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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (1 October 2024) | Viewed by 18943

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Prof. Dr. Patrick Bouchet

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Guest Editor

CREGO Research Laboratory, University of Burgundy, 21000 Dijon, France
Interests: actors’ behaviours (consumers, groups and organizations) linked to the sport and active leisure consumption (tourism, event and retailing)
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Global tourism has been heavily affected by the COVID-19 pandemic since early 2020. During this long period of limited, or even interrupted, travel, all the players—holidaymakers, professionals, communities and States, and researchers—have been encouraged to rethink the practices and models that have structured the tourism market in recent decades. There is one major concern in this regard: how can one travel in the world of tomorrow while respecting the environment and ensuring better economic and social balance in the context of societal change and global crises? This is the main concern of this Special Issue.

Global tourism has grown considerably over the past 20 years (+ 133%) and 1.8 billion international trips are expected by 2030 per WTO, to which must be added the hundreds of millions of tourists travelling within their own countries. However, this tourism has very significant negative impacts on the environment, especially as 95% of holidaymakers are concentrated in 5% of the world’s areas, often favouring the same periods of the year, with a predilection for natural sites (primarily coastal and mountain areas). Thus, the carbon footprint of tourism is significant; it is responsible for about 8% of humanity’s total greenhouse gas emissions, three quarters of which are due to transport alone. In some very popular areas, it is a major consumer of natural resources (energy, water, food and raw materials), and it puts pressure on ecosystems, particularly the most fragile ones, by generating pollutants and waste. In addition to these environmental impacts, there is the inflation of housing and food prices, the impoverishment of local cultures and heritage, and over-tourism in various destinations, such as Venice. However, tourism has many positive impacts: the creation of jobs in the countries visited, consumption of local products that provide a living for producers and traders, openness and exchanges between cultures, etc.

At the same time, tourism is influenced by global phenomena, in terms of changes and crises, which force it to adapt. Climate change is reducing snow resources in ski resorts, eroding the rocks of glacial massifs, raising sea levels with the risk of small islands disappearing, creating health risks during heat waves with the scarcity of water resources, etc. Global crises, whether economic, security or health-related, limit or complicate international travel. The economic dependence of certain countries, regions and cities on tourism then reveals their fragility. The COVID-19 crisis, thus, reveals the dependence of certain economies on the flow of travellers, whether they are business or leisure tourists. In addition, the new traveller differs from the former traveller because of their permanent interconnection with the world and one’s family through GPS, SMS, e-mail or websites, affinity or even through one’s professional environment, while creating a safety net in one’s movements and a stop to the feeling of adventure or the cut-off from one’s daily life.

In this context, is it possible to sustainably develop global travel by finding satisfactory balances for all stakeholders? The World Tourism Organization defining sustainable tourism as “tourism that takes full account of its current and future economic, social and environmental impacts, addressing the needs of visitors, the industry, the environment and host communities “, calls for this to be done in the future. Knowing that "sustainable" tourism is not only synonymous with "nature" or "green" tourism, as one can experience "sustainable" tourism in the middle of a city by using public transport, by consuming environmentally friendly products or by visiting less frequented places, news trends or initiatives have been emerging in the context of global geopolitical insecurity, climate change and an unprecedented health crisis. For example, there is an increase in the number of labels and other certifications for sustainable tourism (Green Globe, Green Key, Earthcheck, TravelLife, etc.), regions or natural parks that have invested in environmental preservation, destinations that limit their number of visitors (Venice, Barcelona, Amsterdam, Maya Bay in Thailand, Komodo Island in Indonesia, etc.), and holidaymakers who favour local tourism or slow travel, with less carbon impact.

In terms of foresight, many important issues remain unanswered about the influence of sustainable travel development in the future and its real impacts. Manuscripts addressing new challenges and new trends and its development impacts are welcome. For this Special Issue, papers that address the following topics, among others, are requested:

Impacts of sanitary, climate and security changes on tourism (island, mountain, etc.) or travel;
Impacts of societal changes or global crises on the development of tourism or travel;
Impacts of the degrowth, anti-marketing and slow-travel movements in global tourism or global travel;
New communications and/or connections in sustainable tourism or sustainable travel;
Creation of new values or innovations in sustainable tourism or sustainable travel;
New tourist behaviours in connection with sustainable tourism or sustainable travel;
New entrepreneurship, best management practices or actions in sustainable tourism or sustainable travel;
Other relevant topics related to the subject.

