GETTING A TOUCH OF CULTURE: TOP PLACES TO VISIT IN EUROPE

Every continent has its unique beauty, and Europe isn’t an exception. Here you will find a variety of tourist destinations ranging from beaches, beautiful sceneries, cultural and art centers among others. It’s no wonder Europe has always been voted among the best continents to visit. So, if you are planning for a romantic getaway, cultural tour, family vacation, or a getaway with your friends, this content has something to offer and more in what you are looking for. However, with 51 countries and thousands of destinations to discover, narrowing down on a single destination can be overwhelming. We are here to make your decision easier with the following 5 places that will guarantee you a getaway of your lifetime. Tuscany, Italy There is no better way to tour Tuscany than taking a road trip. Plan to land in Florence and start your tour there as it is home to the largest airport. While there, you can visit the Uffizi Gallery and savor the art in the display or enjoy a beautiful view of the city from up the hill at Piazzale Michelangelo. After enjoying the city, start your journey to the countryside stopping at stunning sceneries to enjoy the sites. You can make your first stop in Lucca. Enjoy the breathtaking Piazza d’Anfiteatro and take a stroll along the tops of the city’s fortifying walls. After that, make other stops at Pisa, San Gimignano, Siena, Val d’Orcia, and Montepulciano to enjoy all that these spots have to offer; beautiful sceneries, food and get to taste the local wine before heading back to Florence. While you can move around using public transport, renting a car and driving yourself around offers a more convenient option. To do this, however, you would need to possess an international driver's license, a document that allows you to drive in a foreign city. Make sure you obtain one before leaving for your trip. Madeira, Portugal If you love nature, Madeira in Portugal is one of the best destinations for this. This place is full of flowers, trees, beaches, and unique landscapes that are home to birds and other incredible wildlife. If you are in for some amazing scenery, head to the Valley of the Nuns also known as Camara De Lobos, or to Miradouro das Flores viewpoint to enjoy the cliffs around. The geological formation of Pico de Ana Ferreira will not disappoint either. If you haven’t experienced black sandy beaches, Madeira Island has this to offer. You can head to Praia do Porto do Seixal to savor this and enjoy a swim or to the sea to search for dolphins. Of course, a nature trip wouldn’t be complete without a hike to a nature trail; head to Ribeiro Frio Natural park for some rugged mountains and forest experience. San Sebastian, Spain If you are looking for the best beach experience, this gem along the northern coastline of the Basque Country is your best bet. The famous La Concha Beach offers the best atmosphere to chill out or take a walk. You can also go surfing off Zurriola Beach or take a ferry to Santa Clara Island. Apart from the beaches, San Sebastian is surrounded by green hills and numerous historical and cultural attractions. You can dive into this after you are done enjoying the beach. A visit to the San Vicente Church, the oldest in San Sebastian, a tour around the cobbled streets of the Old Town, or a funicular ride up the top of Monte Igueldo will leave you mesmerized. Paris, France Paris is one of the most romantic cities in the world. If you have been looking for the best destination for your honeymoon, proposal, anniversary or your spouse’s birthday weekend, the City of Love is perfect for a romantic getaway. Sip a glass of champagne from the top of the famous Eiffel Tower overlooking the beautiful views of the city and wait for the dark to see the tower sparkle with numerous gold lights. You can also take a stroll or cycle around the city and linger at romantic spots such as the iron footbridge at the intersection of rue de la Grange aux Belles and Quai de Jemmapes to see the road bridge open to let canal boats through. Explore the city’s art galleries to savor romantic works or go boat riding in Bois de Boulogne and afterward head to Jardin Shakespeare through the woods to see flowers, plants, and trees in Shakespeare plays grow. Rotterdam, Netherlands With diverse cultures, Rotterdam is one of the best destinations for a cultural tour. Start your tour at The Markthal, a huge, horseshoe-shaped building that houses a gigantic food court. You will enjoy different local cuisines as you marvel at some of the largest artworks the planet has to offer. You can then take a stroll through Witte de Withestraat to enjoy contemporary art in galleries located along the street. Head to WORM to enjoy some concerts of the local music or to Kinderdijk, a UNESCO heritage site to witness 300 years old windmills that pump water from swamps. Complete the cultural experience by renting a suite in one of the city’s iconic buildings such as Hotel New York and enjoy beautiful views from there. Conclusion There you have it! Five European destinations that are bound to blow your mind away. You can determine the best time to visit the continent by considering the weather, your budget, and your personal preferences. If you want the best weather for hikes and adventurous activities, the summer that runs from June to August is the best time to visit. However, be prepared to pay more and deal with crowds. The rest of the months can be cheaper since they are off-peak seasons, but you might have to endure unfavorable weather.

