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5th IACTS Biennial Conference Celebrates Decade of Excellence in China Tourism Research in Hong Kong

Conference Overview Organized by the International Association for China Tourism Studies (IACTS) and hosted by PolyU's School of Hotel and Tourism Management (SHTM), with sponsorship from PolyU's Research Center for Digital Tourism Transformation (RCDTT), this conference gathered 34 scholars. The hybrid format successfully accommodated 32 in-person attendees and 2 virtual presenters.   Academic Program Highlights The conference program featured two expert-led panel discussions exploring critical AI-era themes: Tourism Research in the AI Era and Tourism Education in the AI Era. In parallel, 23 academic presentations showcased diverse China tourism scholarship spanning from theoretical frameworks to empirical studies. The Association simultaneously recognized emerging talent through the election of 6 Outstanding Young Scholars while inducting 3 new IACTS Fellows for distinguished research contributions.   Future Directions Strategic initiatives developed during closed-door business meetings will be communicated to members in forthcoming correspondence.   2027 Conference Announcement The Association will hold its next biennial conference in Altay, Xinjiang (August 2027), a region offering unique research opportunities at the intersection of cultural heritage and sustainable tourism development.

Prof. Haiyan Song, Director of RCDTT awarded the Fellowship title by the Chinese Economic Association (CEA) UK/Europe

Congratulations to Professor Haiyan Song, Director of RCDTT and Mr and Mrs Chan Chak Fu Professor in International Tourism, who was awarded the CEA UK/Europe Fellow at the Annual Conference of CEA UK/Europe held at the University of Glasgow on 6 August 2025, the CEA UK/Europe Fellowship is the highest honor bestowed to those who have made outstanding contributions to the CEA UK/Europe and to research on China’s economic development. 14 renowned economists were awarded the inaugural CEA UK/Europe Fellowship titles and they include Justin Yifu Lin and Weiying Zhang of Peking University, D’Maris Coffman of University College of London and Eric Girardin of Aix-Marseille Université. CEA, UK/Europe is an independent, not-for-profit research association of scholars, researchers and business executives concerned with China’s economic development. Its objectives are to advance the knowledge of the general public about economic development in China, and to promote and publish research on the Chinese economy.

Prof. Haiyan Song received Life Time Achievement in Tourism Research Award by International Conference of Tourism

Congratulations to Professor Haiyan Song, Director of RCDTT, Mr and Mrs Chan Chak Fu Professor in International Tourism received Life Time Achievement in Tourism Research Award at the 14th International Conference on Tourism (#ICOT2025) held on 25-28 June in Dubrovnik, Croatia. This award recognizes Professor Song’s contributions to tourism research, especially in the areas of tourism economics and tourism supply chain management.  At the same conference, Professor Song also delivered a keynote speech on AI and tourism research, which was very well received by the conference participants.

RCDTT Director Delivered a Keynote Speech at the APacCHRIE 2025 Conference

On 28 May 2025 in Chiang Mai, Prof. Haiyan Song, Mr. and Mrs. Chan Chak Fu Professor in International Tourism and Director of the Research Centre for Digital Transformation of Tourism (RCDTT) at the School of Hotel and Tourism Management (SHTM), The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU), delivered a keynote speech on the "Large Language Model-based Tourist Satisfaction Index" at the APacCHRIE 2025 Conference. The conference was co-hosted by Chiang Mai University and The PolyU in Chiang Mai, Thailand. Prof. Song presented the framework and methodology developed by his research team for compiling tourist satisfaction indexes at both sectoral and destination levels. Following his presentation, Prof. Song participated in a panel discussion titled "Transforming to the Future: Innovation, AI and Regenerative Tourism and Hospitality", which reflected the core theme of the conference. The conference attracted over 350 participants from 27 countries and regions.

RCDTT Director Spoke at the World Tourism Alliance Conference

Prof. Haiyan Song, Mr. and Mrs. Chan Chak Fu Professor in International Tourism and Director of the Research Centre for Digital Transformation (RCDTT) at the School of Hotel and Tourism Management (SHTM), The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU), delivered a keynote speech at the World Tourism Alliance (WTA)’s Dongting Dialogue on 25 May in Yueyang, Hunan Province. The conference, themed “Integrating Nature and Culture in Tourism Development,” attracted over 300 participants from mainland China and other countries. During his speech, Prof. Song presented his recent research on the willingness of Chinese tourists to pay for travel carbon offsets (TCO) and analysed the primary factors influencing TCO purchase decisions. Prof. Song’s findings underscored the increasing importance of sustainability in shaping travel behaviours. Subsequent to his presentation, Prof. Song was interviewed by local media. The discussion focused on strategies for advancing sustainable tourism through digital transformation and integrating cultural and nature-based tourism in both Hunan Province and Yueyang City.

