Search Results (764)

Folk culture is an important asset for rural tourism and is crucial for maintaining the vitality of traditional villages. However, many traditional villages face underutilized folk cultural resources, inadequate systematic analysis, and mismatches between resources and markets, which impede the sustainability of rural tourism. To address this gap, this study applies the Resource–Market–Product (RMP) framework to systematically analyze the development of folk culture tourism. The aims are to identify the gaps among resources, markets, and products in folk culture tourism in Xidi Village and propose effective development strategies. This study integrates multiple data sources, including a local chronicle, a pilot survey, and online content analysis. The results reveal that the three core dimensions are generally consistent, but significant gaps exist. Participants identify key strategies to promote folk culture tourism in Xidi Village, including developing a material product system that highlights local characteristics, innovating diversified nonmaterial folk cultural tourism experiences, designing attractive folk culture tourism routes and scenic spot tour lines, and addressing the importance of differentiated tourist demands. This study systematically identifies the challenges and opportunities associated with folk culture tourism in traditional villages in rural areas. It provides feasible insights for promoting sustainable rural tourism and revitalizing traditional culture. Full article

The urgency of research into innovation and digital marketing is driven by growing competition within the tourism industry, which demands greater destination visibility (DV) and tourist engagement (TE). At the same time, Areia Branca Beach, a prominent destination in Timor-Leste, has not been managed optimally to support sustainable tourism. Furthermore, the utilisation of governance innovation and digital marketing—particularly the integration of content marketing (CM), immersive technology (IT), and digital data analytics (DDA)—remains limited and has yet to be substantiated by robust empirical evidence at the scale of a developing destination. This study aims to investigate the role of DDA in the causality between CM and IT in influencing DV and TE. A quantitative approach was employed, using moderated regression analysis (MRA) to test the empirical relationships between the variables. Primary data were collected through face-to-face field surveys of tourists who had visited Areia Branca Beach, located northeast of Dili, Timor-Leste, on at least two occasions. The study adopted simple random sampling (SRS) with a finite population correction (FPC). A total of 364 tourists were selected to assess their perceptions using a structured questionnaire. The study reveals four main findings. First, CM significantly affects DDA and DV. Second, IT influences DDA, but not TE. Third, DDA significantly affects both DV and TE. Fourth, DDA moderates the effect of CM on DV and the effect of IT on TE. The findings underscore that the collaborative governance concept, through governance and marketing innovations, is not yet optimal for shaping sustainable tourism. Finally, future academic and practical policy implications require more in-depth exploration to emphasise the enhancement of resource management capacity genuinely needed in the subjects studied, beyond governance and digital marketing innovations within the sustainable tourism framework. Full article

This research study examines a renewable energy system that has been designed to meet the water needs of Mykonos, a tourism-dependent island in Greece with high seasonal demand. The proposed system consists of 22 wind turbines of 2.3 MW each, 4 desalination units with a total capacity of 1400 m³/h and multiple pumped-hydro storage reservoirs with a total volume of 3,900,000 m³. Two operational scenarios were analyzed. Water production through desalination was prioritized in both scenarios; however, their difference lies in the way excess renewable energy has been allocated: that is either to storage or to electricity generation. The results indicate that water demand in Mykonos is almost fully met in both scenarios, reaching a coverage of 99.9%. However, there is a significant difference between the two scenarios regarding energy coverage, which corresponds to coverage rates of 73% and 79%, respectively. From an economic perspective, the marginal selling price of electricity is EUR/MWh 100 and the cost of desalinated water ranges from EUR/m³ 0.48 to 0.91 depending on the operating scenario. Overall, the results demonstrate nearly complete water autonomy in both scenarios, whereas the second scenario is proven optimal in terms of energy coverage. This approach proves that integrated water and energy management can lower fossil fuel use and improve sustainability on islands with strong seasonal variations. Full article

