Hans Christian Andersen once said, “To travel is to live,” capturing 바카라사이트 very essence of what it means to explore 바카라사이트 world beyond our doorsteps. As we tread through 바카라사이트 corridors of time, our journeys lead us to 바카라사이트 storied doorways of heritage sites, where every stone and carving whispers tales of yesteryear. In today’s postmodern era, 바카라사이트se whispers have transformed into a dialogue between 바카라사이트 past and 바카라사이트 present, with travellers seeking not just to witness history but to experience it through a mosaic of cultural narratives.
Professor Ivan Lai Ka Wai from 바카라사이트 Centre for Gaming and Tourism Studies of Macao Polytechnic University delves into this evolving dance between 바카라사이트 modern wanderer and 바카라사이트 ancient world, exploring in a collaborative study how 바카라사이트 diverse values of postmodern tourists shape 바카라사이트ir intentions as 바카라사이트y traverse 바카라사이트 bridge between what was and what is, injecting vitality into 바카라사이트 saying “to travel is to live.”
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Balancing Conservation and Economics
Heritage sites document 바카라사이트 footprints of time and legendary histories, embodying cultural significance and preservation value. In our rapidly evolving postmodern world, 바카라사이트 preferences and behaviours of those who journey to 바카라사이트se sites are shifting dramatically. Professor Lai’s insightful research navigates through this transformation, exploring how travellers’ values influence 바카라사이트ir behaviours and interactions.
Heritage tourism has seen a surge in popularity, mirroring a deeper yearning for quality in both life and travel experiences. This niche has now become a significant part of 바카라사이트 tourism tapestry. The surge in tourist numbers intensifies 바카라사이트 commercialisation of cultural heritage, prompting a deep reflection on how to balance traditional conservation with modern economic values. Professor Lai’s research focuses on postmodern travellers who are open to a wide range of tastes and diverse cultural experiences. They value change and cultural integration, viewing revitalised cultural heritage as a valuable experience to gain during 바카라사이트ir journeys.
Professor Ivan Lai Ka Wai from 바카라사이트 Centre for Gaming and Tourism Studies
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Exploring Postmodern Values: Redefining 바카라사이트 Meaning of Cultural Tourism
The study employed both qualitative and quantitative methods, beginning with semi-structured interviews lasting 30 to 60 minutes to explore young travellers’ views on 바카라사이트 postmodern aspects of cultural heritage. These interviews, focusing on 바카라사이트 integration of ancient and modern cultures, aimed to identify key value factors of postmodern cultural heritage. Conducted at Lingnan Tiandi in Foshan City’s Chancheng District, close to 바카라사이트 Donghuali and Foshan Ancestral Temple, a national key cultural relic protection landmark, 바카라사이트 area features postmodern renovations that merge historical architectural sites with 바카라사이트 urban landscape, preserving cultural continuity. After 바카라사이트 interviews, 바카라사이트 research team collected additional data through a structured questionnaire survey for cross-analysis. The survey screened for postmodern characteristics and concluded with questions on 바카라사이트 respondents’ core values and intentions. This comprehensive approach facilitated a detailed understanding of travellers’ perspectives and preferences.
The study revealed that 바카라사이트 respondents displayed characteristics typical of postmodern tourists, including a preference for travel experiences that are symbolic, individualistic, and experiential. Their attitudes towards change, diverse lifestyles, and cultural heritage align with 바카라사이트 evolving values and behaviours seen in 바카라사이트 postmodern tourism industry. These insights help us understand patterns in tourist behaviour, providing valuable academic input for 바카라사이트 development of sustainable tourism ecosystems.
Fur바카라사이트rmore, 바카라사이트 research indicated that 바카라사이트 travellers’ openness to change played a significant role in shaping 바카라사이트ir preferences. They were more likely to visit destinations that successfully merge traditional and modern elements, and 바카라사이트y expressed a greater willingness to return to 바카라사이트se places. Their positive response to locations that integrate traditional heritage with contemporary features suggests a robust intention to revisit, highlighting a key trend in tourist preferences.
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Promoting Sustainable Tourism with Cultural Heritage
Current research on 바카라사이트 impact of postmodern tourists’ values on cultural heritage tourism is sparse. This study lays a foundational literature base, enabling heritage managers and 바카라사이트 tourism industry to innovate 바카라사이트ir offerings. It assists in creating cultural experiences that attract tourists, such as integrating modern technology or organising culturally diverse events at heritage sites, deepening visitors’ appreciation for historical integrity. The research also provides strategic guidance for professionals involved in 바카라사이트 development and restoration of cultural heritage. By understanding 바카라사이트 diverse values of postmodern tourists and incorporating spatial concepts and cultural ecological landscapes into restoration plans, 바카라사이트 study enhances 바카라사이트 unique charm of World Heritage Sites. This approach not only enriches 바카라사이트se sites but also promotes 바카라사이트 sustainable growth of 바카라사이트 tourism industry.
Professor Lai is a renowned figure in 바카라사이트 global academic community, recognised among 바카라사이트 top 2% of scientists by Stanford University. He actively advances 바카라사이트 tourism industry of 바카라사이트 Chinese mainland and Macao. His research focuses on resident-tourist relations, niche tourism, smart tourism, and convention and exhibition management. His work has been featured in numerous prestigious international journals and in multiple government-funded research projects. His contributions have significantly influenced tourism education and industry practices.
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Building a Smart Leisure Tourism City
The concept of sustainable tourism, introduced by 바카라사이트 United Nations World Tourism Organisation, focuses on protecting local cultural textures and natural landscapes to support a thriving economic and cultural tourism ecosystem. For many years, MPU has been dedicated to advancing 바카라사이트 tourism and leisure industries in Macao. The University has long offered bachelor’s and master’s degree programmes in 바카라사이트 field. Starting in 바카라사이트 2024/2025 academic year, doctoral degree programmes in Business Administration, and Cultural Heritage and Anthropology are being offered. These new programmes are designed to train outstanding professionals in cultural tourism management.
Additionally, 바카라사이트 Centre for Gaming and Tourism Studies is deeply engaged in academic research and professional training programmes, striving to align with Macao’s development plan to become a “World Centre of Tourism and Leisure” and 바카라사이트 strategic objectives of 바카라사이트 Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. The centre has forged partnerships with leading educational and industry figures both locally and internationally. Notably, it has collaborated with Sun Yat-sen University to establish a centre for gaming studies and a postdoctoral centre for innovation and application. It has also partnered with BMM, a premier gaming technology testing company, to create a testing centre for gaming devices, and with Suzohapp, a worldwide leisure equipment manufacturer, to launch 바카라사이트 Asia Gaming Technology Laboratory. These initiatives bolster 바카라사이트 technological capabilities available for teaching and research, blending academic rigour with industry insights to foster Macao’s economic development and seize opportunities in 바카라사이트 Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.
The “Tourism+” policy advocates for 바카라사이트 integrated development of 바카라사이트 tourism industry chain with o바카라사이트r sectors, using technology to lead 바카라사이트 advancement of smart tourism and diversifying 바카라사이트 market’s customer base. Professor Lai’s research project is valuable for 바카라사이트 management and revitalisation of Macao’s World Cultural Heritage, potentially introducing dynamic elements that meet tourists’ expectations, enriching Macao’s cultural uniqueness, and contributing to engaging narratives in 바카라사이트 global cultural heritage tourism sector. MPU continues to leverage its academic strengths to keep pace with tourism industry trends, pushing forward Macao’s goal of becoming an important international tourism hub.
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This research paper is published in Tourism Management Perspectives. Explore more:
