Search Results (444)

The purpose of this study is to investigate the factors that influence tourist behavior and revisit intentions in the context of halal tourism. The antecedent variables in this study included religiosity, digital halal literacy, halal destination features, contentment, and trust. This is a quantitative study that used travelers that visited halal tourism attractions in West Sumatra, Indonesia, as the sample population. The sample size was 400 respondents. The data were analyzed using the partial least squares–structural equation model (PLS-SEM). We discovered that religiosity is an important predictor of contentment and trust. Satisfaction was achieved through digital halal literacy and halal destination qualities and was found to have a significant influence on trust, tourist behavior, and revisit intentions. Finally, trust was found to have a significant association with intention to revisit and behavior. The results of this research are insightful for managers and policymakers on how to provide halal tourism attributes and analyze tourists’ digital halal literacy that lead to tourist satisfaction. This study also provides further knowledge to policymakers and local authorities on how to promote future tourist participation in halal tourism development in Indonesia; thus, it can help create more tourist returns for further visits to the same location in the future. Full article

This article aims to explore and analyze current issues and features of environmental protection in managing local tourism destinations based on the principles of sustainable development through the relevant literature and thus to provide an insight into major environmental measures and activities that should be implemented in practice, emphasizing the importance of environmental sustainability as a key factor in the development and success of local tourist destinations in today’s business environment. Qualitative methods were used, with the literature review based on content analysis by keywords. This particularly affects the business process efficiency and the participation of destination stakeholders and in many cases leads to a low level of environmentally sustainable destination practices. In addition to this theoretical approach, this study also has direct managerial implications for destination environmental business operations. An attractive and well-preserved environment is the primary factor of tourism and local tourism destination development and its success, as well as an integrated part of the tourism product. This study addresses a critical gap in the existing literature on environmental sustainability at local destinations, where prior work has often overlooked the integration of actionable, practice-oriented frameworks tailored for both researchers and practitioners. While theoretical insights into sustainable practices abound, there remains a scarcity of holistic analyses that bridge scholarly understanding with implementable strategies for on-the-ground application. To fill this void, our research provides a comprehensive overview and systematic analysis of current practices, with targeted emphasis on co-developing scalable frameworks for improving environmentally sustainable practices at local destinations. Full article

Pet ownership and wildlife tourism are two prominent ways people interact with non-human animals in contemporary contexts. Despite this, there is a need for further exploration of the interconnections between pets, wildlife, and visitors. Utilizing an ecological-phenomenological framework, this study examines how these multispecies interactions contribute to experiences that extend beyond the human domain. This research is based on a quantitative survey of 1422 participants at the Panda Center that were analyzed using inferential statistical methods to assess differences in visitor experiences. The statistical results reveal that pet ownership and wildlife encounters mediate the environmental affordances and constraints encountered by visitors, creating a dynamic and intricate nexus among pets, wildlife, and tourists. Specifically, pet ownership is shown to enhance both the richness and frequency of wildlife encounters. Nonetheless, the study highlights that human dominance over non-human animals remains a central environmental constraint in multispecies interactions despite the adoption of a more humane approach to animal management through tourism activities. Full article

With the arrival of an aging society and the continuous extension of the human lifespan, the quality of life has not improved in a corresponding manner. People’s demand for happiness and health is increasing. As a result, a model emerged that integrates tourism and medical services, which is health tourism. This growing demand has prompted many service providers to see it as a business opportunity and enter the market. Tourism can help travelers release work stress and restore physical and mental balance; meanwhile, health check-ups and disease treatment can help them regain health. Consumers have long favored health and medical tourism because it helps relieve stress and promotes overall well-being. As people age, some consumers experience a gradual decline in physical functions, making it difficult for them to participate in regular travel services provided by traditional travel agencies. Therefore, this study aims to explore the service needs of health and medical tourism customers (tourists/patients) and the interrelationships among these service needs, so that health and medical tourism service providers can develop more customized and diversified services. This study identifies four key drivers of medical tourism services: medical services, medical facilities, tour planning, and hospitality facilities. This study uses the APA (attention and performance analysis) method to assess each dimension and criterion and utilizes the DEMATEL method with the NRM (network relationship map) to identify network relationships. By combining APA and NRM techniques, this study develops the APA-NRM technique to evaluate adoption strategies and identify suitable paths for health tourism services, providing tailored development strategies and recommendations for service providers to enhance the service experience. Full article

