The first is an academic viewpoint, written by Prof. Stanislav Ivanov from Varna University of Ma... more The first is an academic viewpoint, written by Prof. Stanislav Ivanov from Varna University of Management. He suggests academic research accepts and pays more attention to the economics of technologies in travel, tourism, and hospitality. According to Ivanov, travel, tourism, and hospitality (TTH) are intrinsically connected to technology. At the same time, tourists book their flights and accommodation through technology, reach their destination with the help of technology, explore the destination with technology, and share their experiences online with technology. Economic principles, like any other business, run them. Economic factors also drive their decisions to invest in technology. That is why academic research needs to acknowledge and pay more attention to the economics of technologies in travel, tourism, and hospitality. This academic viewpoint also outlines several directions for future research in the field.
Abstract In this article, the authors investigate the way that the public views automation techno... more Abstract In this article, the authors investigate the way that the public views automation technologies and their usage in tourist transportation based on data from a large-scale international survey. The authors explore the use of robots for the provision of information with regards to travel, the use of autonomous vehicles, and other robot-delivered transport-related tasks. The findings indicate that the perceived reliability, safety, and usefulness of the use of robots for transport play a major role in impacting perceptions of the appropriateness of using robots for different purposes. The findings also indicate that no demographic characteristics, apart from gender, seem to play any role in conditioning perceptions of the appropriateness of using robots in the field of transportation.
Originality/value: This is one of the few publications that discuss the economic aspects of the i... more Originality/value: This is one of the few publications that discuss the economic aspects of the incorporation of RAISA technologies into travel, tourism and hospitality industries.
<b>Bulgarian Abstract:</b> Публикацията разглежда теоретичните и практически аспекти ... more <b>Bulgarian Abstract:</b> Публикацията разглежда теоретичните и практически аспекти на маркетинга на рекреационния продукт. <b>English Abstract:</b> This book chapter elaborates the theoretical and practical issues of marketing the recreational product.
Robots are rapidly taking over tasks in the workplace. However, there has been little or no resea... more Robots are rapidly taking over tasks in the workplace. However, there has been little or no research on the specifics of how the public views the use of robotic technologies in events. In this research note, we use data from a large-scale international survey to learn about how the general public views the use of robots in events and what attitudes and demographics are associated with acceptance of greater use of robots as labor in events. The findings show that the public is most supportive of using robots to supply information at events and least supportive of using robots as entertainers at events. However, regressions illustrate a general willingness to have robots do tasks for events and a generally positive attitude towards robots. These attitudes are best correlated with the acceptance of higher ratios of robots in the labor force at events.
Purpose The purpose of this perspective paper is to investigate the role of robots in tourism’s c... more Purpose The purpose of this perspective paper is to investigate the role of robots in tourism’s contribution to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Design/methodology/approach With a deep analysis of the 17 SDGs and their 169 targets, the authors provide an interpretation on both the positive and negative impacts of robots in tourism towards the achievement of the SDG. Findings For several SDGs, the positive impact of robots in tourism is evident, whereas for others, it can be debated as the adoption of robots can lead to both positive and negative impacts, mostly dependent on how robots will be used. In particular, robots can provide a decent work environment for tourism and hospitality (TH) employees (SDG 8) who perform dangerous tasks while decreasing the consumption of resources (SDGs 2, 6, 7, 12, 13) due to their contribution to a company’s effectiveness and efficiency. In the meantime, robots have some impacts on the environment, both in terms of the u...
PurposeThis viewpoint is a response to Yeoman's (2022) editorial on Sunderland AFC and the fu... more PurposeThis viewpoint is a response to Yeoman's (2022) editorial on Sunderland AFC and the future of tourism. This viewpoint aims to outline the lessons one can learn from Star Wars about the future of tourism.Design/methodology/approachThe paper reviews the live-action movies and series of the Star Wars franchise.FindingsThe paper derives specific conclusions in the following directions: the future technology in travel, tourism and hospitality; the tourists' motivation and behaviour; the management of travel, tourism and hospitality companies; destination management; economy and society and lessons from the franchise.Originality/valueThis is one of the first papers to elaborate on the lessons one can learn about the future of tourism from the Star Wars live-action movies and series.