Ice-and-snow tourism cities face pronounced seasonal fluctuations that place strong pressure on urban accommodation systems. Understanding the spatial distribution, accessibility, and service capacity of hotels is therefore critical for sustainable tourism management in cold-region cities. Taking Harbin, China, as a representative winter tourism destination, this study develops a GIS-based spatial analytical framework to examine the spatial organization and service performance of star-rated hotels. Using data from 553 three-star and above hotels, combined with questionnaire survey data (N = 224), we apply the Nearest Neighbor Index (NNI), Kernel Density Estimation (KDE), and raster-based cost-distance accessibility analysis to identify spatial clustering patterns, accessibility differentiation, and mismatches between hotel supply and peak seasonal demand. We find that available hotel rooms can only meet about 60% of peak-season demand, indicating a severe capacity deficit. The results reveal a clear core–periphery spatial structure of star-rated hotels, significant accessibility disparities among hotel categories, and a pronounced mismatch between accommodation capacity and tourism demand during peak winter seasons. Peripheral areas exhibit limited accessibility and insufficient service capacity, while central districts experience high concentration and pressure. These findings highlight the importance of integrating spatial equity and seasonal demand considerations into accommodation planning and infrastructure optimization, providing policy-relevant insights for sustainable tourism development in cold-region cities. Full article

The architecture of spas and recreational complexes is increasingly being analyzed not only through the prism of its formal diversity but also through its functional, technical, and esthetic responses to evolving societal expectations. This article descriptively examines the context of evolving user needs and select examples representing new architectural forms integrated into the landscape, responding to the growing demand for beauty (understood subjectively), experiences, and emotional value in 21st-century tourism and recreation. The most diverse and characteristic examples were selected and described in order to maintain a broad context of analysis and illustrate contemporary changes as faithfully as possible. The descriptive approach enables a systematic and comprehensive representation of phenomena, identifying recurring patterns, spatial trends, and contextual relationships. Rather than being limited to numerical data, it provides a structured analytical framework that supports the objective documentation of architectural and urban processes. The aim of this study is to systematize selected design trends that reflect contemporary cultural aspirations and environmental concerns, and to illustrate the evolving relationship between architecture, nature, and users. The results indicate a consistent shift toward landscape-integrated, experiential, and esthetically driven architectural solutions, demonstrating that contemporary tourism facilities increasingly prioritize atmosphere, immersion in nature, and sensory engagement over traditional utilitarian design. This study concludes that beauty, understood as subjective esthetic experience, has become a key determinant in shaping new architectural forms, reinforcing the role of architecture as both a cultural expression and a tool for enhancing well-being in tourism and leisure environments. Full article

The Wua-Lai silvercraft community in Chiang Mai is experiencing a widening disconnect with younger visitors, raising concerns about the erosion of intangible cultural heritage. This study evaluates “Silver Craft Journey,” a location-based augmented reality (LBAR) system designed to revitalize cultural engagement and enhance cultural-heritage experience through context-aware, gamified exploration. A quasi-experimental field study with 254 participants across three age groups examined the system’s impact on cultural-heritage experience, knowledge acquisition, and real-world engagement. Results demonstrate substantial knowledge gains, with a mean increase of 7.74 points (SD = 4.37) and a large effect size (Cohen’s d = 1.77), supporting the effectiveness of LBAR in supporting tangible and intangible heritage understanding. Behavioral log data reveal clear age-related engagement patterns: older participants (41–51) showed declining mission completion rates and reduced interaction times at later points of interest, which may reflect increased cognitive and physical demands during extended AR navigation under real-world conditions. These findings underscore the potential of location-based AR to enhance cultural-heritage experience in real-world settings while highlighting the importance of age-adaptive interaction and route-design strategies. The study contributes a replicable model for integrating digital tourism, embodied AR experience, and community-based heritage preservation. Full article

