Strategic interventions for enhancing destination competitiveness in island-based adventure tourism: Insights from a small island destination

The development of experience-based tourism requires industry players to implement adaptive marketing strategies to address changes in consumer behavior through the use of digital media and competitive pricing. This study aims to analyze the influence of influencer endorsements and pricing strategies on consumer decisions in using the Kintamani Geopark Jeep Tour service. The study used a quantitative approach with a survey method, where primary data were obtained by distributing questionnaires to tourists who had used the Kintamani Jeep Tour service and were exposed to social media influencer promotions. The sampling technique was purposive sampling. Data analysis used multiple linear regression based on the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) to explain the influence of emotional and rational factors in the consumer decision-making process. The results showed that influencer endorsements and pricing strategies had a positive and significant effect on consumer decisions, both partially and simultaneously. These findings emphasize the importance of integrating trust in influencers and perceived price suitability in shaping consumer decisions in the adventure tourism sector, and provide practical implications for tourism destination managers in designing effective and competitive marketing strategies.

This study aims to examine the factors influencing Thai tourists’ satisfaction with sustainable development goal (SDG)–oriented adventure tourism destinations, using Nakhon Nayok Province, Thailand, as a qualitative case study. By integrating tourist, government, and private-sector perspectives, the study seeks to advance understanding of how sustainability-oriented destination management shapes adventure tourism satisfaction. A qualitative research design was employed using semi-structured, in-depth interviews with 30 Thai tourists, complemented by key informant interviews with representatives from government agencies (Department of Tourism and Sports and the Tourism Authority of Thailand) and private-sector adventure tourism entrepreneurs. Data were analyzed thematically, with triangulation across stakeholder groups to enhance trustworthiness and analytical depth. The findings indicate that tourist satisfaction is influenced by a combination of experiential quality, safety management, accessibility, and perceptions of environmental responsibility. Government stakeholders emphasize policy frameworks, destination planning, and SDG alignment, while private-sector operators focus on operational practices and service delivery. Satisfaction emerges most strongly when strategic sustainability objectives are effectively translated into on-site experiences through stakeholder collaboration. This study extends adventure tourism satisfaction literature by demonstrating how multi-stakeholder alignment mediates the relationship between sustainability policy and tourist satisfaction. It contributes to SDG-oriented tourism research by empirically linking institutional governance and operational practices to experiential outcomes. The findings suggest that closer coordination between government agencies and private operators is essential to enhance sustainable adventure tourism experiences. Translating SDG principles into actionable guidelines and capacity-building initiatives can strengthen tourist satisfaction and long-term destination sustainability. This study offers one of the few qualitative, multi-stakeholder examinations of SDG-oriented adventure tourism satisfaction in Thailand, providing nuanced insights into how sustainability is co-produced through governance and service delivery at the destination level.

ABSTRACT This study analyses how destination attributes influence tourist satisfaction via perceived quality, price, and safety, and how these relationships differ by novelty-seeking orientation. Framed at the intersection of liminality and place attachment, novelty-seeking is conceptualised as the behavioural mechanism linking extraordinary experiences to emotional bonds with place, offering the first empirical integration of these frameworks in tourism research. Using data from 1,488 tourists visiting the Algarve (Portugal) in 2022–2023 and Partial Least Squares Multigroup Analysis (PLS-MGA), the results show that for conservative tourists, destination attributes enhance perceived quality, lower perceived prices and safety concerns, and increase satisfaction. For adventurous tourists, satisfaction is driven mainly by perceived price and is negatively affected by in situ safety concerns, indicating that novelty-seekers do not uniformly discount risk. The findings highlight how novelty-seeking conditions cognitive pathways to satisfaction and inform market segmentation strategies aligned with distinct motivational orientations.

