Beautiful Landscape Research Articles

Exploring factors reflecting Chinese students’ study abroad destination choice

Japan has become the most popular study destination among non-English-speaking countries in Asia. Within the broader literature on students’ personal motivation and parental influence, this study examines how Chinese students construct motivational factors when Japan is chosen as their study destination. In this study, 17 participants at a Japanese university were interviewed via semistructured interviews to collect data. This study employed a three-stage qualitative data analysis process: raw data coding, data categorization, and thematic development. The findings revealed that the push factors identified by the participants included cultural, educational and career development aspects. The pull factors encompass social factors such as a stable society and convenient lifestyle in Japan, as well as natural environmental features, including beautiful landscapes and scenic views. The study concludes that both push and pull factors play significant roles in motivating Chinese students’ desire to study in Japan.

Investigating the farmers' perception towards the creation and development of diversification components in economic activities: the case of rural areas of Baghlan Jadid district of Baghlan province-Afghanistan

Developing economic activities in villages has been known as one of the important approaches to poverty reduction, entrepreneurship development, and sustainable development of the rural economy. The most important feature of the Afghanistan villages’ economic structure is the lack of diversity in economic platforms as well as the lack of employment opportunities. In this regard, the present study was conducted to identify the components of the creation and development of diversification to rural economic activities and provide solutions in this context in the villages of the Baghlan Jadid district of Baghlan province. The statistical population for this research was all farmers of the Baghlan Jadid district. In this research, the sample size was determined using Cochran's formula of 363 people, which was done by multi-stage sampling method. The data collection tool was a questionnaire and the method was a face-to-face interview. Coefficient of Variation and Exploratory Factor Analysis was used to analyze and describe the data, in addition to descriptive statistics of centrality and dispersion. The results of the factor analysis showed that the components of "education-empowerment", "supporting component", "infrastructure-facilities component", "strategic-legal component" and "access to market component" are considered to be the most important components of creating and developing diversification in rural economic activities, respectively. Also, the findings of the study showed that the villages of this district have the potential capabilities, such as the presence of water resources such as springs and rivers for fish farming, the existence of beautiful landscapes and green spaces, the presence of the spirit of hospitality among the villagers and the belief of the villagers in the employment and income generation of non-agricultural activities. The findings of this innovative study, while facilitating the involvement of villagers in rural economic activities, can also be useful for policymakers and planners in this field.

Contingency Planning for Tourism Development in Volcanic Disaster-Prone Areas in Indonesia

Abstract Indonesia is geologically recognized as a complex region due to its location at the convergence of the Eurasian, Pacific, and Indo-Australian tectonic plates, making it highly susceptible to geological hazards. Among these hazards, volcanic activity poses a significant threat, with 127 volcanoes identified as potential eruption hazards. Volcanic disasters often result in substantial loss of life and property. The natural beauty and allure of volcanic landscapes attract numerous tourists, leading to heavy concentrations of people in potentially dangerous areas. If tourism in these regions is not managed effectively, the risk of disasters may increase. Catastrophic volcanic eruptions, such as those at Lokon (1991), Semeru (2000), Bromo (2004), and Marapi (2023), have resulted in considerable casualties among tourists. This paper aims to provide essential considerations for tourism stakeholders in active volcanic regions to enhance safety and reduce fatalities associated with volcanic eruption hazards. It will explore the challenges and risks posed by tourism in these areas, emphasizing the need for comprehensive contingency planning. To safeguard tourists, future tourism development in areas prone to volcanic disasters must incorporate disaster risk assessments, early integration of volcanic hazard maps into tourist site designs, adherence to technical guidance from volcanological institutions, implementation of early warning systems, and regular dissemination of volcanic hazard mitigation measures.

