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Tourist Satisfaction, Sustainability, and Sustainable Tourism Development: Second Edition

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 April 2026) | Viewed by 25477

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
Department of Business Administration, Bahcesehir University, 34353 Istanbul, Turkey
Interests: tourism and hospitality marketing; service failures; service recovery; services marketing; cross-cultural aspects of tourism and hospitality; neuromarketing; tourism education
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Customer satisfaction is the key determinant of survival and success for any business. There are a wide variety of antecedents and consequences of customer satisfaction/dissatisfaction for tourism and hospitality businesses. For instance, cross-cultural characteristics of tourists and service providers may influence service encounters and the (dis)satisfaction of tourists (Koc and Ayyildiz, 2021; Lu and Gursoy, 2024). Factors influencing consumer behaviour and customer satisfaction are continuously changing (Cooper et al., 2021). For instance, the intention to make a complaint was low among collectivistic tourists (Gi Park et al., 2014). However, with the increasing use of online and social platforms, tourists from collectivistic cultures have begun to make online complaints (Cooper et al., 2021). The enormous numbers of complaints and online reviews are difficult to handle for tourism establishments in terms of providing efficient and effective management responses for each and every online comment. Koc et al. (2023) showed that ChatGPT, as a generative Artificial Intelligence tool, may be used to write efficient and effective management responses to online reviews posted in online platforms, such as TripAdvisor, in a very short period of time.

Tourism and hospitality businesses are going through more volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous environmental conditions than ever before. Hence, ensuring customer satisfaction and sustainability has become a more challenging task for tourism and hospitality businesses. This call for papers aims to bring together relevant, original, and interdisciplinary contributions to the topic from a dyadic and interdisciplinary perspectives. Theoretical and empirical original research papers, review papers, and conceptual papers form both marketing (marketing, consumer behaviour, and service marketing) and management (management, organisational behaviour, and human resource management) perspectives are welcome. Accordingly, the Guest Editor welcomes submissions on (but not limited to) the following critical topics for this Special Issue:

  • Corporate social responsibility, sustainability, and tourist satisfaction;
  • Tourist satisfaction, consumer behaviour, marketing strategies, and branding;
  • Sustainable product and destination development, and tourist satisfaction;
  • Customer satisfaction, sustainable development, and marketing mix (7P decisions);
  • Customer participation, customer co-creation, and customer co-production, and tourist satisfaction, and sustainability;
  • Sustainable tourism development and UN Sustainable Development Goals;
  • Artificial Intelligence, Generative AI, smart technology, and service robots, and their influence on tourist attitudes and satisfaction;
  • Online reviews and customer complaints;
  • Servicescape (physical servicescape and social servicescape) and tourist satisfaction;
  • Servicescape (physical servicescape and social servicescape) and sustainability;
  • Customer and firm ethics issues in sustainability;
  • Tourist satisfaction measurements, tourism scales, and new approaches to tourist satisfaction scales;
  • Service quality and its implications for tourist satisfaction;
  • Service failures and recovery;
  • Cross-cultural aspects, intercultural factors, and characteristics influencing tourist satisfaction;
  • Customer delight;
  • Tourism education, sustainability, and tourist satisfaction;
  • Organisational behavioural aspects (empowerment, organisational commitment, employee motivation, job satisfaction, organisational silence, whistle-blowing and organisational climate, organisational loyalty, organisational trust, organisational innovation, organisational cynicism and organisational alienation, big five personality traits, etc.) of tourist satisfaction and sustainability;
  • Pandemics, crises, disasters, and risks affecting tourist satisfaction and sustainability.

References

Cooper, M. A., Camprubí, R., Koc, E., & Buckley, R. (2021). Digital destination matching: practices, priorities and predictions. Sustainability, 13(19), 10540.

Gi Park, S., Kim, K., and O’Neill, M. (2014). Complaint behavior intentions and expectation of service recovery in individualistic and collectivistic cultures. International Journal of Culture, Tourism and Hospitality Research, 8(3), 255–271.

Koc, E., & Ayyildiz, A. Y. (2021). Culture’s influence on the design and delivery of the marketing mix elements in tourism and hospitality. Sustainability, 13(21), 11630.

