Search Results (383)

This study employs a mixed method. In-depth interviews and observational studies are among the data collection approaches used in qualitative research. The quantitative method measures the weight of respondents’ answers to the distributed questionnaire. The questionnaire, containing 82 items, was distributed to 202 tourists to collect their perceptions based on the 4A tourist components. The results indicate that tourists’ perceptions of attractions, accessibility, and ancillary services are generally positive. In contrast, perceptions of amenity services are less favorable. Using the scores from IFAS, EFAS, and the I-E matrix, the total weighted scores for IFAS and EFAS are 2.68 and 2.83, respectively. The appropriate strategy for BTV is one of aggressive growth in a position of strengths and opportunities. The study highlights key techniques, including the application of information technology in service and promotion, the strengthening of community and government roles, the development of infrastructure and facilities, the utilization of external resources, sustainable innovation, and the encouragement of local governments to issue regulations for halal tourism villages. By identifying drivers and barriers from an economic, environmental, social, and cultural perspective, the SWOT analysis results help design strategies that can make positive contributions to the development of sustainable, community-based halal tourism and digital information in the future. Full article

Amid ongoing societal development, tourists’ travel behavior patterns have been undergoing substantial transformations, and understanding their evolution has emerged as a key area of scholarly interest. Taking Beijing as a case study, this research aims to uncover the spatiotemporal evolution patterns of tourist flows and their underlying driving mechanisms. Based on digital footprint relational data, a dual-perspective analytical framework—“tourist perception–tourist flow network”—is constructed. By integrating the center-of-gravity model, social network analysis, and regression models, the study systematically examines the dynamic spatial structure of tourist flows in Beijing from 2012 to 2024. The findings reveal that in the post-pandemic period, Beijing tourists place greater emphasis on the cultural connotation and experiential aspects of destinations. The gravitational center of tourist flows remains relatively stable, with core historical and cultural blocks retaining strong appeal, though a slight shift has occurred due to policy influences and emerging attractions. The evolution of the spatial network structure reveals that tourism flows have become more dispersed, while the influence of core scenic spots continues to intensify. Government policy orientation, tourism information retrieval, and the agglomeration of tourism resources significantly promote the structure of tourist flows, whereas the general level of tourism resources exerts no notable influence. These findings offer theoretical insights and practical guidance for the sustainable development and regional coordination of tourism in Beijing, and provide a valuable reference for the spatial restructuring of urban tourism in the post-COVID-19 era. Full article

Grassland communities consist primarily of perennial herbaceous species, with grasses forming a dominant or significant component. These ecosystems have been utilised for economic purposes since the earliest periods of human history. In the natural environment, they fulfil numerous critical functions that, despite increasing awareness of climate change, often remain undervalued. Grasslands contribute directly to climate regulation, air purification, soil conservation, flood mitigation, and public health—all of which positively affect the well-being of nearby populations. Moreover, they satisfy higher-order human needs known as “cultural” services, providing aesthetic enjoyment and recreational opportunities. These services, in tangible terms, support the development of rural tourism. The objective of this study was to examine the perception of cultural ecosystem services provided by different types of grassland communities—meadows, pastures, and lawns. The study employed a structured questionnaire to evaluate the perceived significance and functions of these communities. Respondents assessed their aesthetic and recreational value based on land-use type. To quantify these dimensions, the study applies the Recreational and Leisure Attractiveness Index (RLAI), the Aesthetic Attractiveness Index (AAI), ranking methods, and contingent valuation techniques. Based on the respondents’ declared WTP (willingness to pay) and WTA (willingness to accept) values, statistically significant differences in the perceived value of land-use types were identified. Lawns were rated highest in terms of recreational attractiveness, meadows in terms of aesthetics, while pastures achieved the highest economic values. Significant differences were also observed depending on respondents’ place of residence and academic background. The results indicate that the valuation of cultural services encompasses both functional and psychological aspects and should be integrated into local land-use and landscape planning policies. Full article

This study explores the enhancement of spatial vitality in the Historic Center of Macau from the perspective of museumification theory. This research employs GIS technology to analyze Baidu heatmap data, comparing the differences in spatial vitality between the festive and daily periods. Furthermore, experiential quality questionnaire data were collected from 224 tourists visiting the historical district, constructing a theoretical model of “objective vitality–experience quality”. Through objective analysis, the results indicate that the distribution of vitality in the Historic Center of Macau exhibits a clear core–periphery diffusion pattern. During the festive period, the intensity of spatial vitality significantly increases. Through subjective analysis, this study reveals that experiential quality has a significant impact on spatial vitality. Among the dimensions, education and inspiration, cultural exchange, and entertainment enjoyment have a notably positive effect on spatial vitality. The elements of education and inspiration play a crucial role during festive periods—particularly artistic attractions and educational entertainment—which positively influence vitality. This study innovatively applies museumification theory to the research of vitality in a historical district, providing valuable references for the sustainable cultural tourism development and cultural heritage preservation of the Historic Center of Macau. Full article

