Category: Tourism

Introduction

China Highlights International Travel Service Co, Ltd. is an example of a Chinese tourist and hospitality company that pursues sustainability principles and reflects the global trend. The organization provides its clients with the unique experience of individual tours to different locations in China that are not popular enough among tourists. The alternative route for domestic tourism allows China Highlights to support local small businesses and the region’s community to preserve that place’s cultural heritage and save the environment. Emphasizing the importance of sustainability in describing the services China Highlights proposes to its customers is an opportunity for developing domestic tourism. The development of this opportunity will increase the popularity of China Highlights as the company that provides services in domestic tourism. Moreover, it will improve the quality of life and business activity in small towns or villages that are attractive from the tourism point of view. Therefore, the pursuit of sustainability principles and the manifestation of the support of local business, community, and culture is a positive trend in tourism and hospitality.

Glossary

• Domestic tourism: this notion refers to traveling inside the country.
• Globalization: it a trend towards making one international community that shares one culture.
• Sustainability: it is the preservation of the environment and local culture.
• Socio-cultural development: the notion refers to preservation of the region cultural heritage and development of the local community.
• Economic development: direct and indirect investment into the local small business.
• Environmental preservation: supporting the current state of the ecology or improving it.
• QSC: national organization that controls quality of tourist services.
• Epidemiological restrictions: restrictions, imposed by the government, on people to prevent the spread of contagious disease.
• Transportation opportunities: available ways of traveling to another place.

Achieving sustainable performance is one of the most critical goals that tourism and hospitality organizations try to gain. The Chinese tourist industry is not the exception, and it shares the goals set by the global hospitality discourse. As a result, the essential component of tourist organizations is the attempts to develop tourism in a sustainable manner that supposes giving opportunities for local business, preserving the environment and the regional cultural peculiarities.

Sustainability is one of the most significant issues in the global tourist trends. It is possible to define sustainable tourism as human awareness that all actions of modern people affect the world in the future, and it is critical to avoid adverse outcomes for the surrounding reality. It is possible to distinguish three main aspects of sustainability, including socio-cultural, economic, and environmental concerns (UNWTO, 2022). Optimizing work in these three aspects allows tourist organizations to achieve long-term sustainable development. Tourists and hospitality organizations should use ecological resources wisely regarding the region’s biodiversity and natural heritage.

Moreover, it is critical to understand that the local population should benefit from the tourist industry in the long-term perspective. The improvements are connected with the region’s economic and socio-cultural development and the surrounding nature’s preservation. For example, tourism development in the region should lead to alleviating poverty, developing small business initiatives of the local population, building hosting communities and facilities for sustainable tourism that do not spoil the environment (UNWTO, 2022). The preservation of the local culture is also essential in the sustainable development of tourist business. In other words, sustainable tourism supposes mutual satisfaction of tourists and the local population.

For the current paper, China Highlights International Travel Service Company was chosen as the example of an organization that works in the hospitality sphere successfully. It works on sustainability in developing its processes, communicating with customers, and pursuing the final goal of providing people with high-quality tourist services without harming the surrounding nature (Song, 2021). The critical detail is that this organization is Chinese and functions only in one country, which allows the company to focus on domestic tourism in minor details. The domestic presence of China Highlights International Travel Service Company determines its functioning and its attitude to the questions of sustainability. In general, sustainability is the global trend that allows tourism and hospitality organizations to find a balance between people’s experiences and the preservation of the environment. China Highlights International Travel Service Company allows its clients to discover the country with immense tourist attractions and opportunities without harming the surrounding ecosystem. It is possible to hypothesize that supporting and popularizing regional cultures by promoting original domestic trips is the sustainable opportunity that China Highlights can develop as their primary characteristic.

Background Information

China Highlights works on the Chinese tourist market and tries to reform this sphere according to sustainability principles, making China a part of the international tourist discourse. The company allows people to create the individual tour that is different from the most popular group tours that are often superficial and disregard the most exciting places in Chinese regions (Song, 2021). The tourist market in China is developing actively, and many popular destinations in the domestic market have heavy demand among people in the country. As a result, the Chinese tourist sphere must provide people with opportunities for sustainable traveling to these destinations that satisfy their needs.

China Highlights International Travel Service Company describes its mission and principles of its work in the following lines: “China Highlights is about “Discovery Your Way.” No groups, No flags, No fixed dates. You can see the parts of China that interest you most, on your dates, with your driver and guide. Unlike travel agencies and overseas tour operators that mostly just resell fixed tours, we work with you to create your very own unique trip. Every China Highlights trip is designed for your interests, with 1:1 help from your dedicated China specialist, every step of the way!” (Song, 2021, p. 1).

In other words, the company provides clients individualized services, which makes them different from most tourist agencies. Even though there are fixed trips on the organization’s website, the individual approach to the schedule and the destinations is critical. The descriptions of the most popular tours allow people to come up with general ideas about their desires connected with tourism in China.

The vital detail is that the organization has regional representatives responsible for implementing sustainability principles. For example, the regional representatives of China Highlights are accountable for hosting tourists in different places all over the country, providing them with food, shelter, drivers, etc. (Song, 2021). This initiative allows the organization to preserve the environment and help small businesses in local cities develop sustainably. Giving the opportunities for other people to participate in tourist services and supporting local business development are among the organization’s priorities in the sphere of sustainability.

Some national organizations and services control the quality of the services in the tourist industry. China’s outbound tourism quality service certification program (QSC program) is one of them, and China Highlights works with it. The organization has operated since 2013, and it aims at helping Chinese tourists to identify which service providers are the best for them (Song, 2021). There is the control of official authorities over the recommendations of the places that Chinese tourists can visit. The peculiar detail is that the China outbound tourism quality service certification program works internationally and on the domestic market, performing the same functions in both domains (Song, 2021). In general, the presence of national organizations that control the quality of the services provided to tourists allows for to structure of the industry. Those who travel abroad can find Chinese-friendly tourist attractions, shopping centers, travel agents, and hotels (Song, 2021). Those Chinese tourists who explore domestic attractions know that the places from the recommendations list of China’s outbound tourism quality service certification program guarantee them a satisfactory level of services.

Opportunity Description

Therefore, national tourist organizations control companies’ sustainability of companies, but there is a need to develop the company’s policy that follows this principle without supervision. China Highlights does not clearly define the company’s sustainable mission and does not emphasize this principle in describing its goals. At the same time, it pays adequate attention to the preservation of the environment, local culture, and local small business support (Song, 2021). It is possible to assume that the clear focus on sustainable development, especially in the preservation of local cultural peculiarities and supporting small business initiatives of the local population, might make the company’s work more effective and ideologically focused.

Even though organizations like the QSC program help China develop high-quality, sustainable tourism, it complicates the process of cooperation with the local business representatives. As a result, it is impossible to introduce the idea of a tourist destination that does not correspond to the requirements of the national committee. It restricts the opportunities for the active development of the tourist sphere and reduces the pace of making Chinese domestic tourism more sustainable because many aspects require coordination at the state level. Therefore, tourism remains high quality, but the improvement towards sustainability is comparatively slow.

This situation shows the existing problem with communication between national and local tourist agencies and difficulties in implementing the initiatives on the regional level. Local tourist companies need to show their active position concerning sustainable development without waiting for the program created on the national level (Song, 2021). For instance, elaborating the plan of sustainable action in the socio-cultural, environmental, and economic spheres by the representatives of China Highlights might become a positive initiative that will make the organization unique and valuable in the tourist market. The individual pursuit of the sustainable plan is the opportunity to popularize the services China Highlights presents.

At the same time, some practical issues are connected with achieving sustainable goals in the work of China Highlights. One of the most critical problems is the lack of influence of the company on the local government and representatives. The organization cannot change how local authorities organize the tourist sphere. Its members can only show clients local tourist attractions that are not usually present in the schedule of group tours other companies propose. Even though the organization’s initiatives are sustainable, they cannot be implemented in practice due to a lack of resources on the local level or a lack of desire of the regional officials and ordinary citizens to pursue sustainability principles (Hill & Hult, 2017). As a result, problems in the practical implementation of sustainable projects locally are fundamental challenges for China Highlights.

As mentioned, China Highlights cooperates with the QSC program, which affects its popularity. It influences the rating of the organization, and the practical results of its work make it popular among clients. Though, there are specific problems in the development of this cooperation. Integrating sustainable tourism and receiving all documents from the Chinese tourist organizations complicates the process. As a result, many destinations that might be interesting for Chinese travelers will not be represented in the official tourist recommendations.

Facilitation of official communication between the tourist organization and state agencies that control the quality of hospitality services is an opportunity that might improve the situation in the Chinese tourist industry. The lack of direct connection between different agencies is the problem because small businesses should receive accreditation from the state that guarantees high-quality services (Hill & Hult, 2017). Making this process less complicated for local small companies might lead to the improvement of economic sustainability of the Chinese regions and the subsequent development of the travel and hospitality sphere.

Literature Review

Globalization facilitated the ways of traveling and made this process more accessible for people worldwide. First, it is possible to use the technologies from different countries to improve the domestic tourist industry and its infrastructure. Second, globalization determines standards that all tourist agencies use to guide their development (Peng & Mayer, 2019). People understand that high-quality services are similar in all corners of the world, and their expectations concerning visiting tourist attractions increase (Peng & Mayer, 2019). Sustainability is one of the principles that spread globally in the tourist sphere, and it is supposed that all tourist agencies try to correspond to this standard while planning the tour.

Increased mobility of people is the primary characteristic of globalization. It is not difficult to change the place and communicate with people living in another part of the world. In general, the borders between countries do not allow people to travel, and mutual connections between countries become stronger (Risteska, 2020). Similar principles are applicable in domestic tourism because traveling from one region to another in a big country like China is a complicated process that is almost impossible without the developed infrastructure and technologies.

