BIMP-EAGA Journal for Sustainable Tourism Development https://jurcon.ums.edu.my/ojums/index.php/j-sustainable-tourism <p style="float: left;"><a href="https://jurcon.ums.edu.my/ojums/index.php/j-sustainable-tourism"><img src="https://jurcon.ums.edu.my/ojums/public/site/images/811227125879/tourism1-2.jpg" alt="" width="150" height="218" hspace="10" /></a></p> <p align="justify">The journal main goal is to provide a platform for knowledge dissemination on sustainable tourism development issues in the BIMP-EAGA (Brunei-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area) region. It provides a forum for researchers in various areas and fields of expertise to publish their research findings, research report, reviews and any outcome related to the BIMP-EAGA regions from academic discourse avenues such as conferences, seminars and workshops especially those organised by Borneo Tourism Research Centre (BTRC), Faculty of Business, Economics &amp; Accountancy (FBEA), &amp; Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS). The journal aims to be the leading data bank and point of reference that enrich the publications for the BIMP-EAGA region and published by Borneo Tourism Research Centre (BTRC), Faculty of Business, Economics &amp; Accountancy (FBEA), &amp; Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS).....</p> <p align="justify">Paper accepted in this journal will be publish <strong>online first</strong> in the current issue.</p> <p>The journal is currently indexed in <a style="font-size: medium;" href="http://www.ciret-tourism.com/index/listes_revues.html" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">CIRET</a><span style="font-size: medium;">, </span><a style="font-size: medium;" href="http://www.myjurnal.my/public/browse-journal-view.php?id=514" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">MyJurnal</a><span style="font-size: medium;">, </span><a style="font-size: medium;" href="http://www.ijournals.my/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">i-Journals</a><span style="font-size: medium;"> and </span><a style="font-size: medium;" href="http://www.ifocus.my/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">i-Focus</a><span style="font-size: medium;">.</span></p> <div><span style="font-size: small;">ISSN No: 2232-1063 Barcode No: 9772232106003</span></div> en-US <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;">All submissions must be original and have not been previously accepted for publication in or be under review at another journal. Contributors infringing any existing copyright law will indemnify the publisher. For ease of dissemination and to ensure proper policing of use, all accepted manuscripts and contributions become the legal copyright of the publisher unless otherwise agreed.</span></p> hbagul@ums.edu.my (Awangku Hassanal Bahar Pengiran Bagul) penerbit@ums.edu.my (Penerbit UMS) Wed, 01 Jan 2025 00:52:38 +0800 OJS 3.3.0.8 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss 60 UNVEILING THE DYNAMICS OF WORD-OF-MOUTH PROPAGATION EXAMINING MEMORABLE EXPERIENCES, DESTINATION IMAGE, SOCIAL MEDIA INTERACTIONS AND SATISFACTION. https://jurcon.ums.edu.my/ojums/index.php/j-sustainable-tourism/article/view/5819 <p>This study explores the tourist experiences within Kinabalu Park, Sabah, with a particular focus on Word-of-Mouth Intentions (WOM). By examining various dimensions of tourist memorable experiences, encompassing destination image, social media interactions, and satisfaction, it unravels the intricate dynamics that underpin WOM. Employing Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM), the study elucidates the substantial influence of social media on destination image and WOM intentions. Furthermore, it identifies social media interactions as a moderator in the relationship between destination image and WOM, shedding light on the nuanced communication dynamics prevalent in the tourism landscape. This underscores the evolving role of social media in tourism communication, exerting a significant influence on perceptions and communication patterns among tourists. The findings of this study carry implications for both practical applications in tourism marketing and academic research. For practitioners, the insights gleaned from this research offer valuable guidance in leveraging social media platforms to cultivate positive destination images and foster word-of-mouth communication. By recognising the pivotal role of social media in shaping tourists' perceptions and communication behaviours, tourism marketers can develop targeted strategies to enhance destination image and stimulate positive