Search Results (88)

This research aims to determine the utilization levels of local products and the challenges and opportunities of creating a recognizable food-centered cultural identity based on collaborative networks developed between agriculture and tourism. This has the potential to strengthen collaborative entrepreneurship. It uniquely contributes to the existing literature by exploring the connections between agri-food and tourism, while proposing strategies to maximize business opportunities centered on food culture. Descriptive and inferential statistics are conducted based on primary data collected by distributing a questionnaire to 59 public and private organizations in the Peloponnese region in Greece, which has significant agricultural production but limited tourist flows. The results indicate a lack of collective action and business recognition of the value of regional food culture among participants. The human resources employed in tourism lack the skills to highlight traditional food heritage. The presence of structural and operational barriers undermines efforts to facilitate communication, manage suppliers, and enhance the visibility of products designated with Geographical Indications. This paper offers preliminary results; however, extensive future studies are needed to validate the findings fully. The study highlights key implications: Improved communication between stakeholders could enhance the management of the local food network. Agri-food and tourism businesses can develop educational programs and food-focused tourism packages that promote social cohesion and preserve cultural heritage. Full article

Accurate and timely forecasting of cross-regional tourist flows is essential for sustainable destination management, yet existing models struggle with sparse data, complex spatiotemporal interactions, and limited interpretability. This paper presents SE-TFF, a multi-scale tourism-flow forecasting framework that couples a Squeeze-and-Excitation (SE) network with reinforcement-driven optimization to adaptively re-weight environmental, economic, and social features. A benchmark dataset of 17.8 million records from 64 countries and 743 cities (2016–2024) is compiled from the Open Travel Data repository in github (OPTD) for training and validation. SE-TFF introduces (i) a multi-channel SE module for fine-grained feature selection under heterogeneous conditions, (ii) a Top-K attention filter to preserve salient context in highly sparse matrices, and (iii) a Double-DQN layer that dynamically balances prediction objectives. Experimental results show SE-TFF attains 56.5% MAE and 65.6% RMSE reductions over the best baseline (ARIMAX) at 20% sparsity, with 0.92 × 10³ average MAE across multi-task outputs. SHAP analysis ranks climate anomalies, tourism revenue, and employment as dominant predictors. These gains demonstrate SE-TFF’s ability to deliver real-time, interpretable forecasts for data-limited destinations. Future work will incorporate real-time social media signals and larger multimodal datasets to enhance generalizability. Full article

The analysis of the spatial location of tourists is essential for effective tourism management. This study explores the potential effects of large language models (LLMs) on urban travel planning. Despite growing academic interest in LLMs, empirical research on their specific impact on urban tourist locations remains limited, even though these models may significantly affect tourist behavior and spatial dynamics. This article compares the location of heritage sites in the city of Barcelona that are traditionally visited by tourists (as identified through Instagram) with those recommended by ChatGPT. The results show that ChatGPT tends to recommend a much smaller and more spatially concentrated number of tourist attractions than those shared on Instagram. The findings indicate that ChatGPT reinforces mainstream representations of cities by prioritizing well-known landmarks, potentially overlooking emerging or local attractions. This simplification can lead to tourist overcrowding and the marginalization of less-visited areas. Likewise, it may entail new needs for the management of urban spaces. Urban planners and tourism managers may need to intervene to redistribute tourist flows in a context where various models of tourist behavior will coexist. Full article

Suyukou Gully, located on the eastern slope of the Helan Mountains in northwest China, is a typical debris-flow-prone catchment characterized by a steep terrain, fractured bedrock, and abundant loose colluvial material. The area is subject to intense short-duration convective rainfall events, which often trigger destructive debris flows that threaten the Suyukou Scenic Area. To investigate the dynamics and risks associated with such events, this study employed the FLO-2D two-dimensional numerical model to simulate debris flow propagation, deposition, and hazard distribution under four rainfall return periods (10-, 20-, 50-, and 100-year scenarios). The modeling framework integrated high-resolution digital elevation data (original 5 m DEM resampled to 20 m grid), land-use classification, rainfall design intensities derived from regional storm atlases, and detailed field-based sediment characterization. Rheological and hydraulic parameters, including Manning’s roughness coefficient, yield stress, dynamic viscosity, and volume concentration, were calibrated using post-event geomorphic surveys and empirical formulations. The model was validated against field-observed deposition limits and flow depths, achieving a spatial accuracy within 350 m. Results show that the debris flow mobility and hazard intensity increased significantly with rainfall magnitude. Under the 100-year scenario, the peak discharge reached 1195.88 m³/s, with a maximum flow depth of 20.15 m and velocities exceeding 8.85 m·s⁻¹, while the runout distance surpassed 5.1 km. Hazard zoning based on the depth–velocity (H × V) product indicated that over 76% of the affected area falls within the high-hazard zone. A vulnerability assessment incorporated exposure factors such as tourism infrastructure and population density, and a matrix-based risk classification revealed that 2.4% of the area is classified as high-risk, while 74.3% lies within the moderate-risk category. This study also proposed mitigation strategies, including structural measures (e.g., check dams and channel straightening) and non-structural approaches (e.g., early warning systems and land-use regulation). Overall, the research demonstrates the effectiveness of physically based modeling combined with field observations and a GIS analysis in understanding debris flow hazards and supports informed risk management and disaster preparedness in mountainous tourist regions. Full article