RCDTT Launched Large Language Model-Based Hong Kong Tourism Satisfaction Index

The Research Centre for Digital Transformation of Tourism (RCDTT) of the School of Hotel and Tourism Management (SHTM) at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) launched its Large Language Model (LLM) Based Tourist Satisfaction Index for Hong Kong (HKTSI) on 25 April 2025. The research team, led by Prof. Haiyan Song, Director of RCDTT and Mr and Mrs Chan Chak Fu Professor in International Tourism, developed the index based on the theoretical frameworks of the SERVQUAL and Cognitive-Affective models to evaluate tourists’ perceptions of tourism service quality across five tourism-related sectors in Hong Kong and consolidated the results into a comprehensive destination TSI. The results of HKTSI over the years have been highly encouraging. Overall, visitors have expressed positive perceptions of the services they received during their Hong Kong stay. Since 2012, the HKTSI has shown a steady upward trend, despite a temporary decline during the COVID-19 pandemic. By 2024, HKTSI scores had fully recovered to pre-pandemic levels. Sectors such as transportation and attractions have consistently demonstrated outstanding performance, while restaurants and retail shops have lagged behind. Notably, the hotel sector has seen significant improvement for two consecutive years since 2019. From a spatial perspective, all administrative districts recorded TSI scores above 73 points. However, a notable north-south disparity remains, with southern districts generally achieving higher TSI scores than their northern counterparts. The highest satisfaction levels are concentrated along the two banks of Victoria Harbor, whereas the Kowloon City District recorded markedly lower TSI scores, creating a noticeable satisfaction gap compared to neighboring districts. By leveraging the Large Language Model-based TSI system, Hong Kong can accurately evaluate its performance and competitiveness as an international tourist destination relative to other regions. This allows the city to pinpoint key areas for strategic improvement, enhancing its overall competitiveness. Given the tourism-dependent nature of Hong Kong's service industries, consistently measuring and monitoring tourist satisfaction is crucial for sustaining growth and success.

Prof. SONG Haiyan featured in i-CABLE News programme on smart tourism

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, Mr and Mrs Chan Chak Fu Professor in International Tourism, was interviewed by i-CABLE News programme “Inno Action” for his insights on digital transformation of the hospitality and tourism industry. Prof. Song shared that to accelerate the integration of technology in tourism, PolyU has established the Research Centre for Digital Transformation in Tourism (RCDTT), dedicated to translating research outcomes into industry applications. The Centre focuses on interdisciplinary research and industry partnerships, consolidating resources across PolyU faculties including computing, engineering and more to co-develop feasible smart tourism solutions with businesses, with the aim to help build Hong Kong into an international hub for smart tourism. He explained that smart tourism involves leveraging technologies such as the Internet of Things (IoT), artificial intelligence (AI), robotics and big data to optimise the tourism value chain. Examples include using augmented reality (AR)/virtual reality (VR) technologies to revitalise museum exhibitions and deploying smart systems to predict visitor flows at attractions and plan optimal routes for visitors. He also emphasised that these technologies can be applied in the entire process before, during and after the trip, from itinerary planning, tour experience, to feedback survey, not only enhancing the tourist experience, but also helping the industry improve services and marketing through data analytics. Prof. Song remarked that Hong Kong has technological and geographical advantages to boost smart tourism development, though there is still room for improvement in terms of policies and the applications of robotics in hotels. For instance, over 80% of hotels in Mainland China are using robots for tasks like room service and check-in, while similar applications in Hong Kong are still in trial phase. He suggested that the government can adopt more flexible policies to attract tech firms to Hong Kong and encourage various businesses in the supply chain to work together to drive smart tourism. Online coverage: i-Cable TV - https://www.i-cable.com/%E6%96%B0%E8%81%9E%E8%B3%87%E8%A8%8A/333611/%E6%99%BA%E5%89%B5%E6%9C%AA%E4%BE%86-%E6%99%BA%E8%83%BD%E7%9C%BC%E7%9D%9B (00:00 – 11:45)

