Search Results (21)

This study analyses how the Blueprint has been used in tourism as a planning tool for tourist activity across different sectors and segments. A qualitative systematic literature review was conducted through searches of the Web of Science and Scopus databases, with no restrictions on language or time period, using the terms “Tourism and Blueprint”. The final sample comprised 36 articles, examined through thematic Content Analysis based on the identification, categorisation, and interpretation of recurring units of meaning. The results were organised according to the 6W Framework, which enabled the proposal of a conceptual articulation model supported by five foundational theories and integrated into the context of strategic tourism planning. Framing the Blueprint as a holistic instrument that simultaneously integrates environmental, social, cultural, and economic dimensions, this study contributes to current debates on responsible tourism development and on aligning destination planning with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), offering planners a means to anticipate and mitigate the negative effects of unchecked tourism growth, including over-tourism. The Blueprint is reframed in the literature as a master plan, taking on the role of a strategic instrument that guides public policy formulation and integrates practices aimed at the sustainable and competitive development of tourism destinations. The use of the Blueprint as a strategic planning tool strengthens the capacity to articulate public policies, market practices, and social demands, reinforcing tourism as a driver of competitiveness and sustainable regional development. Full article

Tourism destinations increasingly serve both domestic and international visitors whose geographic behaviors may differ substantially, yet most analytical frameworks treat visitor distributions as spatially homogeneous. Few studies compare how domestic and international tourists cluster spatially within the same destination. Those differences matter enormously for destinations where visitor segments follow distinct geographic patterns. We analyzed 1547 bilingual TripAdvisor reviews from Chanthaburi Province, Thailand (2014–2023), combining Random Forest classification (83.26% accuracy for Thai, 96.45% for English) with Incremental Spatial Autocorrelation (ISA), Global Moran’s I, and Getis-Ord Gi* hotspot analysis. International visitors clustered more intensely overall (I = 0.253 vs. 0.213), but domestic visitors spread across all six tourism areas including agrotourism, while international visitors were concentrated in heritage, coastal recreation, and nature-temple zones with agrotourism absent. Both segments clustered strongly at cultural heritage sites and at beach destinations, contradicting the common assumption that coastal areas primarily serve international visitors, while agrotourism clustered exclusively among domestic visitors despite active policy promotion. These patterns reflect differential information access rather than attraction quality. The zone-level framework is transferable to secondary heritage destinations across Southeast Asia, where platform-based monitoring offers a practical alternative to large-scale visitor surveys. Full article

Nature-based tourism is expanding rapidly, placing new pressures on fragile ecosystems and governance structures that were not designed for the intensity and diversity of today’s visitors. Despite this trend, protected areas face unique management constraints and rapid socio-environmental changes. While motivational segmentation of tourists can provide valuable information to policymakers, this subject remains understudied/under-researched. This study addresses the gap by examining the motivations, behaviours, and attitudes of visitors to Romania’s national and natural parks, using a structured survey (n = 509) and a two-step approach combining dimensionality reduction with visitor segmentation. Principal component analysis (PCA) reveals distinct motivational dimensions related to visitors’ desire for immersion in nature, wildlife observation and learning, active recreation, and social–cultural engagement. Based on these dimensions, three visitor segments emerge through cluster analysis, with significantly different patterns of landscape use, expectations of recreational services, and perceptions of interpretation media. This research provides practical insights for targeted communication, zoning, and adaptive governance and proposes integrating visitor typologies with park management to support sustainable rural development. The findings highlight how a nuanced understanding of tourist segments can inform more effective policy measures that balance recreational demand with the long-term protection of natural and cultural resources, offering practical value for the sustainable development of protected areas, local communities, and other stakeholders. Full article

Rural land art festivals serve as an important practical vehicle for integrating urban and rural culture and tourism. They constitute a crucial component of rural tourism in China and play a key role in the sustainable development of rural areas. However, in practice, these festivals are generally confronted with the dilemma of superficial tourist participation and insufficient sustainability. This study aims to uncover the intrinsic psychological evolution mechanism underlying tourists’ responses to external stimuli and their value co-creation. The S-O-R model and the two-factor theory are integrated to construct an analytical framework: “external stimulus–psychological sequence–behavioral response.” Using “Modern Fields” as the case study and 437 valid data points, an empirical analysis is conducted with PLS-SEM and artificial neural networks (ANNs). The results indicate that tourist participation is directly driven by destination quality. Content stickiness exerts an indirect influence through perceived value. Perceived value facilitates value co-creation only when it is fully mediated by tourist participation. The path from participation to co-creation is significantly strengthened by restorative environmental perception. A multi-group analysis further reveals that inexperienced tourists exhibit a “stimulus-driven” characteristic, whereas experienced tourists follow a “value internalization” path. The ANN analysis further shows that the strongest nonlinear predictive power for co-creation behavior is held by restorative environmental perception. A significant direct nonlinear effect is also exerted by destination quality. The evolutionary nodes and boundary conditions of tourists’ psychological sequence during this process are revealed. The boundary effect of restorative environmental perception as a catalyst for rural art tourism is demonstrated. A theoretical basis and practical insights are thereby provided for the segmented operation and sustainable development of these activities. Full article

