ABSTRACT This study analyses residents’ perceptions towards the effects of tourism in a low-density cross-border region between northern Portugal and Spain. Based on Social Exchange Theory, it examines how tourism dependence, gender, and length of residence shape perceptions of the economic, sociocultural, and environmental effects. Quantitative survey was conducted with 622 residents from 10 municipalities on both sides of the border, and statistical tests were applied. Results indicate favourable attitudes towards tourism, driven by perceived economic benefits, while concerns remain moderate. Tourism dependence significantly influences positive and negative perceptions, whereas gender and length of residence do not. The findings suggest that, in early-stage and low-intensity cross-border destinations, traditional predictors of residents’ attitudes operate differently from those observed in saturated tourism contexts.

Negative service encounters at borders: Unraveling the impact of cross-border tourism attributes on dissatisfaction, and future behavioral intention.

ABSTRACT Transfrontier Conservation Areas (TFCAs) aim to promote sustainable conservation and economic integration across national borders. In Southern Africa, these transboundary areas are seen as engines of conservation-led development, but the impact on regional tourism markets remains unclear. This study examines the Kavango Zambezi (KAZA) TFCA's impacts on intra-regional tourism, with a focus on Botswana. Using interdependence and market integration theories, relevant indicators, and Controlled Interrupted Time Series models, results show modest changes post-KAZA. However, interdependence remains asymmetric, with tourist flows mainly in Botswana due to differences in product quality, conservation, and marketing, resulting in the siphon effect and skewed dependence. This suggests that the KAZA TFCA has not yet demonstrated clear evidence of integrated tourism markets or sustained cross-border tourism circuits, as indicated by observed flow patterns and indicators of independence. However, KAZA has implemented UniVisa and collaborative policies that promote equitable benefits. Botswana should leverage its cooperative advantage to promote KAZA's cooperative branding.

Cultural tourism is increasingly used to develop cross-border tourism products. Previous studies have highlighted de-bordering processes in the EU, but now symbolic re-bordering processes designed to turn former borders into tourism attractions are emerging. Re-bordering has also been stimulated by nationalistic discourses on deterring migration. This paper considers how changing discourses on borders affect collaborative tourism projects on the international borders of the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany. We contrast the bottom-up development of local authority-led projects with the top-down UNESCO Roman Limes project, recreating the second Century border of the Roman Empire. Through stakeholder interviews and policy analysis we identify symbolic re-bordering processes linked to shared cultural narratives based on smuggling and local legends. Locally led projects include cultural routes highlighting the former frontier, including the First World War ‘death wire’ barrier. In contrast the top-down governance approach of the Limes limits cross-border collaboration and highlights tensions related to migration and populist discourses at national level. We examine the implications of these emerging tensions for cross-border tourism development and compare the effects of different governance arrangements.

Abstract Subregional cooperation has emerged as a global phenomenon since the 1990s, including in Southeast Asia. Initiatives such as the Brunei Darussalam-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area ( BIMP - EAGA ) expects to play a key role in enhancing connectivity across the region. This research examines how the BIMP - EAGA subregional cooperation contributes to ASEAN ’s regional connectivity. Previous studies mostly looked at BIMP - EAGA ’s basic structure and economic cooperation trends, missing out on its three main aspects: infrastructure, institutions, and people-to-people relations, as well as how it connects with ASEAN . Data was collected through various means that reveals that BIMP - EAGA ’s economic corridors have improved physical, institutional, and people-to-people connections, and boosted cross-border tourism and trade. Strong political will, state and non-state actor involvement, secured environment, and subregional-regional coordination have become the supporting factors that have led to this performance. Nevertheless, BIMP - EAGA still needs to address some challenges including elitism in decision making processes, poor national coordination, and security issues.

The China–Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), as a flagship component of China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), has emerged as a transformative framework for infrastructure development, regional connectivity, and economic cooperation in Pakistan. Beyond its traditional focus on trade and transportation, CPEC has created new opportunities for tourism development by facilitating the establishment of integrated tourism corridors across strategically important regions of Pakistan. This study examines the role of CPEC-driven tourism corridors in promoting cross-border tourism development and fostering regional economic integration. The paper explores how enhanced road networks, upgraded transport infrastructure, and improved accessibility to remote tourist destinations such as Gilgit-Baltistan, Hunza, Skardu, Gwadar, and Khunjerab have increased tourism mobility and strengthened Pakistan’s position as a regional tourism hub. By linking Pakistan with China, Central Asia, and South Asia, these corridors enable greater cultural exchange, tourism diversification, and transnational visitor flows. The study adopts a qualitative analytical approach based on secondary data, policy reports, government publications, and existing scholarly literature to evaluate the economic and strategic significance of tourism corridors under CPEC. Findings indicate that CPEC-driven tourism infrastructure contributes significantly to local employment generation, hospitality sector expansion, small business development, and regional income growth. Furthermore, tourism corridors enhance cross-border cooperation by integrating tourism markets and encouraging joint investment opportunities between participating countries. However, several challenges remain, including security concerns, environmental sustainability issues, inadequate tourism services, and regulatory barriers affecting international tourist movement. The paper argues that with effective policy planning, sustainable tourism strategies, and stronger bilateral cooperation, CPEC can redefine Pakistan’s tourism landscape and establish a new paradigm for regional tourism integration. The study concludes that tourism corridors under CPEC represent not only a mechanism for destination development but also a strategic instrument for long-term economic connectivity and regional prosperity in South and Central Asia.