<b>Bulgarian Abstract:</b> Публикацията разглежда включването на паметниците на социа... more <b>Bulgarian Abstract:</b> Публикацията разглежда включването на паметниците на социализма в туристическото предлагане. Представени са два казуса – Берлин и Варна. Берлин успешно запазва и включва паметници от времето на нацизма и на социализма в туристическото предлагане на града, докато във Варна паметникът на Българо-съветската дружба е оставен на разруха. Въпреки идеологическата натовареност от едно “нежелано минало“ и политическите противоречия на които са предмет и до днес, тези свидетели една близка във времето култура са и ресурс, който успешно може да се превърне в актив за развитието на туристическото предлагане на страната. <b>English Abstract:</b> The publication examines the inclusion of the monuments built in the socialist era in tourism offer. Two cases are presented – those of Berlin and Varna. Whilst Berlin has preserved and included the monuments from the Nazi and the socialist period in its tourism offer, the Bulgarian-Soviet friendship monument in Varna is left to destruction. Despite the ideological burden of the “unwanted past” and the political controversies that surround these monuments until today, as witnesses of a recent past they are also a resource that could be successfully converted into an asset for the development of tourism supply.
In search of greater productivity, efficiency, and improved competitiveness, companies from all s... more In search of greater productivity, efficiency, and improved competitiveness, companies from all sectors of the economy have started to adopt robots and artificial intelligence for producing products, delivering products, communicating with customers, etc. Recent technological advances made robots accessible to consumers as well (e.g. intelligent digital assistants, home cleaning robots, cooking robots, etc.). Consumer robots currently are perceived as technological products, produced by companies and sold to end consumers. However, the current and future functionalities of home robots (will) allow them to search, filter, select and purchase various products and services on behalf of their owners. This means that they (will) interfere in the consumer behaviour of their owners by determining the options their owners can choose from. This raises the question whether it is the robot or its owner who makes the decision for purchase. Hence, in the future, companies should target not only ...
The first is an academic viewpoint, written by Prof. Stanislav Ivanov from Varna University of Ma... more The first is an academic viewpoint, written by Prof. Stanislav Ivanov from Varna University of Management. He suggests academic research accepts and pays more attention to the economics of technologies in travel, tourism, and hospitality. According to Ivanov, travel, tourism, and hospitality (TTH) are intrinsically connected to technology. At the same time, tourists book their flights and accommodation through technology, reach their destination with the help of technology, explore the destination with technology, and share their experiences online with technology. Economic principles, like any other business, run them. Economic factors also drive their decisions to invest in technology. That is why academic research needs to acknowledge and pay more attention to the economics of technologies in travel, tourism, and hospitality. This academic viewpoint also outlines several directions for future research in the field.
Abstract In this article, the authors investigate the way that the public views automation techno... more Abstract In this article, the authors investigate the way that the public views automation technologies and their usage in tourist transportation based on data from a large-scale international survey. The authors explore the use of robots for the provision of information with regards to travel, the use of autonomous vehicles, and other robot-delivered transport-related tasks. The findings indicate that the perceived reliability, safety, and usefulness of the use of robots for transport play a major role in impacting perceptions of the appropriateness of using robots for different purposes. The findings also indicate that no demographic characteristics, apart from gender, seem to play any role in conditioning perceptions of the appropriateness of using robots in the field of transportation.
Originality/value: This is one of the few publications that discuss the economic aspects of the i... more Originality/value: This is one of the few publications that discuss the economic aspects of the incorporation of RAISA technologies into travel, tourism and hospitality industries.
<b>Bulgarian Abstract:</b> Публикацията разглежда теоретичните и практически аспекти ... more <b>Bulgarian Abstract:</b> Публикацията разглежда теоретичните и практически аспекти на маркетинга на рекреационния продукт. <b>English Abstract:</b> This book chapter elaborates the theoretical and practical issues of marketing the recreational product.
