News

Prof. Sara Dolnicar Delivered Insightful Lecture on Environmentally Sustainable Tourism

On 4 March 2025, Professor Sara Dolnicar, a renowned expert in sustainable tourism and an ARC Australian Laureate Fellow from the School of Business at the University of Queensland, visited The Hong Kong Polytechnic University to deliver an insightful lecture titled “How to Make Environmentally Sustainable Tourism More of an Experience and Less of an Obligation.” The event was attended by the master students from the School of Hotel and Tourism Management (SHTM), as well as members of the Research Centre for Digital Transformation of Tourism (RCDTT). Professor Dolnicar, founder of The Low Harm Hedonism Initiative, emphasized the need to transform the perception of sustainable tourism from a mandatory obligation into an enriching experience for travelers. The Low Harm Hedonism Initiative challenges conventional theories about universal drivers of human behavior, proposing that enhancing enjoyment or modifying infrastructure is essential for promoting pro-environmental actions in hedonic contexts. Her presentation highlighted the critical role of engaging tourists in sustainability practices that enhance their overall travel experience while minimizing environmental impact. Throughout the lecture, Professor Dolnicar explored innovative techniques for influencing tourist behavior, including the use of belief messaging, gamification, modifying infrastructure, and enhancing enjoyment that foster emotional connections to sustainability. She presented case studies illustrating how tourism and hospitality stakeholders have successfully encouraged tourists to adopt more sustainable practices, thereby enhancing both tourist satisfaction and environmental stewardship. The session concluded with lively discussions among students, who expressed enthusiasm for the insights shared and the potential applications of sustainable practices in the tourism industry. In addition to the lecture, Professor Dolnicar offered one-on-one consultations for SHTM PhD students on 5 March, providing personalized guidance on their research topics related to sustainable tourism. This opportunity allowed students to engage directly with her expertise, further enriching their academic pursuits. Professor Dolnicar's visit not only enriched the academic discourse on sustainable tourism but also inspired future research initiatives aimed at promoting environmentally responsible travel behaviors.

Prof. SONG Haiyan featured on Now News on use of robotics and AI in hotel industry

Prof. SONG Haiyan, Director of Research Centre for Digital Transformation of Tourism (RCDTT), Associate Dean and Chair Professor of School of Hotel and Tourism Management (SHTM), Mr and Mrs Chan Chak Fu Professor in International Tourism, was interviewed by Now News to share his views on how robotics and AI can address manpower shortages and enhance customer experiences in the hotel industry. Prof. Song said, “Some people think that the development of AI and robotics may replace certain jobs in the hotel industry, and this is indeed true. However, the use of robotics and AI also creates opportunities for new and higher-level jobs. As the hotel and tourism industry evolves in the future, many new business operating models and applications of science and technology will emerge.” Online coverage: Now TV - https://polyu.me/3X2DREI (00:15 - 02:08) Yahoo HK - https://polyu.me/43gMAan

Research Seminar delivered by Prof. Gang Li

On 14 February 2025, Prof. Gang Li, a distinguished Professor of Tourism Economics and Director of International Relations and the Centre for Competitiveness of the Visitor Economy at the University of Surrey, delivered a compelling research seminar titled “Tourism Demand and Destination Competitiveness: A Spatial Spillover Perspective.” The seminar was attended by faculty members and students from the School of Hotel and Tourism Management (SHTM) and members of the Research Centre for Digital Transformation of Tourism (RCDTT). Prof. Li, who serves on the International Advisory Committee of RCDTT, was recognized as one of the world’s top 1% Highly Cited Researchers by Clarivate in 2024.   During the seminar, Prof. Li explored the complex relationship between tourism demand and destination competitiveness, focusing on spatial spillover effects among neighboring destinations. His research underscores the importance of understanding how tourism demand in one area can impact the competitiveness of nearby regions, highlighting the interconnected nature of international tourism. Prof. Li introduced an innovative methodology for assessing relative competitiveness, which takes into account the interactions between competing and complementary destinations.   Utilizing empirical data from various Asian destinations, the study employed spatio-temporal econometric models to analyze demand systems. This approach enabled both local and global estimations, allowing for the identification of net spillover effects of tourism demand and pricing on destination competitiveness. The findings from this research make a significant contribution to the existing literature on destination competitiveness and tourism demand analysis, offering valuable insights for policymakers and stakeholders in the tourism sector.   Prof. Li's work not only advances academic understanding but also provides practical implications for enhancing the competitiveness of tourism destinations in a rapidly evolving global market. The seminar was an enlightening experience that fostered engaging discussions among attendees about the future of tourism economics and the importance of collaborative strategies in enhancing destination competitiveness.

