A SWOT analysis of religious tourism in Kedarnath, Uttarakhand, India Challenges Opportunities and Limitations of Religious Tourism in the Next Decade, 2025
Serving local produce in homestays for socio-economic development in Uttarakhand Ashish Dhyani, Vinay Rana, Garima Dimri, Rajat Praveen Dimri, Archana Dhyani, Sunil Kumar Lal Global Practices and Innovations in Sustainable Homestay Tourism, 2025 Gastronomy plays a key role in promoting the sustainability of a destination. Some areas in Uttarakhand have successfully achieved sustainability by highlighting their local cuisines and ingredients in homestays. Destinations in Uttarakhand are are well-known not only for traditional tourism activities but also for their distinctive cultural and culinary offerings and local products. This study explores the factors contributing to the socio-economic sustainability of gastronomy tourism by examining the use of local ingredients in the homestays. Through semi-structured interviews, the research identifies several barriers to using local food, including a lack of knowledge about local products, poor communication between homestays and suppliers, weak local production networks, and limited engagement among retail stakeholders.
Closer Guest Contact Through Contactless Technologies in Hotels Ashish Dhyani, Vinay Rana, Garima Dimri, Archana Dhyani, Rajat Praveen Dimri, Sunil Kumar Lal Future of Contactless Technology in Hotels and Restaurants, 2025 The adoption of contactless guest experiences in the hotel industry has surged, driven by technological advancements and the impact of the pandemic. COVID-19, in particular, has heightened awareness of the risks associated with physical contact, leading to a rise in demand for contactless services. As a result, hotels are investing more in innovative ways to offer guests a hands-free experience. In recent years, many hotel businesses have implemented technologies like smartphone-controlled door locks, instant messaging, automated check-in and check-out, voice assistants, digital concierge bots, and keyless entry. These technological solutions provide guests with greater control over their stay, enhance convenience, save time, and create a safer environment. Moreover, they offer hoteliers an opportunity to boost revenue. Given the growing significance of contactless services, this paper explores their features, applications in the hotel industry, and the challenges associated with their implementation.
Tourists’ Motivation to Satisfaction with Homestays in Uttarakhand, India: A SEM Approach Anup Singh Patwal, Vinay Rana, Gaurav Chopra Indian Journal of Marketing, 2024 Purpose : This research aimed to examine the concepts of pull and push satisfaction, as well as their correlation with a unidimensional satisfaction metric. In addition, the research contended that pull satisfaction validates visitors’ expectations regarding the destination’s attributes, while visitors’ evaluations of push satisfaction indicated the degree to which the destination correlates to their intrinsic desires.Methodology : The study was conducted in Uttarakhand, a popular Indian cultural tourism destination. The study examined 323 culturally motivated travelers to the region. Data was collected from Indian tourists visiting Uttarakhand. This data was analyzed using confirmatory and exploratory factor analysis. A structural equation model (SEM) was used to determine what factors affected the relationship between overall happiness and its components.Findings : The findings indicated that the tourist’s evaluation of the push and pull dimensions of satisfaction is reflected in the overall satisfaction. The presence of necessary amenities and the opportunity to actively participate in a location’s cultural and social customs were recognized as essential factors in determining overall satisfaction. The results of this study suggested that people’s holiday behaviors were significantly influenced by the degree to which their self-expectations and desires aligned.Practical Implications : The research possessed distinct characteristics that set it apart from others. Initially, this is one of the limited endeavors to develop a measurement scale that quantifies issues related to satisfaction by modifying the concepts of pull and push motivation. The study developed a measurement scale to assess issues related to satisfaction by utilizing pull and push motivation.Originality : The data indicated that each of the competing factors had a substantial loading value, which significantly added to the explanation of tourists’ overall satisfaction. The study presented a multidimensional satisfaction structure considering expectations and desires.
Hotel safety and security services: understanding multi-criteria characteristics and guest satisfaction N.A. Savita, Vinay Rana, Shalini Singh International Journal of Tourism Policy, 2024 The hotel industry across the world faced several inevitable occurrences of operational accidents, natural calamities, terrorist attacks, etc., which created severe concern among guests about the safety and security services that hotels provide. Understanding the multiple-criteria characteristics of hotel safety and security (HSS) services has become necessary for hotel practitioners. The Kano model approach has been applied to 33 identified HSS services, and post-analysis, 16 services have been categorised as must-be services, 6 services as one-dimensional services, and 11 services as attractive services. The results of this study provide crystal clear knowledge about the inclusion of enlisted HSS services that may increase guests' satisfaction.
Tourist buying intentions towards local food: Analysing the moderating impact of food neophobia Abhay Chamoli, Vinay Rana, Gaurav Chopra Enlightening Tourism, 2023 Local food buying is an important phenomenon in tourist activity. This paper aims to analyse tourists' intentions to buy local food by investigating the moderating effect of food neophobia (FN) on the theory of planned behaviour (TPB). A survey of 266 tourists was used to collect data. The findings reveal that subjective norm (SN), attitude (ATT), and perceived behaviour control (PBC) have a positive and significant influence on tourists' buying intention for local food, where both subjective norm and attitude are moderated by food neophobia on their relationship with buying intentions. The current research is not only the first attempt to comprehensively analyse tourist buying behaviour towards local food in Uttarakhand, India. But also provides valuable information for the food industry, which would enable entrepreneurs or decision-makers to accurately analyse the buying intent (BI) for locally produced food.
A Study of the Remote Work-Family Balance of Female Hotel Managers Deepti Bhatt, Swati Sharma, Vinay Rana African Journal of Hospitality Tourism and Leisure, 2023 This study explores the effect of remote work engagement (RWE) and fair pay on female hotel managers’ work-family balance (WFB). Additionally, it investigates the mediating effect of their emotional exhaustion on RWE and WFB. Although several studies have been published during the COVID-19 crisis period that investigate WFB, only a few have reported on how RWE influences WFB. Therefore, this study addresses this gap. It uses structured questionnaires to collect data from 400 female hotel managers (five-star hotels). These data are analysed using structure equation modelling (SEM): Smart-PLS is applied to examine the relationship between the independent and dependent factors – ‘vigour’, ‘absorption’, ‘dedication’, ‘fairness of pay’, and ‘work-family balance’. This study finds that RWE significantly impacts female hotel managers’ WFB. Furthermore, RWE affects their emotional fatigue and has a little effect on their WFB. Additionally, RWE is not mediated by WFB, while gender pay parity influences WFB. Remote working renders female workers more absorbed in their work, thus increasing the incidence of burnout among them due to interference with their WFB. Especially in a country like India, where females play a more prominent role domestically, hotel managers must ensure that human resource practices strategically secure the effective WFB of female hotel managers, e.g. by incorporating flexible working hours, a five-day work policy, and coaching on remote work practices. These findings can assist hospitality organisations in devising effective RWE strategies that maintain female hotel managers’ WFB, ultimately ensuring positive financial implications for them.
Spiritual Tourism in Haridwar: A Global Aspect A Dhyani, V Rana, G Dimri, RP Dimri, A Dhyani, SK Lal 2026
Beyond Green Preferences: How Spirituality Moderates the Effect of Perceived Values on Eco-Lodge Intentions A Tariyal, A Chamoli, V Rana 2026
Go slow in the mountains! an explorative perspective on tourism in Uttarakhand region J Bhandari, V Rana, S Singh International Journal of Tourism Policy 16 (1), 1-20 , 2026 2026
Closer Guest Contact Through Contactless Technologies in Hotels A Dhyani, V Rana, G Dimri, A Dhyani, RP Dimri, SK Lal Future of Contactless Technology in Hotels and Restaurants, 131-144 , 2026 2026
From Green Trust to Green Plates: How External Stimuli Shape Gen Z's Local Food Purchases in Organic Tourism Destinations A Chamoli, A Tariyal, V Rana International Journal of Gastronomy and Food Science, 101288 , 2025 2025 Citations: 4
Serving Local Produce in Homestays for Socio-Economic Development in Uttarakhand SKL Ashish Dhyani, Vinay Rana, Garima Dimri, Rajat Praveen Dimri, Archana Dhyani Global Practices and Innovations in Sustainable Homestay Tourism, 259-268 , 2025 2025
Psychological, Social, and Cultural Drivers of Slow Travel Intent: The Case of Kedarnath Pilgrimage with Environmental Concern as a Moderator2025 SS Jitender Bhandari, Vinay Rana Academy of Marketing Studies Journal 29 (3 ) , 2025 2025
Tourists’ Motivation to Satisfaction with Homestays in Uttarakhand, India: A SEM Approach AS Patwal, V Rana, G Chopra Indian Journal of Marketing, 45-62 , 2024 2024 Citations: 3
Hotel safety and security services: understanding multi-criteria characteristics and guest satisfaction Savita, V Rana, S Singh International Journal of Tourism Policy 14 (6), 609-624 , 2024 2024 Citations: 4
Working women travelling alone: Safety and security concerns, issues and expectations from Indian budget hotels Savita, V Rana, S Singh European Economic Letters 14 (1), 1567–1580 , 2024 2024 Citations: 1
A Systematic Review on Structure of Hotel Safety and Security Services: Dimensions and Measures Savita, V Rana, S Singh Academy of Marketing Studies Journal 28 (5), 1-21 , 2024 2024
A Systematic Literature Review on Slow Tourism and Its Implications to the Uttarakhand State of India Bhandari, R Jitender, S Vinay, Shalini Journal of Environmental Management and Tourism 25 (2(74)), 385-399 , 2024 2024 Citations: 11
The economic impact of Homestays in Uttarakhand, India: A qualitative study. AS Patwal, V Rana, G Chopra Revista Turismo & Desenvolvimento (RT&D)/Journal of Tourism & Development , 2023 2023 Citations: 8
Predictors influencing the choice of lodging option: A systematic literature review of homestays AS Patwal, V Rana, VK Pathak Journal of Tourism and Services 14 (26), 263-284 , 2023 2023 Citations: 21
What influences wellness customers to engage in electronic word of mouth? A total interpretive structural modelling approach A Tariyal, S Singh, S Bisht, V Rana International Journal of Spa and Wellness 6 (2), 239-262 , 2023 2023 Citations: 19
Tourist buying intentions towards local food: Analysing the moderating impact of food neophobia A Chamoli, V Rana, G Chopra Advances in Hospitality and Tourism Research (AHTR) , 2023 2023 Citations: 3
Local food: tourist buying intentions, theory of planned behaviour, and the moderating impact of food neophobia A CHAMOLİ, R Vınay, G CHOPRA Advances in Hospitality and Tourism Research (AHTR) , 2023 2023 Citations: 3
A study of the remote work-family balance of female hotel managers D Bhatt, S Sharma, V Rana African Journal of Hospitality, Tourism and Leisure 12 (3), 989-1010 , 2023 2023 Citations: 7
Utilitarian and Hedonic Values of eWOM Media and Online Booking Decisions for Tourist Destinations in India A Tariyal, S Bisht, V Rana, S Roy, S Pratap Journal of Open Innovation: Technology, Market, and Complexity 8 (3) , 2022 2022 Citations: 64
A Study on the Influence of EWOM Platform Characteristics on the Perceived Usefulness and Subsequent Purchase Decision of Millennials with Reference to Hotel Industry A Tariyal Doctoral dissertation, IMS Unison University]. http://hdl. handle. net/10603 … , 2022 2022 Citations: 2