Koc, E., Hatipoglu, S., Kivrak, O., Celik, C., & Koc, K. (2023). Houston, we have a problem!: The use of ChatGPT in responding to customer complaints. Technology in Society74, 102333.

Lu, A. C. C., & Gursoy, D. (2024). Cultural value orientation and hospitality employee voice behavior: The moderating role of leader–member exchange (LMX). Journal of Hospitality & Tourism Research, 48(7), 1267-1281.

Prof. Dr. Erdogan Koc
Guest Editor

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 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

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

  • customer satisfaction
  • tourist satisfaction
  • customer dissatisfaction
  • customer loyalty
  • customer switching
  • marketing strategies
  • marketing mix
  • consumer behaviour
  • services marketing
  • SERVQUAL
  • service quality
  • service failures
  • service recovery
  • customer loyalty
  • service orientation
  • organisational behaviour
  • empowerment
  • culture
  • cross-cultural theories
  • COVID-19
  • pandemic
  • smart technologies
  • service robots
  • sustainability
  • UN Global Development Goals
  • competitiveness
  • crisis
  • customer participation
  • customer co-production
  • destination development
  • branding
  • tourism
  • hospitality
  • artificial intelligence
  • generative AI
  • ChatGPT
  • personality
  • organisational commitment
  • corporate social responsibility
  • ethics
  • employee satisfaction
  • human resource management

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Published Papers (9 papers)