The peculiar detail is connected with the recent changes in globalization and tourism due to the COVID-19 restrictions. Transportation became complicated or almost impossible during the quarantine, and the tourist industry in China was “closed” for many months during the epidemics (Palacios-Florencio et al., 2021). The quarantines did influence not only the domestic tourist sphere but also foreign travelers who wanted to visit China. People require vaccination certificates and reasons to visit China, which reduces the number of foreign tourists in the country. In addition, the problematic epidemiological situation in the state leads to a severe decrease in people who travel to other regions in China (Peng & Mayer, 2019). All these aspects directly impacted the tourist sphere that had to adapt to the situation and ensure that their tours corresponded to the epidemiological requirements.

The pandemic of COVID-19 led to the development of sustainable tourism. People started to use the recommendations to avoid crowds and public places while choosing the destination for traveling. It is possible to illustrate this idea with the following lines from the article:

“The different governments on spaces for coexistence not because of a greater environmental awareness instilled in tourists, but because of the obligations impose this fact and, on the other hand, because of the new requirements in terms of security tourists will impose on themselves when traveling and choosing a destination. Once the confinement is finished, only internal tourism can be developed. This adaptation will help overcome old problems: the exclusivity of “sun and sand” tourism will be faced with the fear of crowds, so that the occupation of inland destinations will increase, revitalizing unpopulated areas.” (Palacios-Florencio et al., 2021, p. 996).

This excerpt shows that the tourist and hospitality areas adapt to external circumstances, and their flexible nature allows them to find the optimal strategy for business development. Sustainability corresponds to the needs of modern times because it will enable people to preserve their heritage and avoid epidemics and save lives, which are the priorities for all members of society.

Several critical drivers of globalization determine changes in the tourist sphere. They are competitive, technological, political, cost, and market drivers (Cooper & Hall, 2018). For instance, the development of the infrastructure in the country allows people to visit the most alienated regions where there were no tourist attractions before. The Chinese example and domestic tourism illustrate this statement vividly because the technological advancements allow the government to build roads and railroads and to make transportation to these places easy for people. Investments in the development of the tourist sphere are the example of the cost driver, and a satisfactory level of services provided to tourists is an example of adequate competition (Cooper & Hall, 2018). Therefore, these drivers can be discussed on tourism’s international and domestic levels because they determine the significant components critical in tourism and hospitality.

People often connect globalization and merging different cultures into one unified modern discourse. The researchers describe this issue in the following lines: “Social factors bring cultural convergence, that is, increasing similarity throughout

the world, through a significant reduction in transport and communication cost. Nowadays, the cost of transmitting information is almost negligible, shrinking the world to one market. Individuals and societies are taking advantage of this enormous reduction in cost by using standard brands and services worldwide. As a result, societies are moving towards convergence of taste, increasing homogeneity across the globe” (Naz, Ahmad, 2018, pp. 2134-145).

Globalization influences the destruction of local peculiarities because it imposes one stand on every country. From one point of view, it is a positive process because the standards of quality tourism improve, and people get better services in all corners of the world. From another point of view, this process is destructive for local tourism because it makes the regional cultural peculiarities insignificant.

Solution

Chinese Highlights cooperate with such national tourist agencies as the QSC program. It means that it works according to all national standards of quality, and the tours the company proposes to their clients are completely safe. The work with the official agencies and correspondence of the company’s services with the laws makes it a credible organization. Though, difficulties in accreditation of the small local business in the program make it a complicated process (Hill & Hult, 2017). The company becomes the agent between the local small business and the national agencies that control the quality of tourist services. As a result, it allows small businesses in the alienated regions to attract hosts, and Chinese Highlights receive the opportunity to create unique routes and trip schedules for their clients. This solution is balanced and works effectively, even though it is possible to improve this process and make accreditation easier.

As mentioned previously, globalization trends in tourism are characterized by the unification of local cultures that are substituted by the universal view of tourism. The example of domestic tourism in China shows that even local tourist attractions can be different, and every place in the country has its peculiarities. Most tourist agencies offer their clients standard tours, where the sites and the services are expected, which is the element of the globalization process in domestic tourism. China Highlights propose people individual tours to the destinations they find interesting. The vital detail is that China Highlights deliberately chose those places to stay and to visit that are disregarded by more “traditional” tourist companies. In other words, the organization emphasizes local peculiarities and makes attention to the regional character their main advantage in the tourist market.

Preferring small businesses in the alienated and small communities is an example of the economic sustainability of tourism. It is one of the most critical opportunities that Chinese Highlights should embrace and develop. It is a positive example for other tourist agencies and allows tourism to support the local economy, improving the lives of people in the region. As a result, the place will become more and more popular among tourists, increasing the level of life of those who live there. This mission correlates with the overall goal of developing the Chinese economy and, to boot, the population’s well-being in small cities and villages. It is especially relevant for the rural population and areas where tourism is not entirely developed.

The tendency to preserve the local culture is sustainable by its essence because it aims at the preservation of the regional character. Globalization can be considered a danger to local cultures and their unique character, even though sustainability is the global tourist trend. It shows that unification and the universality of everything are not always positive (Hill & Hult, 2017). When these principles are applied to the tourist industry, they can ruin the regional character of the place and impose a universal culture on it. It is possible to hypothesize that China Highlights successfully copes with the sustainability task in the cultural aspect, making it the distinctive feature of the organization.

The capitalistic market severely impacts the tourist industry, which leads to the need to make tourism cost-effective and competitive. China Highlights also works in competition, but it tries to balance being cost-effective and sustainable. The precise attention to every client’s local culture, regional peculiarities, and individual interests allows them to achieve positive results in this sphere (Hill & Hult, 2017). Promoting the well-being and development of the local community and helping the local small business survive are essential parts of a sustainable tourist company. China Highlights chooses those places to stay that are often disregarded by national Chinese tourist agencies, allowing the local population and businesses to develop their villages and small towns.

Critical Discussion

The drive towards sustainability generally influences the international tourism and hospitality industry positively. Sustainability is not only the formal corresponding of the tourist activity to rules of preservation of the environment and local culture. It leads to the increased satisfaction of clients from their tourist experience, and people are more likely to return to the tourist company that provides them with a sustainable experience (Naz & Ahmad, 2018). As a result, when the tourist company works according to the principles of sustainability, it helps the environment, the local economy, and the regional community, but at the same time, it increases its profit and popularity among people. These details allow us to assume that sustainability is among the critical components of international tourism affecting clients, the community, and the company.

It is also necessary to state that the international pursuit of sustainability principles allows domestic tourism to develop. The recent crisis in the tourist and hospitality sphere caused by the COVID-19 pandemic showed that the absence of frontiers for traveling to other countries is the illusion supported by the globalization agenda for years. People were used to the idea that they could travel wherever they chose, which became impossible. The following lines from the article illustrate this idea:

“According to the declarations made by the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) on its website, in April, 96% of worldwide destinations have implemented travel restrictions. Around 40 destinations are experiencing a partial border closure, while 90 destinations have closed their borders. An unforeseen and, for the time being, an unpredictable situation that urges survival measures for the sector” (Palacios-Florencio et al., 2021, p. 991).

In other words, globalization has been stable in recent decades, and most people could not imagine a different world. The pandemic became the turning point when countries started to close their borders to tourists and restrict their movements. The movement from globalization to the local, domestic and sustainable tourist corresponds to the requirements of modern times, which allows us to hypothesize that it will develop in the future.

The literature analysis on international tourism and sustainability shows that globalization has both advantages and disadvantages. From one point of view, the spread of ideas of globalization and global tourism increase the quality of services companies provide and popularize the sustainable development of business. From another point of view, sustainability is entirely different from the notion of globalization because it supposes precise attention to the local community, economy, and culture. In all cases, the sustainability trend is dominant in the contemporary tourist and hospitality discourse, and most companies try to pursue it.

Conclusion

Sustainable tourism should promote a thorough approach to management in this sphere and focus on all types of tourist activities. Sustainability principles are connected with tourism’s development in terms of socio-cultural, economic, and environmental aspects. In all cases, there is a vital need for the tourist industry to elaborate the holistic approach to guarantee that the projects are sustainable in the long-term perspective. The central aspect of developing environmentally sustainable tourism is the optimal use of the region’s resources. Respect for socio-cultural peculiarities is also critical in this process. Sustainable tourism should ensure that it reduces adverse conditions of life in the area, including poverty and the absence of places to host tourists.

In this paper, the work of China Highlights was discussed and analyzed. The investigation shows that the company works according to the principles of sustainability and aims to preserve the environment, economy, and socio-cultural heritage of Chinese regions. China Highlights does not articulate a sustainable direction in its corporate development even though its work corresponds to these principles. It is possible to assume that a clear focus on sustainability, especially on the need to develop local tourism and to support local culture in the alienated and rural areas of the country, might improve the policy of China Highlights. Even though China Highlights shows promising results in setting and achieving sustainable development goals, it does not provide its clients with the rationale why they should choose them. Sustainability is their difference from other rivals in the tourism and hospitality market, and the company must promote these ideas among clients. In all cases, it will enhance the business activity of local entrepreneurs from small cities and villages who understand that their services will be in demand. It might lead to the sustainable development of small local communities in Chinese regions, which is one of the sustainability priorities in hospitality and tourism.

The findings show that globalization is dangerous for preserving small local cultures and small businesses. The tendency of the globalized society is to destroy local cultures and create one dominant discourse, which leads to the impoverishment of the national heritage. The impact of globalization on the local culture is not always positive, which means that Chinese tourists and hospitality should find balance in adapting global practices and ideas. Sustainability is a positive global trend, and Chinese Highlights companies aim to pursue this principle. At the same time, disregarding the local heritage and peculiarities is the biased trend of globalization that Chinese travel agencies should consider with caution. Even though it contributes to improving tourist services and their stable high quality, it endangers the local culture and business.

