sustainability-logo

Journal Browser

Journal Browser

Developing Sustainable Tourism Destinations in Times of Transition: Economic and Social Resilience in Destination Communities and the New Role of DDMMOs

A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050). This special issue belongs to the section "Tourism, Culture, and Heritage".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 August 2024) | Viewed by 22345

Special Issue Editors


E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Tourism Economics and Management, University of the Aegean, 82 132 Chios, Greece
Interests: aviation; tourism; competition policy; regional development

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Economics and Business, Neapolis University Pafos, 8042 Pafos, Cyprus
Interests: tourism destination marketing and branding; management and marketing of tourism business

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Tourism Economics and Management, University of the Aegean, 82 132 Chios, Greece
Interests: destination management; urban tourism; culture-led development; place branding

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The economic development and prosperity of the 20th century were greatly influenced by travel and tourism. Governments therefore sought to expand markets, attract visitors, and distinguish their offerings in a competitive environment (Dredge 2016). In this context, Destination Development, Management and Marketing Organizations (DDMMOs) have been gaining popularity since the 1970s; they were originally part of local, regional, or national governments and their responsibilities ranged from marketing and branding, product, and infrastructure development to addressing market failures such as resource management, community relations, etc. (Reinhold and Beritelli 2022; Dredge 2016).

In the 21st century, travel and tourism still constitute economic activities with direct impacts on the economic prosperity and the social development of places (Hassan and Meyer 2022). Tourism is an important source of revenues as it creates jobs, attracts foreign investments, increases revenues per capita, etc. (UNWTO 2020). The EU tourism industry accounted for 9.2% of the EU GDP and 9.9% of total employment (37.8 million employees) in 2019 (WTTC 2022).

The tourism industry, however, underwent major changes due to different forces (environmental, social) that created new needs in terms of destination management and marketing (Flores and Costa 2022; Papatheodorou, 2021). Thus, while destinations, destination authorities and DDMMOs were already trying to address issues such as sustainability, seasonality and overtourism, emergencies caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the energy crisis and disaster risks (e.g., earthquakes, heavy rains) shaped a demanding future (Gretzel 2019; Milano, Novelli and Cheer 2019, Higgins-Desbiolles 2020). To deal with this blur and transitional period, tourism destinations have invested in capacity building aimed at achieving sustainability and resilience, implementing actions in accordance with the 17 SDGs while public–private partnerships and collaborations have been considered as pivotal prerequisites (Flores and Costa 2022; Vlassi and Papatheodorou, 2021). At the same time, the new conditions cultivated the ground for the emergence of new markets such as digital nomads while pre-existing markets were reconsidered as possible solutions and tools towards resilience and sustainability (Nandasena et al. 2023). Furthermore, community-based and community-owned approaches in destination management are gaining importance, turning the central focus of local tourism policy towards social sustainability (Defner et al, 2020).

 This Special Issue is an occasion for authors to submit manuscripts related (but not limited) to the following topics:

  • New forms of DDMΜOs;
  • Adoption of sustainable practices by DDMΜOs;
  • Natural-based solutions in tourism destination management and marketing;
  • Community-based and community-owned approaches in destination management and marketing;
  • DDMΜOs capacities and responsibilities in times of crisis and disaster risk;
  • DDMΜOs managing market failures in times of crisis and disaster risk;
  • Destination management and social sustainability;
  • Forms of tourism as a destination management and marketing tool;
  • Sharing economy and digital nomads as forces of social and cultural change or tools for coping with crises;
  • Social media as a tool for community-based approaches in destination management;
  • Smart destinations, smart DDMMOs, and smart communities;
  • Co-creation for sustainable destinations and the role of local communities;
  • The role of the main stakeholders (e.g., airports and airlines) and stakeholder management at a destination level, in times of transition.

