Search Results (121)

Digital transformation is reshaping resource linkages, service organization, and consumption scenarios among culture, sports, and tourism. Based on a balanced panel dataset of 30 Chinese provincial administrative regions from 2015 to 2024, this study constructs a culture–sports–tourism industry integration coordination index (CSTI) and a digital economy index (DE), and employs two-way fixed effects, a spatial Durbin model, a panel threshold model, and a quadratic specification to examine the average association, spatial spillover, threshold conditions, and regional heterogeneity of the relationship. The results show that (1) the digital economy has a significant positive association with CSTI, mainly operating through the comprehensive development component rather than the coupling component; (2) stable cross-regional spatial spillovers are not identified, indicating that digital connectivity does not automatically translate into regional coordination; (3) a threshold exists for economic development, but the marginal association weakens beyond the threshold rather than strengthening, and the human capital threshold is only marginally significant; (4) the central and western regions exhibit stronger DE coefficients, while higher initial digital infrastructure weakens the marginal effect; and (5) a significant concave relationship between DE and CSTI is found, but a strict inverted-U shape is not supported. These findings suggest that digital economy-enabled culture–sports–tourism integration is a locally embedded, conditionally dependent transformation process rather than a uniform, self-propagating linear growth path. Full article

Cross-sectoral integration among sports, culture, and tourism has emerged as a crucial pathway for fostering coordinated and sustainable regional development. Using panel data from 30 provincial-level regions in China from 2013 to 2022, this study applies the entropy weight method, coupling coordination degree (CCD) model, kernel density estimation, spatial autocorrelation analysis, and obstacle degree model to examine the spatiotemporal evolution and structural shortfalls of sports–culture–tourism coordination. The results reveal steady improvement in the cultural subsystem, persistent vulnerabilities in the sports subsystem, and notable volatility in tourism. The national mean CCD rose from 0.342 in 2013 to 0.411 in 2019 but subsequently declined to 0.373 in 2022, demonstrating that structural synchrony can coexist with limited overall coordination. Regional differences remained significant, with no sustained convergence. Global Moran’s $I$ revealed positive but weak spatial dependence. Obstacle diagnosis identified primary structural shortfalls in sports infrastructure and public service provision, cultural value conversion, and tourism market capacity. Overall, the findings suggest that cross-sectoral linkage does not automatically translate into substantive coordination, highlighting the necessity of balancing subsystem capacities and tailoring regional development support. Full article

This paper examines the relationship between perceived event quality and visitor loyalty in the context of a river-based sport tourism event. This study examines visitors at the Danube Regatta in Negotin, a small-scale sport-tourism event integrated into the international Danube International Regatta. Drawing on event quality and experience economy frameworks, the study analyses the effects of four dimensions of perceived quality-organizational arrangements, program and atmosphere, environmental care, and infrastructure on visitors’ loyalty, operationalized through revisit intention and recommendation. The authors collected data through an on-site survey of 217 event visitors during the 2025 edition of the event. The analysis employed descriptive statistics, Spearman’s correlation, multiple linear regression, and cluster analysis (K-means). The results show that program and atmosphere represent the strongest predictors of visitor loyalty (β = 0.734, p < 0.001), confirming the dominant role of experiential elements. Organizational arrangements (β = 0.196, p < 0.01) and infrastructure (β = 0.203, p < 0.01) also exert statistically significant positive effects, suggesting their role as supporting conditions rather than primary drivers of loyalty. In contrast, perceived environmental care has a statistically significant negative effect (β = −0.240, p < 0.01), indicating a potentially complex sustainability-related relationship whereby perceived shortcomings in environmental practices reduce loyalty intentions. Cluster analysis identified four distinct visitor segments, highlighting heterogeneous visitor behavior motives and behavioral patterns among event participants. The findings add to the existing literature by providing empirical support for a multidimensional event quality–visitor loyalty framework in the context of small-scale river-based sport events. The study highlights the primacy of experiential components while emphasizing the need for more visible and effective environmental management practices in nature-based events. Full article