The landscape of the Warmian municipality of Dobre Miasto has significant natural and cultural value. However, the municipality’s tourism potential remains untapped. The absence of comprehensive local zoning plans covering the entire municipality or most of its territory has disrupted the landscape, leading to the emergence of visually discordant elements. Due to rapid land-use changes in the Region of Warmia, the protection and preservation of its rich natural and cultural heritage are increasingly challenging. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of natural and cultural resources, as well as tourism infrastructure, on the development potential of rural tourism in Dobre Miasto municipality in Poland’s historical region of Warmia. Attempts were made to identify spatial disparities in tourism attractiveness and to determine the ways in which the local environmental and the cultural landscape may support sustainable tourism planning. The results provide valuable insights for implementing appropriate land-use strategies and setting new directions for future development. Tourism infrastructure has to be modernized, expanded, and adapted to new projects, while ensuring that planning and tourism management align with the principles of sustainable development. The growth of tourism creates new opportunities for stimulating rural areas, but it requires careful planning and the implementation of policies that effectively regulate tourist flows while maintaining ecological and cultural integrity. Full article

This study investigates the impact of web-based augmented reality (Web AR) on destination visit intention through the lens of a stimulus–organism–response (SOR) framework, a technology acceptance model (TAM) and flow theory into an integrated theoretical framework. This study aims to address gaps in the literature by providing insights about the relevance of augmented reality to tourism marketing effectiveness. Structural equation modeling was used to test this conceptual framework using AMOS23 on quantitative data collected from questionnaires distributed locally and internationally and applied to 384 participants after going through a Web AR destination experience. The findings confirmed that Web AR stimuli (i.e., interactivity and vividness) positively impact tourists’ destination visit intention through the tourist organism in terms of perceived ease of use, perceived usefulness, perceived certainty, perceived enjoyment and perceived immersion. Therefore, the promotion of destinations through augmented reality technology contributes to the development of sustainable tourism. The findings of this study will shed light on an alternative idea for destination marketing to inspire destination management organizations (DMOs) wishing to develop a competitive edge and win within the tourism industry. The results thus contribute to the Web AR and the tourism marketing literature by providing theoretical guidance through a framework for the AR tourism experience, as well as a reference for DMOs. Full article

As a fundamental element of nature, water determines the existence of life on Earth. The physicochemical and biological composition of natural waters is closely correlated with the state of the environment through which they flow. The main threat is municipal wastewater, but also nonpoint source pollution from agriculture, which has a major impact on the state of the aquatic environment. The main objective of this study was to analyse selected heavy metals in surface waters and bottom sediments of the Świder River. Given the intricate nature of how heavy metals interact and move between water and sediment, the study also aimed to show whether bottom sediments of surface waters may pose an environmental risk—particularly through the potential release of toxic metals and the development of tourism on the Świder River. The obtained values of the concentrations of the analysed metals were below the permissible standards. The highest concentrations were found in the lower reaches of the Świder River, where a tourist and more urbanised area is located. The obtained results allowed us to assess the bioavailability of these metals, and will be used by local government units to improve the management of this area in order to minimise anthropogenic pollution. Full article

Historical monuments enrich lives by connecting people to their community and heritage. They are key to understanding population movements and local development. This study analyzes how the presence of castles classified as National Monuments or of Public Interest can attract tourists, extend their stay, and motivate local authorities to invest in cultural activities, in particular in low-density areas. Heritage and tourism connect through economic, cultural, social, and territorial goals. They boost local economies, preserve cultural traditions, empower communities, and protect landscapes. Thoughtful planning ensures that regional character is maintained and a balance is struck between growth, preservation, equity, and safeguarding for the future. To evaluate the economic and touristic impact of classified castles in Portuguese municipalities, we started by analyzing the ‘Existence of Castle’ variable against three key factors: tourism flows (number of guests and average stay) and municipal expenditure on cultural activities Additionally, we considered other important explanatory variables from alternative studies, including the following: the number of parishes, maximum and minimum altitude, cultural heritage and sports activity expenses, resident population, density, monthly earnings, commercial firms, Tourism Carrying Capacity, tourism revenues, and overnight stays. Our empirical results reveal that medieval castles generate diverse effects on cultural activities managed by municipalities. Quantile regressions demonstrate that municipalities with fewer resources but with a castle invest more in cultural activities, regardless of how expenditure is measured. Additionally, the presence of a castle attracts more tourists and extends their stay, indicating significant potential for economic and tourist development which is not yet fully realized. Full article

