PERSPECTIVES ON MALAYSIA'S LACK OF IMPLEMENTATION OF GREEN BACK LANES

Malaysia has been utilising green back lanes since the ‘90s. In spite of the several benefits of these lanes, such as the formation of active spaces, decrease in runoff water, and visitor attractions, green back lanes are yet to be deployed in the residential regions of Malaysia, prompting the question as to why these lanes have not yet been installed extensively. The objectives of this research work were: to determine what experts opined regarding the installation of green back lanes in the country, study the scenarios which caused the absence of implementation, produce a report showing the outcomes and analysis, and offer suggestions. The researcher deployed the interview strategy for ascertaining the views and standpoints of architects, town planners, maintenance staffs, project managers, and marketers on the dearth of green back lane installation. The research emphasises on the aspects of cost, maintenance, and safety.

Sustainable Tourism Planning: A Strategy for Oecusse-Ambeno, East Timor

This paper aims to explore the topic of sustainable tourism activity. The subject has emerged in the last two decades from discussions about the content of the report, Our Common Future. The decision to transform developing countries into new offerings for ecological and cultural tourism brings to the discussion the imprecise and conflicting definitions of the concept and the need to distinguish between the development of tourism, and sustainable tourism supported on the principles of sustainable development. The research reviews the environmental and social contexts of the Oecusse-Ambeno region in East Timor. It discusses the new sustainable tourism activities in the region with the need to ensure that the concept includes a strong base of perceived authenticity in the human context and the physical environment. The problems of the carrying capacity control of tourism development, and the term’s relevance to mass or conventional tourism, are strategically anticipated. The region is confronted with an offer that supports more peacefulness, and that is more aligned to the culture and the natural environment. This paper provides insight into the ways in which tourists perceive the authenticity of visitor attractions and highlights the importance of the cultural and environmental values of tourism destinations for strategic planning and marketing purposes.

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on revenues of visitor attractions: An exploratory and preliminary study in China

The COVID-19 pandemic has made a detrimental impact on various tourism subsectors. The financial consequences of this impact should be carefully evaluated to set benchmarks for industry recovery. This study assessed the financial impact of the pandemic on the tourism subsector of visitor attractions in China; 4222 A-grade visitor attractions accounting for over one-third of the national market were surveyed. Data triangulation was subsequently applied to undertake a comprehensive assessment of potential revenue loss. Triangulation was based upon the (1) lost revenue estimates made by tourist attractions’ administrations, (2) reverse estimation of past macroeconomic data, and (3) expert opinion estimates. The assessment results demonstrated that A-grade visitor attractions in China may have lost up to 140 billion RMB (circa US$21 billion) due to COVID-19, with up to 65% of all losses incurred in the first quarter of 2020. The scale of revenue loss varied significantly depending on visitor attraction’s grade, type, and location. Potential strategies for industry recovery are discussed.

Digital skills in tourism. A study from the Next Tourism Generation (NTG) Alliance

Purpose This paper aims to identify the gap existing between the current and future needs regarding digital skills, as well as the training needs for the 2030 horizon in Spanish tourism organisations belonging to five subsectors (accommodation, food and beverage, destination management, visitor attractions and travel agents and tour operators). Design/methodology/approach A mixed research methodology, which combined qualitative and quantitative approaches, served as the basis for this research work. Qualitative research took place between April 2018 and March 2019 and went through three stages: desk research, focus groups and interviews. Quantitative research developed from January to June 2019 by means of an online administered survey (Qualtrics). In total, 139 Spanish tourism organisations participated. Findings Tourism organisations analysed consider that digital skills are still an unresolved issue. Employees are willing to operate in environments where technology has an increasingly leading role. However, organisations believe that there remains a lot to be done until employees have, both at present and by the year 2030, a suitable level of digital skills enabling them to operate in the tourism subsectors analysed. Originality/value This study is framed within the European project called Next Tourism Generation (NTG), which involves 14 partners from eight countries. The findings obtained will help to develop a Europe Blueprint Strategy for digital skills within the tourism and hospitality sector, to provide employees, employers, entrepreneurs, teachers, trainers and students with a set of core digital skills represented in a skills matrix.