The community of São Francisco do Iratapuru, located in the municipality of Laranjal do Jari, in the state of Amapá, Brazil, has a trajectory marked by initiatives aimed at sustainable development, notably the establishment of the Mixed Cooperative of Producers and Extractivists of the Iratapuru River (COMARU) and the implementation of the Iratapuru Sustainable Development Reserve (SDR). These actions have driven the valorization of extractivist products and promoted socio-economic improvements, especially after the partnership with the cosmetics company Natura. However, the construction of the Santo Antônio do Jari Hydroelectric Power Plant caused significant social and territorial impacts, requiring the community to make resilience efforts and reorganize income-oriented actions. This study aimed to analyze the perceptions of residents of the São Francisco do Iratapuru community regarding the potential, benefits, and challenges related to the development of sustainable tourism as a strategy for promoting local development. Through Content Analysis as proposed by Bardin (2020), thematic categories were identified that reveal the predominance of the economic dimension in participants’ social representations, with emphasis on aspects such as income generation, job creation, and the strengthening of the community economy. Beyond material gains, the research highlighted the appreciation of intangible benefits, such as access to knowledge, environmental preservation, and the promotion of cultural identity. These findings align with the principles of tourism oriented toward sustainability and the empowerment of local communities. Nevertheless, significant obstacles were identified, including the absence of government incentives, weak institutional coordination, scarcity of structured projects, difficulties in physical access to the locality, and fragile community mobilization. The considerable proportion of residents unaware of tourism-related initiatives points to shortcomings in communication and social inclusion processes, undermining effective community engagement. Regarding the tourism modalities considered viable, ecotourism, cultural tourism, adventure tourism, and event-based tourism were most frequently mentioned. Although less cited, community-based tourism was recognized as a strategic alternative for promoting sustainable local development. It is concluded that the community shows a high level of receptivity to the implementation of sustainable tourism, understood as a driver of socio-economic transformation. However, realizing this potential requires participatory planning, continuous capacity-building for residents, and collaborative action among public authorities, educational institutions, and civil society organizations to ensure an ethical, inclusive, and environmentally responsible development process.

Adventure tourism involvement and quality of life: The sequential mediating roles of experience quality and happiness in river tracing.

ABSTRACT This study addresses theoretical fragmentation in surf tourism scholarship through systematic integration of embodied experience theory, sustainable livelihood frameworks, and indigenous knowledge systems. A comprehensive theoretical model was developed synthesizing affective tourist dimensions with indigenous epistemology in community based sustainable surf tourism management at Parangtritis Beach, Yogyakarta, Indonesia. Grounded theory methodology guided six month ethnographic fieldwork comprising semi structured interviews, focus group discussions, participant observation, and documentary analysis with diverse stakeholders including domestic and international surfers, instructors, community leaders, and destination managers. Three stage coding procedures utilizing MAXQDA2020 achieved theoretical saturation through rigorous data triangulation, member checking, and peer debriefing protocols. Analysis yielded the SEMO (Sensory Emotional Mystical Oneness) model, a substantive theoretical framework explicating how sensory engagement, emotional responses, mystical cultural dimensions rooted in Nyi Roro Kidul cosmology, and ecological oneness converge to constitute transformative surf tourism experiences while advancing local sustainability objectives. This investigation provides the inaugural theoretical integration of embodied experience with Indonesian indigenous epistemology in adventure tourism contexts, extending extant frameworks through incorporation of mystical spiritual dimensions heretofore absent from surf tourism scholarship. The SEMO model furnishes novel analytical perspectives for destination management that simultaneously optimize experiential quality and preserve Javanese cultural heritage, thereby bridging adventure tourism development imperatives with ecosystem sustainability through indigenous knowledge valorization. Keywords: surf tourism, sustainable livelihood, embodied experience, indigenous knowledge, SEMO model, Parangtritis Beach

This research evaluates adventure tourism demand determinants in smart tourism destinations relating to smart technology use, perceived safety, cultural engagement, and innovativeness of destinations. Structural equation modeling on data from 300 adventure tourists indicates that Perceived Safety Via Smart Technologies, the Attractiveness and Innovativeness of the Destination, Engagement of Local Culture and Nature, and Digital Cultural Interpretation greatly enhance tourists' beliefs of Smart Tourism Service Integration, which in turn very strongly predicts Adventure Tourism Demand. Tourist Experience Satisfaction and Perceived Value for Money were not significant predictors of their beliefs of smart service. The findings underscore the importance of functional assurances, cultural immersion, and impactful technological innovative solutions over traditional tourist perceptions of satisfaction and value, on tourist behaviour in smart tourism contexts. Overall, the study plays an essential role in advancing smart tourism theory, while also providing useful recommendations for destination managers and marketers looking to use technology-based solutions to engage in adventure tourism.