Reference List

Cooper, C. and Hall, M. (2018) Contemporary tourism: An international approach. Goodfellow Publishers.

Hill, C. W. and Hult, T. M. (2017) International business: Competing in the global marketplace. McGraw Hill.

Naz, A., Ahmad, E. (2018) ‘Driving factors of globalization: An empirical analysis of the developed and developing countries’, Business & Economic Review, 10(1), pp. 133-158.

Palacios-Florencio, B. et al. (2021) Sustainable tourism as a driving force of the tourism industry in a post-Covid-19 scenario. Social Indicators Research, 158(3), pp. 991-1011.

Peng, M. W. and Meyer, K., 2019. International Business. South Western Cengage Learning.

Risteska, J. (2020) ‘The impact and effects of globalization on tourism development.’Proceedings of the International Scientific Conference “Social Changes in the Global World”, 1(3), 197-214.

Song, C. (2021) China Highlights. Chinahighlights.com.

UNWTO. (2022) Making tourism more sustainable – A guide for policy makers, UNEP and UNWTO. Committee on Tourism and Sustainability (CTS).

Summary Review of the Venue Types Selected

Hotel

• Business name: Four Seasons Hotel
• Location: 199 George Street, Sydney, NSW 2000 Australia
• Target market: Tourists
• Average customers spend: $350 – $1100
• Hours of operation vs. peak periods: 24 hours
• Type of licences required: Hotel licence, Bar licence
• Competitive point of difference: Luxury segment
• Management and employee skill set requirements:
  • each department interacts with other departments in the course of its activities.
  • there is a clear distribution of functional responsibilities among the staff.
  • each employee reports directly to a specific boss.
  • each employee performs strictly defined functions, in accordance with their position.
• Visual representation of the venue:

• The impact of design planning on the business: All arriving guests of Four Seasons Hotels need clean, comfortable rooms, properly functioning equipment, polite, professional, and friendly service, safe and reliable living conditions.

Restaurant

• Business name: Flying Fox
• Location: 2 Mona St, Mona Vale NSW 2103, Australia
• Target market: Children and parents visiting parks playgrounds
• Average customers spend: $50
• Hours of operation vs. peak periods: Mon-Wed: 7am-9pm. Thur-Sat: 7am-10pm. Sun: 8am-3pm
• Type of licences required: Food standards code, food business licence
• Competitive point of difference: The only available restaurant in the park, located next to the playground.
• Management and employee skill set requirements:
  • Teamwork
  • Some technical skills
  • Good verbal communication
  • Ability to get along with children
• Visual representation of the venue:

• The impact of design planning on the business: Such restaurants exist due to various subsidies and donations. However, design planning is necessary in order for the restaurant to be convenient for visitors, who are most often families.

Executive Summary

Flying Fox is a small family restaurant located in Winnererremy Bay, giving it several advantages. The design of this institution has various benefits that make it possible to provide convenience to visitors, including children (Galbraith, 2005). It should be noted that this cafe can be upgraded by creating additional amenities and expanding the space. On the other hand, this report reviewed the famous luxury hotel Four Seasons Hotels. This organization has a reasonably clear design planning, which is reflected in the convenience of visitors. One of the advantages is environmental sustainability, which is maintained due to the peculiarities of the functioning of the hotel.

Introduction

This report aims to implement the feasibility study of two hospitality venues located in Sydney, Australia. The main background of the work is that design and planning play an essential role in building a business concept (Found & Harrison, 2012). This is manifested in its ability to function correctly, which affects visitors’ satisfaction (Chen, 2017). The scope of this report is to implement and conduct an analysis of the restaurant and hotel, namely Flying Fox and Four Seasons Hotel. This report examines the issues of environmental sustainability, the general principle of design, as well as the features of functioning.

Statement

A feasibility study is an analysis, calculation, and assessment of the economic feasibility of the proposed construction project, the construction of an enterprise, the creation of a new technical facility, and modernization and reconstruction of existing facilities. The feasibility study is necessary for every investor, during the preparation of which a number of works are conducted to study and analyse all components of the project and develop deadlines for the return of funds invested in the business (“The Importance”, 2020). For hospitality venues, a feasibility study is of some importance, as it permits creating the conditions necessary for customers based on design planning.

Four Seasons Hotel

The main tasks of “Four Seasons Hotels” are to provide temporary housing and the hotel residents with services of proper quality. This is manifested in creating the necessary social and cultural conditions, ensuring the safety of life, health, and property of consumers of hotel services, as well as in the rational use of the material and technical base (Taheri et al., 2017). The criticism of the market situation is that the organization is quite a luxury and expensive brand. Thus, the availability of prices for most travellers is a problematic aspect.

Design process: The design of the building itself meets the features of the hotel, thanks to which visitors of almost all rooms have access to a view of the harbour. The room’s design is presented in a luxurious European and minimalist style. The lobby is correspondingly made of luxurious decorations; an extensive space with a waiting area is organized for visitors.

Differentiation: The hotel offers mainly luxury-class rooms, which distinguishes it from most competitors. A special feature is also the convenient location at the edge of the harbour, which provides visitors with a beautiful view. Another feature is the presence of the largest heated swimming pool in Sydney.

Floor plans: The total area of the hotel is about 1,675 m² (Four Seasons Hotel Sydney, 2021). In addition, there are 531 rooms in the Four Seasons, which have various features in accordance with the level of luxury.

Workflow: “Four Seasons Hotels” by its organizational and managerial structure, refers to a linear-functional scheme. At the level of each head of the department, a functional management link in the form of services has been created. They allow the hotel director to solve problems in different areas of activity per the functions (Carton et al., 2014).

Maintenance: Maintenance work includes the care of the hotel, its premises, its operational functions, and its facilities. The main operational activity focuses on maintaining the room standard since this aspect is the most important for visitors.

Resources:

• Stable loading of the number of rooms.
• Material and technical supply.
• Staff development.
• Detailing and specification of service processes.

Current awards structure: There is no information available.

Environmental sustainability: The hotel uses modern principles of urban electricity conservation (Four Seasons, 2021). Packaging and waste recycling technologies are used. The use of plastic is reduced.

Flying Fox Restaurant

“Flying Fox” restaurant was opened in 2006 and quickly gained popularity among the visitors of Winnererremy Bay (Flying Fox Cafe, n.d.). The peculiarity of this cafe is its convenient location, which is reflected in the fact that it is accessible to all visitors to the park and playgrounds. The family factor of business plays a key role, which is reflected in the conduct of various activities and events created for children. The criticism of the position in the market is that this restaurant has a limited number of visitors.

Design process: The restaurant uses an extended roof, which protects from exposure to sunlight. The location next to the water is limited by a sufficiently large distance, and the roof structure, which protects from excess moisture. The number of external seats is limited to avoid weather conditions’ severe impact on visitors.

Differentiation: The main feature is the provision of an extensive children’s menu. This allows the restaurant to attract visitors to the park, mainly families, due to the expanded menu. In addition, Flying Fox holds various events that are aimed at maintaining interest in the business from children and their parents.

Floor plans: Given the overall workload and family nature of the restaurant, the total seating area should occupy 93 m² (Flying Fox Cafe, n.d.). In addition, it is worth it because the location next to the water allows Flying Fox to use this aspect and place about 20% of the seats on the terrace. Minimum queuing space in front of counter area. Thus, the area inside the restaurant is relatively free and not loaded.

Workflow: In a normal season, the restaurant employs 2-3 waiters and 3-4 chefs and assistants. The coordination of the process takes place through the distribution of responsibilities by the manager.

Maintenance: 3 phase electricity and extraction are provided in the community kitchen to accommodate outside caterers. Power must be provided to sectors of the storage room.

Resources: The functioning of the restaurant requires the maintenance of ingredients in accordance with the menu. To carry out business maintenance, it is necessary to maintain the operability of electrical appliances and public access to Wi-Fi.

Current awards structure: There is no information available.

Environmental sustainability: They use ergonomic packaging for takeaway food. Solar panels are used during the peak hot season, which allows the restaurant to use less electricity (Flying Fox, Mona Vale, 2022). Garbage containers with the possibility of waste distribution are provided for visitors.

Impact on the customer service experience: Visitors have enough seats even at the peak time of the restaurant’s workload. The external seats are equipped with the necessary protection against overheating and moisture, which allows them to be used effectively.

Conclusion

From the analysis, it was found that family restaurants in Australia have a number of features related to dependence on location. The disparity can lead to losing visitors in off-peak or non-hot seasons. Conducting a feasibility study of the hotel, it was found that the operation’s success depends directly on the maintenance of the rooms. In addition, a special role is played by the convenient location of the building itself, which allows Four Seasons to attract tourists despite the inflated accommodation prices.

References

Carton, A. M., Murphy, C., & Clark, J. R. (2014). A (blurry) vision of the future: How leader rhetoric about ultimate goals influences performance.Academy of Management Journal, 57(6), 1544–1570. Web.

Chen, J. S. (Ed.). (2017). Advances in hospitality and leisure (12th ed.) [E-book]. Emerald Publishing Limited. Web.

Flying Fox Cafe. (n.d.). About us. Web.

Flying Fox, Mona Vale. (2022). Tripadvisor. Web.

Found, P., & Harrison, R. (2012). Understanding the lean voice of the customer.International Journal of Lean Six Sigma, 3(3), 251–267. Web.

Four Seasons Hotel Sydney. (2021). Sydney meeting venues and event space. FourSeasons. Web.

Four Seasons. (2021). Sustainability initiatives. Four Seasons Press Room. Web.

