Asean Journal on Hospitality and Tourism

Volume 8 , Number 1

 Mohinder Chand

Department of Tourism and Hotel Management, Kurukshetra University, Kurukshetra, India

This paper examines the critical issues relating to the management of aging workforce in the Indian hospitality firms. It is based on an e-mail survey of 250 hospitality firms, supplemented by 28 in-depth interviews with HR manager- owners located in the northern India. The results indicated that a number of different HRM strategies are important for the efficient use of aging workforce in Indian hospitality firms related to the work-life balance and flexible work practices , workforce planning, Career planning & development, retirement & pensions, knowledge management, training & development and so forth. These findings suggest that HRM strategies might be crucial to the management of aging workforce in the Indian hospitality firms.

Key words: HRM Strategies, Indian hospitality firms, aging workforce, Travel trade organisations, accommodation firms

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 Aram Son

School of Tourism Management, Zhongshan University, Zhuhai, Guangdong Province, China

 Yongzhi Wu

School of Tourism, Xi’an International Studies University, Xi’an, Shaanxi Province, China

This study was conducted to identify the characteristics of backpackers and their travel behaviours in China. Specifically, the study sought to explore backpackers’ expenditure patterns, activity preference and travel experience while traveling in China. A self-administered questionnaire was used in this study. The results were analysed based on 233 completed questionnaires distributed to backpackers staying at youth hostels in Xi’an. The research findings confirmed other previous studies on backpackers. It was found that majority of the backpackers in this study were primarily young and European. The results also indicated that respondents are highly motivated by seeking such goals as self-development and novelty and preferred to participate culture-based travel activities. Although respondents were satisfied with travel experiences in China there was room for improvement. The major issues pointed out by respondents were low standard of hygiene and public toilets, unfriendly frontline service employees at restaurants and train stations, and booking train tickets. It is hoped that the findings of this study will contribute to developing promotional strategies for the backpacker market in China.

Key words: Backpackers, travel behaviour, travel experience, critical incident technique, China

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 Manjula Chaudhary

Department of Tourism & Hotel Management, Kurukshetra University, India

 S.S.Boora

Department of Tourism & Hotel Management, Kurukshetra University, India

With globalization and spread of Internet the world is becoming a big mart with consumers shopping for best value of money across political boundaries. This is opening a global customer base for the product and service providers. Developing countries too are using this opportunity to create their own competitive advantages. Information Technology sector is already witnessing the power of competitive and differential advantage of developing nations and healthcare is emerging as another potential area. The health services at reasonable prices - at least in comparison to the developed countries, are attracting large number of people from across the globe to a few select destinations. Globally this market is estimated to be to the tune of US$ 40 billion growing at the rate of 15 per cent per annum. India is the new entrant in the field that has seen an upward trend in attracting the foreign tourists for medical purposes in the recent years and is counted among potential frontrunners. While on the one hand its medical tourism is lauded for its revenue generation and service excellence capabilities, on the other hand doubts are also being raised about a number of related issues pertaining to real advantages to patients as well as service providers. This paper makes an assessment of the existing trends, infrastructure required for medical tourism and evaluation of the advantages that India possesses besides taking stock of the trends in medical tourism at the global level.

Key words: Medical tourism, Mode 2, India’s Competitive Advantages, trade in health services, GATS and tourism, Indian Tourism, healthcare, inbound tourism in India, India’s international tourism.

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 Keith Ng

Southern Cross University, Singapore

 MD. Shafiqur Rahman

Southern Cross University, Singapore

It has long been acknowledged that service differentiation through effective market segmentation ensures survivability of the firm in the long run. While voluminous studies on segmentation and providing service differentiation were conducted, little previous research work was done in the context of the airline industry. It is the intention of this paper to examine the needs of the physically challenged individuals and the reasons constraining the industry in fulfilling these needs. This paper will contribute significantly to understanding the needs of the physically challenged individuals and suggest that meeting the needs of these individuals provide sustainable competitive advantage for those who dare to adapt their strategy. Given the little previous researches were conducted in the identification of this potential group of customers, it is no wonder the airline industry is myopic and ill-prepared in meeting the needs of this viable group of customers. This study is also beneficial from a managerial perspective given the implications in assisting the airline operators and marketers to better understand this group of customers and their needs. Particularly specific features identified in this paper can help increase the overall position of airline operators that would appeal to this growing segment.

Key words: Differentiation, segmentation, competitive advantage, airlines, needs, physically challenged persons

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 Chen Qiong

Northumbria University, UK

 Ismail

Department of Finance, Faculty of Business Management, UiTM, Malaysia

 Mohammad Samaun Safa

Department of Economics, Faculty of Business Management, UiTM, Malaysia

The present study has attempted to investigate the contribution of tourism to various macroeconomic variables of China. Secondary data has been used in the study for the five-year period of time. The findings of the study shows that over the last five years there was a gradual positive growth in tourist receipt, employment, development of supportive industry and so forth except a sharp fall in 2003. The growth in each variable was lower in 2002 than that of 2004. The study has concluded that there was a positive impact of tourism industry on the macroeconomic development of Shanghai.

Key words: Tourism, China, Shanghai, macroeconomics, national economic development

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