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Research

29 pages, 693 KB  
Article
The Influence of the Illusion of Control in Sustainable Hotel Practices on Hotel Guests’ Behaviours
by Erdogan Koc, Tugrul Ayyildiz, Muhammed Baykal and Ahu Yazici Ayyildiz
Sustainability 2026, 18(9), 4407; https://doi.org/10.3390/su18094407 - 30 Apr 2026
Viewed by 337
Abstract
Sustainable tourism practices increasingly aim to reduce food waste and promote responsible consumption among hotel guests. However, the psychological mechanisms influencing guests’ responses to sustainability initiatives have not been sufficiently investigated. This study investigates whether hotel guests’ food consumption behaviours and assessments regarding [...] Read more.
Sustainable tourism practices increasingly aim to reduce food waste and promote responsible consumption among hotel guests. However, the psychological mechanisms influencing guests’ responses to sustainability initiatives have not been sufficiently investigated. This study investigates whether hotel guests’ food consumption behaviours and assessments regarding food waste differ in buffet settings due to the illusion of control, and whether guests are willing to pay more when sustainability practices are perceived as their own choice. A quantitative and scenario-based research design was used. Data were collected from 307 guests staying in four and five-star hotels in Kuşadası, Türkiye. The findings show that the cognitive, affective, and behavioural dimensions of sustainable consumption positively influence perceived value, customer satisfaction, and behavioural intentions. These relationships are significantly strengthened when guests have decision-making control over sustainability initiatives, leading to the psychological state known as the illusion of control. Furthermore, guests show a higher willingness to pay for sustainable hotel services when they perceive themselves as participating in sustainability-related decisions. The results highlight the importance of incorporating guest participation into sustainability strategies in hotel operations. Full article
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20 pages, 431 KB  
Article
Does Sustainability Pay in Tourism? Market Segmentation and Green Premiums in the Restaurant Industry
by Zhixue Liao, Zhibin Xing and Xinyu Gou
Sustainability 2026, 18(5), 2363; https://doi.org/10.3390/su18052363 - 28 Feb 2026
Viewed by 512
Abstract
Within the hospitality sector, restaurants face growing pressure to integrate sustainable practices while maintaining economic viability. Two fundamental questions remain: do sustainability practices command price premiums, and does this relationship vary across market segments? This study employs dictionary-based text analysis to quantify sustainability [...] Read more.
Within the hospitality sector, restaurants face growing pressure to integrate sustainable practices while maintaining economic viability. Two fundamental questions remain: do sustainability practices command price premiums, and does this relationship vary across market segments? This study employs dictionary-based text analysis to quantify sustainability practices from approximately 4.4 million consumer reviews spanning 38,930 U.S. restaurants (2018–2023). We make two methodological contributions: First, we identify a measurement artifact—sigmoid normalization applied to sparse keyword data can inflate regression coefficients by 25–44×—and we propose a log-density transformation that preserves measurement validity. Second, using hedonic pricing models with city and cuisine fixed effects, ordered logit specifications, and interaction models, we document a monotonically decreasing relationship between restaurant quality and sustainability-associated price premiums. Lower-rated establishments (<3.0 stars) exhibit a positive premium of +2.60%, mid-tier restaurants (3.0–4.0 stars) exhibit −0.61%, and higher-rated establishments (>4.0 stars) exhibit −2.06%. The interaction between sustainability and star rating is strongly negative (βint=0.042, p<0.001), indicating that sustainability’s marginal pricing association diminishes by approximately 4.2 percentage points per additional star. These results suggest that sustainability functions as a quality signal in lower-tier markets but transitions to a baseline expectation in higher-quality segments. The findings inform differentiated strategies for restaurant operators, certification bodies, and policymakers. Full article
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23 pages, 538 KB  
Article
E-Servicescape and Online Travel Platform Outcomes: The Moderating Role of E-Familiarity
by Abdullah Uslu, Abdullah Tarinc, Emrullah Erul, Ramazan Eren, Gricela Andrade-Ruiz, Mehmet Arif Tuncer and Gürkan Alagöz
Sustainability 2026, 18(4), 2105; https://doi.org/10.3390/su18042105 - 20 Feb 2026
Viewed by 881
Abstract
This study examines the effects of the e-servicescape on flow experience, positive affect, trust, website loyalty, and e-WOM in the context of online travel platforms, while investigating the moderating role of e-familiarity. Drawing on servicescape theory, the S-O-R framework, and the Technology Acceptance [...] Read more.
This study examines the effects of the e-servicescape on flow experience, positive affect, trust, website loyalty, and e-WOM in the context of online travel platforms, while investigating the moderating role of e-familiarity. Drawing on servicescape theory, the S-O-R framework, and the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM), a comprehensive research model is proposed. Data were collected from 256 consumers residing in Türkiye who had previously used online travel agencies, and the hypotheses were tested using partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM). The findings reveal that the e-servicescape has significant positive effects on flow experience, positive affect, and trust. While flow experience was a significant predictor of positive affect, it did not have a significant direct effect on e-WOM. Furthermore, positive affect and trust, in turn, significantly predicted both website loyalty and e-WOM. Moreover, e-familiarity negatively moderated the relationship between e-servicescape and flow experience, suggesting that highly familiar users derive less immersive benefit from enhanced online environments. The study contributes to the digital tourism and consumer behavior literature by highlighting the role of user familiarity in shaping experiential outcomes. Full article