Galbraith, J. R. (2005). Designing the customer-centric organisation: A guide to strategy, structure and process [E-book]. Jossey-Bass. Web.

Taheri, B., Farrington, T., Gori, K., Hogg, G., & O’Gorman, K. D. (2017). Escape, entitlement, and experience: Liminoid motivators within commercial hospitality.International Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Management, 29(4), 1148–1166. Web.

The importance of feasibility study before building a hotel. (2020). IHCS. Web.

Introduction

The COVID epidemic has fundamentally altered the hospitality industry. According to Shanley (2022), years will pass before the hotel industry is able to completely understand and appreciate the significance and effects of all these developments on the sector.

Discussion

The demand for accommodations is increasing swiftly as we transition from the pandemic to the endemic phase of the health crisis, and hotels are operating at full capacity once more (Baratti, 2022; EHL Insights, 2022). Due to continuous labor shortages, growing costs, global turbulence, and two years’ worth of missing data, hotels are facing greater challenges than ever when it comes to preparing for basic operations at the property level, especially for smaller properties.

Due to continuous labor shortages, growing costs, global turbulence, and two years’ worth of missing data, hotels are facing greater challenges than ever when it comes to preparing for basic operations at the property level, especially for smaller properties. Due to all of this, hoteliers are concentrating on making up as much of the losses they sustained during the lockdowns as they can. Hotels must be ready to react promptly to an influx of incoming RFPs from planners as inquiries and RFPs for meeting and events space and rooms are soaring (Bouronikos, 2022).

Conclusion

Smart hotels are well aware that the subpar 1-2% conversion rates they achieved when they valued and replied to incoming RFPs before 2020 are not an effective method to conduct business in 2022 (“Hospitality industry statistics,” 2022). Nobody can afford to be careless when things are still in such a precarious state, and there is no guarantee that tomorrow’s inbox won’t be overflowing with new queries.

References

Baratti, L. (2022). New report reveals the current state of the hotel industry. Web.

Bouronikos, V. (2022). The state of the hospitality and tourism industry in 2022. Web.

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Despite poor reception during the initial years of the introduction of robot technologies to the hospitality industry, there is a growing trend in the customer preference for roboservice. The initial spike in the preference was caused by the restrictive measures of pandemic which seemed to have influenced cultural values of the customers developing a new trend. Consequently, due to the cost-savings, performance and authenticity of robots in service, their implementation is a recommended course for development of the industry and attracting new customers. Even though some may argue that maintenance and cyber-security protection would be an issue, the benefits of the technology outweigh potential risks.

Introduction

It is crucial today to make the most of all available resources. Digitalization or automation is brought to the sector to accomplish such growth in many industries because of the minimal maintenance and enhanced performance. Roboservice, the use of robots in the hospitality business, is replacing humans in roles formerly held by bellhops, receptionists, luggage porters, and delivery personnel. Many hotels throughout the globe are beginning to upgrade their offerings by adopting this new technology. Famous hotel chains, including Hilton, Aloft, Yotel, and Henn na, are just a few examples. Although early acceptance of robots in hospitality was bad since customers preferred a person, their popularity has surged by a large magnitude following and throughout the epidemic. As a result, it is important to consider how digitization relates to introducing robots into the hospitality industry.

Robots are undeniably becoming standard hotel staff members. Robots that carry out mundane tasks are becoming standard in many hospitality establishments. With more and more companies realizing the benefits that robots may bring to the hospitality industry, this is a developing trend. The number of persons who have benefited from robotic services has increased since 2017. Trejos (2016) cites studies and research showing that robots increase employment significantly in the hotel business. Also, the hotel sector is the first place where human-robot interaction was widely used (Trejos, 2016). According to the research presented here, the manufacturing sector is the frontrunner when it comes to adopting robots, and humans will soon be obsolete.

This paper will proceed in the following manner:

1. The literature review will focus on the reasons for the increasing popularity of robotics in the industry.
2. Three subsections will be dedicated to the analysis of the benefits and demerits of the service robots’ presence in the hotel. Each subsection would include one distinct argument, a counterargument that readers may find, and a rebuttal explanation to demonstrate how their opposition should not be concerned.
3. The paper will draw a conclusion based on the arguments provided.

Literature Review

Because of the mutual benefit that results from the exchange of hospitality between host and guest, the success of any hospitality business relies on the “hospitableness” of its employees (Kim et al., 2021). Human connection and the care and concern shown toward staff members are cornerstones of the hospitality industry (Golubovskaya et al., 2017). In the context of human values and connection, hospitality is represented through hotels. Numerous factors, including the friendliness, patience, and emotional display of hotel staff members toward guests, the warmth of their greetings, and the serenity of the rooms they provide, all contribute to the quality of guests’ overall stays (Hwang et al., 2015; Lashley & Morrison, 2000).

People who stay in hotels tend to favor personalized treatment, highlighting the importance of personal interactions where guests may freely express their appreciation or displeasure. The impulse to converse with hotel staff members indicates a desire for individualized and exceptional service (Ariffin, 2013).

By increasing efficiency and lowering labor costs, service robots are predicted by scientists to become a major platform for service sector productivity growth. This presumption received attention and ignited a heated debate on using service robots in the hospitality business among hotel owners, shareholders, employees, visitors, industry groups, suppliers, government agencies, and academic institutions (Tnooz, 2016). The debate about the technological status and lack of humanization in artificially intelligent service robots is highlighted here.

Hotel service robots will only be useful if they have a high level of autonomy and human-robot interaction (HRI) (Tung & Au, 2018). Savioke’s Relay, which is installed in various hotels and is responsible for a large portion of the delivery service’s operations exhibits, has a certain HR§I. Relays connected with cameras and sensors can detect room numbers, letting them traverse congested corridors and access the elevator without clashing with other items. In order for customers to get their ordered food and amenities, Relay will automatically open its lid once it has arrived at its destination. Instead of leaving tips, customers at Relay are encouraged to rate the service through a digital screen in an effort to improve it. As soon as Relay’s system software detects affirmative user input, it will begin to shake violently.

Numerous studies have demonstrated that when it comes to interaction quality and the actual service environment, humans are preferred over robots. However, risk perception has a considerable role in consumer decision-making regarding their selection of tourist merchandise. There is a range of customer-related dangers in the hotel sector, including personal health, social, financial, and performance risks. In particular, the gravity of the COVID-19 threat may cause guests to have different impressions of a robot-managed hotel (Galoni et al., 2020).

In light of the pandemic, Jiang and Wen (2019) have predicted a rise in the need for hotel service robots. The very contagious character of COVID-19 might make guests nervous and affect their opinion of hotels served by robots. Guests will be more amenable to hotels staffed by robots because they perceive a lesser risk of transmission from robots. Kim et al. (2021) found that as a result of the COVID-19 epidemic, people started preferring robot services over human ones, signaling a shift in the prevailing choice paradigm.

Discussion

Primary Advantages of Robotics in Hospitality

Chatbots, delivery robots, robot concierges, conveyor restaurants, and self-service information/check-in kiosks are just a few examples of RAISA that have found their way into the travel, tourist, and hospitality sectors. A growing body of research in the hospitality industry, informed by studies in robotics that tout the benefits of anthropomorphism on user engagement (Broadbent, 2017), shows that making service robots more human-like increases consumers’ desire to employ them. Researchers have shown that when people give service robots human traits, they have a more favorable impression of them and are more likely to want to adopt them (Lin et al., 2020).

Furthermore, customers have higher expectations for service quality when humanoid service robots are involved (Lin & Mattila, 2021). According to research by Zhu and Chang (2019), when consumers attribute human traits to robot chefs, they have higher expectations for the quality of their meals. An even more intriguing finding is that customers have higher expectations for service robots when they appear like people. When engaging with humanoid service robots, for instance, customers gave the robots higher marks for providing satisfactory service when they mimicked human speech patterns and idioms (Lu et al., 2021). The findings suggest that if hotel management includes human-like characteristics in service robots, they may increase customer happiness.

Diverse Applications in the Field

The robot assists restaurant guests who want advice or assistance. The robot is a Watson-enabled robot concierge that utilizes Way Blazer and Watson’s expertise (Kuo, Chen, & Tseng, 2017, p. 1305). Ideally, the robot assists individuals in deciding where to go, where to eat, and how to find everything on the premises. The robot serves as a test since the corporation intends to incorporate its features into its offices. The firm is still determining whether to bring Connie to additional properties at this time. Connie’s primary purpose was to eliminate consumer obstacles, such as waiting in line while the human staff answered (Trejos, 2016).

Additionally, it was intended to enhance operations on the site. It was intended to surprise and excite faithful consumers primarily. In an ideal world, the robot’s purpose is not to reduce personnel but to provide an efficient working environment (Kuo, Chen, & Tseng, 2017, p. 1315). The robot answers over 100 unique inquiries and concerns at the front desk. In addition, it effectively handles calls and expedites the visitor check-in process.

When a consumer requests instructions, Connie directs them in the appropriate path. Additionally, its eyes change color according to the conditions. As it expresses perplexity, comprehension, confusion, and other emotions, it illuminates differently to convey its emotions. Through its capacity to detect, learn, and experience, the robot has been able to learn about the environment thanks to cognitive computing technology (Kuo, Chen, & Tseng, 2017, p. 1318). The robot responds to visitors using gestures and body language; for instance, when asked where the elevator is, it indicates that it is located down the corridor to the left. Additionally, it points left and down the hall.

Limitations to Implementation

In addition to the usage of AI-enabled technologies, what other options may be explored to expand the capabilities of service robots in the hotel industry? In light of Wirtz et al., who mapped customer demands to robot capabilities, it is obvious that, in the first instance, hospitality may be seen as a job with low analytical-cognitive complexity and high emotional complexity. In light of the restrictions provided by robots in their first phase of service, their assignment will tend to favor humans. Therefore, robot interactions in frontline hospitality services should be deemed inadequate since they often fail to match the qualities of human-oriented perception and exhibit high degrees of impersonality — these services will continue to be provided primarily by humans.

