Ph.D at City University of Macau, China.
Zhilun Huang (Alan) 🎓, born on July 25, 1999, is a dynamic Ph.D. candidate at the Faculty of International Tourism and Management, City University of Macau 🌏. His academic journey is rooted in a passion for pioneering research in space tourism 🚀—an emerging frontier in tourism science. He has authored high-impact journal articles and co-edited monographs on technological and cultural aspects of outer space travel. Zhilun brings a multicultural flair to his work, with dual bachelor’s degrees from China 🇨🇳 and France 🇫🇷. His ability to blend tourism management theories with futuristic innovation places him at the cutting edge of the discipline. As a corresponding author and scholar fluent in Mandarin 🈶 and English 🇬🇧, he bridges Eastern and Western academic perspectives. With accolades like the National Scholarship 🏅 and editorial features in cultural tourism press 📰, Zhilun is a rising star in global tourism academia 🌠.
Professional Profile:
ORCID
Google Scholar
Suitability For Best Researcher Award – Dr. Zhilun Huang
Zhilun Huang exemplifies the qualities sought in a Best Researcher Award recipient—academic excellence, international vision, interdisciplinary innovation, and impactful research contributions. His focus on space tourism, a pioneering and under-explored domain, distinguishes him from his peers in tourism studies. His dual degrees, multicultural education, leadership roles, and multilingual research output showcase a rare combination of intellectual depth and global competence.
🎓 Education
Zhilun Huang’s educational background is truly global 🌍. He is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in International Tourism Management 🧑🏫 (expected 2027) at the City University of Macau, where he also earned his Master’s degree in International Hospitality and Tourism Management 🎓 (expected 2024). He previously graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Hotel Management from Huangshan University 🇨🇳 and simultaneously completed a second Bachelor’s degree in International Hotel Management from the prestigious VATEL Institute in France 🇫🇷 (2022). His studies have been conducted entirely in English 🗣️, emphasizing his global communication capabilities and international academic readiness ✨.
💼 Experience
Zhilun’s practical experience in the tourism and hospitality industry is impressive 🌐. He served as a Supervisor in the Entertainment Department at ClubMed Joyview Anji Resort 🎤 in 2021, and gained cross-departmental internship experience at Huangshan Golf Hotel 🏨 from 2019–2020. Beyond industry work, he actively contributed to academic and student communities as the Vice Chairman of the International Exchange Student Union 🌍 and Deputy Minister of the CPC Member Service Station 🏛️. He was also Commissary in Charge of Studies for his undergraduate class 📘. These roles reflect his leadership, teamwork, and service dedication 🤝.
📈 Professional Development
Zhilun’s professional development is centered on building an interdisciplinary research portfolio 🌌. He has passed the CET-6 (College English Test Level 6) 🗣️, showcasing advanced English proficiency, and holds a Mandarin Level 2A certificate 📜, reflecting bilingual excellence. His publications in peer-reviewed international journals 📚 demonstrate a deep engagement with academic literature, particularly on space tourism themes. Zhilun is also actively involved in book publication, co-authoring monographs that discuss the intersection of aerospace technology and cultural tourism 🚀📘. These academic engagements show that he is not only learning but also creating knowledge—contributing significantly to tourism’s futuristic branches. His involvement in Chinese tourism media 📰 also reflects science communication skills, bridging research with society. Altogether, Zhilun’s development is marked by research output, communication excellence, and leadership ambition 🌠.
🔭 Research Focus
Zhilun Huang focuses on the niche but rapidly evolving area of space tourism 🚀. His research examines how humans perceive and prepare for travel beyond Earth 🌍—blending theories from hospitality, behavioral science, and space technology 🧠⚙️. In particular, he investigates the management information systems, behavioral mediators, and cultural implications of tourism in space-related environments 🌌. This positions him uniquely at the intersection of future mobility, human space exploration, and experiential tourism 🧑🚀🧳. His work addresses both the epistemology (how we understand) and ontology (what we know) of tourism in a post-Earth context, pushing boundaries in both theory and practice 📘🌠. By engaging with journal and monograph publications on the Earth-Moon nexus and technological implementation, he contributes to futuristic destination management, a sub-field with enormous potential 📈. His research aligns with categories such as innovative tourism, space economy, and sustainable exploration ♻️🚀.