Cross-border tourism in North America: A hybrid deep learning framework with macroeconomic indicators

The purpose of the study was to analyse the legal and regulatory framework and assess the possibilities for developing international cooperation between Kazakhstan and China to protect the rights of tourists. The study used a comparative analysis of legal acts, an analysis of intergovernmental agreements regulating the tourism sector, as well as a content analysis of reports of government agencies and industry associations. The paper examines the main mechanisms of legal regulation of tourist rights protection in Kazakhstan and China. The study analysed the effectiveness of existing institutional mechanisms of cooperation, in particular the functioning of the Kazakhstan-China Tourism Forum and joint border coordination groups operating under bilateral agreements. The study identified key problems, including insufficient coordination between national consumer protection authorities, the lack of a unified system for administrative review of tourist complaints, and difficulties with judicial settlement of disputes, which causes significant financial and time costs for tourists. It was found that a significant number of conflict situations are resolved through the mechanisms of self-regulation of the tourism business and out-of-court dispute resolution, in particular with the participation of industry associations and insurance companies. Prospects for cooperation were analysed, including the possibility of creating a single electronic database of tourist complaints between Kazakhstan and China, harmonizing travel insurance standards, and expanding alternative dispute resolution mechanisms, including international arbitration. Effective legal regulation of tourism activities is an important factor in the development of cross-border tourism and ensuring its sustainability, and the introduction of coordinated mechanisms for protecting the rights of tourists will help increase confidence in the tourism market and strengthen bilateral relations between Kazakhstan and China. Key words: legislation, regulations, liability, agreements, safety, cross-border travel

ABSTRACT This research note examines whether stablecoins reduce payment frictions in cross-border tourism. Using a calibrated cost comparison and a cancellation – dispute simulation, it shows that stablecoins reconfigure rather than eliminate transaction costs. Cost advantages arise only under low-fee ramp conditions. In advance-booking markets, irreversibility shifts dispute resolution from chargebacks to contractual governance rather than reducing disputes. Therefore, stablecoins function as conditional complements to card systems rather than universal cost-reducing substitutes.

ABSTRACT This article examines how two Euroregions – the tri-national Nisa (CZ–PL–DE) and the bi-national Glacensis (CZ–PL) – govern cross-border tourism under the same EU funding framework yet through contrasting institutional logics. Drawing on over 400 INTERREG-funded projects from 2014–2020, complemented by interviews, strategic documents, and spatial analysis, we develop a typology distinguishing an infrastructural–procedural model (Glacensis) and an interpretive–participatory model (Nisa). The findings show how cross-border governance reflects not just policy design but also deeply embedded administrative cultures, actor constellations, and spatial imaginaries. Tourism emerges as both a policy field and a symbolic medium for regional identity construction. By situating these empirical insights within theories of euroregionalism, multi-level governance, and tourism governance, the article contributes to a more nuanced understanding of how European integration unfolds through localized cooperation practices. We argue that Euroregions function as laboratories of border governance, where symbolic depth, actor diversity, and spatial connectivity shape the evolving meanings of “Europe” at the subnational scale.

Digital payments are altering the way businesses manage business travel. It’s no longer necessary to carry cash or wait for expense reimbursements. Employees can pay for flights, hotels, and meals with a few simple clicks, making travel easier and more efficient. This transition to electronic payments is about more than just convenience; it is changing how businesses manage travel, save money, and keep customers happy. Any payment made electronically is referred to as a digital payment. This includes credit and debit cards, mobile payments, and virtual cards. Instead of using cash or checks, online payments enable travelers to pay instantly via secure online platforms. Employees can book and pay for business travel expenses quickly and easily, eliminating the need to carry large sums of money or deal with paperwork. In the context of the digital economy and cultural integration, this paper examines the theoretical and practical effects of digital inclusive finance on cross-border tourism revenue. Cross-border tourism revenue is greatly increased by digital inclusive finance, and this effect holds true even after a number of sensitivity tests. Mechanism analysis shows that by promoting the creation of new digital infrastructure and boosting the effectiveness of information exchange, digital inclusive finance enhances the cross-border travel experience. Additionally, the moderating effect analysis demonstrates that while fiscal investment lessens the beneficial effects of digital inclusive finance, trade openness increases them. In recent decades, the development of the tourism business has been significantly impacted by technology. A key area of technological innovation is the cashless payment system. Cashless payment systems have been proposed as a way to improve tourism experiences and provide market places a competitive edge. In the tourism industry, governments are currently aggressively pushing for a cashless society. It is still uncommon to find research on travelers’ acceptance of cashless payment methods in travel destinations.

