Search Results (23)

Urban forest parks (UFPs) are important recreational green spaces within the urban built environment, contributing to urban residents’ subjective vitality and well-being. Understanding how the motivations of visitors to urban forest parks translate into positive psychological experiences is crucial for promoting urban residents’ physical and mental health. This study concentrated on the motives for visiting UFPs in Fuzhou, China, and developed a conceptual framework of “motivation–attitude–visit frequency–experience” to explore the pathways through which two dimensions of motivation influence leisure experience. Data were obtained from the responses of 573 visitors (242 males, 331 females) by using on-site intercept sampling, and online and on-site questionnaire survey at seven UFPs across the city. Serial mediation analysis was used to test the proposed relationships. The results showed that both extrinsic and intrinsic motivation positively predicted visit attitudes (β = 0.297, p < 0.001; β = 0.309, p < 0.001); only intrinsic motivation had a significant positive impact on visit frequency (β = 0.147, p = 0.031), and both visit attitudes and visit frequency positively predicted leisure experiences (β = 0.371, p < 0.001; β = 0.402, p < 0.001). Extrinsic motivation was entirely mediated by attitude, forming an indirect path to leisure experiences, whereas intrinsic motivation influenced experiences through both direct paths and indirect paths. The findings reveal the important role of attitude in linking visitors’ motivations with urban forest park use and experiential outcomes. Decision-makers should consider visitors’ motivational orientations and psychological responses in the planning, design, and management of urban forest parks to promote more meaningful and sustainable engagement with urban nature. With complexities of cities, more attention needs to be given to the use of longitudinal studies in future research to obtain comparable findings and further generalizations. Full article

The rapid tourism development in the Municipality of Athens significantly impacts both the local economy and the daily lives of its residents. This study investigates the Social Carrying Capacity (SCC) of Athens by exploring the perceptions, experiences, and attitudes of local citizens and professionals towards the tourism phenomenon. A primary quantitative study was conducted between July and October 2024, utilising a structured online questionnaire based on a stratified random sampling method across the Municipal Communities of Athens, yielding 787 valid responses. The findings reveal a dichotomy in public perception: while the majority recognises the positive economic contributions of tourism—particularly in the catering and hospitality sectors—significant concerns are raised regarding negative socio-environmental impacts. The most severe consequence identified is the surge in housing costs and rent prices, predominantly driven by short-term rentals, followed by increased pressure on public infrastructure, cleanliness, and traffic congestion. Despite these challenges, a considerable portion of the respondents maintains a generally tolerant attitude towards visitors and believes there is still a margin for further tourism growth. The study concludes that to ensure sustainable urban tourism, policymakers must implement targeted strategies, including the regulation of short-term rentals and substantial investments in public infrastructure, thereby balancing economic benefits with residents’ quality of life. Full article

In the context of the increasing digitalization of urban cultural heritage communication, public acceptance, identification, and dissemination of symbolic cultural heritage content exhibit pronounced structural differences across sustainability levels. Taking Xuzhou—a national historical and cultural city in China—as the empirical context, this study conceptualizes cultural heritage as symbolic carriers of cultural meaning and constructs a sustainability-stratified analytical framework. By integrating the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) and Cultural Identity (CI) theory, and incorporating Perceived Sustainability of Cultural Heritage (PSC) and Digital Interactive Media Participation (DMP), the study develops a comprehensive model of public communication acceptance mechanisms. Based on 931 valid questionnaires collected from local residents and visitors, exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses, structural equation modeling (SEM), and permutation-based multi-group analysis (MGA) are employed to examine both overall behavioral pathways and cross-group structural heterogeneity across symbolic heritage contexts with different sustainability tiers. The results indicate that: (1) PSC significantly influences communication intention through attitude, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control, with cultural identity playing a central mediating role; (2) digital interactive media participation primarily functions as a contextual enabler, significantly moderating the relationship between perceived behavioral control and communication intention; and (3) substantial structural differences exist across sustainability tiers, with medium-sustainability symbolic contexts demonstrating the strongest psychological activation effects in attitude formation, identity internalization, and intention conversion. Theoretically, this study extends the integrative application of TPB and cultural identity theory by embedding sustainability perception as an upstream cognitive trigger and repositioning cultural identity as a mediating mechanism within symbolic heritage communication processes. Methodologically, it establishes a systematic “sustainability evaluation–stratified modeling–multi-group comparison” analytical framework. Practically, the findings provide empirical guidance for differentiated communication strategies and digital media interventions tailored to symbolic cultural heritage systems. Full article