Another school of thought in the hospitality literature, based on the narrative of Mori et al. (2012), contends that the human-likeness of service robots has no impact or even a negative one on the business. Customers have a bias towards humanoid service robots because they believe they lack interpersonal skills, despite the fact that this is a key factor in determining whether or not a guest will be satisfied with their service experience (Hu et al., 2021). In the event of a service failure, customers are less likely to accept an apology from a service robot than they would from a human worker (Hu et al., 2021). Furthermore, studies have shown that customers are less likely to engage with a service robot if it seems too human (Yu, 2020). Managers in the hotel industry need to proceed with caution when introducing humanoid service robots, especially for jobs requiring extensive communication with consumers.

Conclusion

Robotic service providers, defined as system-based autonomous and adaptive interfaces that engage, communicate, and give service to an organization’s clients, are the cutting edge of customer service technology right now (Wirtz et al., 2018, p. 4). As a result of the widespread fear of contracting an infectious illness via casual conversation, the hospitality sector has seen an increase in the use of service robots. Indicating limited social interaction and lowering the perceived danger of virus transmission, the use of service robots may improve the likelihood that a customer would visit a business (Wan et al., 2020). Consumers are more likely to choose hotels operated by robots because of fear for their safety (Kim et al., 2021). This provides support for the hypothesis that the hotel service robots industry will expand at a rapid clip in the future.

Consumers’ divergent reactions to humanoid service robots point to the influence of extraneous circumstances. Individual consumer characteristics, such as openness to new ideas, and environmental variables, such as high foot traffic, may be distinguished among the many influences. Examples of demographics that are more likely to have positive views of humanoid service robots include those who are more technologically savvy, less averse to change, and who value convenience above human connection in service interactions (Hu et al., 2021). Customers also prefer service robots when they have a strong incentive for social disengagements, such as when there is a fear of infectious illness or when the place is overly congested with other people (Kim et al., 2021).

References

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Introduction

The development of creative tourism has been a growing trend in the tourism industry in recent years. This type of tourism is based on visitors engaging with a destination’s local creative and cultural resources rather than simply consuming the products and services on offer (Al-Ababneh, M.M. 2019). This can include attending local festivals and events, visiting art galleries and museums, and participating in workshops and classes. The benefits of creative tourism have been well documented, with research showing that it can lead to increased satisfaction and loyalty among visitors and promote economic development and social inclusion. Thus, a creative tourism trial in a destination can be a valuable way of testing the waters and gauging the potential for this type of tourism to become a more significant part of the local tourism offer.

Purpose of the Report

This report aims to provide a creative tourism trial to encourage visitors to explore Istanbul beyond the well-known tourist path. The trial will showcase innovative and cultural resources that will help visitors to discover Istanbul’s hidden treasures (Al-Ababneh, M.M. 2019). The report will include an introduction to tourism and creativity, a description of the selected city, and the proposed creative tourist trail. The findings of this report will not only help to promote the town to a broader audience but also help to boost the local economy.

Various sources to inform the report was used to develop a creative tourism trial. For instance, online scholarly sources such as travel websites, news articles, and destination marketing organization websites were reviewed to research Istanbul’s creative and cultural resources (Bakas et al., 2020). In addition, the report was developed using offline sources such as books and brochures to learn more about Istanbul and its attractions. The academic sources used were relevant to the study since they helped identify the resources that would be most beneficial to include in the trial.

Sections of the Report

This report will consist of various sections that collectively aim at providing a vivid analysis of the role and importance of creativity and tourism in Istanbul. The report comprises an introduction, tourism and creativity, the selected city, a creative tourist trial, and a conclusion (Bakas et al., 2020). In the tourism and creativity section, the paper will address what is, how creativity and tourism are related, and how creativity can be used to enhance the tourism experience. The selected city section will focus on Istanbul and its potential as a creative tourism destination. The report highlights the city’s creative and cultural resources. The conclusion will summarize the key findings of the report.

Tourism and Creativity

Creativity plays a fundamental role in tourism and is otften a critical factor in destination marketing and development. In essence, it is a primary driver of the tourism economy, with the creative industries accounting for a significant proportion of GDP in many countries (Bakas et al., 2020). There are many definitions of creativity, but it can be broadly defined as the ability to generate new and innovative ideas. This can be done through individual creativity or by working collaboratively with others. Creativity is often seen as a critical ingredient in the tourism experience for tourists and those working in the industry. It can be used to create unique and memorable experiences and to differentiate a destination from others. There is a growing body of research on the role of creativity in tourism and its potential to contribute to sustainable tourism development (Oscar, C. 2020, 5). This research is essential to understand the potential of creativity in tourism and how it can be harnessed to create positive outcomes for all stakeholders.

Creativity has always been an essential aspect of tourism, but its role has become even more significant in recent years. The creative industries comprise o entities that are based on creativity and innovation, such as advertising, architecture, arts and crafts, design, fashion, film, music, software development, and television (Demir, E.M. n.d. 3). These industries are essential to tourism because they create the “buzz” that attracts visitors to a destination. Creative areas are those parts of a city or region that are particularly vibrant and creative. They are often the places where the creative industries are concentrated, and they are often the most popular tourist destinations. Creative tourism is a type of tourism that involves visiting places that are associated with creativity and culture (Al-Ababneh, M.M. 2019). It can include attending art galleries, visiting historic sites, or participating in local festivals.

Creative Industries

The creative industries are an essential part of cities’ economies and play a significant role in the city’s tourism industry (Bakas et al., 2020). This includes sectors such as advertising, architecture, art and design, fashion, film, music, television, and video games. The city is home to several world-renowned museums and galleries and a thriving music and nightlife scene. Cities’ creative industries are responsible for developing new and innovative tourism products and services. For example, the city’s hotel and restaurant industry has been quick to adapt to the needs of tourists, offering a range of creative and unique experiences (Demir, E.M. n.d. 13). The role of creativity in tourism is likely to become even more critical in the future, as the industry looks to find new ways to attract and retain visitors.

Creative Areas

Creative areas are another essential resource for cities to thrive in the tourism market. These areas have been developed to encourage creativity and innovation and often intensely focus on the arts. Creative areas include art galleries, museums, theatres, music venues, and public art installations. They are often located in areas of cities that are already popular with tourists and can provide an additional reason for visitors to come to a destination. Creative tourism is a form of tourism that involves visitors traveling to a destination in order to experience its creative culture (Bakas et al., 2020). This can include attending art and design events, visiting museums and galleries, or participating in workshops and classes. Creative tourism can provide a more authentic and immersive experience for visitors and can help to support the local creative economy.

Creative Experience

Creativity plays a vital role in tourism and is critical in attracting visitors to a destination. First, creativity can provide cities with a unique selling proposition that can attract visitors and provide a city with jobs and economic activity. Finally, creative tourism can provide visitors with an authentic and unique experience unavailable in other destinations. Creative tourism promotes destinations and makes them more accessible to tourists.

The Selected city

Turkey’s most populous city, Istanbul, is located in the country’s northwest, straddling the Bosporus Strait between the Sea of Marmara and the Black Sea. Istanbul occupies two different worlds, bridging the gap between Europe and Asia (Parlak & Baycan, 2020, 12). The city is home to a unique blend of cultures with a rich history dating back over 2,000 years. The city has a lot to offer tourists, from its many historical sites to its vibrant nightlife. Creativity and tourism are essential to Istanbul, as they are to any city. Creativity can be seen in the city’s architecture, food, and how the city has been able to preserve its history while also modernizing (Stalmirska, A.M. 2020, 25). Tourism is vital to Istanbul because it brings in revenue and helps to promote the city to the world. Istanbul is a city that has something for everyone. Its many different neighborhoods offer a variety of experiences, and there is always something new to see and do. Istanbul is a city that everyone should visit at least once in their lifetime.

Various reports on tourism in Istanbul provide an insight on the performance of the industry in the area. people According to the Istanbul Tourism and Culture Directorate, Istanbul is one of the world’s most popular tourist destinations, attracting over 12 million visitors each year (Üzülmez & Akdağ, 2020, 7). In 2018, it was ranked the fifth most popular tourist destination. In 2019, the city was visited by over 16 million international tourists, which was a 6% increase from the previous year (Turgut, H. 2021, 2). The COVID-19 pandemic significantly impacted tourism in Istanbul, with visitor numbers dropping in 2020 (Ekici, A. 2022, 1). Thus, Istanbul welcomed over 12.6 million visitors, making it one of the most visited cities in the world (Turgut, H. 2021, 2). In 2021, Istanbul welcomed an estimated 15.8 million tourists, again making it the city’s most-visited year (Turgut, H. 2021, 2). Most visitors to Istanbul come from within Turkey, with around 12.5 million domestic tourists flocking to the city each year. However, Istanbul is a hugely popular destination for international visitors, with over 3 million people coming from abroad in 2021(Turgut, H. 2021, 5). The top five countries of origin for international tourists are Germany, Russia, the United Kingdom, the United States, and China.

Creativity in Istanbul City

Istanbul is one of the most populous, creative cities and tourist destinations, attracting millions of visitors each year. The city has a long history of art and culture and is home to several creative industries (Al-Ababneh, M.M. 2019). The creative industries are a vital part of Istanbul’s economy and include a range of businesses from advertising and architecture to fashion and film. The city is home to several world-renowned creative businesses, including Wieden+Kennedy, DDB, and Saatchi & Saatchi. Istanbul has a thriving fashion industry, with many local and international designers based in the city. The presence of the creative industries in Istanbul significantly contributes to the city’s economy and international reputation. The industries employ many people and attract visitors from all over the world. Istanbul’s creative scene is a crucial part of what makes the city such a popular tourist destination.

