Search Results (60)

The exploration of the ecosystem service value of rural tourism destinations and their driving factors is regarded as an important approach for promoting the high-quality development of rural tourism and achieving rural revitalization. At present, both industry and academia lack quantitative analyses and integrated optimization approaches for small-scale landscape elements within the context of rural tourism destinations. An examination of rural ecosystem service values from a small-scale perspective can assist rural areas in precisely enhancing ecological functions, advancing rural landscape construction, and fostering high-quality rural development. Six sample sites within rural tourism areas in the Yangtze River Delta region were selected, and the functional value method, willingness-to-pay method, and binary logistic regression model were comprehensively applied to assess ecosystem service values and their influencing factors. The results indicate that: (1) Significant differences exist in ecosystem service values across small-scale rural landscapes, primarily attributable to variations in cultural service values, which constitute the dominant component of the overall value. (2) Cultural service values are manifested in tourists’ willingness to pay, which is closely associated with the configuration types of rural small-scale landscapes. (3) Tourists’ willingness to pay is primarily influenced by their cognition of cultural services and by psychological perception factors. According to the regression results, perceived importance of cultural service protection, concerns regarding damage, levels of tourist satisfaction, and willingness to revisit exert significant negative effects on willingness to pay. (4) High-demand tourism motives exhibit only a weak correlation with willingness to pay. (5) Low-demand motivations significantly suppress willingness to pay. The conclusions serve as a reference for the quantification of small-scale rural landscape values and the examination of mechanisms underlying their multiple influencing factors, as well as for the optimization of rural landscape planning, design, and sustainable management practices. Full article

This research investigates the intersection of construction innovation and cultural heritage through the lens of tourist perceptions of the world’s largest carved golden Buddha, situated at Khao Chi Chan Mountain, Pattaya, Thailand. Positioned as an emerging tourism destination, this site contributes to the rebranding of Pattaya as a globally significant hub for religious tourism. This study highlights how this monumental Buddha statue fosters spiritual experiences, promotes the conservation of art and culture, and encapsulates a historical narrative tied to Thailand’s royal lineage. Notably, the statue’s creation employed a pioneering technique—the only one of its kind worldwide—involving laser-guided carving by artisans, followed by gold leaf application to enhance its aesthetic magnificence. A mixed-methods research approach was adopted, integrating historical document analysis with narrative accounts of the statue’s construction using modern technology, complemented by quantitative data collected through tourist questionnaires. By documenting the historical use of laser technology in creating this iconic Buddhist landmark, this research corrects misconceptions about its construction process and highlights the innovative application of a 20 W Argon ion laser for drawing the image of Buddha on the cliff. This study evaluates tourist perceptions using the DHARMA model, revealing how Destination Identity, Heritage Values, and Memorable Experiences foster emotional connections and spiritual enrichment (β = 0.801, p < 0.001). The findings underscore Khao Chi Chan’s potential to reposition Pattaya as a hub for Buddhist tourism, diversifying its image beyond nightlife-centric tourism. This work contributes to sustainable tourism by demonstrating how sacred sites can balance cultural preservation and economic vitality, offering insights for heritage management and urban tourism development in Southeast Asia. Full article

Tourism marketing videos can lead to positive emotions and visit intention. This study investigated the impact of VR and 2D tourism videos on user engagement, perception, and emotional responses. This research adopted a priori coding, analyzed 52 interviews using thematic analysis, and concluded a framework with six dimensions, including interactivity, authenticity, presence, cognitive value, hedonic value, and learning value. Findings indicate that VR videos compared to 2D allow users to explore the environment actively and feel an increased sense of presence. However, challenges such as rapid movement, lack of control, and distractions were also reported. VR does not necessarily lead to a higher sense of authenticity because the fast-paced sequences and distracting elements may negatively affect the experiences. Regarding cognitive values, participants mentioned that the videos increased their knowledge of the destination, particularly the 2D format video maintained viewers’ focus. VR facilitates exploration and may enhance learning value. Videos can also generate hedonic value, as many participants reported the emotions of excitement, happiness, and relaxation while watching videos. The findings extend the literature on immersive experiences in the video context. This research also offers practical insights into tourism marketers to design more engaging and effective tourism videos. Full article

