In hospitality and tourism, the interaction between technology and people is reshaping the industry at an unprecedented pace. Dr. June Yang of the Macao University of Tourism (UTM), with her expertise in robotics, smart technology applications, human resource management, and intercultural communication, stands at the forefront of this transformation. Having published extensively in top-tier journals and brought over twenty years of industry experience into the classroom, she is dedicated to nurturing a new generation of tourism professionals who understand both technology and the human touch.
Dr. Yang earned her master’s and doctoral degrees from The Hong Kong Polytechnic University. “Hospitality and tourism is a field of both practical relevance and academic depth. I was drawn to its unique blend of people, culture, service, and innovation,” she says. She chose UTM because Macao, as a world-renowned tourism city and a gateway connecting China with the international tourism industry, offers an ideal platform to combine teaching, research, and talent development.
Robotics and Smart Technology: High Tech with High Touch
Dr. Yang’s research focuses on robotics, smart service systems, and intercultural communication. “Robotics and smart technologies are transforming service delivery, but successful adoption is never only a technical issue. It also involves employee roles, customer expectations, service design, and organisational readiness. The future of hospitality belongs not simply to ‘high tech’, but to ‘high tech with high touch’,” she explains.
Dr. Yang has published in leading journals such as Tourism Management and International Journal of Hospitality Management, and won Best Paper Awards at international conferences. Since 2020, she has been a co-investigator on Macao Government research grants totalling over MOP 600,000, working on projects such as the economic effectiveness study of “Macao Ready Go” and the Greater Bay Area tourism education subsidy scheme. “Research should not remain only on paper. It should contribute to policy thinking, industry development, and educational innovation,” she emphasises.
Cultivating Future Competitiveness: Tech Awareness with Human-Centred Thinking
With over twenty years of teaching and working experience across Hong Kong, Macao, and Mainland China, Dr. Yang believes hospitality education must stay closely connected to industry practice. She uses real cases and problem-based discussions in class, encouraging students to think from multiple perspectives. Teaching, to her, is about helping students build judgment, adaptability, and a professional mindset.
As technology rapidly transforms hospitality, Dr. Yang encourages students to develop both technological awareness and human-centred thinking. “The most competitive graduates are not just those who can use digital tools, but those who combine digital literacy with communication skills, cultural sensitivity, critical thinking, and a service mindset,” she says. She hopes students become lifelong learners who ask not only “How does this work?” but also “Why does it matter?” and “How can it be used responsibly?”
Looking Ahead: Teaching and Research as Mutual Reinforcement
Dr. Yang adds: “I have always seen teaching and research as mutually reinforcing rather than separate responsibilities. My passion for teaching motivates me to stay current, reflective, and demanding in my scholarship, while my research helps me bring fresh knowledge and sharper questions into the classroom.” What encourages her most is seeing students grow into independent thinkers, and when research can contribute both to academic advancement and to industry practice. She is grateful for a journey that has allowed her to work across different cities and academic environments, supervise postgraduate students, contribute to funded projects, and publish in respected journals. She would maintain high standards, continue learning, and contribute positively to the university, her students, and the hospitality and tourism field.
Looking ahead, Dr. Yang aims to deepen her research on smart hospitality, AI applications, and the human implications of technological transformation, while nurturing students who are academically capable, professionally prepared, and internationally minded. She believes UTM has a valuable role to play in talent development and innovation in tourism education within the Greater Bay Area.