Istanbul is a city with a long and rich history that is reflected in its architecture. The city has been home to various civilizations over the centuries, reflected in the diverse range of creative areas or quarters found within its borders. Istanbul’s most obvious creative quarter is the historic center, home to many critical architectural landmarks such as the Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque (Parlak & Baycan, 2020, 12). This area is home to many art galleries, museums, and other cultural institutions. Another fundamental creative quarter in Istanbul is Beyoglu, home to many important artistic and cultural institutions, such as the Istanbul Modern art museum and the Pera Museum (Bakas et al., 2020). This area is also home to many trendy bars, restaurants, and cafes. Finally, Istanbul has many smaller creative quarters that are worth exploring. These include the Bohemian quarter of Cihangir, the artsy district of Galata, and the hipster neighborhood of Kadikoy.

The most popular tourist destinations often offer the most unique and creative experiences. Istanbul is a city that has long been known for its creative tourism experiences (Demir, E.M. n.d. 23). From its rich history and culture to its modern and cosmopolitan atmosphere, Istanbul has something to offer everyone. Istanbul has been home to numerous civilizations over the centuries, and this is reflected in its architecture, art, and cuisine. The city is home to several world-renowned museums, which offer visitors the chance to learn about the history and culture of Istanbul and see some of the most famous artifacts in the world. In addition, Istanbul is known by numerous people for being a modern and cosmopolitan city. It is home to a thriving nightlife scene, with many bars, clubs, and restaurants to choose from. The city has some shopping malls and designer boutiques. Furthermore, of course, Istanbul is home to several world-famous landmarks, such as the Blue Mosque and the Hagia Sophia. All these factors make Istanbul a city perfect for a creative tourism experience.

Creative Tourism Trail

Welcome to Istanbul, a city rich in history and culture! On this creative tourist trail, tourists will explore some of the city’s most iconic landmarks and get a taste of its vibrant arts scene. During our tourist walk, we will visit both the hidden treasures of the city and popular places that attract people coming to Istanbul every year. Thus, we will get acquainted with you and immerse ourselves in the heart of the city with the help of such places as the Museum of Innocence, Istanbul Museum of Modern Art, Galata Tower, Saint Stephen Church, Rustem Pasha Mosque, Walls of Constantinople, Theodosius Cistern and Heritage Nomadic Art Gallery. After our trail you will feel the atmosphere of the city, learn more about its culture and heritage.

The Creative Trail in Istanbul

Visit the Museum of Innocence

The first stop on our way to get acquainted with the city and its unique sights is The Museum of Innocence. It is not the most common location to visit among tourists, but it provides an unforgettable experience and gives you the opportunity to immerse yourself more deeply in the cultural heritage of the city. The creator of this museum is Orhan Pamuk, who created an attraction in which even the most sophisticated tourist will find something interesting for himself. Hence, the museum has installations based on “daily life described in the author’s eponymous novel” (The Museum of Innocence, n.d., para. 3). The novel “The Museum of Innocence” has become one of the representations of the history of the Turkish city.

Thus, the museum is based on the romantic story of two lovers from different families. Furthermore, a native of a wealthy Kemal family falls in love with his distant relative from a poor family. Their secret meetings are filled with feelings and emotions, and they continue even after the young man’s marriage. It becomes interesting that all the objects presented in the museum are objects that Kemal took away from their meeting place. Thus, it occupies five floors, each of which contains a display that represents each chapter of the novel. After visiting the museum, we swami will walk through the district in which the museum is located. The main object will be the pedestrian street of Istanbul Istiklal, which includes other delightful architectural sights of the city. In addition, we will pass by many small authentic shops and shops where you can buy a small souvenir for yourself.

Visit the Istanbul Museum of Modern Art

The next stop on our way to get acquainted with Istanbul is the Istanbul Museum of Modern Art. The peculiarity of this museum is that it is the first private museum in the country which contains modern and contemporary art. It may appeal both to those who have never been acquainted with this kind of art before and to those who are avid lovers of exhibitions. The Istanbul Museum of Modern Art presents permanent and temporary exhibitions of twentieth-century artists. Moreover, it has a “photography gallery, and several areas for educational and social programs” (Istanbul Museum of Modern Art, 2021, para. 4). The uniqueness of this attraction is also the private collection of the Eczacıbaşı family, who are the founders of this museum.

Visit the Galata Tower

After visiting the museum, our group will go to one of the main architectural attractions of Istanbul, which is located in the European part of the city. It is considered one of the most ancient buildings in the whole world, and it is in excellent condition. Moreover, it is known as the symbol of Istanbul, and it offers a delightful and fascinating view of the panorama of the city. Galata Tower or Galata Kulesi “was included in the UNESCO World Heritage Temporary List in 2013” (Everything you need to know about Galata Tower Istanbul, n.d.). However, it was not always just a tourist attraction; it was originally used as a fire watchtower and was named Galata Fire Tower. To this day, it has not been determined when the tower was built, but it is assumed that the date of its foundation is 527 AD (Everything you need to know about Galata Tower Istanbul, n.d.). It has experienced much damage, especially due to the massive earthquake in 1590 (Everything you need to know about Galata Tower Istanbul, n.d.). Moreover, it had such appointments as a prison and an observatory.

Visit Saint Stephen Church

The longest time will be devoted to one of the most picturesque buildings in Istanbul, the St. Stephen’s Church. It is located in Balat, on the coast of the Golden Horn and is “a legacy of the Bulgarian minorities from the Ottoman period” (Bulgarian St. Stephen Church, n.d., para. 2). The church owes its unique architecture to Neo-Gothic and Neo-Baroque styles. The elements of the building are made of steel, cast-iron plates, which is reflected in the name “Iron Church” (The Bulgarian St. Stephen Church, n.d.). Another unique feature is the presence of six bells, which were cast in Yaroslavl. You and I will visit the church itself and become spectators of its services, since it is open to visitors. We will enjoy the beautiful interior decorations and ornaments of the building. After visiting St. Stephen’s Church, we will be able to walk around the sights and enjoy the beautiful views of the embankment.

Visit Rustem Pasha Mosque

Next, we will go to see one of the most famous Muslim place of worship called Rüstem Paşa Mosque. The uniqueness of this place is the delicate examples of classical Iznik tiles (Rüstem Paşa Mosque, n.d., para. 2). Despite its small size, it is worth a visit, due to its beautiful appearance. Not very many people visit this place, but only because it is hidden from the eyes of tourists. Rustem Pasha Mosque has the stunning interior that will conquer any person. On the way to this place, we will pass by Eminönü tram stop, Spice Bazaar and many Turkish coffee shops.

Visit the Walls of Constantinople

Many cities have walls that have protected and protected the city for a long time. These are our next attractions, called The Walls of Constantinople or Byzantine Walls. They were erected by Constantine the Great and originally fenced in Istanbul, which at that time was quite small in size. The armed forces of the city protected residents from invasions not only from the land but also from the sea. With the passage of time, several modifications were added to the wall to fix problems and create a larger protection wall (Walls Of Constantinople, n.d., para. 1). It should be understood that the walls now do not look the way they used to look, but they still show the strength that Istanbul has maintained for many years. Thus, it can be said that they are the window to the past and amaze with their size. In addition to the restored places, there are places where the original sections of the wall were left.

Visit the Theodosius Cistern

Istanbul provides a huge number of attractions that will win the heart of any visitor to the city. However, not all of them are located on the surface of the city and are open to the view of visitors to the city. This is exactly the attraction of the Theodosius Cistern, which is one of my favorite places to visit. It is located in the Historical Peninsula and is “the earliest example of the water structures of the city with a history of 1600 years” (Theodosius Cistern – Everything you need to know about visiting, 2022, para. 2). Cistern has a long history and was built during the rule of Theodosius II in the fifth century. Theodosius Cistern is a unique representation of the ancient water system. We will fully plunge into the underground magical world of the city and enjoy the atmosphere of this unique place.

Visit the Heritage Nomadic Art Gallery

The last stop of our wonderful journey is the Heritage Nomadic Art Gallery. It is located in the magical Sultanhamet district, which has many attractions. It is visited daily by many tourists, so it is quite a crowded place. The architecture of the district impresses with its beauty and grandeur. The art gallery itself provides a “magical world of textiles, rugs, and everything related to embroidery and knitting in the ancient life of the people of Istanbul” (Information about Heritage Nomadic Art Gallery, n.d., para. 1). It is with this colorful variety that the place amazes tourists visiting it. All excellent products are made with natural dies and the best quality wool. These products reflect the history of the Turkish city and reflect the heritage of its population.

Conclusion

In conclusion, creativity and tourism are two essential aspects that are interconnected. Creativity is vital in tourism because it can help create new and innovative products and experiences that attract tourists. Tourism is vital for creativity because it can provide inspiration and new ideas. Both creativity and tourism can have a positive impact on the economy and society. There are many reasons why Istanbul city was selected for study on an analysis to reveal how Cities are increasingly promoting themselves by showcasing their culture and creativity through creative industries, creative areas, and creative experiences. One reason is that Istanbul has a long and rich history. It has been a crossroads of cultures for centuries, reflected in its architecture, cuisine, and arts. Istanbul is also a very diverse city with many creative professionals. This diversity provides a unique perspective on the creative industries and how they can contribute to the city’s economy and identity.

Additionally, Istanbul is a rapidly growing city, and the creative industries play an increasingly important role in its development. The city’s government has supported the creative industries and invested in infrastructure and initiatives to promote them. This has made Istanbul an attractive destination for creative businesses and professionals. Finally, Istanbul has a strong sense of identity and pride. Its citizens are passionate about their city and its culture, reflected in its creative scene. Istanbul is a vibrant and exciting place to live and work and is ideal for studying the creative industries.