Adventure sports tourism in Ecuador's highly biodiverse areas has become a key option for promoting sustainable economic, social, and environmental development. This study aimed to evaluate the potential of activities such as hiking, rafting, mountain biking, and birdwatching in the country's megadiverse regions, including the Amazon, the Andes, the coast, and the Galapagos Islands. A mixed-method approach was used, combining document analysis with surveys of 250 tourists, both domestic and international, in addition to conducting semi-structured interviews with 30 local stakeholders involved in the tourism and environmental sectors. The results highlighted strengths such as natural wealth, ecosystem diversity, and continuous improvement in road infrastructure, along with challenges such as limited international promotion and a lack of training in host communities. It was also found that adventure tourism has generated sustainable income, fostered ecosystem conservation, and contributed to local well-being in places such as Napo, Chimborazo, and Quito. In conclusion, Ecuador has great potential to become a leading destination for adventure sports tourism, provided comprehensive strategies are implemented to strengthen promotion, optimize the training of local stakeholders, and minimize environmental impacts, aligning with the principles of national sustainable development.

Purpose This study aims to examine how memorable adventure tourism experiences (MATEs) and destination attributes (nature and quality of service) foster inner transformation (ITR) among tourists, incorporating both a mediating and moderating analytical framework. It investigates the mediating role of MATEs and the moderating effect of gender on these relationships, thereby providing a gender-responsive understanding of transformation in adventure tourism. Design/methodology/approach A quantitative approach was used, collecting data from 462 adventure tourists in Manali, India, using a structured questionnaire. Confirmatory factor analysis and structural equation modeling were applied to test the hypothesized relationships. Mediation and moderation analyses were conducted using bootstrapping to identify indirect and conditional effects. Findings Results reveal that memorable adventure experiences significantly mediate the relationship between destination attributes (nature and service quality) and ITR. While nature enhances memorability, it does not directly influence transformation; service quality, however, has a direct and indirect impact. Gender moderates the relationship between memorable experiences and transformation, with female tourists exhibiting stronger reflective and emotional transformation. Originality/value This study contributes to transformative tourism literature by integrating memorable adventure experiences with ITR, a previously underexplored connection. It extends adventure tourism research by empirically validating the dual role of mediation and moderation, thereby advancing understanding of gendered transformation pathways. The study highlights policy-level implications for developing inclusive, gender-sensitive and experience-driven tourism strategies that foster psychological growth and well-being.

ABSTRACT This study advances understanding of emotional experience value in nature-based adventure tourism by examining how pleasure and arousal - core affective dimensions - interact with perceived overcrowding and affective crowding reactions to shape destination appraisals. Drawing on cognitive evaluation theory and reversal theory, the research highlights the disruptive role of crowd-induced distress in diminishing emotional gratification, particularly pleasure, and its downstream effects on destination brand attitude and recommendation. Contrary to prevailing assumptions in adventure tourism literature, pleasure emerges as a more stable and influential predictor of destination attitude and loyalty than arousal, which is shown to be more context-sensitive and moderated by thrill-seeking motivation and activity type. The study also reveals that destination attitude is more resilient to crowding stress than recommendation, suggesting a distinction between short-term behavioural intentions and longterm attitudinal loyalty. These findings contribute to theory by refining models of emotional experience value, integrating environmental stressors as core antecedents, and advancing emotion-based segmentation frameworks. The results underscore the need for destination managers to balance crowd management with the design of emotionally rewarding experiences tailored to both soft and hard - adventure segments, while also addressing emotional fatigue among repeat visitors through novelty and personalisation.

