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This study aims to investigate how gamification, namely, WeChat’s cultural gifting function, improves emotional involvement among three generations (Y, X and silver) in mobile payments. It draws attention to the beneficial effects of cultural components and digital intimacy on gamified mobile payment systems.

The data were collected from Y, X and silver generation in Dalian, China. The users were well equipped with the WeChat pay features and had experience. The PLS-SEM software was used to assess the data.

The findings show that consumer word of mouth and loyalty are positively impacted by perceived utility, fun, and enjoyment. Besides, gamification components like fun and playfulness have a favourable effect on how useful mobile payments are judged to be. It demonstrates how delighted and ecstatic users are with WeChat Hongbao. In addition, the positive moderation effect of intimacy on the hypothesised connections shows that all three generations are likely to accept gamified money features. These results provide a substantial contribution to our comprehension of gamification in the context of mobile payment services for all three generations.

The study is distinctive because it focuses on how China’s three generations use WeChat Pay for routine transactions. The framework confirms that the gamification elements improve user performance and encourage continued usage of mobile payment systems.

Este estudio investiga cómo la gamificación, específicamente la función de regalos culturales de WeChat, mejora la participación emocional entre tres generaciones (Y, X y plata) en los pagos móviles. Se presta atención a los efectos beneficiosos de los componentes culturales y la intimidad digital en los sistemas de pago móvil gamificados.

Los datos fueron recopilados de las generaciones Y, X y plata en Dalian, China. Los usuarios estaban familiarizados con las características de pago de WeChat y tenían experiencia. Se utilizó el software PLS-SEM para evaluar los datos.

Los resultados muestran que la reputación y la lealtad del consumidor son positivamente influenciadas por la utilidad percibida, la diversión y el disfrute. Los componentes de gamificación, como la diversión y la jugabilidad, tienen un efecto favorable en cómo se juzga la utilidad de los pagos móviles. Se demuestra cuán encantados están los usuarios con WeChat Hongbao. Además, la moderación positiva de la intimidad en las relaciones supuestas muestra que las tres generaciones tienen probabilidades de aceptar las características de dinero gamificado. Estos resultados contribuyen sustancialmente a nuestra comprensión de la gamificación en el contexto de los servicios de pago móvil para las tres generaciones.

El estudio es novedoso ya que se centra en cómo las tres generaciones de China utilizan WeChat Pay para transacciones rutinarias. El marco confirma que los elementos de gamificación mejoran el rendimiento del usuario y fomentan el uso continuado de los sistemas de pago móvil.

本研究探讨了游戏化, 即微信的文化赠送功能, 如何提高三代人（Y、X和银发族）在移动支付中的情感投入。它引起了人们对文化成分和数字亲密关系对游戏化移动支付系统的有益影响的注意。

数据来自中国大连市的Y、X和银发族用户。用户对微信支付功能非常熟悉, 并具有使用经验。采用PLS-SEM软件对数据进行评估。

结果表明, 消费者的口碑和忠诚度受到了感知效用、乐趣和享受的积极影响。乐趣和趣味等游戏化组件对移动支付的有用性评估产生了积极影响, 展示了用户对微信红包的喜悦和兴奋程度。此外, 亲密关系对假设连接的正向调节效应表明, 三代人都可能接受游戏化货币功能。这些结果为我们理解移动支付服务背景下游戏化对三代人的贡献提供了实质性的帮助。

该研究独特之处在于它着眼于中国三代人如何将微信支付用于日常交易。该框架证实了游戏化元素如何提高用户绩效并鼓励继续使用移动支付系统。

Many tourism academics have investigated the linkages between tourism, power and space; few have specifically addressed the profound links between tourism and geopolitics. In view of the restrictive assumptions of the linear framework used in the earlier studies, and hidden asymmetries present in the time series data. Against this backdrop, the study tries to find out how tourists may respond differently to favourable and unfavourable shocks in geopolitical risk (GPR).

In order to capture this asymmetric nature of the problem, the study employs the non-linear autoregressive distributed lag (NARDL) model to evaluate data from 2001Q1 to 2019Q4.

The results show that both positive and negative shock to GPR does not produce results of equal magnitude. A positive shock to GPR has a more detrimental effect on foreign tourist arrivals (FTA) than a beneficial effect a negative shock produces. Besides this, the present study also looks at the effect of other macro-economic variables on FTA. An ascend in the real effective exchange rate (REER) i.e. appreciation of the domestic currency has an unfavourable impact on foreign visitor arrivals, while an increase in world gross domestic product amplify it. The results of the study are robust to alternative measures of the control variable.

