Environment-Behaviour Proceedings Journal
The Environment-Behaviour Proceedings Journal (E-BPJ) is the flagship journal of the Malaysian Association of Environment-Behaviour Researchers (AMER). The E-BPJ adheres to the Budapest Open Access Initiative (BOAI) definition of open access: that users have the right to read, download, copy, distribute, print, search, or link to the full texts of these articles. It publishes selected, original, double-blind, peer-reviewed international conference proceedings on Environment-Behaviour (Environmental Psychology), General Psychology, and Quality of Life issues currently affecting Asian/African/Arabian communities living in both their home countries and other countries. The selected proceeding papers published were presented at multiple serial annual international conferences held worldwide since 2010, mainly organised by AMER and, where appropriate, jointly organised with the institutions of the international conference organising committee. The E-BPJ’s main goal is to disseminate original Environment-Behaviour (Environmental Psychology) research works internationally, particularly by researchers in Asia, Africa, and Arabia, though contributors from other countries are also most welcome. It's important to note that the views expressed in the proceeding papers, do not necessarily reflect the official stance of AMER. This policy encourages open discussion and diverse opinions in relation to the Environment-Behaviour (Environmental Psychology) studies. The E-BPJ is published by e-IPH Ltd UK.
e-International Publishing House (e-IPH) Limited, UK
Viral reactions, legal consequences: A case study of the 2024 Tangier sexual assault
In September 2024, a video was widely circulated on the internet of a young woman being sexually assaulted by minors on the streets of Tangier. The unauthorized recording sparked national outrage and gave rise to a wave of online reactions that spanned from September 2024 to November 2024. Many Moroccan content creators took to their TikTok accounts to address the incident, commonly referred to as the “Tangier girl” or "فتاة طنجة". The video prompted some TikTok users to support the young woman, while others condemned her clothing choices, revealing deep-rooted societal divisions around gender-based violence in Morocco. Against this backdrop, the study examines how digital activism shaped public discourse around the case and whether such online mobilization translated into meaningful social or legal change. The research employs thematic analysis to examine high-engagement TikTok videos and their comments posted during the three-month period. The analysis identifies recurring patterns of meaning across the data, tracing how themes such as victim-blaming, youth mobilization, polarization, and resistance emerged and evolved across five waves of content circulation. Feminist theory provides the interpretive lens through which these themes are analyzed, enabling an examination of how gender, power, morality, and patriarchal norms were negotiated within digital discourse. The findings indicate three main benefits of cyberactivism: generating visibility around street harassment, mobilizing youth engagement, and countering victim-blaming through forms of digital resistance. At the same time, the findings reveal important limitations. Cyberactivism is limited in disrupting prevailing social norms, provokes divisions, and shows constraints in producing lasting structural change. The analysis shows that while digital activism created pressure that contributed to a short-term legal response, broader institutional reform or sustained transformation was not evident within the scope of this analysis. The research raises critical concerns about the boundaries of social media activism in achieving structural transformation in Moroccan society, while acknowledging its transformative potential to mobilize resistance.
Copyright (c) 2026 Imane Alqaraoui, Iflahen Fatima-Zohra https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
“I’m Not the Same Person Anymore”: Sociocultural Lived Experiences of Stroke Recovery in Malaysia
Recovery following stroke is often described in terms of physical outcomes and individual effort. However, these perspectives may overlook how recovery is experienced within everyday social and cultural contexts. This study is significant as, in culturally diverse settings such as Malaysia, recovery is closely intertwined with shared beliefs, social expectations, and daily practices. Stroke survivors may draw on a mix of biomedical care, traditional understandings of illness, and religious beliefs as they navigate recovery. Exploring these influences can offer a more grounded understanding of how recovery unfolds in real-life contexts. This study aimed to explore how stroke survivors make sense of their experiences of community reintegration within their sociocultural contexts. The objective of this study is to interpret how sociocultural influences shape stroke survivors’ experiences of recovery and community reintegration. This study employed the Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) as outlined by Pietkiewicz and Smith (2014) as the methodology. Thirteen stroke survivors participated in the study through purposive recruitment. The researcher conducted in-depth, semi-structured interviews, audio-recorded them, and transcribed them verbatim. The data were analyzed in stages, starting with each case before identifying patterns across participants. The limitations of the study are that the findings are based on participants’ subjective accounts and the researcher’s interpretation, which may influence how the data are understood. Moreover, some participants were accompanied by caregivers during interviews due to functional limitations and caregiver concern, which may have influenced how experiences were expressed. Three themes emerged from the findings, illustrating how stroke survivors experience recovery within sociocultural contexts: Making Sense of Illness and Recovery Through Sociocultural, Spiritual, and Embodied Understandings (n = 11), Reconstructing and Negotiating the Self Within Sociocultural Contexts (n = 12), and Navigating Treatment Choices Within Pluralistic and Socioculturally Influenced Approaches (n = 7). These themes highlight how recovery is shaped by culturally and spiritually grounded interpretations, ongoing identity and social role renegotiation, and active navigation of multiple treatment approaches. Together, they demonstrate that recovery is not solely an individual or biomedical process but a dynamic, socioculturally embedded experience. These findings suggest that stroke recovery is not only a medical or individual process but also one shaped by social and cultural contexts. Rehabilitation approaches may benefit from greater flexibility and responsiveness to the different ways individuals draw on beliefs, relationships, and everyday practices in their recovery.
Copyright (c) 2026 Nurul Husna Binti Muhammad Hamzi, Dr Syamsul, Ms Aisya https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
A Lightweight Machine Learning Framework for Urban Air Quality Prediction
Abstract Air pollution has become one of the most serious public health problems in the 21st century. Part of the reason this is happening is the rapid growth of cities around the world. Public sources are making air quality monitoring easily accessible, but high-precision short-term forecasts are rare. For this reason, communities find it hard to adapt to behavior in response to changes in pollution levels. Most forecasting systems today rely on legacy statistical methods for air quality prediction, but due to the highly non-linear and volatile nature of urban pollutants, these methods sometimes fail to deliver accurate predictions. In this study, a machine learning framework for real-time prediction of air quality indicators, such as PM2.5, PM10, CO, and NO₂, using wind speed and humidity as supplementary environmental variables that represent regional climatic conditions. We used two models and compared: Linear Regression as a statistical baseline and Random Forest as the main predictive model. The dataset was sourced from the Seoul Open Data Plaza website, which is a publicly available government-operated data portal managed by the Seoul Metropolitan Government. For data pre-processing, we use methods such as Min-Max normalization and handling missing values to ensure the data is correct and the model functions more reliably. To measure how well our model works, we use MAE, RMSE, and R². In the experiment, we gave equal weights to prediction accuracy and speed. The key differentiating factor of this framework is that it works on a low-resource configuration. This system is designed to leverage low-computing systems, focusing on high-accuracy short-term predictions, unlike other methods that rely on large and expensive computing infrastructure. Making it easy to use in many cities across Asia and Africa, where growth is rapid, and resources are limited. The experimental outcomes of the proposed framework show that it surpasses conventional statistical techniques in elucidating complex temporal pollution patterns. The goal of this work is to turn the predictive outputs into useful real-world information, helping local governments provide timely health advisories and enabling locals to make smart behavior choices based on real-time air quality conditions and ultimately leading to a healthier and more sustainable urban environment. Keywords: Machine learning; Lightweight; Air quality; Prediction
Copyright (c) 2026 Akshovya Shrestha, Thien Phu Nguyen, Khadak Singh Bhandari, Ahmed Abdulhakim Al-Absi https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
AI and IoT in the Healthcare Environment: Behavioral Impacts on Patients and Clinicians in Asian and African Contexts
The physical and digital healthcare environment shapes human behavior in how patients seek care, how clinicians reason, and how trust is built between them. Previous environmental behavior research in AMER done before has examined healing environments, hospital wayfinding, and the built qualities that support patient comfort and staff performance. This paper extends that inquiry into a new domain: an in-depth examination of the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Internet of Things (IoT) technologies into healthcare settings, along with the behavioral consequences for the individuals who populate these environments. In this paper, we will examine two interconnected aspects. First, how AI diagnostic tools, IoT-enabled patient monitoring, and ambient clinical intelligence affect patient behavior by shifting healthcare-seeking patterns, reshaping trust in human clinicians, and inducing cognitive overload when AI-generated information is poorly designed. Second, how these same technologies alter clinician behavior by enabling cognitive offloading, which may erode critical thinking, reconfigure the doctor-patient encounter, reduce documentation burden, and introduce new dependencies on opaque algorithmic outputs. The analysis is set on Asian, African, and Arabian healthcare systems. Because these systems face workforce shortages, a lack of specialists, and under-resourced facilities, the use of AI and IoT is highly urgent but risky. Most of these AI diagnostic models are trained on developed countries from North American and European data, which makes them perform worse in these developing regions, hence worsening health inequities. This leads to a gap in patient-reported outcomes from research done in healthcare, evaluating whether patients perceive themselves as being heard, respected, or more effectively supported following the introduction of AI into clinical settings. This paper argues that AI and IoT should be seen not just as technical systems. They are also environmental interventions that change the social and technical conditions for healthcare behaviors. The paper calls for human-centered, culturally aware design frameworks that focus on the patient and clinician experience in Asian, African, and Arabian smart healthcare settings.