THE REVIVAL OF THE TOURISM INDUSTRY FROM THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC DISASTER

Purpose of the study: COVID-19 pandemic has severely hit the global economy. It has also had a huge impact on the tourism industry. The purpose of the study is to identify the possible initiatives to be taken to revive the tourism industry during or after the COVID-19 era. Methodology: A qualitative analysis of secondary data has been applied. NVivo 12 has been used for organizing, analyzing, and visualizing the data. Main Findings: It is found that government will have to play the most prominent role in the revival of the tourism sector through financial stimulus packages and subsidies. The use of marketing activities, promotional tools, and social media platforms will also aid in the recovery process. Initially, tourism activities can be restarted at domestic levels and in travel bubbles, motivating international tourists. Most importantly, maintaining hygiene and maintaining social distance will be the main tool to revive the tourism industry. Applications of this study: The findings of this study will enable the decision-makers of the hospitality and tourism industry to make a strategic recovery plan Covid-19 stricken tourism economy. The originality of this study: Although most of the industries are slowly turning around during the pandemic, the tourism industry is still struggling to survive. This study proposes several possible recovery plans in light of past epidemic experiences.

CAMERA EAT FIRST: TOURIST MOTIVATION IN SHARING FOOD PHOTOGRAPH ON INSTAGRAM

Purpose of the study: Uploading food photos on social media has become a phenomenon among tourists during culinary tours. This phenomenon is increasingly developing into a hobby, namely distributing the art of food photography which is also supported by the development of increasingly sophisticated camera features on smartphones. The purpose of this study is to analyze the motivation of tourists in uploading food photos on Instagram. Methodology: This research method is descriptive quantitative, and the data collection techniques through distributing questionnaires and literature studies. The sampling technique is non-probability sampling, namely random sampling. The number of respondents in this study was 103 people, and the data analysis technique used descriptive statistics. Main Findings: This study's theoretical implication shows that the sequence of tourists' motivation to upload food photos on social media is capture togetherness as a realization of the social life of tourists, promotion, food documentation, food art, relaxation, reference, and existence. Applications of this study: Knowing tourists' motivation can provide an overview of current culinary tourism behavior and can be used as suggestions for culinary businesses in designing marketing strategies. The practical implications are suggestions for culinary entrepreneurs to increase their activity and social media interaction as a marketing effort. Novelty/Originality of this study: This research is original, and this is the first study that analyzing tourist motivations in sharing food photographs on Instagram. This is new because most studies are mostly done in general consumers, while the context of this study is on culinary tourism.

AN INFLUENCE OF SOCIAL DISTANCE ON TOURIST DECISION-MAKING PROCESS: A CASE OF TOURISTS VISITING THE MAASAI MARA NATIONAL GAME RESERVE

Purpose of the study: The study aims to assess the influence of social distance on the tourist decision-making process on tourists visiting the Maasai Mara National Game Reserve using the construal level theory. Methodology: Exploratory research design was used using regression equation modeling. The Borgardus social distance scale was adapted to structure the questionnaire. A sample of 157 tourists was selected. The data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics which were used to determine the relationship between the variables. The hypothesis was tested at a 5% level of confidence. Main Findings: The study established that the majority of the respondents understood and indicated that social distancing influenced their choice of a destination. Social distance (R=0.580, p=0.00<0.05) had a strong positive and significant influence on the contractual level of tourist choice of a destination. It was further established that construal level accounted for up to 33.6 percent of the variance in choice of destination (R2=0.336). Applications of this study: The study recommends that the conventional consumer behaviour model can be enhanced in decision making by incorporating the construal level of destination decision making for tourists. It will be beneficial to the tourists visiting Maasai Mara National Game Reserve, the marketers, hotels and destination owners, and the government at large. Novelty/Originality of this study: Decision-making is central to the satisfaction of a customer that seeks value for his/her money. Though research in consumer decision-making has been conducted before its application in tourist’s destination decision-making process remains new. This study sought to bring to light this link and fill this gap in the literature.

