Kevin Fuchs’s research while affiliated with Prince of Songkla University and other places

This study aimed to analyze the effectiveness of virtual reality technologies among millennial travel behavioral intention and engagement towards tourism destinations providing an insight into technological and sustainable capacity and capability building for Malaysian destination marketers. The research framework integrates the technology acceptance model (TAM) and the stimulus-organism-response (SOR) to conduct an empirical analysis of 263 valid participants using a partial-least-squares-based structural equation modeling approach, identifying several positive consequences. Expanding the mil-lennial's travel panorama through virtual reality technologies at tourism destinations can significantly help the marketers position themselves uniquely and attract more potential customers in the future.

Student engagement in higher education is a complex construct that encompasses the active participation, involvement, and investment of students in their learning experiences. However, foreign students, who bring unique cultural, linguistic, and social backgrounds, face distinct challenges and experiences in adapting to higher education environments. This research aimed to fill a practical research gap by exploring how foreign undergraduate students in Finland perceive student engagement and motivation in higher education. Moreover, it sought to advance the ongoing discussion about student engagement in academia. This inductive research adopted a qualitative research framework and gathered interview data with foreign degree students in Finland. The semi-structured interviews with foreign undergraduate students were analyzed thematically and yielded four primary themes. First, the theme of peer interaction and cultural stereotypes, followed by the second theme, which revolves around integration challenges. The third theme highlights challenges viewed as opportunities, and finally, the theme of institutional support. Moreover, the study contributes to the body of knowledge by providing valuable insights about a group of students that is often marginalized. The article concludes by providing implications for research and practice.

The ongoing decline of significant parts of the natural environment has elevated environmental awareness and has generated increased consumer interest in products such as green hotels. These hotels differ from conventional hotels by specifically appealing to environmentally sensitive consumers and offering a value proposition based on the adoption of green management practices. The emergence of green hotels as an alternative form of lodging offers opportunities for the hospitality sector to offer products and services that specifically promote sustainable approaches to accommodation. The study examines how international tourists in Phuket, Chiang Mai, and Bangkok perceive Thai green hotels. Forty-six semistructured interviews were undertaken and thematically analyzed. The findings revealed that tourists are generally aware of the environmental benefits that stem from green hotels. Limited availability and narrow variety as well as financial considerations and marketing transparency were the most important factors considered by respondents when considering green hotels. Theoretical implications for tourism researchers and practical implications for hotel managers are discussed.

This narrative review critically examines the application of gamification in higher education. Gamification, the integration of game elements into learning, is increasingly used to enhance student engagement and motivation. However, the effectiveness of gamification depends on its alignment with learning objectives. Superficial use of game elements, such as irrelevant badges, can hinder meaningful learning outcomes. Moreover, over-reliance on extrinsic rewards can lead to short-term motivation but may compromise deep learning. Additionally, a competitive culture fostered by gamification might hinder collaboration and stress individual achievement. To harness gamification's benefits, educators must carefully design game mechanics to promote collaboration, select suitable activities, and consider diverse learning styles. This review underscores the need for thoughtful integration of gamification and the importance of evaluating its impact on pedagogical goals in higher education. The article concludes by providing implications for research and practice.

The concept of accessible tourism is centered on advocacy for the rights of individuals with disabilities to participate in tourism activities. The study aims to close a gap in the literature by identifying the barriers to achieving accessible tourism in Phuket and contributing to tourism development by establishing a framework for tourism stakeholders. An exploratory study design was applied, and empirical data were gathered through in-depth interviews with 16 professionals residing in Phuket, Thailand. The data were analyzed thematically to identify barriers and establish an exploratory framework for tourism stakeholders. A five-dimensional exploratory framework emerged in the process. The results revealed obstacles preventing Phuket from fully engaging in accessible tourism and increasing its global market share in this emerging market segment. Moreover, the findings contribute to the field of accessibility research. The article concludes by discussing implications for tourism stakeholders.

Attending to the challenges to tackle environmental sustainability concerns is a major issue in today's tourism industry. What is more, tourism education has the ability to positively influence tomorrow's workforce by educating them about environmental sustainability. It should be considered a focus area and key component when developing undergraduate tourism management programs. The study aims to examine the correlation between factors of knowledge, attitude, behavioral control, and intention toward environmental sustainability using the year of study as a moderator. A sample of 785 undergraduate students was used to statistically assess the relationship and develop a conceptual model as a basis to discuss the empirical results. The article concludes by presenting implications for educators, policymakers, and higher education institutions.

COVID-19 has accelerated the adoption of online teaching and learning modes. It has also abruptly changed the traditional teaching and learning methods that originally relied on physical attendance, including student internships. In-house training programs were launched by the university to offer students an alternative to their regular internships. The study is designed to investigate how university students in tourism and hospitality education perceive the usefulness of their in-house training in absence of industry placements. An exploratory methodological approach was adopted by conducting 25 semi-structured in-depth interviews with student interns to understand their experiences during the in-house training. The empirical findings revealed that the in-house program, in its current state, is not to be considered a permanent alternative for tourism and hospitality undergraduate students. The article concludes by presenting implications for educators, policymakers, and education researchers derived from the academic and practical discussions based on the findings.

The prosperity of the tourism industry is strongly dependent on the well-being of the environment. Awareness toward environmental sustainability manifests and leads to the adoption of the concepts to address environmental challenges. Moreover, tourism education is at the forefront of impacting environmental sustainability by educating tomorrow’s tourism stakeholders. The study utilized a self-administered attitude questionnaire as the data source. 785 responses were included in the analysis to compare factors (knowledge, attitude, perceived behavioral control, and intention) toward environmental sustainability between hospitality and tourism students based on different socio-demographic characteristics. The study revealed that gender, nationality, and year of study had statistically significant relevance to the students’ environmental intentions. The findings are discussed academically and the presented implications are helpful for practitioners and educators alike. Furthermore, the article concludes with recommendations to provide institutions with guidance on how to tackle the outlined issues and increase awareness of environmental sustainability amongst students.