SHTM proudly co-organised the 3rd One Belt One Road One Tourism (OBOROT) Conference with the Central Asian University in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, from 24 to 27 June 2025. This year's conference marked a significant milestone as the first OBOROT Conference to be held in Central Asia, reinforcing the region's growing role in global tourism education and collaboration.
As the founding institution of the University Alliance of the Silk Road (UASR) Tourism Sub-Alliance, SHTM continues to lead efforts to foster academic exchange within the Belt and Road region. Themed "Development, Marketing, Sustainability," the conference brought together scholars, researchers, and educators from across the region to share insights and build partnerships across the hospitality and tourism industry.
The conference commenced with a welcome from Prof Geoffrey Shen, PolyU Associate Vice President (Global Partnerships), Director of Global Engagement, and Chair Professor of Construction Management, followed by an insightful speech by Prof Kaye Chon, SHTM Dean and Chair Professor, and Walter and Wendy Kwok Family Foundation Professor in International Hospitality Management.
The three-day conference featured 20 meeting sessions during which speakers from SHTM and partner universities presented their research findings, sparking fruitful discussion on a broad range of topics, from Culture and Heritage to Smart Tourism and Sustainable Destination Development. SHTM academic members delivered impactful presentations:
- Prof Faye Hao presented a co-authored paper entitled "Voices Unheard: Exploring Discrimination in the Hospitality Industry Through the Employee Perspective".
- Prof Ada Lo presented a co-authored paper entitled "What's the Message? How Hong Kong's Hotels Shape Employer Value Propositions to Attract and Retain Talent".
- Prof Tony Tse presented a co-authored paper entitled "A Discourse on Silk Road Tourism as a Research Subject".
- Prof Ying Wang, Prof Nan Chen and Dr Wendy Wang presented a co-authored paper entitled "Unlocking Hong Kong's Tourism Potential in Key Belt and Road Countries within ASEAN – A Multimodal Data-Driven Approach to Market Intelligence".
- Dr Emily Chen presented a co-authored paper entitled "Exploring Central Asia's Nomadic Legacy: Strategies to Attract Chinese Travelers for Cultural and Adventure Experiences".
A highlight was the Best Paper Presentation Award, which was presented to Prof Ying Wang, Prof Nan Chen and Dr Wendy Wang.
The conference also featured a panel discussion entitled "Publication in High-Impact Journals: Tips from the Editors", with valuable insights shared by Dean Kaye Chon and Prof Honggen Xiao. With funding support from PolyU's Network Initiative Scheme and Belt and Road Funding Scheme, eight SHTM faculty members and five SHTM students were sponsored to attend the conference, where they gained valuable exposure to international academic exchange.
Five partner universities participated in the UASR Tourism Sub-Alliance special session, further strengthening regional academic ties and fostering collaborative opportunities. Since its inception in 2019, the UASR Tourism Sub-Alliance has grown to include leading institutions including PolyU, Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, Central Asian University, Chengdu University, Mae Fah Luang University, Silk Road International University of Tourism and Cultural Heritage and Xi'an Jiaotong University.
SHTM continues to build strong partnerships with leading hospitality and tourism institutions worldwide, promoting collaboration and advancing higher education development.
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