Copyright (c) 2026 Shema Nkindi GISCARD, Antony Susani Mrefu, Dufitumukiza jean Pierre, Baseem Al-Athwari https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
Cultural and Behavioural Perspectives on Traditional Medicine Use in Cardiovascular Health
Background: The growing burden of cardiovascular diseases, alongside increased interest in complementary and integrative approaches, has stimulated a substantial body of research exploring cultural and behavioural determinants of traditional medicine ™ use. Significance: Understanding the global research landscape on TM use in cardiovascular health is essential for identifying knowledge gaps, guiding policy development, and integrating culturally sensitive healthcare strategies. Bibliometric analysis offers a systematic approach to evaluate publication trends, research productivity, and thematic evolution in this field. Aim: This study aims to investigate the bibliometric characteristics and evolving research patterns on cultural and behavioural perspectives of traditional medicine use in cardiovascular health. Objectives: To identify publication and citation trends from 2016 to 2026; to determine the most productive countries, journals, and funding agencies; and to establish key research themes and keyword networks related to TM use in cardiovascular contexts. Methods: A bibliometric analysis was conducted using the Scopus database, retrieving 689 documents published between 2016 and 2026. Data were analysed using ScientoPy (v2.1.3) for publication and country trends, Scopus Analyzer for journal and funding insights, and VOSviewer (v1.6.20) for keyword co-occurrence mapping. Results: The results indicate a fluctuating yet overall increasing publication trend, peaking in 2025 (98 publications), while citation counts were highest in 2019 (4060) and 2024 (3718). The United States (17.85%) and China (16.98%) emerged as leading contributors, supported by major funding bodies such as the National Natural Science Foundation of China (7.84%) and the National Institutes of Health (5.08%). Prominent journals included Journal of Ethnopharmacology, BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies and BMJ Open. Keyword analysis revealed that behavioural and cultural constructs form a central research cluster, with high occurrences of “attitude” (14), “knowledge” (13), “medication adherence” (13), indicating strong emphasis on patient perceptions and decision-making processes. These are closely linked with health outcomes such as “hypertension” (74), “cardiovascular disease” (17), and “diabetes” (16). The clustering pattern demonstrates an intersection between cultural beliefs, behavioural responses, and chronic disease management. Limitations: The study is limited to the Scopus database and may exclude relevant publications indexed from other sources. Implications: The findings underscore the importance of integrating cultural competence and behavioural insights into cardiovascular healthcare strategies. Emphasizing patient attitudes, belief systems, and health literacy can enhance adherence and optimize the safe integration of traditional medicine within modern clinical practice.
Copyright (c) 2026 Hazirah Watikah Abdah, Noorul Izzati Hanafi, Nany Hairunisa, Noor Alicezah Mohd Kasim https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
Effect of Educational Programs on Foot Care Knowledge and Practices among Diabetes Patients in Asia: A Systematic Review
Diabetic foot complications are a significant public health concern, contributing to increased morbidity, disability, and diminished quality of life. Inadequate knowledge of foot care and suboptimal self-care practices remain key modifiable risk factors, particularly in Asian populations. This systematic review evaluated the effectiveness of educational interventions in improving foot care knowledge and practices among individuals with diabetes. Guided by PRISMA 2020, studies published between 2015 and 2025 were included, comprising three randomized controlled trials and 13 quasi-experimental studies. Interventions varied, including face-to-face education, printed materials, multimedia, and mobile health strategies. Overall, findings indicate significant improvements in knowledge, self-efficacy, and foot care practices. Nevertheless, further rigorous trials with long-term follow-up are warranted.
Copyright (c) 2026 Rosehaidza Mat Zam, Siti Khuzaimah Ahmad Sharoni, Septa Katmawanti https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
Enhancing tourist transport service experience: factors influencing customer satisfaction
Transportation accounts for a significant portion of tourism services, and improving its quality directly translates into improved overall tourism service quality. Many scientists have proven in their research that transport and tourism services play a significant role in the country's economic development. Transportation services offered to tourists are diverse, with transfers being the most common. The number of transfer service providers is growing daily, and competition among them is fierce. The main goal of our study was to improve the performance of transportation service providers for tourists. To this end, we analyzed the factors influencing customers' choice of transfer services. During the study, we collected opinions from over 400 respondents via a questionnaire. Based on this, we selected factors that influence customer choice. By assigning each factor a rating on a 5-point scale, we determined which factor plays the most significant role in the choice process. According to the study, the two most influential factors in customer choice are "safety" and "driver competence." The gender, age, purpose of travel, and place of origin were also studied separately. This is the basis for analyzing which customer types the company should focus its marketing on. Also, to make the research more powerful, the analysis was conducted between two companies, and their results were analyzed. According to it, the company with better driver treatment had a higher percentage of customers re-selecting the service, even though the service price was higher than that of the second company. We also analyzed the relationships between these factors. The results of this study will be useful for the company's efforts to increase customer acquisition, increase repeat customer retention, and develop future plans. Based on the research findings, we developed measures for companies to implement. Since the management systems and organizational structures of transfer service providers are largely similar, we believe the research conducted at these two companies will be useful for other companies as well. Kay words: tourism, travel, transport, transfer
Copyright (c) 2026 Indirabonu Mukhtorova https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
The impact of Digital Platforms on human cognition and mental health: A literature Review
In the era of rapid digitalization, the concept of "environment" has expanded beyond physical and natural boundaries to include the digital spaces that shape human daily life. In recent years, with the emergence of smartphones, people worldwide have adopted and expanded their use of the internet in every aspect of their daily lives, including communication, education, shopping, and entertainment. Nowadays, the world is largely dependent on digital platforms, which make daily life easier and more advanced. Digital platforms not only influence how individuals communicate, process information, and learn, but also include video-making and sharing applications and online services designed to engage through personal contact and continuous social connectivity. Besides this, these platforms provide social interaction worldwide by sharing all kinds of positive and negative information, news, and videos. However, excessive use of these platforms affects human cognition and mental health. Mobile phones used to be mounted on walls, but now people cannot live without their cell phones in one hand at all times. The issue is much more complex than it seems. For example, on platforms like TikTok, many people show themselves diagnosed with ADHD and autism. In some cases, it is clear that they are highly addicted to social media, which affects their socialization and concentration. People are often preoccupied with their digital devices while driving, eating, or even trying to meditate. This study aims to examine how people use digital platforms and how deeply this may affect our minds. This study adopts a review-based approach, analyzing recent academic research on digital media usage and how it affects mental conditions, such as lack of sleep, addiction, memory function, emotional stability, and psychological stability. It may have limitations as it is based on previously published research and does not include primary data collection. However, this study shows both the negative and positive sides of digital platforms and highlights the importance of balancing digital habits to protect cognitive function and mental well-being.