RCDTT of PolyU joins hands with PATA on Asia Pacific Visitor Forecasts

RCDTT and School of Hotel and Tourism Management of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University have signed a collaborative agreement with the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) on the production of the PATA Visitor Forecast Reports for the next three years. The PolyU research team has been working with PATA over the past decade on PATA Visitor Forecasts, which have benefited the destination governments, DMOs, and tourism businesses in their decision-making. Especially, during the COVID-19 period, these forecasts provided timely and reliable tourism demand information to the destinations within the region to effectively manage the negative impacts of the pandemic on tourism demand. Professor Haiyan Song, Director of RCDTT said "Our team looks forward to collaborating with PATA on this impactful project over the next three years.”  

More Updates from Dr Curley Liu, RCDTT's Research Assistant Professor, at UN Tourism!

We are pleased to share that Dr Curley Liu, our Research Assistant Professor at RCDTT, has officially completed her attachment at UN Tourism!   Dr Curley Liu shared, "My attachment to UN Tourism has come to an end, and I am deeply grateful for this incredible opportunity. During my time with the Market Intelligence, Policies, and Competitiveness Department of UN Tourism, I contributed to the World Tourism Report by conducting statistical analyses, developing forecasting models, and constructing indexes to measure tourism development across various destinations. This experience has provided me with invaluable insights into the tourism industry and taught me how to effectively bridge the gap between academic research and real-world applications. I am sincerely thankful for the amazing team at UN Tourism for their support and guidance throughout this journey. Thank you, UN Tourism, for this unforgettable experience!"  

RCDTT members published a review article on tourists’ behavior in Nature Human Behavior

Prof. Haiyan Song, Director, Prof. Cathy Hsu, Member, and Prof. Bing Pan, Advisor of #RCDTT, have published a review article entitled “How COVID-19 has changed tourists’ behavior”. The article addresses the issue of whether and how the COVID-19 pandemic influenced tourists’ thoughts and behaviors and the extent to which these changes might persist. This study provides a narrative review of the research on tourist behaviors and the psychological impacts of the pandemic. This review delves into three themes: tourists’ decision-making behavior, the psychological impacts of the pandemic on tourists, and tourists’ responses to crisis communication strategies. The research points out that crisis communication strategies across sectors, pandemic-induced uncertainties and risks, and psychological impacts were the predominant influences on tourists’ travel decisions during the pandemic. The study concludes by discussing which changes are likely to be sustained. Link to the review article: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41562-024-02037-w

RCDTT Associate Director Dr Dan WANG shares research insights on ESG development of hotels in China

Dr WANG Dan, Associate Director of the Research Centre for Digital Transformation of Tourism (RCDTT) and Associate Professor in the School of Hotel and Tourism Management, was interviewed by CCTV on the green development of China’s hospitality industry. She mentioned that the PolyU team has developed the “China hospitality industry green development index”, a comprehensive evaluation system with 9 dimensions and over 80 indicators to assess the green development level of hotels in areas such as energy use, water resource management and waste management. Data shows that energy conservation and emission reduction are currently the major highlights of the hotel industry, with many hotels adopting smart solutions to reduce operational costs and carbon emissions. However, many hotels need to enhance their environmental management systems. In addition, the gaps in environmental awareness between regions in China have created resistance to the implementation of some environmental protection measures. Dr Wang added that capital investment is the biggest challenge in driving green transition in the hospitality industry, especially for small and medium-sized hotels. She suggested the government to provide targeted support such as subsidies and tax incentives, and establish green awards to enhance the public recognition of green hotels. Industry associations can also help the sector in adopting green technologies and management method through training and experience sharing. She believes that consumer participation needs to be promoted in tandem with the overall enhancement of public environmental awareness, and that the government, businesses and consumers should work together to gradually promote sustainable development.   Online coverage: CCTV - https://polyu.me/4ifzJdt (Chinese only)

