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The negative effects of loneliness and isolation on mental health and wellbeing on the neurotypical population are well documented. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore the effects of isolation on the mental health and wellbeing of autistic adults who were separated from friends and family for an extended period.

Semi-structured interviews were conducted shortly after the lifting of the third UK lockdown of the Covid-19 pandemic with a sample of 7 people (mean age, 35) formally diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder.

The study explored effects stemming from the absence of social interaction. Thematic analysis led to the creation of three themes: The first, “Context affects perception of isolation: I’m going to continue on with my life as much as I possibly can” shows a negative impact on wellbeing, perceived through the filter of larger issues resulting from lockdown and the necessity of isolation. The second, “Being alone can be comfortable: Lockdown has been good for me” discusses the mental health benefits of isolation and participants feeling of being “primed” for that isolation. The third, “Challenges from isolation: ‘Changing routine’” explores the changes people made while isolated, with a focus on coping strategies and communication.

Findings reveal the importance of supporting autistic adults to maintain social contact during and after isolation and contradict research suggesting autistic people are not motivated to seek social interaction.

This chapter proposes an in-depth exploration of the role of governmental guidelines and lodge contributions in establishing sustainable wildlife-related tourism in specific Tourism Development Areas (TDAs) in Zambia. The study focuses on two prioritized TDAs, namely Luangwa Valley (South and North Luangwa National Park) and Lower Zambezi (Lower Zambezi National Park), which are renowned wildlife-related tourism destinations in Zambia. The chapter aims to bridge the existing research gaps in the implication of ecotourism in Africa, with a specific focus on Zambia, while highlighting the significance of responsible travel and ecotourism in the sustainable development of these areas.

This study aims to determine the effects of lodging infrastructure development (LID) on Cordillera Administrative Region’s (CAR) environmental quality and natural resource management and its implication to globally responsible leadership. Specifically, this study sought to determine the contribution of LID to environmental deterioration and natural resource degradation in the CAR. As a result, a mathematical model is developed, which supports sustainability practices to maintain the environmental quality and natural resource management in CAR, Philippines.

This study used a descriptive research design using a mixed-methods approach. Self-structured interview and survey were used to gather the data. The population of this study involved three groups. There were 6.28% (34) experts in the field for the qualitative data, 70.24% (380) respondents for the quantitative data and 23.47% (127) from the lodging establishments. 120 respondents from the Department of Tourism – CAR (DOT-CAR) accredited hotels. Nonparametric and nonlinear regression analysis was used to process the data.

The effects of LID on the environmental quality and natural resource management in CAR as measured through carbon emission from liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), electricity and water consumption in the occupied guest rooms revealed a direct correlation between the LID. Findings conclude that the increase in tourist arrival is a trigger factor in the increase in LID in the CAR. The increase in LID implies a rise in carbon emission in the lodging infrastructure. Any increase in tourist arrivals increases lodging room occupancy; the increased lodging room occupancy contributes to carbon emissions. Thus, tourism trends contribute to the deterioration of the environmental quality and degradation of the natural resources in the CAR. A log-log model shows the percentage change in the average growth of tourist arrival and the percentage increase in carbon emissions. Establishments should observe standard room capacity to maintain the carbon emission of occupied lodging rooms at a minimum. Responsible leadership is a factor in the implementation of policy on standard room capacity.

The result of the study has some implications for the lodging businesses, the local government unit (LGU), the Department of Tourism (DOT) and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in the CAR. The study highlights the contribution of the lodging establishments to CO₂ emission, which can degrade the quality of the environment, and the implication of responsible leadership in managing natural resources in the CAR. The direct inverse relationship between energy use and CO₂ emission in hotels indicates that increased energy consumption leads to environmental degradation (Ahmad et al., 2018). Therefore, responsible leadership among policymakers in the lodging and government sectors – LGU, DOT and DENR – should abound in the CAR. Benchmarking on the model embarked from this study can help in designing and/or enhancing the policy on room capacity standardization, considering the total area with its maximum capacity to keep the carbon emission at a lower rate. Furthermore, as a responsible leader in the community, one should create programs that regulate the number of tourists visiting the place to decrease the number of overnight stays. Besides, having the political will to implement reduced room occupancy throughout the lodging establishments in CAR can help reduce the carbon emissions from the lodging businesses. After all, one of the aims of the International Environment Protection Organization is to reduce CO₂ emissions in the tourism industry. Hence, responsible leadership in environmental quality preservation and sustainable natural resource management must help prevent and avoid greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