This study analyses the evolution of research on digital accessibility and emerging technologies applied to tourism, with a special focus on their framework in cross-border regions, namely in the Northern Portugal and Galicia Euroregion. Based on a systematic search in Web of Science (2020-2025), 268 articles were identified and subsequently processed using bibliometric methods with Bibliometrix R/Biblioshiny. The results show a sharp increase in scientific production, strongly focused on topics such as inclusion, technology, tourism experiences, and barriers to access. The analysis of networks and thematic structures reveals a scientific field in consolidation, where digital transformation and accessible tourism take centre stage, although gaps remain in the articulation between emerging technologies and cross-border tourism. This study contributes to an updated mapping of the field, identifying trends, the most influential authors and institutions, as well as opportunities for future research aimed at developing and promoting more inclusive and digitally accessible destinations. DOI : https://doi.org/10.54663/2182-9306.2026.SpecialIssueCMTH.253-271

ABSTRACT This paper analyses why private enterprises remain weakly engaged in cross-border tourism innovation diffusion within the EU Strategy for the BSR (EUSBSR). Based on 11 interviews from six BSR countries, the study identifies key barriers: fragmented institutional frameworks, complex funding rules, and low visibility of EUSBSR among businesses. While concrete projects and networks enable knowledge exchange and innovation transfer their impact often ends with project completion. The paper recommends targeted funding instruments, cross-sector advisory boards, and permanent cooperation platforms to strengthen private-sector participation. Bridging this policy-practice divide requires reconfiguring macro-regional governance into a co-creation ecosystem, where public and private actors jointly define innovation agendas.

This study explores the essential role of cultural values in the conservation and sustainable development of the Lower Prut Floodplain Natural Park (PNLJPI). Through the analysis of tangible heritage elements—such as vernacular architecture—and intangible aspects including local traditions, customs, and traditional fishing practices, the research illustrates how cultural components shape and reinforce the park’s distinctive identity. Employing documentary analysis, field observations, and surveys conducted among residents from neighboring Romanian and Moldovan communities, the study emphasizes the need to integrate cultural dimensions into the management of protected natural areas. The findings indicate that overlooking cultural heritage can lead to the erosion of community values and the weakening of local identity. Therefore, the paper advocates for an integrated management framework that fosters active community participation, the valorization of cultural resources, and the development of sustainable tourism. Ultimately, the study demonstrates that the inclusion of cultural values not only strengthens environmental protection but also promotes social cohesion and regional cooperation, providing a holistic model for natural park governance in cross-border contexts.

The research examines how tourists experience the German-Polish maritime border as a symbolic boundary which exists beyond physical separation because of memory, movement, and meaning. The research addresses a gap in border and tourism studies by using a qualitative-dominant mixed-methods approach to analyse 116 tourist narratives through the lenses of the bordering-debordering-rebordering concept, liminality and emotional geography. Tourists experience the border as an invisible yet tangible presence which serves as a historical reflection zone with fluid identity and ambiguous emotional responses. By theorising concepts like floating thresholds and symbolic permeability, the study reconceptualises maritime borders as dynamic spatial imaginaries in post-Schengen Europe.

Against the backdrop of the continuous advancement of the Belt and Road Initiative, cross-border tourism cooperation between Xinjiang, China and Kazakhstan has become an important link connecting the two countries. Based on the theories of "collective memory" and "cultural memory" in sociology, this paper explores how Silk Road cultural heritage realizes the reconstruction of contemporary national memory and exerts its multi-dimensional social functions through cross-border tourism practices. The research shows that cross-border tourism transforms static material heritage into dynamic memory narratives serving current social needs through mechanisms such as selective activation, narrative integration, emotional attachment, and cross-border dialogical negotiation. This process of memory reconstruction has effectively strengthened the sense of community for the Chinese nation internally, enhanced the cultural confidence and national identity of ethnic minorities in border areas; externally, it has consolidated the emotional foundation of the "China-Central Asia Community with a Shared Future", built an effective platform for people-to-people diplomacy, and laid a solid public opinion foundation for the sustainable development of bilateral relations. This paper not only provides a theoretical perspective for understanding the in-depth role of cultural heritage in cross-border governance, but also offers academic reference and reflection for the formulation of relevant policies.