This study explores a strategic framework for the sustainable development of Northern and Central Euboea (Evia), Greece, through the preservation and promotion of cultural and environmental assets. This research aims to redirect tourism flows from overdeveloped coastal zones to underutilized inland areas by leveraging local heritage and natural resources. The methodology was developed within the context of the AEI research project and combines bibliographic research, stakeholder consultation, GIS analysis, and socioeconomic assessment. Based on this framework, a series of thematic cultural routes and agritourism initiatives were designed to enhance regional attractiveness and resilience. The study proposes the utilization of ICT tools such as GIS-based mapping, a digital development platform, and an online tourism portal to document, manage, and promote key assets. The socioeconomic impact of the proposed interventions was evaluated using an input–output model, revealing that each EUR 1 million invested in the region is expected to generate EUR 650,000 in local GDP and create 14 new jobs. The results underscore the potential of alternative tourism to stimulate inclusive and sustainable growth, particularly in post-disaster rural regions. This integrated approach can serve as a model for other territories facing similar environmental, economic, and demographic challenges. Full article

Tourism learning resources refer to tourism attractions that carry learning content or stimulate learning behaviors for tourists, thereby determining the quality and effectiveness of tourists’ learning experiences. Actively developing tourism learning resources and manifesting tourism learning functions serves as an innovative practical path for cultivating new quality productivity in tourism and bears the contemporary mission of constructing a national lifelong learning system in the context of Chinese-style modernization. However, at the present stage, Chinese tourists, tourism enterprises, and government functional departments still lack a clear and systematic understanding of the connotations and characteristics of tourism learning resources. This knowledge gap restricts the depth and breadth of resource development. To address the identified gaps, this study begins by exploring the relationship between tourism and learning. Through a systematic literature review, it aims to develop a conceptual framework for tourism learning resources to promote lifelong learning and support sustainable tourism development. Taking this framework as a tool, this paper first explains the connotation and characteristics of tourism learning resources; secondly, classifies them into knowledge popularization, natural observation, skill experience, inspirational development, and cultural recreation types; thirdly, identifies their functional manifestations as acquiring experience, knowledge, skills, and wisdom; and finally, proposes development strategies for tourism learning resources. The most critical strategies identified are (1) enhancing tourism learning literacy, (2) optimizing learning-oriented products, and (3) constructing regionally integrated learning destinations. Full article

Cultural landscapes in World Heritage cities are attracting a growing global tourist population. Given the limitations of self-report methods in capturing tourists’ immediate and deep perceptions, and the lack of comprehensive investigation into the cultural types and naturalness of landscapes, this study aims to investigate how cultural landscape types influence tourists’ recommendation intention through the mediating roles of place attachment and perceived restorativeness while examining the moderating effect of landscape naturalness. Integrating Place Attachment Theory (PAT), Attention Restoration Theory (ART), and the Associative–Propositional Evaluation Model (APE), three studies were conducted using behavioral and neurophysiological approaches. Study 1, a scenario-based experiment, revealed that high-culture landscapes enhance recommendation intention via place attachment, with the effect of perceived restorativeness being stronger under low naturalness conditions. Study 2, an event-related potential (ERP) experiment, showed that landscapes with low culture and low naturalness elicit stronger emotional responses, as indicated by heightened P2 and LPP amplitudes. Study 3 demonstrated the efficacy of a Decision Tree model in classifying landscape naturalness based on EEG features. This study deepens the understanding of the complexity of tourist experiences in cultural heritage sites, provides new evidence for the application of Place Attachment Theory in tourism contexts, and offers scientific foundations and practical implications for optimizing landscape design in heritage sites, enhancing tourist experiences, and exploring brain–computer interface applications in the tourism field. Full article

The landscape of the Warmian municipality of Dobre Miasto has significant natural and cultural value. However, the municipality’s tourism potential remains untapped. The absence of comprehensive local zoning plans covering the entire municipality or most of its territory has disrupted the landscape, leading to the emergence of visually discordant elements. Due to rapid land-use changes in the Region of Warmia, the protection and preservation of its rich natural and cultural heritage are increasingly challenging. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of natural and cultural resources, as well as tourism infrastructure, on the development potential of rural tourism in Dobre Miasto municipality in Poland’s historical region of Warmia. Attempts were made to identify spatial disparities in tourism attractiveness and to determine the ways in which the local environmental and the cultural landscape may support sustainable tourism planning. The results provide valuable insights for implementing appropriate land-use strategies and setting new directions for future development. Tourism infrastructure has to be modernized, expanded, and adapted to new projects, while ensuring that planning and tourism management align with the principles of sustainable development. The growth of tourism creates new opportunities for stimulating rural areas, but it requires careful planning and the implementation of policies that effectively regulate tourist flows while maintaining ecological and cultural integrity. Full article