Thailand as World LGBTQ Wedding Destination

Gradually, Thailand has emerged as a promising land of honeymoon destination for LGBTQ wedding tourism, offering a diverse range of picturesque venues favorable for same-sex couples. This research paper discusses the multifaceted appeal of Thailand by mentioning the beautiful landscapes, culturally inclusive environment, and the growing acceptance of LGBTQ rights. The paper discusses the legal environment of Thai marriage, considering the difficulties facing the LBGTQ couples and the limitations of the present times, including the non-recognition of same-sex marriages under Thai law. On the other hand, it also discusses how weddings from the LGBTQ community have gone up, reflecting changes in societal attitudes and creating Thailand as a haven for couples seeking out acceptance and celebration of their love. It also lists all popular LGBTQ wedding venues-from five-star hotels to dreamy beach resorts-and mentions what really sets them apart: catering services designed with same-sex couples in mind. Cultural elements discussed herein involve an examination of traditional Thai wedding ceremonies and the aspect of inclusivity to understand their contribution to the experiences of LGBTQ weddings. It concludes with a presentation of some effective marketing strategies and promotional activities that might include partnering with LGBTQ influencers down to well-churned advertising campaigns that might position Thailand among the top destinations globally for the performance of LGBTQ marriage ceremonies. Against this backdrop, the present study explores a sensitive area in which Thai operators are showing huge potential to attract LGBTQ grooms and brides, first in the development of wedding tourism and secondly to increase acceptance of sexual orientation diversity across the region.

FROM THE GROUND UP, conversations with Wes Jackson

The book narrative is a series of five conversations with Wes Jackson. Questions are posed and Jackson answers. The First Conversations is about Intellectual Grounding that focuses on his schooling beginning with a two-room rural school house to his doctorate in genetics. He tries to dispel the notion he is a genius but his thinking about the importance of soil and conservation issues has always been “outside the box.” There is an appreciation of growing up on a farm in rural Topeka, Kansas, and the importance of a work ethic. This topical section is worth reading to appreciate the beauty of the tallgrass prairie landscape in the Flint Hills of Kansas.

The Role of Single Landscape Elements in Enhancing Landscape Aesthetics and the Sustainable Tourism Experience: A Case Study of Leisure Furniture

This study focuses on Xuanwu Lake Park and Purple Mountain National Forest Park in Nanjing to explore the impact of leisure furniture as a single landscape element on the visual landscape evaluation and sustainable tourism experience. In previous studies, researchers paid more attention to the overall beauty of landscape and its impact on tourists’ experiences, and there was a lack of studies on the role of a single landscape element (such as leisure furniture) in enhancing landscape beauty and tourists’ experiences. This study addresses gaps in the literature by isolating leisure furniture from other landscape elements in order to assess its unique contribution to aesthetic appeal and the various dimensions of a sustainable tourism experience, including sensory, emotional, cognitive, and operational aspects. Using Schmitt’s five-dimensional Strategic Experiential Model as the framework and combining the dual methods of visual assessments and visitor surveys, an assessment team consisting of 40 members was formed to evaluate the visual landscape of leisure furniture in two major scenic spots, and 492 valid questionnaires were collected and analyzed to study the impact of leisure furniture on tourists’ experiences. The findings reveal that leisure furniture significantly enhances visitors’ aesthetic evaluations and sensory experiences at Xuanwu Lake National Forest Park. However, suboptimally designed leisure furniture at Purple Mountain National Forest Park negatively affects both the visual appeal and sensory experience of visitors. Nevertheless, in both locations, leisure furniture positively impacts emotional and operational experiences, highlighting its role in promoting relaxation and interaction among visitors. This study provides practical insights for landscape designers and urban planners regarding the importance of carefully designing and positioning leisure furniture to optimize aesthetic and experiential outcomes. It also provides certain enlightenment and insights for future exploration of the impacts of other landscape elements (such as vegetation, water, lighting, etc.) on visual landscape evaluations and visitors’ experiences.

