Destination Level Research Articles

Ambidexterity of hospitality trade associations: a social capital perspective for destination coordination and cooperation dynamics

ABSTRACT This study explores the critical role of trade associations in sustaining coordination and cooperation dynamics within tourism destinations. Acknowledging both the bright and dark sides of interorganizational relationships (IORs) in tourism, where extensive connections can produce beneficial outcomes as well as adverse effects like inertia, this research provides a nuanced examination of these dynamics. Utilising a constructivist grounded theory approach informed by social capital theory, this study examines the role of trade associations in Venice's hospitality sector through 22 in-depth interviews. As a result of applying Gioia’s methodology for qualitative analysis, trade associations emerge as pivotal actors providing the opportunity to leverage close-knit networks by offering collective services and fostering resource pooling and information sharing among their members; on the other hand, they emerged also as acting as system coordinators, strategy designers, and providing a flexible structure for prompt collective decision-making at the destination level. These findings reveal that trade associations play a crucial role in facilitating coordination and cooperation within tourist destinations by fostering the development of bonding capital at the dyadic level and bridging capital at the systemic level.

Tourism-generated energy use characteristics and sustainability transitions

Mountain tourism destinations are characterized as significantly impacted by their remoteness, seasonal climatic variations, and fragile ecosystems. These factors greatly influence the development, distribution, and consumption of energy sources in the tourism sector. With the increasing popularity of mountain parks and protected areas as tourism destinations, it is critical to understand the interplay between tourism development (e.g. expansion of tourism facilities), patterns of energy sources (diversity and consumption levels) in the tourism sector, and overall sustainability of resources use at the destination level. Current literature reveals a dearth of research on energy issues in mountain protected areas, which is somewhat surprising as energy and resource consumption issues are becoming more important from a climate change perspective. This paper examines contemporary energy use patterns in the Sagarmatha (Mount Everest) National Park of Nepal. A mixed methods is applied to analyze development trends and transitions in energy use. Data were collected based on questionnaire surveys of tourism facilities, complemented by semi-structured interviews. The findings indicate that energy sources used in the facilities have gone through a significant change, from a firewood-dependent tourism center to increasing use of alternative sources including liquified petroleum gas (LPG) and hydroelectricity. About one-third of the facilities did not use firewood. The heterogeneous geographic distribution of the facilities affects the spatial use of energy sources. Furthermore, we argue that the coordination efforts between the national park administration and local communities, the growth of tourism, the construction of hydropower plants, and the advancement of transportation are the leading causes of the changes in energy use patterns. Knowledge of the energy use characteristics and drivers influencing the energy transitions can inform future policies that promote a low-carbon economy in mountain destinations.

Climate change and tourism demand: Risks for extreme heat?

Extremely high temperatures have become a major hurdle to tourists' experiences in various destinations. In this study, we present the first nationwide estimation of the temperature-tourism response function using a fine-grained panel dataset constructed by matching tourism data and daily meteorological datasets for 280 cities from 2005 to 2019 in China. Results show a non-linear relationship between temperature and tourism employing the temperature bins method, which is not sensitive to response equations. In addition, we conduct a rich heterogeneity analysis in the article to further analyse the effects of other external conditions on the temperature-tourism relationship, including the destination's level of tourism economic development, population, infrastructure development, and tourism resource endowment. We also observed that increasing summer temperatures result in decreased tourism arrivals and revenue, while rising autumn temperatures lead to increased tourism arrivals and revenue. This research contributes to a deeper understanding of the complex relationship between temperature dynamics and tourism patterns, offering insights into destination management and adaptation strategies.

Evolution and influential factors of inbound tourist flow network in China: a two-mode network perspective

ABSTRACT Different from existing studies focusing on tourist flow networks at the destination level, this study adopts a two-mode network analysis to identify the network structure, market groupings, and evolution of inbound tourist flows from 13 major origin countries to 31 destination provinces (municipalities, autonomous regions) in China. Furthermore, the quadratic assignment procedure (QAP) method is applied to analyse the influential factors of the formation of market groupings in the network. The results show that: (1) The connections within the destination-destination network and the origin-origin country network show a fluctuating increase trend. (2) Eastern provincial destinations occupy important positions in the network, and central and western destinations have played increasingly important roles in recent years. (3) Japan, South Korea, and the United States are the most important origin countries, and markets in Europe and Oceania have great potential. (4) Two market groupings led by Russia and Asian countries are relatively stable, while other origin countries have no specific regional preference. (5) Geographical distance exerts the most significant impact on the formation of market groupings, followed by tourism resources, economic development, and traffic accessibility.