word-of-mouth promotion. Moreover, the study provides empirical evidence supporting the effectiveness of social media interventions in influencing tourist behaviour, thus informing strategic decision-making processes within the tourism industry. From an academic perspective, this study contributes to the existing body of knowledge by providing empirical insights into the complex interplay between social media, destination image, and word-of-mouth intentions in the tourism context. By employing advanced statistical techniques such as PLS-SEM, the study offers a rigorous analysis of the underlying relationships, thereby enriching our understanding of tourist behaviour and communication dynamics within tourism destinations. Furthermore, the study contributes to advancing theoretical knowledge in the field of tourism communication, underscoring the evolving role of social media in shaping tourist behaviour and communication patterns.</p> Tressy Belly, Quratul Ain Syahirah Awang Ali, Spencer Hedley Mogindol, Mohd Hafiz Hanafiah Copyright (c) 2025 BIMP-EAGA Journal for Sustainable Tourism Development https://jurcon.ums.edu.my/ojums/index.php/j-sustainable-tourism/article/view/5819 Mon, 30 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +0800 THE PERCEPTIONS OF THE DUSUN TATANA COMMUNITY REGARDING THE DEVELOPMENT OF CULTURAL TOURISM IN KUALA PENYU, SABAH https://jurcon.ums.edu.my/ojums/index.php/j-sustainable-tourism/article/view/5820 <p>This study investigates into the perceptions of the Dusun Tatana community regarding the development of cultural tourism in Kuala Penyu, Sabah, with a primary objective of understanding the intricate dynamics between community attachment, involvement, and the evolution of cultural tourism. In an exploration involving 230 respondents, this research utilizes Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLSSEM) as the methodology to unravel the nuanced relationships within the context of this unique community. The findings of the study bring to light the significant influence of both community attachment and involvement on the development of cultural tourism in Kuala Penyu. As residents are the primary stakeholders impacted by tourism activities, their perceptions and participation play a pivotal role in shaping the trajectory of cultural tourism in the region. The study uncovers that a strong sense of community attachment, where residents emotionally connect with their surroundings and share a common journey of life, contributes positively to the development of cultural tourism. Furthermore, the study emphasizes the crucial role of community involvement in fostering successful cultural tourism. Meaningful representation, decision-making, and collaboration within the community are identified as essential components for sustainable growth and development. The results underscore that community-led initiatives, such as guided tours, cultural seminars, and traditional festivities, not only enhance visitor experiences but also contribute significantly to the immersive and authentic cultural development of the destination. This research holds practical implications for policymakers, tourism developers, and community leaders involved in cultural tourism initiatives. Understanding the perceptions of the Dusun Tatana community provides valuable insights for the strategic planning and implementation of cultural tourism projects in Kuala Penyu. Additionally, academically, this study contributes to the existing literature by shedding light on the intricate relationships between community dynamics and the development of cultural tourism. It adds depth to the understanding of the sociocultural impacts within the specific context of the Dusun Tatana community, offering a nuanced perspective for future research in the broader field of cultural tourism development.</p> Tressy Belly, Quratul Ain Syahirah Awang Ali, Spencer Hedley Mogindol, Mohd Hafiz Hanafiah, Nabilah Mohammad Copyright (c) 2025 BIMP-EAGA Journal for Sustainable Tourism Development https://jurcon.ums.edu.my/ojums/index.php/j-sustainable-tourism/article/view/5820 Mon, 30 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +0800 CONSTRAINT NEGOTIATION MODEL FOR INVESTIGATING THE TRAVEL PREFERENCES IN POST-COVID19: A GSEM-BASED ANALYSIS https://jurcon.ums.edu.my/ojums/index.php/j-sustainable-tourism/article/view/5821 <p>The study examines how vaccine trust affects the COVID-19 travel constraints (CTC) and changes travel confidence post-vaccination (PVTC) and travel preferences (TP). The effect of a mediator travel confidence and a moderator travel behaviour had on the correlation