This study analyzes the importance of strengthening the design of Indonesia’s maritime axis policy. This research uses a qualitative approach to systematically explain the dynamics and importance of strengthening world maritime policy, where the Nvivo 12 Plus tool is used to analyze data and answer the research questions posed. This research shows that Indonesia still has complex bureaucratic and institutional problems and aspects of political identity and leadership attitudes that require systematic and comprehensive improvement. Then, the draft for strengthening the maritime axis policy in Indonesia includes three policy recommendations: reformulating the focus of the maritime axis policy, comprehensive and coherent governance, and an integrated administrative framework, as well as improving the political identity and attitudes of leaders in public policy. Substantially, the relative failure of the Global Maritime Axis (GMA) policy, known as Joko Widodo’s concept of regulating the Indonesian government based on geographical location, was caused by the dominance of political factors and domestic bureaucratic problems. Apart from that, the lack of priority narratives in the maritime and development sectors means that the Indonesian government’s priorities are more oriented towards GMA infrastructure aspects and at the expense of other fundamental elements. This study encourages the Indonesian government to accelerate a more substantive GMA. However, this research needs to be expanded because the analysis results were only carried out through secondary data and focused on two important aspects of GMA. Therefore, further research is needed that explains the prospects for GMA policy in Indonesia in more detail.

Islamabad’s 2019 ban on single-use plastic shopping bags aimed to reduce plastic waste, but compliance is limited. This study evaluates the effectiveness of the ban as well as other factors in curtailing plastic bag use in Islamabad. Regression modeling within a rational choice framework analyzed survey data from 406 retailers across 18 selected urban and rural markets. We found that the subjective belief that a fine was unlikely (β = −16.10; t = −3.90; p < 0.001), likely (β = −24.99; t = −4.95; p < 0.001), or very likely (β = −43.84; t = −4.07; p < 0.001) for selling bags versus very unlikely was significantly associated with lower usage. Additionally, older retailer age (β = −0.25; p < 0.001) and more education (β = −0.77; p < 0.01) were associated with lower plastic bag usage. Business registration (β = −3.94; p < 0.10) and trade membership (β = −4.04; p < 0.05) also decreased use. Rural location (zone II: β = 13.28; p < 0.001) and plastic bags stock availability (β = 16.75; p < 0.001) increased use. Awareness, viewing bags as “Good”, unlikely fines and lack of substitutes lowered use. Results provide insights to inform more effective policies for reducing plastic waste.

Brazil occupies a prominent position as one of the largest domestic air passenger markets globally. In May 2019, OAG Aviation Worldwide Limited (OAG), a renowned global travel data provider, ranked Brazil as the world’s 6th largest domestic market. This study identifies and meticulously analyses statistical trends in how service levels affect passenger demand on domestic air routes in Brazil. To that end, it employs a panel-data gravity model incorporating service as an instrumental variable. The findings confirm the influence of traditional gravity explanatory variables, while also contributing novel insights into the impact of service levels on domestic routes. The analysis reveals that, while factors such as income and distance play a fundamental role in shaping domestic demand, level of service emerges as a crucial determinant on regional connections. Overall, the statistics suggest growing divergences between Brazilian airlines and regional air transport. Accordingly, substantial changes are necessary in both government policies and the services offered by the airline industry in order to harness the full potential of Brazil’s domestic air transport passenger market and foster regional development.

African air transport is expected to take off after the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM) launch in January 2018. Unfortunately, this seems not to be the case, particularly in West Africa, where adequate direct local flight is highly difficult to find. Hence, the fundamental question is: what levers should be activated for an effective revival of this sector? This paper aims to analyze West African air transport competitiveness factors by collecting data physically through surveys in various West African airports (Abidjan, Cotonou, Accra, Lome) also by interviewing professionals in the sector (Air traffic controllers, Air Navigation Service Providers, Air transports Managers, etc.) and among others, SAATM reports to appreciate its implementation. We were able to survey 435 actors (individuals and key informants) from January to July 2023 to evaluate quality of service, airline performance, safety, customer satisfaction etc. Airline operating costs were analyzed to understand the associated bottlenecks. The results show that SAATM is not yet well implemented in all contracting states, travelers are not satisfied with the air supply (airlines, infrastructure and fares) and taxation excessively increases ticket prices. The main factors for West African air transport take-off are liberalization, taxation and infrastructure investments.

Tourism is one of the important sectors that support Indonesia’s economic growth. The tourism sector itself plays a strategic role in increasing the country’s foreign exchange. However, during the Covid-19 pandemic, tourism became one of the most affected sectors. Electronic visa on arrival (e-VOA) is a form of digital transformation in immigration services offered by the Indonesian government to increase the number of tourist arrivals during the recovery of the national economy, especially in the tourism sector, after the Covid-19 pandemic. This study provides an in-depth insight into how e-VOA functions as a digital transformation tool in the immigration and tourism sectors. By exploring the impact of e-VOA implementation, this article contributes to the understanding of how digitalisation can improve the efficiency of administrative processes and support the recovery of the tourism sector in post-pandemic Bali. This study uses qualitative approaches and methods with descriptive analysis techniques to create an objective description of a situation through numbers or statistical data. The results of this study show that e-VOA services effectively contribute to an increase in the number of foreign tourists in Bali. It also has a positive impact on the economic growth of tourism-related businesses in Bali.