Destination Planners Research Articles

Sipping and sharing: impact of emotions and topics on the usefulness of travelers’ wine festival forum posts

PurposeAficionados of wine festivals, a component of wine tourism experience, engage in vigorous online discussions that influence fellow travelers’ purchase behaviors. This study aims to delve into these overlooked discussions, identifying emotions, topics and assessing their usefulness in TripAdvisor’s Travel Forums for two US wine festivals: Taste of Yountville and Epcot International Food and Wine Festival, located in traditional and nontraditional wine tourism destinations.Design/methodology/approachThe study uses state-of-art sentiment analysis and topic modeling methods to extract emotions and underlying latent topics in travel forum discussions. Drawing from information theory, two regression analyses are performed on 10,677 forum posts to examine how the extracted Ekman’s emotions and key underlying topics influence the helpfulness of wine forum posts for each festival.FindingsWhile three topics were identified in Epcot and four in Yountville, both festival platforms highlight travelers’ common preferences for “culinary experience” and “planning” attributes but reveal notable differences in their utility. Other shared novel findings include the importance of “anger” and “surprise” emotions on the helpfulness of forum posts.Practical implicationsThese findings enhance wine festival managers’ and destination planners’ understanding of online travelers’ preferences and cognitive evaluation of user-generated contents’ usefulness. This marketing intelligence informs strategies for boosting the wine destination’s economic development.Originality/valueThis research offers a novel comparative analysis of social media on wine festival tourism experiences in diverse regions. Unlike hotel reviews, typically posted after consumption, forums offer unique and broader perspectives on discussions before, during, and after experiencing the wine festival.

Dissecting the sustainable tourist experience: sustainable consumption theory and co-creation theory approach

PurposeTourists are increasingly co-creating meaningful experiences and demonstrating a growing preference for sustainable travel choices. In response, this study investigates the co-created sustainable tourist experience in the Bahamas.Design/methodology/approachDrawing on sustainable consumption theory and co-creation theory, it aimed to develop a more comprehensive framework that encompasses the entire spectrum of the sustainable tourist experience. Data from 25 in-depth interviews and participant observation were analyzed using an inductive-deductive method.FindingsThe analysis revealed multiple aspects of sustainable tourist experience, including sustainable consumption dimensions (environmental, social/individual, social/interactive, economic and institutional) and co-creation phases (co-production, value-in-use and co-creation), along with travel stages (pre-trip, on-site and post-trip). Based on these insights, this study developed a framework that delineates the mechanism of sustainable tourist experience.Practical implicationsThis study outlines managerial implications for the tourism and hospitality industry, highlighting sustainability as central to the tourist experience. Destination planners are encouraged to promote sustainable initiatives that align with tourists’ desires to co-create experiences, enhancing satisfaction, supporting destination sustainability and contributing to long-term industry viability.Originality/valueThe findings contribute to existing research on co-created, across-stage sustainable tourist experiences by presenting a holistic framework that elucidates the underlying mechanisms. This study extends existing conceptual studies by offering a deeper understanding of how tourists interact and co-create with destinations, emphasizing the need to integrate sustainability more effectively into the tourist experience across all stages of travel.

Understanding tourists’ perceived urban design qualities

Utilizing the new urbanism theory in urban design, this exploratory study assessed tourists’ perceived urban design qualities (PUDQs) and the effects on their emotions and behaviors. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 45 first-time tourists to Macao (China). The respondents indicated 20 urban design qualities, which were then divided into seven major urban design quality themes. These seven themes, namely landmark, aesthetics, complexity, permeability, harmony, human scale, and diversity, elicited a wide range of positive emotions such as joy, happiness, relaxation, interest, and amazement, as well as positive behaviors such as recommendation, exploration, spending, and intent to return. Permeability, on the other hand, contributed to unpleasant feelings of anger and fear and hampered wandering and exploration. Furthermore, there were discrepancies in the PUDQs across districts, as well as their emotional impact. Based on the identified PUDQs, this study elucidates how destination planners and marketers may make places more appealing by improving the destination's PUDQs and promoting and marketing their destinations.

Evaluating tourism scenarios within the limit of acceptable change framework in Barcelona

This article introduces an expanded Limit of Acceptable Change model, enhancing the traditional approach by incorporating various tourism scenarios and a broader range of indicators. This approach allows to gain a more comprehensive understanding and foresee the effects of diverse tourist profiles and intensities of use in Barcelona. It considers factors like motivation, origin, and accommodation type, and evaluates their effects on key sustainability indicators. The study reveals that significant shifts in tourism patterns are required to impact these indicators noticeably, emphasizing the need to consider both tourist numbers and typologies in sustainable tourism management. This approach equips destination planners with a valuable tool for strategic decision-making and long-term planning.