Ethics of tourism: a Horizon 2050 paper

Purpose This paper is part of Horizon 2050 series of papers. This paper aims to highlight the importance of stronger engagement with ethical philosophy in tourism. A number of potential research streams are identified. Design/methodology/approach The paper first introduces several theories of ethics. It then reviews the history of tourism’s engagement with ethics, especially within academia. Subsequently, several themes for the future of research on tourism ethics are discussed according to four scales: the tourist, tourism business, tourism destination and the tourism system. Findings At the individual tourist level, future research should focus on better understanding tourist (un)ethical behaviour by considering the hedonic and cross-cultural nature of tourism. At business level, motivations to be ethical, ethical corporate models should be studied. Endurance of tourist products that are deemed unethical needs further analysis. At destination level, further understanding of stakeholder relations, stakeholder values and dissemination of those values is required. Fair and just options to sustainably manage visitation merit further discussion. At tourism system level, a stronger engagement with political philosophies and more creative alternatives for the current global tourism system require exploration. Originality/value While several reviews of ethics of tourism research exist, this paper is oriented towards opportunities for future research. The paper does not intend to cover all current ethical debates; however, it provides a number of topics within the tourism ethics field that merit further exploration in hope to inspire new research.

Characterization of the Ultraviolet-B Absorption Band of Carotenoids Using Solvent-dependent Shifts in Steady-State and Transient Absorption Spectra.

The versatile functions of carotenoids in biological systems are associated with the extended π-electron conjugation system. Strong visible absorption resulting from the optically allowed S2 (1Bu+) state and the low-lying optically forbidden S1 (2Ag-) state examined. Carotenoids also exhibit an absorption band in the ultraviolet-B region; however, the origin of this band (hereafter referred to as Suv state) is not well characterized. The Suv state is a candidate for the destination level of the well-known S1 → Sn transient absorption; however, an obvious energy mismatch has been observed. In this study, we examined the steady-state and picosecond transient absorption spectra of lycopene in various solvents. The Suv absorption of carotenoids with diverse conjugation lengths was also examined. The dependence of the energies on solvent polarizability and conjugation length revealed that both Suv and Sn are the "second" Bu+ state. The absorption spectrum for lycopene at 200 K revealed an additional vibrational band, which may be the vibrational origin of the S0 → Suv band. Considering the slow vibrational relaxation of the 2Ag- state, the S1 → Sn transition may represent the 2Ag- (v = 1) → 2Bu+ (v = 0) transition, and the energetic contradiction can be resolved.

A system-integrated approach for the design of tourist areas at the local level under changing conditions: A case study in the Altay Mountains

The existing approaches for the design of tourist areas often lead to limited flexibility in project implementation. To realize a more flexible approach, in this study, we formulated a model for planning and designing tourist areas at the local level. Moreover, specific tools for analyzing tourist areas and ensuring sustainable development under changing conditions were developed. This study was conducted in two tourist regions, Biryuzovaya Katun tourist complex and Belokurikha destination (including Belokurikha City with Belokurikha 2 Gornaya tourist complex and surrounding areas), in the Altay Mountains. We employed the recreation opportunity spectrum and proposed a system-integrated programming approach for the design of tourist areas at the destination and site levels. The key of this approach was the collection and analysis of current spatial data, including the spatial distribution of attractions and visitor flows. We constructed heat maps using video recording and unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) observation data. Moreover, we analyzed the video stream using an image-analyzing framework You Only Look Once (YOLO) v5 software. The heat map of visitor flows based on video recording data in the Andreevskaya Sloboda museum of Belokurikha 2 Gornaya tourist complex allowed us to highlight the most attractive sites in this area and classify them into one of three types: points of functional concentration, points of transitional concentration, and points of attractions. The heat maps in Biryuzovaya Katun tourist complex, created using UAV observation data, allowed us to determine the spatiotemporal patterns of visitor flows and tourists’ preferences throughout the day within four time intervals: 09:00–12:00, 13:00–14:00, 14:00–15:00, and 16:00–18:00 (LST). The maximum visitor flow density occurred from 16:00 to 18:00 in the beach area of the artificial lake. A comparison between the visitor-concentrated sites and the current facilities provided insights into the demand for attractions and facilities and the lacking areas. Heat maps are useful in analyzing the land use at the site level, while zoning based on the recreation opportunity spectrum can be used to design tourist areas at the destination level. The proposed methods for analyzing the use of tourist areas contribute to the development of adaptive tourism design.

