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The first section will be the introduction which discusses the global scenario of wellness tourism after the pandemic. The second section of this study is wellness tourism after the pandemic in Sri Lanka. This title is an overview based on the homestays which are practicing wellness tourism at the Veludvara Wellness Stay, 98 Acres Resort and Spa and Ella Yoga Hub, and it examines the tourist perspective on wellness tourism after the pandemic. The third section discusses global best practices and policy development in this regard. The fourth section of this study focuses on demand and trends that can be promoted to future wellness tourism and conclude with recommendations. This study followed a qualitative method which is carried out with interviews, observation and secondary data such as books, websites, research papers, articles and other published materials. The impact of this research work is focused on stakeholders in wellness tourism, such as service providers, entrepreneurs, policymakers and other relevant authorities to fulfil gaps in the wellness tourism sector. Furthermore, this will be a good overview for tourists who are willing to get the experience of wellness tourism after the pandemic and identify its future values and demands.

This chapter considers the current situation of community-based tourism (CBT) in Sri Lanka, available potentials to promote this for the future tourism industry in Sri Lanka and demand and global trends of CBT. This chapter consists of an introduction examining CBT in the global scenario. This chapter's second title discusses the potential of CBT in Sri Lanka. The third topic concerns the demand and trends of CBT in a changing economy. The fourth topic is discussing global best practices and policies for CBT development. Finally, it concludes with recommendations and suggestions for CBT development in Sri Lanka.

This case study was conducted through qualitative analysis, and data will be collected with primary and secondary data. Primary data will be collected through interviews with industry stakeholders, tourists and other relevant interviewees. In addition, it will be carried out observation on selected community-based destinations. Furthermore, the secondary data will be gathered through books, articles, research papers, websites and other materials. This chapter conducted an empirical study on CBT in Sri Lanka. It brings the values of CBT to a changing economy. Furthermore, this study identified problems, potentials, demands and trends for future tourism development by evaluating global best practices and policies.

This chapter highlights a case study at the University of Wyoming (UW) to explore the role of integrating ecotourism and eco-entrepreneurship into higher education at the bachelor’s level. The university has developed a modern, comprehensive curriculum, and practical learning opportunities with local communities, conservation organizations, and industry stakeholders through a state-funded initiative. The program equips students with essential knowledge and eco-entrepreneurial skills for the sustainable development of ecotourism, outdoor recreation, and tourism industries. The chapter presents a pedagogical model as a replicable framework for other institutions aiming to incorporate sustainable, eco-centric curricula into their programs. The findings can guide policymakers, educators, and stakeholders in designing programs that synergize environmental sustainability and eco-entrepreneurial innovation to promote global sustainable development and successful higher education experiences.

This final chapter delves into the future of digital supply chain management (DSCM) amid today's dynamic business environment, shaped by technological advancements and factors like automation, artificial intelligence (AI), sustainability, and resilience. It emphasizes the crucial role of digital technologies (DTs) such as AI, the Internet of Things (IoT), Industrial IoT, and the Internet of Everything (IoET), along with blockchain, in revolutionizing supply chain operations. These technologies enable agility, flexibility, efficiency, and responsiveness, crucial for supply chains to proactively adapt to market changes. The chapter explores the trends in DSCs, focusing on real-time data analytics, end-to-end visibility, sustainability, and resilience. It highlights the growing importance of transparency in supply chains, driven by consumer demand for sustainable practices and product origins. DSCM is identified as pivotal for prioritizing sustainability, leading organizations toward green practices. Despite the opportunities in DSCM, challenges like cybersecurity, data management complexities, geopolitical uncertainties, and talent shortages are acknowledged. To overcome these, the chapter stresses strategic foresight in DSCM and the importance of robust process management, risk management, and talent development. The future-readiness of supply chain professionals is discussed, highlighting the need for change management, development of social and deep work skills, collaboration, and ethical practices. The chapter concludes by underscoring the transformative potential of DTs in the digital era, urging organizations to embrace innovation, transparency, and sustainability in their supply chains, recognizing that the future of DSC is an imminent reality.

Economic costs and benefits are at the core while taking decision to adopt digitalization in the supply chain. The present chapter provides an in-depth exploration of the economic dimensions of digital supply chain management (DSCM) adoption in a firm. Drawing from a diverse source of literature, this chapter discusses the effect of economic outlook on DSCM adoption, the economic benefits of DSCM adoption and costs associated with it, and economic analysis and evaluation methodologies. The chapter also shares the case studies illustrating the real-world implications of economic considerations within DSCM initiatives. The chapter highlights how changing international socioeconomic and political dynamics can influence businesses across the globe. By analyzing the impacts of evolving market trends, changing consumer preferences, and geopolitical tensions, organizations can considerably forecast the possible impacts of these macroeconomic forces adeptly. The chapter also undertakes discussion on the economic cost and benefits associated with DSCM adoption. The economic analysis helps understand that the expected benefits outweigh economic costs, substantiating the economic viability of DSCM projects. The chapter concludes by discussing the examples of some real-world companies, highlighting how organizations have successfully applied economic analyses to their DSCM initiatives. This also highlights as to how showcasing how detailed economic assessments can justify substantial investments, deliver operational efficiencies, and reshape industries.

