Solving Intergenerational Communication Problems in Tourism and Hospitality Enterprises

Authors

  • Ineta Luka Language Department, Turiba University Graudu 68, Riga, LV-1058, Latvia https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4706-1663
  • Valerija Drozdova Language Department, Turiba University, Graudu str. 68, Riga, LV-1058, Latvia
  • Gita Šakytė-Statnickė Business Administration Department, Klaipėdos valstybinė kolegija, Jaunystes str. 1, LT-91274 Klaipeda, Lithuania https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5320-810X
  • Laurencija Budrytė-Ausiejienė Business Administration Department, Klaipėdos valstybinė kolegija, Jaunystes str. 1, LT-91274 Klaipeda, Lithuania https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5378-3019

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.15503/jecs2023.1.207.228

Keywords:

communication, generational differences, intergenerational communication, intergenerational communication conflicts, adult teaching/learning

Abstract

Aim. The aim of the research is to identify intergenerational communication problems in tourism and hospitality enterprises and define teaching/learning initiatives and methodologies required to develop employees’ competencies to solve intergenerational communication problems.

Methods. 12 semi-structured expert interviews with tourism and hospitality business owners and/or top-level management in three countries (Lithuania, Latvia, and Sweden) were conducted to collect information on generational differences in communication and intergenerational communication problems in the company. Qualitative content analysis was applied for data analysis.

Results. Nine main groups of intergenerational communication problems have been detected and corresponding teaching/learning initiatives and methodologies that take into account the specific characteristics of each generation are recommended to eliminate each of the problems identified.

Conclusion. Generational differences and differences in communication lead to intergenerational communication conflicts in tourism and hospitality enterprises. The suggestions on organising adult learners’ teaching/learning process based on generational differences may be applicable in workplace learning and also in educational institutions providing adult education.

Cognitive value. The paper focusses on analysing intergenerational aspects in communication processes in tourism and hospitality enterprises and offers the means of solving communication conflicts by employing certain adult teaching/learning initiatives and methodologies suitable to non-formal and formal adult learning.

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Author Biographies

  • Ineta Luka, Language Department, Turiba University Graudu 68, Riga, LV-1058, Latvia

    Ineta Luka, Professor, Dr.paed., the head of the Language Department of Turiba University, Latvia, an expert in education sciences of the Latvian Council of Science, a Link convenor of European Education Research Association (EERA) Network 11 Educational Improvement and Quality Assurance, a member of Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) Education and Research Hub for Lifelong Learning Research Network 4 on Lifelong Learning Strategies. She gives courses in the English language, pedagogy, research methodology and tourism and market research and is the author of more than 80 scientific articles, book chapters, etc. on language teaching/learning, development of language competence, employability skills, higher education quality etc.

  • Valerija Drozdova, Language Department, Turiba University, Graudu str. 68, Riga, LV-1058, Latvia

    Valerija Drozdova, PhD in Linguistics and Literature, an Assistant Professor of Turiba University, Latvia. Valerija teaches English for Special Purposes (ESP) and Intercultural Communication and her research interests are in ESP, applied linguistics, discourse studies, genre studies and intercultural communication studies. She is currently involved in a NordTourNet-3 project “Solving Communication Problems of Different Generations in Tourism Companies”, project no. NPAD-2017/10129. 

  • Gita Šakytė-Statnickė, Business Administration Department, Klaipėdos valstybinė kolegija, Jaunystes str. 1, LT-91274 Klaipeda, Lithuania

    Gita Šakytė-Statnickė, PhD in Management, Social Sciences, an Associate Professor at Klaipėdos valstybinė kolegija / Higher Education Institution, Lithuania, a member of EERA, RENNET, LiMA. Her research interests include issues of  human resource management, employees of different generations; work engagement; communication; marketing, artificial intelligence. She has authored and co-authored of over 20 scientific publications published in national and international journals.

  • Laurencija Budrytė-Ausiejienė, Business Administration Department, Klaipėdos valstybinė kolegija, Jaunystes str. 1, LT-91274 Klaipeda, Lithuania

    Laurencija Budrytė-Ausiejienė, Lecturer at Klaipėdos valstybinė kolegija / Higher Education Institution, Head of the Tourism Business study programme. Laurencija lectures on Lithuanian tourism resources, heritage interpretation, tour operation and guiding. She is a professional tour guide, implements and manages various tourism-related projects and is co-author of Study guide on the Baltic – Nordic common identities and the cultural footprints.

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Published

2023-06-20

Issue

Vol. 14 No. 1 (2023): Journal of Education Culture and Society

Section

TRANSGRESSION

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Copyright (c) 2023 Ineta Luka, Valerija Drozdova, Gita Šakytė-Statnickė, Laurencija Budrytė-Ausiejienė

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How to Cite

Luka, I., Drozdova, V., Šakytė-Statnickė, G., & Budrytė-Ausiejienė, L. (2023). Solving Intergenerational Communication Problems in Tourism and Hospitality Enterprises. Journal of Education Culture and Society, 14(1), 207-228. https://doi.org/10.15503/jecs2023.1.207.228