Narcissism on display? Effects of full-shot and medium-shot photographs posted on social media on tourists’ attraction visit interest

Through theory of narcissism and leisure constraint theory, this study considers how tourists’ vulnerable narcissism facets and lack of interest travel constraint at destination level affect their interest in attractions after viewing social media photographs of other visitors posed as full shot or medium shot (photograph types). Partial least-squares analysis on 614 survey returns (307 for full-shot and 307 for medium-shot photographs) revealed vulnerable narcissism’s impact on attraction visit interest is mostly evident in wenqing attractions. Lack of interest constraint lowers natural and monument attraction visit interest but not for wenqing attractions. Only entitlement rage facet positively influences lack of interest constraint.

Remembering for resilience: nature-based tourism, COVID-19, and green transitions

The COVID-19 pandemic had transformative effects on the tourism sector at an unparalleled scale. With the rapid onset of unprecedented travel restrictions, tourists were abruptly confined to experiences in their regional surroundings that led to new and refreshed relationships with local destinations. This paper draws on qualitative interviews with small tourism businesses in two distinct but proximate nature-based destinations in Ontario, Canada and considers how they responded to the COVID-19 pandemic. Findings are positioned within Holling's Adaptive Cycle to consider implications for ongoing resiliency planning for disturbances relating to climate change. Over a 2-year period (2020–2022), SMEs revealed that after an initially turbulent period they quickly adapted to the absence of international long-haul visitors by embracing a surge in domestic demand for nature-based, outdoor experiences. The paper contributes to the literature on tourism SMEs by connecting experiences of COVID-19 to resiliency planning for future predictable disturbances. Two critical lessons for enhancing destination resiliency are identified: engagement of regional tourism demand, and destination level leadership, through investment in infrastructure and partnerships, can both be harnessed to support SMEs and their communities in transitioning toward a more sustainable, resilient and climate-friendly tourism future. Given the growing demand for tourism businesses to transition away from environmentally harmful practices and a longstanding dependency on economic growth, these resources can help destinations enhance preparedness for future changes to tourism flows driven by decarbonization scenarios and increased climatic impacts.

Analysis of the Relationship Between Tourists Experience, Knowledge, Digital Strategic Decisions of Tourism Site Managers and Tourism Business Sustainability

The aim of this research is to propose a tourism observatory design to support strategic decision-making in tourist destinations. The proposed methodology uses input-output analysis. We propose the destination survey as a model for randomly selecting visitors at tourist attractions. The research results reveal that the observatory concept serves as a viable tool for tourism policy, addressing the information gaps at the destination level, where national statistical operations fall short. Observatories act as management tools that generate and concentrate scientific and statistical information, becoming the main source of official tourist data about a destination. However, in almost provinces, existing information does not fully meet the needs of users. Therefore, this research suggests a tourism observatory model to enhance the availability of systematic and timely information for decision-making at the provincial level. We hope that provinces and territorial units on a sub-national scale, lacking a complete tourism information system, will find the proposed model useful. We expect them to implement tourism observatory projects as a means to address specific needs, resolve local issues by uniting various tourism system participants, and address deficiencies in their current tourism statistics system. In this regard, provincial tourism observatories are expected to play a decisive role in the development of indicators and the calculation of trends, and the results obtained will provide feedback on the actions taken in relation to tourism policy.

Sustainable Place Branding and Visitors’ Responses: A Systematic Literature Review

Admittedly, tourism stakeholders become more aware of the negative impacts of tourism, and it has become increasingly important to brand and position destinations towards sustainability. The main concern is emphasizing economic, social, and environmental awareness and implementation at the destination level regarding planning and development. This paper identifies the importance of sustainable place branding as part of destination social responsibility in the current global context. The main focus is identifying visitors’ responses as part of sustainable destination marketing. The study conducts a systematic literature review by rigorously selecting 26 related articles from the 106 search results for further analysis. The study results highlight the emergence of sustainable place branding concepts in academic literature, especially after the post-pandemic period. The themes identified in the literature analysis revolve around sustainable place branding in creating unique tourism experiences and engagement that resonates with the visitors’ self-perceptions and expectations of a destination. Sustainable place branding positively impacts destination image, trust, value, and loyalty. Moreover, it can create positive visitor outcomes, such as an intention to revisit because of positive word of mouth. The article concludes with suggestions for future research, emphasizing the need to explore further sustainable place branding and its influence on visitors’ responses in the evolving landscape of global tourism.

