Mario Nuno Agostinho, Alvaro Dias and Leandro F. Pereira
This study aims to provide a new perspective on the factors determining a country’s tourism performance, understand the interrelationships among these factors and explore their…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to provide a new perspective on the factors determining a country’s tourism performance, understand the interrelationships among these factors and explore their implications for the future of tourism in high-income countries.
Design/methodology/approach
The study employs a fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA) using five variables from the World Economic Forum’s Travel and Tourism Development Index (TTDI). The focus is on identifying seven configurations of antecedents of Travel and Tourism Industry Gross Domestic Product (T&T Industry GDP).
Findings
The study identifies seven configurations of antecedents influencing T&T Industry GDP, revealing how these factors operate in different scenarios, specifically in countries with high and low T&T GDP. These configurations offer insights into potential future pathways for tourism development.
Research limitations/implications
The study implies that tourism is a complex phenomenon influenced by multiple interacting factors. It provides a framework for understanding how different combinations of factors can lead to high or low tourism performance, offering valuable insights for anticipating and shaping the future of tourism.
Originality/value
This study adds value by providing a more nuanced understanding of the tourism industry, challenging the notion of singular effects of variables and highlighting the importance of analyzing multiple, interacting factors in understanding and predicting tourism performance. It contributes to the field of futures studies by offering a tool for anticipating potential future scenarios and their impact on the tourism industry.
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Luis Espejo-Antúnez, Mario Corrales-Serrano, Francisco Zamora-Polo and María de los Ángeles Cardero-Durán
This study aims to determine the degree of knowledge acquired by university professors after receiving virtual training on the sustainable development goals (SDGs) and their…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to determine the degree of knowledge acquired by university professors after receiving virtual training on the sustainable development goals (SDGs) and their relationship with the contents of the subjects taught.
Design/methodology/approach
A 40-h virtual course on SGDs and higher education was designed. To evaluate professor knowledge, a questionnaire was administered to professors from different fields of knowledge. The questionnaire consists of 25 questions divided into two sections: Section 1: Q1–Q8 (knowledge and access to information) and Section 2: Q9–Q25 (the relationship of the subjects taught with the 17 SDGs). The virtual classroom was used to do the questionnaire and it lasted 10 min. The internal consistency of the different constructs was analyzed by Cronbach’s alpha, Kaiser–Meyer–Olkim test and Marlett test. Descriptive and inferential analysis were also performed.
Findings
Statistical analysis showed a high reliability for the constructs (smallest Cronbach’s alpha = 0.908). Virtual teaching to teachers significantly improves the results of Section 1 (Q1–Q8) (p < 0.001) and Section 2 (Q9–Q25) (p < 0.001) of the questionnaire. Teachers aged 40–50 years significantly associate the contents of their subjects with SDG1 (Q9, p = 0.02), SDG2 (Q10, p = 0.00) and SDG8 (Q16, p = 0.04) previous course. In addition, the area of origin may influence knowledge about the SDGs. At the end of the course, there were no significant differences between teachers by age, field of knowledge or academic category.
Originality/value
Virtual training on SDGs unifies the knowledge of university faculty, promoting academic curricula aligned to sustain-able training, regardless of age, gender, academic category or field of knowledge.
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This study aims to promote the preservation of endangered traditional knowledge and practices in the Andes of Peru by documenting, publishing and disseminating them.
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to promote the preservation of endangered traditional knowledge and practices in the Andes of Peru by documenting, publishing and disseminating them.
Design/methodology/approach
Based on a literature review of coca and coca divination, the author will describe these types of divination practices. Subsequently, the author will address the context and characteristics of a coca reading conducted in October 2022. Afterwards, the threats and prejudices faced by this type of indigenous knowledge and practice are discussed.
Findings
Coca divination in the Andean region of Ancash differs from the most common form of divination with coca leaves performed in northern Argentina, Bolivia, northern Chile, Colombia and southern Peru. The results of the coca reading conducted in October 2022 align with Andean worldviews. These practices and the associated episteme face various threats from academic, social and political actors and their discourses.
Practical implications
Scientific and academic researchers should be aware that their work can foster and maintain epistemic colonialism in Latin American territories. Archaeological excavations and interpretations should respect ancestral and traditional worldviews and practices.
Originality/value
This study advances the understanding of coca divination in the Andes of Ancash, Peru, by providing nuanced insights into this cultural practice in relation to a landslide event that occurred near a 3,000-year-old temple. The implications extend beyond academic discourse, offering valuable perspectives for conducting archaeological excavation activities that respect ancestral and traditional local beliefs. Future research should build on these findings to deepen comprehension of threats to traditional beliefs and practices.
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Daniel Martínez-Cevallos, Mario Alguacil, Ferran Calabuig and Daniel Duclos-Bastías
The purpose of this study is to use structural equation modeling to examine the interaction between the variables of corporate image, credibility, trust and satisfaction in the…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study is to use structural equation modeling to examine the interaction between the variables of corporate image, credibility, trust and satisfaction in the context of a virtual sporting event. The aim is to determine whether these variables have significant relationships with each other and which of them has the greatest influence on the prediction of participants' satisfaction.
Design/methodology/approach
A structured questionnaire was used, based on previously validated scales. The survey was administered using the LimeSurvey platform. The sample consisted of a total of 588 participants of the Medellín virtual marathon.
Findings
The results of the study reveal significant findings regarding the relationships between the variables of corporate image, credibility, trust, and satisfaction in virtual sporting events. In particular, it is highlighted that trust emerges as the most influential factor in participants' satisfaction, which offers an insightful understanding of the importance of this variable in the user experience in virtual sporting events.