The global rise in urban-related health issues poses significant challenges to public health, particularly in cities facing socio-economic crises. In Lebanon, 70% of the population is experiencing financial hardship, and healthcare costs have surged by 172%, exacerbating the strain on medical services. Given these conditions, improving the quality and accessibility of green spaces offers a promising avenue for alleviating mental health issues in urban areas. This study investigates the psychological impact of nine urban public spaces in Beirut through a comprehensive survey methodology, involving 297 participants (locals and tourists) who rated these spaces using Likert-scale measures. The findings reveal location-specific barriers, with Saanayeh Park rated highest in quality and Martyr’s Square rated lowest. The analysis identifies facility quality as the most significant factor influencing space quality, contributing 73.6% to the overall assessment, while activity factors have a lesser impact. The study further highlights a moderate positive association (Spearman’s rho = 0.30) between public space quality and mental well-being in Beirut. This study employs a hybrid methodology combining Research for Design (RfD) and Research Through Designing (RTD). Empirical data informed spatial strategies, while iterative design served as a tool for generating context-specific knowledge. Design enhancements—such as sensory plantings, shading systems, and social nodes—aim to improve well-being through better public space quality. The proposed interventions support mental health, life satisfaction, climate resilience, and urban inclusivity. The findings offer actionable insights for cities facing public health and spatial equity challenges in crisis contexts. Full article

Given that participating in or spectating sports events plays a vital role in enhancing individuals’ mental health, understanding the key factors that promote continued participation and attendance in sports events is of significant theoretical and practical importance within the context of sports tourism. From this perspective, the service quality of sports events and the image of the host destination have been identified as major determinants of sustained engagement among sports tourists. However, a review of the literature reveals that findings on the influence of sports event service quality and host destination image on the behavioral intentions of sports tourists have been inconsistent. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to employ a meta-analytic structural equation modeling (MASEM) approach to synthesize data from 39 independent studies comprising 16,335 participants, which were collected up to 30 September 2024, thereby providing generalizable conclusions. The results indicate that, first, host destination image is the most critical factor in enhancing visitor satisfaction. Additionally, the service quality of sports events significantly influences visitor satisfaction, which in turn impacts their future behavioral intentions. Second, tourist satisfaction fully mediates the relationship between event service quality and behavioral intentions, and it partially mediates the relationship between host destination image and behavioral intentions. Third, under the moderating effect of event scale (small scale vs. mega scale), host destination image and physical environment quality are more important in small-scale sports events than in mega-scale sports events. Furthermore, under the moderating effect of cultural context (Eastern vs. Western), service quality dimensions are more influential in Western cultural settings, whereas host destination image is more important in Eastern cultural settings. The significance of this study lies in its integration of previously disparate findings into a unified model, offering a more comprehensive understanding of the relationships among the variables. The results provide broad implications for future academic research and practical insights for sports tourism practitioners. Full article

Demre is one of the most important tourist destinations in Antalya province in terms of its natural and cultural heritage values, historical texture, and ecological diversity. Evaluating these potentials and managing them sustainably is of great importance. Management strategies that focus solely on improving ecological elements often fail to deliver the desired results because they tend to neglect the needs and perspectives of stakeholders. Participatory approaches are important for determining and prioritizing tourism strategies because they encourage participation and awareness, thereby facilitating the development of sustainable and effective management strategies. In this context, this study, which aims to contribute to the protection and sustainable management of tourism areas in Demre district using a participatory approach, conducted a SWOT analysis to assess the state of environmental management. Based on the data obtained, internal strategic factors scored 3415 points, while external strategic factors scored 2899 points. Ten sustainable tourism strategies were developed, primarily focusing on the SO strategy, which leverages the potential of the area by focusing on internal strengths and external opportunities, with the aim of increasing tourism opportunities in the region and developing and implementing effective management strategies. At the end of the study, tourism strategies were prioritized using the TOPSIS analysis. Full article