DEVELOPMENT AND RECOVERY MANAGEMENT OF TOURIST DESTINATIONS USING THE EXAMPLE OF KYIV CITY: OVERCOMING CONSEQUENCES OF THE NEGATIVE IMPACTS

The development of tourism at the destination level is closely linked to its attractiveness, which determines the prospects and opportunities for attracting tourist flows. New trends in the development of modern tourism as a socio-economic, cultural, and communicative institution require regional tourism entities to take appropriate practical measures. Increasing tourist flows requires the creation of an appropriate infrastructure, including the expansion of the network of accommodation facilities, the development of transport links and other services necessary to meet the needs of tourists. Political instability and the lack of a comprehensive, systematic model of tourism management have led to the decline of this sector in Ukraine. The relevance of this topic is driven by the need to develop strategies and management measures to ensure the attractiveness of urban destinations for tourists and to restore the tourism sector in line with international management models and examples of major urban tourist destinations. The main purpose of this study is to analyze the aspects of management, development, and recovery of a tourist destination on the example of Kyiv as part of Ukraine’s economic system in the context of a pandemic and war. The study uses systemic analysis, structural and functional approaches, as well as comparison methods. The study examines the problems associated with a decrease in tourist flow and loss of revenue in the tourism industry due to ineffective management of the tourist destination (pandemic and military operations in the country) and insufficiently developed infrastructure. This made it possible to formulate recommendations for solving problems, namely: improving transport infrastructure and creating and maintaining tourist infrastructure, such as hotels, restaurants and other facilities that will form an open state tourism policy. The concept of spatial-economic management and practical functionality of tourist destinations on the example of Kyiv is developed, provided that modern technologies, approaches, and methods of tourist destinations formation are used, which are components of the model of management of tourist areas development. The results of the study can be used to manage tourist destinations at the international and regional levels.

Towards a future conceptualization of destination resilience: exploring the role of actors, agency and resilience narratives

PurposeDespite the widespread use and application of resilience, much uncertainty about the conceptualization and operationalization in the context of tourism destinations still exists. The purpose of this paper is to provide a conceptual elaboration on destination resilience and to introduce a model for an improved understanding of the concept.Design/methodology/approachTaking a conceptual research approach, this paper seeks to untangle the fuzziness surrounding the destination and resilience concept by providing a new interpretation that synthesizes theories and concepts from various academic disciplines. It analyses the current debate to derive theoretic baselines and conceptual elements that subsequently inform the development of a new “Destination Resilience Model”.FindingsThe contribution advances the debate by proposing three key themes for future resilience conceptualizations: (1) the value of an actor-centered and agency-based resilience perspective; (2) the importance of the dynamic nature of resilience and the (mis)use of measurement approaches; (3) the adoption of a dualistic resilience perspective distinguishing specified and general resilience. Building on these propositions, we introduce a conceptual model that innovatively links elements central to the concepts of destination and risk and combines different narratives of resilience.Originality/valueThe contribution advances the debate surrounding destination resilience by critically examining the conceptualization and operationalization of destination resilience within previous research and by subsequently proposing a “Destination Resilience Model” that picks up central element of the three new frontiers identified in the conceptually driven review. The innovative integration strengthens the comprehension of the resilience concept at destination level and supports building future capacities to manage immediate adverse impacts as well as novel and systemic risks.

Dimensions of employability in the hospitality industry at destination level—the case of a spa destination in Bulgaria

The paper presents the results from the application of the holistic approach to employability based on secondary data and a questionnaire survey of the human resources employed in the hotel and restaurant sector (198) and semi-structured interviews with tourism sector employers (11) in the municipality of Devin, Bulgaria. The results outline some of the dimensions of employability, existing problems of employability and their potential solutions. It is typical for the municipality of Devin that a large part of the local population in the region is directly dependent on tourism. This leads to relatively low staff turnover and high motivation to offer a quality tourism product. Respondents exhibit a high self-assessment of their own knowledge, skills and attitude in terms of development of tourism, but this does not correspond to the real situation given their activities to improve their own skills during the pandemic period closure. Recommendations are proposed for upgrading the qualification of staff at municipal and enterprise level.