This study examines the determinants of talent retention in the hotel sector of Extremadura, a peripheral European region facing depopulation, labour scarcity and structural limitations that threaten the sustainability of its human capital base. Grounded in the Job Demands–Resources (JD-R) theory, the research analyses how a set of key labour resources, specifically professional training, organisational trust, job satisfaction and sustainability commitment, influence employees’ intention to remain in their organisations. These resources are conceptualised as organisational and motivational mechanisms that enhance employees’ capacity to cope with job demands and reinforce their attachment to the organisation. A quantitative survey was conducted with hotel-sector employees in Extremadura; 255 questionnaires were validated, and the proposed structural model was tested using SEM. The findings show that organisational trust is the strongest predictor of retention, followed by professional training and sustainability commitment, while job satisfaction also exerts a significant, though more moderate, effect. These results indicate that enhancing fairness perceptions, strengthening continuous training pathways and integrating sustainability-oriented values are essential strategies for retaining qualified personnel in territories with limited external opportunities. Rather than measuring human capital sustainability directly, the study shows that talent retention operates as a central empirical mechanism through which the sustainability of human capital can be supported in peripheral tourism economies. It concludes by highlighting the need for managerial practices that support transparent leadership, structured professional development and participatory sustainability initiatives, and encourages future research to incorporate longitudinal designs and direct measures of human capital sustainability. Full article

The effects of global change on the planet are undeniable, especially in terms of climate change, which is alarming in regions with water resource deficiencies, such as arid and semi-arid territories. One such territory is the Region of Murcia (Spain), in the southeast of which lies the Campo de Cartagena region. It is place where rainwater has historically been essential for settlement and traditional agricultural and livestock farming, giving rise to a valuable, now-forgotten water heritage. Through historical, spatial, climatic, and statistical analysis, we aim to demonstrate the significant implementation of these infrastructures in the study area and identify the causes of their abandonment, despite the continued increase in demand for water by all economic sectors, especially the agricultural, urban and tourism sectors. The results demonstrate the existence of five traditional runoff management infrastructures (cisterns, dams, runoff water channels, terracing and benching), and that the effects of global change have been decisive in their neglect, especially those related to climate change and land use modifications, in addition to increased demographic and socioeconomic pressure. Full article

The intangible accessibility of real estate markets via platforms like Airbnb profoundly influences the urban development industry, propelled by the dynamics of short- to medium-term rentals for tourists. The suggested study aims to examine the association between the prices of listed properties and the influence of proximity to tourist attractions on location-driven pricing. The city of Rome acts as a case study from which to derive pertinent conclusions and proof on the phenomena intended for exploration. The methodological approach relies on a comprehensive classification of locations recognized as tourist attractions, drawn from public resources, travel guides, search engines, and online trends. The identified attractionswere subsequently classified to analyze how spatial proximity influences price formation. Data on short-term rental listings were obtained from the Inside Airbnb platform. The results enable the characterization of Rome as a polycentric urban system, composed of multiple tourism hubs whose spatial interactions are closely associated with prevailing hotel pricing patterns. This study emphasizes the influence of tourist demand on land values, a phenomenon intricately connected to urban gentrification and the capitalization of the real estate market. These findings enhance comprehension of tourism’s impact on the geographical and economic structure of cities. Full article