Tourist loyalty is vital for destination success, fostering repeat visits and positive word-of-mouth. This study explores the psychological and safety-related factors driving tourist loyalty to natural attractions in Oman, a rising destination known for its stability and safety. Using Social Cognitive Theory as a foundation, the research incorporates perceived risk and novelty seeking as key moderating variables. Data were collected via an online survey of 165 international tourists and analyzed through Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM). Findings show that attachment, satisfaction, and novelty seeking significantly affect both attitudinal and behavioral loyalty. While perceived value strongly influences behavioral loyalty, its impact on attitudinal loyalty appears more complex, suggesting possible unobserved mediators. Additionally, risk perception and novelty seeking moderate the link between destination familiarity and loyalty, underscoring the role of tourists’ internal evaluations of safety and desire for new experiences. This study advances the limited literature on tourist loyalty in developing countries by integrating psychological and risk-related dimensions. It offers actionable insights for tourism planners and marketers in Oman: emphasizing the country’s safety reputation, improving satisfaction levels, and crafting experiences that blend familiarity with novelty can enhance tourist loyalty and ensure sustained competitiveness in the global tourism market. Full article

In contemporary tourism, gastronomic offerings increasingly go beyond the boundaries of mere taste enjoyment, becoming an important element of the sustainable development of destinations. At the same time, food safety is gaining importance as a key aspect of the tourist experience and trust in a destination. The research was conducted in Serbia, focusing specifically on agritourism farm stays known for their local food production and sustainable hospitality practices. This study highlights the crucial link between local agricultural practices and tourists’ perceptions of food safety, positioning food safety as a key dimension of both sustainable gastronomy and rural development. The research was conducted on a sample of 650 tourists in farm stays, using a structured survey questionnaire, with data analysed through descriptive statistics, factor analysis, Pearson correlation, ANOVA, and multiple regression analysis. The results indicate that tourists highly value food safety, particularly in the context of local and traditional gastronomy, and that there is a significant correlation between the perception of food safety and the intention to revisit or recommend a destination. This study suggests that the integration of food safety standards into sustainable gastronomic practices is essential for enhancing competitiveness and building long-term trust among individuals of various sociodemographic profiles. Full article

The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted tourism systems worldwide, particularly ecologically sensitive and tourism-dependent regions such as the Galapagos Islands. This study investigated the impact of the pandemic on profiles of tourists visiting Santa Cruz Island by comparing an analysis from 2019 to data we gathered in 2021. Using survey-based data and cluster analysis, we identified significant shifts in tourist origin, travel modalities, and expenditure patterns. Results showed a marked increase in domestic tourism, with Ecuadorians becoming the dominant visitor group during the pandemic, primarily favoring land-based tourism and shorter stays. In contrast, international tourists remained present in niche, higher-spending segments associated with cruise-based and multi-island itineraries. These findings highlight a temporary yet meaningful transformation in the tourism dynamic, driven by changes in risk perception, economic factors, and policy restrictions. The emergence of these segments underscores the need for adaptive destination management strategies that align with sustainability goals, conservation priorities, and socioeconomic resilience. We also demonstrated the value of structured surveys as a cost-effective tool for evidence-based decision-making in resource-constrained settings. Full article

Tourism gentrification refers to the urban transformation process whereby middle-class neighborhoods evolve into affluent enclaves through leisure and tourism development, significantly impacting urban regeneration and spatial planning. This empirical study adopted Hefei’s Lei Street as an exploratory case to construct a hypothetical model involving tourists’ perception of tourism gentrification, tourist satisfaction, and tourists’ value co-creation behavior. A model was designed to examine the impact of urban tourism gentrification on tourists’ value co-creation behaviors, with its validity subsequently verified through SPSS 20.0 and Amos 23.0 software. The findings revealed that tourists’ perception of tourism gentrification positively affected tourist satisfaction and tourists’ value co-creation behavior and tourist satisfaction positively affected tourist participation behavior. From a practical perspective, this study endeavored to provide urban planners and destination managers with actionable insights to enhance visitor experiences while addressing the challenges posed by gentrification. It further sought to facilitate advancements in urban tourism, urban renewal, and land-use planning, thereby contributing to the sustainable development of Hefei. Methodologically, it also advances the application of structural equation modeling in tourism geography studies and provides replicable protocols for similar urban transformation research. Full article

