Search Results (71)

In the contemporary Chinese tourism market, Generation Z constitutes a key consumer segment whose environmentally responsible behavior (ERB) is crucial to achieving the sustainable development of destinations. Drawing on the self-regulation of attitude theory and the cognitive–affective–conative (CAC) framework, in this research, we examined the influence of emotional factors on ERB among Generation Z tourists. In particular, we investigated the effect of creative tourism experiences (CTEs) on ERB, with tourist engagement (TE) and place attachment (PAT) serving as mediators. Data from 639 valid online questionnaires were analyzed through structural equation modeling (SEM). The results show that CTE and TE significantly impact ERB, while TE and PAT mediate the relationship between CTE and ERB. Moreover, self-efficacy (SE) positively moderates both the direct and indirect effects. Given the limited integration of the self-regulation of attitude theory and the CAC framework in ERB research, these results provide novel insights and valuable recommendations for the sustainable development of creative tourism. Full article

Cultural tourism can act as a driver for inner area development, bringing about a range of socio-economic benefits through economic stimulation, quality of life improvement, and cultural heritage preservation. Inner territories, set apart by geographic marginality and low population density, hold a rich cultural and environmental heritage that, however, remains off the radar and left behind. Guided by the principles of endogenous local development, this article seeks to contribute to the existing body of research by proposing potential strategies for local growth rooted in cultural tourism. From this perspective, we identified the Basilicata region (Southern Italy) as a proper test area. The region is rich in archaeological, monumental and museum evidence, but is characterized, except in a few areas, by a low rate of tourist turnout. Through a replicable, comprehensive, and flexible methodology—drawing on bibliographic research, analysis of archaeological, archival, erudite and antiquarian sources, and carrying out field surveys—the different points of interest in the region have been brought together under specific cultural themes. Results include the design of three detailed routes (Via Herculia, Frederick II’s, and St Michael’s cultural routes) useful for three different types of tourism (sustainable, emotional, and accessible). Possible scenarios for valorization and fruition are also proposed, paying particular attention to digital technologies. Thus, this research aligns with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 8 and 11 promoting cultural heritage valorization and preservation, shoring up economic revitalization, stepping up community engagement, and pushing forward environmentally friendly tourism practices. Research findings can attract the interest of a wide range of stakeholders such as tourism professionals, local authorities, cultural and creative industries, local communities and entrepreneurs, as well as academics and researchers. The methodological approach can be considered for the valorization and tourist enjoyment of inner areas in other countries, with particular focus on those falling within the Mediterranean region which is rich in cultural heritage, environmental value, and socio-economic potential. Full article

Emotions play an important role in today’s tourism practice. In order to understand how emotional experiences are created, we first must consider that emotions are subjective and subliminal constructs. These are conditioned by individual personality and influenced by social, cultural and spatial contexts. The aim of this research is to identify tourists’ emotional experiences in European Capitals of Culture (ECoCs), to explain disparities and to suggest ways of action in tourism practice. For this study, we combine quantitative and qualitative methods, using an extended statistical and text database, as well as official documents on each ECoC. The results of this study show how the cultural agenda of ECoCs stimulates and influences specific feelings and emotions among tourists. Emotional dimensions were also correlated with cultural vibrancy, creative economy and enabling environment, and this paper discusses these statistical results. The majority of the documents regarding the cultural programmes of ECoCs illustrated and emphasised emotional experiences, either by focusing on the emotional characteristics of the ECoC or by trying to create and produce emotional experiences. On the basis of our findings, we draw conclusions on the conceptual and methodological relevance of our main hypothesis, stating that cultural programmes of ECoCs influence tourists’ experiences. Full article

Smart city operation assumes dynamic infrastructure in various aspects. However, organization and process modelling require domain expertise and significant efforts from modelers. As a result, such processes are still not well supported by IT systems and still mostly remain manual tasks. Today, machine learning technologies are capable of performing various tasks including those that have normally been associated with people; for example, tasks that require creativeness and expertise. Generative adversarial networks (GANs) are a good example of this phenomenon. This paper proposes an approach to generating organizational and process models using a GAN. The proposed GAN architecture takes into account both tacit expert knowledge encoded in the training set sample models and the symbolic knowledge (rules and algebraic constraints) that is an essential part of such models. It also pays separate attention to differentiable functional constraints, since learning those just from samples is not efficient. The approach is illustrated via examples of logistic system modelling and smart tourist trip booking process modelling. The developed framework is implemented in a publicly available open-source library that can potentially be used by developers of modelling software. Full article