Copyright (c) 2026 Mansun Thapa, barsha tamang, miksa nembang, smriti thapa, baseem Al-athwari https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
Modelling Financial Behaviour and Mobility Aspirations in Youth
This study examines how family financial socialisation shapes travel norms and mobility aspirations among Malaysian young adults through the lens of Prospect Theory. In the context of rising youth travel trends and increasing financial pressures, understanding how early financial experiences influence mobility decisions is increasingly important. The significance of this study lies in its integration of behavioural finance into tourism research, providing insights into how financial upbringing influences sustainable travel behaviour. The aim of this study is to investigate the influence of family financial socialisation on mobility aspirations among Malaysian young adults. Specifically, the objectives are to identify the overall level of key financial constructs, to analyse the relationships between financial socialisation, financial literacy, and mobility aspirations, and to determine the mediating role of financial behaviour. A quantitative cross-sectional design was employed, incorporating data from 393 respondents and analysed using Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) with AMOS. Descriptive findings indicate moderate levels of financial socialisation, financial literacy, and financial behaviour, alongside relatively high mobility aspirations. Confirmatory Factor Analysis demonstrated satisfactory measurement properties, with factor loadings above 0.50, composite reliability between 0.70 and 0.85, and average variance extracted exceeding recommended thresholds. The structural model showed acceptable fit indices (χ²/df = 2.30, CFI = 0.915, TLI = 0.900, RMSEA = 0.058, SRMR = 0.054). Results reveal that financial socialisation significantly predicts financial literacy (β = 0.36, p < 0.001), which subsequently influences financial behaviour (β = 0.41, p < 0.001). Financial behaviour significantly affects mobility aspirations (β = 0.38, p < 0.001), with partial mediation observed. However, this study is limited by its cross-sectional design and reliance on self-reported data, which may affect causal interpretation. Consistent with Prospect Theory, individuals with stronger financial capability are more likely to perceive travel as a gain rather than a loss. The findings underscore the importance of early financial socialisation in promoting responsible financial behaviour and sustainable travel decision-making among youth.
Copyright (c) 2026 Siti Yuliandi Ahmad, Siti Salwa Md Sawari, Mazni Saad, Susan Hama https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
Universal Design Learning-Based Support TKYM Model for Malaysian Autism-Inclusion Centers
Abstract 380words Conventional specialized autism-inclusion centers often prioritize behavioral compliance over holistic well-being. The CAST Universal Design Learning (UDL) 3.0 Guidelines are standards designed to support neurodiverse learners, especially autistic learners, in inclusion education. Adhering to the guidelines, autism-inclusion centers are now required to prioritize their practices that create inclusive educational experiences for neurodiverse learners. Albeit UDL-aligned practices support consistent access to monitor UDL, their implementation, in terms of quality and staff training, varies across centers. The significance of this study is the UDL-based support TKYM model that Malaysian autism-inclusion centers can adopt to promote inclusivity in line with SDGs 4 and 10. Adopting this model, educators can customize strategies to better support autistic learners across educational environments, enhancing participation and learning opportunities, especially in areas with limited resources and training. The aim of this study is to propose a UDL-based support TKYM model for Malaysian autism-inclusion centers. The objectives of this study are to: (1) identify the autism-inclusion centers’ readiness and willingness to adhere to UDL guidelines; (2) examine the autism-inclusion centers’ implementation of the UDL guidelines; (3) explore how the UDL guidelines can be effectively implemented at autism-inclusion centers; and (4) explore the autism-inclusion centers' needs in implementing UDL guidelines. A mixed-methods approach was employed to collect quantitative data, using a questionnaire administered to 50 participants at private autism-inclusion centers in the Klang Valley, Malaysia. The semi-structured interview was conducted with five administrators, five educators, and five therapists. SPSS and NVivo15 are used to analyze quantitative and qualitative data, respectively. The limitations of this study are that it was conducted in only the Klang Valley, Malaysia, at a private center, and involved a limited number of participants. The results show that autism-inclusion centers implementing UDL could improve autistic learners’ engagement, representation, action, and expression while also advancing SDG 4 (quality education) and SDG 10 (reduce inequalities) by fostering more inclusive and equitable learning environments. The implications of this study are to enable autistic learners to access and benefit from high-quality education on an equal basis with others, supporting the goal of inclusive and equitable learning under SDG 4. At the same time, it aligns with SDG 10, which focuses on eliminating discrimination and reducing inequality within Malaysian societies. Keywords: Autism-inclusion center, Universal Design for Learning (UDL), Inclusive Education, SDG 4 and 10
Copyright (c) 2026 KWAI YOK TOO, Madhubala Bava Harji, Ci Wang https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
Deep Fake Technology in Media: A literature review
Deepfakes have become possible through advances in artificial intelligence, particularly deep learning architectures. These technologies enable the creation of highly realistic audio, video, and imagery using the algorithms capable of imitating the appearance of a person or an object. In general, deepfakes are a technique that uses machine learning to synthesize and manipulate images, videos, and audio. They mainly rely on deep learning models, specifically generative adversarial networks (GANs). This model is based on the process when two neural networks compete and learn how to generate realistic results. The main goal of this paper is to present an analysis of deepfake technology, focusing on its history and the key mechanisms used to produce deepfakes. In particular, this paper will focus on neural network training and discuss how recent advances in this field have made deepfakes even more realistic. As a result, the emergence of deepfakes poses serious challenges for information verification. Unfortunately, the use of deepfake technologies in modern society is becoming increasingly common. Deepfakes create various opportunities for misuse as they can be used to create fakes in order to commit criminal acts, including fraud, election tampering, identity theft, extortion, defamation, terrorism, and so on. All these activities make information verification extremely important since the rise of fake news is increasing continuously. There are various measures implemented in order to mitigate negative effects related to deepfake technology. In addition to the application of machine learning methods, there are various regulations and laws governing the activities of people working with deepfakes. Furthermore, online services apply various content moderation techniques to prevent people from using deepfake technology illegally. Some of the emerging methods of preventing and detecting deepfakes include digital watermarking and forensic analysis. There are several methods for detecting fake images and analyzing the content of images and videos. Finally, another promising strategy is public awareness campaigns that inform users about deepfakes.