Research on coastal recreational activities has grown substantially, yet studies focusing on user perceptions of these spaces—critical for optimizing tourism experiences and management—remain fragmented and underdeveloped. This study addresses this gap by examining tourist sentiment in Xiamen, a renowned coastal city in China, using social media data. Text mining tools were utilized to process the Weibo contents through text segmentation, frequency analysis and cluster analysis. The Two-way Neural Network Fusion Model Based on the BERT (TNNFMB) deep learning approach was employed using transfer learning for sentiment analysis, while the Latent Dirichlet Allocation (LDA) model was used to uncover latent thematic patterns. Sentiment polarity analysis revealed that positive comments constituted 56.47%, negative comments only 16.3%, and neutral comments 27.2%, confirming a generally positive perception of visitors’ coastal experiences. Tourists’ social media posts primarily revolve around five core themes in coastal areas: coastal waters, waterfronts, adjacent environments, culture and creativity, and reputation and expectation. The spatial and temporal changes in sentiment scores were discovered. Areas emphasizing sea–land landscapes, cultural theme reinforcement, and open public activities generally achieved high and stable sentiment scores. Natural and natural–artificial mixed coastlines experienced significant seasonal variations in sentiment. The recommendations of this study, generated from a sentiment perspective, include shaping a harmonious coastal environment by improving coastal management and support services to enhance the comfort of the tourist experience. This study advances understanding of user-centric coastal tourism dynamics, providing evidence-based tools for managers to enhance tourist experiences and spatial quality. Full article

Adventure tourism has established itself as a growing sector that integrates physical activity, interaction with nature, and cultural exchange. Understanding the heterogeneity of demand is crucial for designing effective and sustainable destination management strategies. Despite the global growth of adventure tourism, there is a scarcity of empirical studies analyzing the motivations, segmentation, and loyalty of tourists in emerging coastal destinations. This study contributes to filling this gap by providing evidence from the case of Santa Elena, Ecuador. This study examines the motivations, market segmentation, and loyalty of adventure tourists in Santa Elena, an emerging coastal destination in Ecuador. Based on a survey of 318 visitors and using exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and k-means cluster segmentation, five motivational dimensions were identified: learning, social, biosecurity, relaxation, and competence-mastery. The results revealed two distinct segments: (i) Relaxation seekers, primarily motivated by rest and stress reduction, and (ii) multi-motivation tourists, with high levels of motivation across all dimensions. This latter group showed greater loyalty, evidenced by the intention to return, recommend, and spread a positive image of the destination. The study contributes to academic knowledge by proposing a motivation-based segmentation model that integrates emerging dimensions such as biosecurity and offers practical implications for the sustainable management of adventure destinations. It recommends designing differentiated tourism products that cater to dominant motivations, thereby strengthening competitiveness and contributing to the sustainability of tourism in emerging contexts. Full article

This study analyses employment in the tourism sector and seeks to identify trends in the evolution of worker profiles and transformation of the structure and working conditions in Portugal’s tourism sector from 2012 to 2022. It aims to understand how profiles, qualifications, and working conditions relate to the spatial distribution among Portuguese tourist regions and the typology and scale of tourism businesses, contributing valuable insights to defining sector strategies. It applies a quantitative approach based on statistical data from the Portuguese Ministry of Labour, Solidarity, and Social Security, disaggregated by the three segments of economic activity in the tourism sector: accommodation and food services, recreational and cultural activities, and transport and logistics. Descriptive statistics, MANOVA, and ANOVA tests analyse differences based on establishment size, tourist regions, and activity segments. The results show significant employment growth, regional variations, high turnover, and an increase in fixed-term contracts. Weak but significant correlations link education, nationality, gender, and working hours, indicating potential inequalities. The study highlights gender and educational differences among workers, as well as disparities related to employment status and nationality. Full article