Robots are rapidly taking over tasks in the workplace. However, there has been little or no resea... more Robots are rapidly taking over tasks in the workplace. However, there has been little or no research on the specifics of how the public views the use of robotic technologies in events. In this research note, we use data from a large-scale international survey to learn about how the general public views the use of robots in events and what attitudes and demographics are associated with acceptance of greater use of robots as labor in events. The findings show that the public is most supportive of using robots to supply information at events and least supportive of using robots as entertainers at events. However, regressions illustrate a general willingness to have robots do tasks for events and a generally positive attitude towards robots. These attitudes are best correlated with the acceptance of higher ratios of robots in the labor force at events.
Purpose The purpose of this perspective paper is to investigate the role of robots in tourism’s c... more Purpose The purpose of this perspective paper is to investigate the role of robots in tourism’s contribution to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Design/methodology/approach With a deep analysis of the 17 SDGs and their 169 targets, the authors provide an interpretation on both the positive and negative impacts of robots in tourism towards the achievement of the SDG. Findings For several SDGs, the positive impact of robots in tourism is evident, whereas for others, it can be debated as the adoption of robots can lead to both positive and negative impacts, mostly dependent on how robots will be used. In particular, robots can provide a decent work environment for tourism and hospitality (TH) employees (SDG 8) who perform dangerous tasks while decreasing the consumption of resources (SDGs 2, 6, 7, 12, 13) due to their contribution to a company’s effectiveness and efficiency. In the meantime, robots have some impacts on the environment, both in terms of the u...
PurposeThis viewpoint is a response to Yeoman's (2022) editorial on Sunderland AFC and the fu... more PurposeThis viewpoint is a response to Yeoman's (2022) editorial on Sunderland AFC and the future of tourism. This viewpoint aims to outline the lessons one can learn from Star Wars about the future of tourism.Design/methodology/approachThe paper reviews the live-action movies and series of the Star Wars franchise.FindingsThe paper derives specific conclusions in the following directions: the future technology in travel, tourism and hospitality; the tourists' motivation and behaviour; the management of travel, tourism and hospitality companies; destination management; economy and society and lessons from the franchise.Originality/valueThis is one of the first papers to elaborate on the lessons one can learn about the future of tourism from the Star Wars live-action movies and series.
<b>Bulgarian Abstract:</b> Публикацията разглежда включването на паметниците на социа... more <b>Bulgarian Abstract:</b> Публикацията разглежда включването на паметниците на социализма в туристическото предлагане. Представени са два казуса – Берлин и Варна. Берлин успешно запазва и включва паметници от времето на нацизма и на социализма в туристическото предлагане на града, докато във Варна паметникът на Българо-съветската дружба е оставен на разруха. Въпреки идеологическата натовареност от едно “нежелано минало“ и политическите противоречия на които са предмет и до днес, тези свидетели една близка във времето култура са и ресурс, който успешно може да се превърне в актив за развитието на туристическото предлагане на страната. <b>English Abstract:</b> The publication examines the inclusion of the monuments built in the socialist era in tourism offer. Two cases are presented – those of Berlin and Varna. Whilst Berlin has preserved and included the monuments from the Nazi and the socialist period in its tourism offer, the Bulgarian-Soviet friendship monument in Varna is left to destruction. Despite the ideological burden of the “unwanted past” and the political controversies that surround these monuments until today, as witnesses of a recent past they are also a resource that could be successfully converted into an asset for the development of tourism supply.
In search of greater productivity, efficiency, and improved competitiveness, companies from all s... more In search of greater productivity, efficiency, and improved competitiveness, companies from all sectors of the economy have started to adopt robots and artificial intelligence for producing products, delivering products, communicating with customers, etc. Recent technological advances made robots accessible to consumers as well (e.g. intelligent digital assistants, home cleaning robots, cooking robots, etc.). Consumer robots currently are perceived as technological products, produced by companies and sold to end consumers. However, the current and future functionalities of home robots (will) allow them to search, filter, select and purchase various products and services on behalf of their owners. This means that they (will) interfere in the consumer behaviour of their owners by determining the options their owners can choose from. This raises the question whether it is the robot or its owner who makes the decision for purchase. Hence, in the future, companies should target not only ...