Copyright (c) 2026 Moses, Johnson Samwel Lyimo , Mikael Tengemano Gombe , Al Athwari Baseem https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
ChatGPT and the Shaping of Literary, Cultural, and Media Discourses
Scholars, critics, and media institutions have long shaped cultural and literary canons by selecting, interpreting, and circulating knowledge. In the digital era, tools such as ChatGPT increasingly participate in this process, raising important questions about their role in structuring discourse within literature, culture, and media studies. The significance of this research lies in examining how such tools may influence the transmission of knowledge and the visibility of certain authors, theories, and perspectives in the human sciences. This study aims to explore how ChatGPT shapes cultural, literary, and media discourse. More specifically, it seeks to identify whether the model reinforces dominant canonical references or integrates more diverse perspectives, and to determine how language (English versus French) shapes the production and framing of these discourses. The research adopts a qualitative comparative approach. A corpus of ten questions was submitted to ChatGPT (GPT-4 paid version) in both English and French. The questions address three main areas: postcolonial literature, feminist theory, and media and cultural criticism. The analysis is conducted manually using a qualitative grid focusing on lexical and semantic choices, suggested references (authors, works, and theories), and the interpretative angles privileged in each response. The findings reveal that ChatGPT’s responses vary significantly depending on the language used. The English responses tend to provide more theoretically grounded and conceptually precise analyses, while the French responses are generally more descriptive and simplified. In terms of references, the English outputs privilege Anglophone canonical figures, whereas the French outputs introduce more linguistically diverse references but with less theoretical depth. Overall, the results suggest the presence of an implicit hierarchy of knowledge influenced by dominant academic and cultural canons. This study is limited by its small sample size and its focus on only two languages. Nevertheless, it highlights the role of ChatGPT as a mediator of knowledge in the humanities, capable of shaping literary and cultural narratives. It also suggests the need for a critical use of generative technologies in education and research, and opens perspectives for further studies on linguistic and cultural biases in AI-generated discourse.
Copyright (c) 2026 Ikram Douaou, Dr. Fatima-Zohra Iflahen https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
Environmental Awareness and Perceived Responsibility Regarding Generative AI
In recent years, Generative AI (GenAI) has become an integral part of student life. The growing use of GenAI demands a large quantity of resources, e.g., fresh water, electricity, and rare earth metals. This study aims to identify the primary use case for GenAI among undergraduate students at Kyungdong University Global, as well as their awareness of its environmental impact and perceived responsibility. To this end, we examined the interconnections between usage frequency, awareness, responsibility attitude, and readiness to reduce AI use. Students (N=316) were surveyed using a 5-point Likert scale to assess the main use case, awareness, responsibility, and difficulty reducing AI usage. We processed and analyzed the data using the Python Programming Language, with NumPy and Pandas for data manipulation and SciPy for statistical testing. We also utilized scikit-learn for modeling, while Matplotlib for visualization. First, we calculated the mean and standard deviation of the responses to each questionnaire. Then, we classified the responses into seven distinct categories: Total AI Usage Score (TUS), Average AI Usage Score (AUS), Number of GenAI Use Categories (AUC), General Environmental Concern Score (GCS), GenAI Environmental Awareness Score (AAS), Responsible AI Attitude Score (RAS), and AI Reduction Feasibility Score (RFS). For AAS and RAS Cronbach’s α= 0.761 and 0.800 respectively. The AUC values showed limited variation since students selected only one primary use category. Therefore, it was not useful for explaining differences in AAS and RAS. The majority of students had a moderate to high level of awareness regarding the environmental impact of GenAI (57.3% highly aware). Two regression models were examined for AAS and RAS. The first regression suggested that AAS is associated with both TUS(β=0.139,p=0.004) and GCS(β=0.138,p=0.001). The second regression suggested that RAS had a statistically significant association with AAS(β=0.211,p<0.001) and GCS(β=0.207,p<0.001). Spearman correlation further revealed that TUS was positively associated with AAS (ρ=0.202,p<0.001) with RAS (ρ=0.126,p<0.05), but negatively associated with RFS (ρ=-0.148,p<0.01). The analysis showed that the students who use GenAI frequently are more aware of its environmental impact but find it hard to stop using it. Additionally, the results show that simply having environmental awareness is insufficient; students require alternative solutions to address this issue.
Copyright (c) 2026 SAMAN RAI, Khadak Singh Bhandari, Ahmed Abdulhakim Al-Absi https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
Impact of Generative AI on Undergraduate Students: A Case Study of KDU Global
The rapid advancement in Generative AI (GenAI) tools has changed higher education, mainly in how undergraduate students use various AI tools such as ChatGPT, Claude AI, etc., and many others for educational objectives. These tools help students learn efficiently with a greater understanding of programming and technical concepts. However, overreliance on such tools leads to serious concerns about students’ critical thinking and problem-solving skills. The main focus of this research is to show the behavioral impact of using GenAI tools among undergraduate students in the Smart Computing department at Kyungdong University Global in Goseong-gun, South Korea. This research aims to define the effects of such tools on students’ learning behavior in educational practices. It tells the purpose and frequency of GenAI usage, identifies its impact on learning habits, and shows students’ awareness of the challenges and consequences for problem-solving and independent thinking. A quantitative research approach was used to get data from 160 students via a Google form through the cross-sectional survey method. The survey included questions regarding awareness of AI tools, AI usage in learning behavior, non-users’ perceptions, and awareness of AI tools associated with learning practice. The acquired data were evaluated using detailed statistical tools. The outcome shows that most of the students daily use GenAI tools for academic purposes, especially for assistance with coding, debugging, and problem-solving. The results demonstrate that these tools enhance learning efficiency, quality of assignments and project tasks, improve understanding of programming and technical concepts, and increase efficiency in completing academic tasks. But, issues regarding overreliance on AI tools, reduced development of independent and problem-solving skills, and inaccuracy or inconsistency in AI-generated answers were also observed. Diversities in usage patterns were noted among various student groups. The research is conducted through convenience sampling, and it is concentrated on a single department, which could affect the generalizability of the findings. However, the research gives a crucial perspective for educational organizations in creating balanced approaches to incorporating GenAI into education and learning behavior. It emphasizes the need to encourage ethical use of AI while maintaining important cognitive and problem-solving abilities.
Copyright (c) 2026 Bikram Singh Bhat, Nirjala Machamasi, Khadak Singh Bhandari, Mohammed Abdulhakim Al-Absi https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
Memory-Efficient Diffusion Image Generation: A Hybrid Framework for Low-Resource Environments
Stable Diffusion and SDXL-Turbo have become the state-of-the-art text-to-image models in the modern era. However, their effectiveness is highly dependent on the timing, sampling, and computing resources. The majority of previous studies evaluate these models on the latest GPUs and high end resources, leaving out CPU or free-tier services. This thesis bridges this gap by providing a comprehensive analysis and optimization approach for low-resource computational environments. The paper presents two popular diffusion models: Stable Diffusion 1.5 and SDXL-Turbo. The framework combines systematic parameter sweeps, structural prompt engineering, perceptual similarity assessment using LPIPS, and hybrid inference pipelines to optimize generation quality with minimal hardware. The experiments were all run entirely on CPUs and in free-tier cloud environments, with explicit memory-optimized model-loading policies to enable their execution within the tight computational constraints. The pipeline starts with an experimental baseline image generation pipeline using Stable Diffusion 1.5, due to its high structural consistency and its ability to work well in low-resource environments. The results of images generated during this phase are run through SDXL-Turbo via an Img2Img refinement process, creating a two-stage hybrid generation pipeline (SD1.5 → SDXL-Turbo). Quantitative analysis of LPIPS shows that the method significantly increases the perceptual similarity with the baseline images. The two-stage pipeline scores 0.3716 on LPIPS, which is much better than SDXL-Turbo alone, which scores 0.6743. It suggests that SD1.5 offers consistent compositional stability, and SDXL-Turbo is effective in increasing fine-grained textures and detail. Besides the hybrid pipeline, a lightweight pixel-average ensemble approach was also tested to explore the idea of whether the results of the various diffusion runs can be used to further enhance the image quality. The ensemble outputs seemed to be visually smoother; however, quantitative LPIPS results indicated that there was greater perceptual divergence compared to the baseline images, which is consistent with the previously reported findings on ensemble diffusion strategies. Overall, this thesis introduces a reproducible hardware-efficient diffusion model evaluation and optimization framework that can be employed in constrained environments. The work presents practical advice to researchers and developers who have to work with limited computational resources by showing that it is possible to create high-quality generation and reliable quantitative evaluation without the use of high-end GPUs.