This short concluding chapter reflects on the work of an ongoing collaborative academic project focused on the C18th home tour. Curious Travellers could be described as a ‘crucible’ project—a space in which different media, different perspectives, and different research skills combine and collide. Currently funded by the AHRC, it is a digital humanities project involving TEI tagging and crowd-sourcing, but its foundation is archival research into manuscripts. It is focused through the influential Tours of Wales and Scotland published by the naturalist and antiquarian Thomas Pennant, yet it seeks to unpick the multiple voices and collaborations behind his texts and to explore their legacy in the journeys and texts of others. The creation of new editions continues to generate new topics and research questions, including Anglophone/Celtic-language interactions; the writings of women tourists; the role of material objects (specimens and souvenirs) and of visual culture in knowledge exchange and production. Increasingly, project researchers are relating their work to broader global contexts of colonialism and environmental history. The diversity of the genre has proved hugely stimulating for a range of audiences beyond academia: community engagement and creative practices have been a key feature from the start. There are, of course, challenges—practical, methodological, financial. This reflective piece will acknowledge the constraints, as well as the possibilities, of being multi-stranded, cross-disciplinary—and intermittently funded. Full article

Rural tourism is closely linked to a local’s tradition, identity, and cultural heritage. When staying in a specific tourist destination, a modern tourist expects a complete experience of the destination. Experience is necessary in rural tourist accommodation where guests can feel the local culture, nature, gastronomy, environment, and heritage. However, what about the interior design of the accommodation facility and the furniture design that will provide a rural and at the same time modern atmosphere? The paper aims to explore the traditional heritage, culture, indigenous elements, and ornamentation of rural artifacts of Istria, a region in Croatia, to propose a conceptual design of functional contemporary furniture for furnishing the living room in tourist accommodation. The furniture collection, with visual and artistic elements, surface treatment, construction, and selected sustainable materials and ornamentation, aims to brand the indigenous rural Istrian heritage, while at the same time combines an innovative contemporary expression. The research is divided into two stages: the first stage was conducted during field research using photography, observation, and interview methods, and the collected data from this stage served as inspiration for designing a furniture collection in the second stage. The second stage uses the cyclical method of the creative process to design new sustainable furniture concept, consisting of a table, stool, chest of drawers, and coffee table, which form a collection in the tourist interior environment. This furniture design model that uses original heritage to brand the rural environment and increase the attractiveness of accommodation in rural areas could be applied to other locations so tourists can fully experience the rural area they visit and achieve experiential, relaxed holidays and amenities, thus supporting the sustainable development of rural tourist destinations. The practical implications of this research have yet to be confirmed. It is desirable to investigate the impact and satisfaction of users in such designed interiors and confirm such a concept. This will require the engagement of architects and designers and hotel accommodation owners, as well as and the support of economic entities, local authorities, and the government, who need to systematically change the ways of branding rural values to achieve a holistic approach to the tourism offer. Full article

This study employs structural equation modeling (SEM) to assess how cultural identity and values influence purchase intentions for cultural creative products in Luoyang. Analyzing data collected via questionnaires from 374 tourists between June and August 2024, we hypothesize that cultural identity directly impacts purchase intentions, while cultural values mediate the relationships among perceived product quality, social value, and travel experience. The findings confirm the direct impact of cultural identity on consumer decisions and the mediating role of cultural values, offering strategic insights for enhancing consumer interest and purchasing behavior towards cultural products. This research enriches the theoretical discourse on consumer behavior within cultural contexts and informs sustainable tourism and product strategies in historical cities. Full article