Best regards,

Prof. Dr. Patrick Bouchet
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 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

sustainable tourism
sustainable travel
impacts of global change or crisis
innovations
new strategies or behaviors

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Published Papers (8 papers)

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Research

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21 pages, 848 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Framing Energy Sufficiency in a Swiss Mountain Resort

by Ivan Minguez and Tristan Loloum

Sustainability 2025, 17(1), 238; https://doi.org/10.3390/su17010238 - 31 Dec 2024

Viewed by 1016

Abstract

This article analyses how energy sufficiency can be applied in tourism destinations. It begins by highlighting the importance of decarbonizing tourism for climate action, given the sector’s high CO₂ emissions. Energy sufficiency, a key pillar of the energy transition, is defined as the voluntary reduction in energy demand within climate and CO₂ emission constraints. The study investigates how stakeholders interpret and frame this concept, by focusing on strategies that align with the public image of the resort to reduce its energy requirements. The methodology includes semi-structured interviews with key players in Verbier—Val de Bagnes, focus groups with cooperation partners, participant observations at local meetings and events, and analysis of local documentation. Research was undertaken using living lab methods. The results reveal five main categories and eleven subcategories in which local stakeholders frame sufficiency, including oppositional framings, off-framings, selective framings, institutional framings, and disempowering framings. The article concludes with recommendations to reframe sufficiency in order to align with the destination’s strategy and representations. While energy sufficiency is often overshadowed by narratives of economic growth, technological innovation, and material abundance, it appears crucial to reframe these narratives and integrate post-growth strategies that prioritize sustainability in tourism planning. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Travel Development)

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29 pages, 4036 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Sustainable Development of Rural Mountain Tourism: Insights from Consumer Behavior and Profiles

by Carina Dobre, Andreea-Cristiana Linca, Elena Toma and Adina Iorga

Sustainability 2024, 16(21), 9449; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16219449 - 30 Oct 2024

Viewed by 1987

Abstract

This study aims to investigate the behavior of consumers in rural mountain tourism, with a particular focus on sustainability and durability. Questionnaire surveys were conducted in 2022 in Bucharest during the national tourism fair, collecting responses from 212 visitors based on their availability to participate. Our purpose was to gather their opinions on visiting the rural areas of the Carpathian Mountains in Romania and to reveal distinct patterns in tourist preferences. The responses were analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) 20.0, where descriptive analyses and the Mann–Whitney U test were performed. The study results indicated that perceptions and service satisfaction vary based on demographic and economic characteristics. Women slightly favored higher-quality accommodations and dining services, while lower-income and secondary-educated respondents expressed higher contentment with local hospitality. This research emphasizes the need for a nuanced approach to tourism services that promotes local community engagement and sustainable practices to ensure long-term environmental and economic viability. There is a clear need to develop tourism strategies that align with sustainability principles, ensuring that the Carpathian Mountains region remains attractive and resilient for future generations. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Travel Development)

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17 pages, 4898 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Matching Relationship Between the Distribution Characteristics of High-Grade Tourist Attractions and Spatial Vitality in Xinjiang

by Bahram Zikirya, Yueqing Xing and Chunshan Zhou

Sustainability 2024, 16(21), 9426; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16219426 - 30 Oct 2024