Copyright (c) 2026 MOSES MUKIIBI, Dr Khadak, Hussein Fouad Mohamed Ali, Ahmed Abdulhakim Al-Absi https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
Differentiated Adaptive Leadership–Motivation Model for Higher Education Teachers’ Well-being
In China’s managerialist higher education context, academics’ wellbeing and professional motivation are critically affected by discrepancies in salary scales, excessive non-teaching tasks, and research-teaching-based evaluation. Existing leadership models, however, often adopt a one‑size‑fits‑all leadership support system that fails to consider academics’ motivational needs. The significance of this study, the proposed Differentiated Adaptive Leadership–Motivation Model, is to sustain the motivation and wellbeing of novice, mid-career, and senior academics. This study aimed to develop a Differentiated Adaptive Leadership–Motivation Model for sustainable teacher professional engagement across different career stages. The objectives are to explore the (I) novice, mid-career, and senior academic’s types of motivation at the workplace, and (ii) types of educational leadership support rendered to academics. The research utilized a qualitative case study design. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 21 academics, i.e., seven per career stage. The limitations of this study include sourcing participants from only one institution, focusing on only three career stages, and not considering other socio-economic background details, such as gender, academic titles, and years of service, which may thus limit generalizability. Key findings reveal that novice, mid-career, and senior academics differ in the types of support they expect from their leader. Novice teachers primarily rely on motivational competence support from instructional leaders through structured mentoring and AI-enhanced feedback to build confidence and mastery of skills. Mid-career teachers tend to prioritize motivational relatedness from transformational leaders, deriving professional support via participation in professional learning communities and cross-departmental collaboration. Senior teachers thrive on autonomy from distributed leaders, valuing trust-based empowerment and freedom to initiate pedagogical innovations without bureaucratic approvals. The proposed Differentiated Adaptive Leadership–Motivation Model illustrates how the wellbeing of academics across different career stages is a dynamic product of need-supportive, career-stage-adapted leadership. Implications include structured mentoring for novices, peer networks for mid-career faculty, and autonomy grants for seniors, reframing teacher wellbeing aligned with SDG3 as achievable within hierarchical systems through differentiated, psychologically attuned leadership. Keywords: Educational Leadership, SDG3, Teacher Wellbeing, Differentiated Adaptive Leadership–Motivation Model
Copyright (c) 2026 HUI WEI, Madhubala Bava Harji, JUN FENG ZHOU https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
Songdo’s Integrated Strategies for Environmental Sustainability and Disaster Risk Reduction
Urban centres worldwide face escalating climate-induced hazards—including riverine flooding, typhoons, and extreme heat events—that demand transformative approaches to planning and governance in the built environment. This paper critically examines Songdo International Business District, South Korea, as a paradigmatic smart city case study, analysing how its integrated technological infrastructure mediates environment-behaviour (E-B) dynamics within the broader context of natural disaster risk reduction (DRR). As a globally recognised exemplar of purpose-built smart urbanism, Songdo offers a unique analytical lens for interrogating the relationship between technologically mediated urban environments and the behavioural responses of their inhabitants under conditions of climate risk.Drawing on an E-B theoretical framework, the study evaluates how Songdo's urban systems—comprising real-time IoT sensor networks, sustainable stormwater and water management infrastructure, energy-efficient building envelopes, green corridor planning, and automated emergency response protocols—shape residents' risk perception, place attachment, pro-environmental behaviour, and community preparedness. Findings indicate that while these systems advance data-driven DRR governance and proactive hazard mitigation at the city scale, their influence on individual and collective behaviour remains spatially and socio-economically uneven across residential populations.Critical tensions emerge between the city's predominantly top-down technocratic planning model and the imperatives of participatory co-creation, equitable access to smart technologies, and the activation of multifunctional public spaces as catalysts for social cohesion and community resilience. The underutilisation of civic and green spaces further constrains the formation of place-based social networks essential to informal DRR capacities.The paper argues that technological sophistication alone is insufficient for sustainable urban resilience. Effective DRR necessitates human-centred design that cultivates public trust in early warning systems, reinforces behavioural adaptive capacity, and fosters inclusive, bottom-up community engagement. This study contributes to emerging scholarship at the intersection of smart urbanism, climate adaptation, and E-B research, advocating for integrated planning frameworks that are simultaneously technologically robust, socially equitable, and behaviourally responsive to the realities of increasing climate risk
Copyright (c) 2026 Reazul Ahsan, Dr https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
Evaluating EM Mudball Density Effects on Ammonia Reduction in Stormwater Ponds
Urban stormwater retention ponds are essential infrastructures for managing runoff. However, their functional performance is often compromised by elevated ammoniacal nitrogen (NH₃-N) concentrations resulting from nutrient accumulation, organic loading, and prolonged low flow conditions, particularly in tropical environments. This degradation not only affects water quality but also limits ecological functionality and long-term sustainability. While Nature-Based Solutions (NbS), such as Effective Microorganism (EM) mudballs, have gained cumulative consideration as low-cost and environmentally responsive remediation approaches, existing studies primarily focus on overall water quality improvements, with limited emphasis on the influence of application design parameters. In particular, the role of mudball density as a determinant of ammonia removal efficiency remains insufficiently explored, restricting the development of evidence-based and scalable implementation strategies. This study aims to explore the effect of EM mudball application density on ammonia reduction in a stormwater retention pond. The objectives are to determine changes in NH₃-N concentrations before and after the intervention, to identify spatial variations across the inlet, mid-pond, and outlet zones, and to assess the effectiveness of a defined mudball density in enhancing ammonia removal performance. A quantitative field-based approach was employed in a campus-scale stormwater retention pond characterised by low flow conditions. Water quality data were collected from three sampling points (n=3) representing functional zones. In-situ measurements were conducted using a multiparameter probe, focusing on NH₃-N as the primary indicator, with support from dissolved oxygen (DO), pH, temperature, and electrical conductivity (EC). A total of 1,365 EM mudballs were applied at an estimated density of 1.28 mudballs/m². Baseline and multiple post-intervention measurements were conducted to evaluate temporal and spatial treatment performance. The findings indicate a substantial reduction in NH₃-N concentrations, with a decrease of approximately 65%, demonstrating effective nutrient removal associated with enhanced microbial activity. Spatial analysis shows consistent reduction trends across all sampling zones, with greater responsiveness observed near inflow areas. Supporting parameters reveal moderate improvements in DO and reductions in EC of approximately 44%, while pH and temperature remained stable. However, the study is limited by a single-density approach and a short-term monitoring period, which constrain the identification of optimal thresholds. Nevertheless, the study provides empirical evidence linking mudball density to ammonia removal efficiency and offers practical implications for developing scalable, low-cost NbS strategies in urban stormwater management.