The shift toward experience-oriented travel has positioned food as a central driver for attracting visitors to sustainable destinations, directly supporting United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (SDG)11 (resilient cities) and SDG 12 (responsible consumption). While prior research has predominantly emphasised marketing outcomes, the role of bodily experiences in shaping gastronomic tourism has received less attention. This study explores how sensory elements (sight, sound, smell, taste, and touch) and non-sensory elements (including cultural meaning and service quality) jointly influence food-related travel experiences. Twenty-five self-identified food travellers were interviewed in a United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) City of Gastronomy, and their narratives were analysed using a three-stage grounded theory approach in NVivo 12. The resulting model identifies four interrelated dimensions: (1) embodied experience, grounded in culinary memories and shared cultural narratives; (2) sensory stimulation arising from food and its surroundings; (3) situated embodiment, shaped by location, timing, and social interaction; and (4) environmental perception, encompassing food presentation, facility quality, cleanliness, and pricing fairness. These dimensions interact to enhance overall experience quality. By integrating an embodied perspective with a sustainability focus, this study advances tourism experience research and offers practical guidance for designing multisensory dining environments, fostering environmentally responsible visitor behaviour, and ensuring a balanced relationship between price and perceived value. Full article

The relationship between tourism and the environment is often studied through tourism’s impact on destinations, with limited focus on how eco-degradation affects tourism, including residential tourism, which remains the most loyal to specific destinations. This study examines whether a destination’s eco-degradation impacts the residential tourists’ satisfaction and their intention to revisit. Two studies were conducted on the Mar Menor destination (Spain) using two online questionnaires administered through social media. Study 1 (from October 2020 to December 2021, n = 822) explored tourists’ perceptions of the destination’s ecological situation. Study 2 (November 2022 and March 2023, n = 453) examined how the destination’s eco-degradation influences residential tourists’ intention to revisit, considering the mediating role of destination attachment and perceived value. We found that residential tourists’ perceptions and revisit intentions vary with accommodation type. Eco-degradation impacts holiday satisfaction but not revisit intentions. Second-home ownership compels visits despite dissatisfaction or a preference for alternative destinations. This research contributes to the scarce literature on residential tourism by showing that place attachment and the perceived value, satisfaction, and behavioural intentions can explain revisit intention even in contexts of eco-degradation of the destination. Full article

The growth of the tourism industry in Southeast Asia, particularly in Indonesia, Thailand, and Vietnam, establishes the region as a leading global tourism destination. Numerous studies have explored tourist behavior within specific regions. However, the question of whether tourists’ experience perceptions differ based on their cultural backgrounds is still insufficiently addressed. Previous articles suggest that an individual’s cultural background plays a significant role in shaping tourist values and expectations. This study investigates how tourists’ cultural backgrounds, represented by their geographical regions of origin, impact their entertainment experiences, sentiments, and mobility patterns across the three countries. We gathered 387,010 TripAdvisor reviews and analyzed them using a combination of advanced text mining techniques and network analysis to map tourist mobility patterns. Comparing sentiments and behaviors across cultural backgrounds, this study found that entertainment preferences vary by origin. The network analysis reveals distinct exploration patterns: diverse and targeted exploration. Vietnam achieves the highest satisfaction across the cultural groups through balanced development, while Thailand’s integrated entertainment creates cultural divides, and Indonesia’s generates moderate satisfaction regardless of cultural background. This study contributes to understanding tourism dynamics in Southeast Asia through a data-driven, comparative analysis of tourist behaviors. The findings provide insights for destination management, marketing strategies, and policy development, highlighting the importance of tailoring tourism offerings to meet the diverse preferences of visitors from different global regions. Full article

Urban forest parks serve as significant venues for tourists’ leisure and recreation. The experiences and perceptions of tourists in these parks considerably influence their attitudes and behaviors. While numerous studies have investigated the functions and values of urban forest parks at a macro level, the mechanisms influencing tourists’ perceived values and their environmentally responsible behavior at a micro level remain under explored. This research used structural equation modeling (SEM) to test the association between tourists’ perceived values and their environmentally responsible behavior, including the mediating functions of tourists’ satisfaction and their subjective well-being. 502 valid questionnaires in total were obtained from Changpoling National Forest Park in Guiyang City, Guizhou, China, for this case study. The results show that there are some variances in the impact of the dimensions of tourists’ perceived value on environmentally responsible behavior, in which service quality, resource quality, and emotional value impose a pronounced positive effect on environmentally responsible behavior, tourism costs impose a pronounced negative effect on environmentally responsible behavior, and the activity experience does not exert a pronounced effect on environmentally responsible behavior. Satisfaction and subjective well-being have a mediating function during the process of positive influence of tourists’ perceived value on their environmentally responsible behavior and serve as partial mediators, and the significant positive influence of satisfaction on subjective well-being as well as subjective well-being on environmentally responsible behavior are verified. This research can help better explain the mechanism of the effect of tourists’ perceived value exerted on environmental responsibility behavior in nature-based tourism destinations, and also has a guiding and reference significance for the sustainable development of urban forest parks. Full article