In recent years, Istanbul has become one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world. The city has a lot to offer visitors, including a rich history, a vibrant culture, and a wide range of creative and cultural resources. Istanbul is home to several world-famous museums, including the Topkapi Palace Museum, the Hagia Sophia Museum, and the Istanbul Archaeological Museum. These museums are a great way to learn about the city’s history and culture. Istanbul also has some art galleries that showcase the work of local and international artists. Istanbul has a lot to offer tourists, and its cultural and creative resources are a big part of what makes it such a popular destination. These resources are a great way to learn about the city and its culture, providing visitors with a unique and enjoyable experience.

The creative trail developed for visitors to experience the fantastic scenery of Istanbul is truly a one-of-a-kind adventure. The trail is designed to ensure visitors can take in all of the beauty that Istanbul offers. From stunning cityscape views to unforgettable sunsets, Istanbul is a city that is sure to take one’s breath away. It is evident that this trail will provide visitors with an unparalleled experience and that they will leave Istanbul with memories that will last a lifetime. Istanbul is full of fantastic scenery and many different ways to experience it. One great way to see the city is by walking through one of the many different neighborhoods. Each neighborhood has its unique flavor, and there are plenty of different things to see and do in each one.

Reference Lists

Al-Ababneh, M.M. (2019) ‘Creative cultural tourism as a new model for cultural tourism,’ Journal of Tourism Management Research, 6(2), pp. 109-118.

Bakas, F.E., et al. (2020) ‘Connecting to place through creative tourism,’Creative Tourism Dynamics: Connecting Travelers, Communities, Cultures, and Places. Web.

Bulgarian St. Stephen Church (Sveti Stefan Kilisesi)(n.d.). Web.

Demir, E.M. (n.d) ‘On the current situation of creative industries in Turkey,’ Etkileşim, 1(9), pp. 224-239. doi:10.32739/etkilesim.2022.5.9.162

Ekici, A. (2022) ‘Local-level “Best practices” during covid-19 and their impact on community well-being: Cases from the municipality of Kadıköy, Istanbul,’ Springer, Cham, 1(1), pp. 531-548. doi:10.1007/978-3-030-98152-5_25

Everything you need to know about Galata Tower Istanbul (n.d.). Web.

Information about Heritage Nomadic Art Gallery(n.d.). Web.

Istanbul Museum of Modern Art (Where, What to see? Entrance fee)(2021). Web.

Oscar, C. (2020) ‘Sustainable tourism community: A case study of İstanbul,’ Journal of Multidisciplinary Academic Tourism, 5(2), pp. 63-79. doi:10.31822/jomat.739909

Parlak, Baycan, T. (2020) ‘The rise of creative hubs in Istanbul,’ European Spatial Research And Policy, 27(1), pp. 127-147. doi:10.18778/1231-1952.27.1.06

Rüstem Paşa Mosque(n.d.). Web.

Stalmirska, A.M. (2020) ‘Cultural globalization and food in urban destination marketing,’ Tourism Geographies, 1(1), pp. 1-19. doi:10.1080/14616688.2020.1857429

The Bulgarian St. Stephen Church(n.d.). Web.

The Museum of Innocence (n.d.). Web.

Theodosius Cistern – Everything you need to know about visiting(2022). Web.

Üzülmez, Akdağ, G. (2020) ‘Analysis of motivations of foreign tourists behind their choice of turkish cuisine based on their neophobic and neophilic tendencies: A research in Istanbul,’ Seyahat ve Otel İşletmeciliği Dergisi, 17(3), pp. 540-552. doi:10.24010/soid.720612

Walls Of Constantinople(n.d.). Web.

Introduction

Destination management is helpful in the following points:

• It allows to visualize all the pros and cons of the tourist spot;
• One needs it to determine stakeholders;
• It will help to determine the stakeholder group’s role;
• One might find out how does each group relate to the destination management
• The tourism destination considered for this study is Istanbul, Turkey

Stakeholders

• Stakeholders formulate an essential factor in any business
• It similarly applies to the destination management process
• Moreover, stakeholders are usually divided on certain groups
• The two essential groups are internal and external stakeholders
• Each of these groups has its features which influence destination management

Internal stakeholders

• Internal stakeholder groups influence the tourist destination spot to most extent
• It is formulated by the direct effect of internal stakeholders on the management
• Besides, internal stakeholders play vital role in the tourist spot’s quality

External stakeholders

• External stakeholders have less influence on the tourist spot
• However, its influence is still vital
• External stakeholders formulate a conditions, under which the destination point exists

Influence of Internal Stakeholders

• Transport providers – Provide the logistic needs
• Management organizations – Perform decision-making process
• Employees – Provide the tourist point running

Influence of external stakeholders

• Customers – Formulate the financial basement
• Local communities – Constitute the legal environment
• Local communities – Constitute the legal environment
• Media – Provide the advertisement
• City governance – Promote the development
• Nearby cities – Formulate the competitiveness level
• Competitors – Influence on the competitive balance

Aims of mind map in destination management

• Competitiveness is the crucial factor influenced by media
• Determining aims of destination management leads to creating of development strategies
• Distinguishing the unique options is the primary goal
• One needs to visualize the stakeholder groups
• It is important to develop strategies of avoiding and adjustment

Istanbul, Turkey, and Its Competitiveness

Internal factors of competitiveness include:

• Advertising strategies
• The positive balance between pricequality
• Effective governance

External factors involves, in the current situation, the reaction of the object to environment (the pandemic).

Establishing of low-price options to choose

Reference List

Kozak, N. (ed.) (2019). Tourist destination management: instruments, products, and case studies. Anadolu: Springer.

Diaz, M. R. and Rodriguez, T. F. (2019). Tourism destination management. Bazel: MDPI

Ryan, C. (2020). Advanced introduction to tourism destination management. Waikato: Edward Elgar Publishing.

Though technically representing a completely unique business area, the hospitality and tourism industry shares a range of characteristics, goals, and strategies to achieve these goals with other businesses. Similarly, performing in the specified industry implies addressing mostly the same range of challenges that other areas involve. However, to overcome these challenges, unique characteristics of the hospitality and tourism industry must be utilized (Wurarah et al., 2021). By incorporating the approaches based on enhanced communication and the cross-cultural dialogue as one of the core characteristics of the hospitality and tourism industry, one can address the issues associated with high competitiveness, financial constraints, and the related concerns.

The focus on the expanded opportunities for cross-cultural dialogue and the resulting boost in communication efficacy must be seen as the main advantage of the hospitality industry. Therefore, the specified characteristic must be integrated into the framework for managing customer communication, as well as the dialogue with the rest of stakeholders (Wurarah et al., 2021). Similarly, organization processes and the supply chain management framework, particularly, logistics-associated tasks, will be managed more effectively with the help of the specified change (Wurarah et al., 2021). Furthermore, the focus on expanding cultural experiences of customers and introducing them to the opportunity of enjoying unique cultural experiences must be integrated into the marketing framework to address the likely drop of demand caused by the current global crisis.

By focusing on the active use of cross-cultural communication techniques and the resulting enhancement of the core supply chain processes, as well as improved negotiation and a well-defined competitive advantage, companies in the hospitality and tourism industry will thrive in the global market. Due to the vast opportunities of embracing multiculturalism, the target industry will be able to thrive in the current globalized environment. Moreover, effective forecasting and an elaborate risk management approach can be integrated with the help of the specified framework.

Reference

Wurarah, R. N., Timotius, E., Sembiring, T. B., & Sadiartha, A. A. N. G. (2021). The Role of Employee Performance in the Tourism Hospitality Industry in Indonesia. Academy of Strategic Management Journal, 20(1), 1-11. Web.

Passport DC is a one-month cultural tourism program intended to showcase and develop the thriving international community of Washington as well as its ‘melting-pot’ culture. Since May is International Cultural Awareness Month celebrated in Washington, Passport DC provides multiple opportunities to hold various meetings and programs by embassies as well as the best cultural institutions in the city. This report focuses on the evaluation of the Saudi Arabian Embassy in Washington participating in the Passport DC program.

The aim of the Embassy’s engagement with the program was to provide the visitors of the event with the ample knowledge about the culture and heritage of Saudi Arabia, including the country’s vision of the future, language, its leaders, as well as visionary projects that have been taking place in the Kingdom. The first program goal was to engage in meaningful interactions with the visitors to ensure that they get as much information as possible about the rich culture and diversity of Saudi Arabia. The second program goal was to answer any questions visitors had about the Kingdom to expand their knowledge. The third program goal was to gain more experience interacting with different visitors and know which questions concern them the most. The event was held on May 7, 2021, with the Embassy team including the Media department, the IT and Engineering Crew, and Public Diplomacy representatives, including King Abdullah Academy Staff and Saudi Arabian Cultural Mission (SACM) students and volunteers.