between CTC and TP were identified. Due to the binary trust measurement, a generalised structural equation model (GSEM) was used to analyse the complex correlations between the constructs while a structural equation model (SEM) was used for result verification. The GSEM was found to perform significantly better than the SEM. The main constraints were the vaccination status of tourism workers at the travel destination and finances. Therefore, transparency in terms of the vaccine status of tourism workers could increase PVTC while changes in TP could negotiate the financial restraints. This study provides vital theoretical</p> Kai Xin Tay, Jennifer, Kim Lian Chan Copyright (c) 2025 BIMP-EAGA Journal for Sustainable Tourism Development https://jurcon.ums.edu.my/ojums/index.php/j-sustainable-tourism/article/view/5821 Mon, 30 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +0800 ENHANCEMENT OF AWARENESS LEVEL ON SDGS THROUGH AN INTERNATIONAL STUDENT EXCHANGE PROGRAM https://jurcon.ums.edu.my/ojums/index.php/j-sustainable-tourism/article/view/5822 <p>The 2030 Agenda emphasizes the significance of contribution by all actors including university students, as agent of changes in undertaking urgent actions. However, awareness on the concept of SDGs among university students is considerably at an average level. An alternative way to tackle this is by embedding the goals into a 2-week student exchange program, i.e., UTeM Winter School 2024 (UWINS 2024), which outlines various activities mapped to five different SDGs. SDG 2 and SDG 4 were mapped to an educational farm tour and an educational CSR program with under-enrolled primary school students, respectively. Meanwhile, both SDG 13 and SDG 14 were mapped to a beach clean-up program that also featured a demonstration of water quality monitoring robot. Finally, participation among 17 international and 5 local students directly reflects SDG 17. The level of awareness on these SDGs with respect to their corresponding activities was assessed through a set of five-point Likert scale questionnaire among all participants. 81.8% of the respondents agree that the farm tour has improved their awareness level on the importance of food security (SDG 2). 95.4% of the respondents agree that the school-based CSR program has raised their awareness level on the importance of ensuring quality education (SDG 4). 91% of the respondents agree that the beach clean-up program, together with water monitoring robot demonstration, has levelled up their awareness on the urgency of combating climate change (SDG 13). Through the same program, all respondents totally agree that their awareness level on the importance of conserving marine life (SDG 14) has been enhanced too. Finally, all respondents also totally agree that UWINS 2024 has improved their awareness level on the importance of having international partnership / networks (SDG 17).</p> Mohd Rusdy Yaacob, Sazuan Nazrah Mohd Azam, Aimie Nazmin Azmi, Nurul Ain Mohd Said, Aine Izzati Tarmizi, Norafizah Abas, Musa Yusup Lada, Mohamad Riduwan Md Nawawi, Hidayat Zainuddin Copyright (c) 2025 BIMP-EAGA Journal for Sustainable Tourism Development https://jurcon.ums.edu.my/ojums/index.php/j-sustainable-tourism/article/view/5822 Mon, 30 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +0800 THE GO REASONS TO TRAVEL DURING CRISIS https://jurcon.ums.edu.my/ojums/index.php/j-sustainable-tourism/article/view/5823 <p>This research aims to identify the unique reasons for individuals to travel during the restriction period. This study used a qualitative approach through in-depth interviews with eleven informants who are millennials who were selected to participate in the research. The qualitative data from the in-depth interviews were analyse using theme code or ‘coding’. The data were separated into several key themes and converted into qualitative study results. Qualitative data were analyzed using content analysis techniques. The participants in this research revealed their purpose do a travelling during MCO. From the eleventh respondents, seven thematic analyses have been found. Themes such as manageable risk, spouse obligation, obsession, escapism, work-related, place attachment and promotion are among the themes that were found in understanding the reasons for travelling during MCO. Although the informants are aware of the risks involved for travelling during MCO due to Covid-19 outbreak, people cannot escape from choosing to travel and managing the risk of being infected. The study concludes with some implications for tourists, and government that could be useful in protecting the tourist.