News about COVID-19 were broadcasted in Japan and globally at the end of January 2020. Since then, most people worldwide have been restricted in various activities, including traveling. Japanese domestic travel consumption in 2022 was 17.1929 trillion yen (down 21.6% from 2019, up 87.2% from the previous year). This study aims to examine the consciousness factors that influenced travelling before and during COVID-19. Accordingly, we conduct a questionnaire survey and evaluate five factors for consciousness that influence travel based on the results using factor analysis. In the result of this analysis, there is difference of the second factor (named before COVID-19; “Scheduling”, during COVID-19; “Freewheeling (not scheduling)”) between before COVID-19 and during COVID-19. Additionally, we examine the characteristics of consciousness factors that influence travel before and during COVID-19 and the differences using factor score obtained by factor analysis. We find seven characteristics of consciousness factors that influence travel (difference of gender, occupation and family composition) in the result of this questionnaire survey.

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“Photogenic travelers” actively take “photogenic” photographs that get “Like” on Social Networking Services (SNS) like Instagram and post their favourite ones to SNS. Such “photogenic travelers” are on the rise in Japan. Hanai et al. [2019] pointed that the psychological background of their behaviors may include “self-expression” and “conformity” factor. Moreover, the “conformity” factor may have active conformity arising from the desire to seek praise and passive conformity as well as avoid rejection. The purpose of this study is twofold. First, this study examines whether the psychological background of “photogenic travelers” who post travel photographs on SNS, as observed in the Japanese study, is also observable in Hong Kong. The other is to explain the two routes to “conformity” in terms of the different self-presentation strategy, “ingratiation” and “self-promotion,” which is the three-factor structure. An internet survey was conducted with 200 participants living in Hong Kong in September 2021. Confirmatory factor analysis showed the model with a three-factor structure had sufficient validity and the three-factor structure model had a slightly better fit than the two-factor model. The two side in “conformity” that is “self-promotion” and “ingratiation” was shown.

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In satisfaction surveys in the Japanese lodging industry commonly evaluate items such as guest rooms, facilities and equipment, meals, and staff service. However, the Japanese lodging industry also includes ryokan, unique to Japanese traditional custom, each of which targets a different guest who have characteristic preferences and purposes for their stay. Guests value different amenities in hotels and ryokans, it has been difficult to distinguish between ryokans and hotels in the assessment of guest satisfaction. In this study, ryokan and hotel facilities were selected with established reputations and analyzed customers’ high and low word-of-mouth analysis. Specifically, Kagaya, Hachimanya, and Suimeikan were selected for the top three most popular ryokans and The Ritz-Carlton Hotel, Hilton, and ANA InterContinental Hotel for the top three hotels and conducted content analysis and co-occurrence network analysis on the total of 600 reviews ,100 for each facility, compared the characteristics and factors of guest satisfaction and dissatisfaction, and clarified the differences between each category. The results, organized by tangible and intangible services, revealed that guests of ryokans were satisfied with amenities such as a wide variety of breakfast and dinner options, hot spring or large baths, and guests of hotel were satisfied with club lounges and afternoon tea, while dissatisfaction was found with deteriorated rooms and facilities, insufficient cleaning, and inadequate staffing. This study suggested ryokan and hotels to take care of the basics of the lodging business, such as cleanliness and thorough cleaning, even if the rooms and facilities are old, staff competence without making mistakes, and providing guests opportunities to enjoy cocktails and afternoon tea in public spaces such as own lounge or club in hotels or hot spring baths in Japanese ryokan.

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After the conclusion of the COVID-19 pandemic, Japan has witnessed a substantial influx of foreign tourists. However, owing to the demographic challenges posed by an aging population, the domestic tourism market in Japan continues to face significant obstacles. With the proliferation of smart devices, the emergence of virtual tourism has become a feasible avenue for potential growth within the tourism sector. In this study, we focused on the prevailing forms of virtual tourism media, specifically 180-degree and 360-degree videos, as well as mainstream audiovisual devices, namely virtual reality (VR) and smartphones. We conducted an experiment to evaluate the content of the videos by employing a combination of questionnaire surveys and near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) technology. The analysis of the results indicates that 360-degree video content may give a more relaxed experience than 180-degree video content with VR glasses among young people for virtual tours. From the results of questionnaire, young people preferred 360-degree video content to 180-degree video content, and they preferred VR glasses to smartphones as a device for virtual tours.