Stand-up paddleboarding (SUP) at Sun Moon Lake, Taiwan, requires selective attribute prioritisation under operational and environmental constraints. This study develops a five-stage theoretical–procedural framework that organises participant needs through Schmitt’s experiential modules, classifies asymmetric quality functions using Kano analysis, links attributes to acceptable price and behavioural intention, and compares Kano-derived priorities with an evaluation–outcome priority matrix (EOPM). A quantitatively dominant sequential mixed-method design combined interviews with four operators and one certified coach, field observations, online reviews, and an electronic survey administered from 8 to 24 May 2023 to a purposive convenience sample of participants with prior SUP experience at Sun Moon Lake; 450 of 499 responses were usable (90.1%). Analyses included descriptive statistics, Kano classification, Satisfaction Improvement and Dissatisfaction Reduction Coefficients (SIC/DRC), 5000-resample bootstrap subgroup comparisons, correlation analysis, exploratory factor analysis, multiple regression, and the EOPM. Relaxation (SIC = 0.749) and happiness (SIC = 0.744) produced the largest satisfaction gains, whereas safety (DRC = −0.636) and shower facilities (DRC = −0.607) showed the strongest dissatisfaction sensitivity. Professional coaching (r = 0.349), skill instruction (r = 0.339), and safety (r = 0.331) were the strongest correlates of composite behavioural intention (Cronbach’s α = 0.941). Exploratory factor analysis identified experiential–relational enhancement and operational–competence support; both predicted behavioural intention (β = 0.174 and 0.296, respectively; adjusted R² = 0.182). The EOPM identified safety and skill instruction as strategic strengths, while professional coaching remained an improvement priority, illustrating partial convergence between asymmetric quality and outcome-based prioritisation. The framework supports selective investment in non-negotiable operational foundations and high-leverage experiential enhancements in eco-sensitive sport tourism. Full article

Studying sustainability in marine and coastal tourism within national parks is essential to balance visitor use with the conservation of fragile ecosystems and biodiversity. In this context, the Galápagos Archipelago is a major coastal and marine destination in Ecuador, recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The aim of this empirical study was (i) to identify the principal motivational dimensions in sustainable coastal and marine destinations; (ii) to determine which motivations significantly predict tourist satisfaction in these contexts; and (iii) to establish which motivations influence loyalty in sustainable coastal and marine destinations. The research was conducted in situ, obtaining 407 valid questionnaires. Multiple regression analysis and exploratory factor analysis were applied. The results reveal six motivational factors: learning; heritage and nature; sun and beach; sports; authentic coastal experience; novelty; and social interaction. The motivation that most strongly predicts satisfaction is heritage and nature, followed by novelty. Likewise, the motivation that most strongly predicts loyalty is heritage and nature, with additional influence from sun and beach and sports motivations. These findings provide practical guidance for the development of sustainable destination management plans and contribute to the academic literature on sustainability, satisfaction, and loyalty in coastal and marine tourism contexts. Full article

Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) are increasingly tasked with fostering pro-environmental agency to address the global climate crisis. Within physical activity and sport sciences, future nautical sports managers occupy a unique role as stewards of marine ecosystems. This study investigates the sustainability consciousness of 170 undergraduate university students from a single institution. It focuses on analyzing the knowledge–action gap within the framework of the 2030 Agenda. Utilizing the Sustainability Consciousness Questionnaire (SCQ-S), this work assessed knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors to quantify this dissonance through a robust non-parametric statistical pipeline. Results indicate a significant knowledge–action gap ($r_B$ = 0.903), representing a large matched-pairs rank-biserial correlation effect size for the Wilcoxon test. Furthermore, Kruskal–Wallis analyses reveal that this discrepancy is transversal across student profiles, suggesting a state of informed paralysis within this specific cohort, where high theoretical mastery fails to translate into sustainable professional routines. Crucially, the frequency of engagement in nature-based sports, encompassing both nautical and terrestrial outdoor activities, does not significantly reduce this dissonance. These contextual findings indicate that physical exposure to nature does not automatically mitigate the knowledge–action gap, highlighting the need for explicit reflective pedagogies in higher education. Full article

La Paz Bay is one of the most important destinations for recreational fishing events in Baja California Sur, Mexico, with significant tourist activity that supports ecosystem services and provides economic benefits to participants, benefits that have not yet been economically measured. The aim of this study was to estimate the willingness to pay (WTP) of anglers who participated in sport-fishing events and to propose tourism promotion and recreational fisheries management strategies. Applying 184 face-to-face surveys at sport fishing events in LPB held in 2022 and 2023 to collect information regarding fishers’ and fishing trips characteristics, and using the individual travel cost method to estimate the individual WTP per angler, which ranges from USD 50.96 to 625.63, and the recreational economic value of fishing events in La Paz was estimated at USD 0.89 to 1.11 million. Strategies for conserving species reserved for sport fishing and promoting tourism are discussed, which could help improve tournament activity and promote the rational use of natural resources. This study represents the first effort aiming to value sport fishing events in Mexico. Also, demonstrates the economic relevance of sport fishing events for recreational fisheries management and tourism-promoting policies in LPB. It provides evidence that conserving sport-fishing species could enhance management strategies and sustainable tourism promotion policies for this recreational activity. Full article

