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1 – 10 of 14Vikneswaran Nair, Badaruddin Mohamed, Toney K. Thomas and Richard Teare
This paper profiles the WHATT theme issue “How can the tourism industry respond to the global challenges arising from climate change and environmental degradation?” by drawing on…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper profiles the WHATT theme issue “How can the tourism industry respond to the global challenges arising from climate change and environmental degradation?” by drawing on reflections from the theme editors and theme issue outcomes, including case study examples from Malaysia, New Zealand and Canada.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper uses structured questions to enable the theme editors to reflect on the rationale for the theme issue question, the starting point, the selection of the writing team, the material and the editorial process.
Findings
This paper uses case studies to illustrate how the tourism industry is responding to climate change issues. Additionally, team members of the theme issue from Australia, India, Germany, Malaysia and Canada review some of the latest thinking on the relationships between tourism and climate change.
Practical implications
This paper outlines challenges and new approaches to the management of climate change in tourism.
Originality/value
Explores the extent to which innovative approaches, discussed in this theme issue, could be replicated and applied in countries that have yet to take action on tourism-related climate change.
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Diana Mohamad, Azizi Bahauddin and Badaruddin Mohamed
The purpose of this paper is to look at the physical tourism impacts experienced by the communities of Redang Island and Perhentian Island – two tourist islands located close to…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to look at the physical tourism impacts experienced by the communities of Redang Island and Perhentian Island – two tourist islands located close to the coast of Peninsular Malaysia. The physical tourism impacts are examined via environmental and infrastructure related attributes (19 attributes), which are further categorized into sustainability, environment, greenhouse effects, public and tourist facilities maintenance, sewage system management, rural areas and deforestation. All of these indicators indirectly measure the impact of climate change in these island destinations.
Design/methodology/approach
The paper uses a questionnaire survey with an instrument based on prior work by Ap and Cromptom (1998) with regard to air pollution, deforestation and land fertility; Tetlow and Hanusch (2012) in relation to biodiversity; Sunlu (2003) in line with greenhouse effects, water quality, natural landscape and solid waste; and Cessford and Dingwall (1999), corresponding to physical impacts.
Findings
Results for Perhentian Island indicate serious physical impacts resulting from tourism development, compared with less serious impacts on Redang Island. Both islands were observed to experience tourism development progress that is well-blended with their natural environment, and the level of physical impact dependency on tourism development can be assessed using the environmental and infrastructure variables.
Research limitations/implications
While the paper reports on findings from both Perhentian and Redang Islands, results from this paper could well represent other communities in many other Malaysian island locations (or perhaps the wider region), facing a similar phenomenon.
Originality/value
The paper contributes to an understanding of how to investigate each variable independently, as each island is undergoing a different lifecycle phase, regardless of the fact that some islands may be mirroring each other. In addition, the paper envisages the importance of integrating social exchange theory and integrated threat theory, when it comes to evaluating how people judge the consequences of their actions.
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Vikneswaran Nair, Badaruddin Mohamed and Toney K. Thomas
The aim of this paper is to critically review the contribution made by this theme issue in responding to the strategic question: “How can the tourism industry respond to the…
Abstract
Purpose
The aim of this paper is to critically review the contribution made by this theme issue in responding to the strategic question: “How can the tourism industry respond to the global challenges arising from climate change and environmental degradation?”
Design/methodology/approach
A critical content analysis of the papers selected for the theme issue was undertaken to learn from the best practices globally. This enabled the theme editors to reflect on the rationale for the theme issue question, the starting-point and the editorial process.
Findings
This summary paper highlights the most significant outcomes from the theme issue in terms of the contributions to knowledge and/or professional practice. It also summarizes the implications for management action and applied research arising from the outcomes and best practices based on case studies in Malaysia, Canada and New Zealand. As the main objective of the theme issue was to obtain a general overview of the relationship between tourism and climate change, five general review papers were included to strengthen the research framework.
Research limitations/implications
This paper outlines the challenges and new approaches in dealing with the issue of climate change. Given the economic, social and environmental significance of tourism, coverage of the climate change issue as it relates to tourism is, yet, limited. Given this scenario, the theme issue has contributed to the body of knowledge in this important field.
Originality/value
This paper explores the extent to which the cases presented and the review of various climate change concepts can provide guidance. The approaches and issues discussed in this theme issue could be replicated and applied in countries that are beginning to focus on climate change issues.
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Nurbaidura Salim, Azizi Bahauddin and Badaruddin Mohamed
This study aims to examine the relationship between recreation specialization and diver's underwater behavior in Perhentian Island.
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to examine the relationship between recreation specialization and diver's underwater behavior in Perhentian Island.
Design/methodology/approach
Data were collected using a pilot survey on 50 divers in Perhentian Island. In‐depth interviews with several dive operators were also conducted to support the findings.
Findings
Specialized divers tend to recognize unacceptable behavior rather than less specialized divers. Skilled specialized divers tend not to touch the reefs and not to collect dead pieces of the corals compared to less skilled divers.
