
The Success Story
The 7th International Conference on Hospitality and Tourism Management 2020
The 7th International Conference on Hospitality and Tourism Management 2020, was held on 25th – 26th August 2020 on a virtual platform under the theme “TOURISM & HOSPITALITY 2030” The conference was organized by The International Institute of Knowledge Management (TIIKM), Sri Lanka in collaboration with the Taylor’s University, Malaysia as the hosting partner while Universiti Teknologi MARA, Malaysia, International Bali Institute of Tourism, Indonesia, Prince of Songkla University, Thailand, Sabaragamuwa University, Sri Lanka and Uva Wellassa University, Sri Lanka remained as the successful, collaborative academic Partners of the Conference. Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC), has joined hands as the Resource partner of the conference.
BOOK OF ABSTRACTS 2020
Read and download a digital copy of the book of Abstracts of the International Conference on Hospitality and Tourism Management 2020 here.

Inauguration Ceremony
The opening remarks of ICOHT 2020 were made by the Conference Co-Chairs Dr. Chandana (Chandi) Jayawardena (Canada International Ambassador & Past President – Institute of Hospitality (HCIMA), United Kingdom), Prof. Dr. D.A.C. Suranga Silva (Coordinator of Tourism Study Program Department of Economics, University of Colombo Sri Lanka and Prof.Dr. Neethiahnanthan Ari Ragavan (Executive Dean, Faculty of Social Sciences and Leisure Management, Taylor’s University, Malaysia,President, ASEAN Tourism Research Association (ATRA),Malaysia together and with Mr. Isanka P. Gamage (Managing Director, The International Institute of Knowledge Management).
Key speakers of ICOHT 2020
The Keynote forum was one of the significant sessions of the Conference and it was enlightened by Dr. Mihee Kang (Director Asia-Pacific, Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC), Korea) delivered the keynote speech on the topic “Trends and Chanllenges in Making Tourism Sustainable”, Dr. Richard Teare (Co-founder and president Global University for Lifelong Learning (GULL) United Kingdom delivered the keynote speech on the topic “Enhancing Capacity in Hospitality: Workplace Learning for Low Paid Workers” and Prof.Dr. Neethiahnanthan Ari Ragavan (Executive Dean, Faculty of Social Sciences and Leisure Management, Taylor’s University, Malaysia,President, ASEAN Tourism Research Association (ATRA),Malaysia.
icoht 2020 speakers

DR. CHANDANA (CHANDI) JAYAWARDENA
[CONFERENCE CO – CHAIR]
President – Chandi J. Associates Inc.
Consulting, Canada
International Ambassador & Past President – Institute of Hospitality (HCIMA), UK

PROF. DR. D.A.C. SURANGA SILVA
[CONFERENCE CO – CHAIR]

PROF.DR. NEETHIAHNANTHAN ARI RAGAVAN
[CONFERENCE CO – CHAIR / KEYNOTE SPEAKER]
Executive Dean, Faculty of Social Sciences and Leisure Management, Taylor’s University,
Malaysia,President, ASEAN Tourism Research Association (ATRA),
Malaysia

DR. MIHEE KANG
[KEYNOTE SPEAKER]
Director Asia-Pacific,Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC),
Korea
Speech Title: Trends and Chanllenges in Making Tourism Sustainable

DR. RICHARD TEARE
[KEYNOTE SPEAKER]
Global University for Lifelong Learning (GULL)
United Kingdom

DR. RICHARDSON
[GUEST SPEAKER]
Executive Dean, at the Emirates Academy of Hospitality Management in
Dubai
Participants from more than 12 countries
ICOHT 2020 consisted of over 60 participants from 12 countries around the world, including Sri Lanka, Italy, Japan, Indonesia, India, Nigeria, China, Malaysia, Philippines, Taiwan and Thailand. industry leaders, educators, researchers, academicians, policy makers, and members from non-governmental organizations to share their diverse experiences, discuss, argue and ultimately to find solutions to the issues related to Hospitality and Tourism Management.
Technical Sessions
ICOHT 2020 comprised of Four (04) technical sessions. The technical sessions were under the below themes
- BEST PRACTICES IN ENHANCING TOURISM WITH AUTHENTIC HOSPITALITY
- INNOVATION IN HOSPITALITY, TOURISM AND EVENTS INDUSTRY
- BUILDING BIGGER ECOSYSTEMS: UNLOCKING THE POWER OF HUMAN AND TECHNOLOGY
- NEXT-GENERATION CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE: HUMAN TOUCH VS. SMART TOUCH
Workshop on “When, Why, And How Can We Apply Partial Least Squares – Structural Equation Modeling (Pls-Sem) In Academic Research?”
The Career Development Workshop was conducted by