Copyright (c) 2026 Ruwaidah Borhan, Izham Ghani, Norhafizah Abdul Rahman, Tim Heath https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
How Environmental Perception Drives Climate Awareness Among Oil Palm Smallholders?
The adoption of sustainable agricultural practices by oil palm smallholders is vital for maintaining ecological balance and economic stability in Malaysia. While top-down policies often focus on financial support, the Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice (KAP) Model suggests that a farmer's internal psychological state, specifically their knowledge and perceptions, fundamentally shape their environmental practices. To design effective behavioral interventions, policymakers must understand the environmental-behavior dynamics driving these farmers. Without addressing the psychological factors that link ecological perception to active climate awareness, financial incentives alone are insufficient to produce long-term, sustainable habits. This study aims to explore the psychological and behavioral drivers connecting environmental perceptions to climate change awareness among oil palm smallholders in Johor, Malaysia. The specific objectives are to identify the underlying factor structure of smallholders' sustainability perceptions and awareness, and to establish the relationship between positive ecological perception and active climate awareness. This study utilized a quantitative research design based on the KAP Model and Environmental Awareness Theory. Data was gathered through a structured questionnaire and 202 randomly selected independent oil palm smallholders across Johor. Data was analyzed using SPSS, specifically utilizing Exploratory Factor Analysis to group variables, and Pearson correlation for the relationships test. The scope of this study is geographically limited to Johor, and the purely quantitative methodology restricts qualitative exploration into the deeper cultural or personal reasons behind the reported perceptions. The results from Factor analysis successfully categorized perception into two main dimensions i.e., Environmental Benefits and Ecological and Health Impacts. Awareness was categorized into Climate Change Mitigation and Climate Change Impacts. Smallholder farmers demonstrated exceptionally high positive perceptions (means > 4.30) and high climate awareness (means 3.98–4.38). Crucially, hypothesis testing revealed a statistically significant relationship (p < 0.05) between a smallholder's positive perception of sustainable agriculture and their awareness of climate change, validating the KAP model's premise that positive attitudes drive deeper awareness. Environmental awareness in this community is strongly driven by an intrinsic understanding of ecological and health benefits. Consequently, agricultural training programs must pivot from purely technical instructions to holistic, continuous environmental education to effectively translate this high psychological readiness into actual sustainable farming practices.
Copyright (c) 2026 Suziana Hassan, Devika Krishnan, Norlida Hanim Mohd Salleh, A Faroby Falatehan https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
Preliminary Study on Nutritional Status and Total Iron Binding Capacity (TIBC) Levels in Adolescents
Background: Adolescent girls are at high risk of iron deficiency due to rapid growth, hormonal changes, and menstrual blood loss during puberty. These physiological demands increase the need for iron, making this group especially vulnerable to anemia. Hemoglobin testing is often used to detect anemia. However, it may not detect iron deficiency in its early stages. Total iron-binding capacity (TIBC) is a useful biochemical marker of iron metabolism and can indicate early iron depletion. Objective: This study aimed to assess the nutritional status of adolescent girls, evaluate TIBC as an early indicator of iron deficiency, and explore the association between Body Mass Index (BMI) and TIBC. Methods: A descriptive-correlational study was conducted involving 21 adolescent girls from SMK Baitul Hikmah in Jember, Indonesia, selected through purposive sampling. Nutritional status was assessed using BMI and dietary intake via the Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ). Hemoglobin and TIBC levels were measured through blood tests. Data were analysed using Fisher's Exact Test, with significance set at p < 0.05. Results: The majority of participants were underweight (66.7%) and had poor dietary intake (47.6%). Anemia was found in 42.9% of participants, and 28.5% had abnormal TIBC levels. A significant association was found between BMI and TIBC. Conclusion: This preliminary study highlights the potential association between poor nutritional status and elevated TIBC in adolescent girls. The findings emphasize the need for regular nutritional monitoring and early screening using biochemical markers to prevent iron-deficiency anaemia. Limitations: This study has several limitations, including a small sample size and the use of purposive sampling, which may limit the generalizability of the findings. Additionally, the cross-sectional design restricts the ability to establish causal relationships between BMI and TIBC levels. Dietary assessment using FFQ may also be subject to recall bias. Implications: Despite these limitations, the findings suggest that TIBC may serve as a valuable early indicator of iron deficiency among adolescent girls. Integrating nutritional assessment and biochemical screening into school-based health programs could enhance early detection and prevention strategies. Further studies with larger sample sizes and longitudinal designs are recommended to strengthen the evidence base and inform public health interventions.
Copyright (c) 2026 Yuni Handayani, Ajau Danis, Aisha Mohd Din, Yugi Hari Chandra Purnama https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
Volunteer Motivation and Participation Intention among Adolescents in Anhui, China
Copyright (c) 2026 LYU FUHAO LYU https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
Most cutting-edge systems for smart parking aren’t fault tolerant mostly because they handle the efficiency part but slightly overlook the security part, for instances like: the system misses or detects the wrong number plate, duplicate payments occurs, number plate is partially visible(dirty or occluded) mainly due to the system connectivity being unstable, or since the systems already in place don’t provide a complete proof of payment there can be cases of user disputing the charges rightfully due to system error or wrongly. In addition to that users are worried about their privacy being exposed through the parking system, since at the gate the user number plate and the payment information are recorded and kept inside the system; though a couple of research ideas had sprung on incorporating consortium blockchain for privacy, however issues like increased complexity, reduced throughput also scalability problems raised. Up to now most of the research about smart parking haven’t addressed in details how such events can be remediated. Therefore my research will investigate how the system can be fault-tolerant by defining valid states transitions (exact states only through which the payment is declared successful) and guarantee invariants such as for instance no vehicle is charged twice for the same session, no penalty is issued if payment confirmation exists, no session remains active after verified exit. The system is scheduled to handle token based identification and processing through which the user identity will be disclosed only through certain incidents(safety issues, or theft). And to conclude my research will address the issue of non repudiation by providing a full electronic receipt which will indeed infer transparency of the payments and fines if occurred with explanations. The proposed methodology will utilize IoT integrated ALPR(which is Automated License Plate Recognition) and a Fog layer to handle data processing locally at the gate, which shall remediate the unstable connectivity issues. The system’s effectiveness evaluation will go through an empirical calibrated simulation model to verify that the defined invariants actually hold true under diverse situations in the parking. The expected results shall include a significant reduction in billing disputes and a more privacy-resilient identification process for a greater user satisfaction.
Copyright (c) 2026 Don Christ Ajax Ndikuriyo, Meshack Tirop, Grace Nyankir Dhieu Gabriel https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
Prospect-Refuge Theory Dualisms in Role-Playing Game (RPG) Environments: Examining Critical Engagements in a Virtual City
Computer games have become a source of digital entertainment across generations, spanning multiple genres and themes, creating a spectrum of experiences in virtual worlds. It has emerged from the first generations of arcade games to three-dimensional worlds known as sandbox games. These are largely role-playing games (RPGs) in which players assume the role of a character, forming a digital identity to navigate the world, guided by game mechanics and a storyline. Beyond their basic game structure, game designs grounded in theories are limited. Yet they are observed to exist, albeit inevitably and unnoticed, within elements of game environments, such as the Prospect-Refuge Theory. In this paper, to better understand how the theory’s concepts manifest in a game environment, we examined critical player engagements with a range of the theory’s dualism concepts in a resource-management RPG realm. Using Grand Theft Auto: Vice City (GTA) as a pars pro toto of sandbox games, we seek to understand how these drivers in a virtual city affect game pacing. In this case, the dualism elements were established, leading to a less rigid understanding of player-game pacing, typically noting a positive game pacing. To attain this, we have employed the following methods: 1) video content analysis (VCA); 2) classifying drivers of game engagements; and 3) formulating a game pacing factoring system. The reworked technique omitted the arbitrary pointing system from a seminal study. The pacing curve generated a striking dynamic variation of apexes, plateaus, and pits within the dualism elements, revealing a push-and-pull factor influence. Research findings suggest that the game’s pacing, as determined in the study, depends solely on the set variables. Hence, there is a need to expound on the proposed techniques and test them across various GTA series to determine the ideal game pacing curve and assess the consistency of the findings.