Enggano Island is one of Indonesia’s outermost islands, endowed with rich natural resources, unique cultural heritage, and significant potential for ecotourism development. Despite these advantages, Enggano remains underrecognized in both national and international tourism markets and is less popular compared to similar destinations such as the Mentawai and Siberut Islands. This study aims to analyze the key issues surrounding Enggano’s tourism sector and to propose relevant marketing strategies through the application of the Segmentation, Targeting, and Positioning (STP) framework. The research employs a literature-based and descriptive analysis approach, utilizing secondary data from various sources related to tourism potential, infrastructure conditions, and global tourism trends. The findings reveal that the main challenges include limited accessibility, inadequate digital promotion, and weak integration with international tourism markets. The proposed strategy is to position Enggano as an exclusive ecotourism destination targeting international travelers seeking authentic nature-based experiences, biodiversity research, and sustainable adventure tourism. Through the effective implementation of STP, Enggano Island has the potential to enhance its visibility in the global tourism landscape while simultaneously contributing to sustainable regional economic development.

Adventure tourism became one of the typologies with the highest demand in the world, however the inadequate practice of some of these activities has caused irreparable accidents in the physical integrity of tourists. Therefore, this research identified the causes of risk in adventure tourism activities in Colombia, adapting a qualitative methodology of a descriptive type. Semi-structured interviews were also conducted with key players in the sector. It was found that the departments of Santander, Magdalena, Valle and Antioquia are the main territories where accidents occur in this typology, simultaneously it was identified that the activities with the highest accident rate are paragliding, horseback riding and trekking. Despite the fact that there are extensive regulations in the adventure segment, which since 2015 is mandatory, deficiencies continue to occur in the tourist operation, putting the integrity of the user at risk.

Adventure tourism has experienced significant growth in recent years, with outdoor recreational activities such as hiking and mountaineering attracting millions of participants worldwide. However, the increasing popularity of trail-based activities has raised concerns about participant safety, environmental sustainability, and the need for personalized experiences that match individual capabilities. Traditional trail recommendation systems often rely on static information and fail to account for dynamic environmental conditions or real-time assessment of user proficiency levels. This paper proposes a thematic review for intelligent trail recommendation that integrates real-time environmental data streams with continuous user proficiency assessment to deliver safe, personalized, and context-aware trail suggestions. The proposed of this study leverages machine learning algorithms, Internet of Things (IoT) sensors, and semantic data models to process multi-dimensional data including weather conditions, terrain characteristics, trail difficulty metrics, and physiological indicators of user capability. We present a thematic review of existing approaches in trail recommendation systems, environmental data integration, user proficiency modeling, and safety-aware computing. This study reveals that while existing systems address individual components, there is a critical gap in holistic frameworks that seamlessly integrate environmental dynamics with user-specific capabilities. The proposed approach contributes to the advancement of intelligent tourism systems by providing a foundation for safer, more personalized outdoor recreational experiences that adapt to changing conditions and individual user profiles.

This study examines the legislative regulation of adventure tourism in Jordan and its alignment with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Jordan’s unique geography, encompassing deserts, mountains, and marine environments, has positioned it as a promising destination for adventure tourism activities such as hiking, diving, and canyoning. However, the rapid growth of this sector necessitates a structured legal framework that ensures safety, sustainability, and inclusivity. The research analyzes the 2019 “Instructions for Organizing Adventure Tourism Trips” and related legislation to assess their effectiveness in addressing the multifaceted needs of the adventure tourism sector. While these regulations provide essential safety guidelines, insurance protocols, and age restrictions, they fall short in addressing marine and aerial tourism activities and inclusive practices for individuals with disabilities. Furthermore, the absence of a centralized digital platform for adventure tourism information hinders transparency and access. Using geospatial mapping tools, the study also charts major adventure tourism routes across Jordan, including Wadi Rum, Wadi Mujib, Dana Reserve, and Aqaba, to demonstrate the country’s rich adventure landscape. Emphasis is placed on the role of infrastructure, local community engagement, environmental conservation, and professional training in enhancing the adventure tourism experience. The study finds that aligning the adventure tourism sector with SDGs—particularly in areas of environmental protection, economic inclusion, and cultural preservation—can significantly enhance its sustainability and international competitiveness. Key recommendations include expanding legislative coverage to include all types of adventure tourism, establishing an inter-agency regulatory body, strengthening collaboration with local communities, and developing a national portal for adventure tourism. Through these reforms, Jordan can strengthen its regulatory framework and position itself as a leading model for sustainable and legally governed adventure tourism in the Middle East.