The globalization of tourism poses complex challenges for destination planning and management, requiring the involvement of various stakeholders and strategic decision-making at various scales. Gastronomic tourism, a key factor in tourist satisfaction and loyalty, has been widely studied for its impact on tourism destination image (TDI). Despite advances in methodologies such as the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP), which hierarchies the factors that influence TDI, there are still gaps in the use of sensitivity analysis to improve strategic planning, in particular to leverage TDI as a management tool. Specifically in UNESCO Creative Cities of Gastronomy (UCCG), it is crucial to understand how sensitivity analysis can improve the robustness of AHP models. To address this gap, this study investigates how sensitivity analysis can refine decision-making processes for effective tourism management in Brazil’s UCCG. Using AHP as a decision-making methodology, it integrates sensitivity analysis to assess the reliability of six dimensions in the Analytic Hierarchy Process Image—UNESCO Creative Cities Gastronomy (AHPI-UCCG) model, introducing a dynamic approach to dealing with the complexities of destination planning. The results are valuable for policy-makers and private players in the tourism, creativity, and gastronomy sectors. They offer practical perspectives for improving destination promotion and encouraging coopetition. The study also demonstrates the adaptability of this approach based on sensitivity analysis, suggesting its applicability beyond Brazil to other UCCG networks, contributing to better tourism planning and management at a global level. Full article

The main objective of this paper is to illustrate the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in the tourism and air transport industries to improve tourists’ experiences, as well as provide a definition of the AI concept closest to both sectors. In order to examine and demonstrate the body of literature on AI and its application to the travel and tourism industry. This study also presents the findings of a literature review using the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses (PRISMA) approach in conjunction with a systematic literature review using the Web of Science (WoS) database. This approach enabled us to construct a novel AI concept in the context of tourism. This research found that AI technology offers new and creative opportunities for tourists due to this innovative tool that promotes and empowers travel and tourism organisations’ products and services. AI has helped to outline travel planning for tourists, made it easier to discover new experiences, and streamlined the booking process. The reality is that AI methods and applications are changing and improving passengers and tourists’ experiences in tourism cities and the air transport sector. Moreover, it is necessary to highlight that one of AI technology’s greatest strengths lies in the immediacy of response and advice that swiftly help tourists plan their trips, tours, detailed itineraries, and flight bookings at the same moment. This research is an antecedent attempt to define AI technology in the tourism and air transport context and to illustrate its virtues and shortcomings to improve tourists’ experiences in cities and the operational efficiency of organisations. Full article

Creativity is becoming more relevant to increasing destinations’ distinctiveness. While anecdotal evidence suggests that travel to experience any aspect of the agrifood process encompasses key indicators of Creative Tourism (CT), the alignment of agrifood experiences with CT remains unexplored, limiting destinations’ potential to leverage the growing demand for both creative and agrifood experiences. Thus, we assessed the importance of CT indicators across three types of agrifood experiences (agritourism, craft beverages, food) in contrast with beach-going (control) while traveling using hypothetical scenarios. We collected data in 2023 from a non-random panel of 1019 residents across the USA (250 pre-established quotes per travel scenario) using an electronic survey. Results showed that those in the agrifood travel scenarios, notably in agritourism, perceived higher levels of creativity as compared to those in the control group across all creative domains, which supports CT as a suitable scholarly framework to position agrifood travel experiences. Results also indicate that destinations having strong agrifood experiences—and notably agritourism—should build upon their shared creative elements, mainly gravitating around experiencing local livelihoods, to increase their competitiveness. This study’s results can inform destinations seeking to strengthen their distinctiveness by catering to the increasing number of tourists seeking creative food, agricultural, and beverage experiences. Full article

With the increasing public awareness and strength of industrial heritage protection, industrial heritage plays an increasingly important role in tourism after transformation and upgrading. The influence of built environment factors and visitors’ participation on satisfaction has been fully confirmed, but the primary and secondary relationships between the two variables remain unclear. The purpose of this study is to explore the relationships between the built environment, tourist participation, and tourism satisfaction, and compare the actual loads of different routes to find the dominant variable. The data of this study came from three industrial heritage renovation projects in Shanghai with remarkable transformation results. Field investigations and questionnaire surveys were conducted on them, and a total of 362 valid samples were received. Descriptive statistical analysis and structural equation models were used to analyze the data. Two paths of “built environment–tourism satisfaction” and “tourist participation–tourism satisfaction” are compared and demonstrated. The path coefficient of the former is 0.63, while that of the latter is 0.77, and the influence of the latter is more significant than that of the former. The study creatively found the audience orientation of both sexes for different types of experience activities, confirmed the mediating effect of subjective perception, and provided the following suggestions for managers of built industrial cultural heritage. Interactive experiences and guided tours deepen visitors’ understanding of the historical and cultural value of industrial heritage. Virtual reality and augmented reality technologies can be introduced to provide an immersive visit experience and attract a wider audience to participate, effectively enhancing the attractiveness of and satisfaction with industrial heritage tourism. Full article