DESTINATION IMAGE ANALYSIS AND ITS STRATEGIC IMPLICATIONS: A LITERATURE REVIEW FROM 1990 TO 2019

Purpose of the study: "Image" not only exists in the market of consumer goods as well as tourism but also is the criteria usually used by consumers to make decisions. However, little literature is concerned with a comprehensive analysis of its development trajectory, application domains, and strategic implications. This study aims at conducting an extensive review of DI's current literature to examine the key concept of consumer behaviors. Methodology: Based on Scopus, this paper surveys the development trajectory of destination image using a literature review with the solo keyword “destination image” from 1990 to 2019. Main findings: The findings indicate that the development of destination image begins in 1995 and the overall growth is steady and strong. There are three development waves, such as 2002-2007, 2008-2013, and 2015-2019. These 908 articles were scattered across 182 different journals. Besides, all these keywords related to counties/areas are mostly equipped with tourism competitiveness as well. Applications of this study: This study reveals five problem domains of destination image including environment and government, destinations, tourists, culture, and others, respectively. This would call the attention of the executives and authorities concerned with environmental sustainability, adaptability/responsiveness of strategies, destination competitiveness, capabilities development, resource allocation, and tourist behavior (e.g., decision-making and post-purchase intention). Originality/Value: Based on the nexus between “environment-destination-tourist”, this study proposed a strategic map of DI to future researchers and field workers of great interests to operationalize and conceptualize its coverage.

A CASE STUDY OF KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT PRACTICES AT THE INTERCONTINENTAL HOTELS’ GROUP

Purpose of the study: This study aims to gain an understanding of how (and if) the InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) manages knowledge to create value. Methodology: Publicly available data about the IHG were assessed using Pawlowski and Bick’s (2015) Global Knowledge Management Framework (GKMFW) to determine the extent to which the IHG is implementing knowledge management (KM). Four experts reviewed the findings for validation. Main findings: Knowledge management (KM) practices are used by the IHG at a basic level. Data collected in this study indicate that the IHG is not connecting KM processes in its strategy. This research highlights that the IHG and potentially other hotel companies could integrate KM to enhance their performance. Applications of this study: The study’s findings are important for hotel industry stakeholders (academics, hotel executives, owners, etc.), assisting them to better understand “hotel KM”. Stakeholders are encouraged to implement holistic and purposeful KM programs (i.e., a framework), potentially delivering more value to their organizations. Novelty/Originality of this study: This study is the first attempt to investigate KM activities in one major standard-setting hotel company (SSHC), as defined by Boardman and Barbato (2008). It highlights the limitations in hotel-specific KM research and the limited way in which KM is being applied in the InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG). It not only identifies a gap in the literature about KM in the hospitality industry but starts to fill this gap.

TOURIST VILLAGE REJUVENATION AND OVER-TOURISM MANAGEMENT: THE DESA WISATA NGLANGGERAN LIFECYCLE EXPERIENCE, YOGYAKARTA, INDONESIA

Purpose of the Study: Over-tourism is an issue that is being experienced by many well-known destinations in the world, both in urban and rural areas. The purpose of this research is to find out how the experience of developing a Tourist village is seen from the tourism lifecycle approach. This study also explores the sensitivity of managers to the phenomenon of over-tourism in their village, to design strategies for product rejuvenation. Methodology: This research adopts a historical qualitative research approach. This method is exercised through two data sources. Primary data was carried out through non-participant observation (for four months) in the Nglanggeran tourist village, Yogyakarta to observe and interview tourist village managers, tourism entrepreneurs, workers, and local communities. Meanwhile, Secondary data used include online media articles, scientific writings, and promotional media. Main Findings: The study found that in the tourism area life cycle model approach, tourist villages' growth can be grouped into 6 phases. The exploration phase and stagnation, marked by the start of the Nglanggeran tourist village and massive growth that had environmental, social, and cultural impacts. The management adopts several strategies, including price management, visitor management, and length of stay management. Implication/Applications: This experience is very important to be learned and known by tourism stakeholders, especially tourist village managers and the government which is developing similar tourism products massively throughout Indonesia. The originality of the study: This research is original, and this is the first study that finds out how the experience of developing a tourist village is seen from the tourism lifecycle approach and explores how managers are sensitive to the phenomenon of overtourism in their village. Thus, this scope is expected to be developed in other tourist villages in Indonesia to get generalizations about the development of tourist villages.