The study is significant for policymakers in understanding the short and long-run implications of GPR on FTA in India. The present study can assist policymakers, and destination managers to manage the external and internal risks and minimise the consequences of geopolitical threats on the Indian tourism industry. Consequently, destination managers can utilise the study's findings in calibrating their operations and designing crisis marketing strategies within the geopolitical dynamics of the Indian state.

The study tries to find out how tourists may exhibit distinct reactions to positive and negative disturbances in GPR. The study provides first-hand evidence of how GPR impacts tourism demand. The paper also includes the existing body of literature related to GPR factors and their effect on tourist influx, specifically in the framework of the Indian tourism sector.

This paper aims to analyse the influence of perceived value (PV), sensation seeking (SS) and low crowding (LC) on the satisfaction and behavioural intention (BI) of Indian pilgrim tourists to Kartarpur Corridor, Pakistan. In addition, it identifies the mediation effect of satisfaction in the structural relationship between PV, SS and LC as exogenous variables and BI as an endogenous variable.

By using convenience sampling, out of 510 questionnaires distributed among the Indian pilgrim tourists returning from Kartarpur Sahib, Pakistan, a total of 404 completely filled surveys were used to evaluate the robustness of the theoretical framework. Data analysis and empirical testing of the suggested model are conducted using descriptive statistics, confirmatory factor analysis and structural equation modelling.

The results reveal that PV, SS and LC positively affect the satisfaction of tourists crossing an international boundary, while satisfaction is the positive and significant antecedent of BI. Moreover, the indirect effects of PV, SS and LC on BI via satisfaction are found to be significant.

The previous literature has not paid much attention to the satisfaction and BI of tourists crossing an international border. The present article contributes to the existing volume of knowledge related to the satisfaction and BI of cross-border tourists. The study results may be useful for tourism marketers to better understand the factors that affect the satisfaction and BI of cross-border tourists.

(PV)、寻求感觉 (SS) 和低拥挤度 (LC) 对前往巴基斯坦 Kartarpur 走廊的印度朝圣游客的满意度和行为意向 (BI) 的影响。此外, 它确定了满意度在 PV、SS 和 LC 之间的结构关系中的中介作用作为外生变量, BI 作为内生变量。

通过便利抽样, 在从巴基斯坦 Kartarpur Sahib 返回的印度朝圣游客中分发的 510 份问卷中, 共有 404 份完全填写的调查被用来评估理论框架的稳健性。使用描述性统计、验证性因素分析 (CFA) 和结构方程模型 (SEM) 对建议模型进行数据分析和实证检验。

结果表明, 感知价值、寻求感觉和低拥挤度对跨越国际边界的游客的满意度有积极影响, 而满意度是行为意图的积极和重要的先决条件。此外, 感知价值、感觉寻求和低拥挤度通过满意度对行为意图的间接影响被发现是显着的。

以前的文献并没有太多关注游客穿越国际边界的满意度和行为意图。本文有助于增加与跨境游客的满意度和行为意图相关的现有知识量。研究结果可能有助于旅游营销人员更好地了解影响跨境游客满意度和行为意向的因素。

El objetivo de este artículo es analizar la influencia del valor percibido (VP), la búsqueda de sensaciones (SS) y el bajo nivel de aglomeración percibido (BA) en la satisfacción y la intención de comportamiento (IC) de los turistas peregrinos indios en Kartarpur, Pakistán. Adicionalmente, identifica el efecto mediador de la satisfacción en la relación estructural entre VP, SS y BA, como variables exógenas, e IC, como variable endógena.

Mediante un muestreo de conveniencia, de los 510 cuestionarios distribuidos entre los turistas peregrinos indios que regresaban de Kartarpur Sahib, Pakistán, se utilizaron un total de 404 cuestionarios, completamente cumplimentados, para evaluar la solidez del marco teórico. El análisis de datos y la evaluación empírica del modelo propuesto se realizan mediante estadística descriptiva, análisis factorial confirmatorio (AFC) y modelos de ecuaciones estructurales (MEE).

Los resultados revelan que el valor percibido, la búsqueda de sensaciones y el bajo nivel de aglomeración afectan positivamente a la satisfacción de los turistas transfronterizos, mientras que la satisfacción es el antecedente positivo y significativo de la intención de comportamiento. Además, son significativos los efectos indirectos del valor percibido, la búsqueda de sensaciones y el bajo nivel de aglomeración sobre la intención de comportamiento, a través de la satisfacción.