Senior Lecturer
School of Hospitality, Tourism and Events,
Taylor’s University
- For what type of research can we apply PLS-SEM?
- How to justify the application of PLS-SEM?
- How to perform PLS-SEM?
- How to report the results using PLS-SEM in a rigorous way?
SCIENTIFIC COMMITTEE MEMBERS OF ICOHT 2020
- Dr. Mihea Cho, Sejong University, Korea
- Dr. Ramil A. Ravanes, Prince of Songkla University, Thailand
- Dr. Richard Teare, Global University for Lifelong Learning (GULL),United Kingdom
- Dr. Salamiah A. Jamal, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Malaysia
- Dr. Ilian Assenov, Prince of Songkla University, Thailand
- Dr. J. Sutha, Eastern University, Sri Lanka
- Dr. Sebastian Filep, University of Otago, New Zealand
- Prof. M.S.M.Aslam, Sabaragamuwa University of Sri Lanka, Sri Lanka
- Dr. Nor Asmalina Mohd Anuar, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Malaysia
- Prof. Yingchuan Wang, City University of Macau, Macao
- Asst. Prof. Colin Chi Hang Law, Stamford International University, Thailand
- Dr. Prateep Wetprasit, Prince of Songkla University, Thailand
- Dr. Jaswinder Kumar, Panjab University, India
- Dr. Mubarak Kaldeen, University of Colombo, Sri Lanka
- Dr. Datin Arni Abdul Gani, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Malaysia
- Dr. Mohd Raziff Jamaluddin, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Malaysia
- Asst. Prof. Dr. Pornpisanu Promsivapallop, Prince of Songkla University, Thailand
- Dr. Sarat Kumar Lenka, Indian Institute of Tourism & Travel Management, India
- C.N.R.Wijesundara, Sabaragamuwa University of Sri Lanka, Sri Lanka
- Dr. Chayanon Phucharoen, Prince of Songkla University, Thailand
- Prof. Athula Gnanapala, Sabaragamuwa University of Sri Lanka, Sri Lanka
- Dr. Neethiahnanthan Ari Ragavan, Taylor’s University, Malaysia
- Asst. Prof. Dr. Tatiyaporn Jarumaneerat, Prince of Songkla University, Thailand
- Prof. (Dr). D.A.C. Suranga Silva, University of Colombo, Sri Lanka
- Dr. Chandana Jayawardena, Institute of Hospitality (HCIMA), United Kingdom
- Dr. R.S.S.W.Arachchi, Sabaragamuwa University of Sri Lanka, Sri Lanka
- Asst. Prof. Dr. Nareeya Weerakit, Prince of Songkla University, Thailand
- Dr. P.K.S.Munasinghe, Sabaragamuwa University of Sri Lanka, Sri Lanka
- Dr. Norliza Aminudin, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Malaysia
- Dr. Ilian Bontehev Assanov, Prince of Songkla University, Thailand
- Dr. Albert C. Kariuki, Kenyatta University, Kenya
- Dr. Ali Saberi, Iranian Researchers Network, Iran
Session Moderators and Evaluation Committee
- Prof. Dr. Kashif Hussain, Taylor’s University, Malaysia
- Dr. Joaquim Dias Soeiro, Taylor’s University, Malaysia
- Dr. Puvaneswaran Kunasekaran, Taylor’s University, Malaysia
- Dr. Mayukh Dewan, Taylor’s University, Malaysia
- Dr. Jeetesh Kumar, Taylor’s University, Malaysia
- Dr. Shantini Thuraiselvam, Taylor’s University, Malaysia
- Dr. Rokhshad Tavakoli, Taylor’s University, Malaysia
- Dr. Seyyed Mostafa Rasoolimanesh, Taylor’s University, Malaysia
- Datin Dr Arni Abd Ghani, Universiti Teknologi MARA Malaysia
- Dr. Mohd Noor Ismawi Ismail, Universiti Teknologi MARA Malaysia
- Assoc. Professor Dr. Norliza Aminudin, Universiti Teknologi MARA Malaysia
- Dr. Rupam Konar, Taylor’s University, Malaysia