DEFINING AND DESIGN UNDERSTANDING THE VARIOUS REALMS OF HOSPITALITY DISCIPLINE: AN ENVIRONMENTALIST ECO-RESPONSIBLE GOLF RESORT

Purpose of study: The purpose of this conceptual study is to develop a more better understanding of hospitality One of the oldest profession known over time. Methodology: This article is based on a conceptual study of the various definitions and sectors of the hospitality sector. This article also presents the various studies by different researchers and presents how a variety of researchers have classified hospitality in their studies. Main Findings: This study has provided a new understanding of the hospitality industry and the various sectors associated with it. Social Implications/Applications: This case study is a conceptual study done to define and understand the concept of hospitality in a much better perspective and it can help researchers from varied realms of hospitality to have much valuable insights of this term. Originality: Hospitality has been defined by many researchers in many perspectives. This study has been done with a rigorous literature review then defined the term in a combination which has all aspects related to it. The study has then been supported by a case study of an eco-friendly resort- The Karma Lakelands. This study has been done to understand, explore and extend the basic principles of hospitality and the role of interior designing in it.

THE EFFECT OF COVID-19 ON TOURISM AND HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY IN MALAYSIA, RESURGENCE IN THE POST-PANDEMIC ERA: A CONCEPTUAL CRITERION

Purpose of the study: This study aims to provide an overview of the key issues and challenges faced by the COVID-19 pandemic in the Malaysian tourism and hospitality industry, lessons learned from its devastating effects on the industry, and to contemplate possible solutions and strategies for post-pandemic recovery from a global perspective. Methodology: This is a conceptual study. In doing so, a comprehensive review of the most recent selected literature was gathered from academic and online news portal and relevant online platforms to extract the current state of the art knowledge. Based on the conceptual analysis, this study unfolds the uncertainties about the critical outcomes of the past events to provide some significant insights focusing on the COVID-19 pandemic, which is denoted as post-crisis analysis based on current and past events. Main Findings: Based on the comprehensive review of the related literature this paper finds that both from the academic and industry perspective that the emphasis should be given to study, teach and engage with current tourism-related concepts and theories to provide a holistic pedagogy to rebuild and transform the tourism and hospitality industry rather than maintaining the current tourism and hospitality trajectory in the post-Covid 19 pandemic age. Applications of this study: The practical implications of this paper is to assist the tourism and hospitality managers by providing a glimpse of the current and forthcoming challenges in the industry and to provide critical recovery strategies in the post-pandemic phase for the related tourism and hospitality operators to plan effective business strategies, activities and policies to adopt the new normal. Novelty/Originality of this study: This study exposes the vulnerability of an already gruesome Malaysia tourism and hospitality industry in the context of the Covid-19 pandemic based on the post-crisis analysis in relation to the current and past events, and consequently suggested some critical sustainable resilience strategies for a resurgence in the post-pandemic period from a global point of view.

SUSTAINABLE TOURIST VILLAGES MANAGEMENT BASED ON JAVANESE LOCAL WISDOM ‘MEMAYU HAYUNING BAWONO’ BEST PRACTICE OF DESA WISATA PENTINGSARI, YOGYAKARTA

Purpose of the Study: This study aims to identify the potential of Pentingsari Tourist Village and tourist characteristics and analyze the presence of local wisdom Memayu Hayuning Bawono in Pentingsari Village, especially its implementation in the sustainable Tourist Villages management. Methodology: This research uses a "multi-method" or mixed-method approach. In addition to conducting non-participant observation in the Pentingsari tourism village, researchers also conducted in-depth interviews with a purposive sampling method. While the accident sampling method was adopted to distribute questionnaires involving 72 respondents (tourists). Main Findings: This research found that tourism and local wisdom have become unity and seem to strengthen one another. In other words, harmonization between the environment, arts and culture, and community life aspects through local wisdom, can become a tourism commodity. On the other hand, tourism provides economic and social impacts to preserve the local sense of the community. Implication/Applications: This case study can be useful as a role model of sustainable tourism management based on local knowledge. Besides, this study can enrich references related to the concept of sustainable tourism based on local wisdom. Originality of the study: The paper is original, and this is the current study to examine the local wisdom Memayu Hayuning Bawono in Pentingsari Village, particularly related to tourism issues.