Journal Title: Journal of Management and Tourism Research

Volume : 8 Issue : 01

Page : 1- 22

J.E.S. Tharushika¹, C. P Danthanarayana², M.M.P.K. Munasingha³

^1,2 Department of Tourism Studies, Faculty of Management, Uva Wellassa University of Sri Lanka
³ Department of Marketing and Tourism Management, Faculty of Business, NSBM Green

¹ https://orcid.org/0009-0003-3707-0758
² https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6344-706X
³ https://orcid.org/0009-0005-1542-5874

Employee training has become a strategic priority in the airline industry due to its critical role in enhancing service quality, operational efficiency, and organizational competitiveness. Although airlines invest considerably in employee training and development, employee turnover remains a persistent challenge among operational-level employees, indicating that training alone may not be sufficient to strengthen employee loyalty. Grounded in Human Capital Theory, this study examines the impact of effective training programmes on employee loyalty, while investigating the mediating role of Quality of Work Life among operational-level employees in Sri Lanka’s national airline. A quantitative research design was employed, and data were collected from 119 operational-level employees using a structured questionnaire. Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM) was applied through SmartPLS to assess the hypnotized relationships. The findings indicate that effective training programs have a significant positive effect on both Quality of Work Life and employee loyalty. Furthermore, Quality of Work Life partially mediates the relationship between training and employee loyalty, demonstrating that training enhances employee loyalty both directly and indirectly through improvements in employees’ work experiences. The structural model explained 86.1% of the variance in employee loyalty, indicating substantial predictive power. The findings further suggest that while training is a significant determinant of employee loyalty, employee retention may also be influenced by broader organizational and external factors beyond training initiatives. This study contributes to Human Capital Theory by demonstrating that investments in employee training generate greater organizational value when they enhance employees’ Quality of Work Life, thereby strengthening employee loyalty. The findings also provide practical implications for airline managers in designing comprehensive training strategies that promote employee commitment, improve workforce retention, and support sustainable organizational performance.

Key Words : : Airline industry, effective training programs, employee loyalty, human capital theory; quality of work life

Journal Title: Journal of Management and Tourism Research

Volume : 8 Issue : 01

Page : 23 – 38

D.M.H.D. Bandara¹, B.E.A. Jayasekara²

^{1, 2}Department of Science for Technology, Faculty of Technology, University of Sri Jayawardenepura, Sri Lanka

¹ https://orcid.org/0009-0006-3928-6925
² https://orcid.org/0009-0004-7433-535

E-commerce’s rapid expansion has changed the dynamics of the worldwide retail industry, shifting consumer behavior, rivalry tactics and business performance results. It is also evident that e-commerce is a disruptive force that affects market efficiency, economic growth and sustainability in addition to being a technology advancement. Despite the expanding corpus of research, the literature on how particular e-commerce trends translate into quantifiable gains in business performance is still fragmented, particularly when it comes to different retail contexts and firm sizes. Thus, the main objective of this study is to systematically review and synthesize existing knowledge on the influence of e-commerce trends on the performance of retail businesses. The study adopts a systematic literature review (SLR) design in accordance with PRISMA guidelines and it analyses 50 peer reviewed articles published between 2018 and 2025 under thematic analysis. The findings indicate that e-commerce trends like personalization, omnichannel retailing, artificial intelligence, mobile commerce, and innovative logistics systems are major contributors to competitive advantage, better profitability, efficiency, and customer satisfaction. However, the review highlights that the benefits are not uniformly distributed as smaller retail businesses lack sufficient funding and infrastructure. Importantly, the impact of e-commerce on business performance is contextual, as it varies according to the size of the company, business environment, and organisational disposition. The study concludes with providing insights for practitioners to take a balanced approach by integrating sustainability into digital models, enhancing consumer trust through ethical data practices, and coordinating technology implementation with strategic fit.

Key Words : : Consumer behavior, Digital transformation, E-commerce, Retail sector performance, Sustainable e-commerce

Journal Title: Journal of Management and Tourism Research

Volume : 8 Issue : 01

Page : 39- 62

H.G.C. Senarathne¹, B.E.A. Jayasekara², L.M.F. Adams³

¹ Lincoln University College, Malaysia
² Department of Science for Technology, Faculty of Technology, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Sri Lanka
³3Institute of Knowledge Academia, Sri Lanka