Health and wellness tourism is a rapidly expanding segment of the global tourism industry, driven by increasing consumer awareness of well-being and lifestyle enhancement. As the demand for wellness travel grows, destinations are expected to offer high standards of safety, hygiene, rehabilitation, and holistic experiences. This study aims to identify and evaluate the key attributes and determinants for developing health and wellness tourism destinations by applying the 6As Tourism Development framework: Attractions, Accessibility, Amenities, Activities, Available Packages, and Ancillary Services. A multi-criteria decision-making approach, specifically the TOPSIS, was employed to assess destination potential through a case study of Nakhon Ratchasima Province, Thailand. The results indicate that Attractions, Accessibility, and Amenities are the top three priorities for wellness tourists. Sub-criteria such as natural scenery, cultural significance, accessibility for all, safety, and accommodation quality are particularly influential. Three districts in Nakhon Ratchasima were found to exhibit distinct strengths—Pak Chong is best suited for rehabilitative tourism (e.g., aroma and water therapy), aligning with mind and nutrition wellness components; Wang Nam Khiao is ideal for ecotourism and cultural experiences, supporting environmental and nutritional dimensions; while Mueang Nakhon Ratchasima excels in sports tourism, supporting physical and nutritional well-being. The study offers practical insights for policymakers and tourism stakeholders to design sustainable, visitor-centered wellness destinations. The proposed framework supports strategic planning and resource allocation for health-focused tourism development. Full article

This study investigates the influence of urban tourists’ behaviour on the environmental performance of a destination, particularly in terms of carbon emissions. Tourist-related emissions are shaped by their choices and behaviours, impacting the overall carbon footprint of the locations they visit. To assess this impact, we introduce a methodology for quantifying greenhouse gas emissions linked to tourists’ energy consumption. This approach considers key tourism components—activities, accommodation, and transportation—analysing their roles in emissions across a trip’s temporal and spatial dimensions. By integrating tourists’ spatiotemporal behaviour with emissions data, our framework offers insights that can support local climate-responsive urban and tourism policies. We empirically apply the proposed model to the destination of Donostia/San Sebastián (Spain), where the primary travel sequences of visitors are analysed. We utilise cartographic techniques to map the environmental footprints of different tourist profiles, such as cultural and nature tourists. The findings indicate that visitors primarily motivated by nature and outdoor recreation constitute the segment with the highest greenhouse gas emissions (with a minimum footprint of 30.69 kg CO₂-equivalent per trip), followed by cultural tourists, and finally, other categories of visitors. The results highlight the practical applications of the proposed model for sustainable tourism management, providing valuable guidance for urban planners and policymakers in mitigating the environmental impacts of tourism. Full article

Aquaculture and tourism can both be important industries for economic development, particularly in isolated geographies endowed with natural beauty. However, spatial conflict can arise, particularly along scenic coastlines, such as that in Oban, Scotland. This area is notable for the frequent overlap between marine tours and cage culture sites, with tours passing by or near these aquaculture locations. This study aims to understand whether tourists who encounter aquaculture operations during these tours have positive attitudes toward aquaculture–tourism integration, which refers to the favourable perception and acceptance of the coexistence of aquaculture and tourism activities, and whether this exposure influences their intention to consume locally farmed aquatic products. A face-to-face survey was conducted to recruit 200 tourists who experienced marine tours in Oban, Scotland. Hierarchical cluster analysis identified three types of tourists based on tourism motivation: (1) Multiple motivations, (2) “Relaxers”, and (3) “Outgoing nature enthusiasts”. Among the three tourist segments, the “Relaxers” were particularly unfamiliar with the concept of farming aquatic food. In general, the majority of tourists were positive about being exposed to aquaculture during marine tours. The results of the structural equation modelling analysis indicated that attitudes towards being exposed to aquaculture during marine tours mediate the relationship between attitudes towards aquaculture and the intention to eat locally farmed aquatic food. Motivational tourism factors, socialisation, and learning positively and significantly influenced attitudes towards being exposed to aquaculture during marine tours. Compared to age, gender, education, income, and travel frequency, only tourists’ dietary patterns significantly influenced behavioural intention. The findings suggest that aquaculture might serve as a potential site for social knowledge exchange, which might be crucial not only for tourism to be successful but also for promoting aquaculture’s social acceptability. The results can be used to inform policymakers, marketers, and aquaculture/tourism practitioners to promote sustainable aquaculture tourism in Scotland or similar sites where tourism and aquaculture coexist. Full article

Tourism development has a significant contribution to the sustainable development of countries and regions through job creation, infrastructure development, cultural preservation, community empowerment, and revenue increase. Within this context, digitalization in the different facets of the tourism marketspace is a powerful tool that promotes competitiveness and economic growth, sustainability, innovation, and regional coherence. Digitalization also calls for the industry actors to have meaningful integration of novel technologies and practices in their operations and strategy. Despite the importance of digital technologies as a competitive antecedent for hospitality ventures, the extant research is mainly anchored on digital marketing and its associations with traditional mass tourism activity. Evidence on other facets of digitalization is far less appreciated, especially in the niche segment of the alternative tourism marketspace. Considering the above developments, our research aim is to assess the contribution of a digital business ecosystem, including a wide array of digital applications, to the competitiveness of the hospitality industry in Greece, with a focus on alternative tourism activities. Our research draws on data collected from a sample of local ventures to investigate the impact of digital technologies on tourists’ attraction and company growth. In the main, our findings record the positive impacts of digitalization, with internet-based technologies standing out as the most influential medium to boost growth and hotels’ sustainability. We contribute by showing that in cases where hospitality ventures remain digitally illiterate, they will most probably face severe competition losses. Full article