The present study explores residents’ perceptions of Stintino (Sardinia, Italy) as a tourist destination. The municipality is predominantly known for La Pelosa beach, widely regarded as one of the most attractive coastal sites in Europe. However, its popularity has raised critical issues related to carrying capacity and seasonal overcrowding, contributing to a tourism model centered almost exclusively on beach-related activities. This study aims to investigate how locals conceptualize their place beyond the dominant seaside narrative, particularly considering Stintino’s identity as a former fishing village with a strong maritime tradition. As part of Italy’s designated inner areas, Stintino also embodies a deep-rooted connection to cultural heritage, further reinforcing the need for its preservation. Adopting a photovoice-based participatory visual methodology, this study engaged 15 local stakeholders from key sectors (hospitality, fishing tourism, retail, gastronomy, and cultural institutions) who produced and discussed photographic representations of their lived experience of the territory. The visual material was thematically analyzed using a conceptual framework informed by theories of place perception and social representations. The findings suggested a multifaceted territorial storytelling rooted in local heritage, symbolic spaces, and everyday practices. Tourism governance strategies could incorporate community-based approaches, such as participatory mapping and inclusive narrative development, to foster more sustainable and place-sensitive promotion models. Full article

Urban trails, as vital urban spaces that integrate historical context with contemporary life, play a central role in the rise of deep tourism and the “City Walk” phenomenon. Their spatial legibility positions them as distinctive narrative media, serving as a key channel for promoting urban sustainable development and enhancing citizens’ sense of well-being. However, existing research has yet to establish a comprehensive and systematic framework for evaluating the “spatial narrative” of urban trail systems. This study proposes a dual-perspective quantitative framework for evaluating a spatial narrative, combining objective spatial dimensions with human experiential data to identify strengths and potentials for improvement. The Southwest Regional Trail in Chongqing (comprising the Zhongshan Fourth Road Section, People’s Assembly Hall Section, and Datianwan Section) was used as a case study. First, multi-source spatial data were analyzed via space syntax and ArcGIS to evaluate narrative value from an objective spatial perspective. Next, in-depth questionnaire interviews were conducted to collect subjective data, which were analyzed in SPSS to produce a structured analysis of participant feedback. The findings indicate that (1) Among the three sections of the Southwest Regional Trail, the narrative potential zones rank highest in the Zhongshan Fourth Road Section, followed by the People’s Assembly Hall Section and the Datianwan Section. (2) Urban trails characterized by rich narrative themes and cultural activities are more attractive to visitors. (3) The qualities of narrative symbols, routes, and educational elements are the key factors that specifically influence visitors’ satisfaction with the narrative experience on urban trails. Based on these results, we propose targeted planning and design recommendations for the Southwest Regional Trail. The evaluation methodology and process proposed in this study can provide references for design professionals and relevant urban development departments in conducting spatial narrative quantitative evaluations and optimizing sustainability place-making strategies. Full article

This paper develops and presents a system for museums to evaluate behavioural and experiential gains of older adult visitors when engaging with digital interpretation exhibits. The evaluation system is based on the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP), utilising existing evaluation methods for museum visitors and refining them into an approach suitable for investigating older visitors. Innovatively, it incorporates the universal design (UD) in museum digital exhibits, injecting strong momentum into creating inclusive museums. An in-depth evaluation was conducted on seven exhibitions across three newly constructed Chinese cultural tourism museums with different digital characteristics, presenting the results and findings through eighty-eight digital interpretation exhibits. Qualitative and quantitative data provide a nuanced picture of digital interpretation and interaction from the perspective of older visitors. The results demonstrate the factors influencing older adults’ engagement with digital interpretation exhibits in museums and how digital interpretation items attract or deter older visitors’ engagement in complex exhibition environments. This study utilised universal design principles to identify the limitations and barriers in digital interpretation for older visitors, analysed the correlation between UD and digital attraction power, explored the reasons behind these outcomes, and identified design recommendations for inclusive museum digital interpretation. Full article