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

The Vâlcea Subcarpathians, known for their wealth of natural resources and their spa tradition, are distinguished by renowned spa resorts such as Băile Olănești, Călimănești, Ocnele Mari and Băile Govora. These destinations provide tourists with a variety of treatment, relaxation, and recreational options. This research aims to explore the factors influencing tourist behavior at spa resorts in the Vâlcea Subcarpathians, Romania. Specifically, the relationships between tourists’ residential environment and frequency of visits, the influence of participation in cultural activities on the average duration of trips, and the impact of information sources and vacation planning methods on why tourists choose to visit spa resorts in the Vâlcea Subcarpathians, Romania, will be examined. As part of this study, a questionnaire was developed to collect relevant data on the perceptions and behaviors of visitors to spa resorts in the Vâlcea Subcarpathians, Romania. To analyze the collected data and test the research hypotheses, the following statistical methods were used: Chi-Square Test, Independent Samples t-Test and Analysis of Variance (ANOVA). The results obtained from the statistical tests largely confirmed the proposed hypotheses. There is a significant relationship between the age range of tourists and the frequency of visits, suggesting that different age groups have distinct visiting behaviors. Also, the perception of service quality varies by the gender of tourists, indicating that men and women have different experiences and expectations. Full article

As health and well-being become central concerns in the post-pandemic tourism landscape, health tourism is evolving to prioritize not only physical recovery but also psychological engagement and emotional value. This study explores how gamified design can enhance tourist participation and experience quality within health-related tourism contexts. By integrating theories from tourism psychology and game-based experience design, a structural equation model is proposed to examine the relationships among memorable tourism experiences, tourist motivation, game design elements, flow experience, and perceived value, and their joint influence on behavioral intention. Data collected from tourists who engaged in gamified experiences were analyzed using structural equation modeling (SEM) techniques. The results identify a dynamic “participation–immersion–value” mechanism, in which gameful design fosters flow and perceived value, thereby mediating gamification’s impact on behavioral intention. These findings offer valuable insights for health tourism developers and experience designers seeking to create emotionally engaging, motivating, and sustainable visitor experiences in the context of health and well-being. Full article

The purpose of this study is to reveal the characteristics of wine tourists by determining their demographic and psychographic profiles, the effects of their travel motivations and lifestyles on their attitudes towards wine tourism, and the relationships between their demographic characteristics and attitudes. Based on a quantitative approach, study data were collected using a questionnaire. The sample consists of tourists who had visited a winery or participated in the vintage in a wine destination. Wine tourists’ principal motivations were pull factors and wine-related motivations. Their attitudes towards wine consumption had higher mean values than attitudes towards info-seeking, meaning that wine tourists preferred to taste wine and shop from wineries more than learn about wine. Regarding lifestyles, they were mostly innovators and experiencers. For destinations like Türkiye, wine tourism is a significant economic and sociocultural development tool. It is the first study to identify the wine tourists’ profile based on VALS-2, thereby providing a different perspective for the literature. Full article

Visitor motivation and experience are essential concepts for both tourism researchers and practitioners. However, there is a structural difference between motivation and experience. How visitor motivation and experience interact and influence visitor satisfaction remains unknown. This study addressed these topics by investigating visitors to Kobe Chinatown, an imitation tourist spot in East Japan. The study collected the answers from 210 online and onsite participants via a structured questionnaire (April–November 2024). The outcomes showed that one motivation factor (interpersonal seeking) was significantly associated with two experience factors (cognitive: β = 0.279, p = 0.003 and affective: β = 0.660, p = 0.000); however, the prior literature review of research on imitation destinations suggested that two other motivation factors (personal escaping and personal seeking) would also be present in the association. In addition, this study also identified that both experience factors significantly predicted visitor satisfaction (cognitive: β = 0.482, p = 0.000 and affective: β = 0.340, p = 0.005) while motivation did not. The issue with the conceptualization of motivation and the essentiality of experience was discussed based on these observations. Implications for sustaining and promoting imitation destinations were also generated. Full article

The article analyzes the meanings embedded in street art in Florence that portrays women, likely created by female artists. Between 18 May and 27 May 2024, during the Communities and Artistic Participation in Hybrid Environment (CAPHE) project, we observed a significant number of feminist street art pieces in Florence’s historic center. Using qualitative content analysis based on Gillian Rose’s methodology (2016), we interpreted the collected visual materials through semiotic and socio-cultural lenses. The findings revealed the deliberately interventionist nature of the analyzed works, addressing themes such as gender inequality, human rights, violence against women, and cultural stereotypes. This street art serves as a social manifesto and a means of activating both the local community and tourists, aligning with global feminist discourse while addressing Florence’s local issues. We conclude that Florence’s street art provides a space for visual resistance, education, and the promotion of gender equality and women’s emancipation in the context of contemporary social challenges. Full article

