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The purpose of this study is to identify seminal research works on distance and online learning that have had significant impact on the domain.

The authors used the SCOPUS database for this study as the data source, and a well-defined search strategy retrieved the items for analysis. First, the authors identified the h-index (n = 207) of the discipline to determine the threshold for listing the top works. The authors critically analysed these classic publications using several bibliometric parameters to present the analysis. To understand the primary focus of the classic research works, the authors also carried out a keyword cluster analysis using VOSviewer.

While the USA produced maximum classic research, authors from Canada have maximum research visibility in terms of citations (n = 474.06). Canada also received the highest value of RCI (1.30), followed by Taiwan and Australia. The majority of the classics are published in 67 scientific journals. Of these, Computers and Education published the highest number with a quarter of the total citations (n = 19,403). Although e-learning was the nucleus of the research theme, the authors observed that students, learning systems, online learning, blended learning, learning management systems and computer-aided instructions dominated their influence in the research cluster.

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first of its kind work in the field of distance and online learning. Findings of this study would be useful to faculty, researchers and students in the discipline to focus on the seminal works and understand their implications better in the context of the growing significance of the discipline.

In the contemporary 21st century context, the issues of pollution, climate change and over tourism have emphasized that destination management organizations should focus on experiences and quality of life (QoL) of both locals and tourists. Concurrently, local community are actively seeking avenues for improving health and attaining inner peace, which has led to a notable inclination towards travelling to destinations rich with natural environment. This research paper aims to delve into the two intriguing dimensions of QoL, i.e. health and environment. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to explore the influence of the natural environment in urban tourism destinations on the QoL of local communities.

This research adopts a descriptive and exploratory approach, employing qualitative methods through semi-structured interviews with respondents. Thematic analysis, assisted by NVivo (12), was used to fulfil the aim of the study.

The findings of the study unveiled the themes, namely, aesthetic and recreational opportunities, elevated health and well-being, community cohesion, which highlight the influence of natural environment on QoL of community.

Since the inception of the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been a growing emphasis in research on the significance of the natural environment for individual well-being. Moreover, factors such as health, happiness and QoL contribute substantially to the overall ambiance of a destination.