Internet attention, as a reflection of the actual focus of the public, not only responds to potential tourism demand but also represents the overall perception and preference characteristics of tourists for a tourist destination. The study selected eight representative tourist cities in China as research objects. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the tourism patterns of Chinese cities was analysed using various analytical methods, including the seasonal characteristic index, the entropy value method, the coefficient of variation, and the tourism background trend line model. The study revealed the following conclusions: (1) following the conclusion of the epidemic, potential tourism demand demonstrated a notable recovery in comparison to the epidemic period, yet remained below the level observed in the same period before the epidemic. (2) The seasonal variations in internet attention after the end of the epidemic demonstrated an increased degree of differentiation, with the tourism market tending to be more prosperous during the high season and less so during the low season. (3) The epidemic had a relatively minor impact on the internet attention of famous tourist attractions and natural ecological attractions. In contrast, it had a more significant influence on historical and cultural sites and modern amusement spots. The findings of this study offer insights that can inform the recovery and sustainable development of tourist cities in the post-pandemic era. Full article

Tourists’ environmentally responsible behavior (TERB) is one of the key areas in tourism as it concerns tourism sustainability that further influences a destination’s competitiveness and image. This study sought to deepen the formation of TERB through tourists’ degree of environmental perception, mediated by their feeling of awe towards the environment, and moderated by their level of face consciousness. Data were collected from tourists in Tibet and the findings indicated that awe exerted partial mediation on the tourists’ perception-behavior relationship. Furthermore, face consciousness moderated the mediated relationship of humanistic environmental perception, awe, and TERB. This study adds value to existing tourism studies by revealing the influences of awe on constructing tourists’ attitude in sustainable tourism. From a practical perspective, the findings offer insights for destination management organizations (DMOs) in promoting tourists’ environmentally responsible behavior that fosters sustainable tourism development. Full article

The implementation of smart technologies in the tourism industry has become a new trend. This is aimed at enriching tourists’ experiences and improving their satisfaction. The purpose of the present paper is to enhance tourists’ experiences and to increase tourists’ satisfaction using smart technologies and to identify experts’ perspectives regarding the use of these technologies. This research was conducted using quantitative and qualitative research. In the process of data collection, the research involved a questionnaire which focused on tourists’ experiences with various smart technologies and their intentions to return to the visited region. An exploratory factor analysis was applied to determine the elements of satisfaction and their attribute levels in different Romanian touristic regions. This study employed an analysis of variance to determine whether groups with different reasons for visiting exhibit varying levels of satisfaction and whether the touristic regions under investigation generate differing levels of satisfaction. Cross-tabulation and a Pearson’s chi-square test were used to determine whether the tourists’ segment influenced their intention to revisit specific regions. The research was augmented using qualitative research based on the Delphi technique to identify experts’ opinion on the impact of smart tourism technologies on the Romanian tourism industry. This study presents a global perspective on the current situation of smart technologies in the Romanian tourism sector. The results indicate that there is a significant relationship between tourists’ satisfaction and their perception of the value of smart technologies. The use of smart technologies has a positive impact on the experiences of tourists during all phases of their journey. Romania’s tourism capabilities can support the development of smart and sustainable tourism. Smart technologies have a double role in the tourism industry. They can enhance satisfaction by introducing new experiences while also improving the operational efficiency and sustainability of tourist destinations. The use of smart solutions will be essential in creating smooth and unforgettable tourist experiences as the industry develops. Their theoretical and practical implications are deduced. This paper provides valuable information not only for organizational practitioners considering the implementation of smart technology solutions, but also for academics wishing to develop this area of study. Full article

Admittedly, tourism stakeholders become more aware of the negative impacts of tourism, and it has become increasingly important to brand and position destinations towards sustainability. The main concern is emphasizing economic, social, and environmental awareness and implementation at the destination level regarding planning and development. This paper identifies the importance of sustainable place branding as part of destination social responsibility in the current global context. The main focus is identifying visitors’ responses as part of sustainable destination marketing. The study conducts a systematic literature review by rigorously selecting 26 related articles from the 106 search results for further analysis. The study results highlight the emergence of sustainable place branding concepts in academic literature, especially after the post-pandemic period. The themes identified in the literature analysis revolve around sustainable place branding in creating unique tourism experiences and engagement that resonates with the visitors’ self-perceptions and expectations of a destination. Sustainable place branding positively impacts destination image, trust, value, and loyalty. Moreover, it can create positive visitor outcomes, such as an intention to revisit because of positive word of mouth. The article concludes with suggestions for future research, emphasizing the need to explore further sustainable place branding and its influence on visitors’ responses in the evolving landscape of global tourism. Full article