Information Boards as Forest Conservation Campaign in Bahorok Research Center, Langkat Regency, North Sumatera Utara, Indonesia

Yayasan Ekosistem Lestari (YEL) in Bahorok Research Station in Bahorok Sub-district, Langkat District, is a very important location for this work. The hilly terrain of the area provides a beautiful landscape and varied flora and fauna with the main attraction being the corpse flower (Amorphophallus sp). With a preserved natural environment and unique ecological features, this research station allows other parties to participate in protecting the area in various conservation campaign, one of which is the installation/establishment of conservation information boards. Conservation information boards can raise public awareness about the importance of protecting forests and their natural environment. Information on ecosystems, flora, fauna, management, and the importance of conservation can be conveyed through these information boards. Information boards are widely used as an educational tool for local communities and visitors to the forest at the research station. They can learn about forest ecology, the negative impacts of deforestation, and sustainable ways of utilizing forest resources. They can learn about forest ecology, the negative impacts of deforestation, and sustainable ways of utilizing forest resources. Information boards can also be used to invite community participation in conservation efforts, which is expected to improve the quality of knowledge and understanding of conservation areas for communities, researchers, and tourists. Therefore, the installation/establishment of conservation information boards needs to be carried out at Bahorok Research Station, Batu Katak as one of the campaign and solutions to maintain the natural conditions in the forest and river.

An investigation into the shifting landscape preferences of rural residents in Taiwan and their relationship with ecological indicators

Rapid urbanization has significantly altered landscape environments in both urban and rural regions, and these landscapes have been demonstrated to play a pivotal role in human well-being. This study develops a coherent framework that integrates landscape change, landscape ecological indicators, and landscape preferences within the context of the evolving landscape environments of rural communities in Taiwan. Four distinct types of rural communities were selected, and a quantitative methodology was employed to investigate the variations and transformations in landscape preferences among rural residents in the context of landscape change. A qualitative methodology was employed to investigate the relationship between landscape ecological indicators and landscape preferences. The study’s findings indicate significant temporal variations in residents’ landscape preferences, with landscape beauty, stewardship, and coherence emerging as key determinants in the evaluation of these preferences. Landscape ecological indicators were found to be significantly correlated with variables such as landscape complexity, landscape beauty, openness, naturalness, and comprehensive landscape assessment. The findings of this study indicate that design planners, land managers, and public sector organizations can employ multidimensional thinking in the management of rural landscapes to align with the visual aesthetic preferences of rural residents.

Cultural Landscape is a Power of Increasing the Beauty of the Natural Landscape and It is an Attraction to the Traveller for Visits the Tourists Places: A Study in West Bengal Major Tourist Spots Cultural Landscape

The study mainly focused on the cultural landscape’s impact on the tourism spots in West Bengal and it is really effective to attraction power to the travellers. The article mainly represents cultural landscape refers to the modification of the natural landscape by human activities and it is increase the beauty of the tourists spots. we have directly contact to some travellers for collection their satisfactory level and observation their main subject to create an attraction for a specific tourist places and collection the data and more information to use internet websites. We are using FDGs method, online survey, questionnaire survey and GIS software for using secondary data collection. We showing the major tourist spots of West Bengal, such as Darjeeling, Sundarbans, Santiniketan, Dooars, Bishnupur and Purulia. In those places we observed their natural beauty and elements of cultural landscape increase the beauty of environment. And represents to analysis of this think that culture is a key to the development of natural landscape and attraction to the travellers to those places. And this study helps to deployment of these places for visiting large amount travellers.

Valuing ecosystem services of community gardens in developing countries: a case study of Dezful City in Iran

Allotment (AGs) and community gardens (CGs) are types of urban gardens that provide diverse ecosystem services (ESs) such as climate regulation, beautiful landscapes, biodiversity and food security. Despite this, there are no AGs or CGs in many developing countries such as Iran. One of the main reasons for the lack of development of CGs in developing countries is the lack of proper understanding by policy-makers and citizens regarding the economic value of the ESs provided and the lack of disclosure of the benefits of its construction in urban areas. The purpose of this study is to analyse the preferences of citizens, to examine the existence of a potential market, to estimate the willingness to pay (WTP) for the creation and operation of CG services and to investigate the factors affecting residents’ WTP in Dezful, Iran. For this purpose, a choice experiment, based on the stated preferences valuation approach, was applied through interviews with 170 respondents living in Dezful urban area. The data were collected during the autumn of 2022 and analysed using conditional logit model. The results indicated that the responding citizens are willing to pay 4.57 USD per month to create CG and operate its ESs in Dezful. Amongst the attributes and ESs of the community garden, citizens valued cultural services the most, followed by provisioning services. In addition, the variables “age”, “being native”, “education”, “household expenditure level” and “awareness and recognition of CG ecosystem services” had a significant effect on WTP. According to the results, it is suggested to follow the policy of creating CGs with the participation of citizens instead of focusing only on the creation of urban green space with a government budget and heavy financial burden. CGs, while providing diverse ESs, can generate sustainable incomes for municipalities and accelerate the movement toward sustainable urban development.