Most studies about carbon emission in the environment tackle about carbon dioxide emitted by transportation and factories. This study adds to the insights on the existing information about the carbon emission in the environment from the lodging establishments through the use of LPG, electricity and water consumption in the occupied guest rooms. The findings of the study open an avenue for globally responsible leadership in sustaining environmental quality and preservation of natural resources by revisiting and amending the policies on the number of room occupancy, guidelines and standardization, considering the total lodging area with its maximum capacity to keep the carbon emission at a minimum, thus contributing to the lowering of GHG emissions from the lodging industry.

The Lodging Shared Economy (e.g. Airbnb) has emerged in the past two decades. It was thought that generations participate differently in the Lodging Shared Economy (LSE) and their requirements for LSEs are different for hotels. The current study compares business travelers from three generations (Baby Boomers, Generation X and Generation Y) and their lodging preferences using seven dimensions: Price/Value; Financial Information Security; Personal Safety; Location, Empathy, Amenities, and Cleanliness.

Using MTurk, 614 surveys were completed by two distinct groups of pre-qualified respondents who recently stayed for business in either a hotel or LSE (e.g. Airbnb). This study compared the perceptions of three generations on their responses to seven key lodging attributes.

This study’s results indicate little difference among business travelers from the three generations. Baby Boomers responded they value cleanliness more than Millennials. Boomers are more likely than Xers to tell others about their stay but overall, generational statistical differences were not revealed.

This study suggests that consumer preferences for lodging on business trips are similar across generations and therefore, hotels should focus on business travelers as a homogeneous group rather than attempting to focus on specific generations and specifically not rule out Boomer customers.

While there is much research on the LSE, this is one of the first studies that focuses on business travelers’ preferences for using accommodations other than hotels, which is a gap in LSE research.

The thriving global tourism industry is a pivotal player in the global economy. It significantly contributes to a substantial carbon footprint through emissions from transportation, lodging, and infrastructure. In this study we have conducted a critical analysis of carbon emissions within the tourism industry using previous academic literature and institutional databases. Addressing the importance of measuring carbon footprints, the study delves into the definition of the carbon footprint in this sector, emphasizing the urgent need to comprehend and address its effects. This investigation also centers on the aspect of transportation, which is contributing to carbon emissions in the tourism industry. It explores variations based on transportation modes and discusses mitigation strategies, such as green transit. It also concentrates on accommodation, scrutinizing its environmental impact by evaluating carbon emissions from energy consumption, water usage, and waste generation in hotels and resorts. Emphasis is placed on promoting sustainable and green lodging facilities. Furthermore, this study examines the environmental impact of the tourism industry. Specifically, it examines the carbon footprint associated with infrastructure development. The analysis includes the impact of construction and development, resource consumption, and the role of communities and stakeholders in sustainable tourism planning. Furthermore, an assessment is conducted to examine the obstacles associated with adopting sustainable practices and assess the effectiveness of implemented mitigation strategies within the tourism industry. The concluding section outlines future perspectives and recommendations for research.

This study aimed to determine the factors affecting consumers’ perceptions and intention to purchase home meal kit services (HMK), a convenient home-cooked meal option, considering the moderating effects of monetary restriction, through the lens of the theory of planned behaviour (TPB).

This cross-sectional study used an online, self-administered survey to collect data from 374 US adults. Results were tested for variable associations via multiple linear regression and moderation analyses.

HMK adoption intention was positively associated with attitude and subjective norms but negatively associated with perceived behavioural control. Consumers’ HMK attitude demonstrated a significant positive relationship with food safety concerns and perceived time constraints. Income and financial constraints were significant moderators of the associations between TPB determinants and HMK intention. The findings emphasised the possibility of using HMK as a foodservice option for time-challenged consumers with food safety concerns.