In the face of an unprecedented public health crisis (COVID-19), despite tourist perceptions toward cultural heritage tourism having undergone significant transformation, such transitions are increasingly viewed as opportunities to enhance sustainability practices in cultural heritage tourism worldwide. This study traces the evolution of tourist perceptions at Lijiang Old Town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, across three stages from 2017 to 2024—before the pandemic, during the pandemic, and after the pandemic. Data were collected from major tourism platforms, yielding a comprehensive dataset of 50,022 user-generated reviews. We adopt a mixed-method framework integrating TF-IDF, Social Network Analysis (SNA), and Latent Dirichlet Allocation (LDA) to identify salient terms, semantic structures, and latent themes from large-scale unstructured textual data across time. The findings indicate that cultural heritage tourism demonstrates adaptability and resilience through significant perceptual transitions. After the pandemic, visitors increasingly prioritized cultural depth and high-quality service experiences, whereas before the pandemic, tourists focused more on cultural heritage attractions and commercial experiences. Moreover, during the pandemic period, visitor narratives reflected adaptations toward quieter, safer, and more personalized experiences, highlighting the impact of safety measures on tourism patterns. These findings demonstrate the methodological potential for dynamically monitoring perception shifts and offer empirical grounding for future perception-oriented research and sustainable cultural heritage destination management practices in cultural heritage tourism toward sustainable tourism. Full article

Pet tourism has experienced significant growth in recent years, reflecting changes in the perception of pets as family members. This research examines the factors influencing attitude, travel intention, and payment intention in pet tourism in Chile, specifically analyzing the role of emotional attachment, perceived benefits, prestige, and novelty. Using a quantitative methodology, data were collected through an online survey of pet owners in Chile. The results reveal that perceived benefits and novelty positively influence attitudes toward traveling with pets, while prestige and perceived benefits directly impact travel intention. Surprisingly, emotional attachment did not show a significant influence, which contrasts with previous studies in other cultural contexts. This research also confirms that attitude and travel intention are relevant predictors of willingness to pay more for pet-friendly tourism services. These findings contribute to the literature on pet tourism in Latin America and provide practical implications for developing tourism services tailored to the Chilean market. This study concludes that marketing strategies in the tourism sector should emphasize tangible benefits and novel elements rather than emotional aspects to attract this growing market segment. Full article

Rural tourism is growing as travelers seek authentic experiences with local traditions, culture, and heritage. This form of tourism plays a key role in the sustainable development of rural areas by effectively utilizing rural resources. To ensure its continued success, best practices must be adopted to enhance the visitor experience while ensuring long-term viability. Research on rural tourism in the villages of Sremski Karlovci, Irig, and Vrdnik in Fruška Gora (Serbia) and Pienza, Montalcino, and San Gimignano in Tuscany (Italy), involving 357 tourists, identified four key factors influencing their experiences: ‘Organic Heritage’, ‘Authentic Comfort’, ‘Authentic Flavors’, and ‘Warm Farmstead’. These factors show that the motivations driving tourists to rural destinations and village accommodations are universal. However, Tuscan villages attract more tourists due to their superior infrastructure, diversified offerings, and strong international promotion, attracting wealthier tourists who tend to stay longer and spend more. Stakeholder research (58 participants) confirmed that Fruška Gora must improve infrastructure, diversify experiences, and strengthen promotional efforts to enhance sustainability and competitiveness. These changes are essential for the long-term success of rural tourism businesses in the future. Full article

This study explores the factors influencing Arab tourists’ intention to revisit Turkish destinations, contributing to the theoretical discourse on tourist behavior, destination loyalty, and sustainable tourism development. Over the past decade, Türkiye (Turkey) has experienced a steady increase in tourists, with Arab visitors forming a significant segment. This growing market segment presents unique opportunities and challenges that remain understudied in academic literature. Despite their prominence, limited research exists on Arab tourists’ behavior, needs, and experiences in Türkiye. This study employs a mixed-method approach, combining surveys and interviews conducted between July and December 2024. Data from 713 surveys and 14 interviews were analyzed, revealing that 72% of Arab tourists were satisfied with their current visit, 49% with previous visits, 57% indicated a strong intention to revisit, and 81% recommended Turkish destinations to others. The study identifies seven key dimensions of revisit intention through Exploratory Factor Analysis that collectively explain 79.841% of the variance in revisit intention. The regression analysis demonstrates how different factors contribute to revisit decisions, with overall satisfaction (β = 0.622), loyalty (β = 0.521), financial status (β = 0.507), behavior of staff and locals (β = 0.484), cultural and social appeal (β = 0.478), overall experiences (β = 0.329), educational level (β = 0.333), accessibility and convenience (β = 0.288), service quality (β = 0.216), and length of stay (β = 0.128) emerging as significant predictors. These findings underscore the complexity of the decision-making process, suggesting that no single theory can fully explain tourists’ behavior and the sustainability of their visits. The study recommends further exploration of the proposed model and investments in tourism staff training, particularly in foreign languages, to enhance service quality and encourage repeat visits. Addressing issues such as unprofessional behavior and language barriers can improve overall satisfaction and loyalty, increasing the likelihood of Arab tourists revisiting Türkiye. This research highlights the importance of sustainable tourism practices in fostering long-term economic and social benefits for Turkish destinations. Full article