¹ https://orcid.org/0009-0008-4149-4218
² https://orcid.org/0009-0004-7433-5353

Sri Lankan SME hotels operate under increasing regulatory expectations across licensing, taxation, labour, health and safety, payment security, and personal data protection, yet many lack affordable, auditable systems to consistently demonstrate compliance. This paper reviews how modern technology enables compliance in Sri Lankan SME hotels and synthesises evidence from a systematic literature review using a PRISMA-inspired study selection process and thematic analysis of 58 included studies. The synthesis identifies six recurring findings. First, cloud-based property management and integrated platforms improve compliance readiness by standardising records, enabling traceability, and supporting consistent reporting. Second, security controls such as role-based access, logging, encryption, and backup practices are repeatedly linked with stronger data protection and incident resilience, which is increasingly relevant in light of emerging personal data protection requirements. Third, digital payments and automated reconciliation reduce control gaps and strengthen financial compliance through clearer audit trails. Fourth, digital checklists, e-forms, and workflow automation support routine operational compliance in areas such as hygiene, safety inspections, and staff governance. Fifth, technology-supported documentation and reporting improve external assurance, including licensing evidence and partner due diligence expectations. Sixth, adoption barriers in SME hotels remain significant, particularly cost sensitivity, skills constraints, unreliable connectivity, and weak governance routines, indicating the need for capability building and fit-for-purpose solution design. Overall, the review shows that compliance benefits are maximised when technology adoption is paired with simple governance practices, minimum security baselines, and staff training. The paper contributes a structured, evidence base to guide SME hotel operators, solution providers, and policymakers in prioritising technology investments that improve compliance outcomes while remaining practical for resource-constrained contexts such as Sri Lanka

Key Words : : Cloud computing, compliance, cyber security, digital governance, SME hotels

Journal Title: Journal of Management and Tourism Research

Volume : 8 Issue : 01

Page : 63- 81

P.K.C. Dinesha

Department of Marketing, Faculty of Management &Finance, University of Ruhuna, Sri Lanka

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0874-8529

The country of origin pertains to information about the country where the product is manufactured. The country of origin may influence customers’ decision-making processes and subsequent behavior positively or negatively. The primary objective of this research is to examine the influence of country of origin on consumer purchase intention within the Sri Lankan automobile market. The study specifically focuses on the Toyota automobile segment as the context for investigation. Many past studies have proved that consumers use the country of origin as a main factor that people consider while evaluating automobiles. In the automobile industry, Japan maintains a very strong reputation in terms of its engineering excellence, reliability, and technological innovation. Accordingly, it has developed a stronger image on Toyota brand, which positively impacts consumers’ purchase intentions toward Toyota. Additionally, brand image and brand evaluation are incorporated as mediating variables to explore their intermediary role in the relationship between country of origin and purchase intention. The data collection process was structured according to cross sectional analysis and the researcher employed a survey strategy for data collection. Toyota automobile consumers in Sri Lanka were the target population of the study, and the researcher selected 200 consumers as the sample of the study. The convenience sampling technique was the guided sampling technique of the research. Data analysis found a significant positive impact of country of origin on brand image and brand evaluation. And especially, the country of origin, brand image, and brand evaluation have been found a significant positive impact on customer purchase intention. Further, the research identified a significant mediating effect of brand image and brand evaluation on the impact of country of origin on customer purchase intention. Based on these findings, the study concluded that country of origin has a significant positive impact on customer purchase intention and brand image, and brand evaluation significantly mediates the impact of country of origin on purchase intention and in the automobile market in Sri Lanka. Based on the findings, marketers can develop their strategies for domestic companies by highlighting their high quality dimensions.

Key Words : : Automobile industry, country of origin, brand image, brand evaluation, purchase intention

Journal Title: Journal of Management and Tourism Research

Volume : 8 Issue : 01

Page : 82 – 98

H.O.M.D.S. Wijayathilaka¹, I. Fernando², P.L.K. Lakshan³

^{1, 3} Department of Tourism Studies, Faculty of Management, Uva Wellassa University of Sri Lanka
²Department of Management Sciences, Faculty of Management, Uva Wellassa University of Sri Lanka

¹ https://orcid.org/0009-0005-4481-7922
² https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9487-5569
³ https://orcid.org/0009-0006-1062-0360

Gastronomy tourism involves the study of culinary traditions and experiences, which plays an important role in guiding tourists’ ideas. When understanding the impact of gastronomy tourism, it is particularly important because Sri Lanka is known for its rich culinary heritage. By taking an in-depth look at the Southern Province’s gastronomic offerings, including traditional food, cooking methods and cultural significance, providing much better evidence for Sri Lanka’s Culinary Art. The main objectives of this study are to identify the impact of gastronomy tourism on destination image and to identify the role of tourist satisfaction on the relationship between gastronomy tourism and destination image. The sample of the study was foreign tourist who visited Southern province and the convenience sampling technique was used as the sampling technique. The sample size was 384 respondents. Data is collected by using a self-administered questionnaire. Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) was used as the data analysis method, and Smart PLS is used as the data analysis tool. However, findings showcase there is a strong positive relationship between gastronomy tourism and destination image with the mediating effect of tourist satisfaction. Furthermore, this study emphasizes the effectiveness of indicators that are used to measure the latent variables. The results of the study highlighted that this concept is fair enough for employees and students, which needs further advancement and fair gathering of knowledge in the area of gastronomy tourism, considering tourist satisfaction on destination image in Southern Province, Sri Lanka. Therefore, Sri Lanka’s taste can be brought to the world, and Sri Lanka can be marketed as a gastronomic destination.

Key Words : : Culinary heritage, destination image, gastronomy tourism, Southern Province, tourism development, tourist satisfaction