La literatura no ha prestado mucha atención a la satisfacción y la intención de comportamiento de los turistas peregrinos que cruzan una frontera internacional. El presente artículo contribuye al conocimiento existente relacionado con la satisfacción y la intención de comportamiento de los turistas transfronterizos. Los resultados del estudio pueden ser útiles para que los especialistas en marketing turístico internacional comprendan mejor los factores que afectan a la satisfacción y la intención de comportamiento de los turistas transfronterizos.

This paper aims to analyse the changes in the extent of the green space in the city of Srinagar, a unique urban Himalayan destination, and examine whether the difference in the green space has a significant effect on the destination business performance measured in terms of loss of ecological attractiveness.

This study was carried out in two phases in the study area. In phase I, the changes in the extent of the green space area were analysed using Landsat TM and Sentinel Images for classification. The study has used the period from 2001 to 2018 to understand changes in the green space. The Post-Classification Comparison technique was used to investigate the variation in the green space zones in the city of Srinagar. In phase II, the paper evaluated the impact of change in the green space on the destination business performance. The data was collected from the tour operation companies through a questionnaire survey, and the impact path was examined using structural equation modelling.

Results reveal that the green space in the city of Srinagar has decreased over the past 18 years, and the decreasing green space has a significant effect on the destination business performance.

Identifying the impact of decreasing green space on the destination business performance of the study area under investigation is essential for tourism development both in terms of new product development and resource preservation. Developing a measurement scale showing the impact of decreasing green space on destination business performance could offer destination managers a means of identifying the essence of the green space in the destination regions. These findings add to the growing literature on the attributes of tourism destinations, providing scholars with new insights into the role of green space in destination performance. The current study offers evidence of the impact of decreasing green space on the destination's performance. This provides a new perspective for future studies on visitor satisfaction as a potential mediator of the relationship between reducing greenspace and destination business performance. The main limitation of this study is that the researchers have only analysed the impact of decreasing green space on the destination business performance in terms of its ecological competitiveness. Other destinations business performance verticals, such as hotels, restaurants and grocery stores were not considered by this study and can be taken up for future investigation.

This study provides empirical insights that can have significant implications for researchers, policymakers, destination management organizations, academia and practitioners and further enrich the existing literature by establishing an empirical argument in the context of urban destinations positioned with a fragile Himalayan ecosystem.

This study aims to assist the urban administrators in improving the green space ecosystem in the region, which can help attain the sustainability of the city environment and assist in economic regeneration in urban settings.

Research internships are integral components of undergraduate programs that nurture students' skill sets. However, the current trend of these internships adopting a direct apprenticeship model, often termed “cookbook” laboratory sessions, falls short of cultivating 21st-century skills. Therefore, this study proposes an innovative Outcomes-directed Research Internship Model (ODRIM) designed to enhance research competencies.

This study introduces a pioneering research internship model by integrating the course-based undergraduate research experience (CURE) framework with principles rooted in outcomes-based education (OBE). To evaluate its effectiveness and compare it with traditional research internship models (TRIMs), a two-group pretest-posttest design was utilized. Statistical analysis was performed on data collected from 66 participants to assess their research competencies.

The results revealed a significant positive difference in utilizing the tailored innovative ODRIM track (pre-mean = 17.525, post-mean = 19.875; p = 0.009) compared to the TRIM track (pre-mean = 19.769, post-mean = 19.615; p = 1.000) in enhancing overall student research competency. Specifically, this innovative internship model notably enhanced students’ abilities in conducting research, showcasing technical skills, collaborating within teams, and disseminating research outcomes, encompassing the composition of research articles and reports.

This tailored approach to the “Research Internship” encourages a harmonious blend of hands-on, inquiry-based learning and clear, measurable learning goals. It not only cultivates an immersive and thorough research experience to improve students’ research competencies, but also guarantees a concentrated alignment with predetermined research learning objectives.

The paper aims to study the effects of humidity on the electrical properties of copper phthalocyanine (CuPc) thin films deposited at different gravity conditions.

Surface-type samples were fabricated on glass substrates with preliminary-deposited copper electrodes. The CuPc solution was prepared in benzene. The thin films of CuPc were deposited on these substrates at diverse gravity conditions by drop-casting and centrifugation at 1 × g and 70 × g, respectively. Impedance and capacitance of the fabricated devices were measured against the different relative humidity ranging from 32 to 98 per cent.

The impedance and the capacitance of the CuPc film were found to be dependent on the ambient humidity levels (32-98 per cent) and the gravity conditions (1 × g and 70 × g) opted during the fabrication process.

The centrifugation technique can potentially be used in the instrumentation industry for the fabrication of humidity sensors.

The results of the investigations can potentially be used in the instrumentation and optoelectronics industry for the fabrication of humidity sensors.