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34 pages, 3250 KB  
Article
Hotel Guests’ Perceptions of Sustainable Tourism Practices Within the Framework of Cue Utilization Theory: An Analysis of a Worldwide Online Travel Platform’s Sustainability-Certified Hotels
by Aysel Çetinkaya, Zeynep Benan Dondurucu, Sema Çağlayan, Gamze Yetkin Cılızoğlu and Yeliz Kuşay
Sustainability 2026, 18(2), 1113; https://doi.org/10.3390/su18021113 - 21 Jan 2026
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1527
Abstract
In the digital tourism marketplace, online reviews have become a decisive source of information for travelers who cannot directly assess the quality of hospitality services before purchase. However, it remains unclear how service-related and sustainability-related cues interact to shape guest perceptions in sustainable [...] Read more.
In the digital tourism marketplace, online reviews have become a decisive source of information for travelers who cannot directly assess the quality of hospitality services before purchase. However, it remains unclear how service-related and sustainability-related cues interact to shape guest perceptions in sustainable hotel contexts. This study investigates how intrinsic and extrinsic cues are reflected in online user reviews of sustainable hotels. Drawing on Cue Utilization Theory, a longitudinal content analysis was conducted on a worldwide online travel platform’s (OTP) reviews of hotels certified for their sustainability practices (2004–2024) by user selection. A coding framework was developed deductively based on prior studies on hotel service quality and sustainability practices, and data were analyzed using MAXQDA, Leximancer, and VADER sentiment analysis. Findings indicated that reviews primarily emphasize service quality attributes—particularly staff efficiency, food quality, and accommodation facilities—while sustainability themes appear less frequently, often in nature-related contexts. Sentiment analysis revealed a predominantly positive emotional tone shaped by service quality experiences. Overall, intrinsic cues play a central role in forming guest perceptions, highlighting the need for emotionally engaging sustainability communication strategies. Full article
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23 pages, 4343 KB  
Article
Sustainable Disorder: The Hybrid Logic of “Sense of Place” Construction in Tourist Spaces—A Case Study of Harbin Morning Market
by Yujia Guo, Zengyu Li and Xuhua Chen
Sustainability 2025, 17(21), 9675; https://doi.org/10.3390/su17219675 - 30 Oct 2025
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2302
Abstract
Taking Harbin morning market as a case study, this study explores sustainable production schemes for generating sense of place in urban spaces amid the trend of modernization. Employing grounded theory, it develops an analytical model consisting of three components: space, humans, and materials. [...] Read more.
Taking Harbin morning market as a case study, this study explores sustainable production schemes for generating sense of place in urban spaces amid the trend of modernization. Employing grounded theory, it develops an analytical model consisting of three components: space, humans, and materials. The findings reveal that place identity emerges from functional redundancy and self-organizing spatial layouts, where the hybrid logic of spatial design, the non-programmed interactions of human actors, and the material networks together enable tourists to transform from spectators into embodied participants. Theoretically, this study proposes a hybrid logic and challenges high modernism. It emphasizes that fully mobilizing the spontaneous vitality of every actor in the space is more effective than unilaterally improving rules and functions, offering a sustainable path for nurturing localized cultural ecosystems against homogenization. Full article
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20 pages, 1051 KB  
Article
Managing Consumer Attention to Sustainability Cues in Tourism Advertising: Insights from Eye-Tracking Research
by Marek Jóźwiak
Sustainability 2025, 17(18), 8175; https://doi.org/10.3390/su17188175 - 11 Sep 2025
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2556
Abstract
Sustainable tourism requires balancing environmental protection, social equity, and economic viability, yet its effective promotion depends on communication strategies that genuinely capture travelers’ attention. Despite growing emphasis on ecological responsibility in marketing, little is known about how sustainability-related content in tourism advertising is [...] Read more.
Sustainable tourism requires balancing environmental protection, social equity, and economic viability, yet its effective promotion depends on communication strategies that genuinely capture travelers’ attention. Despite growing emphasis on ecological responsibility in marketing, little is known about how sustainability-related content in tourism advertising is actually perceived. This study addresses this gap by examining visual attention to eco-oriented elements in promotional materials through eye-tracking technology. The research aimed to identify whether ecological certifications, slogans, and related cues attract attention and influence consumer choices, and to assess how these processes are moderated by individual ecological awareness. An experimental design was conducted with 23 young adults (aged 18–22) who viewed three tourism offers differing in their degree of sustainability messaging. Eye movements were recorded with the Gazepoint GP3 HD eye-tracker, focusing on predefined Areas of Interest (AOIs), including ecological certificates, pricing, and imagery. Heatmaps and fixation metrics were complemented by a post-exposure questionnaire. The results indicate that visually dominant components such as destination images and pricing consistently attracted the most attention, while sustainability cues were noticed but rarely prioritized. Participants with higher ecological awareness actively sought and recalled these elements, highlighting the moderating role of intrinsic motivation. The study contributes to both sustainable tourism and neuromarketing research by demonstrating how ecological values interact with perceptual behavior. Practically, it shows that eye-tracking can guide the optimal placement and design of sustainability cues in advertising. The exploratory nature and small, homogeneous sample are acknowledged as limitations, but they provide a valuable foundation for future large-scale studies. Full article