Innovative Technology Opens a New Chapter of High-Quality Service

On 17 April 2025, Prof. Dan Wang, Associate Professor at the School of Hotel and Tourism Management (SHTM) of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) and Associate Director of the Research Centre for Digital Transformation of Tourism (RCDTT), was invited by the Hong Kong Productivity Council (HKPC) to deliver a keynote speech at the “Smart Service Industry Digital Solution Fair” co-organised by the HKPC "Digital DIY" Portal and the Hong Kong Small and Medium Enterprises Association (HKSME). This event focused on the service industry's digital transformation and smart technology applications, attracting over one hundred SMEs, technology partners, and industry professionals to collectively explore practical pathways for empowering service upgrades through innovation. As a special guest, Prof. Dan Wang delivered her keynote speech under the topic “Smart Tourism Era: Innovative Technology Unlocking a New Chapter in Service Excellence.” AI, Big Data, and IoT technologies are reshaping the tourism ecosystem. From smart guidance and personalized itinerary planning to real-time optimization of customer groups, innovative technology enhances service efficiency and captures tourists' evolving needs with greater precision. This approach creates immersive tourism experiences and drives the tourism industry to shift from “standardized service” to “value creation.”

Prof. Haiyan Song Spoke at the Hong Kong Tourism Forum Hosted by the Hong Kong Tourism Board and China Tourism Group

Prof. Haiyan Song, Director of the Research Centre for Digital Transformation of Tourism, Mr and Mrs Chan Chak Fu Professor in International Tourism, participated as a panelist at the Hong Kong Tourism Forum. This event, hosted by the Hong Kong Tourism Board and China Tourism Group, was held at the Kerry Hotel in Hong Kong on April 16, 2025. The forum focused on discussing emerging issues related to rebranding Hong Kong as an international tourism destination to enhance its competitiveness. The panel featured several distinguished speakers, including Professor DAI Bin, President of the China Tourism Research Institute; Mr. CHEN Xianghong, Chairman of Dingdu Group Co. Ltd; Ms. Lucy Lu, Head of the Meituan Culture and Tourism Research Institute; Mr. Murphy ZHU, President of Asia Pacific H World Group; and the Honorable YIU Pak-leung, MH, JP, a Legislative Council Member (Tourism). The event attracted over 500 attendees, comprising industry leaders, government officials, and academics from around the world, all gathered to explore strategies for advancing Hong Kong's position in the global tourism market.

Research Seminar Delivered by Prof. Peng Liu

On 3 April 2025, Prof. Peng (Peter) Liu, a distinguished Professor of Real Estate and Finance at Cornell SC Johnson College of Business, Cornell University, delivered an insightful seminar titled “From Competence to Capital: How Managerial Ability Shapes Hotel Market Value”. The event was chaired by Prof. Haiyan Song, Director of the Research Centre for Digital Transformation of Tourism (RCDTT), and was attended by faculty members and students from the School of Hotel and Tourism Management (SHTM) as well as members of the RCDTT, sparking vibrant discussions about the role of managerial skills in driving hotel market performance and competitive advantage. Prof. Liu, who holds the Singapore Tourism Board Distinguished Chair in Asia Hospitality Management at Cornell’s Nolan School of Hotel Administration and serves as Editor of The Journal of Real Estate Portfolio Management, shared his extensive expertise on the intersection between managerial competence and hotel valuation. Drawing on a comprehensive analysis of 38,845 hotel-year observations from the top 40 U.S. hotel markets spanning 2010 to 2024, his study demonstrated the significant impact of managerial ability, measured through Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA), on hotel market value. Prof. Liu revealed that a one standard deviation increase in managerial ability corresponds to approximately a 20% higher transaction price for sold hotels and about a 30% higher market value for those not listed for sale. This seminar follows recent presentations by Dr Junxi Qian from The University of Hong Kong and Prof. Scott McCabe from the University of Birmingham. Prof. Qian explored the rural renaissance movement in China, emphasizing cultural, economic, and social revival, while Prof. McCabe discussed “Social Tourism: Enhancing Participation and Well-being”, examining the inclusion of disadvantaged individuals in tourism through socially oriented measures. Collectively, these seminars illustrate RCDTT’s dedication to exploring diverse perspectives in tourism research, spanning managerial competence, rural revitalization, and social inclusion. These seminars underscore RCDTT’s ongoing commitment to advancing academic knowledge and offering actionable insights for stakeholders in hospitality management and real estate sectors. Attendees left with enriched perspectives on the critical importance of managerial competence in shaping the financial success and strategic positioning of hospitality businesses.