Drawing on sport tourism, sport ecology, and environmental policy scholarship, this narrative review argues that the event schedule architecture should be positioned as a strategic tool for managing sport-tourism externalities. Evaluation against standard instrument-choice criteria shows that the schedule architecture performs strongly in regards to cost-effectiveness, uncertainty handling, and institutional compatibility, but faces serious political feasibility constraints rooted in regulatory capture, the absence of mandatory environmental impact assessment, and misalignment between organization-level commitments and league-level scheduling authority. Five research gaps are identified and matched with a research agenda covering political economy, quantitative instrument comparison, procedural reform design, demographic and geographic extension, and causal evaluation. The contribution frames the event schedule architecture as a strategic-management instrument for sport-tourism sustainability and connects it to Sustainable Development Goals 11, 12, 13, and 17. Full article

This study investigates the spatial distribution of ambient dose equivalent rates (ADER) on Avala and Kosmaj mountains, two protected landscapes located within the territory of the City of Belgrade, Serbia. Both sites, characterized by rich biodiversity and cultural heritage, were analyzed to assess their radiological safety and suitability for outdoor recreation. In mid-October 2025, in situ measurements were conducted at 42 sampling points using the Radex RD1503+ GM counter. The recorded values ranged from 0.085 to 0.2 µSv/h, remaining below the recommended safety threshold of 0.2 µSv/h. To visualize the gamma dose spatial variability, all field data were georeferenced and processed in QGIS 3.28.10 using the Inverse Distance Weighting (IDW) interpolation method. Integration of GIS and Remote Sensing techniques enabled the correlation between gamma radiation patterns, land cover, and elevation gradients derived from digital elevation models (DEMs). The comprehensive GIS-based approach confirms that Avala and Kosmaj maintain low natural background radiation levels comparable to global averages for similar geomorphological settings, and therefore are safe and suitable for sports, tourism and recreation. The applied combination of field dosimetry, Remote Sensing, and geostatistical modeling provides a valuable framework for continuous environmental monitoring and sustainable landscape management in protected mountainous landscapes in Central Serbia. Full article

Sustainable coastal destinations offer a variety of natural and cultural activities that form a construct of motivations that influence tourist behavior regarding their willingness to return to and recommend the destination. In this sense, the present study aimed to achieve the following objectives: to identify the motivations that drive tourist demand in sustainable coastal destinations, to establish which motivations predict tourist satisfaction in coastal destinations, and to determine which motivations predict tourist loyalty in coastal destinations. There are behavioral variables to consider, such as the intention to return, willingness to recommend the destination, and propensity to speak positively about it. The study was carried out in Montañita (Ecuador), a major surfing city in Latin America with extensive potential for water sports. A total of 380 valid surveys were collected on-site for quantitative analysis. Multiple regression and exploratory factor analysis were among the methods used. The final results showed five motivational dimensions linked to tourism in coastal areas, including nature and culture, sun and sea, recreational and sporting activities, novelty, and social interaction. Among all these factors, social interactivity and novelty stood out as the elements that had the greatest impact on visitor loyalty and satisfaction, followed by the sun and beach component. The findings will serve as input for destination managers to develop sustainable management guidelines and are also a contribution to academic literature. Full article

Over the past 20 years, trends in the construction or renovation of football stadiums have undergone rapid transformation. Simple sports venues are constantly evolving into multifunctional facilities and play a decisive role in shaping cities’ image. To date, significant emphasis has been placed on developing stadiums as venues for sporting events, with a focus on supply-side perspectives, particularly in relation to design, marketing, and sustainability. However, we know relatively little about how the direct consumers of this product, the visitors to these facilities, experience and perceive these infrastructures, especially outside of match days. This paper follows a framework for researching this perspective, focusing on the services provided as key points of interest in stadium tourism, and on the written reactions on social networks. This framework is implemented by employing a set of well-known single-word themes, matching each review to these themes, and finally measuring the sentiment of the collected short texts as an implicit indicator of sentiment on the studied themes. Its realization is based on natural language processing, semantic similarity analysis, and sentiment evaluation to identify dominant themes, recurring lexical patterns, and emotional tones in visitor comments. The study concerns thirteen major European stadiums and reviews posted on Google and TripAdvisor. The research findings highlight the themes that shape a unique tourist experience, capturing tourist interests in stadium tourism in the post-COVID-19 era. Finally, the individual evaluation of the themes provides practical and clear tools for stadium managers, tourism operators, destination managers and legislators who seek to maximize visitor engagement and multiply the overall socio-economic value of these iconic infrastructures for the benefit of the wider urban environment that hosts them. Full article

