News

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.

Exciting Update from Dr Curley Liu, RCDTT's Research Assistant Professor, at UN Tourism!

We are thrilled to share that Dr Curley Liu, Research Assistant Professor at RCDTT, has officially started her attachment at UN Tourism ! Dr. Liu has received warm welcome from the team at the Tourism Market Intelligence and Competitiveness Department and had the pleasure of meeting Beka Jakeli, Director of External Relations at UN Tourism, along with various colleagues from the Regional Department for Asia and the Pacific. She’ll be sure to pass along our greetings to everyone! We’re so grateful for this amazing opportunity and for Dr. Liu’s dedication to representing our work on such a prestigious stage. Stay tuned for more updates from Dr. Liu as she embarks on this exciting journey!

RCDTT’s Exhibition Booth in PolyU InnoTech Open Day x Alumni Homecoming 2024

On 19 October 2024, the Research Centre for Digital Transformation of Tourism (RCDTT) participated in the PolyU InnoTech Open Day x Alumni Homecoming 2024, where the Centre co-hosted a booth with Yunji Technology at the foyer of Jockey Club Auditorium, showcasing the newly established Joint Lab: The Hong Kong Polytechnic University – Yunji Technology Hotel Digital Intelligence Joint Innovation Lab.   At RCDTT and Yunji Technology’s booth, visitors had the opportunity to interact with the cutting-edge Yunji UP robot and to learn about the upcoming collaborative projects conducted by RCDTT and Yunji Technology. This partnership represents a significant step forward in RCDTT’s mission to digitally transform the hotel industry through groundbreaking solutions. The enthusiasm from everyone who stopped by our booth was truly inspiring, showing a shared eagerness for enhancing guest experiences and operational efficiency in the hospitality and tourism industry.   In the afternoon, Prof. Song Haiyan, the director of RCDTT, delivered a speech at the InnoTech Forum hosted by PolyU Academy for Interdisciplinary Research (PAIR). Prof Song shared his insights on the digital transformation of technology in hospitality and tourism industry. He also introduced the RCDTT’s ongoing research projects that will reshape the landscape of tourism and hospitality in the GBA and beyond.   The interactions with alumni, students, and industry professionals throughout the day not only reinforced RCDTT’s commitment to advancing digital transformation but also fostered a sense of community among those passionate about the future of digital hospitality. RCDTT is excited to continue the journey and looks forward to sharing more groundbreaking developments from the Hong Kong Polytechnic University – Yunji Technology Hotel Digital Intelligence Joint Innovation Lab.

Associate Director of RCDTT delivered keynote speech at the 2024 UN Tourism/PATA Forum on Tourism Trends and Outlook (18th Edition)

On 18 Oct 2024, Prof. Mimi Li, associate director at RCDTT, was invited to be a keynote speaker at the 2024 UN Tourism/PATA Forum on Tourism Trends and Outlook (18th Edition) organized by the World Tourism Organization, Pacific Asia Travel Association, Guilin Municipal People’s Government, and Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region’s Department of Culture and Tourism. This global forum stands as a strategic platform for stakeholders to collaborate and develop practices that will ensure a resilient tourism industry, attracting around 120 experts and representatives from various tourism associations, government commissions, businesses and universities.   During this event, Prof Li captivated the audience with insights into the prevailing trends of inbound educational tourism in China. She discussed the potential of leveraging educational tourism to catalyze the rejuvenation of China’s inbound tourism. Furthermore, she expounded on strategies to blend educational and touristic elements within tourism products, including the strategic use of advanced technologies in tourism attractions.

Public Lecture delivered by Professor Sara Dolnicar

On 17 Oct 2024, Prof. Sara Dolnicar, ARC Australian Laureate Fellow, School of Business, Faculty of Business, Economics and Law, The University of Queensland (UQ), delivered a Public Lecture titled  "Can tourism businesses operate in more environmentally sustainable ways and save money without undermining guest satisfaction?"   Professor Dolnicar discussed the lack of progress in research that offers solutions for the tourism industry in terms of making operations more environmentally sustainable and then presented an alternative approach that can be taken, which involves deploying scientifically proven behaviour change interventions that entice tourists to behave in more sustainable ways without undermining their satisfaction. Many of these interventions even have tourism businesses money. The role of automatic impact measurement were discussed also, along with the urgent need for large-scale sector-wide change.   During the lecture, a Q&A session was held where students and scholars shared their thoughts on sustainable tourism. Participants engaged in a lively discussion, expressing their perspectives on the challenges and opportunities within the field. This allowed for a rich exchange of ideas, fostering a deeper understanding of sustainable practices in tourism and encouraging collaborative thinking on potential solutions.   About Prof. Sara Dolnicar: Prof. Sara Dolnicar is a Professor at UQ Business School (The University of Queensland). She develops and experimentally tests theory-informed practical measures that trigger pro-environmental consumer behaviour. Her research is driven by curiosity and the desire to create meaningful change. Prof. Dolnicar has published more than 300 papers and won more than 30 awards for her work, including a prestigious Australian Research Council Laureate Fellowship, the Travel and Tourism Research Association (TTRA) Distinguished Researcher Award, and she has been named a Slovenian Ambassador of Science, the highest honour the Republic of Slovenia bestows on expatriate Slovenian researchers in recognition of global excellence, impact, and knowledge transfer. Prof. Dolnicar is currently the Co-Editor in Chief of Annals of Tourism Research, one of the leading international scientific journals in the field of tourism.

Research Seminar delivered by Professor Sara Dolnicar

On 15 Oct 2024, Prof. Sara Dolnicar, ARC Australian Laureate Fellow, School of Business, Faculty of Business, Economics and Law, The University of Queensland (UQ), delivered a research seminar on "Academic publishing – Past, Present and Future" to faculty members from SHTM and RCDTT, as well as our PhD students. Prof. Dolnicar discussed the developments in academic publishing over the past few decades, pointed to the dangers of the current system and offered advice to authors from the perspective of an editor-in-chief. There were ample opportunity for questions and discussion.   About Prof. Sara Dolnicar: Prof. Sara Dolnicar is a Professor at UQ Business School (The University of Queensland). She develops and experimentally tests theory-informed practical measures that trigger pro-environmental consumer behaviour. Her research is driven by curiosity and the desire to create meaningful change. Prof. Dolnicar has published more than 300 papers and won more than 30 awards for her work, including a prestigious Australian Research Council Laureate Fellowship, the Travel and Tourism Research Association (TTRA) Distinguished Researcher Award, and she has been named a Slovenian Ambassador of Science, the highest honour the Republic of Slovenia bestows on expatriate Slovenian researchers in recognition of global excellence, impact, and knowledge transfer. Prof. Dolnicar is currently the Co-Editor in Chief of Annals of Tourism Research, one of the leading international scientific journals in the field of tourism.