As creative tourism consolidates both as an autonomous research area and a valid sustainable form of tourism based on learning, active participation, co-creation, creative self-expression, and local community engagement, its economic models have evolved from simple creative activities to complex territorial and technological-based networks, boosting the entrepreneurship of creative communities in tourism. Seen as a means of territorial development strategy through tourism, creative networks can stem from private partnerships, the public sector, the local community, or third sector organisations. Focusing on a case study approach, this research adopts a multidimensional framework with the goal of analysing the benefits of creative tourism towards a creative tourism network. Using a quantitative approach through Likert scale statements of five items, this research aimed to study the creative supply and demand linked to a creative tourism network. Based on the principles and benefits of creative tourism and the goals of the creative network, the following dimensions were analysed: job creation; production and commerce of creative products; safeguarding of tangible and intangible heritage; development of social capital between network agents; creative and innovative images of the region; the active role of the local community in the network; and the consumption profile of the creative tourist through the network. The main conclusions of the study point to the network boosting local job creation and preserving local traditions but struggling to expand sales and increase tourist stays. While it enhances the region’s image, there is a need for stronger collaboration and community engagement. Full article

Culture and tourism are crucial for economic growth and sustainable development, working together symbiotically. Culture boosts tourism by supporting heritage, production, and creativity, while cultural heritage, reflecting national identity and traditions, strengthens local economies. This study uses a panel data analysis to examine the impact of cultural factors on international tourist arrivals in 27 EU nations. The Driscoll–Kraay method reveals that UNESCO World Heritage Sites, government cultural expenditures, household recreation and cultural expenditures, real GDP per job, and bed capacity positively influence international tourist numbers. Regarding cultural factors, World Heritage Sites have the most significant influence, with each additional UNESCO site leading to a 0.22% rise in tourist numbers. The most crucial determinant of tourist arrivals is bed capacity, with a one percent increase leading to a 0.66% increase in tourist arrivals. Conversely, healthcare expenditures and political civil liberties have a negative impact on tourist arrivals. This study discusses managerial implications and offers recommendations for future research. Full article

The concept of “creative tourism”, emerging at the century’s start, responds to the “creative turn” in tourist destinations, aligning with the evolving creative class, clusters, and cities. This study employs a bibliometric analysis to examine the evolution and academic focus on creative tourism over the past two decades. Using databases like Scopus and Web of Science, we analyzed key trends, thematic developments, and the impact of creative industries on tourism. Our study reveals significant growth in creative tourism research, emphasizing creativity’s role in enhancing tourism experiences and formulating sustainable, culturally rich models. It underscores the importance of integrating creative industries into tourism and the positive impact on local economies and community development. This analysis not only maps the academic trajectory of creative tourism but also highlights its practical implications for future tourism management and sustainable community development. Full article

The allure of urban green spaces has captured the attention of researchers, especially in regions abundant in botanical wonders worldwide. Surprisingly, the case of Morocco, a country with a strong botanical tradition, has received little attention from researchers. Here, we explore the unique case of the emblematic “Majorelle Garden” in Marrakech, southern Morocco, through the reviews of its many visitors posted on the TripAdvisor platform. This article looks at the question “to what extent can a garden—such as the Majorelle—be a major attraction in a cultural tourist destination?”. Methodologically, we adopted a quantitative approach, examining visitors’ sentiments using the VADER tool from 2006 to 2023, and classifying them into three categories: negative, neutral, and positive. Furthermore, by utilizing LDA (latent dirichlet allocation), we uncover key topics running through visitors’ experiences. Our findings show that positive sentiments prevail, given the culturo-historical and symbolic quality of the garden as a crucible and vector of creativity, with the emergence of sub-corpuses that highlight certain divergences and convergences around the “Majorelle” case. This insight supports sustainability efforts by empowering the managers of the garden studied and industry professionals to develop and implement relevant strategies for managing and marketing the garden tourism attraction experience. In addition, this case study shows how a private urban garden reveals its key role in preserving cultural and botanical heritage, essential for future generations. It shows the garden’s positive impact on sustainable tourism through its ability to attract cultural visitors who appreciate and respect the local environment. Full article