As global sustainable development increasingly intersects with rapid advances in artificial intelligence (AI), understanding how emerging technologies reshape corporate environmental, social, and governance (ESG) behavior has become essential. This study investigates the role of artificial intelligence adoption in shaping firms’ ESG performance and analyzes the channels through which such effects are realized. Panel data on Chinese A-share listed tourism enterprises for the period 2013–2023 were used in the analysis. Grounded in corporate social responsibility theory and stakeholder theory, the empirical analysis indicates that the adoption of artificial intelligence is positively associated with improved ESG performance among tourism enterprises. Further analysis suggests that AI adoption positively affects ESG performance mainly through two channels: customer base diversification and improvements in corporate reputation. Moderating effect tests reveal that climate risk strengthens the promoting effect of AI on ESG performance, while media attention weakens this effect. The heterogeneity results indicate that the positive impact of AI adoption on ESG performance is stronger among firms facing less government environmental scrutiny and those operating outside the culture, sports, and entertainment sectors. These findings deepen the understanding of how emerging technologies support sustainable corporate development in the tourism industry and provide evidence that may assist policymakers in promoting the coordinated advancement of AI applications and green governance. Full article

This paper addresses the problem of imbalance between coastal and inland areas and recognises the reuse of abandoned buildings as an evolutionary regeneration strategy which, through specific interventions linked by a system of routes for tourism and sport, can gradually trigger sustainable development on a regional scale. It presents research conducted in recent years on behalf of local administrations and continued in national and European projects. The reference context is the Abruzzo region, where coastal, hilly and mountainous areas are a short distance apart and include both densely built-up and populated urban centres and small depopulated towns surrounded by landscapes of high environmental value. The objective is to define, through the responsible use of built resources, viable and sustainable strategies for regeneration and rebalancing oriented towards the concept of transformative resilience. The methodology adopted is divided into phases and includes both theoretical developments and case study applications according to an approach that networks building restoration and reuse interventions in the region. The key results consist of defining a reuse logic that considers the regional territory as a whole, linking different resources, functions and environments. This logic, which envisages the organisation of new functions on a regional scale, emphasises the capacity of building reuse to produce positive effects on the territory and trigger socio-economic development dynamics. This research forms part of the experience underlying a project of significant national interest (PRIN 2022 TRIALs), which will provide guidelines for activating the transformative resilience capacities of inland areas of central Italy. Full article

As an emerging sports tourism event, Guizhou’s “Village Super League” injects new vitality into the optimization of human–land relationships and the development of household livelihoods in traditional villages of ethnic mountainous regions. Studying five affected traditional tourism villages from an “event–actor–capital” perspective using mixed methods, this research finds the following: (1) The composite average score of household livelihood capital is 0.3177, indicating a medium–low level, which suggests that households’ livelihood structure still requires significant enhancement despite the tourism boost from the “Village Super League”. (2) There is an imbalance in development among the villages. The livelihoods of households under the influence of the “Village Super League” exhibit distinct characteristics, being “driven by external flows, led by social capital, supported by the material foundation, and coordinated with other forms of capital.” (3) The evolution of household livelihoods follows a pathway of “event-driven supplementation, endogenous renewal of actors, capital integration and synergy.” By constructing shared event memory markers, the livelihoods of villages at different stages of tourism development demonstrate differentiated dynamic mechanisms. The findings deepen the theoretical understanding of livelihoods in traditional villages under event-driven development. Consequently, this study recommends that policymakers and community stewards channel transient social capital and external flows into durable physical and financial assets to ensure livelihood sustainability beyond the initial event boom. Full article

The analysis of perceived impacts of sporting events and sport tourism is a growing research field. The Sierra Morena Rally, held in Córdoba, Spain, and included for the first time in the European Rally Championship (ERC) in 2025, provides an opportunity to examine residents’ perceptions of both positive and negative effects. This study aims to identify profiles of perception and support towards the event. The theoretical framework integrates the Triple Bottom Line (TBL), Social Exchange Theory (SET), and Social Representations Theory (SRT). Based on 479 valid surveys collected during the rally, an Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) identified five factors of perceived impact: positive economic–social, positive environmental, negative economic, negative social, and negative environmental. A non-hierarchical k-means cluster analysis revealed four distinct groups: Critics, who emphasize negative impacts; Enthusiasts, focused on economic–social benefits; Pragmatic Supporters, showing balanced but conditional support; and Supporters Environmentally Concerned, combining favorable views with ecological awareness. The results confirm the heterogeneity of residents’ perceptions and align with previous findings in the literature of motorsport events. Overall, the study contributes to understanding the social sustainability of rally events and highlights the importance of incorporating perceptual diversity into their management. Full article