Search Results (97)

Although numerous studies have examined the spatial patterns of traditional villages and their driving factors, limited attention has been devoted to the transformation of tourism. This study focused on traditional villages in Shaanxi Province, employing geodetector and grounded theory methods to analyze their spatial distribution characteristics and influencing factors. First, most traditional villages have not developed tourism. Only 11.98% reached the relatively mature tourism stage. Second, the spatial distribution of mature traditional tourism villages is scattered and primarily clustered in Liuba County, Mizhi County, and Jia County. Third, the factors influencing spatial distribution characteristics include resource endowment, transportation accessibility, and regional economic conditions. Among these factors, the level of traditional villages, village heritage values, and the local tourism environment show the strongest explanatory power. These findings can help enhance cultural resilience, promote economic transformation and upgrading, and support the sustainable development of traditional villages. Full article

This study examines whether regional infrastructure can predict economic resilience in European regions, focusing on resistance, recovery, and reorientation during the COVID-19 crisis. While infrastructure is widely recognized as a key factor influencing regional resilience, its explicit role has been underexplored in the European context. Using a comprehensive literature review and spatial econometric models applied to NUTS-2 level data from 2017 to 2024, we investigate the direct and spatial spillover effects of various infrastructure types—transportation, healthcare, tourism, education, and digital access—on regional resilience outcomes. We apply OLS and four spatial models (SEM, SLX, SDEM, SDM) under 29 spatial weighting matrices to account for spatial autocorrelation. Results show that motorway density, early school leaving, and healthcare infrastructure in neighbouring regions significantly affect resistance. For recovery, railway density and GDP per capita emerge as key predictors, with notable spatial spillovers. Reorientation is shaped by population structure, railway density, and tourism infrastructure, with both positive and negative spatial dynamics observed. The findings underscore the importance of infrastructure not only in isolation but also within regional systems, revealing complex interdependencies. We conclude that policymakers must consider spatial externalities and coordinate infrastructure investments to enhance regional economic resilience across interconnected Europe. Full article

Dark skies, a vital natural and cultural resource, have been increasingly threatened by light pollution due to rapid urbanization, leading to ecological degradation and biodiversity loss. As a key strategy for sustainable regional development, dark sky parks (DSPs) not only preserve nocturnal environments but also enhance livability by balancing urban expansion and ecological conservation. This study develops a novel framework for evaluating DSP suitability, integrating ecological and socio-economic dimensions, including the resource base (e.g., nighttime light levels, meteorological conditions, and air quality) and development conditions (e.g., population density, transportation accessibility, and tourism infrastructure). Using the Guangdong–Hong Kong–Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) as a case study, we employ Delphi expert consultation, GIS spatial analysis, and multi-criteria decision-making to identify optimal DSP locations and prioritize conservation zones. Our key findings reveal the following: (1) spatial heterogeneity in suitability, with high-potential zones being concentrated in the GBA’s northeastern, central–western, and southern regions; (2) ecosystem advantages of forests, wetlands, and high-elevation areas for minimizing light pollution; (3) coastal and island regions as ideal DSP sites due to the low light interference and high ecotourism potential. By bridging environmental assessments and spatial planning, this study provides a replicable model for DSP site selection, offering policymakers actionable insights to integrate dark sky preservation into sustainable urban–regional development strategies. Our results underscore the importance of DSPs in fostering ecological resilience, nighttime tourism, and regional livability, contributing to the broader discourse on sustainable landscape planning in high-urbanization contexts. Full article

Urban tourism has experienced significant growth driven by platforms such as Airbnb, yet the relationship between short-term rental (STR) location and guest mobility remains underexplored. In this study, a structured survey of STR guests in Madrid during 2024 was administered face-to-face through property managers and luggage-storage services to examine factors influencing public transport (PT) use. Responses on bus and metro usage were combined into a three-level ordinal variable and modeled using ordered logistic regression against tourist demographics, trip characteristics, and accommodation attributes, including geocoded location zones. The results indicate that first-time and international visitors are less likely to use PT at high levels, while tourists visiting more points of interest and those who rated PT importance highly when choosing accommodation are significantly more frequent users. Accommodation in the central almond or periphery correlates positively with higher PT use compared to the city center. Distances to transit stops were not significant predictors, reflecting overall network accessibility. These findings suggest that enhancing PT connectivity in peripheral areas could support the spatial dispersion of tourism benefits and improve sustainable mobility for STR guests. Full article