This paper explores the attitudes and involvement of tourism development in rural and remote cross-border areas in Croatia and Slovenia. These locations were selected due to their valuable cultural, historical, and natural resources. The purpose of this study was to identify how tourism can contribute to the sustainable development of these areas through the identification of positive and negative impacts based on perceptions obtained through a survey of residents and visitors. Results found that the local population positively assessed employment and quality of life as benefits generated by tourism, while identifying negative consequences such as price increases and crowds. Visitors highlighted negative aspects (environmental impact, availability of services), while recognizing the contribution of tourism to the preservation of space. The results emphasize the importance of harmonizing the interests of local communities and visitors in the planning of sustainable tourism, through continuous involvement of local stakeholders, periodic monitoring of attitudes, and preservation of natural and cultural resources as the basis of tourism development. Because tourism can change the area and culture of any destination, it is important to measure key stakeholder attitudes specific to tourism development in cross-border rural areas. Full article

Countries encounter significant challenges in the context of the climate crisis, prompting the implementation of environmentally sustainable measures in vulnerable sectors such as tourism. Nevertheless, inadequate levels of public awareness often delay or—in certain cases—hinder the adoption of such measures. This study focuses on the tourism sector in Greece, which is particularly resource-intensive in terms of energy and water consumption, especially in regions frequently affected by extreme weather events. The study’s objective is to evaluate the level of environmental awareness and behavioral profiles of tourists. Firstly, our study provides a literature review addressing the tourism vulnerabilities related to climate change, the nexus between tourism and environmental pressures, the role of public awareness in shaping policy obstacles, and finally issues related to environmental social and individual responsibility and attitudes. Subsequently, a relevant survey was conducted using a structured questionnaire to outline the profile and preferences of home domestic tourists in Greece. Our results indicate a generally moderate to low level of awareness: approximately 80% of respondents believe tourism has minimal or no impact on climate change, while only about 15% endorsed the need for stricter regulatory measures. Moreover, our findings underscore a significant knowledge gap regarding ongoing challenges related to water resource management. Notably, respondents with higher levels of awareness exhibited more positive attitudes towards sustainability-oriented measures. Overall, our study indicates that enhancing environmental awareness through targeted campaigns and effective communication strategies is crucial. In this respect, cultivating the notion of the “responsible tourist” emerges as a key prerequisite for ensuring the long-term sustainability of the tourism sector in Greece, as a responsible tourist contributes to the long-term sustainability and the tourist profile of a destination for both visitors and residents. Full article

Tourism planning in port cities faces the dual challenge of maximizing economic benefits while mitigating environmental and social pressures. This study examines the case of Piraeus, Greece, by integrating insights from both visitors and residents to explore how stakeholder perceptions can inform sustainable and resilient destination planning. Drawing on primary data collected through large-scale surveys of visitors and local residents, the analysis applies a multidimensional framework to assess economic, environmental, and social impacts of tourism. Findings reveal strong visitor spending and cultural engagement alongside concerns about infrastructure, pollution, and service quality. Residents acknowledge job creation and business activity but emphasize rising living costs, overcrowding, and limited inclusion in tourism governance. By bridging these perspectives, this study highlights the importance of multiple-stakeholder analysis for integrated tourism planning and proposes governance strategies to enhance sustainability and resilience in port destinations such as Piraeus. Full article

Urbanisation is a common cause of the loss of biological diversity. The most diverse natural areas in urban centres are city parks. The aim of this study was to examine the importance of songbirds for park visitors, the environment, and biodiversity in cities, based on the example of the Croatian coastal belt. A survey was conducted in the first half of 2024 (survey N = 662). The results show a low degree of basic biological knowledge of the main songbird species present in urban parks along the Croatian coastal belt. Citizens, on average, had a good basic understanding of the relationships between park songbirds and the environment. There were no statistically significant differences between cities of residence concerning basic biological knowledge of the main park songbird species in the Croatian coastal belt (p = 0.076), basic knowledge of the relationships between park songbirds and the environment (p = 0492), interactions between humans and songbirds in parks (p = 0.403), or opinions on conserving park songbird populations (p = 0.115). The final analysis confirmed that there was a statistically significant difference in education levels among participants regarding basic biological knowledge of the main park songbird species in the Croatian coastal belt (p = 0.001), basic knowledge of the relationships between park songbirds and the environment (p = 0.014), interactions between humans and songbirds in parks (p = 0.001), and opinions on conserving park songbird populations (p = 0.041). The dominant role of female respondents also raises the question of why male respondents do not participate in the research, which opens up opportunities for new research that would mainly deal with the topic of gender differences in attitudes towards park birds. Full article