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27 pages, 981 KB  
Article
Tourist Loyalty in Intangible Cultural Heritage Tourism: The Roles of Perceived Attributes, Involvement, and Cultural Identity
by Wei Xiao, Bowen Yu and Hanyue Zhang
Sustainability 2025, 17(17), 8056; https://doi.org/10.3390/su17178056 - 7 Sep 2025
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 5881
Abstract
Intangible cultural heritage (ICH) is an evolving repository of collective meaning; however, many ICH destinations face threats from over-commercialization and homogenization, which weaken authentic transmission and visitor engagement. Drawing on the Stimulus–Organism–Response (S-O-R) framework and a cultural identity perspective, this study examines how [...] Read more.
Intangible cultural heritage (ICH) is an evolving repository of collective meaning; however, many ICH destinations face threats from over-commercialization and homogenization, which weaken authentic transmission and visitor engagement. Drawing on the Stimulus–Organism–Response (S-O-R) framework and a cultural identity perspective, this study examines how two stimulus sets—ICH attributes (perceived authenticity, vitality) and tourism involvement (cognitive, behavioral)—influence tourist loyalty, with experiential value as a mediator and cultural identity as a moderator. 385 valid online survey responses were analyzed using structural equation modeling and moderated mediation tests. Results show that perceived authenticity and vitality each exert significant positive effects on loyalty, and higher cognitive and behavioral involvement similarly strengthens loyalty. Experiential value partially mediates the effects of ICH attributes and involvement on loyalty. Cultural identity positively moderates several pathways; notably, when cultural identity is high, experiential value no longer mediates the link between tourism involvement and loyalty. These findings advance understanding of visitor-centered authenticity in living ICH contexts and offer guidance for destination managers seeking to build engaging, identity-sensitive heritage experiences. Full article
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23 pages, 2032 KB  
Article
Factors Influencing Nighttime Tourists’ Satisfaction of Urban Lakes: A Case Study of the Daming Lake Scenic Area, China
by Huying Zhu and Mengru Li
Sustainability 2025, 17(14), 6596; https://doi.org/10.3390/su17146596 - 19 Jul 2025
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 3363
Abstract
Tourist satisfaction of nighttime urban lakes as scenic areas, such as the Daming Lake, is influenced by multiple factors, which are crucial for tourists’ experiences and the sustainable development of these areas. This paper explores the factors impacting nighttime visitor satisfaction at the [...] Read more.
Tourist satisfaction of nighttime urban lakes as scenic areas, such as the Daming Lake, is influenced by multiple factors, which are crucial for tourists’ experiences and the sustainable development of these areas. This paper explores the factors impacting nighttime visitor satisfaction at the Daming Lake Scenic Area. Basing our studies on analysis of the literature and questionnaire surveys, the study constructs a visitor satisfaction evaluation index system based on the Expectancy-Disconfirmation Theory. Utilizing the revised importance-performance analysis method, the study identifies several significant influencing factors including the distinctive features of nighttime shopping products, the rich variety of nighttime tourscape and entertainment products, the aesthetically pleasing design of nighttime lighting products, the affordable price of nighttime dining products, and the diverse methods, reasonable pricing, and multimodal transit options of nighttime transportation. Furthermore, it finds the main factors that reduce tourists’ satisfaction in nighttime urban lakes include: premium pricing of nighttime shopping and dining products, transport infrastructure deficiencies, the cultural connotation of tourism products, and the safety of nighttime tourscape and entertainment products. This research provides insights to enhance satisfaction in urban lake scenic areas and expands the application of the tourist satisfaction theory. Full article
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22 pages, 1756 KB  
Article
Be Smart, but Not Humanless? Prioritizing the Improvement of Service Attributes in Smart Hotels Based on an Online Reviews-Driven Method
by Zeyu Chen, Stephanie Hui-Wen Chuah and Kandappan Balasubramanian
Sustainability 2025, 17(9), 4036; https://doi.org/10.3390/su17094036 - 30 Apr 2025
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 4562
Abstract
Although integrating smart technologies into service encounters can provide hoteliers with a competitive advantage, managing customer satisfaction in smart hotels remains challenging due to limited knowledge of how to prioritize improvements across smart service and traditional service. Therefore, the study aims to evaluate [...] Read more.
Although integrating smart technologies into service encounters can provide hoteliers with a competitive advantage, managing customer satisfaction in smart hotels remains challenging due to limited knowledge of how to prioritize improvements across smart service and traditional service. Therefore, the study aims to evaluate customer satisfaction with both smart and non-smart technology attributes in smart hotels, identify attributes with high improvement priorities, and uncover factors contributing to customer dissatisfaction. This study proposes a prioritization method for service improvement in smart hotels by analyzing online reviews from 42 smart hotels. The findings reveal that customers’ technological needs are well met in smart hotels, but smart hotels need to promptly address three key issues: long check-in wait times, staff attitude and competence, and breakfast quality. To maximize customer satisfaction, managers should adopt a hybrid service model that strikes the right balance between technology and human interaction. Full article
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