Remnants of old charcoal kilns found at Siam Village in Kubang Badak are about 100 years old, from approximately the same time as World War I. However, little research has been conducted into promoting the antiquity of remnant charcoal kilns as a representation of the historical inheritance of the Siamese community and their early settlement on Langkawi Island. This paper reveals the great potential of the abandoned charcoal kilns as a tourist site and shows the role of heritage conservation through reviewing the conditions. Following the methodology, firstly, charcoal kilns in Malaysia are investigated in term of their natural, cultural, and social history. Secondly, interviews were conducted to examine empirically the community life of that heritage area and the impacts of the charcoal kiln as tourist product. The segmentation of the narration into preservation means, sustainable activities, and historical knowledge is exemplified by extracting important data for taxonomic derivation of heritage conservation, economic, and community development. Finally, a set of guidelines including conservation approaches is proposed to support sustainable tourism development. The findings from the interviews conclude that the conservation of remnant charcoal kilns is vital for the long-term sustainability of cultural heritage tourism. Full article

The article presents selected post-industrial heritage sites in Poland and the USA. Comparative studies conducted by the authors concern economic, financial and socio-cultural aspects. The research methods used include a diagnostic survey and analysis of financial documents of selected post-industrial facilities in Poland and the USA. The authors carried out financial analyses of the functioning of selected post-industrial cultural heritage facilities. The aims of the diagnostic survey were to examine public opinion regarding the financing of post-industrial facilities and the interest of young people in post-industrial monuments. Furthermore, the researchers aimed to identify potential customers and determine the most effective methods of promoting post-industrial cultural objects and post-industrial tourism. These research results can be used by authorities managing post-industrial cultural monuments as a guideline for designing marketing activities and segmenting the market for post-industrial tourism services. This will allow marketing information to reach defined target groups more effectively. Surveys showed that respondents from both countries agreed about the need to protect post-industrial heritage. Significant differences in opinions concerned interest in post-industrial tourist offerings. In Poland, 88% of respondents believed that post-industrial facilities can arouse the interest of tourists, whereas only 28% of respondents believed so in the USA. This article considers the development of post-industrial tourism and the revitalization of post-industrial facilities from the new perspective of potential users. Full article

Coastal and marine tourism offers a wide variety of activities that can be sustainable due to the characteristics of its natural and cultural attractions. The present study was carried out in Jacó, a sustainable destination with coastal and marine characteristics of Costa Rica, with the objectives (i) of identifying the motivations of tourist demand; (ii) segmenting the tourist demand; (iii) establishing a relationship between the segments and sociodemographic aspects; and (iv) determining the relationship between segments of demand and satisfaction and loyalty. This quantitative study collected a sample of 304 valid questionnaires on-site in June 2021. For data analysis, a factorial analysis and non-hierarchical K-means segmentation were performed. The results show five motivational dimensions: “Learning and coastal experience”; “Nature”; “Rest and safety”; “Water sports”; and “Nightlife”—and three segments of tourists: “Multiple motives”; “Passive tourists”; and “Eco-Coastal”. The “Eco-Coastal” segment was the most satisfied in terms of enjoying the coastal nature of the destination. The “Multiple motives” group showed the highest intentions to return, recommend, and spread positive word of mouth. These findings will serve as management guides for coastal and marine destination managers and will help adapt these tourism sites to the new demand instigated by the global health crisis. Full article

Geotourism is a sustainable type of tourism that focuses on the geological and geomorphological heritages of an area, and the associated cultural and biodiversity features. Though the popularity of geotourism is rapidly growing, research on the demand side, particularly on segmenting tourists to geosites and understanding their profiles, is limited. This obviously makes the designing of effective tourism policies that aim at developing geotourism sustainably very difficult. Hence, the main objectives of this study were to segment and profile tourists to geosites based on the benefits sought, and to show its implications for sustainable development of geotourism. With a survey of 415 tourists, this study clustered tourists to geosites in the southern Lake Tana region in Ethiopia based on the benefits sought. A factor–cluster method was applied to segment the tourists. The study identified four distinct segments: Activity–Nature Lovers, Culture Lovers, Nature–Culture Lovers, and Want-It-Alls. These segments differed in their demographic, trip, and behavioral characteristics. The findings implied that for sustainable development, destination managers and marketers need to customize their geotourism product development and marketing strategies based on the needs and characteristics of each market segment. Full article