As climate change concerns, urban congestion, and environmental degradation intensify, cities prioritise cycling as a sustainable transport option to reduce CO₂ emissions and improve quality of life. However, rampant bicycle theft and poor security infrastructure often deter daily commuters and tourists from cycling. This study explores how advanced security measures can bolster sustainable urban mobility and tourism by addressing these challenges. A mixed-methods approach is utilised, incorporating primary survey data from Slovenia and secondary data on bicycle sales, imports and thefts from 2015 to 2024. Findings indicate that access to secure parking substantially enhances users’ sense of safety when commuting by bike. Regression analysis shows that for every 1000 additional bicycles sold, approximately 280 more thefts occur—equivalent to a 0.28 rise in reported thefts—highlighting a systemic vulnerability associated with sustainability-oriented behaviour. To bridge this gap, the study advocates for an innovative security framework that combines blockchain technology and Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs) with encrypted Quick Response (QR) codes. Each bicycle would receive a tamper-proof QR code connected to a blockchain-verified NFT documenting ownership and usage data. This system facilitates real-time authentication, enhances traceability, deters theft, and builds trust in cycling as a dependable transport alternative. The proposed solution merges sustainable transport, digital identity, and urban security, presenting a scalable model for individual users and shared mobility systems. Full article

Landscape narrative theory, which focuses on the interaction between space, culture, and human experience, provides a practical and interdisciplinary framework for guiding the integration of culture and tourism. By incorporating storytelling elements into tourism planning, it helps transform static cultural assets into engaging visitor experiences. This approach is particularly relevant in provincial contexts where cultural resources are unevenly distributed. Taking Anhui Province, China, as a case study, this research builds a five-dimensional evaluation system covering culture–tourism economy, cultural resources, tourism resources, transportation accessibility, and policy support. Using spatial analytical methods such as Moran’s I and the Spatial Autoregressive (SAR) model, the study identifies clear spatial clustering patterns and influential factors. The SAR model results show that transportation accessibility (coefficient = 0.685, p < 0.01) and policy support (coefficient = 0.736, p < 0.01) significantly promote integration. In contrast, cultural resources (coefficient = −0.352, p < 0.01) and tourism resources (p ≈ 0.11) have limited or no significant direct economic impact. Based on these findings, this paper proposes targeted strategies such as building regional narrative networks, enhancing infrastructure and policy coordination, and fostering collaborative development. The key contribution of this study lies in applying landscape narrative theory at the provincial level to construct a “Theory–Indicators–Method–Strategy” framework, offering new perspectives for promoting high-quality regional culture–tourism integration. Full article

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused a profound interruption in the way people travel and has had a very negative impact on tourism and economics throughout the world, especially on the coastal fishing communities in South Korea. These previously problematic areas, having suffered a decrease in the local population as well as stood in the midst of the economic downturn, experienced a great cut in the number of tourists coming from far away, which additionally caused their collapse of resilience and sustainability. This research investigates the recovery trends of 45 seashore-fishing districts in South Korea and how the change in travel distance and the number of visitors before and after the pandemic have affected these trends. Through the utilization of big data from the Korea Tourism Data Lab (2019–2023) and Geographic Information System (GIS) analysis, we observe the changes in visitor flows, use the indices of resilience as an indicator to measure them, and investigate how proximity affects travel recovery. The survey results indicate that the regions neighboring metropolitan zones were not only the ones that suffered the most from travel distance during the pandemic but also experienced quick recovery after the pandemic. The new promotional campaigns, in tandem with an improved network of transportation, contributed to the swift recovery of these areas. The remote areas, on the other hand, persist in fighting the problems of regionalized tourism and have only limited accessibility. The proposition of “distance-dependent resilience” theory as well as the Blue Urbanism framework is offered in order to bring up the ideas of sustainable tourism and population stabilization. The study is expected to serve as a cornerstone for the practice of adaptive governance and strategic planning in the matter of the coastal areas after the pandemic. Full article