Comparison of Three Indoor Viewing Models and On-Site Experiences to Assess Visual Landscape Perception in Urban Forests

Contacting forests in different ways and conducting public perception evaluations of forests are important ways to evaluate forest construction. In order to explore the differences between on-site and manual post-collection indoor evaluations in forest landscape surveys, we combined subjective evaluation and objective indicator monitoring (eye movement characteristics, physiological indicators) based on different forest observation scales. We compared and analyzed the suitability of the following four visual approaches: on-site observation, manual collection, followed by indoor viewing normal photos (NP), videos (VD), and virtual reality panoramas (VR), in terms of public preference, perception, and psychological emotion. The results showed the following: (1) Compared with the on-site evaluation, the three indoor visual approaches (NP, VD, and VR) showed no significant difference in “landscape beauty” and “spatial perception”. VD also showed no significant difference in “landscape perception”, “seeing”, and “plant color preference” and had the strongest substitution for site evaluation. (2) With the exception of small-scale landscapes, in which on-site evaluation showed no substitutability, for the rest of the landscape scales, each of the three indoor visual approaches showed substitutability for on-site evaluation to varying degrees. (3) When conducting physiological and psychological surveys, watching videos and VR are more ideal. In terms of eye tracking, VR is closest to on-site observation. Practice shows that video was closer to on-site observation in most landscape preferences and perceptions. VR was suitable for presenting public visual behavioral characteristics, and NP showed some advantages in landscape beauty and spatial perceptions. The findings of the study can provide a scientific basis for the selection of visual approaches in future landscape evaluation.

240 Does fall prevention also have to hinder physical activity?

Abstract Purpose Physical activity is effective for preventing falls and improves physical and mental health, increase function and quality of life. Regarding people at high risk of falling, such as residents at nursing homes, global guidelines recommend individually adapted exercise programs to prevent falls. These guidelines are not followed. We aimed to map out physical activity among people living at a nursing home. To our knowledge, this is the first study measuring physical activity 24 hours per day among residents at a nursing home. Method In this pilot study, persons who lived at one nursing home and could walk without a walking aid wore an Inertial Measurement Unit for 24 hours per day for 3 months. Main outcome measure was steps per day. For each participant, the mean steps per day during the period was calculated and for the total group, the median value of the mean steps per day was calculated. Results The participants (n = 5), three women and 2 men, 72 to 98 years old, walked in a median of 65 steps per day (10-356). Conclusion In Sweden, instead of following guidelines, technical solutions that monitor if a person tries to move are introduced at nursing homes, often in the form of web cameras. This means that falls are prevented by hindering physical activity and making sure the residents do not move at all. Our study shows that people living in nursing homes can have a very low level of physical activity. We call on all responsible organizations to initiate activities and efforts that enable rather than hinder physical activity. For example, use technology that promotes physical activity, build gyms located in nursing homes, use Virtual Reality to make the bike ride seem to take place outside in a beautiful landscape, and employ physiotherapists who can do balance-training exercises on an everyday basis.