ROBONOMICS: The Journal of the Automated Economy is an open-access peer-reviewed journal in the e... more ROBONOMICS: The Journal of the Automated Economy is an open-access peer-reviewed journal in the emerging field of robonomics – the automated economic system that relies on automation technologies, robotics and artificial intelligence as production factors, while the use of human labour is minimised. The journal addresses the economic, social, political, legal, ethical, technological, and environmental aspects of the future automated economic system and aims to develop the theoretical foundations of robonomics. The journal adopts a social science perspective to the issues of robonomics. The engineering aspects of automation technologies fall within the scope of the journal as long as they are discussed from a social science perspective. ROBONOMICS is a real open-access journal - there are no publication charges for authors and no fees for readers!
Tourism is universally considered as an activity specifically reserved for humans. Although not e... more Tourism is universally considered as an activity specifically reserved for humans. Although not explicitly stated, all definitions of tourism assume that the tourists are human beings. But should it be so?
Call for papers for a Special issue on "Tourism beyond humans - robots, pets and teddy bears" for Tourism Management Perspectives
The school is a full-immersion five-day residential course in an inspiring location, a stimulatin... more The school is a full-immersion five-day residential course in an inspiring location, a stimulating environment for PhD students, early career researches and industry leaders. The courses will be lectured by world-renowned experts in scientific methods and tools for tourism and hospitality. It focuses on methods based on data-driven models ("big data"), machine learning and optimization.
We kindly ask you to participate in this research devoted to the adoption of service robots by tr... more We kindly ask you to participate in this research devoted to the adoption of service robots by travel, tourism and hospitality companies. By completing the questionnaire, you will be eligible to participate in an opportunity for one of five electronic 100-dollar gift cards, redeemable as Amazon gift vouchers, among other options. Once you have completed the survey, a separate link will be sent to you allowing you to register for the opportunity. The researchers will not be able to identify your responses to the survey questions and the identifying information you will leave for the purposes of the opportunity for the gift vouchers.
For questions about your rights as a research subject, please contact the Director, Office of Research Integrity, Ball State University, Muncie, IN 47306, (765) 285-5070 or at irb@bsu.edu. IRB Protocol Number: 1194315-1
Please complete the questionnaire if only you are at least 18 years of age. Thank you in advance for your participation!
Dr. Craig Webster, Ball State University, USA, email: cwebster3@bsu.edu Prof. Stanislav Ivanov, Varna University Management, Bulgaria, email: stanislav.ivanov@vumk.eu
In recent years the world has witnessed significant progress in robotics, artificial intelligence... more In recent years the world has witnessed significant progress in robotics, artificial intelligence, and service automation (RAISA). Such technologies are used in the manufacturing as industrial robots, in transportation as autonomous vehicles, in medicine for diagnoses and surgery, in education, in marketing, social media, search engines, in warehouses and supply chain management, in agriculture, entertainment, in military and surveillance operations etc. Social robots even enter our lives as companions and assistants for the elderly and for children with special needs. RAISA are entering into all parts of the travel, tourism and hospitality industries. They come in the form of automated restaurants and hotels, in-room digital assistants, robot concierges, robots guides, delivery drones, chatbots, etc. RAISA provide vast opportunities to travel, tourism and hospitality companies to improve their operations and productivity, deliver consistent product quality and transfer some of the service delivery process to the customers. At the same time, they raise various questions like the dehumanisation, standardisation and commodification of hospitality services, substitution of employees by robots and artificial intelligence, overdependence on computers. While the application of artificial intelligence and service automation (e.g. self-service technologies) in travel, tourism and hospitality companies have received some attention by scholars, research on the adoption of robots by them is extremely scarce. This book aims to partially fill in this gap by elaborating on the theoretical and practical aspects of robots, artificial intelligence and service automation on both strategic and operational level. If you are interested in contributing to this exciting project, please submit a 300-500 word abstract by the 31 st of March, 2017 with 10-15 key references to the emails of both editors:
The next 15-20 years will witness the massive introduction of robots – both as consumer robots (i... more The next 15-20 years will witness the massive introduction of robots – both as consumer robots (including companion robots) and industrial robots as result of the advances in artificial intelligence and automation. Economists expect this with mixed feelings. While some extort the benefits artificial intelligence and robotics will bring to societies, others predict a darker scenario. The massive introduction of robots and the transition of the economic system to robonomics (robot-based economy) will cause many people to lose their jobs, new jobs would be created, production facilities will scale down and change their geographic location, and the sources of employees’, companies’ and countries’ competitive advantages will change drastically. This will have profound implications on the nature of work, level and sources of incomes, leisure time, politics, international trade and relations, ownership rights, etc., hence leading to major social, economic and political challenges and tension. Societies will be forced to find unconventional solutions to these challenges – birth right patents, universal basic income, constant and fluid free life-long education of population, robot-based tax system, redefinition of human rights, etc.