</p> Aifa Rozaini Mohd Radzol, Ida Fatihah Che Shalifullizam, Suchi Hassan, Nik Zirwatul Fatihah Ismail Copyright (c) 2025 BIMP-EAGA Journal for Sustainable Tourism Development https://jurcon.ums.edu.my/ojums/index.php/j-sustainable-tourism/article/view/5823 Mon, 30 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +0800 PROFESSIONAL INDUSTRY EXPERIENCES AND COMPETENCIES OF HOSPITALITY AND TOURISM EDUCATORS: BASIS FOR A PROPOSED WORK IMMERSION PROGRAM https://jurcon.ums.edu.my/ojums/index.php/j-sustainable-tourism/article/view/5926 <p>This study evaluated the competencies of faculty members in Hospitality and Tourism Management (HTM) across the Food and Beverage (F&amp;B), Lodging, Recreation, and Travel and Tourism sectors. Data from 23 respondents were collected using a structured questionnaire based on a four-point Likert scale. Results showed that the majority of faculty members held Master's degrees (52.17%) and had industry experience (52.17%). Faculty were found to be highly competent across all sectors, with F&amp;B competency in menu design and operations rated the highest (3.71), followed by lodging recruitment and property support (3.69), program monitoring in Recreation (3.61), and budget management in Travel and Tourism (3.62). Overall, HTM educators demonstrated strong capabilities in delivering industry-relevant knowledge, ensuring students are prepared for the evolving hospitality and tourism industries.</p> Marcelo P. Villaluna Jr. Copyright (c) 2024 BIMP-EAGA Journal for Sustainable Tourism Development https://jurcon.ums.edu.my/ojums/index.php/j-sustainable-tourism/article/view/5926 Mon, 30 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +0800 FOOD AND BEVERAGE SERVICES OF THE SELECTED LOCAL RESTAURANTS IN THE PROVINCE OF PANGASINAN, PHILIPPINES: BASIS FOR A PROPOSED SERVICE RECOVERY APPROACH https://jurcon.ums.edu.my/ojums/index.php/j-sustainable-tourism/article/view/5927 <p>Food and Beverage Sector is one of the fastest growing sectors under the umbrella of the hospitality industry. This particular sector offers food and beverage as well as quality service to the customers to meet their expectations and satisfaction. Moreover, this sector includes many forms of service. The quality of products offered and the level of intricacy service rendered by the employees will depend on the price you will pay for it. Since this is one of the sectors that have a broad scope in the market under the hospitality industry there were still cases where in customers raised certain concerns or in a worst case a complaint pertinent to the Products and Service rendered by the Restaurants. Therefore, it is very important to revisit the food and beverage services of the local restaurants in order to propose Service Recovery Approach that will revitalize their operations. The researcher used Quantitative Research Design using Descriptive and Correlational Design to elicit pertinent information about the Food and Beverage Management of the Local Restaurants in the Province of Pangasinan. The respondents of this study are the Managers, Supervisors and Staff of the Local Restaurants in the Province of Pangasinan, Philippines. Moreover, the researcher used survey-questionnaire as the research instrument of this study to elicit pertinent information from the target participants of the study. Prior the distribution of the Research Instrument, the researcher conducted content validation and reliability test of the research instrument to ensure that the content of the instrument is aligned with the research variables and meet the internal consistency. The researcher conducted and analyzed the information obtained from the respondents of this study. A weighted mean, frequency distribution, rankings, percentage, and other statistical descriptive and inferential metrics will be used from the measured data. It confirmed that the Food and Beverage Services of the Local Restaurants were Practiced but there are still complaints or concerns encountered during their operations.