This page contains all of my opinion about tourism and hospitality
- I Paid to Change My Flight. Why Was I Charged for Their Mistake?by DoraI had an experience arguing with a customer service representative who acted as a middle agent. I was flying with an Indonesian airline again, which had always been one of my favourite airlines. I booked a morning flight from Jakarta to Batam for around September. At that time, I had a conference in Bali, so I booked the flight without considering that I might need to have another… Read more: I Paid to Change My Flight. Why Was I Charged for Their Mistake?
- Customer engagement: what truly matters when we use a service such as transport, is how it makes us feelby DoraYesterday, I had plans to watch a movie. Even though the cinema is only about a 15 minute drive from my house, I intentionally gave myself extra time. I did not want to feel rushed, and I thought it would be a simple, uneventful trip, just a short ride to the venue. However, something I have been noticing recently is how often I get female drivers. This stood… Read more: Customer engagement: what truly matters when we use a service such as transport, is how it makes us feel
- When Gold Goes Unnoticed, Context, Perception, and the Construction of Valueby DoraThe saying “wherever you are, if you are gold, you will always shine” assumes that true value is naturally recognized. One afternoon, after a long discussion on her research, Maya sat across from her professor in a quiet office filled with books and soft light. They had been talking about value, not in numbers or prices, but in something far more subtle.Her professor leaned back and said, “Value… Read more: When Gold Goes Unnoticed, Context, Perception, and the Construction of Value
- The Pie That Made Me Waitby DoraYesterday was very hot, around 32°C, so I decided to go to a mall to cool down. I walked around for a while and did some window shopping. I bought a pair of flat shoes because I don’t feel comfortable wearing flip flops that expose my toes. Since I just arrived in Indonesia, I can really feel how different the environment, weather, and people are. The mall was… Read more: The Pie That Made Me Wait
- Efficiency Without Empathy, What Hospitality Should Not Forgetby DoraWorking in hospitality requires a high level of customer service, professionalism, and empathy. One thing that I find particularly disappointing is encountering individuals in service roles who appear to perform their duties without genuine engagement or commitment. Recently, I travelled from the UK to Singapore for an occasion. The journey was challenging as I was experiencing back pain and had to manage heavy luggage. From my home to… Read more: Efficiency Without Empathy, What Hospitality Should Not Forget
- Shaping the Future of Indonesian Tourism: Sustainability, Technology, and Communityby DoraIndonesia is a country rich in natural beauty, culture, and traditions, yet its tourism industry still faces significant challenges. Many local communities do not earn sustainable income from tourism, and economic benefits remain unevenly distributed. According to a 2025 report by Kemenparekraf, only 35 out of 6,191 community-based tourism (CBT) villages are considered sustainable. Many villages rely on short-term, trend-driven attractions that lack authenticity, leading to temporary popularity… Read more: Shaping the Future of Indonesian Tourism: Sustainability, Technology, and Community
- Why Are They Not Calling? A Personal Reflection on Digital Marketing and Missed Connectionsby DoraAlthough I have created four websites, including batamtourism.com, I still find myself searching for a clear answer to a fundamental question: how do we truly attract more visitors and encourage meaningful engagement, such as phone calls or direct enquiries? The February 2026 performance data for batamtourism.com shows 274 unique visitors generating 411 visits between 1 February and 25 February 2026. On average, each visitor returned 1.5 times. These… Read more: Why Are They Not Calling? A Personal Reflection on Digital Marketing and Missed Connections
- Pandang Tak Jemu (Mangrove as an educational tour destination)by DoraEmpowering Indonesia’s Coastal Communities: Lessons from Pandang Tak Jemu, Batam Indonesia, as the world’s largest archipelagic nation, holds an extraordinary richness in marine and coastal resources. With more than 17,000 islands, its coastal communities are the first line of defense for ocean conservation. They are also key partners in building a sustainable and inclusive marine tourism sector. The people who live by the sea fishers, local entrepreneurs, and… Read more: Pandang Tak Jemu (Mangrove as an educational tour destination)
- What tourism can do for our local communities?by DoraTourism contributed more than 4% for Indonesia income Tourism can significantly support local communities such as local destination management organisations, tour guides, artisans, and souvenir makers. Tourism assists to preserve the local cultures and local wisdom. Furthermore, in the bigger pictures, both economic and socio-cultural are supported by the tourism activities. What is the issue related to local communities after globalisation occured? In most areas in Indonesia, tourism… Read more: What tourism can do for our local communities?
