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The purpose of this study is to investigate the link between history (heritage) and tourism marketing (destination branding). More specifically, the paper focusses on how heritage is used by private- and public-sector tourism organisations of post-colonial, post-conflict and post-disaster (PCCD) destinations in their branding strategy. In particular, the paper investigates how these organisations use heritage in their branding and logo design.

Within the paradigm of theory building and exploratory approach, this conceptual study is based on a narrative literature review and analysis of research and secondary data on Haiti. The study uses visual research methods to examine and reveal the basis and composition of logos of both private- and public-sector organisations in Haiti.

The findings of this paper suggest that capturing the essence of the destination is critical for any visual identification (i.e. logos), and that the visual identification can either adjust representation of past events to the time being (heritage) or move away from the past with clear expectations for the future. Such findings are reflected within the new marketing strategies adopted by the Haitian destination marketing organisation (DMO) and a private resort that we used as examples. Both moved from an idiosyncratic identity-based logo to a universal “sea-and-sun” stereotyped one that goes against heritage for which authenticity is the most important criterion.

The findings of this research may help destination managers in general, and DMOs in PCCD destinations in particular, to design logos aligned with their marketing and branding strategies. The findings of the paper may also assist industry experts in designing logos that communicate with potential tourists, by leveraging heritage to influence their emotion and decision making.

This paper represents one of the first papers in tourism research that examines branding strategies of both public and private sectors in the context of Haiti. The research contributes to the body of knowledge on heritage and destination marketing by exploring the role of heritage in the Caribbean area’s branding and marketing strategies.

This chapter proposes an insight of the involvement of children in sustainability activities at the African Network for Policy Research and Advocacy for Sustainability (ANPRAS), a non-governmental organisation (NGO) established in Mauritius and affiliated with the African Union. The objective is to demonstrate that children, as ambassadors, and through civic actions, can assume leading positions to remind communities of their responsibilities towards the achievement of sustainability goals. The methodology is based on desk-based research, archived documents at ANPRAS office and information from its website. Data were analysed using the interpretivist paradigms. The overall findings show that children, as sustainability ambassadors, can act as potential agents of change, as they play pivotal roles in decision-making of their parents. Engaging children in sustainability actions transforms children into sustainability advocates and in return, they are empowered to rope in their parents, relatives, friends and peers. Children as sustainability transformers have successfully demonstrated how they aligned themselves with the philosophy of ANPRAS: a small step in sustainability, a significant step in philanthropy. Unlike a number of studies which portray children as undermined members of the community, this chapter by shows that children in Mauritius occupy a leading position in civic actions and sustainability activities organised by ANPRAS provide anecdotal evidence on children's pivotal roles in attaining sustainability goals. The chapter advocates for children empowerment which should be a core component of sustainability initiatives, as children's support is required to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). As a result, recommendations from this chapter give sufficient substance to explain that children are neither passive nor powerless. The conclusion of this chapter serves as inspiration to other NGOs and organisations seeking to engage children, as ambassador in sustainability initiatives.

As the world continues to navigate between the “new normal” and the “next normal” of an ongoing pandemic, recovery plans of several tourism destinations are still not bringing desired results. The COVID-19 pandemic has exposed long standing structural weaknesses and gaps in tourism policies worldwide. The formulation of tourism policies based on the pandemic context is therefore a need of the hour. However, due to lock-down and physical distancing measures, data collection for the development of research-based tourism policies has not been possible. In this case, evidence-based policies stand as a workable option. Drawing from the book Tourism Destination Management in a Post-Pandemic Context, this policy document proposes a synthesis of tourism policies embraced by destinations struggling in the pandemic context. Lessons show that rebuilding tourism requires policies that address structural weaknesses, advance key priorities, foster global solidarity and take advantage of new opportunities. This piece of study comes to the conclusion that tourism policies post pandemic need to be based on seven pillars, namely mitigation, vaccination, collaboration, information, promotion, education and investigation.

Purpose: The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in vital implications for tourism education and curricula, and the education effectiveness in times of crisis ought to be resilient in the light of its preparedness, response and recovery policies and research. Purpose of the study is to analyse the academic practices in tourism education with a specific focus for incorporating the resilient adaptation strategies.

Design/Methodology/Approach: The study is conducted using content analysis of published data along with interviews with heads of the tourism educational institutions.

Findings: Very few universities are offering courses on resilience and disaster management as part of the curriculum in the tourism study programmes.

Originality/Value: The chapter provides strategies on the effective integration of resilient tourism policy and practices as mitigation measures into the tourism education system with a special emphasis on disaster prevention, mitigation and vulnerability reduction at the destinations in the post-COVID-19 scenario.

This chapter seeks to examine the roles of child rights in fostering inclusive sustainable tourism development in Kenyan context. Specifically, it examines the importance of protective, participatory and provision rights of children in tourism sector in African context. The chapter adopts an interdisciplinary content analysis approach to determine themes and relationships between child rights and inclusive sustainable tourism development studies. Theoretical discussion on the contested ideologies on child rights brings out the varied multi-disciplinary perspectives on child rights that continue to create differences in views about the roles of children in tourism especially in African context. The chapter findings show that child right approach is required in the development of a more integrated, inclusive and sustainable tourism sector. Further, a framework for child centered integrated rights approach to Sustainable Tourism is proposed and the study examines the parameters toward advancing the child rights approach. In order to address the vulnerabilities, negative impacts and marginalization of children in tourism development and planning discourse in African context, there is need to design and build safeguards that reduce the exposure of children in African context by focusing on children-centric tourism development strategies and policies for the sector.

The purpose of this paper is to summarise the main outcomes of the collection of studies in this theme issue and to offer some key reflections based on the experiences of the theme editors and contributors.

This study 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 contributors and material and the editorial process.

This paper provides insights and practical suggestions in response to the theme issue question from different academic and professional backgrounds, namely, the hotel industry, the events industry, the technology sector, non-governmental organisations, government sectors, and the local community.

The theme issue outcomes provide lines of enquiry for others to explore and reinforce the value of worldwide hospitality and tourism theme’s approach to collaborative working and writing.

The collaborative study reported in this theme issue offers a unified but contrarian response to the theme’s strategic question. Taken together, the papers provide a range of options for destination marketing organisations in response to the issues highlighted.