Copyright (c) 2026 Ruben Manuit Felizarte Jr., Prof. Nappy L. Navarra, DEng https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
An Observational Study of Architectural Tourism Experience at Gyeongbokgung Palace Korea
This study explores the architectural tourism experience at Gyeongbokgung Palace through an observational research approach. As one of the most iconic heritage sites in South Korea, the palace represents a significant symbol of the Joseon Dynasty and attracts both domestic and international tourists interested in history, culture, and traditional architecture. The purpose of this study is to examine how visitors interact with and experience the architectural elements of the palace environment in a real-world setting. Using non-participant observation, data were collected by systematically recording tourists’ behaviors, movement patterns, engagement levels, and responses to key architectural features such as gates, courtyards, pavilions, and ornamental details. The findings reveal that visitors demonstrate varying degrees of engagement depending on spatial design, accessibility, and visual prominence of architectural elements. Highly detailed structures and visually striking features tend to attract longer attention spans, while open spaces encourage photography and social interaction among visitors. Furthermore, the study observes that visitors’ experiences are strongly shaped by the physical layout and spatial organization of the palace, which influence movement patterns and areas of concentration. Distinct architectural zones, such as ceremonial spaces, administrative halls, and enclosed courtyards, encourage different types of visitor behavior, ranging from passive observation to active exploration and interpretive engagement. The visual harmony, scale, symmetry, and historical authenticity of the structures also contribute to a deeper sense of aesthetic appreciation and cultural immersion among tourists. In addition, the study highlights that interpretive elements such as signage, guided pathways, and spatial transitions play an important role in shaping how visitors navigate and understand the heritage site. These elements help facilitate orientation and enhance the overall visitor experience, particularly for first-time tourists. However, certain challenges were identified, including congestion in high-traffic zones, limited resting areas, time limitation and uneven distribution of visitors across the site which may affect comfort levels and restrict opportunities for meaningful spatial exploration. Despite these limitations, Gyeongbokgung Palace remains a highly engaging architectural tourism destination due to its rich historical narrative and well-preserved built environment. This study contributes to the growing body of knowledge on architectural tourism by emphasizing the importance of observational methods in capturing authentic tourist behavior within heritage environments. It further highlights how spatial design, architectural form, and visitor flow collectively shape the overall tourism experience in cultural heritage settings.
Copyright (c) 2026 Nur Farhani Abdullah https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
Drivers of Revisit Intentions in the South Korean Tourism Sector: A Pilot Study
Revisit intention has emerged as a critical area of inquiry in the increasingly competitive global tourism landscape, where destinations continuously strive to retain visitors and encourage repeat travel. While a substantial body of literature has examined tourist satisfaction and loyalty, there remains a lack of clarity regarding the underlying motivations that drive repeat visitation and the distinctive characteristics that define repeat visitors. Addressing this gap, the present study aims to identify and analyse the key factors influencing repeat visits to South Korea, a destination that has experienced significant growth in international tourism, particularly through cultural exports. This research adopts a quantitative approach to examine the perceptions and motivations of repeat visitors. The findings reveal that cultural and experiential attributes play a central role in shaping revisit intentions. Specifically, elements associated with the Korean Wave (Hallyu) were found to be the most influential, including K-drama scenery, Korean pop music (K-pop), and the appeal of Korean drama celebrities. These factors not only enhance the destination’s image but also create emotional connections that encourage tourists to relive their experiences. In addition, tangible lifestyle components such as Korean cuisine and the country’s beauty industry—particularly cosmetics, makeup techniques, and hairstyling quality—were identified as significant motivators for repeat visits. The results further indicate that these attributes contribute strongly to destination loyalty. Respondents demonstrated a high level of attachment to South Korea, expressing clear intentions to revisit and a strong willingness to recommend the country to others as a preferred holiday destination. This suggests that repeat visitors are not only driven by satisfaction but also by a deeper sense of cultural affinity and experiential fulfillment. Overall, the study contributes to the understanding of repeat tourism behaviour by highlighting the importance of cultural influence, experiential consumption, and lifestyle appeal in shaping revisit intention. The findings provide valuable insights for destination marketers and policymakers in designing targeted strategies that leverage popular culture and enhance visitor experiences. By focusing on the attributes that resonate most with repeat visitors, South Korea can further strengthen its competitive position and sustain long-term tourism growth.
Copyright (c) 2026 Alaa Abukhalifeh, Mazni Saad, Li Chiang https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
Coastal fishing communities are currently facing increasing economic pressures due to income uncertainty, climate change, declining marine resources, and structural market constraints that affect livelihood stability and household resilience. As a result, income diversification strategies have become essential to enhance resilience, reduce poverty risks, and support long-term socio-economic sustainability. In this context, ecotourism is increasingly recognized as a viable pathway for diversifying income, as it generates additional revenue while promoting environmental conservation and strengthening community participation in sustainable tourism development. This study develops and empirically validates a Multidimensional Composite Ecotourism Readiness Index (METRI) to assess the readiness of coastal fishing communities in Mersing, Malaysia, for ecotourism development. The index is constructed using questionnaire data based on multiple Likert-scale indicators that are standardized into a composite measure. The findings reveal that METRI demonstrates strong reliability and indicates a generally high level of readiness, although notable disparities exist across households. Key strengths include natural and marine resources, social capital and community engagement, and maritime culture and heritage, which provide a strong foundation for ecotourism development. However, limitations in attitudes toward participation, along with weaknesses in management and governance, remain critical constraints. Factor analysis confirms the robustness of the measurement model, while regression results show that training exposure significantly improves overall readiness, particularly in shaping positive attitudes and encouraging participation. These findings highlight the importance of capacity-building initiatives in strengthening community preparedness. Despite its contributions, this study is limited by its focus on a specific geographic area and reliance on cross-sectional self-reported data, which may affect generalizability and limit the ability to capture changes over time. Nevertheless, the study offers important implications by emphasizing the need for targeted interventions to improve financial literacy, governance capacity, and community engagement. Overall, the METRI provides a practical diagnostic tool for policymakers to identify readiness gaps and design effective strategies that promote sustainable income diversification and long-term community development in coastal regions.