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Small island economies with populations of less than one million, typically have limited export volumes with a narrow range of products and rely heavily on imported goods, which often translates into a high cost of living for residents. The island of Guam, an unincorporated territory of the United States, is the largest and most populous island in the western Pacific region of Micronesia with an estimated population of 154,000. Guam experienced some growth in small business development over the past decade but still faces high levels of imports and leakage. One of the strategies often implemented to reduce imports and capitalize on the multiplier effect is to encourage entrepreneurship and the development of local businesses. Entrepreneurship is also generally acknowledged and accepted as a driving force for improving living standards. Many areas related to startups are understudied in small island communities like Guam. A survey of entrepreneurs on the island of Guam was conducted in 2022 to identify the demographic characteristics of the island’s entrepreneurial community. This paper contributes to the understanding of Guam’s entrepreneurs and provides recommendations for educational and support programs targeting current and potential entrepreneurs to encourage startup ideas and economic improvement for the quality of life of island residents.

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It is said that walking is good for maintaining health. The target number of steps for elderly people is recommended to be 6,700 steps/day for men and 5,900 steps/day for women. In this study, one male subject was selected and the daily number of steps, body weight, total consumption, maximum and minimum blood pressure, temperature, etc. was recorded for 8 years, and it was examined whether or not continuing to take more than the recommended number of steps would contribute to maintaining health. The experimental results were summarized and the experience (feeling) was also reported. As a result, the subject maintained about 1.5 times the target number of steps for 8 years and spent his life without serious illness. The characteristics of the average number of steps in each month of each year tended to be low in winter and to increase from March to November when there was no snow covering the ground. A strong correlation (r = 0.82) was observed between mean weight and mean systolic blood pressure over the final 5 years (2018-2022). In addition, it can be said that there is a correlation between average temperature and heart rate (r = 0.71). Near the end of the experiment, the subject felt that walking more than 10,000 steps (for 5 days or more) caused fatigue in the legs due to aging. It is necessary to maintain an appropriate number of steps and gradually reduce the number without overdoing the exercise, and to consider the effects on the body, such as the knees. This research is also useful for deriving the tourism activity ability of the elderly.

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In providing customer service excellence, communication is one of the key factors. As Blue and Harun [2003] suggest, hosts and guests’ communication is often characterized as consisting of somewhat standardized dialogue. However, our previous research has indicated that informal conversations beyond standardized dialogue between hosts and guests are particularly significant. Therefore, in this study we focus on small talk between hosts and guests, it being one of a variety of aspects of communication. From interview data with 28 hotel employees on their interaction with guests, we investigated the function and significance of small talk. The data were analyzed using thematic analysis. It was found that engaging in small talk with guests helps the staff to identify their wants and needs, and that staff think small talk is important in giving guests a sense of comfort and enjoyment. Additionally, staff intentionally use small talk to increase sales and to boost uptake of promotions. We believe these results are useful for hospitality education and would help prospective employees or tourism major students to improve their communication skills in order to offer excellent service.

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The case study of this research was a project supported by the Japan Tourist Agency [2021] titled, “Demonstration project for promoting coordination within the region through improvements of regional tourism resources” which was aimed at a recovery from the decline in tourism demand due to COVID-19 and also revitalizing the regional economy. The Peninsula Wide Area Tourism Association in Nanao, Ishikawa applied for the project and it was adopted as the responsible organization. This was a newly developed tourist plan. This research is characterized by the improvements of regional tourism resources through the use of scenes from a TV drama. The method adopted in the project was created through promotional movies which collaborated with a location of a TV drama and the local spot, and tourists who actually visit the place can watch and listen to the movies. This study aims to verify how much the value of regional culture tourism resources can be improved by using promotional TV drama scenes. For analysis, the discussion of Wang, who advocates the consideration of authenticity, was focused on. As for surveys, a survey of tourists who joined the adopted demonstration project, local people who planned and created tourism products, and the producer who created the movies for tourist promotion were conducted and also consideration was based on a questionnaire survey of participants in the monitor tour. As a result, it was revealed that positive feelings were created and good effects were brought about even among those who did not watch the drama by visiting and seeing firsthand the scenes where the drama was shot.

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This academic paper offers a comprehensive examination of the field of atmospheric aesthetics, with a particular emphasis on its relationship with the aesthetic economy. It delves into the influential work of Gernot Böhme (hereinafter referred to as Böhme) on atmospheric aesthetics and its implications for the domain of aesthetics in economic contexts. Drawing on an analysis of existing literature, this paper explores the various facets of atmospheric aesthetics and their influence on economic outcomes. The analysis highlights the deep role played by atmospheric aesthetics in shaping the sensory and perceptual experiences of individuals in both natural and constructed environments. By focusing on the foundational contributions of Böhme, this paper investigates how our perception of and engagement with our surroundings, whether natural or human-made, impact our overall experiences. It explains how the atmosphere surrounding us can generate appealing experiences that, in turn, yield economic advantages. Furthermore, this paper examines the practical application of these ideas in diverse areas, including regional development and tourism projects. In conclusion, this paper connects philosophical ideas about atmospheric beauty with real-world economic benefits, showing enhancing aesthetics can positively influence the broader economy.

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