The sustainable preservation of archeological heritage located in rural and coastal regions requires more than technical interventions; it necessitates the awareness and active participation of local communities. However, community involvement in heritage management in such areas remains limited. This study aims to analyze the levels of cultural heritage awareness, conservation tendencies, and tourism-related expectations among local residents and visitors in the Magarsus Archeological Area, located in the Karataş district on the eastern Mediterranean coast of Turkey. The study was conducted in three phases: a literature review, field observations, and a structured survey conducted between June and August 2022 with 510 participants (280 local residents and 230 domestic visitors from surrounding provinces). The data were analyzed using SPSS 25.0 through descriptive statistical methods, complemented by cross-tabulation and chi-square analysis to identify patterns across demographic variables. The survey results not only reflect general perceptions about heritage and tourism but also offer critical insights into how the rural and coastal character of the site shapes conservation attitudes and tourism behavior. The findings reveal nuanced perceptions, including strong symbolic appreciation for heritage and general openness to tourism, alongside concerns about cultural and environmental risks. While the local community prioritizes the potential for economic benefit, many participants also emphasized the importance of safeguarding local traditions, crafts, and culinary heritage. Nevertheless, concerns were expressed regarding the risks posed by uncontrolled tourism, including environmental degradation, erosion of cultural identity, and the commodification of heritage values. Based on these insights, the study introduces a governance approach built upon three interlinked pillars: community-based participation, environmental sustainability, and tourism practices aligned with cultural values. The proposed approach aims to support the inclusive and sustainable management of Magarsus and other rural and coastal archeological landscapes with similar characteristics. Full article

Public spaces in historical and cultural cities not only provide places for social interaction in people’s daily lives but also help visitors engage with local history and culture. Although extensive research has been conducted on the use of public spaces, little has been conducted on cities in developing countries, such as cities in Xinjiang, China. Therefore, this research selected a public space in a traditional Uyghur residential area in Yining, which is located in the northwest of Xinjiang, to investigate the current usage of public space in the context of the growing tourism industry. We employed behaviour mapping as the primary method for data collection and analysed it using ArcGIS. A total of 3052 data points were collected over a five-day observation period. We found that while a wide range of activities were observed at the study site, only a few took place with high frequency. The influence of the facilities at the study site on users’ behaviour is significant. In terms of spatial distribution, the number and diversity of activities also show a concentrated distribution in a certain sub-area. Therefore, the conclusions suggest that it is important to conduct post-use evaluations to investigate the attitudes and perceptions of local residents. Full article

China launched the National Desert Park (NDP) initiative over a decade ago, making this an opportune time to assess its effectiveness. This paper examined one of the pilot parks, the Inner Mongolia Ongniud Bolongke NDP, as a case study. Questionnaire surveys were completed by 190 residents and visitors in 2023 to assess whether park designation and development were achieving the desired improvements in human well-being. Respondents also provided feedback on management status and their attitudes toward NDP policy. Responses confirmed that the park generally contributed to diverse benefits, with intangible and environmental benefits rated more highly than socio-economic benefits. However, there were disparities among residents; for example, villagers living the closest to the park perceived lower benefits from the park. While widespread negative impacts were not observed, residents did have some concerns about indirect consequences from visitors. Respondents were positive about the NDP’s future, but responses revealed problems with park management, including the insufficient implementation of requirements for NDP designation and the lack of stakeholder engagement. It is hoped that this study will help improve decision-making for NDPs and thereby further support effective dryland management. Full article

Forest areas have recently become increasingly popular for physical activity in society, especially among niche sports enthusiasts. We analysed the attitude of the specific social group of cross-country skiers in Poland to pay for recreation in forest areas using their Willingness-To-Pay (WTP) and Willingness-To-Accept (WTA) declarations, which was endorsed by classification and regression tree (CART) analysis. In January–March 2023, we surveyed 50 (in a pilot study) and 255 (in the main survey) cross-country skiers, of whom 117 declared both their WTP and WTA amounts. The investigated explanatory variables included gender, age, education, residency, employment in the forestry sector, and respondents’ income or engagement in skiing. The average WTP and WTA values equalled PLN 68.6 ± 46.4 and PLN 81.3 ± 59.0/person, respectively. Despite apparent differences in the distribution of the declared WTP and WTA amounts, their medians differed only insignificantly. We found a significant correlation only between the WTP value and respondents’ income per capita, and between WTP and WTA. The CART models showed that WTP and WTA levels depended primarily on the frequency of skiing, with higher values declared by less frequent visitors. At the current respondent income level, the expenses for skiing were related the most to the respondents’ age and the frequency of skiing. In the case of increased income, they were related mostly to the respondents’ age and place of residence. The research provides practical information for forest managers in the field of recreational access to forests for people who spend their time actively in forests. Full article

