Important Update – 6% Service Tax (SST) for International Students Starting 1 September 2025
Important Update – 6% Service Tax (SST) for International Students Starting 1 September 2025

Our Faculty

Prof Dr. Vikneswaran Nair

Prof Dr. Vikneswaran Nair

PROFESSOR
DEPUTY VICE CHANCELLOR
Vice Chancellor’s Office
vikneswaran.n@unimy.edu.my
ACADEMIC QUALIFICATIONS
  • PhD (Systems Engineering) – Ecotourism System, UPM, Malaysia
  • Master of Science – Systems Engineering, UPM, Malaysia
  • Bachelor of Horticultural Science, UPM, Malaysia
RESEARCH AREAS
  • Artificial Intelligence and Expert Systems for Decision Support Systems
  • Digital Transformation and ICT Pedagogy in Higher Education
  • Extended Reality (AR/VR) Applications for Smart Tourism and Training Environments
  • Technology-Enabled Sustainable Development and Smart Destination Management
  • Digital Platforms and Innovation Tools for ESG, Professional Development, and Governance
RESEARCH GRANT / SUPERVISION

Research Grant

  • Ministry of Science, Technology & Environment Malaysia – IRPA Grant (MSc Research)
    • Title: Development of an Expert System for Terrestrial Vegetation Management for Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA).
    • Value: RM900,000 (external, national funding)
    • Duration: 1996-1998
    • Role: Joint Researcher
  • Ministry of Science, Technology & Environment Malaysia – IRPA Grant (PhD Research)
    • Title: Development of an Expert System for Ecotourism Accreditation and Rating for Peninsular Malaysia.
    • Value: RM500,000 (external, national funding)
    • Duration: 1999-2003
    • Role: Joint Researcher
  • Internal Research (Taylor’s University, Wild Asia & LADA)
    • Title: Issues and Pressure Points in Langkawi Tourism Development: Understanding the Responsible Tourism Landscape.
    • Value: RM16,650 (internal funding)
    • Duration: 2006 (Completed)
    • Role: Lead Researcher
  • Taylor’s University Internal Grant
    • Title: Poverty Eradication via Sustainable Community-Based Tourism: A Case Study of the Kelabit Community in Bario, Sarawak.
    • Value: RM7,600 (internal funding)
    • Duration: 2010 (Completed)
    • Role: Lead Researcher
  • Ministry of Higher Education Malaysia – Long-Term Research Grant Scheme (LRGS)
    • Title: National Multi-Dimensional Responsible Rural Tourism Capacity Framework for Sustainable Tourism.
    • Value: RM9,000,000 (largest national social science research grant awarded at that time)
    • Duration: 2011-2016
    • Role: Project Leader / Lead Researcher
  • National Higher Education Research Centre (IPPTN)
    • Title: Public-Private Equilibrium (PPE) – Balancing Growth with Quality and Equity.
    • Value: RM200,000 (external funding)
    • Duration: 2012-2013
    • Role: Lead Researcher
  • Ministry of Higher Education Malaysia – Fundamental Research Grant Scheme (FRGS)
    • Title: Towards a Model of Concerted and Participative Food Heritage Touristic Valorisation Process: Kelabit Indigenous Community, Sarawak.
    • Value: RM80,700 (external funding)
    • Duration: 2016-2017
    • Role: Co-Researcher
  • Taylor’s University Research Grant Scheme (TRGS)
    • Title: Langkawi Google Glass Augmented Reality (AR): A Feasibility Study.
    • Value: RM25,000 (internal funding)
    • Duration: 2014-2016
    • Role: Co-Researcher

PhD Student Supervision

  1. Service Quality on Tourist Revisit Intentions in Agricultural Tourism Destinations in Balik Pulau, Penang (In Progress)
  2. Corporate Environmental Responsibility and Hotel Sustainability in the Bahamian Hospitality Industry: The Mediating Role of Strategic Learning (2024)
  3. Investigating Pro-Environmental Consumers’ Attitude Toward Online Booking Green Hotel (2019)
  4. Community Participation in Rural Tourism Environment Planning: A Case of Marine Waste Mitigation in Semporna, Sabah (2018)
  5. Sustainable Organic Farming: Farm to Table Tourism (2018)
  6. The Impact of Tourist, Local Community and Industry Players’ Perception on Tourism Performance in Rural Area, Malaysia (2016)
  7. Marketing Sustainable Heritage Site: A Case Study of Mt. Kinabalu (2016)
  8. Capacity Building Through Tourism Development for Island Community (2016)
  9. Environmental Law and Policy Guidelines for Responsible Rural Tourism Governance (2016)
  10. Developing a Destination Brand for Rural Tourism: A Relationship-Based Approach (2015)