CuPc films were deposited from a solution in benzene using drop-casting and centrifugation. The electrical properties of the films were found to be dependent on film fabrication conditions and ambient humidity levels. Growth-dependent electrical properties of the CuPc films can be explained by considering their structure.

This study explores the tourists' behavioral intention toward tasting ethnic food by proposing 'enjoyment’ as an indirect mechanism in improvising the model of Wang. In other words, when affective and cognitive components are triggered positively while reading online gastronomy reviews on social media platforms, enjoyment is aroused, subsequently enhancing the desire to taste ethnic foods displayed online.

Data from 385 visitors from Kashmir, India, were gathered using a purposive sample technique. The research model was put to the test using PLS-SEM.

Direct and indirect mechanisms influence Behavioral Intention. Enjoyment acts as a mediator. Overall, the results validated the presence of three direct and full mediation paths.

This study will help tourism practitioners justify their promotional activities on social networking sites, particularly in endorsing regional ethnic dishes. For example, tourism authorities could collaborate with bloggers on social media and offer incentives to promote attractive images of ethnic food. Similarly, ethnic food outlets can improve online exposure and interactivity by encouraging travelers to leave feedback after visits.

Unlike other studies, this research broadens our understanding by focusing on direct and indirect mechanisms. The inclusion of a mediator enhanced the total variance of the dependent variable.

This study seeks to deepen the understanding of the political process underlying the establishment and evolution of corporate governance (CG) regulations in a developing country.

Drawing on regulatory space concept (Hancher and Moran, 1989) and Oliver's (1991) typology of strategic responses, the authors identify which actor participated in and benefitted from the establishment of a new transnational CG regulation in Pakistan. Data were collected through interviews and from the published secondary sources.

The findings highlighted regulations are being influenced and shaped up by the political process of negotiation, bargaining, manipulation and domination between powerful and resourceful actors in a given regulatory space. National regulators and regulatees can be indeed fervent opponents to the transnational regulations when it comes to protecting their well-rooted national interests.

This study contributes to the accounting literature by illustrating political processes through which internationally recognised CG practices are resisted, negotiated and implemented in the developing countries. The regulator must pay attention that the outcome of the regulatory change process is the result of carefully crafted and conscious strategies of actors in the regulatory space.

The prime intention of this study is to examine the influence of intellectual capital (IC) on the financial performance of Indian companies listed on Standard and Poor Bombay Stock Exchange Sensitive Index (BSE SENSEX).

The study employs the data of 30 most significant and most prominent companies of India listed on BSE SENSEX for 10 years from 2009–2010 to 2018–2019. Value Added Intellectual Coefficient (VAIC^TM) methodology developed by Pulic (2000) was employed for measuring the efficiency of the IC.

The efficiency of IC is substantially and positively associated with the financial performance of the Indian companies as measured by return on assets (ROA), market-to-book (MB) ratio and return on equity (ROE). Amongst the three dimensions of VAIC, capital employed efficiency (CEE) was the most vital element in contributing to the firm financial performance, followed by human capital efficiency (HCE). Structural capital efficiency (SCE) only helps in enhancing the ROA of Indian firms.

The study results are only restricted to the 30 companies of India listed on S&P BSE SENSEX Index. Thus generalization of the result needs especial caution.

The study fills the void in the current literature of IC and business performance and extends the understanding of their relationship by providing empirical evidence.

This study aims to investigate the factors affecting micro, small and medium entrepreneurs’ (MSMEs) behavioural intention to participate in takaful schemes in Sri Lanka.

This research adopted a quantitative approach using primary data from a questionnaire. Out of 470 questionnaires, 432 were collected (91.91%) from MSMEs in Kalmunai business region in Sri Lanka. The data obtained were analysed using partial least square-structural equation modelling.

This study revealed that the extension model of the theory of planned behaviour (TPB) can be effectively applied to behavioural intentions towards a takaful scheme by MSMEs. Out of eight hypotheses, seven were significant, including: attitude towards behavioural intention; subjective norm; perceived behavioural control; knowledge; religiosity; income; trust in takaful as a significant influence. However, awareness of intention was not found to be significant.

This study suggests advantages for takaful providers in Sri Lanka, especially marketing departments, for enhancing sale of products, refurbishing marketing strategies and understanding the purchasing motivation of business entrepreneurs. This study guides takaful companies as to where they should concentrate to enhance market penetration.

Previous studies have concentrated on only three factors which comprise TPB. This paper’s main contribution is on the uniqueness of the Muslim minority context in a pluralistic context, providing a marketing model for takaful operators based on the different relevant dimensions.