Using a combination of theoretical discussion and real-world case studies, this book analyses the... more Using a combination of theoretical discussion and real-world case studies, this book analyses the use of robotics, artificial intelligence and services automation (RAISA) within the travel, tourism and hospitality industries.
Divided into two sections, the book first concentrates on the theoretical aspects surrounding the use of RAISA in travel, tourism and hospitality. Themes explored include: economic fundamentals, customer attitudes, chatbot adoption, service quality.
Following on from this, the second section concentrates on current and future use of RAISA technologies in specific subsectors of the tourism economy: hotels, restaurants, travel agencies, museums, and events.
With an international scope of authorship and focus, the book is a useful reference source for scholars, students, and general readers interested in robotics, artificial intelligence, and automation technologies.
Alongside this, the business insights and case studies examined in the book offer practitioners guidance on how these technologies can and will be incorporated into organizations, particularly those in the travel and tourism industry.
Gazing at Death: dark tourism as an emergent horizon of Research. (Korstanje M. & Handayani, B). ... more Gazing at Death: dark tourism as an emergent horizon of Research. (Korstanje M. & Handayani, B). New York, Nova Science Publishers. This is a must-read book which starts a new discussion not only on dark tourism issues but on the role of death in modern society. A much deep-seated issue that merits to be investigated in the years to come (Abraham Abe Pizam, University of Central Florida, US)
Dr. Maximiliano Korstanje is one of the great minds of our young century. You may agree or disagree with his conclusions but this book, like much of his work makes the careful reader ponder his points and consider his positions. Korstankje is more than a thinker, he is the best type of academic, one who makes us question even the simplest of assumptions. Encountering his ideas is more than a mere journey into another academic work, but a chance to come face to face with multiple questions and academic challenges. (Peter Tarlow - Texas A&M University, US)
Gazing Death draws together the latest research in the field by presenting new and important insights in a well-crafted meticulously researched book. The chapters in this volume employ a multidisciplinary perspective to address the social, political, ethical, philosophical and cultural perspectives of dark tourism. It is an indispensable guide that will satisfy the novice and more experienced dark tourism scholar seeking to understand the tourism of macabre spectacles, places of disaster and sites on the darker side of life. (Demond S. Miller, Rowan University, US)
“The topic of dark tourism is growing in attention globally. Dr. Korstanje has dedicated this book to understanding the phenomena of travel surrounding death, disasters and terror. This book provides a one-stop shop for understanding a number of key areas of research within dark tourism: the motivations and behaviors surrounding dark travel, smart tourism for dark sites, as well as the economic impact of dark tourism. This book fills a gap in the literature which can be used by students, academics and practitioners alike.” - Professor Dr. Lori Pennington-Gray, University of Florida, USA
Gazing at Death is a must-read book, which allows a restructuration in the ways global tourism should be thought. This represents a fertile invitation to build a new theoretical framework of tourism in this new millenium. - Associate Professor Celeste Nava - University of Guanajuato, Mexico
Esta nota de investigación estudia el impacto de la competitividad de un destino en la contribuci... more Esta nota de investigación estudia el impacto de la competitividad de un destino en la contribución del turismo al crecimiento económico, para lo cual se usa una intersección de 131 países. La competitividad del destino se mide según el índice de competitividad de viajes y turismo del Foro Económico Mundial, mientras que la contribución del turismo al crecimiento económico se mide con la metodología de la descomposición del crecimiento. Los resultados revelan que la competitividad de los destinos no tiene un impacto estadístico significativo en la contribución del turismo al crecimiento económico. Las implicaciones para las políticas de turismo y las direcciones para investigaciones futuras también se discuten. Turismo y crecimiento económico, metodología de descomposición del crecimiento, competitividad del destino, Foro Económico Mundial, índice de competitividad de viajes y turismo.