The Cantabrian region, located in north Spain, is home to many caves with parietal art, some of them included on the UNESCO World Heritage list, such as El Castillo and Covalanas. These two caves are currently open to tourism and boast an exceptional archaeological heritage that includes magnificent examples of Palaeolithic cave art. Through a multiyear research project (2020–2022) sponsored by the Government of Cantabria, a precise characterisation of the environmental dynamics of each cave under different meteorological contexts was carried out, as well as an evaluation of the evolution of the impacts of anthropic origin on the underground microclimate under different degrees of influx of visitors on an interannual scale. We aimed to unravel the effects of daily visitor flow on cave environmental stability and offer well-defined recommendations to harmonise conservation priorities with public accessibility based on sustainable tourism management. Once the microclimatic control parameters for the conservation of the paintings, engravings, and supporting rock, such as temperature and CO₂ concentration in the air, were assessed under different seasonal meteorological conditions, a standardised graphic method was implemented based on the frequency distribution of the variations in each parameter, grouped according to the different increasing ranges of daily visits. With this method, it is possible to evaluate, probabilistically and in percentage terms, the microclimatic destabilisation of the cave generated by each group of visitors, taking as a reference the daily variation ranges of each control parameter under natural conditions, i.e., during the days or periods of time in which each cave remained closed to tourist visits. The recommended values of maximum visitor capacity for each cave, in terms of average monthly daily visitor numbers, have been set at 60 and 15 visitors/day for El Castillo and Covalanas caves, respectively. Based on these results, the cave managers are carrying out, from May 2024, a progressive adaptation in the tourist management of these caves until they are fully adapted to the environmental sustainability parameters defined in this study. Full article

The Falakra geosite is located at the northern shoreline of the island of Limnos, Greece, and exhibits an array of unusual geomorphological features developed in late Cenozoic sandstones. Deposition of the primary clastic sediments was overprinted by later, low-temperature hydrothermal fluid flow and interstitial secondary calcite formation associated with nearby volcanic activity. Associated sandstone cannonballs take center stage in a landscape built by joints, Liesengang rings and iron (hydr)oxide precipitates, constituting an intriguing site of high aesthetic value. The Falakra geosite is situated in an area with dynamic erosion processes occurring under humid weather conditions. These have evidently sculpted and shaped the sandstone landscape through a complex interaction of wave- and wind-induced erosional processes aided by salt spray wetting. This type of geosite captivates scientists and nature enthusiasts due to its unique geological and landscape features, making its sustainable conservation a significant concern and topic of debate. Here, we provide detailed geological and remote sensing mapping of the area to improve the understanding of geological processes and their overall impact. Given the significance of the Falakra geosite as a unique tourist destination, we emphasize the importance of developing it under sustainable management. We propose the segmentation of the geosite into four sectors based on the corresponding geological features observed on site. Sector A, located to the west, is occupied by a lander-like landscape; to the southeast, sector B contains clusters of cannonballs and concretions; sector C is characterized by intense jointing and complex iron (hydr)oxide precipitation patterns, dominated by Liesengang rings, while sector D displays cannonball or concretion casts. Finally, we propose a network of routes and platforms to highlight the geological heritage of the site while reducing the impact of direct human interaction with the outcrops. For constructing the routes and platforms, we propose the use of serrated steel grating. Full article

Water scarcity in coastal tourist areas constitutes a critical environmental and socioeconomic sustainability issue. Hence, it is crucial to implement an integrated water resource management and protection plan. In this research, the DPSIR framework is coupled with hydrochemical data on groundwater resources in the fractured aquifer of the Sithonia Peninsula in Chalkidiki, North Greece. Geographical and demographic data, together with morphology, geology, hydrology, and groundwater quality data, were collected and evaluated to categorize the hydrosystem’s driving forces, pressures, states, impacts, and responses. The main pressures that affect groundwater quality in the study area are tourism, geological formation, and land use. Based on the analysis of the DPSIR framework, the absence of a landfill site, the inadequate operation of sewage treatment plants and biological wastewater treatment systems, and tourist activity contribute significantly to the degradation of groundwater quality. Additionally, the fractured rock aquifer develops preferential flow paths to pollutants through preexisting faults, which influence groundwater quality. The hydrochemical analysis of groundwater indicates seawater intrusion in the coastal area. The combination of DPSIR analysis and a water quality index based on ion ratios of groundwater samples identifies high-risk areas of seawater intrusion. Thus, it is essential to reinforce groundwater resources by implementing managed aquifer recharge, limiting unnecessary use of groundwater during the tourist season, and storing surface water during the wet period. Full article

