Communicating quality audit indicators for inbound tourism: a qualitative insight from Malaysian travel agencies
Quality assurance is fundamental to all business activities in the tourism sector as it is advantageous to market recognition and competitiveness. Awareness of the importance of quality assurance certifications is already in place in Malaysia however it is still under-researched. Thus, this study ai...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Eurasia Business and Economics Society
2019
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://irep.iium.edu.my/76895/ http://irep.iium.edu.my/76895/1/Oct2019_29th%20EBES%20Conference%20-%20Lisbon%20Proceedings%20Vol.3%20%28excerpt%29.pdf |
| _version_ | 1848788358560481280 |
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| author | Saad, Mazni Mohamad Ali, Afiza Ismail, Zahid Mohd Arop, Nor Hafizah Baharudin, Noor Zaleha |
| author_facet | Saad, Mazni Mohamad Ali, Afiza Ismail, Zahid Mohd Arop, Nor Hafizah Baharudin, Noor Zaleha |
| author_sort | Saad, Mazni |
| building | IIUM Repository |
| collection | Online Access |
| description | Quality assurance is fundamental to all business activities in the tourism sector as it is advantageous to market recognition and competitiveness. Awareness of the importance of quality assurance certifications is already in place in Malaysia however it is still under-researched. Thus, this study aims to investigate how local travel agency operators perceive suitable levels of quality audit indicators for inbound travel agencies. A semi-structured interview was conducted to explore the views and experiences of key industry players from five travel agencies involved in both inbound and outbound tourism businesses in the country. A content analysis of data acknowledged the industry's increased awareness of quality service delivery and the importance of rationalising key quality audit indicators in assuring the lifelong survival of inbound Malaysian travel agencies. Also found was the need for systematic monitoring of the inbound travel agency's certification plan that continually reflects the demands of the clientèle and uplifts national productivity as outlined in the initiatives undertaken by the Tourism Productivity Nexus, an industry-led establishment under the Malaysia Productivity Blueprint 2016-2020. The study finally outlines specific entrepreneurial strategies that will enhance productivity operations at the enterprise level. |
| first_indexed | 2025-11-14T17:39:33Z |
| format | Article |
| id | iium-76895 |
| institution | International Islamic University Malaysia |
| institution_category | Local University |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2025-11-14T17:39:33Z |
| publishDate | 2019 |
| publisher | Eurasia Business and Economics Society |
| recordtype | eprints |
| repository_type | Digital Repository |
| spelling | iium-768952019-12-19T04:53:41Z http://irep.iium.edu.my/76895/ Communicating quality audit indicators for inbound tourism: a qualitative insight from Malaysian travel agencies Saad, Mazni Mohamad Ali, Afiza Ismail, Zahid Mohd Arop, Nor Hafizah Baharudin, Noor Zaleha TX901 Hotels, clubs, restaurants, etc. Food service Quality assurance is fundamental to all business activities in the tourism sector as it is advantageous to market recognition and competitiveness. Awareness of the importance of quality assurance certifications is already in place in Malaysia however it is still under-researched. Thus, this study aims to investigate how local travel agency operators perceive suitable levels of quality audit indicators for inbound travel agencies. A semi-structured interview was conducted to explore the views and experiences of key industry players from five travel agencies involved in both inbound and outbound tourism businesses in the country. A content analysis of data acknowledged the industry's increased awareness of quality service delivery and the importance of rationalising key quality audit indicators in assuring the lifelong survival of inbound Malaysian travel agencies. Also found was the need for systematic monitoring of the inbound travel agency's certification plan that continually reflects the demands of the clientèle and uplifts national productivity as outlined in the initiatives undertaken by the Tourism Productivity Nexus, an industry-led establishment under the Malaysia Productivity Blueprint 2016-2020. The study finally outlines specific entrepreneurial strategies that will enhance productivity operations at the enterprise level. Eurasia Business and Economics Society 2019-10-12 Article PeerReviewed application/pdf en http://irep.iium.edu.my/76895/1/Oct2019_29th%20EBES%20Conference%20-%20Lisbon%20Proceedings%20Vol.3%20%28excerpt%29.pdf Saad, Mazni and Mohamad Ali, Afiza and Ismail, Zahid and Mohd Arop, Nor Hafizah and Baharudin, Noor Zaleha (2019) Communicating quality audit indicators for inbound tourism: a qualitative insight from Malaysian travel agencies. 29TH EBES Conference - Lisbon Proceedings Volume 3, 3. pp. 1759-1778. https://www.ebesweb.org/Proceedings.aspx |
| spellingShingle | TX901 Hotels, clubs, restaurants, etc. Food service Saad, Mazni Mohamad Ali, Afiza Ismail, Zahid Mohd Arop, Nor Hafizah Baharudin, Noor Zaleha Communicating quality audit indicators for inbound tourism: a qualitative insight from Malaysian travel agencies |
| title | Communicating quality audit indicators for inbound tourism: a qualitative insight from Malaysian travel agencies |
| title_full | Communicating quality audit indicators for inbound tourism: a qualitative insight from Malaysian travel agencies |
| title_fullStr | Communicating quality audit indicators for inbound tourism: a qualitative insight from Malaysian travel agencies |
| title_full_unstemmed | Communicating quality audit indicators for inbound tourism: a qualitative insight from Malaysian travel agencies |
| title_short | Communicating quality audit indicators for inbound tourism: a qualitative insight from Malaysian travel agencies |
| title_sort | communicating quality audit indicators for inbound tourism: a qualitative insight from malaysian travel agencies |
| topic | TX901 Hotels, clubs, restaurants, etc. Food service |
| url | http://irep.iium.edu.my/76895/ http://irep.iium.edu.my/76895/ http://irep.iium.edu.my/76895/1/Oct2019_29th%20EBES%20Conference%20-%20Lisbon%20Proceedings%20Vol.3%20%28excerpt%29.pdf |