Important Event KPIs

To evaluate the success of the event, several key performance indicators (KPIs) were introduced. They were the following:

1. Visitor satisfaction – the indicator measured the satisfaction of visitors with the event to determine whether they liked the activities that were held. The visitors commented positively on the activities, which included interactive engagement with children, photoshoots in traditional Saudi clothing, authentic food tasking, and getting designs from henna artists and calligraphers.
2. Comfort – the indicator measured whether the event was held in a good location that could meet the expectations of visitors. Regarding venue size, the visitors reported that the space allowed everyone to move around freely without any crowding. It could have been helpful to have a tent installed outside to enable the visitors to disperse around the venue and have more room for activities.
3. Event venue preparedness – the indicator measured whether everything was considered when it comes to the event’s organization. The negative indicator was that the lines were quite long at the main entrance due to the lack of rope lines for sectioning the crowd. Besides, it was challenging for several people to enter because the doors were too small. In addition, the big auditorium backdrop was outdated.
4. Staff performance – the indicator measured whether the staff involved in the event met all of the expectations. During the event, there were some issues associated with performance; namely, there were no brochures about tourism to Saudi Arabia, troubles with a video, and not all photos that should have been.
5. The number of staff – the indicator measured whether there was enough staff at the event to complete all tasks successfully. Notably, there were not enough volunteers from SACM, which caused some underperformance.
6. Information fullness and coverage – the indicator measured whether the information presented to the visitor was complete and covered everything relevant to Saudi Arabia. The visitors were shown a video about Saudi Arabia at the event, but it lacked some important information. Specifically, there was a lack of focus on Makkah and Al-Madinah, no information on female empowerment in Saudi Arabia, no mentioning of traditional foods, no mentioning of the Kingdom’s 2030 strategic vision, and no mention of the world heritage sites in the country.

Quantitative Data Findings

While the KPIs mentioned in the previous section tend to cover qualitative data, several quantitative indicators should be mentioned. In contrast to qualitative data, which requires more time to be analyzed and compared, quantitative indicators are easier to note and report on a long-term basis. Recording quantitative data from the event for several years can help compare them and make conclusions regarding which event was the most successful. The quantitative data for May 7, 2021, event is the following:

1. More than 1,200 attendees at the event;
2. More than 600 photos were taken in traditional costumes and candid images for visitors to keep for memories;
3. More than 700 cards with Thuluth handwriting were given as keepsakes;
4. More than 600 cold beverages were served by Shotted Specialty Café when entertaining guests.

Recommendations for Improvement in the Future

Since there is no limit to perfection, it is essential to learn from mistakes or minor missteps in order to organize better events in the future. Drawing from the event assessment findings, recommendations for improvement can be made. The following is the recommendations list:

1. Improve venue preparation and organization – during the next event, it is necessary to eliminate long wait times at the entrance through improved crowd sectioning and a bigger entrance door. In addition, several tents can be placed outside so that visitors have more room to move around the event.
2. Improve the information organization efforts – when preparing for the next event, the presentation shown to visitors should have more detailed information about Saudi Arabia, including its sociopolitical background, the vision of the future, as well as abundant tourism-related information to encourage more visitors to the country.
3. Encourage participation of higher-standing diplomats so they can talk more about the country, its culture, the opportunities for tourism, diplomatic relationships, and other relevant information.
4. Engage more consular efforts, such as having a table at the venue for Consular Office to explain visitors how they can apply for a visa to visit Saudi Arabia. In addition, the consular representative can hand out informational brochures containing full information about visiting the country.
5. Increase the number of volunteers at the event to ensure the meeting of visitors’ demands. The more volunteers there will be, the easier it is to distribute assignments and responsibilities between them. A larger number of volunteers will ensure that all the recommendations mentioned above are met.
6. Expand the variety of activities at the event because the visitors reported to like them. The majority of positive comments that the event attendees gave were regarding different activities that they could do. Considering the diversity of the Saudi Arabian culture, it is possible to come up with different activities that are relevant to the country. These may include masterclasses on making Arabian pita bread, quizzes on who knows the most facts about Saudi Arabia, more entertainment for kids, and many others.

Summary and Conclusion

The Passport DC event was overall a success, with a lot of visits getting to know the diverse cultural heritage of Saudi Arabia and engaging in discussions about what the future holds for collaborative efforts to exchange knowledge and experience. The most important takeaway from the event was that more than one thousand and two hundred people who participated developed an awareness about the notable transformation occurring in the Kingdom aimed at becoming a valuable player in the International Affairs arena. Due to the goal of promoting Saudi Arabia and encouraging more tourists to the country, in the future, it could be helpful to include the representatives of Saudi Arabia’s Consular Office. They can show how easy it is to apply for a visa and fly to the country.

Unfortunately, there were some mistakes that the team made in terms of the event’s organization. However, since they did not detract from the success of the event, it is easy to note them and improve during the next events. The most notable issue during the event was the lack of informational preparation because the presentation did not include some of the most important information about Saudi Arabia necessary to show the country in the best light possible. The venue could be expanded to include more outside tents so that attendees have more room to move and participate in different activities. The organizational part at the entrance needs work because there were large lines, and this problem can be solved by increasing the entrance size and dividing groups of people into more lines. Overall, there is always room for improvement, and it is hoped that the next event planners will consider the recommendations.

Colson Whitehead’s book The Colossus of New York opens with the chapter City Limits. The reasons why individuals might visit this city are stated at the beginning of the text in the second person point of view. “Or perhaps you relocated here a few years ago in search of employment. Perhaps you came here to attend class. Maybe you viewed a brochure. People begin creating their private cities as soon as they move to this city”, the author says. Whitehead frequently employs personifications and metaphors, which makes it puzzlingly unclear whether New York is a collection of shared spaces and experiential triggers that are each interpreted differently by its visitors and residents or whether these individual atomizations form an urban collective that is best described as the multidimensional phenomenon of New York City. In any case, a clear connection between the city and its inhabitants transcends people’s limited perceptions of what it may mean to live somewhere.

Additionally, the author claims that “your New York City is not my New York City” (Whitehead 3). On the uptown NO. 1 train, the author begins constructing his fictional New York City in the first person. His earliest memory is gazing out a subway window in the early 1970s as he traveled to 125th Street. He recalls how dirty the city is, referring to it as the Pan Am Building. Despite the passage of time, he can still remember the specifics. Whitehead demonstrates what he means when he states that one starts developing their private New York the first time one lays eyes on it in the third sentence. According to the author, the favorite neighborhoods, newsstands, restaurants, movie theaters, metro stops and any other beloved places distinguish unique personal cities from others. People use different methods to travel to such locations; the towns are exclusive and private.

The author compares that perception to how people would perceive New York if born and bred here. Being a true New Yorker is what Whitehead calls it, stating, “You are a New Yorker when what was there before is more real and solid than what is here now” (7). In essence, he claims that one becomes a true New Yorker when one starts to observe changes in their neighborhoods rather than only knowing about what is already there. One knows they are a true New Yorker when they visit these locations and experience those feelings of nostalgia and memories. Additionally, according to Whitehead, as soon as a visitor sets foot in New York, they immediately form their perception of what the city is like or how it appears.

The author continues by lamenting the loss of the New York he once knew. He predicts that everything will eventually change and that the New York people are accustomed to won’t exist anymore. He even gives the most precise illustration of this, saying that he will always picture the Met Life building as the former Pan Am skyscraper as he crosses Park Avenue and sees it towering over Grand Central station. He also demonstrates how false information about New York can be found in textbooks used in schools and TV shows about the city. That does not imply that the information they provide is untrue, only that it is irrelevant to the New York in which you were raised. Additionally, he expands on the many viewpoints held by New Yorkers. For instance, someone may have once gone to a particular business because it was handy for them, but when the years pass and the store closes, or a new one opens, the new customers may not be aware of what was there before.

Work Cited

Whitehead, Colson, 1969. The Colossus of New York: a City in Thirteen Parts. New York: Recorded Books.

With its rich and ancient heritage, Saudi Arabia is a fascinating tourist destination, which makes the tourist industry in the KSA a rather lucrative business. However, due to the concerns regarding the impact that uncontrolled tourism produced on the environment, principles of sustainability must be introduced into it. The proposal under analysis explores the progress that the KSA, its authorities, and tourist agencies have made so far in contributing to sustainable tourism as a means of balancing between tourism-related business goals and the necessity to protect and conserve the environment. Though the proposal has several minor gaps in it, the overall direction and the content are quite compelling, pointing to the necessity to enhance the principles of sustainability in the KSA context and outlining relevant tools that will produce the most positive effect.

The literature overview of the prerequisites for establishing a sustainable tourism framework in the KSA tourism industry appears to be the key strength of the paper. A review of the core projects associated with tourism, in which the KSA and its organizations have been involved represents an accurate and concise summary of the recent achievements and the issues that need extra attention to be improved. Specifically, analyzing the experience of building 50 hotels and using the Red Sea environment as the key selling point for the KSA economy improvement represents an essential part of the overall argument.

Similarly, the evaluation of the KSA 2030 vision in relation to the state economy and the focus on sustainability as one of the vital goals represents an important advantage of the paper since it introduces the sense of urgency while also summarizing key characteristics of the target environment. In addition, essential factors affecting the current performance of the industry are outlined, allowing one to make forecasts for the future evolution of the industry and the success of sustainability-related endeavors. Namely, the impact of reforms introduced recently into the KSA legal environment appears to have produced a remarkably positive effect on the tourism sector, thus, building the basis for companies to enhance their compliance with the principles of sustainability and sustainable development. Moreover, the financial aspects of the subject matter are discussed briefly, allowing for a better understanding of the means that can be used to achieve increased sustainability rates.

However, there are some minor weaknesses that require proper attention and father improvements. Specifically, the review glances over the key political factors affecting the sustainability levels only briefly, which does not allow for a full understanding of the key constraints and the means of overcoming them. In addition, the strategies for achieving sustainability in tourism need to be considered closer and in greater detail, with the focus on the responsibility of all parties involved. Specifically, the role of tourists in enhancing sustainability rates and forwarding the ideas of environmentalism. Namely, encouraging tourists to be mindful about their impact on ecosystems and their biodiversity should be one of the main priorities. Additionally, tourist agencies should seek opportunities for minimizing the effects that their business has on the environment.

Overall, the review is coherent and concise, with key ideas introduced accurately. Though it could use further expansion to address key sustainable tourism strategies, it still generates enough material on which a framework for sustainable tourism in the KSA can be built. Nonetheless, further research will be required to develop an effective approach to sustainable tourism and ensure that the KSA will lead the way to it.