References

  • Defner, A., Karachalis, N., Psatha, E., Metaxas T. and Sirakoulis, K. (2020). City marketing and planning in two Greek cities: plurality or constraints?, European Planning Studies, 28 (7), 1333-1354.
  • Dredge, D. (2016). Are DMOs on a path to redundancy? Tourism Recreation Research, 41(3), 348-353.
  • Flores, R. P., & Costa, C. (2022). Capacity development for destination communities: A review. Revista Turismo & Desenvolvimento, 39, 83-100.
  • Fossgard, K., & Fredman, P. (2019). Dimensions in the nature-based tourism experiencescape: An explorative analysis. Journal of outdoor Recreation and Tourism, 28, 100219.
  • Gretzel, U. (2019). The role of social media in creating and addressing overtourism. Overtourism: Issues, realities and solutions, 1, 62-75.
  • Hassan, A. S., & Meyer, D. F. (2022). Does countries' environmental, social and governance (ESG) risk rating influence international tourism demand? A case of the Visegrád Four. Journal of Tourism Futures.
  • Higgins-Desbiolles, F. (2020). The “war over tourism”: Challenges to sustainable tourism in the tourism academy after COVID-19. Journal of Sustainable Tourism, 29(4), 551-569.
  • Milano C, Novelli M., Cheer J.M. (2019). Overtourism and Tourismphobia: A Journey Through Four Decades of Tourism Development, Planning and Local Concerns, Tourism Planning & Development, 16:4, 353-357, https://doi.org/10.1080/21568316.2019.1599604.
  • Nandasena, R., Morrison, A.M., Cai, W. and Coca-Stefaniak, J.A. (2023). Transformational tourism: A visionary approach to sustainable tourism? In: A.M. Morrison and D. Buhalis (eds.), Routledge Handbook on trends and Issues in Global Tourism, London: Taylor & Francis.
  • Papatheodorou, A. (2021). A review of research into air transport and tourism: Launching the Annals of Tourism Research Curated Collection on Air Transport and Tourism, Annals of Tourism Research, 87, 103151, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.annals.2021.103151.
  • Reinhold, S., & Beritelli, P. (2022). "Destination Management Organization (DMO)". In Encyclopedia of Tourism Management and Marketing. Cheltenham, UK: Edward Elgar Publishing. https://doi.org/10.4337/9781800377486.destination.management.organiza.
  • Vlassi, E. and Papatheodorou, A. (2021). Towards a Method to Assess the Role of Online Marketing Campaigns in the Airline-Airport-Destination Authority Triangular Business Relationship: The Case of Athens Tourism Partnership. In Graham, A., Adler, N., Niemeier, H.-M., Betancor, O., Antunes A. P., Bilotkach, V., Calderón, E. J. and Martini, G. (eds) Air Transport and Regional Development Policies, Abingdon: Routledge, 31-48 (ISBN: 9780367533144). https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003092070-12.
  • World Travel and Tourism Council (2022). Travel and Tourism Economic Impact 2022: Greece, London: WTTC. Available at: https://wttc.org/Research/Economic-Impact Accessed on 04 Jan 2022.

Prof. Dr. Andreas Papatheodorou
Dr. Eirini Vlassi
Dr. Nicholas Karachalis
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Sustainability is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • tourism
  • resilience
  • regional development
  • destination management
  • DDMMO
  • community

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

  • Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
  • Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
  • Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
  • External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
  • e-Book format: Special Issues with more than 10 articles can be published as dedicated e-books, ensuring wide and rapid dissemination.

Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (7 papers)

Order results
Result details
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Editorial

Jump to: Research

3 pages, 119 KiB  
Editorial
Developing Sustainable Tourism Destinations in Times of Transition: Economic and Social Resilience in Destination Communities and the New Role of DDMMOs—Editorial Note
by Andreas Papatheodorou, Eirini Vlassi and Nicholas Karachalis
Sustainability 2025, 17(8), 3538; https://doi.org/10.3390/su17083538 - 15 Apr 2025
Viewed by 186
Abstract
This article belongs to the Special Issue “Developing Sustainable Tourism Destinations in Times of Transition: Economic and Social Resilience in Destination Communities and the New Role of DDMMOs” [...] Full article

Research

Jump to: Editorial

19 pages, 380 KiB  
Article
Enhancing Tourist Well-Being in Jilin Province: The Roles of Eco-Friendly Engagement and Digital Infrastructure
by Tai Huang, Chongbo Fang, Suad Dukhaykh, Gül Erkol Bayram and Ali Turan Bayram
Sustainability 2024, 16(22), 9644; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16229644 - 5 Nov 2024
Viewed by 1336
Abstract
This study fills a research gap by examining how tourist participation, well-being, eco-friendly engagement, and digital infrastructure affect tourism results. We assessed 3692 tourists in Jilin Province, China, using structural equation modeling. We found that tourist participation is directly associated with tourist well-being, [...] Read more.
This study fills a research gap by examining how tourist participation, well-being, eco-friendly engagement, and digital infrastructure affect tourism results. We assessed 3692 tourists in Jilin Province, China, using structural equation modeling. We found that tourist participation is directly associated with tourist well-being, and eco-friendly engagement positively mediates tourist participation and tourist well-being. Furthermore, digital infrastructure moderates tourist participation and tourist well-being. Key findings reveal that actively participating in tourism activities considerably increases visitor well-being. Furthermore, eco-friendly behaviors and digital infrastructure may improve tourist well-being and overall experience. These findings may influence many tourist features in the Jilin Province of China. Tourism management should first provide a range of fun and engaging activities to boost tourist well-being. Second, promoting sustainable practices protects the environment and improves visitors’ quality of life. Third, digital infrastructure expenditures support these activities and enhance visitor pleasure. Policymakers should prioritize sustainable tourism. They should employ digital technologies to promote sustainability and improve services. Addressing these concerns may strengthen the country’s economy, sustainable development, and tourism. This study enhances tourist well-being theory by adding eco-friendly interaction, digital infrastructure, and visitor participation. It illuminates the importance of technology, sustainability, and active involvement in producing enjoyable tourist experiences. Full article
Show Figures

