Ahn Young-joo, a professor in the College of Hospitality and Tourism at Sejong University, won an award for best paper at the sixth International Conference on Responsible Tourism and Hospitality, held in Miri, Sarawak, Malaysia, from July 7-11. The university said Ahn analyzed online reviews written by tourists who visited Bukchon Hanok Village in central Seoul to examine changes in their tourism experiences and assess the effectiveness of policies addressing overtourism. The study was recognized for its originality and academic contributions. It found that the policies introduced to mitigate overtourism affected tourists’ perceptions and experiences. The university noted that the research was particularly commended for its use of big data to assess the effectiveness of sustainable tourism policies. “I sought to objectively assess the sustainability of tourist destinations and the effectiveness of tourism policies using data that captures tourists’ actual experiences,” said Ahn. She added, “I will continue to conduct research on responsible tourism using digital data and propos
