CELEBRATING THE SUCCESSES OF DR MIJU CHOI, SENIOR LECTURER IN HOSPITALITY AND TOURISM

Successful Research Grant

In collaboration with Prof. Youngjoon Choi (Principal Investigator), Dr Choi was successful in securing a research grant of GBP 18,600 from Jungseok Logistics Foundation. 

The research project, running from January to December 2023, explores the role of virtual influencers in destination marketing. It is designed to decipher their dynamics with respect to diversity, message construal levels, and cultural nuances. In essence, this research seeks to create a nexus between tourism marketing and psychological paradigms, delivering profound insights that span the realms of psychology, advertising, and tourism. Importantly, it also promises to shed new light on the UN's Sustainable Development Goals, illustrating their potential application in contemporary tourism research in novel dimensions.

Best Paper in Tourism at The 2023 International Conference on Tourism (ICOT)

Congratulations to Dr Choi who was awarded the Best Paper in Tourism Award at the conference held in Cyprus in June 2023. The award is jointly presented by the International Journal of Tourism Policy and the Journal of Qualitative Research in Tourism and is reserved for authors whose work is not only of exceptional merit but also gets accepted and presented at the conference.

Dr Choi presented her innovative research project at the conference, titled ‘Human or Virtual Influencers: Which Drives a More Effective Responsible Tourism Campaign for Gen Z Travellers?’.

Head of Subject, Peter Robinson said, “Such awards have profound prestige behind them and this further reinforces our pride in her accomplishments and the value she brings to our institution.”

Guest Editor role for two prestigious publications

Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Research

Dr Miju Choi has recently collaborated with a distinguished group of scholars, including Prof. Sam Kim, Prof. Rob Law, and Prof. Lawrence Fong, to serve as a guest editor for a special edition focusing on 'Impacts of Future Technology on Hospitality and Tourism', published in the Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Research (JHTR). 

This special edition has an ambitious objective: to critically evaluate the role of emerging technologies in the spheres of hospitality and tourism, particularly focusing on their implications for present and prospective customers and enterprises. It's an invitation for insightful contributions, be they ground-breaking research findings, conceptual papers, or systematic reviews. The special issue encourages diverse interpretations, research questions, and methodologies. The Special Issue Editors are always available for any clarifications about the relevance of a particular topic. Ultimately, this issue is envisioned as a platform that spurs academic discussions and endeavours

For further information visit the Journal of Hospitality & Tourism.

Journal of Policy Research in Tourism, Leisure and Events

Working collaboratively with David Gladstone from The University of New Orleans, USA, Dr Misu was invited as a guest editor for a special issue 'Technologies of Surveillance and Control in Travel and Tourism' to shed light on a rapidly evolving area within the travel sector.

In the modern era, the travelling public is increasingly subjected to advanced technologies of surveillance and control, integrating seamlessly into their journey routines. From fingerprints and facial recognition to retinal scans and DNA, the collection of biometric information has become ubiquitous across global destinations. Such technological advancements present intricate policy-related dilemmas, with travellers and tourists frequently navigating the balance between safety and privacy during their visits to hotels, airports, cruise ship terminals, railway stations, and other destinations.

Interestingly, despite its vast implications, the global embrace of these surveillance technologies by governments and various non-state entities remains largely underreported. News outlets seldom highlight these trends, and only a handful of travel guides dare to delve into the topic, let alone advise travellers on what kind of biometric scan they might encounter next.

This special issue aims to bridge this knowledge gap. Dr Choi, in her capacity as the guest editor, is actively seeking theoretical or policy-informed contributions that meticulously document the methods, impacts, and broader ramifications of the current widespread integration of surveillance and control technologies within today's travel and tourism industry.

TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THE SUCCESS OF OUR STUDENTS, ALUMNI AND ACADEMIC COLLEAGUES, VISIT THE SCHOOL OF EVENTS, TOURISM & HOSPITALITY MANAGEMENT