This study examines the influence of destination motivation and destination perception on cross-border tourism consumption among Chinese tourists visiting Bangkok, Thailand, using the Stimulus–Organism–Response (SOR) framework. Internal travel motives (push factors) and perceptions of Bangkok’s attributes (pull factors) are conceptualized as stimuli shaping tourists’ spending behaviors abroad. A structured survey of 420 Chinese outbound tourists was conducted, employing validated measurement scales adapted to the Bangkok context. Structural equation modeling (SEM) results revealed that both destination motivation (β ≈ 0.45, p < 0.001) and destination perception (β ≈ 0.32, p < 0.001) positively predicted consumption behavior, jointly explaining over 50% of the variance. Tourists with stronger motivations and more favorable perceptions reported higher spending across shopping, dining, and entertainment, consistent with SOR theory’s proposition that destination stimuli elicit approach behaviors through internal responses. The findings offer theoretical and practical implications for cross-border tourism management. For destination marketers and policymakers in Thailand, appealing to Chinese tourists’ dominant motivations and sustaining a favorable image of Bangkok can effectively stimulate on-site consumption and enhance economic benefits. This research contributes to tourism behavior literature by integrating motivation and perception within an SOR-based model to predict actual spending, rather than intentions, in a cross-border context. It also provides actionable insights for post-pandemic tourism recovery strategies targeting high-spending source markets such as China.

High-quality development is the primary task of comprehensively building a socialist modernized country, and it is also the essential requirement and core path to fully promote the construction of a strong tourism country. Relying on the location advantages and tourism resources, Yunnan-Guizhou region is of strategic significance in the development of border tourism. This paper systematically combs through the historical logic of Yunnan-Guizhou border tourism development, analyzes the new opportunities and challenges facing the development of Yunnan-Guizhou border tourism under the new situation, and puts forward the three aspects of the reality of the high-quality development of Yunnan-Guizhou border tourism requirements. At the same time, Yunnan-Guizhou border tourism is still facing three bottlenecks, such as lagging behind in intelligent service system, mismatch between resources and market demand, and incomplete mechanism of cross-border tourism cooperation and coordinated development. Through the construction of the synergistic development model of "high matching of market demand-intelligent service system-deepening regional tourism cooperation mechanism", we can promote the high-quality development of Yunnan-Guizhou border tourism, so that the tourism industry can better serve the good life, promote economic development, construct a spiritual home, display China's image and enhance mutual understanding of civilizations.

The role of digital inclusive finance in promoting cross-border tourism: Evidence under the maritime community with a shared future framework

The unique eco-geographical patterns and climatic conditions of the China-Tumen River border region, combined with frequent cross-border tourism and trade activities, collectively establish this area as a recognized hotspot for tick-borne disease outbreaks. However, critical knowledge gaps persist regarding the eco-epidemiology of emerging tick-borne viruses and the distribution of their potential reservoir hosts within this trinational ecosystem spanning China, North Korea, and Russia. We collected a total of 2,004 ticks from the study area, along with blood samples obtained from 42 sheep and 45 cattle. Following viral metagenomic analysis of the ticks, dual verification of target pathogens in all samples was performed using qRT-PCR and RT-PCR assays. Phylogenetic trees were constructed and nucleotide sequences were analyzed to delineate relationships between the obtained virus strains and reference sequences. Viral metagenomics identified three viruses in ticks: Dabieshan tick virus (DBTV), Songling virus (SGLV), and Yanggou tick virus (YGTV). PCR analysis detected DBTV exclusively in Hunchun ticks (minimum infection rates, MIR:4.73%) and YGTV in Antu specimens (MIR:0.97%). Conversely, SGLV was detected in ticks from all four regions, with MIR of 1.68% (Helong), 0.74% (Hunchun), 1.61% (Antu), and 4.79% (Longjing). Concurrently, SGLV was detected in 19 sheep blood samples from Longjing, yielding a positivity rate of 45.24%, while YGTV was identified in 13 cattle blood samples from Antu, with a positivity rate of 28.89%. Phylogenetically, the DBTV strain clustered with previously reported DBTV and Yongjia tick virus 1 isolates. Sheep-derived SGLV strains shared close evolutionary ties with tick-borne SGLV, whereas YGTV from cattle and ticks formed a distinct cluster with Russian strains but diverged into two branches from Chinese variants, suggesting evolutionary instability. These findings address critical knowledge gaps in the transmission dynamics and genetic diversity of emerging arboviruses while providing vital insights for developing cross-border surveillance strategies with significant public health implications.