MOST CITED SCHOLAR PUBLICATIONS
Utilitarian and Hedonic Values of eWOM Media and Online Booking Decisions for Tourist Destinations in India A Tariyal, S Bisht, V Rana, S Roy, S Pratap Journal of Open Innovation: Technology, Market, and Complexity 8 (3) , 2022 2022 Citations: 64
Predictors influencing the choice of lodging option: A systematic literature review of homestays AS Patwal, V Rana, VK Pathak Journal of Tourism and Services 14 (26), 263-284 , 2023 2023 Citations: 21
Motives and experiences of foreign (yoga & spiritual) tourist visiting Rishikesh V Rana International Journal for Research in Education 4 (1), 1-7 , 2015 2015 Citations: 20
What influences wellness customers to engage in electronic word of mouth? A total interpretive structural modelling approach A Tariyal, S Singh, S Bisht, V Rana International Journal of Spa and Wellness 6 (2), 239-262 , 2023 2023 Citations: 19
Trends, issues and women in hospitality and tourism industry V Rana RET International Academic Publishing ISBN, 978-93 , 2017 2017 Citations: 14
A Systematic Literature Review on Slow Tourism and Its Implications to the Uttarakhand State of India Bhandari, R Jitender, S Vinay, Shalini Journal of Environmental Management and Tourism 25 (2(74)), 385-399 , 2024 2024 Citations: 11
The economic impact of Homestays in Uttarakhand, India: A qualitative study. AS Patwal, V Rana, G Chopra Revista Turismo & Desenvolvimento (RT&D)/Journal of Tourism & Development , 2023 2023 Citations: 8
A study of the remote work-family balance of female hotel managers D Bhatt, S Sharma, V Rana African Journal of Hospitality, Tourism and Leisure 12 (3), 989-1010 , 2023 2023 Citations: 7
From Green Trust to Green Plates: How External Stimuli Shape Gen Z's Local Food Purchases in Organic Tourism Destinations A Chamoli, A Tariyal, V Rana International Journal of Gastronomy and Food Science, 101288 , 2025 2025 Citations: 4
Hotel safety and security services: understanding multi-criteria characteristics and guest satisfaction Savita, V Rana, S Singh International Journal of Tourism Policy 14 (6), 609-624 , 2024 2024 Citations: 4
Tourists’ Motivation to Satisfaction with Homestays in Uttarakhand, India: A SEM Approach AS Patwal, V Rana, G Chopra Indian Journal of Marketing, 45-62 , 2024 2024 Citations: 3
Tourist buying intentions towards local food: Analysing the moderating impact of food neophobia A Chamoli, V Rana, G Chopra Advances in Hospitality and Tourism Research (AHTR) , 2023 2023 Citations: 3
Local food: tourist buying intentions, theory of planned behaviour, and the moderating impact of food neophobia A CHAMOLİ, R Vınay, G CHOPRA Advances in Hospitality and Tourism Research (AHTR) , 2023 2023 Citations: 3
A Study on the Influence of EWOM Platform Characteristics on the Perceived Usefulness and Subsequent Purchase Decision of Millennials with Reference to Hotel Industry A Tariyal Doctoral dissertation, IMS Unison University]. http://hdl. handle. net/10603 … , 2022 2022 Citations: 2
Undergraduate hospitality education and its challenges: Special reference to Uttarakhand L Mishra, V Rana International Journal of Basic and Advanced Research 1 (1), 6-10 , 2012 2012 Citations: 2
Working women travelling alone: Safety and security concerns, issues and expectations from Indian budget hotels Savita, V Rana, S Singh European Economic Letters 14 (1), 1567–1580 , 2024 2024 Citations: 1
Impact of food- related personality traits and behavioral determinants on buying intent of tourist towards local food of Uttarakhand N Chamoli, Abhay: Rana, Vinay: Uniyal Journal of Postharvest Technology 9 (3) , 2021 2021 Citations: 1
Spiritual Tourism in Haridwar: A Global Aspect A Dhyani, V Rana, G Dimri, RP Dimri, A Dhyani, SK Lal 2026
Beyond Green Preferences: How Spirituality Moderates the Effect of Perceived Values on Eco-Lodge Intentions A Tariyal, A Chamoli, V Rana 2026
Go slow in the mountains! an explorative perspective on tourism in Uttarakhand region J Bhandari, V Rana, S Singh International Journal of Tourism Policy 16 (1), 1-20 , 2026 2026