FROM HERITAGE TOURISM TO SUN AND BEACH DESTINATIONS: THE EXPLANATORY ROLE OF ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS ON THE AVERAGE DAILY RATE

Purpose – This study aims to analyse whether the impact of external factors on the average daily rate (ADR) varies according to the type of destination. The study measures the effects of length of stay, share of international tourism and seasonality on hotel rates for sun and beach tourism, city tourism and heritage destinations.. Methodology/Design/Approach –We collected monthly data from January 2021 to June 2023 and conducted a regression analysis to measure how international tourism, length of stay or seasonality differ by destination type and what impact these factors have on ADR. The data refers to the 106 tourist destinations defined by the Spanish Statistics Institute (INE). Findings – Increasing the length of stay has a positive effect on ADR for cultural heritage destinations. In all types of destinations, a higher share of international tourism increases ADR, but the effect is particularly strong for city tourism. Greater seasonality is associated with higher hotel prices and is particularly relevant for sun and beach destinations. Originality of the research –A better understanding of ADR determinants, depending on the different destination types, is important for hotel managers and those designing tourism policies at destination level

Co-creation experience and tourists’ citizenship behavior: challenges of Indonesian ecotourism sector during post-pandemic era

Purpose This study aims to highlight the influence of co-creation experience (CCE) on tourists’ citizenship behavior (TCB), emphasizing the Indonesian ecotourism sector during the post-COVID pandemic. Design/methodology/approach By using a judgmental sampling, data were collected from 150 visitors who visits Indonesian ecotourism resort and acquired the wildlife experience through co-creation process. To evaluate the relationship model, partial least squares-structural equation modeling by SmartPLS 3rd version was used in this study. Findings The result indicated that CCE in terms of Indonesian ecotourism had an effect on involvement (INV) and satisfaction (SAT). Result ascertain INV and SAT direct effect on TCB. Multigroup analysis indicated that perceived risk of COVID-19 could moderate insignificantly the relationship among INV, SAT on TCB. Research limitations/implications This study focuses on CCE, INV, SAT and TCB in Indonesian ecotourism with wildlife attraction and contributes an insight for tourism research; thus, the results cannot be generalized for other ecotourism worldwide. Practical implications The proposed model of this study suggests the need to review the current condition of citizenship behavior at destination level, especially regarding to cleanliness and crowd controlling on post-COVID pandemic to maintain tourists’ health and safety while traveling. Social implications Achieving TCB in different types of destination (ecotourism) requires specific development models concerning environmental conditions. Originality/value Though CCE, INV, SAT and TCB have identified as main topics for tourism research especially in ecotourism sector, the related factors of TCB in post-COVID-19 era are remain limited.

Green Recovery and Regenerative Tourism: The Success Story of Miso Walai Homestay in Building a Resilient Rural Tourism Destination

Summary Although green recovery and regenerative tourism are well-documented in the literature, case studies at the destination level are lacking, and this is because the application of these concepts is still in its early stages. Therefore, this case study examines a rural tourism community in Lower Kinabatangan, Sabah (Malaysia). The authors used longitudinal analysis from 2007 to 2019, semi-structured interviews, and participant observations to illustrate how the area has managed to successfully recover from intense deforestation following years of exploitation by timber companies and also cushion the impact of COVID-19. The community pushed for a recovery agenda based on community-based ecotourism and green recovery, which resulted in the growth of regenerative tourism. This study examines how the community has seized new opportunities through ecotourism at Miso Walai Homestay, linked to a community forest-restoration programme, and how these opportunities were intensified during the COVID-19 pandemic to compensate for the lack of tourists. Consequently, this case study shows how Miso Walai Homestay has become a model of a regenerative approach that promotes a resilient rural tourism destination. Key success factors have been the agile community leadership, an early start in community forest restoration, partnerships with volunteer organizations, the establishment of trust and reputation, the promotion of citizen science, and the embrace of green recovery initiatives. This case highlights the success of Miso Walai Homestay in leveraging green recovery initiatives to cushion the financial impact of two situations. First, after the withdrawal of the timber companies from the Kinabatangan region (Malaysia), a new model of community-based tourism was established through a community forest restoration programme. Second, during the lockdown period of the COVID-19 pandemic, income streams were consolidated from green recovery. The Miso Walai Homestay enjoyed a subsequent recovery stage in tandem with the gradual return of international tourists. Information © The Authors 2023