Professor Haiyan Song Spoke at the China Tourism Education Forum

Professor Haiyan Song, Director of RCDTT, gave a keynote speech at the China Tourism Education Forum organized by the China Tourism Education Association at Xinjiang University in Urumqi on 9 November 2024. The Forum attracted more than 400 participants from educational institutions around China. Professor Song’s talk on the development of a self-adaptive forecasting platform for the GBA arose great interests from the participants as the platform utilizes recent advancements in econometric modeling methods and information technologies, such as cloud computing and big data analytics, which provide useful tools for the decision- and policy-makings for both the public and private sectors. The platform also provides useful information for education purposes. 

Research Seminar delivered by Professor Bela Stantic

On 28 Oct 2024, Prof. Bela Stantic, Professor in Computer Science and founder and Director of “Big Data and Smart Analytics” Lab at Griffith University, delivered a research seminar titled "Harnessing Advances in Pre-trained Transformers and Generative AI for Tourism Research" to faculty members and students from the SHTM and RCDTT. During the seminar, Prof. Stantic discussed various funded projects at the Big Data and Smart Analytics lab at Griffith University. He highlighted how many of these initiatives utilize pre-trained transformers, large language models, and Generative AI,  and provided a brief overview of these technologies and their functionalities. The seminar also featured demonstrations of several pre-trained and fine-tuned large language models and Generative AI applications across different domains, all operating on the Griffith Big Data cluster. A key highlight of the seminar was Prof. Stantic's introduction of DORIS (Digital Oracle for Research in Sciences), a Generative AI system he developed. DORIS is specifically trained on trusted data sources to carry out a range of tasks, including the review of scientific papers. This innovative tool showcases the potential of AI to significantly enhance research efficiency and accuracy within the tourism sector. About Prof. Bela Stantic: Prof. Bela Stantic is a Professor of Computer and Data Science, founder and Director of the “Big Data and Smart Analytics” Lab at Griffith University, Australia. He is at present a Visiting Professor at the School of Hotel and Tourism Management (SHTM), The Hong Kong Polytechnic University. Prof. Stantic is internationally recognized in the field of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Big Data analytics. He has proven expertise in predictions and forecasting, which on multiple occasions made headlines worldwide. He was invited to give many keynotes and invited talks at highly-ranked international conferences and prestigious institutions. He successfully applied his research interdisciplinary, most prominently applying Big Data analytics to tourism and the environment. He has published more than 180 journal and conference peer-reviewed publications, which in turn helped to attract competitive funding from different sources, and he was involved in the supervision of more than 25 PhD students. By harnessing AI and Big Data analysis and his bold and correct predictions, Prof. Stantic, in the worldwide media, was dubbed the “Nostradamus of the 21st century”.

Director of RCDTT attended the World Travel and Tourism Council’s Summit in Perth

Professor Haiyan Song, Mr and Mrs Chan Chak Fu Professor in International Tourism, Associate Dean of the School of Hotel and Tourism Management and Director of the Research Centre for Digital Transformation of Tourism of PolyU attended the 24th World Travel and Tourism Council’s Global Summit on 8-11 October in Perth Australia. Professor Song and his team has been working with WTTC on identifying the challenges and the market needs of the future work force in the tourism industry over the past months. At the Advisor’s Circle session of the Summit, WTTC and PolyU formally launched a global survey on the Future of Work, which will collect the views and predictions of the industry leaders on the competencies and skills needed for the labor forces in the tourism industry with a view to benefiting the tourism industry to prepare for the challenges it faces in the era of AI and technological innovations. Professor Song also attended and spoke at the China Tourism Roundtable, in which the impacts of geopolitics, visa restrictions and global economic recession on China’s outbound tourism were identified and highlighted.