Ecocriticism and Environmental Awareness in Modern Poetry in Africa

Purpose: The aim of the study was to assess the ecocriticism and environmental awareness in modern poetry in Africa. Materials and Methods: This study adopted a desk methodology. A desk study research design is commonly known as secondary data collection. This is basically collecting data from existing resources preferably because of its low cost advantage as compared to a field research. Our current study looked into already published studies and reports as the data was easily accessed through online journals and libraries. Findings: The study found that poetry aims to raise environmental awareness by depicting the beauty of natural landscapes and the destructive impact of human activity. Ecocritical poetry often incorporates imagery and symbolism that evoke a sense of urgency regarding climate change, pollution, and conservation efforts. By intertwining aesthetic appreciation with ecological consciousness, modern poets not only reflect the environmental crises of our time but also inspire readers to contemplate and engage with ecological issues. This growing trend underscores the vital role of literature in fostering a deeper understanding and appreciation of the natural world, thereby contributing to a broader cultural movement towards environmental sustainability. Implications to Theory, Practice and Policy: Ecocritical theory, cultural ecology theory and reader-response theory may be used to anchor future studies on assessing the ecocriticism and environmental awareness in modern poetry in Africa. In practice, promoting ecocritical poetry involves integrating it into educational curricula and public discourse. Advocating for ecocritical poetry in policy involves influencing cultural and media practices to amplify environmental voices and perspectives.

Exploring the truth and beauty of theory landscapes with machine learning

Theoretical physicists describe nature by i) building a theory model and ii) determining the model parameters. The latter step involves the dual aspect of both fitting to the existing experimental data and satisfying abstract criteria like beauty, naturalness, etc. We use the Yukawa quark sector as a toy example to demonstrate how both of those tasks can be accomplished with machine learning techniques. We propose loss functions whose minimization results in true models that are also beautiful as measured by three different criteria — uniformity, sparsity, or symmetry.

Fantasised and fantastical Nordic imaginaries: Contextualising Nordic life vlogs by East Asian YouTube vloggers

Abstract Nordic life vlogs are a popular genre among avid watchers of YouTube influencers across East Asia. The vlogs showcase “a slice of life” content, documenting the simple living, daily routines, beautiful landscapes, cultural festivals, and everyday norms of what it is like to live in the Nordic region. While there are many Nordic life vloggers, in this article, we focus on a subset: young immigrant women from Japan and South Korea living in the Nordics. By attending to the genre, content, and interactions between vloggers and viewers, we explore how female East Asian YouTube vloggers who have immigrated to Nordic countries construct fantasised and fantastical narratives around Nordic imaginaries. The discussion of multifaceted layers of Nordic imaginaries explains how Nordic life vlogs serve as a platform for young East Asian women to project their desire for a better life and cultivate subtle resilience at the juncture of postfeminism and postcolonialism.

Ethnofolklore representations in moldovan painting of the 1970s

The article demonstrates that during the 1970s, Moldovan painting focused deeply on rural life and folk traditions, expressing them profoundly. Plastic artists depicted the beauty and authenticity of rural landscapes on canvas, highlighting the close connection between people and nature. Portraits and everyday life scenes brought to the forefront authentic faces and moments experienced by ordinary people. Realism and decorative elements harmoniously intertwined in their creations. Dances and folk traditions were represented in various forms, conveying the energy of traditional events. Folk motifs and symbols underscored Moldova’s cultural and historical identity. Mythology and the legend served as sources of inspiration, bringing forth the metaphorical visions of the artists. Ornamental elements and specific technical principles of Moldovan mural painting emphasized the importance of faith and folklore. Overall, these themes and motifs contributed to shaping an authentic image of Moldovan culture in the painting of the 1970s.

Groși, Maramureș: An Attractive Destination during the Covid-19 Pandemic?

Article history: Received: February 16, 2024; Reviewed: March 29, 2024; Accepted: June 21, 2024; Available online: June 30, 2024. In Romania, the COVID-19 pandemic determined the development of rural areas and consequently, the evolution of rural tourism, one of the most important contributors to sustainable tourism. The current study examines the rural tourism potential of a village in North-Western Transylvania (Romania), Groși. The main goal of this study is to evaluate the potential for sustainable growth by means of rural tourism in this commune. This assessment also considers the potential impact on the social and economic aspects of the destination, as well as the factors that could positively or negatively influence this entire process. The data was gathered using the survey-based inquiry. Therefore, a questionnaire including 32 questions, consisting of three parts in all, was developed. The first part included questions used by the researchers aimed to gather information regarding the respondents’ orientation towards remote rural destinations. The second part of the questionnaire was designed with the end goal of establishing to what extent the respondents are familiar with the resources of Groși, respectively to assess to what extent the destination can benefit from the development of hospitality services. The last part of the survey enabled researchers to collect identification data regarding the 117 respondents of the self-implemented survey. The main conclusions of the study highlight that respondents are mostly pleased or very satisfied regarding rural tourism in the region under analysis. Among the benefits that certainly are to everyone’s liking were found to be tranquility, beautiful landscapes, fresh air, important sights, and local gastronomy. In the end, the main disadvantages of the area and the opportunities of developing rural tourism in Groși commune are presented. JEL classification: L83, Z32, L80.

