Title: Enhancing Hospitality Education: Exploring Hospitality Management Students’ Experiences in Educational Tours through Narrative Inquiry

Author(S): Archer R. Armada* and Marichu S. Armada

Abstract: 

This study explores the role of educational tours in hospitality education, emphasizing their potential to enhance students’ professional growth, lifelong learning, and overall development. Recognized as valuable experiential learning opportunities, these tours bridge theoretical knowledge and real-world practice. Despite their widespread use, there is limited understanding of how such experiences influence student development, particularly regarding barriers to participation and support strategies. The purpose of this research is to examine hospitality management students’ experiences during educational tours, identify participation barriers, and propose strategies to improve support, safety, and communication, thereby maximizing educational outcomes. Anchored in Kolb’s Experiential Learning Theory (1984), which describes learning as a process involving concrete experience, reflection, conceptualization, and active experimentation, the study explores how students engage with, reflect on, and learn from their tour experiences. Employing a qualitative narrative inquiry design, data were collected through semi-structured interviews and reflective narratives, providing in-depth insights into students’ personal stories and lived experiences. Thematic analysis revealed six key themes: professional growth, educational development, barriers to participation, challenges in enjoying the experience, support strategies, and communication methods. Findings suggest that targeted interventions in these areas can significantly enrich experiential learning and foster personal and professional growth. The study recommends that hospitality programs implement structured support, improve safety protocols, and enhance communication channels to facilitate more meaningful experiential learning, better preparing students for their future careers.

Keywords:  Experiential learning, Hospitality education, Student support strategies, Safety and preparedness, Educational tours

Corresponding Author Affiliation*: Hospitality & Tourism Management Department Eastern Visayas State University, Tacloban City

Title: The Singapore Government’s Efforts in International Tourism Development through the Eras Tour

Author(S): Imelda Nauli Gultom* and Resa Rasyidah

Abstract: 

This research discusses the efforts made by the Singapore government to boost its international tourism development through Taylor Swift’s The Eras Tour in Singapore. It started when the tour encouraged economic and tourism growth in the countries where it stops, and many countries are trying to be part of The Eras Tour, including Singapore. This research uses descriptive methods to explain the results in sentence and non-numerical form and the international tourism development theory. This research demonstrates that there are four Singapore government’s efforts to boost its international tourism development through The Eras Tour. First, by coordinating an exclusive agreement with AEG Presents, the concert promoter, to make Singapore the only stop in Southeast Asia. Second, by expanding facilities, especially complementary tourism facilities in the Singapore Sports Hub, international tourists will be tempted to explore and have many experiences. The expansion of facilities was upgraded and innovated with pre-concert activities, including The Carnival, The Precinct, and The Library. Third, by implementing general promotion, the Singapore government uses Visit Singapore Instagram to promote Singapore with ‘The Eras Tour themed’ recommended destinations to international tourists. Fourth, providing infrastructure indirectly based on the need to develop international tourism. In its improvement, the Singapore government is also providing infrastructure by increasing the frequency of SMRT trains for post-concert activities so the crowd can be organized in a conducive situation.

Keywords: Singapore government, Efforts, International tourism development, The Eras Tour

Corresponding Author Affiliation*: International Relations Department, Faculty of Social, Cultural and Political Sciences, UPN “Veteran” Jawa Timur, Indonesia