholders, especially the policymakers and mortgage institutions to consider future policy principles that focus on who is at the highest risk for housing-related hardships because of the Covid-19 or future pandemic. The outcome can be used to develop an equitable housing policy framework to foster long-term economic mobility and be validated in the future by scholars. Originality/value Similar research in this area is limited, which makes this study one of the pioneering attempts to investigate the early negative impacts of Covid-19 on private sector employees’ housing finance homeownership in KSA. The paper sheds light on the emerged early negative impacts and proffer feasible possible solutions to promote homeownership amongst Saudi citizens.

scholarly journals Collective Emotions and Social Resilience in the Digital Traces After a Terrorist Attack

2019 ◽  
Vol 30 (4) ◽  
pp. 617-628 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Garcia ◽  
Bernard Rimé
Keyword(s):  
Large Scale ◽  
Terrorist Attack ◽  
Terrorist Attacks ◽  
Social Resilience ◽  
Collective Emotions ◽  
The Social ◽  
Collective Effervescence ◽  
Scale Test ◽  
Twitter Users

After collective traumas such as natural disasters and terrorist attacks, members of concerned communities experience intense emotions and talk profusely about them. Although these exchanges resemble simple emotional venting, Durkheim’s theory of collective effervescence postulates that these collective emotions lead to higher levels of solidarity in the affected community. We present the first large-scale test of this theory through the analysis of digital traces of 62,114 Twitter users after the Paris terrorist attacks of November 2015. We found a collective negative emotional response followed by a marked long-term increase in the use of lexical indicators related to solidarity. Expressions of social processes, prosocial behavior, and positive affect were higher in the months after the attacks for the individuals who participated to a higher degree in the collective emotion. Our findings support the conclusion that collective emotions after a disaster are associated with higher solidarity, revealing the social resilience of a community.

Exhibition destination attractiveness – organizers' and visitors’ perspectives

2016 ◽  
Vol 28 (12) ◽  
pp. 2795-2819 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xin Jin ◽  
Karin Weber
Keyword(s):  
Large Scale ◽  
Holistic View ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Key Stakeholders ◽  
Destination Attractiveness ◽  
Practical Guidelines ◽  
Second Tier ◽  
Business Events ◽  
Business To Business

Purpose The purpose of this study was to provide a holistic view of exhibition destination attractiveness by examining perceptions of two of the three key stakeholders (exhibition organizers and visitors) and contrasting them with those of exhibitors. Design/methodology/approach This research used a mixed method approach, collecting 535 responses from visitors attending nine business-to-business exhibitions in four major cities in China via structured surveys. In addition, eight in-depth interviews with CEOs/owners of leading global and Chinese exhibition companies were conducted. Findings The findings revealed that exhibitors may go almost anywhere where there is potential for successful business. In contrast, visitors prefer exhibition destinations with good accessibility to minimize travel time and an attractive leisure environment that offers a degree of enjoyment in addition to taking care of business. A destination’s “economic environment” and “cluster effects” were comparatively less important to them. Organizers were cognizant of these differences, contributing to their reluctance in taking large-scale, branded exhibitions to second-tier destinations, despite considerable efforts by these cities to improve their infrastructure. Practical implications This study offers practical guidelines for destination administrators and exhibition organizers with regard to evaluating destination resources for long-term exhibition development. Originality/value In contrast to prior studies, this research identifies significant differences in perceptions of exhibition destination attractiveness among all three key industry stakeholders. It also presents a persuasive case for the need to clearly differentiate between the attractiveness of a destination for attracting/hosting exhibitions versus conventions, rather than approaching the subject from a more generic meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions (MICE) segment/business events perspective.