Historic religious cities are living examples of cultural landscapes where spiritual traditions, heritage, and visitor experiences combine to demonstrate a timeless experience. It is very challenging to achieve balance among the demands of mass pilgrimage, heritage preservation, and urbanization. Govardhan, India is a Hindu religious town with historical significance. Millions of pilgrims travel to Govardhan every year to perform parikrama and take a holy dip in kunds. The quality of the visitor experience, spatial coherence, and heritage conservation are all at risk due to increasing urbanization and tourism. The study intends to create a paradigm for the sustainable management of religious heritage towns by evaluating the factors involving visitor perception, historical significance, and spatial visibility, employing a combination of computational methods and cognitive assessments. The study employed space syntax tools (visibility graph analysis and isovist area analysis) to quantify spatial significance (SS) and identify patterns of openness, congestion, and visibility along the parikrama route of Govardhan. By examining pilgrims’ cognitive surveys for openness, orientation, congestion, and spiritual impression, a cognitive index (CI) and heritage importance scores (HIS) have been developed. The computed spatial significance (SS) has been correlated with cognitive index (CI) and heritage importance (HIS) scores to create an experiential priority index (EPI). The study employs a mixed-method approach that incorporates heritage significance scoring, cognitive surveys, and spatial analytics, including methods such as the isovist area analysis and visibility graph analysis. In order to assess how spatial arrangement and intangible perceptions together influence visitor experience, these statistics are further combined using a composite experiential priority index (EPI). The findings show a strong correlation between spiritual orientation, visual connectivity, and spatial openness; locations such as ‘punchari ka lota temple’ and ‘kusum sarovar’ are high-priority nodes. In accordance with United Nation Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) (11, 9, 12, 4.7, and 8.9), this research proposes a heritage impact assessment (HIA) framework that provides workable solutions for ecological restoration, heritage-sensitive zoning, sustainable pilgrimage management, and enhanced tourism. Full article

The concept of bioregions stands out among the various approaches to sustainable territorial development, as it prioritises the initiative of local communities in addressing sustainability issues. At the same time, the concept of bioregions is diverse in practice, focusing on organic farming, tourism, local culture and also nature protection. Therefore, a balanced approach to the development of bioregions, which considers the specific characteristics of a particular area and the needs of its local community, is important. The present research employed the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) approach to analyse economic, ecological and social value added as the main criteria, alongside their subordinate subcriteria. As a result, three scenarios were designed: the Broad Integration Scenario, the Conservative Scenario and the Culture and Tourism Scenario. The dominant strategy was found to be the Culture and Tourism scenario, focusing on tourism and local cultural values. This strategy can contribute to increasing the consumption of local products and services while preserving the cultural values and ensuring a balanced approach to sustainable development. At the same time, the Broad Integration Scenario revealed that a broad—and perhaps an aggressive—approach to sustainable development was highly controversial, as it had the greatest dispersion in priority vector values. Bioregionalism, however, is a little-supported approach that does not gain support from either sustainability or rapid growth advocates. The results reveal the importance of a long-term approach to sustainable development and, at the same time, implicitly point to the role of public attitudes, both in terms of supply (through local community initiatives in bioregionalisation) and demand, which could increase the consumption of bioregional products and services. Full article

Health tourism, including spa-based treatments, is an important segment of global travel, and its growth reflects increasing demand for experiences that combine physical well-being with contact with nature. Polish health spa resorts are rich in balneological resources such as mineral and thermal waters, peloids, and therapeutic gases, and they offer a variety of products and services based on geoheritage. This paper introduces the concept of geoproducts—goods and services inspired by abiotic nature—and explores their role in spa tourism and sustainable regional development. Through questionnaire surveys conducted in 48 Polish spa towns, the study examines how these resources are promoted and exploited, the forms and functions of local geoproducts, and the barriers to their dissemination. The results show that, although most spas acknowledge the value of geoheritage, promotion primarily employs traditional formats and is limited in educational content. Nevertheless, there is strong local interest in developing geotourism and geoeducation, especially through the creation of unique, regionally rooted products. The study underlines the potential of geoproducts to enhance spa attractiveness, support local economies, and contribute to broader environmental awareness. Full article