</p> Marcelo P. Villaluna Jr. Copyright (c) 2024 BIMP-EAGA Journal for Sustainable Tourism Development https://jurcon.ums.edu.my/ojums/index.php/j-sustainable-tourism/article/view/5927 Mon, 30 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +0800 ASSESSING THE EFFECTIVENESS AND IMPACT OF THE ILoveEarth INITIATIVE: A COMPREHENSIVE ANALYSIS OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT https://jurcon.ums.edu.my/ojums/index.php/j-sustainable-tourism/article/view/5928 <p>I Love Earth is a sustainable development Initiative that has emerged as a prominent program. Established by Travellers International Inc., who owns and operates Newport World Resorts, a leading integrated resort company where the following international hotel brands are located. I Love Earth is an environmental initiative creating a policy on proper sourcing of food items, recycling, and upcycling. A mixed-method approach including a qualitative interviews, survey, and data analysis to support the effectiveness and impact of ILE in promoting sustainable behaviors, reaching the stakeholders and their engagement levels, and its contribution to sustainable development goals. Findings will suggest a positive outcome through awareness, behavior change, and community engagement. Based on the findings and recommendation, is to continue to enhance the initiative and its impact ensuring a long-term commitment in sustainability. For greater impact, Newport World Resorts I Love Earth integrates every aspect of its accommodation, dining, entertainment, retail, and leisure facilities. The HEART framework, with the following meaning for Healthy, Responsible and Sustainable Sourcing – choosing local partners to supports businesses practicing environmental sustainability; Environmental Impact – for energy, water food, air and waste, employing administration structures and measures planned to minimize the use of harmful materials, to lessen the production of waste and to enable recycling and resume of resources; Active Engagement, Benchmarking, Certification – recurrently pursue to expand NWR environmental performance by creating objectives and goals, monitoring the development, recognizing risks and opportunities and measuring the competitiveness through benchmarking and certification; Reform, Reduce, Recycle, Repurpose – NWR starts reforming the mindset to provide a spherical economy, and Transform by means of Teaching, Training, Technology – promoting participation and interconnect NWRs commitment by promoting sustainability strategy and inspiring to implement effective sustainability management practices, soliciting inputs from its employees, suppliers, customers, and board members in meeting sustainability goals. It serves as the foundation for ILE’s commitment. The council, comprised of senior executives and subject matter experts from Newport World Resorts and its hotels sets high standards for sustainability and keeps a close eye on results as it believes that “what gets measured gets done” (Newport World Resorts, 2023). Newport World Resorts has five international hotels, and these are the following: Hotel Okura, Sheraton Manila Hotel, Holiday Inn Express Manila, and Mariott Hotel Manila which all have been committed to sustainability. The alliance of the individual initiatives of the hotels created an environmental impact (Suarez, 2022).</p> Kathleen G. Apilado, Kingson U. Sian Copyright (c) 2024 BIMP-EAGA Journal for Sustainable Tourism Development https://jurcon.ums.edu.my/ojums/index.php/j-sustainable-tourism/article/view/5928 Mon, 30 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +0800 TOURISM ESTABLISHMENTS’ RESILIENCY IN INTRAMUROS, MANILA: INPUTS FOR TOURISM RECOVERY PLAN https://jurcon.ums.edu.my/ojums/index.php/j-sustainable-tourism/article/view/5929 <p>This study aimed to assess the tourism-related establishments’ resiliency in Intramuros, Manila in the year 2021-2022 as the basis of inputs in the tourism recovery plan. Further, it examined the tourism-related establishments service despite the pandemic, their coping mechanisms, and the challenges they faced based on their recovery plan. Using the mixed-method research design and purposive sampling method, a total of 70 managers and staff respondents completed the research-made survey questionnaire for the quantitative data collection. Consequently, a focus group discussion was conducted with the three participants of Intramuros Administration, and a one-on-one interview for the local government of Intramuros with a total of four participants was collected for the qualitative data. Data are analyzed simultaneously using a descriptive analysis for the quantitative data and a thematic analysis for the qualitative data, respectively. Results show that the managers and staff respondents continue to be in service despite the pandemic following the implemented health protocols imposed by the IATF and Intramuros Administration. Moreover, the high level of agreement on the coping mechanisms in terms of government response, technology and innovations, local belongingness and community, and local confidence shows the effectiveness of the programs they incorporated to readjust their establishments. Further, despite the coping mechanisms regulated in these establishments, they faced challenges in their recovery plans. With the results of the study, it is recommended that these tourism-related establishments should continue and maintain their good performance despite the pandemic. In addition, future researchers may adopt the same study and consider respondents from Marikina, Pasig, Antipolo, and Quezon City and add more respondents from Intramuros Manila after three years to validate the efficiency of the Proposed Action Plan.