The COVID-19 pandemic has had extremely distressful consequences for the service-providing industries, especially in the sector of tourism. The world is showing a move towards the recovery stage; however, the process has observed a lag in recovery because of a gap in the literature on measuring the local economic impact of COVID-19 on the employability of urban tourism. Therefore, this paper aims to investigate the economic impact of COVID-19 on the local market and other tourism-related services in Kochi Heritage City, Kerala. Quantitative research was performed based on stratified sampling with a questionnaire survey among 398 respondents. Data were analyzed descriptively to evaluate the impact and measure the significant difference statistically through a one-sample t-test and a one-way ANOVA. Findings revealed that employability from tourism-related services has observed an adverse impact of COVID-19 by a dip in the local economy in terms of earning reduction, whereas the impact on jobs and reduction in working hours were lopsided. Hence, in identifying the effect of COVID-19 on urban tourism and its sub-scaled classes, it contributes more effectively by intervening with recovery and supporting the local economy through a balanced allocation of financial assistance to the economic dip in Kochi.

Objective: This study aims to identify the potential of traditional cultural arts and their interaction with sustainable tourism in the UNESCO Geopark Ciletuh-Palabuhanratu Geopark through the Parahyangan Cultural Panglayungan Cibenda Village, Ciemas District, Sukabumi Regency. Theoretical framework: The research is centered on exploring how tradition and sustainability can be integrated into the development of tourism destinations, particularly in the Ciletuh Pelabuhanratu Geopark, utilizing the concepts of Sustainable Tourism Development and Traditional Values in Tourism. Method: Through research with a qualitative approach based on the Huberman and Miles model which aims to obtain valid and reliable results, using data triangulation in the form of crosscheck of sources. Results and conclusion: Furthermore, it was obtained that traditional cultural arts have an interrelation and interaction with sustainable tourism, namely the positive impact on traditional cultural arts activities with environmental and environmental sustainability, economy, and social life of the community.   Originality/value: The development of geoparks as sustainable tourism destinations is becoming a priority considering the nature and characteristics of these destinations that emphasize attention to a number of aspects such as economy, environment and preservation (including culture), as well as the empowerment of communities around the destination. This is in line with the location of the geopark which is always in a rural area rich in natural tourism and local culture. However, research on art, culture and tourism, it seems that more specific and specialized research on art, culture, and tourism is still not widely done.

The formation of tourism experience frequently subjected to complexity of individual tourist psycho-graphical factor, which leads to vast difference in the end experience formed among the respective tourist. However, the fact that travelling is highly subjected to environmental fuzziness and the issue of geographical consciousness may interfere the emotion of tourist and influence the formation of this experience. The evolution and advancement of mobile technologies had been optimized in improving the way human interact with the surrounding environment. Within this context, mobile augmented reality (AR) technology is perceived as capable in narrowing the gap between the formation of pleasant experience and the issue of geographical consciousness, thus transform the way tourist interact with the destination. Pertaining to this situation, this conceptual paper is attempted to understand the effectiveness of mobile augmented reality in enhancing tourist travel experience on the tourism destination. In relation to this aim, this study is directed to clarify the mechanism and usability of mobile augmented reality in relation to its capability in improving tourism interpretation and to discover the influence of utilization of this technology towards tourism experience. Critical review of existing literature that relevant to the research area was done in understanding on the extensiveness of impact of mobile AR on tourist and experience formation. Findings revealed the capability of AR in merging virtual information with the real world environment through the platform of mobile device able to create a more dynamic interaction between tourist and surrounding environment.

This conceptual research intended to highlight the emergent concept of local leadership in Community-Based Rural Homestay (CBRH) in Malaysia. In addition, the development and progress of local participation in CBRH also become the focal point to be discussed. Undeniably, Community-Based Rural Homestay become a vehichle and development for local community to enhance their socioeconomy through engagement as homestay operators. Ministry of Tourism and Culture put a lot effort to improve infrastructure and facilities in every homestay providers to boost up tourist arrival. Apart of being source of income to local community, CBRH also offers various local product, quality rural experience and culture preservation and conservation for tourist. Thus, CBRH programme has proved as a platform for local community empowerment and distributed benefir as individual or collective basis. Most of the homestay operator motivated to participate in this programme due to value-added to their source of income and medium for them to promote their local culture to tourist. However, incompetent leaders to lead the CBRH initiatives become a challenge to homestay operator as they need a proactive leaders to drive and facilitate them in order to handle tourist and homestay operation.