Figure 1

15 pages, 644 KiB  
Article
Who Is Buying Green Products? The Roles of Sustainability Consciousness, Environmental Attitude, and Ecotourism Experience in Green Purchasing Intention at Tourism Destinations
by Yonis Gulzar, Nisa Eksili, Kemal Koksal, Pinar Celik Caylak, Mohammad Shuaib Mir and Arjumand Bano Soomro
Sustainability 2024, 16(18), 7875; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16187875 - 10 Sep 2024
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2712
Abstract
The main purpose of this study was to reveal the relationships between green purchasing intention, sustainability consciousness, environmental attitude, and ecotourism experience within the scope of the theory of planned behaviour. The results of the analysis showed that there are positive relationships between [...] Read more.
The main purpose of this study was to reveal the relationships between green purchasing intention, sustainability consciousness, environmental attitude, and ecotourism experience within the scope of the theory of planned behaviour. The results of the analysis showed that there are positive relationships between sustainability consciousness, environmental attitude, ecotourism experience, and green purchasing intention. The model was tested using SPSS with 435 survey responses. Tourists with a higher consciousness of sustainability develop positive attitudes toward the environment. Tourists with positive attitudes toward the environment intend to purchase more green products. However, while tourists with more ecotourism experience have stronger green purchasing intentions, less ecotourism experience does not affect green purchasing intentions. This study highlights the critical role of sustainability consciousness in shaping environmental attitudes and behaviours. Full article
Show Figures

Figure 1

17 pages, 1519 KiB  
Article
Evaluating the Effectiveness of Online Destination Marketing Campaigns from a Sustainability and Resilience Viewpoint: The Case of “This Is Athens & Partners” in Greece
by Eirini Vlassi, Andreas Papatheodorou and Nicholas Karachalis
Sustainability 2024, 16(17), 7649; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16177649 - 3 Sep 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1704
Abstract
The need for a consistent marketing evaluation framework has been highlighted by destination authorities, who in collaboration with academia and marketing professionals have sought to formulate methodologies for measuring the impact of their campaigns. Although several attempts have been made, no simple solution [...] Read more.
The need for a consistent marketing evaluation framework has been highlighted by destination authorities, who in collaboration with academia and marketing professionals have sought to formulate methodologies for measuring the impact of their campaigns. Although several attempts have been made, no simple solution has emerged for evaluating destination marketing activities. This study draws on This is Athens & Partners to reveal the interaction that should take place when destination authorities employ external experts to implement and evaluate their marketing campaigns. The collaboration required adopting the appropriate destination marketing evaluation methodology, which is presented. The adapted methodology, formulated through consultation, resulted in the selection of the advertising tracking survey as the data collection method and the adaptation of a measurement instrument. The research findings show that destination marketing can positively influence the funnel process potential travelers consider when deciding on a travel destination, only when digital tools are combined with effective strategic marketing planning and, more recently, with references to resilience and sustainability. Insights from this paper regarding the importance of establishing an informative evaluation methodology to mitigate potential deficiencies in planned marketing initiatives may prove of added value to destination authorities and stakeholders. Full article
Show Figures