Advanced education is often thought to respond to the demands of the economy, market forces create new occupations, and then universities respond with new degrees and curricula aimed at training future workers with specific new skills. Presented here is comparative research on an underappreciated, yet growing, concurrent alternative process: universities, with their global growth in numbers and enrollments, in concert with expanding research capacity, create and privilege knowledge and skills, legitimate new degrees that then become monetized and even required in private and public sectors of economies. A process referred to as academization of occupations has far-reaching implications for understanding the transformation of capitalism, new dimensions of social inequality, and resulting stratification among occupations. Academization is also eclipsing the more limited professionalization processes in occupations. Additionally, it fuels further expansion of advanced education and contributes to a new culture of work in the 21st century. Commissioned detailed German and US case studies of the university origins and influence on workplace consequences of seven selected occupations and associated knowledge, skills, and degrees investigate the academization process. And to demonstrate how universal this could become, the cases contrast the more open and less-restrictive education and occupation system in the US with the centralized and state-controlled education system in Germany. With expected variation, both economies and their occupational systems show evidence of robust academization. Importantly too is evidence of academic transformations of understandings about approaches to job tasks and use of authoritative knowledge in occupational activities.

I historically compare changes in institutional frameworks creating academic positions linked to temporary employment by analyzing university employment statistics in Chile, Colombia, Germany, and the USA. I find that temporary academic positions were institutionalized through the creation of previously inexistent academic categories called a contrata in Chile, de cátedra in Colombia, “junior professor” without tenure in Germany and “postdoc” in the USA; used in higher education and employment laws since 1989, 1992, 2002, and 1974, respectively. Under institutional frameworks demanding the maximization of students and research, universities have increasingly contracted academics through temporary contracts under rationales that differ between regions. In Colombia and Chile, public university leaders and owners of private universities contract such teaching positions to expand student numbers through lowering costs. In Germany and the USA, employment insecurity is mostly driven by temporary scientific positions under a main rationale of scientific expansion. The share of temporary positions has increased exponentially in Colombia and Germany in recent decades, whereas in the USA there has only been an increase since 2012. Moreover, in Chile, the share of permanent positions has decreased since 2012. The common trend is one of isomorphism of vertical academic structures sharing a pyramidal form, with a wide base of academics working under conditions of contractual insecurity. Such trends follow a rationale for maximization of student numbers as well as administration, and scientific production that is in tension with prioritizing wellbeing and improvement of academics’ working conditions. Yet, in these environments, the institution of tenure in the USA and recent Chilean regulations on accreditation represent mechanisms counteracting precarious employment.

The tourism industry is seeing unprecedented growth due to the convergence of the internet and growing travel trends. E-tourism digitises the tourism business, including processes, value chains, infrastructure, services and auxiliary industries, to maximise efficiency and effectiveness. It is in response to the globalisation of the tourism sector, which has spurred the introduction of information and communications technologies (ICTs) during the past four decades. ICT can boost travellers' satisfaction by providing pre-trip information about tourism attractions and allowing them to contact vendors directly, obtain accurate information and get the lowest price.

ICT has made the global tourism sector more competitive by providing pre-trip information about tourism attractions, allowing tourists to contact vendors directly, obtain accurate information and get the lowest price. Search engines, transport capacity and network speeds have increased the number of international travellers who use technology to organise and document their trips. E-tourism reduces seasonality, improves consumer communication and boosts reservations and sales. ICT also affects customer behaviour management and future marketing models and supports tourism industry globalisation by providing practical tools to tourism agents to develop and disseminate their offers globally. Strategic behaviours significantly impact tourism, as eliminating intermediaries shortens the distance between client and provider. ICT is a new way to boost tourism demand, which attracts more tourists and generates more revenue while improving the sector.

Introduction: Cost competitiveness, customer focus, and sustainability compliance are essential for new-age firms to survive and succeed in the VUCA market environment. This study examines how automobile corporations have improved cost competitiveness, productivity, and product quality.

Purpose: This study examines the importance of cost competitiveness, customer focus, and sustainability compliance for the long-term survival of organisations in VUCA markets, looking at the practical efforts made by automobile corporations to enhance cost competitiveness, productivity, and quality.

Methodology: The study utilises a comprehensive analysis of the strategies and initiatives implemented by the selected automobile companies. It involves a review of relevant literature, case studies, financial data analysis, and interviews with key industry experts, providing a holistic understanding of the actions taken by these organisations to achieve their goals.

Findings: The study reveals that cost competitiveness, customer focus, and sustainability compliance are critical factors for the long-term survival and success of organisations in the automotive industry. The analysed automobile companies have undertaken practical efforts to improve cost competitiveness, enhance productivity, and ensure high-quality products, enabling them to navigate the challenges and maintain a competitive edge.

Significance: The findings of this study contribute to a deeper understanding of the importance of cost competitiveness, customer focus, and sustainability compliance in the automotive industry. It highlights the need for organisations to constantly monitor both qualitative and quantitative profit to avoid complacency and ensure long-term efficiency. The study’s insights are relevant to businesses operating in other sectors, as they face similar challenges in the VUCA market environment.