Practical implications
Specialization and skills of divers can be used as an input to study diver underwater behavior while simultaneously providing insights on coral preservation.
Originality/value
It is important to manage diver behavior as there are now several diving operators who offer unlimited diving packages catering to day and night diving from shore. Divers can minimize their impacts by practicing responsible diving behavior. Measures emanating from this study on diver underwater behavior may be implemented to encourage responsible scuba diving activity among divers and ensure longevity of the coral reefs.
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Shida Irwana Omar, Abdul Ghapar Othman and Badaruddin Mohamed
The purpose of this paper is to examine the tourism life cycle of Langkawi Island, Malaysia. The paper seeks to investigate the stages of life cycle that the island has passed…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to examine the tourism life cycle of Langkawi Island, Malaysia. The paper seeks to investigate the stages of life cycle that the island has passed through and at what stage the island is in today.
Design/methodology/approach
The paper adopts Butler’s Tourism Area Life Cycle model as the research framework to describe the characteristics of each stage of the island’s tourism life cycle and determine the time scale of the stages. The evidence presented in the stages is derived from secondary sources dating from 1642 to present.
Findings
The findings indicate that the tourism life cycle in Langkawi Island has undergone four stages of development and that it is currently in the consolidation stage. Numerous characteristics suggested by Butler’s model for each stage are clearly discernible in the island’s tourism growth. The government serves as the major player and catalyst for tourism expansion in the island from one stage to the next.
Practical implications
It is hoped that the paper will contribute to a better understanding of how tourism and its market have evolved in Langkawi Island. The paper also provides insights on how future planning should be directed in more sustainable and responsible ways to position the island.
Originality/value
The paper delivers a comprehensive understanding on the tourism developmental process of Langkawi Island, besides facilitating the understanding of major fundamental causes and conditions and the accompanying transition in the stages. The paper also bridges the gaps in knowledge addressed in similar previous studies.
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Fatemeh Shafaei and Badaruddin Mohamed
The aim of this paper is to present a model in which the relationship between Muslims’ involvement with traveling to Islamic destinations and Islamic destination brand equity is…
Abstract
Purpose
The aim of this paper is to present a model in which the relationship between Muslims’ involvement with traveling to Islamic destinations and Islamic destination brand equity is investigated.
Design/methodology/approach
Based on the existing theoretical and empirical research on involvement and brand equity in tourism marketing and the literature on Muslim tourists’ needs and culture, a conceptual model for Muslim tourists is developed. The model investigates the relationships between Muslims’ psychological motivations for traveling to Islamic destinations and the evaluation of destination Islamic brand.
Findings
The study shows that the more Muslims are involved in traveling to Islamic destinations, the more likely they evaluate the key dimensions of destination Islamic brand. This is demonstrated by the influence of Muslims’ involvement on their awareness of Islamic destinations, their image of the Islamic destination attributes, the perceived quality of Islamic offerings, the perceived Islamic value and their loyalty toward Islamic destinations.
Practical implications
The study evaluates the Islamic brand equity in the context of Islamic tourism destinations and in relation to Muslims’ interests in traveling to Islamic countries. The study contributes to better understand the Islamic destinations and how to maximize the benefits of their Islamic attributes. It is suggested that Islamic attributes should be highlighted more for Muslim tourists interested in traveling to Islamic countries. Investigating the concepts analyzed will help tourism destinations to integrate marketing and promotional campaigns and build a more powerful Islamic brand in Muslim markets.
Originality/value
The relationship between involvement and brand equity has not been yet explored adequately, especially in the context of Islamic branding. This study adds to the previous studies in which the link between personal involvement with a specific destination and destination brand equity was explored. The role of Islamic values in this relationship is highlighted. The study contributes to destination branding studies by being one of the primary works, which applies the concept of brand equity to Islamic destinations.
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Souheila Kaabachi and Hassan Obeid
The purpose of this paper is to identify the main factors influencing the adoption of Islamic banking services in Tunisia.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to identify the main factors influencing the adoption of Islamic banking services in Tunisia.
Design/methodology/approach
The paper presents primary data collected by self-administered questionnaires involving a sample of 239 respondents located in Tunis city. Respondents were conventional banks’ customers who were actually non-users of Islamic banking. A descriptive statistical analysis was conducted to determine consumers’ awareness of Islamic banking.
Findings
The results revealed that Islamic bank reputation, relative advantage of Islamic banking and its compatibility with consumer religious beliefs, values, lifestyle and banking habits influence positively the intention to use it. However, it seems that perceived complexity and risk impact negatively the consumer intention to adopt this new financing system. The major finding of this study is that there is a general lack of consumer awareness about Islamic banking in Tunisia.
Practical implications
By identifying the drivers and inhibitors of Islamic banking acceptance among potential adopters, this research aim to help banks’ managers to target their actions and strategies more effectively.
Originality/value
This study is one of the earliest to be conducted on customers’ perception and willingness to adopt Islamic banking services in Tunisia. It makes a contribution to the Islamic banking adoption literature by extending and testing the diffusion innovation theory (Rogers, 2003) in the context of Tunisia.
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