High-density cities have obvious characteristics of compact urban spatial form and intensive land use in terms of spatial environment, and have always been a topic of academic focus. As a typical coastal historical district, the Macau Peninsula pier district (mainly the Macau Inner Harbour) has a high building density and a low average street width, forming a vertical coastline development model that directly converses with the ocean. This area is adjacent to Macau’s World Heritage Site and directly related to the Marine trade functions. The distribution pattern of cultural heritage linked by the ocean has strengthened Macau’s unique positioning as a node city on the Maritime Silk Road. This text is based on the theory of urban development, integrates spatial syntax and POI analysis techniques, and combines the theories of waterfront regeneration, high-density urban form and post-industrial urbanism to integrate and deepen the theoretical framework, and conduct a systematic study on the urban spatial characteristics of the coastal area of the Macau Peninsula. This study found that (1) Catering and shopping facilities present a dual agglomeration mechanism of “tourism-driven + commercial core”, with Avenida de Almeida Ribeiro as the main axis and radiating to the Ruins of St. Paul’s and Praça de Ponte e Horta, respectively. Historical blocks and tourist hotspots clearly guide the spatial center of gravity. (2) Residential and life service facilities are highly coupled, reflecting the spatial logic of “work-residence integration-service coordination”. The distribution of life service facilities basically overlaps with the high-density residential area, forming an obvious “living circle + community unit” structure with clear spatial boundaries. (3) Commercial and transportation facilities form a “functional axis belt” organizational structure along the main road, with the Rua das Lorchas—Rua do Almirante Sérgio axis as the skeleton, constructing a “functional transmission chain”. (4) The spatial system of the Macau Peninsula pier district has transformed from a single center to a multi-node, network-linked structure. Its internal spatial differentiation is not only constrained by traditional land use functions but is also driven by complex factors such as tourism economy, residential migration, historical protection, and infrastructure accessibility. (5) Through the analysis of space syntax, it is found that the core integration of the Macau Peninsula pier district is concentrated near Pier 16 and the northern area. The two main roads have good accessibility for motor vehicle travel, and the northern area of the Macau Peninsula pier district has good accessibility for long and short-distance walking. Full article

Rural homestays have emerged as pivotal drivers of rural socioeconomic revitalization, particularly in metropolitan peripheries characterized by intensified urban–rural dynamics. However, their spatiotemporal distribution patterns and underlying mechanisms remain underexplored. This study employs Geodetector and related analytical methods to examine rural homestays in Beijing, aiming to decipher spatial heterogeneity and driving factors. The results reveal a distinct “large-scale dispersion with small-scale clustering” pattern marked by pronounced agglomeration in northern mountainous areas and sparse distributions in southern suburban regions. Temporally, the sector currently exhibits a notable expansion–contraction phase influenced by external factors, alongside spatial centroid migration toward resource-rich zones. Geodetector quantification identifies the proximity to transportation nodes and vegetation coverage as primary spatial determinants, while socioeconomic factors demonstrate comparatively limited influence—contrasting sharply with urban contexts. Rural homestay concentration zones are classified into high-, medium-, and low-intensity categories based on the homestay density, with high-intensity zones leveraging apex advantages of scenic resources, cultural heritage, and infrastructure. These findings underscore the interplay of natural environmental factors, tourism resources, transportation accessibility, and socioeconomic conditions in shaping agglomeration dynamics, providing actionable insights for optimizing spatial planning and promoting sustainable development in rural regions adjacent to megacities. Full article

The objective of ensuring equal access to and enjoyment of tourism for the broadest spectrum of individuals, regardless of age or ability, is a fundamental right for all, as explicitly outlined in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Nevertheless, notwithstanding the initiatives aimed at actualizing the aims and objectives of the Convention, the discrepancy between the supply and demand for accessibility remains considerably high in Italy. In fact, numerous accessibility issues persist in information, services, transportation, tourist destinations, accommodations, and various types of facilities and attractions. The inadequacy of long-term planning and the lack of a comprehensive perspective on accessibility further exacerbate the situation in Italy. In light of these considerations, this paper aims to examine, via a survey conducted on a sample of potential users, the challenges and opportunities for the development of inclusive forms of accessible tourism and to recommend a reference framework for best practices that encompasses, in addition to barriers, the elements that enhance accessibility and usability of cultural activities for individuals with disabilities, serving as a reference point to assist in the planning and governance of sustainable tourism policies. This paper aims to answer three fundamental research questions to improve the conditions of the Italian tourism system: What is the perception of people with disabilities regarding their ability to travel in Italy? What needs to be improved to achieve a good tourism experience for people with disabilities in Italy? Which parameters should be considered for proper planning of accessible and inclusive tourism in Italy? Full article

This study analyzes the influence of natural resource rents, governance indicators, and their interactions on economic growth in twelve oil-producing countries in the MENA region from 2002 to 2021. Various versions of a panel ARDL model are estimated using PMG, MG, and DFE estimators. The results suggest that natural resource rents in MENA oil-producing countries positively affect long-term economic growth when accompanied by good governance. Government effectiveness and control of corruption also contribute positively to economic growth in the long run. Furthermore, financial development is found to enhance long-term economic growth. These findings highlight the potential of natural resources to drive economic growth when supported by strong institutions. To maximize natural resource rent benefits, MENA countries should improve governance indicators such as government effectiveness, control of corruption, and rule of law. This includes enhancing civil service competence, decision implementation, and managing political pressure. Key factors include revenue mobilization, infrastructure quality, policy consistency, and penalties for corruption. Ensuring equality under the law, transparent legal processes, an independent judiciary, and access to legal remedies are crucial for effective rule of law. Additionally, MENA countries should prioritize developing non-oil sectors like tourism, industry, technology, entertainment, transportation, and communication. Full article

