The Prospect of “Halal Tourism” Destination: An Strategy for Ponorogo Regency, East Java (Indonesia)

Tourism is a prima donna sector that significantly contributes to the people’s economy and Indonesia’s state income. Foreign tourist visits to Indonesia rank fourth in ASEAN, contributing to a GDP of 4.25% (Central Bureau of Statistics of Indonesia, 2020). In 2019, the number of Muslims was 39.8 million, which is the majority, so tourism in East Java is significant to revitalize the concept of “halal tourism”, including for Ponorogo Regency. At this opportunity, the study concentrated on tourism objects in the Ponorogo Regency using the PESTLE method (political, economic, social, technological, legal, and environmental) to identify aspects that can meet the requirements of halal tourism. In general, this is a way of expanding and encouraging East Java Province to become an area capable of implementing halal tourism throughout its Regency by meeting specific criteria set by the Ministry of Tourism of the Republic of Indonesia. The weaknesses and limitations of the study have become a symbol of concern for future improvement. The concept of “halal tourism” is interpreted more broadly in various aspects, not only limited to religious tourism, pilgrimage, or visiting places of worship, but is applied to tourism objects that focus on the sharia process through various aspects. “halal tourism” has excellent potential to be realized, one of which is in Ponorogo Regency.

Synthesising Resource-Advantage and Hofstede Cultural Dimensions: Customer Orientation, Knowledge Creation and Firm Performance

There is a dearth of studies on synthesising the resource-advantage theory and Hofstede cultural dimensions that explore the influence of customer orientation and knowledge creation on the firm performance for small hotels. This paper reviews extant literature that provides insights on the influence of customer orientation and knowledge creation on firm performance. In-depth interviews with three hotel owners and three hotel managers were performed in this study. The results disclose that by forging memorable and positive customer experiences and developing informed knowledge databases are business practices that sustain the firm performance. From the theoretical aspect, it is a preliminary step to blend the culturally relevant customer orientation and knowledge creation elements into forming a firm performance framework designed for small hotels

Destination Image of Himachal Pradesh: Foreign Tourist Perception

Destination Image is a psychological set of emotions in a tourist’s mind. This study is an inquiry from 384 Foreign Nationals who included destination Himachal in their visit to India. The latent factors of ‘destination image’ were extracted and validated through structural equation modeling (SEM). Out of the ten explored latent factors ‘affective’ dimension is the major element followed by ‘infrastructure’, ‘culture’ and ‘safety’ are acting as significant persuading forces in destination image formation. The study will help various organizations and agencies to position their tourism products. Future researchers can investigate the change in destination image with other locations having the same geographical conditions. This study is limited to the present experience of tourists and didn’t include the revisit experiences of foreign tourists.

Exploring the Factors Influencing the Selection of Traditional Travel Agencies: A Case of Banjarmasin, Indonesia

Highly developed online facilities by travel agents have grown drastically over the past years. Internet is taking over the businesses of traditional travel agents in their existing as well as emerging markets. Due to the dynamic and diverse nature of technology, the travellers are seeking to optimize their travel attitude in an effective manner while implicating several threats. Amidst all changes, this study investigated the attitude of Indonesian travellers visiting traditional travel agents. A self-administrated online survey was used to collect the data from local travellers of Banjarmasin, Indonesia. A sample of 277 respondents showed a significant relationship between the expertise of travel agents, handling capacity, technological adoption towards visiting traditional travel agents. Interestingly, the social interaction factor has no significant influence. Further, the analysis identified that secure transaction shows a partial mediating effect between travellers visiting traditional travel agents and their habitual selection behaviour. The results of the study indicate that Indonesian travellers have an overall positive attitude towards traditional travel agencies due to their expertise and handling capacity of travel services. An important finding reveals transactional security as a vital factor in habitual selection behaviour of Indonesian travellers. In future, there is a necessity for a holistic approach towards the understanding of both demand and supply perspectives of travel services.

Exploring Tourism Opportunities: Role of Financial Institutions in the Promotion of Tourism Entrepreneurship in Kerala

This study aims to assess the role of financial institutions in promoting tourism entrepreneurship in the state of Kerala; Kerala is a brand of Indian tourism and the destiny of world tourism. The study highlights the acumen behind the promotion of tourism entrepreneurship, tourism opportunities in Kerala and identifies the role of financial institutions in exploring tourism opportunities with the primary data sourced from 222 tourism entrepreneurs of Kerala. The study found that financial institutions significantly assist tourism enterprises in asset creation. Further, the findings reveal a positive association between financial assistance in the innovation of recreation facilities and a stimulus to start enterprises in the tourism sector. The study provides deeper insights to managers and academicians that the financial institutions should extend credit to the tourism industry as Priority Sector Lending (PSL) along with other prime lending sectors.