🧠 Research Skills
Zhilun brings a robust set of academic and analytical research skills to his field 🧠. He is proficient in qualitative and conceptual modeling of tourism systems, especially those involving futuristic domains like space travel 🚀. As a corresponding author, he demonstrates strong writing, editing, and peer collaboration skills ✍️🤝. His journal articles reflect his ability to construct behavioral and rational frameworks for space tourism, applying psychological and management theories to real-world issues 📊📚. Zhilun also possesses multilingual writing proficiency, having co-authored both English and Chinese academic works 🈶🗣️. His editing contributions to monographs further show experience with academic publishing standards 📘. Moreover, his ability to connect with news outlets indicates a skill in knowledge translation and public dissemination 📰. Altogether, Zhilun’s research skills span across theoretical modeling, interdisciplinary synthesis, and academic leadership, making him a capable and forward-looking researcher 🌐.
🏅 Awards and Honors
Zhilun has received multiple accolades recognizing his academic excellence 🌟. He was awarded the University-Level “First-Level Scholarship” 🏆 for three consecutive years during his undergraduate studies at Huangshan University—a testament to consistent top-tier performance 📚. In 2019–2020, he earned the prestigious National Scholarship 🏅 from the Ministry of Education of China, highlighting his national-level academic standing 🇨🇳. These honors reflect not only academic success but also dedication, discipline, and leadership potential 🧠✨. His growing research profile and recognitions suggest a bright future in the global academic community 🌍.
Publication Top Notes
1. From Holocene to Anthropocene: A Spacetime Perspective on the Ontology, Epistemology, and Methodology of Space Tourism
Journal: Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Management
Publication Date: June 2025
DOI: 10.1016/j.jhtm.2025.101304
Authors: Kang-Lin Peng, Myung Ja Kim, Zhilun Huang, Ivan K.W. Lai, Xi Ji
Summary:
This interdisciplinary paper applies a spacetime framework to critically examine the conceptual foundations of space tourism. It traces the transition from the Holocene to the Anthropocene, arguing that tourism beyond Earth must be reimagined both philosophically and practically. The study explores:
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Ontology: What space tourism is in the context of human evolution and technological progression.
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Epistemology: How we know and interpret space tourism in the academic and social discourse.
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Methodology: Innovative approaches to studying tourism in extraterrestrial environments.
The authors advocate for a new paradigm of tourism studies that integrates environmental, cosmic, and intertemporal dimensions, reflecting the unique realities of the Anthropocene era.
2. Beyond Earth: Comparing Rational and Behavioral Mediators in Space Tourism Intentions
Journal: Journal of Quality Assurance in Hospitality & Tourism
Publication Date: May 12, 2025
DOI: 10.1080/1528008X.2025.2504448
Authors: Zhilun Huang, Kang-Lin Peng, Ya Wang, Hanqin Qiu
Summary:
This empirical research investigates factors influencing consumer intentions to engage in space tourism, with a focus on both rational (e.g., cost, safety, utility) and behavioral (e.g., emotion, social influence, excitement) mediators. The study utilizes:
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Structural equation modeling (SEM)
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Surveys and psychographic data
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A comparative analysis of cognitive vs. affective drivers in consumer behavior
The findings suggest that while rational concerns remain important, behavioral mediators like awe, novelty-seeking, and social identity play a significantly larger role in shaping space tourism intentions. This offers strategic insight for marketers and policymakers in space-related hospitality.
🏁 Conclusion
Zhilun Huang’s profile reflects an exceptional early-career researcher whose contributions are not only academically rigorous but also forward-looking and globally relevant. His focus on space tourism—a novel and strategic domain—demonstrates vision and innovation, both essential traits for the Best Researcher Award. With his recognized excellence, proven publishing record, and interdisciplinary scholarship, Zhilun stands out as a rising star whose work is already shaping the future of tourism research.