Rural tourism has become a key driver of rural revitalization in China, contributing to poverty alleviation while also irreversibly altering the spatial evolution of rural settlements. In the ecologically fragile regions of northwest China, the rapid expansion of rural tourism destinations has raised ecological concerns, particularly regarding land resource utilization. Therefore, it is crucial to examine the phenomenon of industrial agglomeration in the evolution of rural tourism within the context of tourism-driven poverty alleviation. This study uses Lanzhou City as a case study and employs nearest neighbor analysis and kernel density estimation to analyze the spatial agglomeration patterns of rural tourism destinations, focusing on agglomeration forms, scales, and patterns. Additionally, it explores the spatial coupling distribution between agglomeration levels and influencing factors. The results show that from 1987 to 2022, the development of rural tourism destinations in Lanzhou City has progressed through several stages, from initial emergence to rapid growth. The form of industrial agglomeration has shifted from a dispersed to a clustered distribution, gradually expanding from urban centers to peripheral areas. The spatial agglomeration follows a multi-core hierarchical point-axial diffusion model, forming multiple core and sub-core agglomeration zones of varying scales. This transformation is primarily driven by geographical factors, transportation accessibility, and the presence of high-quality tourist attractions. However, a comparison of land use changes and ecological vulnerability indices over multiple periods indicates that the industrial agglomeration of rural tourism has led to irregular land use patterns and ecosystem instability. Finally, based on the complex relationship between rural tourism development, industrial agglomeration, and ecological sustainability, this study proposes strategies for the development of rural tourism in Lanzhou City, with the aim of providing valuable insights for the development of rural tourism in ecologically fragile regions of China. Full article

This study aims to explore how historical attractions in old urban areas effectively contribute to tourism development. In particular, the accessibility and convenience of transport are analyzed using Spatial Syntax. Previous collaborative projects with local community colleges were assessed to obtain recognized spatial boundaries of old districts. The historic buildings and their points of interest were determined by the Hsinchu City Council. Modern cities’ grid patterns and straight roads connect various scenic spots. Using the spots, spatial syntactic analyses were conducted in this study. The impact of spatial features on the assessment was found indirect and dependent on the road network of the Old Town. A social responsibility program was also developed to investigate the rise and fall of cities in the development process. Full article

The study aims to identify key attributes driving yacht tourism and analyze their relative importance using conjoint analysis. This method quantifies attribute importance and utility values to evaluate their impact on consumer choices and optimize market segmentation strategies through attribute combination simulations. The research was conducted with a sample of 484 yacht tourists at yacht marinas, focusing on four key attributes: program, safety, service, and accessibility. The analysis revealed that yacht sailing programs were considered the most important attribute overall. However, preferences varied significantly depending on prior experience. Experienced yacht tourists ranked the attributes in the following order of importance: program, safety, service, and accessibility. In contrast, inexperienced tourists prioritized safety above all, followed by program, service, and accessibility. The study identified that all tourist groups preferred the same optimal combination: “a yacht sailing experience program that provides safety education and equipment, operates a tourism information platform, and is accessible within one hour by public transportation from the city center”. Although this optimal combination was consistent across groups, the utility values differed, with experienced yacht tourists exhibiting the highest values, followed by inexperienced tourists and overall tourists. The findings highlight the importance of prioritizing both sailing programs and safety measures in yacht tourism development, while also considering tourists’ experience levels. These insights provide practical implications for the development of targeted promotion strategies. Full article

Cruise ship tourism in port cities, while offering opportunities, has brought its own challenges, including overcrowding, disruption to local community mobility, and growing resident concerns, which recently escalated to anti-tourism activities. This article aims to understand the mobility patterns, transportation preferences, and spatial behaviors of cruise ship passengers within the City of Barcelona (Spain). The study is based on a survey conducted with cruise ship tourists visiting the city (n = 793). The key findings reveal the concentration of tourist activity in the old part of the city, and the similarity in spatial behaviors within the city, while the primary mode of exploration is walking, supported by motorized modes of transfer to access distant attractions. Socio-demographic factors and visit characteristics, such as age, group composition, and expenditure levels, are associated with mobility and spatial behavior. This article adds new evidence on the mobility patterns and spatial behaviors of cruise ship tourists visiting a major tourist city. With better knowledge of where cruise ship passengers concentrate, what activity patterns they show, and their preferred modes of transport, policymakers can manage more effectively the influx during peak times and in high-density areas. Strategies to distribute visitors more evenly across the city could be devised to alleviate pressure on heavily frequented zones. Full article