This article takes representative uncultivated riverfront internet-famous sites (uncultivated RIFSs) in Changsha city, China, as an example to explore the internal mechanism of their formation and finds that they are closely related to the “urban subculture” and the “informality of urban public space”. In terms of methodology, through questionnaire surveys and in-depth interviews, this study investigates the behavioral characteristics of onsite visitors, the overall perceptions and satisfaction of public spaces, and the perceptions of spatial and humanistic elements of visitors. The main findings are as follows: ① Onsite visitors are mainly male, with local tourists and nearby residents accounting for over 80%. Furthermore, over half of the visitors have limited understanding of the uncultivated RIFSs. ② People’s overall attitudes towards the uncultivated RIFSs are positive. And the ability to carry out meaningful activities and find comfort and safety are of the greatest concern to onsite tourists. ③ Among the visiting reasons, leisure stays accounted for the highest proportion, followed by sightseeing, sports stays and social stays. ④ The onsite visitors’ main focus of spatial elements and humanistic elements is different according to the different sites. However, visitors’ dissatisfaction is mainly reflected in poor site safety and sanitation conditions, inadequate facilities and poor surrounding environments. This paper also compares the online–offline differences in the spatial perceptions of the uncultivated RIFSs between this study and previous research; instead of focusing on the urban physical spaces, online social media users pay more attention to their self-presentation. Meanwhile, the visitors place greater emphasis on the functionality, practicality and experiential activities of the urban physical spaces. Finally, this article proposes optimization strategies for uncultivated RIFSs from planning and governance and public space design aspects to protect and strengthen the composite utilization of space, therefore enhancing diverse vitality. Full article

The Deliblato Sands Special Nature Reserve (SNR) is located in the Autonomous Province of Vojvodina (Northern Serbia). The favorable position implies the proximity to large cities with which it has good traffic connections. Romania, Hungary, Bulgaria, Croatia, and other countries from the region represent a dispersive zone. The topic of this paper is the function that the SNR has in sustainable tourism development. The objective of this work is the analytical research of the available written data, as well as those obtained after the conducted survey. The basis of the research is to find out how and to what extent the SNR contributes to sustainable tourism development. The research was carried out by measuring the value of sustainable tourism indicators, and examining the attitudes of residents, visitors, and students about the current state of sustainable tourism and the importance of the SNR for future tourism development. Respondents were selected using a random sample method. The authors used qualitative and quantitative methodologies in the paper. This research examined the SNR sustainable development by measuring sustainability indicators and surveying 1884 respondents (714 residents, 620 visitors, and 550 students) about sustainable tourism in the SNR. The obtained data were analyzed and presented with the help of SPSS v. 21 software. The research results can be used to create national and international strategies for sustainable tourism development. Full article

The study focuses on the present state and the assessments of geotourism development of the two most representative tufa deposits in the Djerdap National Park—the first UNESCO Global Geopark in Serbia. The findings were designated through implementing the freshly upgraded methodology—M-GAM-1-2 based on an early modified geosites assessment model (M-GAM). To overcome the limitations of the previous model, the authors implemented additional enhancements and involved members of the local community (residents and authorities) in the study to comprehensively evaluate the observed sites. The outcomes revealed that the attitudes of all stakeholders should be taken into consideration in order to develop geotourism properly, additionally attract visitors, and preserve tufa deposits for future generations of locals and visitors. Moreover, geotourism at the observed sites can be one of the vital activities of the population, as well as a type of compensation for various limitations in the development, which are imposed by the regimes of natural and cultural heritage protection within the recently established UNESCO Global Geopark. Full article

Sustainable development can be an element of tourism success if its principles are included in the process of strategic tourism development planning, and if such a concept is one of the strategic development goals. The paper analyzes the impact of the perception of the local population and visitors and their satisfaction with the development of tourism in the protected mountain area of Fruška Gora National Park, which has an abundance of natural, cultural, and social tourism resources that are directly included in the tourism offer. Maintaining natural and social values within this sensitive tourist destination, eliminating negative effects of tourism, strengthening the role of residents and visitors in tourism planning and development, and initiating special and other forms of tourism should be the basis of tourism development in this preserved area. The purpose of the research was to obtain important results on the residents’ attitudes and visitors’ satisfaction with the state of sustainable tourism within this national park, using quantitative methodology and an SPSS analysis of the conducted questionnaire. The respondents’ attitudes referred to environmental, economic, sociocultural, and institutional sustainability as being significant foundations of sustainable tourism development. The results revealed not only that tourism in Fruška Gora National Park was partially sustainable, but also that there was a need to improve all dimensions of sustainability. Such results could be used to transform tourism development strategies by emphasizing the growth of sustainable forms of tourism activities. The construction of tourist facilities and infrastructures must be based on environmental protection and residents must be directly involved in tourism development planning. Full article