As global climate change intensifies, research on low-carbon practices has become a critical component of sustainable tourism development. The carbon emission profile of ski tourism differs significantly from other tourism sectors. Ski resorts have a mountainous terrain and typically maintain relatively high levels of vegetation, endowing them with inherent advantages for pioneering low-carbon and sustainable tourism practices. However, the substantial energy demands associated with artificial snowmaking systems and advanced infrastructure pose significant challenges to reducing carbon emissions in ski resort operations. This study gathers first-hand data on sustainable tourism development in the Chongli ski resort—the region that hosted the 2022 Winter Olympics—through field investigations and interviews with key industry stakeholders. It develops a comprehensive framework accounting for carbon emissions in ski resorts by integrating input–output analysis with enterprise-level data, focusing on four core operational sectors: catering, skiing, wholesale and retail, and leasing and business services. Furthermore, this study examines the coupling relationship between carbon emissions and operating revenue. Using correlation and regression analyses, this study identifies the key drivers of carbon emissions across these operational departments within the ski tourism sector. The results indicate that carbon emissions from these four sectors in the Chongli ski resort exhibit periodic fluctuations with an overall upward trend year by year. Nevertheless, progress in low-carbon development is evident, suggesting that the resort is on a trajectory toward achieving peak carbon emissions and eventual carbon neutrality. The inclusion of natural endowments, market-scale effects, festival and special events, and capital investment in ski tourism collectively serve as crucial drivers for low-carbon sustainability in Chongli. Based on these findings, this study proposes targeted recommendations to support low-carbon sustainable development, offering scientific insights for similar Winter Olympics host cities. This study integrates top-down input–output analysis with bottom-up enterprise data, taking Chongli, the host city of the Winter Olympics, as a timely case study. It constructs a four-dimensional low-carbon development model based on the identification of key natural, social, and economic driving factors, and strengthens the reliability of the conclusion by relying on first-hand field research and operator interview data. Our study provides an analysis of methodological innovation, framework integrity, and solid empirical evidence that accounts for micro-scale carbon emissions in ski resorts. Full article

This study investigates the resilience dynamics of the Maldives’ tourism sector through a longitudinal analysis of tourist arrivals from six global regions (2008–2024), focusing on spatiotemporal behavioral shifts induced by external shocks such as the COVID-19 pandemic. Using ANOVA and time-series data, the findings reveal divergent recovery trajectories across regions, highlighting resilience as a differentiated and adaptive process. European markets exhibited a rapid, V-shaped rebound, surpassing pre-pandemic levels by 2022, reflecting the “One Island, One Resort” model’s alignment with post-crisis preferences for safety, isolation, and controlled environments. Conversely, Asian markets experienced a more gradual, L-shaped recovery due to extended mobility restrictions and slower border reopening. The analysis further demonstrates that tourism seasonality has been structurally reconfigured, with European arrivals still driven by climatic “push” factors (winter-sun demand). In contrast, Middle Eastern travel is anchored in cultural and religious “pull” factors, such as halal tourism and school vacations. These findings emphasize that tourism resilience is spatially, temporally, and behaviorally contingent, rather than uniform. Accordingly, policymakers should move beyond one-size-fits-all recovery models and implement spatially targeted, adaptive strategies, including customized marketing, diversified tourism offerings, and crisis-ready governance frameworks, to mitigate seasonality and reinforce the Maldives’ long-term capacity to withstand future shocks. Full article

As sustainability becomes central to tourism, tourists are no longer passive consumers but active stakeholders who influence organizational behavior. This study investigates how green consumer behavior (GCB) shapes expectations for employee green competencies and organizational sustainability strategy (OSS). Data were collected through a structured survey of 326 domestic tourists in Albania. Green skills expectation (GSE) was modeled as a latent construct derived from two observed variables: green loyalty and brand image, and willingness to support sustainability. Statistical analyses included exploratory factor analysis (EFA), K-means clustering and structural equation modeling (SEM). GCB significantly predicted both OSS and GSE, confirming that green tourists influence how organizations structure and communicate their sustainability practices. Cluster analysis identified two consumer profiles: committed eco-tourists and green-adaptive tourists. This study advances current understanding of how tourists act as external agents of internal organizational change. It extends the theoretical discourse on green marketing and sustainable workforce development by positioning tourist expectations as a driver of human resource transformation. The findings offer meaningful implications for tourism operators, educators and policymakers seeking to align employee training and service delivery with the demands of sustainability-oriented travelers. In this way, the study bridges the gap between consumer behavior and workforce development, contributing to a more integrated approach to sustainable tourism. Full article