In this episode, our hosts Dr. Lauren Siegel and Dr. Rami Shamseen engage in a compelling discussion with Dr. Ryan Yung, a senior lecturer in digital innovation and transformation. The conversation covers various aspects of the metaverse, its distinction from virtual worlds, and its emerging real estate market. Dr. Yung unpacked his research on virtual reality (VR) and its applications, particularly in tourism and event management. The episode highlights the potential and challenges of VR, including accessibility and financial barriers, and explores the role of VR in enhancing experiences for families, individuals with disabilities, and even PTSD therapy for war veterans. The discussion also touches on the environmental impact of virtual meetings and the future of VR in potentially replacing physical travel and events.

00:45 Welcome to the In the Meantime Podcast

01:26 Meet the Hosts and Guest

03:28 Dr. Ryan Yung's Journey into VR Research

05:51 Applications of VR in Tourism

10:19 The Rise and Impact of the Metaverse

16:37 Challenges and Downsides of VR and the Metaverse

33:26 Future of Virtual Events and Meetings

41:48 Closing Remarks and Acknowledgements

In this episode, hosted by Dr. Rami Shamseen and guest host Dr. Ryan Yung, Dr. Lauren Siegel, the usual co-host, steps into the guest role to discuss her research on social media's impact on travel behaviour. Dr. Siegel discussed the concepts of Instagram tourism and social media induced tourism, exploring how social media influences travel destinations and the nuanced impacts on those locations. She shares insights from her past studies, including the role of peer influence on platforms like Facebook and Instagram, and highlights the motivations and behaviors of social media induced travelers. The discussion also addresses the economic, environmental, and social impacts on local communities and businesses. The episode concludes with practical advice for travelers and destinations to mitigate negative impacts and promote more sustainable tourism practices.

If you are interested in Dr.Siegel's work, please check her recent publications:

Siegel, L. A., Tussyadiah, I., & Scarles, C. (2023). Exploring behaviors of social media-induced tourists and the use of behavioral interventions as salient destination response strategy. Journal of destination marketing & management, 27, 100765. DOI: 10.1016/j.jdmm.2023.100765.

Siegel, L.A., Tussyadiah, I., & Scarles, C. (2022). Cyber-physical traveler performances and Instagram travel photography as ideal impression management. Current Issues in Tourism, DOI:10.1080/13683500.2022.2086451.

Siegel, L.A., Tussyadiah, I.P. and Scarles, C. (2020) Does Social Media Help or Hurt Destinations? A Qualitative Case Study, e-Review of Tourism Research (eRTR), 17(4), pp. 571-580. Link: https://ertr-ojs-tamu.tdl.org/ertr/article/view/541.

Siegel, L.A. and Wang, D. (2019) Keeping Up with the Joneses: Emergence of Travel as a Form of Social Comparison among Millennials, Journal of Travel and Tourism Marketing, 36(2), pp. 159-175. DOI: 10.1080/10548408.2018.1499579.

01:14 Dr. Lauren Siegel's Research on Social Media and Tourism

06:54 Impacts of Social Media Induced Tourism

15:55 Technological Advances and Travel Photography

26:14 Managing the Effects of Social Media Tourism

29:21 Conclusion and Future Research Directions

In this episode, Dr. Nikki MacLeod discusses her newly published book, 'Literary Fiction Tourism,' explaining literary tourism as travel inspired by interest in stories or authors. She shares her background in English literature and tourism, her research findings, and offers various examples of literary tourism around the world. The discussion touches on Edinburgh's Harry Potter connections, the impact of multimedia on literary tourism, and the intersection of literary and popular culture tourism.

If you are interested in Dr MacLeod's work and want to explore further, please check her new book "Literary Fiction Tourism: Understanding the Practice of Fiction Inspired Travel'

00:42 Meet Dr. Nikki MacLeod: Expert in Literary Fiction Tourism

01:12 Understanding Literary Fiction Tourism

01:50 Dr. MacLeod's Journey into Literary Tourism

03:39 The Literary Heritage of Edinburgh

04:50 Harry Potter's Influence on Edinburgh Tourism

10:12 Types of Literary Tourism

17:48 The Power of Visual and Literary Combination

22:15 Global Examples of Literary Tourism

26:50 Future of Literary Tourism and Digital Integration

In this episode, our hosts welcome Dr Isabella Ye, a senior lecturer at the University of Greenwich who specialises in travel and hospitality research. Dr Ye discusses her research on travellers' mobility and the impact of passport power on cross-border travel. Drawing from personal experiences, she highlights the contrast between strong and weak passports, emphasizing the barriers faced by holders of weaker passports, especially those from politically unstable regions. The conversation covers topics such as the inequities at border controls, the psychological and financial stresses of travel for weak passport holders, and the ethical implications of the global passport hierarchy. The episode also touches on broader issues, such as stateless individuals and the differences between nationality and citizenship, advocating for more inclusive border policies and humane treatment of travellers.

If you are interested in this topic, please check Dr.Ye's paper 'Contested tourists' border-crossing experiences' published on Annals of Tourism Research.

00:22 Guest Introduction: Dr. Isabella Ye

01:04 Personal Experiences with Travel

02:39 Passport Power and Inequality

06:43 Impact of Weak Passports on Well-being

09:43 Border Control Challenges

14:19 Statelessness and Marginalised Communities

17:05 Advocating for Travel Mobility

21:26 Unexpected Research Findings

24:04 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Dr Lauren Siegel and Dr Rami Shamseen introduce the 'In The Meantime' podcast, aimed at making academic research accessible and engaging. They discuss their intent to demystify complex research topics, focusing on diverse areas such as virtual worlds, literary tourism, Instagrammable places, digital-free travel, passport power, gender pay gap, and low-key consumption. The podcast is designed for anyone interested in learning about new trends and ideas without the jargon of academic papers, with episodes concise enough to fit a 20-25 minute commute. Despite acknowledging the saturated podcast market, they believe their podcast will find its audience by providing meaningful insights from academic research in an engaging way.