Copyright (c) 2026 Norlida Hanim Mohd Salleh, Nurul Syafiza Che Nan, Trisetia Wijijayanti, Norshamliza Chamhuri, Suhaila Saad https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
Influence of Portuguese Colonial Heritage on Tourism Appeal and Community Engagement in Malacca: A Quantitative Analysis of Tourists and Local Residents
Malacca’s Portuguese colonial legacy is well-known UNESCO World Heritage Site situated in Malacca, Malaysia. The heritage site is expected to bring benefits to the local community and tourists. However, the extent to which this heritage contributes to tourism development and community engagement remains underexplored. In tourism research, one key problem identified is the lack of empirical models linking colonial heritage assets to tourist behaviour and local community participation. Compounding this issue is the rapid urbanisation and modernisation of Malacca. The rapid development in Malacca has introduced environmental and community challenges, including the erosion of historical authenticity, the displacement of local communities, and increases pressure on heritage sites. These problems have threatened the sustainability of heritage tourism by prioritising commercial development over cultural preservation. Therefore, the objectives of this study are to investigate the multifaceted influence of Portuguese colonial heritage on tourism dynamics and community involvement in Malacca. Data were collected from 300 respondents in a survey. Respondents were domestic, international tourists, and residents of the Portuguese Settlement. The findings of this research demonstrated that Portuguese heritage significantly enhances tourism appeal and visitor satisfaction. This eventually will increase revisit intentions. But at the same time, community engagement remains moderate, hindered by limited institutional support and economic opportunities. The study also shows the vulnerability of living heritage sites and the need for inclusive conservation strategies that empower local stakeholders. As a recommendation, policy interventions are needed, including community-based tourism programs and heritage education campaigns. What is also needed is inclusive economic incentives to strengthen local participation and ensure the long-term sustainability of Malacca's colonial legacy. These strategies offer practical guidance for policymakers to balance cultural preservation with equitable development amid urban transformation.
Copyright (c) 2026 Norshamliza Chamhuri https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
Role of Intelligence in Advancing Tourism Safety and Growth: A Cross-Country Empirical Analysis
Tourism safety is increasingly recognized as a fundamental determinant of destination competitiveness, influencing travelers’ risk perceptions, satisfaction levels, and behavioral intentions. In the context of growing global uncertainty and strengthened competition among destinations, ensuring a safe tourism environment has become both a strategic priority and a key driver of sustainable tourism development. While the existing literature has largely pointed out the roles of institutional quality, governance structures, and infrastructure in shaping tourism safety, comparatively little attention has been paid to the influence of human cognitive capacity and intelligent systems. Addressing this gap, the present study investigates the relationship between societal intelligence and tourism safety and examines how it contributes to tourism performance across countries. Using cross-national data, the analysis investigates the association between national-level cognitive capacity—proxied by average IQ—and a range of tourism safety indicators, including perceived safety levels, exposure to crime-related risks, and tourists’ revisit intentions. The empirical results reveal a statistically significant, positive relationship, indicating that higher levels of cognitive capacity are consistently associated with improved safety conditions and enhanced visitor confidence. Countries with relatively higher cognitive benchmarks tend to exhibit more stable, organized, and secure tourism environments. In contrast, those with lower benchmarks frequently encounter difficulties related to views on safety and risk management. Furthermore, the study considers the potential two-way relationship between intelligence and environmental safety. The data suggest a reinforcing mechanism: cognitively advanced societies are more likely to establish effective institutional structures, social coordination systems, and risk-mitigation practices, which, in turn, foster more secure environments. These safer conditions subsequently support knowledge accumulation, behavioral adjustment, and institutional efficiency, thereby maintaining long-term development. In addition, interaction effects between tourism safety and intelligence are found to positively influence tourism productivity, highlighting the indirect yet meaningful role of cognitive and social capacities regarding enhancing sectoral performance. From a policy perspective, the study stresses the importance of including human capital development, education, digital governance, and intelligent technologies into tourism strategies. Such an integrated approach can strengthen destination resilience, improve safety outcomes, and enhance sustainable and inclusive tourism growth.
Copyright (c) 2026 Nurmukhammad Oppokkhonov, Alaa Nimer Abukhalifeh, Mazni Saad, Ahmed Abdulhakim Al-Absi https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
When Robots Feel Human: Rethinking Guest Experience in Smart Hospitality
This study examines how service robot design shapes customer experiences in the hospitality sector and responds to the accelerating shift toward automation in technologically advanced contexts such as Hangzhou, China. Despite the rapid adoption of service robots, a critical problem persists: existing technology acceptance models emphasize functional efficiency while overlooking the emotional and relational dimensions essential to hospitality experiences. Moreover, researchers have paid limited attention to how anthropomorphism and perceived emotional intelligence (PEI) jointly influence customer emotions, and to how perceived risk of service failure may alter these relationships. To address these gaps, this study aims to achieve three objectives. First, it evaluates the effects of anthropomorphism and PEI on customer emotional responses. Second, it analyzes how these emotional responses mediate overall service experience. Third, it tests whether perceived risk of service failure moderates these relationships. Drawing on the Service Robot Acceptance Model (SRAM), Anthropomorphism Theory, and Cognitive Appraisal Theory (CAT), the study develops a moderated-mediation framework that integrates both design attributes and customer perceptions. The study adopts a quantitative approach and collects data through a cross-sectional survey of 319 hotel guests in Hangzhou who have interacted with service robots. It analyzes the data using a two-step structural equation modeling (SEM) approach, conducting preliminary analysis in SPSS 26.0 and hypothesis testing in SmartPLS 4.0. It evaluates reliability, validity, mediation, and moderation systematically to ensure robustness. The findings show that anthropomorphism and PEI significantly enhance positive customer emotional responses, which in turn improve evaluations of the overall service experience. The results also confirm that emotional responses fully mediate these relationships, underscoring their central role in human–robot interaction. However, the analysis does not support the moderating effect of perceived risk of service failure, indicating that emotional engagement remains strong even when customers perceive potential risks. This study advances theory by extending technology acceptance frameworks to incorporate emotional and relational dynamics and by challenging assumptions about the role of perceived risk. In practice, it highlights the importance of hospitality managers designing emotionally intelligent, culturally sensitive robots that enhance guest satisfaction and service quality.
Copyright (c) 2026 Alaa Abukhalifeh https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
Beyond Price Advantage: Shopping Experience and Value Perception in a Malaysian Duty-Free Island
Shopping tourism has evolved from a complementary travel activity into a key driver of destination competitiveness, particularly in duty-free island contexts where price advantage intersects with experiential value. This study examines the shopping behaviour and experiential perceptions of domestic tourists visiting Langkawi Island, one of Malaysia’s most prominent duty-free destinations. A qualitative approach was employed, with semi-structured interviews conducted among fifteen tourists at Kuala Perlis and Kuala Kedah jetties to explore their purchasing patterns, motivations, and overall shopping experiences. The findings reveal that domestic tourists are primarily motivated by the affordability of duty-free goods, particularly chocolates, apparel, kitchenware, and fragrances, reflecting strong utilitarian value considerations; however, beyond economic benefits, shopping experiences are significantly shaped by hedonic factors, including enjoyment, excitement, and the integration of leisure and retail activities. Tourists reported high levels of satisfaction, emphasising convenience, accessibility, and product variety as key contributors to their positive experiences. The study further identifies three key dimensions influencing shopping tourism behaviour: product availability, price attractiveness, and supporting facilities and services, which collectively shape tourists’ overall experience and influence their intention to revisit and recommend the destination. From a tourism development perspective, the findings highlight the importance of positioning shopping not merely as a transactional activity but as a holistic experience that enhances destination appeal. The study contributes to the growing discourse on shopping tourism by integrating utilitarian and hedonic value perspectives in understanding tourist behaviour within a duty-free destination context, while also offering practical implications for destination marketers, policymakers, and retail operators to strengthen value-driven strategies and enhance retail experiences. Future research is recommended to adopt comparative and mixed method approaches to further examine evolving shopping tourism trends across different destinations.
Copyright (c) 2026 Azila Azmi, Hanani Ahmad Zubir, Mohd Faisal Abdul Wahab, Nensi Lapotulo https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
Copyright (c) 2026 ZAHIDATUL FARIHAH ZAKARIA https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0