This study addressed the limited research on HMK, a competitive meal option that foodservice businesses could implement to boost revenue. The study establishes the contribution in understanding the motivators and barriers that potentially affect consumers’ HMK behaviour through the lens of TPB. The results expand the scope of the TPB application in food-related research, providing a deeper understanding of antecedents and other factors on consumers’ HMK behavioural attitudes. Understanding this information will enable practitioners to develop strategies that meet consumers’ concerns when embracing this service to promote HMK.

Gunung Mulu National Park (GMNP) is one of the two protected areas with UNESCO World Heritage Site (WHS) status in Malaysia. Until now, this area can only be accessed by tourists via air and water transportation only. Recently, the government has proposed the construction of a road connecting GMNP to several areas, including Miri City through a high-impact infrastructure project. However, this project might instigate the potential benefits and challenges in terms of tourism development and community well-being. As custodians of the park, their support for this initiative needs to be dismantled so that the management of the national park can still be implemented holistically and does not jeopardise the current UNESCO status of WHS. WHS is UNESCO-designated area of cultural, historical, scientific, or other significant value, legally safeguarded by international agreements, and preserved for the benefit of future generations due to its exceptional value to humanity. Thus, this study aims to examine challenges and socioeconomic impacts of the proposed road among key informants' perspectives at Long Terawan Village, Long Iman Village, Batu Bungan Village and GMNP Headquarters. The study was conducted via in-depth interviews with 10 community members residing in the settlement, including a tribal chief, boatman, lodging operator, park guide and farmer, all of whom are professionals and representatives of the local community. They were designated as key informants on account of their extensive engagement and development within the community. Through a thematic analysis, their perspectives on the proposed roads to be built in the area were elucidated. The study offers pragmatic understanding of socioeconomic impact assessment, which could inform strategic decision-making by incorporating information regarding potential benefits and challenges of the proposed road construction to an isolated protected area.

This paper aims to propose a bed and breakfast (B&B) recommendation method that takes into account review timeliness and user preferences to help consumers choose the most satisfactory B&B.

This paper proposes a B&B ranking method based on improved intuitionistic fuzzy sets. First, text mining and cluster analysis are combined to identify the concerns of consumers and construct an attribute set. Second, an attribute-level-based text sentiment analysis is established. The authors propose an improved intuitionistic fuzzy set, which is more in line with the actual situation of sentiment analysis of online reviews. Next, subjective-objective combinatorial assignments are applied, considering the consumers’ preferences. Finally, the vlsekriterijumska optimizacija i kompromisno resenje (VIKOR) algorithm, based on the improved score function, is advised to evaluate B&Bs.

A case study is presented to illustrate the use of the proposed method. Comparative analysis with other multi-attribute decision-making (MADM) methods proves the effectiveness and superiority of the VIKOR algorithm based on the improved intuitionistic fuzzy sets proposed in this paper.

Proposing a B&B recommendation method that takes into account review timeliness and user customization is the innovation of this paper. In this approach, the authors propose improved intuitionistic fuzzy sets. Compared with the traditional intuitionistic fuzzy set, the improved intuitionistic fuzzy set increases the abstention membership, which is more in line with the actual situation of attribute-level sentiment analysis of online reviews.

Given the unique nature of business events tourism, this paper evaluates the forecasting performance of various models using search query data (SQD) to forecast convention attendance.

This research uses monthly and quarterly business event attendance data from both the U.S. (Las Vegas) and China (Macau) markets. Using SQD as the input, we evaluated and compared the cutting-edge forecasting models including Prophet and Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM).

The study reveals that Prophet outperforms complex neural network models in forecasting business event tourism demand. Keywords related to convention facilities, conventions or exhibitions, and transportation are proven to be useful in forecasting business travel demand.

Prophet is an accessible forecasting model for event-tourism practitioners, especially useful in the volatile business event tourism sector. Using verified search keywords in models helps understand traveler motivations and aids event planning.

Our study is among the first to empirically evaluate the performance of forecasting models for business travel demand. In comparison with other mainstream forecasting models, our study extends the scope to examine both the U.S. and Chinese markets.