Grass-Fed Cattle as an Option to Improve the Sustainability of Cattle Industry in Croatia

In Croatia, as well as in many neighboring countries, neither the cattle farmers nor the general public (i.e., the consumers) are familiar with the meaning of the grass- fed cattle farming. This paper’s objective is to present what environmental and consumer-health benefits might arise from this way of cattle farming, along with the expected constrains regarding a lower productivity per animal and per the used land resources. The presented literature review has demonstrated that, when compared to the conventional TMR-fed cattle, the grass-fed feeding manner produces the cattle-derived foods with the greater consumer-related health benefits, has a potential to restore biodiversity in agricultural countryside, causes a lesser environmental pollution due to a lesser pesticide use, improves animal welfare and the beauty of a countryside landscape, decreases the farmers’ operating costs, consumes less fossil fuel per hectare of the utilized land, which is appreciated in climate policies, and has a potential to improve the cattle farmers’ resilience and independence from distant fossil fuels. The grass-fed foods are appreciated by the end-consumers who are willing to pay a price premium for such products. The projected feed and forage consumptions, along with the data on a grass-fed cattle productivity, have indicated a poorer conversion rate of feed DM to milk (1.433 vs. 0.756) and bodyweight gain (12.168 vs. 7.526) in the grass-fed cattle when compared to the TMR-fed, which implies that the grass-fed cattle would require much more land resources per product unit than the TMR-fed cattle. Further research is required to test the productivity of grass-fed cattle (per head and per hectare) in Croatian conditions, as well as to investigate the productivity of Croatian grassland resources.

The trend of “films as tourism promotion”: from picturesque landscapes to eco-consciousness in Vietnamese masses

Along with the intense globalisation process in Vietnam since the early 21st century, there has been a bloom of commercial films shot in the famous places of this country named ‘films as tourism promotion’. However, behind the eye-catching frames, the picturesque landscape, and the smooth cinematography, whether those films accompany the ecological discourse of preserving the indigenous natural environment is another complicated problem that needs to be challenged in this research. Since then, we will consider the effects of socialist nationalism and capitalism’s mass production on the eco-consciousness of the film audiences/masses, how they give the viewers a firm belief in the indestructible and sustainable beauty of the national landscapes, and how they distract the audience’s visual interest from practical issues. Also, we aim to examine the ecological status of these tourist sites after the movies were released to determine the chain-related environmental consequences of this cinematic trend.

How the ecological structure affects the aesthetic atmosphere of the landscape: Evaluation of the landscape Beauty of Xingqing Palace Park in Xi'an.

In landscape appreciation, what tourists directly perceive is the atmosphere of the landscape. This paper introduces the concept of "Ecological Structure" from Gernot Böhme's theory of atmospheric aesthetics into the assessment of landscapes, utilizing atmosphere as a bridge between horticultural ecology, aesthetics, and culture. It examines the relationship between the objective environment and subjective perception. This study conducted a field survey of Xingqing Palace Park and selected the waterside plant landscape that directly reflects the atmosphere of the royal garden as the research object. In the first stage of this study, Scenic Beauty Estimation was used to evaluate the overall beauty of 32 landscape units; in the second stage, the Delphi method and Analytic Hierarchy Process were used to evaluate the ecological structures that affect the garden landscape atmosphere; in the third stage, the two evaluation results of the Kendall's W concord coefficient test Analytic Hierarchy Process and Scenic Beauty Estimation have high consistency, which shows that the atmosphere is great value to the beauty of the landscape. This study provides designers with a means to create a garden atmosphere using ecological structures and provides new ideas for landscape design.