Impact of Destination Attributes on Tourists Destination Selection: With Special Reference to Cultural Triangle of Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka is one of the fastest-growing tourist destinations in the world. Amongst tourists’ attractions, “Cultural Triangle”, a region of the cultural heritage of the country has become the highest income generating destination. However, when compared with the other tourists’ destinations of the country, the number of tourists visiting the cultural triangle is low. As the literature reveals, the attributes of the destination matter in destination selection by the international tourists. Thus, considering the importance of this region as the top income contributor but not in terms of the number of tourists’ visits, this study problematizes the impacts of destination attributes on tourist`s destination selection. Accordingly, the objective of this study is to identify the destination attributes and their relationship with the tourists’ destination selection decisions. Data was collected through questionnaires from a sample of 222 foreign tourists who visited the cultural triangle during 2019 through a selected travel agent. Results of the multiple regression analysis revealed that attributes of Amenities, Destination Attractions, Accessibility, Ancillary Services, and Destination Environment as having a moderate positive relationship whilst, the service quality weak positive relationship with Tourist’s Destination selection. Destination attraction was identified as the most influential factor of all attributes. The findings of this study can be used by policymakers in developing destinations for tourists’ attractions in the country.

Heritage Tourism Development Strategy in Sekanak Market Area of Palembang City

Sekanak Market Area is one of the historical areas in Palembang City which is identical to the heritage buildings of Sultanate and Colonial. Many potential cultures and histories should be conserved by developing them as tourist destinations. It is supported by Palembang Mayor Regulation Number 48 of 2015 regarding the Arrangement Plan for Heritage Area of Palembang City. This study focuses on heritage tourism development strategy formulation based on five aspects of tourist destination development (attraction, accessibility, amenity, accommodation, and ancillary). The study utilised quantitative description method. The data collected through observation, interviews, questioner, and related official documents. The results indicate that Sekanak Market Area needs the provision, improvement, and also development. The study proposed development strategies includes: (1) Conservation, attraction, and culture-experience components development, (2) Heritage tourism facilities provision including information and interpretation, street furniture, sanitation, accommodation, parking, finance, and souvenir center, (3) Human resources improvement which covers the community development and education, (4) Sense of place improvement by raising the local wisdom, and (5) Tourism accessibility development which in addition to the arrangement also requires the formation of tourist traditional transportation with its bases.

Assessing Accommodation Suppliers’ Perceptions of Climate Change Adaptation Actions on Koh Phi Phi Island, Thailand

Koh Phi Phi Don is among the most visited island tourism destinations in Thailand. Due to the island’s topography and development patterns, most accommodation suppliers on the island are likely to be exposed to a range of climate change impacts, particularly sea-level rise, which can pose a severe risk to the local tourism operations. This study aimed to explore perceptions of climate change adaptation actions in response to impacts typically associated with climate change. This study, furthermore, investigated possible obstacles, barriers, and incentives influencing decision-making processes of accommodation owner-managers (the private sector) to adapt to climate change. The investigation builds on 81 surveys and 12 in-depth interviews. The findings provide evidence that most of the sampled businesses already implemented (consciously or not) climate change adaptation measures, such as insurance coverage, water treatment appliances, and staff training on emergency responses. Through a concentration of power on the island, their action is hindered, which creates a barrier to a sustainable and climate risk-informed development pathway.

Sustainable Tourism: Evidence from Lake Toba in North Sumatra, Indonesia

Tourism has become an important sector in some national economic development, especially in Indonesia. In Indonesia, the tourism sector is one of the biggest non-oil foreign exchange-earners. Consequently, the Indonesian government has introduced laws, policies, and regulations to bolster the sector. Specifically, Lake Toba in North Sumatra is a famous coastal tourist destination in Indonesia, which attracts both local and foreign tourists. The objectives of this research are to examine coastal tourism in Indonesia and address possible measures to achieve sustainable coastal tourism in Lake Toba. The methodology adopted in this research includes a qualitative approach with descriptive and dialectical analysis. Moreover, the data used are adopted from literature, tables, pictures, and documentary reviews. In the course of the research, it was discovered that many factors threaten sustainable tourism development in Lake Toba, particularly lack of and access to infrastructure, inadequate funds, among others. The result of the research reveals that government laws and policies and recommendations by scholars significantly strengthen sustainable tourism in Lake Toba. In concluding the research, it was argued that due to the economic and social-cultural importance of tourism to the development of Indonesia, it is imperative to effectively implement the laws, policies, and recommendations outlined in the paper.

Assessment of Tourism Suitability and Carrying Capacity of Selected Tourist Sites in Tinambac, Camarines Sur, The Philippines

Achieving sustainable tourism requires tourist sites management that is based on empirical studies. This paper utilized the analyses of tourism suitability index and Boullon’s Carrying Capacity Mathematical Model (BCCMM) in assessing four selected tourist sites of Tinambac, Camarines Sur, which offers a wide range of tourist destinations. Results showed that all four sites have the following suitability index and carrying capacity: 76.19% with 43 persons per day; 80.95% with 60 persons per day; 86.90% with 359 persons per day; and 91.67% with 612 persons per day, respectively. Based on the assessment, the four selected tourist sites are suitable for tourism destinations.