Waves of Innovation: Hospitality & Tourism PhD Student, Md. Tariqul Wins Best Paper Award at Hospitium Symposium 2025

The School of Hospitality, Tourism & Events (SHTE) is proud to announce that Md. Tariqul Islam, a PhD student in Hospitality and Tourism at Taylor’s University, Malaysia, has once again been recognised for his academic excellence and impactful research. His doctoral work focuses on cruise tourism and its implications for Malaysia’s economic development. At the Hospitium Symposium 2025, hosted by Ramaiah University of Applied Sciences in Bangalore, India, Tariqul presented his paper entitled “Technological Waves in Maritime Tourism: A Bibliometric Review and Directions for Future Research.” His presentation earned the Best Paper Presentation Award, further strengthening his reputation as a promising scholar in tourism research.

The study offers a comprehensive bibliometric analysis of global scholarship on technological innovations in maritime tourism. By identifying emerging trends, influential authors, and future research directions, the paper underscores the transformative role of technology in shaping the cruise and maritime tourism sectors. Importantly, it addresses innovation gaps and provides pathways for enhancing technological integration, particularly significant for Malaysia’s evolving cruise tourism landscape.

This research was conducted under the supervision of Dr. Jeetesh Kumar, Head of Research at FSLM, whose guidance has been instrumental in supporting Tariqul’s scholarly journey. The award-winning paper has also been featured in Hospitium Magazine, the university’s in-house publication, further showcasing the vibrant research culture at Taylor’s University and its contribution to advancing the hospitality and tourism industries.

This recognition highlights once again the cutting-edge work undertaken by Taylor’s postgraduate researchers and reflects the institution’s commitment to academic excellence, innovation, and global impact in hospitality and tourism research.