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1065

Abstract

The development of the tourism industry serves as a crucial pathway for guiding urban spatial vitality, making the study of the matching relationship between the spatial distribution characteristics of tourist attractions and regional spatial vitality particularly important for the advancement of the tourism sector. This study combines Amap POI data and Weibo sign-in data, employing various quantitative methods, including Kernel Density Estimation (KDE), Hotspot Analysis (Getis-Ord Gi*), and the Geographically Weighted Regression (GWR) model, to thoroughly explore the distribution characteristics of different grades of tourist attractions in Xinjiang and their matching relationship with spatial vitality. The findings indicate that AAAAA attractions are primarily concentrated in Urumqi and its surrounding areas, where spatial vitality highly matches the distribution of attractions. The distribution of AAAA attractions shows regional differences, exhibiting higher matching degrees in certain areas of southern and western Xinjiang, while some regions in northern Xinjiang demonstrate lower matching degrees. Conversely, AAA attractions are more widely distributed in remote areas, where the matching between vitality and attraction distribution is low, particularly in southern and eastern Xinjiang, revealing a notable mismatch between tourism resources and spatial vitality. By analyzing the matching relationship between tourism resources and spatial vitality, this study provides a scientific basis for optimizing the allocation of tourism resources in Xinjiang and enhancing regional tourism spatial vitality. Additionally, this study also offers valuable insights for tourism managers and planners to formulate more precise tourism development policies. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Travel Development)

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25 pages, 926 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Long Road to Low-Carbon Holidays: Exploring Holiday-Making Behaviour of People Living in a Middle-Sized Swiss City

by Leonardo Ventimiglia, Linda Soma and Francesca Cellina

Sustainability 2024, 16(14), 6167; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16146167 - 18 Jul 2024

Viewed by 1523

Abstract

Decarbonising holiday travel is crucial for climate change mitigation: policy interventions need to encourage less frequent trips, closer destinations, and travelling on the ground. To increase effectiveness, interventions should fit with the specific ways holidays are perceived and performed in each context. We explore the holiday behaviour of people living in a medium-sized city in Southern Switzerland (Lugano, 70,000 inhabitants), with the aim of identifying key intervention strategies for a future “community challenge” encouraging the population to take low-carbon holidays. We combine a literature review with n = 15 qualitative, semi-structured interviews that allow us to understand the reasons for taking a holiday, the favourite destination and activity types, and the transport mode choices. As Switzerland is characterised by high cultural and linguistic diversity providing the feeling of being abroad even at a short distance from home, it could be a valuable holiday destination for Swiss people themselves. Located at the centre of Europe, it is also well-connected by train with many holiday destinations abroad. Gaps between pro-environmental attitudes and holiday behaviour suggest leveraging digital carbon trackers showing how carbon emissions compare between holiday and everyday life. Also, interventions could leverage social norms via social networks, local influencers, and travel agencies. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Travel Development)

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20 pages, 12147 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Study on the Coordinated Development of Tourism Industry–Regional Economy–Ecological Environment in the Yili River Valley

by Xinyu Zhao, Haojie Sun, Jiangling Hu, Yuxin Xie, Pengkai Zhao and Qingqing Sui

Sustainability 2024, 16(5), 1815; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16051815 - 22 Feb 2024

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1283

Abstract

This study aims to clarify the relationship among the three systems of tourism industry, regional economy, and ecological environment in the Yili River Valley, which is essential for the sustainable development of the region. We explore the spatio-temporal evolution characteristics and influencing factors of the tourism–economy–ecosystem in the Yili River Valley using the center of gravity model, spatial mismatch index model, spatial variance model, and obstacle degree model, based on panel data from 2010 to 2019. The study shows that (1) the comprehensive development indices of the tourism industry, regional economy, and ecological environment in the Yili River Valley exhibit varying degrees of growth trends. Smaller increases are observed in ecological environment indices, while larger increases are found in regional economy and tourism industry indices. Both the regional economy and tourism industry indices share a strong correlation and similar development trends. (2) At the macro-regional scale, during the study period, the centers of gravity of the tourism industry, regional economy, and ecological environment in the Yili River Valley have consistently been separated from the spatial geometric center of the region. The degree of misalignment of the centers of gravity of the three systems as a whole has gradually reduced, indicating that the level of coordinated development of the region has continuously improved. (3) At the micro-regional scale, during the study period, most of the spatial misalignment indices of the Yili River Valley regions showed positive and negative fluctuations, and the types of misalignment varied to different degrees. However, the gap in spatial misalignment indices between different regions gradually narrowed, and the divergent characteristics of “east-west concentration, north-south dispersion” were gradually broken, with the overall indices showing a balanced development trend. (4) The spatial dislocation index of each region in the Yili River Valley is affected by multiple systems and factors, and the overall spatial dislocation factors are mainly the comprehensive utilization rate of general solid waste, exhaust gas emission, dust removal amount, etc., which mostly originate from the ecological environment system. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Travel Development)