</p> Hegesipo H. Abad Jr.,, Evelyn O. Velasco Copyright (c) 2024 BIMP-EAGA Journal for Sustainable Tourism Development https://jurcon.ums.edu.my/ojums/index.php/j-sustainable-tourism/article/view/5929 Mon, 30 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +0800 RISK MANAGEMENT PRACTICES OF CASUAL DINING RESTAURANTS IN THE NATIONAL CAPITAL REGION (NCR): BASIS FOR COMPLIANCE TRAINING PROGRAM TOWARDS DEPARTMENT OF TOURISM (DOT) ACCREDITATION https://jurcon.ums.edu.my/ojums/index.php/j-sustainable-tourism/article/view/5930 <p>This study assessed the risk management practices of casual dining restaurants in the National Capital Region (NCR), with the goal of developing a compliance training program for Department of Tourism (DOT) accreditation. Statistical methods including frequency, percentage distribution and weighted mean. Most respondents were food handlers with 1-5 years of experience, and had limited or no formal education in food safety and risk management. The majority of restaurants were located in Manila, operated for less than a year, and had fewer than 10 employees. None were DOT accredited. While food safety practices were generally compliant in areas like setup, customers, and suppliers, other aspects such as food service, employee hygiene, and safety measures were often compliant. In terms of risk management, restaurants were compliant in integration, design, implementation, evaluation, and improvement. Problems related to food safety and risk management were moderately encountered. The study recommends that all staff receive training on risk management, food safety practices, and compliance to ensure quality service and adherence to guidelines, with the management adopting the proposed training program.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> Jaque H. Diamante Copyright (c) 2024 BIMP-EAGA Journal for Sustainable Tourism Development https://jurcon.ums.edu.my/ojums/index.php/j-sustainable-tourism/article/view/5930 Mon, 30 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +0800 KNOWLEDGE EXPECTATIONS FOR LOCAL INFORMATIONS: ENHANCING THE ROLE OF DIVE GUIDES IN SUSTAINABLE SCUBA DIVING BUSINESSES https://jurcon.ums.edu.my/ojums/index.php/j-sustainable-tourism/article/view/5931 <p>Scuba diving has been identified as a popular recreational activity that has attracted a growing number of participants each year. The rise in popularity has led to an increasing demand for qualified and competent dive guides. Dive guides are responsible for ensuring the safety and satisfaction of divers, which ultimately affects the sustainability of the scuba diving industry. As such, the role of dive guides has become increasingly important in the scuba diving industry. The study aimed to explore divers' expectations of dive guides’ knowledge. This study applies a qualitative approach, an interview was set up to gather in-depth knowledge from divers who have had diving packages at local and international destinations. The study found that divers have specific expectations from their dive guides, particularly in terms of non-diving activities such as knowledge of local attractions, activities, accessibility, amenities, accommodations, and safety. Theoretical implications include advancing our understanding of the holistic role of dive guides in the customer experience and industry sustainability. The managerial implications of the study suggest that dive operators and government agencies should invest in training programs and certification courses to enhance the competency skills of scuba dive guides which will lead to the industry's sustainability. It is also important for dive operators to recognize the importance of non-diving activities and ensure that their dive guides are equipped with the necessary knowledge to provide recommendations and information to divers.</p> Mohd Khairol Nazraie, Kalsitinoor Set, N Alia Fahada W Ab Rahman, Khatijah Omar, Yahaya Ibrahim Copyright (c) 2024 BIMP-EAGA Journal for Sustainable Tourism Development https://jurcon.ums.edu.my/ojums/index.php/j-sustainable-tourism/article/view/5931 Mon, 30 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +0800