Research limitations/implications
This study emphasizes the importance of brand analysis in the sports environment, stressing that the actions undertaken by managers should highlight both the corporate image and the connections with users, given their fundamental role in customer satisfaction. Likewise, the study of these variables within the sports context provides new knowledge and fills existing gaps within the academy. Limitations include the sample and the lack of consideration of all brand variables.
Practical implications
The need to cultivate a strong and well-managed image to build trust with participants is emphasized for organizers of virtual sporting events. It is crucial to work on establishing long-term credibility, especially in the relatively new context of virtual racing. Maintaining, and building the virtual career offering is essential to strengthening relationships, demonstrating a robust corporate image. In addition, since trust and credibility have a significant impact on participant satisfaction in this type of event, managers must communicate the assurance that virtual careers offer an experience free of uncertainty and risk, which is particularly attractive to a new customer base interested in this format.
Originality/value
This article presents an original contribution by investigating the relationships between corporate image, credibility, trust, and satisfaction in the context of virtual sporting events. It employs a structural equation model to assess the significance and predictive capacity of these variables. Notably, the study identifies trust as the most influential factor in predicting participant satisfaction. These findings offer valuable insights into the relative importance of brand variables in shaping user satisfaction within the virtual sporting event domain. By shedding light on these dynamics, the research aids event managers in making informed resource allocation decisions, contributing to a nuanced understanding of brand impact in this context.
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Reshmy Krishnan, Shantha Kumari, Ali Al Badi, Shermina Jeba and Menila James
Students pursuing different professional courses at the higher education level during 2021–2022 saw the first-time occurrence of a pandemic in the form of coronavirus disease 2019…
Abstract
Purpose
Students pursuing different professional courses at the higher education level during 2021–2022 saw the first-time occurrence of a pandemic in the form of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), and their mental health was affected. Many works are available in the literature to assess mental health severity. However, it is necessary to identify the affected students early for effective treatment.
Design/methodology/approach
Predictive analytics, a part of machine learning (ML), helps with early identification based on mental health severity levels to aid clinical psychologists. As a case study, engineering and medical course students were comparatively analysed in this work as they have rich course content and a stricter evaluation process than other streams. The methodology includes an online survey that obtains demographic details, academic qualifications, family details, etc. and anxiety and depression questions using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). The responses acquired through social media networks are analysed using ML algorithms – support vector machines (SVMs) (robust handling of health information) and J48 decision tree (DT) (interpretability/comprehensibility). Also, random forest is used to identify the predictors for anxiety and depression.
Findings
The results show that the support vector classifier produces outperforming results with classification accuracy of 100%, 1.0 precision and 1.0 recall, followed by the J48 DT classifier with 96%. It was found that medical students are affected by anxiety and depression marginally more when compared with engineering students.
Research limitations/implications
The entire work is dependent on the social media-displayed online questionnaire, and the participants were not met in person. This indicates that the response rate could not be evaluated appropriately. Due to the medical restrictions imposed by COVID-19, which remain in effect in 2022, this is the only method found to collect primary data from college students. Additionally, students self-selected themselves to participate in this survey, which raises the possibility of selection bias.
Practical implications
The responses acquired through social media networks are analysed using ML algorithms. This will be a big support for understanding the mental issues of the students due to COVID-19 and can taking appropriate actions to rectify them. This will improve the quality of the learning process in higher education in Oman.
Social implications
Furthermore, this study aims to provide recommendations for mental health screening as a regular practice in educational institutions to identify undetected students.
Originality/value
Comparing the mental health issues of two professional course students is the novelty of this work. This is needed because both studies require practical learning, long hours of work, etc.
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Yu-Sheng Su, Wen-Ling Tseng, Hung-Wei Cheng and Chin-Feng Lai
To support achieving sustainable development goals (SDGs), we integrated science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) and extended reality technologies into an artificial…
Abstract
Purpose
To support achieving sustainable development goals (SDGs), we integrated science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) and extended reality technologies into an artificial intelligence (AI) learning activity. We developed Feature City to facilitate students' learning of AI concepts. This study aimed to explore students' learning outcomes and behaviors when using Feature City.
Design/methodology/approach
Junior high school students were the subjects who used Feature City in an AI learning activity. The learning activity consisted of 90-min sessions once per week for five weeks. Before the learning activity, the teacher clarified the learning objectives and administered a pretest. The teacher then instructed the students on the features, supervised learning and unsupervised learning units. After the learning activity, the teacher conducted a posttest. We analyzed the students' prior knowledge and learning performance by evaluating their pretest and posttest results and observing their learning behaviors in the AI learning activity.
Findings
(1) Students used Feature City to learn AI concepts to improve their learning outcomes. (2) Female students learned more effectively with Feature City than male students. (3) Male students were more likely than female students to complete the learning tasks in Feature City the first time they used it.
Originality/value
Within SDGs, this study used STEM and extended reality technologies to develop Feature City to engage students in learning about AI. The study examined how much Feature City improved students' learning outcomes and explored the differences in their learning outcomes and behaviors. The results showed that students' use of Feature City helped to improve their learning outcomes. Female students achieved better learning outcomes than their male counterparts. Male students initially exhibited a behavioral pattern of seeking clarification and error analysis when learning AI education, more so than their female counterparts. The findings can help teachers adjust AI education appropriately to match the tutorial content with students' AI learning needs.