Tourism and recreation managers rely on spatial-temporal data to measure visitors’ behavior for gauging carrying capacity and sustainable management. Location-based service (LBS) data, which passively record location data based on mobile devices, may enable managers to measure behaviors while overcoming constraints in labor, logistics, and cost associated with in-person data collection. However, further validation of LBS data at more refined spatial and temporal scales within tourism attractions is needed. We compared observations of salient spatial–temporal measures from a stratified sample of onsite visitors’ GPS traces in a popular U.S. National Park during peak season over two years with a sample of visitors’ traces collected during the same period by a third-party LBS data provider. We described trip characteristics and behaviors within 34 points of interest (POIs) and then pre-processed both datasets into weighted, directed networks that treated POIs as nodes and flow between POIs as edges. Both datasets reported similar proportions of day-use visitors (~79%) and had moderate-to-strong correlations across networks depicting visitor flow (r = 0.72–0.85, p < 0.001). However, relative to the onsite data, LBS data underestimated the number of POIs the visitors stopped by and differed in its rank of popular POIs, underestimating the length of time visitors spent in POIs (z = 1, p ≤ 0.001) and overestimating visitation to the most popular POIs (z = 180, p = 0.044). Our findings suggest that LBS data may be helpful for identifying trends or tracking tourist movement in aggregate and at crude spatial and temporal scales, but they are too sparse and noisy to reliably measure exact movement patterns, visitation rates, and stay time within attractions. Full article

The dynamics of territorial planning, the management of its tourism products, and the monitoring of demand flows and their impact on the territorial structure (social, economic and environmental) require tools that support the acquisition of reliable quantitative data, as far as possible in real time, that are easy to manage and allow immediate analysis. In the case of structures and equipment anchored in the nature tourism segment, in particular hiking trails, in addition to determining the demand indices in a network of hiking trails and understanding their territorial and temporal dynamics, the data collected through automatic counters is a crucial tool to support territorial management and evaluate the patterns and flows of tourist demand. Based on these assumptions, this research seeks to analyse demand data observed on eleven hiking trails in the Historic Villages of Portugal, collected through automatic monitoring systems (counters). In four years, between 2020 and 2023, the trails analysed generated a demand of almost 190,000 passages, which translates into an annual average of 47,500 passages in the tourism product “Historic Villages of Portugal” (more than 4800 passages for each trail), mostly in the spring and autumn months, mainly on weekends. Full article

Tourism is the key economic sector of and contributor to employment in Zanzibar. However, tourism growth creates a demand for more hotels, contributing to more waste. Meanwhile, food waste in the hospitality sector remains a concern due to its impact on food sustainability and its economic and environmental footprint. This study examines food waste management in selected tourist hotels located along the east coast and north districts of the island and recommends strategies for improvement. Mixed methods, including surveys and key informants’ interviews and observations, were used for data collection to map the waste flow along the food value chain, analyze the selected hotels’ management practices, and consider stakeholders’ perspectives. The findings reveal that food wastage occurs at each stage of business operations, and the largest waste stream is located at hotels, with an average estimate of 1.8 kg per guest per day. Most waste is generated during food preparation and when serving customers, constituting both avoidable and unavoidable food fractions. Moreover, the implementation of sustainable practices is scarce due to challenges, such as a lack of food waste minimization and management plans and a low level of knowledge and coordination among staff and other stakeholders. However, hotel managers’ knowledge, experience, and willingness to change, as well as the ongoing Greener Zanzibar Campaign, are driving forces for enhancing circular and sustainable practices at tourist hotels. Based on the findings, strategies, such as involving local suppliers close to the hotels for perishable products, reusing leftover food for staff and donations to local communities, and staff training on handling food waste are recommended. The practical implications of this study will help hoteliers reduce food wastage and contribute to more sustainable tourism development in Zanzibar. Full article

Low-flow events cause socio-economic impacts in various sectors. However, there are few hydro-economic models to quantify these. This article presents a hydro-economic modeling approach to determine the direct economic damage of low flows to freight and tourist navigation on free-flowing rivers. This includes the description of the required hydrological and economic input variables, a presentation of the calculation approach and the development of the damage functions. Damage and replacement costs were calculated for the study area of the middle Elbe in order to test the model and show how low-flow events affect freight and tourist navigation. Our results indicate that considerable economic losses occur not only during low flows, but also when the reference water levels for navigation are only slightly exceeded over a long period of time. It was also shown that certain river sections are more vulnerable to low-flow events and therefore cause higher costs. The model represents an analytical tool that considers both economic and hydrological aspects. As a part of a holistic risk assessment, it can help decision-makers to understand the interactions between water and the economy and to develop strategies that promote sustainability in water resource management. Full article