The article analyzes the current state of gastronomic tourism in the Republic of Armenia. Three major directions are considered essential for the development of tourism in Armenia: cultural tourism, gastro-tourism (cuisine and wine), and adventure tourism (including winter tourism). Armenian cuisine and wine are presented to tourists through their rich heritage. Gastro- and eno-tourism are among the leading directions in the global tourism market. Many elements of Armenian cuisine are well-known worldwide and attract tourists by preserving and showcasing the traditions of the Armenian people. It is not accidental that Armenian lavash has been included in UNESCO’s List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. Lavash was registered due to its unique preparation methods, as well as its cultural and national significance. All these factors contribute to the development of gastronomic tourism in Armenia, which is the main focus of the article.

This article analyzes the situation of adventure tourism in Mindo, Ecuador, focusing on the risks and preventive measures necessary to ensure safety and sustainable development. Mindo, known for its biodiversity and as an ecotourism destination, has seen growth in family-run tourism businesses, although it faces challenges due to its limited commercial offerings. The study identifies risks in activities such as canopy, tubing, mountain biking, and canyoning, evaluating the infrastructure and compliance with the safety regulations of Ecuador's Adventure Tourism Operation Regulations. Tourism safety was assessed, and improvement strategies were proposed using a methodology that included interviews with operators, tourist surveys, and direct observations. The results show that many tourists received information about safety equipment but also identify areas for improvement in regulatory compliance and equipment condition. Although the perception of safety is high, mandatory safety training for these activities is suggested. Finally, it is essential to reinforce prevention and training measures, ensuring a safer and more responsible adventure tourism experience, and it is presented as a valuable resource for providers and local authorities.

This study examines the association between nature-based outdoor activities and subjective well-being among adventure tourists in Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan. Drawing on environmental psychology and public health literature, the research evaluates psychological outcomes of trekking, hiking, and camping using the World Health Organization-5 Well-Being Index. Data collected from 59 participants indicate a high overall well-being score, exceeding international clinical thresholds for depression screening. Demographic analysis reveals variations by age, gender, and education level, highlighting structural and sociocultural influences on access to restorative environments. The findings support the integration of structured outdoor activity into population-level mental health strategies, particularly within low- and middle-income country contexts.

This paper assesses the possibilities and challenges of regional tourism development in Albania through available resources and sustainable practices towards realizing their full potential. Strategic directions for tourism development, heavily infrastructure based, are recommended. The paper draws its information from quantitative data obtained from government reports and tourism agencies, complemented by qualitative interviews. It has been discovered that tourist arrivals are predominantly coastal, while cultural heritage and natural resources lie in the untapped mountainous inland region. Infrastructure development and balanced regional development plans should emphasize cultural heritage that could change Albanian tourism from a seasonal coastal orientation to year-round destination. Subsequent research will be based on ecotourism, cultural tourism, and adventure tourism about the aspects of sustainable growth concerning socio-economic benefits from tourism.

In recent times, there has been a remarkable uptick in the market for temporary housing, including tents for outdoor sport, social gatherings, cultural events, and adventure tourism. The traditional process of renting a temporary storage unit or tent usually involved multiple phone calls attempting to find a prospective rental company with limited information on availability, as well as no real help to assist the buyer with which of the multiple rental options represent best value and are best used for the user's intended purpose. As more and more decisions about renting a tent become too burdensome for both the consumer and supplier to complete their responsibilities, there is a growing need to develop not only a smarter, more simplistic online process for rentals, but also that addresses customer satisfaction.