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For full scope of the journal and submissions please visit: https://journal.robonomics.science/index.php/rj/about
Call for papers for a Special issue on "Tourism beyond humans - robots, pets and teddy bears" for Tourism Management Perspectives
For questions about your rights as a research subject, please contact the Director, Office of Research Integrity, Ball State University, Muncie, IN 47306, (765) 285-5070 or at irb@bsu.edu. IRB Protocol Number: 1194315-1
Please complete the questionnaire if only you are at least 18 years of age.
Thank you in advance for your participation!
Here is the link to the survey:
https://bsu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_4PdOOi6ERWHw97v
Sincerely,
Dr. Craig Webster, Ball State University, USA, email: cwebster3@bsu.edu
Prof. Stanislav Ivanov, Varna University Management, Bulgaria, email: stanislav.ivanov@vumk.eu
Divided into two sections, the book first concentrates on the theoretical aspects surrounding the use of RAISA in travel, tourism and hospitality. Themes explored include: economic fundamentals, customer attitudes, chatbot adoption, service quality.
Following on from this, the second section concentrates on current and future use of RAISA technologies in specific subsectors of the tourism economy: hotels, restaurants, travel agencies, museums, and events.
With an international scope of authorship and focus, the book is a useful reference source for scholars, students, and general readers interested in robotics, artificial intelligence, and automation technologies.
Alongside this, the business insights and case studies examined in the book offer practitioners guidance on how these technologies can and will be incorporated into organizations, particularly those in the travel and tourism industry.
This is a must-read book which starts a new discussion not only on dark tourism issues but on the role of death in modern society. A much deep-seated issue that merits to be investigated in the years to come (Abraham Abe Pizam, University of Central Florida, US)
Dr. Maximiliano Korstanje is one of the great minds of our young century. You may agree or disagree with his conclusions but this book, like much of his work makes the careful reader ponder his points and consider his positions. Korstankje is more than a thinker, he is the best type of academic, one who makes us question even the simplest of assumptions. Encountering his ideas is more than a mere journey into another academic work, but a chance to come face to face with multiple questions and academic challenges. (Peter Tarlow - Texas A&M University, US)
Gazing Death draws together the latest research in the field by presenting new and important insights in a well-crafted meticulously researched book. The chapters in this volume employ a multidisciplinary perspective to address the social, political, ethical, philosophical and cultural perspectives of dark tourism. It is an indispensable guide that will satisfy the novice and more experienced dark tourism scholar seeking to understand the tourism of macabre spectacles, places of disaster and sites on the darker side of life. (Demond S. Miller, Rowan University, US)
“The topic of dark tourism is growing in attention globally. Dr. Korstanje has dedicated this book to understanding the phenomena of travel surrounding death, disasters and terror. This book provides a one-stop shop for understanding a number of key areas of research within dark tourism: the motivations and behaviors surrounding dark travel, smart tourism for dark sites, as well as the economic impact of dark tourism. This book fills a gap in the literature which can be used by students, academics and practitioners alike.” - Professor Dr. Lori Pennington-Gray, University of Florida, USA
Gazing at Death is a must-read book, which allows a restructuration in the ways global tourism should be thought. This represents a fertile invitation to build a new theoretical framework of tourism in this new millenium. - Associate Professor Celeste Nava - University of Guanajuato, Mexico
Turismo y crecimiento económico, metodología de descomposición del crecimiento, competitividad del destino, Foro Económico Mundial, índice de competitividad de viajes y turismo.