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18 pages, 4816 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Spatiotemporal Patterns and Driving Factors of Culture and Tourism Listed Companies in China

by Wenjie Hu, Jinhe Zhang, Leying Zhou and Yi Sun

Sustainability 2023, 15(9), 7686; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15097686 - 8 May 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2144

Abstract

The integration of culture and tourism is the key measure for China in transforming and upgrading the tourism industry. It could promote the sustainable development by reducing the consumption of tourism resources. During the implementation of this policy, culture and tourism listed companies play a leading role, as they are the major force in the cultural and tourism industry, and their spatiotemporal characteristics shows the level of development of the cultural and tourism industry and the economy in different regions. Taking the culture and tourism companies as the research objects, this paper analyzed the spatiotemporal patterns and evolution mechanism of culture and tourism listed companies over a long time scale. The results showed that: (1) the number of newly added listed companies in the cultural, tourism, and cultural and tourism categories basically showed the same change trend, and the developing process could be divided into three periods, namely embryonic (1978–1992), exploration (1992–2006) and growth (2007–2021). (2) The spatial distribution of Chinese culture and tourism listed companies developed from “single core” to “one core and multiple stars”, and gradually stabilized into a spatial pattern of “three cores”. The center of gravity was located in the southeast of China, moving from south to north in the shape of a “Z”. (3) Traffic service, government financial strength, financial environment and tourism resource endowment are the main factors affecting the spatial distribution of Chinese culture and tourism listed companies. Compared with the impact of a single influencing factor, the interactions between various factors are much stronger, especially the combinations of tourism resource endowment and another three factors, namely traffic service, communication development and economic development. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Travel Development)

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15 pages, 402 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Are Pandas Effective Ambassadors for Promoting Wildlife Conservation and International Diplomacy?

by Dongdong Yang and Carolyn A. Lin

Sustainability 2022, 14(18), 11383; https://doi.org/10.3390/su141811383 - 10 Sep 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 4349

Abstract

The current study drew from emotional contagion and source credibility theories to investigate whether watching differentially sourced panda videos may influence attitudes toward the “brand” image of China. An experiment (N = 245) conducted with a U.S. college student sample showed that perceived source credibility and nature relatedness were positively linked to emotional response toward the video. A non-governmental video source was perceived to be more credible than a governmental video source in influencing attitude toward Chinese culture, emotional response toward the video, and attitude toward wildlife conservation. The latter two variables and nature relatedness likewise positively predicted attitude toward Chinese culture, which in turn had a positive effect on attitude toward Chinese people; attitude toward Chinese people further positively affected attitude toward Chinese government. These findings suggest that panda diplomacy as a soft-power nation-branding device might have been relatively effective in building goodwill toward Chinese culture, people, and government overtime. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Travel Development)

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Review

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11 pages, 438 KiB

Open AccessReview

Tourism and Environment: Ecology, Management, Economics, Climate, Health, and Politics

by Ralf C. Buckley and Sonya Underdahl

Sustainability 2023, 15(21), 15416; https://doi.org/10.3390/su152115416 - 30 Oct 2023

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 4170

Abstract

We review research on tourism and the environment using a temporal framework, distinct from previous reviews. We identify six main phases, all still active, but with different histories. Initially, tourism was treated as a low-impact component of transport and urban accommodation, and the focus was on recreation, ecology and visitor management in parks. Interest then turned to environmental management and corporate social responsibility: wastes, resources, and ecolabels. The third phase analysed positive economic contributions to conservation by a small number of tourism enterprises, principally through private reserves and park funding. The fourth focussed on climate change and carbon offsets, and the fifth on mental health and human capital. The sixth and newest phase is political. Tourism developers, industry associations, and lobbyists have stepped up their longstanding efforts to gain control of parks and protected areas, in order to profit from preferential access to public resources. These efforts now include international instruments as well as policies, practices, and legislation in individual countries. Tourism has become a catspaw for a new form of land grab by private wealth portfolios for high-value nature property. We draw attention to tourism development land grabs in public protected areas as a key priority for urgent research. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Travel Development)

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