Master Student Supervision

  1. Corporate Social Responsibility Model for Tourism Businesses at Rural Tourism Destination (2018)
  2. A Slow Tourism Approach Towards Sustaining Community Development in Arau, Perlis, Malaysia (2018)
  3. Assessing the Community Readiness and Developing its Partnership in the Form of Nine Steps of Community Based Tourism (2017)
  4. A Study on the Poor Service Quality of Domestic Airports: The Case of the Maldives (2017)
  5. Developing Carbon-Offset Plan for Hotel Industry: A Case Study of Hilton Hotel Petaling Jaya (2017)
  6. Profitability via Sustainability: A Green Hotel Model for Rural Tourism Destinations (2016)
  7. Influence of Residents’ Place Image on Perceived Tourism Impacts and Support for Tourism Development in Port Dickson, Negeri Sembilan (2016)
  8. Effect of Behavioural Intention Towards Choosing Environmentally Friendly Hotels (2016)
  9. Travel Motivation of Adventure Tourist to Climb Mount Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia (2014)
  10. The Value Orientation of Wildlife as a Community-Based Ecotourism Product: A Case Study of Lower Kinabatangan, Sabah, Malaysia (2013)
  11. Green is the New White – Hotels in Malacca Ready for the Transformation? (2013)
  12. Evaluation of Transport Mode Choice in Rural Destination: A Case Study of Sandakan, Sabah (2013)
  13. Barriers for Sustainable Tourism Management in Small Island Resorts: Case Study Based on the Maldives (2013)
  14. Perception of International Tourist on Malaysia’s Economic Transformation Programme (ETP): Transforming the Tourism Industry into a High-Yield Industry by 2020 (2012)
  15. Study & Analysis of Environmental Quality Act (1974) (Order 1987) of Malaysia: Perception of Environmental Consultant of Existing Legislation for Tourism Development Projects (2011)
  16. A Study on Factors that Contribute Towards Environmental Commitment in Malaysian Hotel Industry: A Case Study of the Hotels in Golden Triangle Kuala Lumpur (2011)
  17. Study on Development and Sustainability of Homestay as a Form of CBT in Rural Community in Bavanat, Iran (2011)
  18. Computer-Based Learning for Practical Hospitality Subjects: A Quickdo™ Approach in the Hospitality Programme (2010)
PUBLICATIONS
  1. Nair, V. & McCleod, M. (2020). Caribbean Tourism and Sustainable Development Goals. Worldwide Hospitality and Tourism Themes (WHATT) Journal. Vol. 12(2). 353-358. DOI: 10.1108/WHATT-02-2020-0003 [Scopus Index].
  2. Francis, R.M. & Nair, V. (2020). Policy barriers to aligning sustainable development goals in second-home tourism communities in The Bahamas: A qualitative case study. Worldwide Hospitality and Tourism Themes (WHATT) Journal. Vol. 12(2). 321-336. DOI: 10.1108/WHATT-02-2020-0007 [Scopus Index].
  3. Hanafiah, M. H., Balasingam, A. S., Nair, V., Jamaluddin, M. R. & Mohd. Zaharu, M. D. (2021). Implications of COVID-19 on tourism businesses in Malaysia: Evidence from a preliminary Industry Survey. Asia Pacific Journal of Innovation in Hospitality & Tourism. Vol. 10 (1). 81-94. [Scopus Index].
  4. Fielding, W.J., Ballance, V.C., Johnson, P. & Nair, V. (2021). Research Edge: The First 20 Years. International Journal of Bahamian Studies. Vol. 27 (2021).
  5. Hampton, M.P., Jeyacheya, J. & Nair, V. (2023). Post-COVID tourism revealed: Evidence from Malaysia. Annals of Tourism Research. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.annals.2023.103671 [SSCI/Scopus indexed].
  6. Hampton, M.P., Jeyacheya, J. & Nair, V. (2025). Tourism in the Polycrisis: Rethinking Labour-Capital Relations and Inclusive Growth in Malaysia’s Post-Pandemic Recovery. Annals of Tourism Research. [SSCI/Scopus indexed]. [IN PRESS]
  7. Nair, V., Azinuddin, M. and Hanafiah, M.H. (2025), Strategic implications for the evolution of tourism in Asia: a comprehensive analysis, Worldwide Hospitality and Tourism Themes, Vol. 17 No. 3, pp. 432-443. https://doi.org/10.1108/WHATT-01-2025-0044 [Scopus Index].
  8. Nair, V., Hanafiah, M.H. and Azinuddin, M. (2025), Changing tourism behaviour in Asia: a framework for inquiry and analysis, Worldwide Hospitality and Tourism Themes, Vol. 17 No. 3, pp. 294-304. https://doi.org/10.1108/WHATT-01-2025-0035 [Scopus Index].
  9. Miraz, M.H., Rabiul, M.K., Adeyinka-Ojo, S., Nair, V., Tariq Hasan, M., Hossain, M.A. and Ha Jin, H. (2025), Digital literacy, marketing ability and tourist healthcare facilities influence tourists’ intention to visit Asian countries through the moderation of AI, Worldwide Hospitality and Tourism Themes, Vol. 17 No. 3, pp. 343-353. https://doi.org/10.1108/WHATT-02-2025-0055. [Scopus Index].
  10. Loo, P.T. and Nair, V. (2025). Challenges, Gaps and Possible Solutions for Inclusive and Accessibility Standards in Accommodation, Food and Beverage and MICE in Malaysia. Proceedings of the 11th International Conference on Hospitality & Tourism Management 2025. 25-26th July 2025, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
PROFESSIONAL BODIES
  • License Environmental Auditor (LEA) (IRCA/2007). IRCA Program Certification No.: A11162. Certified by the Governing Board of IQA International Register of Certified Auditors (IRCA)
  • Environmental Management & Research Association of Malaysia (Membership No. 0866)
  • Centre for Environmental Technologies (CETEC) (Membership No. 0055)
  • Tourism Educators’ Association of Malaysia (TEAM)
  • International Council on Hotel, Restaurant & Institutional Education (I-CHRIE)
  • Malaysian Ecotourism Association (MEA)
  • ESG Association of Malaysia