This study examines the key factors that influence tourists’ perceptions of destination quality and loyalty in the context of adventure tourism in Santa Elena, Ecuador, an emerging destination in Latin America. A quantitative approach was used, with data collected through an online questionnaire completed by 318 participants. Structural equation modeling was conducted using SmartPLS 4 to examine the relationships between motivational constructs (intellectual curiosity, health assurance, stress relief, physical condition, and social connection), perceived destination quality, and loyalty. The findings reveal that health assurance (β = 0.395, p < 0.001), stress relief (β = 0.417, p < 0.001), and intellectual curiosity (β = 0.143, p = 0.010) significantly influence perceived destination quality, while social connection and physical condition did not show significant effects. Moreover, perceived destination quality strongly predicts tourist loyalty (β = 0.634, p < 0.001). The model explains 63.5% of the variance in destination quality and 48.1% of that in loyalty. These results highlight the importance of post-pandemic health concerns, emotional well-being, and intellectual engagement as drivers of satisfaction and loyalty in adventure tourism. While existing research has largely focused on motivations and quality perceptions in adventure tourism within developed regions, studies in post-pandemic settings across Latin America—especially using validated structural models—remain scarce. This study also contributes to filling a gap in the literature by analyzing post-pandemic tourist behavior in Latin America, an underexplored context in existing research on sustainable and adventure tourism. The findings offer theoretical contributions to the field of adventure tourism and practical recommendations for destination managers seeking to enhance their competitiveness and visitor retention in the post-pandemic context. Full article

Background and Objectives: Infectious disease outbreaks are a major challenge for public health systems worldwide, especially for healthcare workers (HCWs). Taif city, in Saudi Arabia, has a high population density and is a tourist destination, which puts it at a high risk of infectious disease outbreaks. Despite its geographical importance, no previous study has been conducted that focuses on assessing the preparedness of healthcare workers in Taif city for managing infectious disease outbreaks. Therefore, we aimed to assess the overall level of preparedness among HCWs in healthcare facilities across Taif city and identify the challenges they face when managing infectious disease outbreaks. Materials and Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study from October to December 2024 among 294 healthcare workers, using a structured questionnaire. We assessed the sociodemographic characteristics, infection prevention and control (IPC) training received by HCWs, the level of preparedness for managing infectious disease outbreaks, and their level of knowledge (low, moderate, or high). The association between sociodemographic characteristics and knowledge from having received IPC training and the level of preparedness was assessed using binary logistic regression. A p-value of ≤ 0.05 was considered as significant. Results: Around 31.7% of the participants were aged 31–40 years, with 59.2% of them being female. Among the HCWs we assessed, 44.6% were nurses and 31.3% of the HCWs were from hospitals with a bed capacity of over 500. Only 16.3% of HCWs felt fully prepared on a personal level and only 20.7% believed their facility was fully prepared for managing an outbreak. A low level of knowledge was reported among 71.8% of the participants. The odds of having received IPC training were significantly higher among HCWs aged 41–50 years (AOR = 15.7; 95% CI = 4.26–58.1), for those working in the inpatient department (AOR = 6.3; 95% CI = 1.46–27.05), and for those with a moderate level of knowledge (AOR = 0.12; 95% CI = 0.03–0.5). The odds of being fully prepared for an infectious disease outbreak were significantly higher for males (AOR = 2.58; 95% CI = 1.18–5.63) and those working in the in-patient department (AOR = 6.87; 95% CI = 1.7–27.8) and significantly lower for those with a low level of knowledge (AOR = 0.19; 95% CI = 0.06–0.61). Conclusion: Even though many HCWs have undergone IPC training, our findings highlight gaps in both knowledge and overall preparedness among healthcare workers in Taif city. Regular refresher courses, improved resource allocation, and implementing scenario-based emergency drills may help in improving the overall knowledge and preparedness of HCWs. Full article