Figure 1

19 pages, 1498 KiB  
Article
Emerging Sustainability Trends in Tourist Facilities: A Comparative Assessment of Multiple Hotels and Resorts
by Erasmia Papallou, Martha Katafygiotou and Thomas Dimopoulos
Sustainability 2024, 16(9), 3536; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16093536 - 24 Apr 2024
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 9981
Abstract
This study presents a comparative assessment of emerging sustainability trends in tourist facilities, focusing on multiple hotels and resorts. By analyzing various aspects, such as energy efficiency, waste management, water conservation, and community engagement, this study evaluates the sustainability initiatives undertaken by these [...] Read more.
This study presents a comparative assessment of emerging sustainability trends in tourist facilities, focusing on multiple hotels and resorts. By analyzing various aspects, such as energy efficiency, waste management, water conservation, and community engagement, this study evaluates the sustainability initiatives undertaken by these establishments. Through a systematic review of sustainability reports, practices, challenges, and innovations, it identifies key trends shaping the future of sustainable tourism in the hospitality industry. Initially, two case studies of hospitality developments that are awarded with sustainability prizes have been reviewed. These real estate developments are located in the Maldives and Greece, and following their detailed review, a comparison is drawn with a sample of multiple hotels in Pafos City, Cyprus. This study aims to ascertain the presence of a reciprocal relationship between sustainable tourism destinations and their immediate environs, encompassing the local community. This investigation hinges on an analysis of the sustainable practices implemented by hotels situated within these destinations. Moreover, this study explores the distance of hotels from achieving sustainable development by analyzing their environmental, social, and economic practices. This investigation encompasses a range of hotels in Cyprus and internationally. Recommendations toward a more sustainable approach for touristic real estate units has been made, and it is concluded that the development of sustainable tourist destinations requires active involvement from the local and the government authorities, supported by programs facilitating sustainable tourism. Encouraging synergies among businesses and supporting destination management partnerships are crucial. Sustainable hospitality should adhere to environmental excellence, social responsibility, and economic viability. The findings provide valuable insights for policymakers, hotel managers, and stakeholders seeking to enhance environmental performance and social responsibility within tourist accommodations. Full article
Show Figures

Figure 1

12 pages, 1217 KiB  
Article
Key Performance Indicators and Data Envelopment Analysis in Greek Tourism: A Strategic Planning Tool for Destinations and DMMOs
by Sotirios Varelas and Georgios Tsoupros
Sustainability 2024, 16(8), 3453; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16083453 - 20 Apr 2024
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2264
Abstract
Over the years, the tourism sector has constantly been a driving force in strengthening the Greek economy. Therefore, being capable of leveraging a tourism business’s performance can be of great importance in many aspects for destinations and destination management and marketing organizations (DMMOs). [...] Read more.
Over the years, the tourism sector has constantly been a driving force in strengthening the Greek economy. Therefore, being capable of leveraging a tourism business’s performance can be of great importance in many aspects for destinations and destination management and marketing organizations (DMMOs). For this very purpose, this study’s methodology consists of a combined application of the key performance indicators and data envelopment analysis. The research conducted is quantitative, aiming to analyze the efficiency of the Greek hotels by region and determine the effective ones, as well as the strategic and managerial changes which should be considered by the non-effective. As a result, it shall become possible for each set of hotels to know the ideal turnover and the tourism nights spent that they should achieve, based on their current capacity in terms of beds and employees. Ultimately, this process could play a pivotal role in a region’s strategic planning, both from a resource management perspective, as well as in establishing an effective, measurable strategy that can be implemented by regional policy makers and destination managers in a real-time benchmarking process. Full article
Show Figures

Figure 1

14 pages, 811 KiB  
Article
The Impact of COVID-19 on Attitudes towards Growth Capacity of Tourism Firms: Evidence from Greece
by Gaby Gavriilidis and Theodore Metaxas
Sustainability 2024, 16(6), 2371; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16062371 - 13 Mar 2024
Viewed by 1843
Abstract
The aim of this study was to examine the overall impact of the COVID-19 outbreak on the growth capacity of tourism firms in Greece during the first wave of the pandemic. To this end, questionnaires were distributed in 548 tourism enterprises operating throughout [...] Read more.
The aim of this study was to examine the overall impact of the COVID-19 outbreak on the growth capacity of tourism firms in Greece during the first wave of the pandemic. To this end, questionnaires were distributed in 548 tourism enterprises operating throughout Greece within different sub sectors (hotels, travel agents, restaurants, etc.) of the domestic tourism industry. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was employed for analyzing data. The results indicated that COVID-19 negatively influenced the growth capacity of tourism firms, which in turn affected their overall performance. In particular, the negative impact on growth capacity is reflected in dimensions such as managing economic losses and meeting financial obligations. On the other hand, factors such as psychological pressure and fear had no direct impact on the growth capacity of Greek companies during the first wave of the pandemic. A slight association between psychological pressure and growth capacity was detected, which needs further scientific investigation to be supported. Overall, the study highlighted how health crises influence the dynamics and operation of firms operating in the tourism sector, offering useful insights for addressing similar turbulences in future. In this context, domestic tourism authorities should take measurers for improving the growth capacity of Greek firms in periods of turmoil to ensure sustainability in the sector. Full article
Show Figures

Figure 1

Back to TopTop