Pakistan’s export potential assessment at intensive and extensive margins

PurposeThis study aims to estimate Pakistan’s export potential in new and existing export products, as well as their potential destination markets.Design/methodology/approachThis study uses a nonparametric approach based on demand, supply and easiness factors for estimating export potential at disaggregated product and destination levels.FindingsA significant number of new export products (extensive margin) and existing products (intensive margin) are identified that have export potential. The estimated unrealized export potential at extensive margins is $2bn and at intensive margins is $5bn. The range of new products included value-added products, semifinished products and intermediate products. Surprisingly, there is high potential to diversify in China and export existing products more intensively in the EU. Moreover, the potential at extensive margins is regional diverse compared to intensive margins.Research limitations/implicationsThe methodology used in this paper only provides export potential for short-to-medium term period because the global demand conditions are varying. Also, the mineral and resource-based products cannot be included in the analysis because their exports are heavily dependent on the availability of natural resources.Practical implicationsThe findings have important policy implications in terms of providing guidelines for government policies related to industrial development, international trade and export promotion at the product and destination level. Overall, the study reveals that traditional sectors lack room for product diversification. As the existing export incentives favor major industries. To foster diversification, existing incentives must be redesigned to cover new products or sectors. Moreover, China has the greatest potential for product diversification, while Europe has the greatest potential to export current products more intensively. Further research is needed to simulate trade policy scenarios and estimate demand, supply and ease factors in export potential.Originality/valueThis study provides a unique perspective on export potential assessment at disaggregated product and destination levels, reinforcing the importance of redesigning trade policies and export incentives separately for export diversification.

Innovation culture as a premise for engaging and memorable tourist experiences through gamification

The purpose of the article is to research the impact of innovativeness and innovation culture as premises for effective gamification at destination level. The main hypothesis defended is that innovation culture and gamification can be powerful tools for tourism destination management. By creating a culture that supports innovation and implementing gamification strategies, tourism destinations can enhance their competitiveness, attract more tourists and improve the overall tourism experience. Bulgaria has been selected as the tourism destination for analysis. The methodology combines desk research with key informant surveys. The first survey is about innovativeness and innovation culture and the second is about destination gamification. Both include 18 informants, representing the travel and hospitality sectors in Bulgaria. The main findings are that innovation culture and gamification can be powerful tools for tourism destination management. The contribution is a first attempt to link innovation culture with destination management and the use of gamification as a tool for memorable tourist experiences. The article contains data and gives practical insights reflecting the Bulgarian perspective in the field.

Metrics for Quantifying Shareability in Transportation Networks: The Maximum Network Flow Overlap Problem

Cities around the world vary in terms of the structure of their transportation networks and travel demand patterns. Despite these variations significantly impacting opportunities for travelers to share trips, no metrics are available to jointly characterize a region’s transportation network and travel demand in terms of the potential for travelers to share space with each other on network links, or what we call person-trip shareability. This study proposes metrics to quantify the shareability of person-trips in a city subregion, as a function of three inputs—the underlying transportation network, origin–destination (OD) travel demand, and a maximum permissible detour parameter. After defining person-trip shareability and providing principles for operationalizing this definition, we formulate a fundamental metric, called flow overlap. Flow overlap measures, for a person-trip traversing a given path, the weighted (by link distance) average number of other person-trips sharing the links along the original person-trip’s path. We then formulate the Maximum Network Flow Overlap Problem (MNFLOP), a math program that assigns person-trips to network paths that maximize network-wide flow overlap. We utilize the MNFLOP output to calculate shareability metrics at various levels of aggregation: person-trip level, OD level, origin or destination level, network level, and link level. The study applies the MNFLOP and associated shareability metrics to different OD demand scenarios in the Sioux Falls network. The computational results verify that MNFLOP (i) assigns person-trips to paths such that flow overlaps significantly increase relative to shortest path assignment, (ii) can meaningfully differentiate between different OD trip matrices in terms of flow overlap, and (iii) metrics can meaningfully quantify demand dispersion from a single network node/location considering the underlying road network. Finally, we validate MNFLOP’s ability to quantify shareability by showing that demand patterns with higher flow overlap are strongly associated with lower mileage routes for a last-mile microtransit service. The paper includes an extensive discussion of other potential future uses of the MNFLOP and its associated shareability metrics.