A RIDIT approach to evaluate factors influencing tourist destination brand selection behaviour pertaining to Indian tourism sector

2017 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
pp. 583-602
Author(s):  
Subhajit Bhattacharya ◽  
Rohit Vishal Kumar
Keyword(s):  
Service Providers ◽  
Brand Choice ◽  
Evidence Based ◽  
Choice Behaviour ◽  
Tourist Destination ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Tourism Marketing ◽  
Factors Influencing ◽  
Tourism Sector ◽  
Destination Brand

Purpose This paper aims to examine the components or factors influencing tourists’ destination brand selection behaviour in Indian context with evidence-based management modelling by using the Relative to an Identified Distribution (RIDIT) approach. This evidence-based tourism marketing research has contributed to enhance understanding the tourists’ motivation to support decision in tourism marketing domain. The present study has focused on identifying the most relevant factors in the order of priority that influence destination brand-choice behaviour pertaining to Indian tourism sector. The current research has also tried to arrange the different items relating to tourists preferences for better understanding the insight of potential tourists relating to Indian-tourist destinations. Design/methodology/approach A descriptive, survey research design was chosen to investigate and organize the different components or items in degrees of priority to explain the tourists’ destination brand selection behaviour. In total, 387 empirical tourist samples were collected across India covering both domestic and international tourist segments. An evidence-based management modelling with RIDIT analysis is done to examine the factors, which have influencing role on tourist-destination brand choice behaviour related to Indian tourism market. Findings The outcome of this research paper should enable the tourism marketers, tourism service providers, tourism brand managers and consultants to create better linkages between the prospective tourists’ preferences and the marketing mix of the destination brands by using evidence based management modelling. Originality/value The present research is an original and innovative thought process, trying to evaluate the components or factors influencing tourists’ destination brand selection behaviour pertaining to Indian tourism sector by using the RIDIT approach. Research undertaken so far in tourism marketing area has investigated the different components related to tourism behaviour and destination-brand selection intention of the potential tourists in an unintended and less organized manner. This study can be seen as the first empirical evidence in the domain of tourism marketing where evidence based management modelling with RIDIT approach is done.

Germany will face long-term housing problems

2018 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Young People ◽  
Real Estate ◽  
Housing Market ◽  
Social Housing ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Housing Investment ◽  
Will Force ◽  
German Cities

Subject Germany's housing dilemma. Significance Demographic changes and the shift from publicly to corporately owned housing have led to accommodation shortages and rising rents in West German cities. Despite the government's plans for large-scale social housing investment, these trends will have long-term implications for Germany's housing market. Impacts Over-priced real estate will force developers to invest overseas. Accommodation shortfalls and rising prices will result in mass mobilisation and protests of young people across Germany. Lack of social housing will increase rates of homelessness in German cities.

scholarly journals Tourism in Tomorrow's World, 23‐24 February 2014, Renaissance City Center Hotel Doha, Qatar

2015 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 80-85
Author(s):  
Jeroen Oskam ◽  
Graciella Karijomedjo
Keyword(s):  
Tourism Development ◽  
Special Topic ◽  
Global Changes ◽  
City Center ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Global Trends ◽  
Tourist Attractions ◽  
Tourism Sector ◽  
Conference Papers

Purpose The conference was dedicated to global changes in tourism and to their specific impact in the Gulf Corporation Council (GCC) region. The purpose of this paper is to summarize the discussions at the conference. Design/methodology/approach Summary and highlights of the conference papers. Findings This report summarizes the findings and recommendations discussed at the international “Tourism in Tomorrow's World” conference that took place in Doha, February 2014. The conference depicted global trends and developments to zoom in on specific opportunities for tourism development in the GCC area. In view of major events planned in the host country, event legacies were included as a special topic. Conference sessions were dedicated to investments in tourist attractions and hotels, the relation between education and industry and to cultural heritage and tourism. As a result of the conference strong opportunities for tourism development in Qatar and other GCC members were identified. Originality/value This has been the first international conference on long‐term tourism strategies in the GCC area. The underlying motivation was the growing awareness in the GCC area of the need for economic diversification and reduction of oil dependence. The conference coincided with the launch of the Qatar National Tourism Sector Strategy 2030.

South-east Asian security vulnerabilities may grow

2016 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Terrorist Attack ◽  
East Asian ◽  
Political Support ◽  
South East Asia ◽  
Security Risks ◽  
Security Vulnerabilities ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Freedom Of Movement ◽  
Asian Security ◽  
East Asian Security

Significance The January 14 terrorist attack in Jakarta has triggered a crackdown on ISG across South-east Asia. Impacts Greater freedom of movement as ASEAN integrates could pose terrorism security risks, for instance for airlines. Malaysia's government faces a new challenge from terrorism, but could rebuild political support by handling it effectively. Indonesia's government may face popular pushback if new anti-terrorism laws are deemed to be draconian.

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