Reimagining Indigenous Tourism: The RISE Framework

ABSTRACT This paper introduces the RISE framework (Rich Intercultural Spiritual Exchange), aimed at innovating Indigenous spiritual tourism planning and execution. Grounded in the capability approach and acculturation theory, RISE facilitates immersive cultural experiences while preserving spiritual legacies, responding to calls for reimagining Indigenous tourism. Despite its potential, current practices often marginalize Indigenous communities, perpetuating issues like misrepresentation and limited participation. Embracing indigeneity unlocks opportunities for cultural exchange and community empowerment. Spiritual tourism, a key aspect, fosters personal growth and well-being while promoting cross-cultural understanding and environmental stewardship. RISE addresses shortcomings by prioritizing Indigenous voices and cultural preservation. This framework offers valuable contributions to tourism scholarship, providing insights into visitor engagement and cultural assimilation. It also aids destination planners in creating meaningful, sustainable experiences, fostering cross-cultural understanding and community empowerment. Ultimately, RISE guides stakeholders in developing authentic, culturally enriching tourism that benefits both visitors and Indigenous communities.

Determinants for the development of creative tourism: A stakeholder perspective

This study aims to investigate the determinants that contribute to the sustainable development of creative tourism, a transformative shift from traditional cultural tourism which possess high economic potential. Grounded in stakeholder theory, a qualitative approach was employed to explore the perspectives of 23 existing suppliers of creative tourism in the Greater Bay Area, China, through semi-structured, in-depth interviews with key management in exiting business, this study uncovers determinants for the development of creative tourism. The findings shed light on the significance of fostering creative synergies and their implications for sustainable growth in the industry. While a positive attitude from suppliers is crucial, this study emphasizes the importance of mutual understanding of creativity to generate momentum, integration of local culture and regional knowledge, and the development of creative products. Moreover, removing barriers faced by suppliers such as a lack of financial support, insufficient government policies and regulations, and inadequate infrastructure is imperative for sustainable development. This research significantly contributes to the existing body of knowledge by providing an overview of the current research status on suppliers' perspectives towards creative tourism. It offers valuable directions for future scholarly inquiry in this field. Moreover, the research offers valuable insights that can assist policymakers and destination planners in developing efficient policies and sustainable planning approaches.

Travel Animosity and Affinity: A Chaordic Perspective

The aim of this study is to investigate the complex effects of animosity and affinity on travel intentions. In so doing, we draw from a sample of 400 Greek holidaymakers and use complexity theory to examine the chaordic influence of animosity and affinity on their intentions to potentially travel to Russia in the near future. Contrary to previous studies on animosity and affinity which adopted a linear analytic approach, we use fuzzy-set Qualitative Comparative Analysis (fsQCA) for the examination of the derived complex configurations. The results reveal three pathways that can influence travel intentions: (i) affinity and animosity, (ii) destination characteristics, and (iii) risk perceived animosity. Overall, the study adds to extant literature on travel decision-making at times of crisis as it examines animosity and affinity concurrently, revealing the complexity underpinning travel decisions. The study also enables destination planners to improve their crisis management and resilience plans.

The Impact of Ecological Sustainability on Tourists’ Satisfaction and Revisit Intention: A Case Study in Langkawi, Malaysia

More concerns regarding the environmental impact are observed as the global travel industry continues to expand. The present study examined the correlation between ecological sustainability, tourists’ satisfaction, and the tendency to revisit past destinations to understand the impact of tourists’ perceptions regarding the environmental practices in travel destinations on overall satisfaction and subsequent revisit intention. A total of 200 local and international tourists participated in this study. The data collection process was conducted via self-administered questionnaires distributed in Langkawi, Malaysia. The results indicated a significant positive association between ecological sustainability and tourists’ overall satisfaction with respective trip experiences. A positive correlation also existed between tourists’ perception of travel destinations actively engaging in ecological sustainability practices and the reported satisfaction levels. Moreover, this increased satisfaction level positively impacted tourists’ intention to revisit the same destination in the future. The findings provided significant implications with high relevance to both destination planners and policymakers. Implementing and promoting effective ecological sustainability practices could not only enhance the attractiveness of travel destinations but also sustain high loyalty among tourists.

The potential of accessible tourism for sustainable development of local communities in northern Pakistan

PURPOSE: Accessible tourism holds significant importance for local communities as it is a cornerstone for fostering inclusivity and equal participation in the tourism industry. Recognizing the growing global emphasis on inclusivity, especially for individuals with diverse needs, this research aims to explore the multifaceted impacts of accessible tourism on the sustainable development of local communities in the northern areas of Pakistan. Additionally, the study assesses the moderating role of destination image between accessible tourism dimensions and the sustainable development of local communities. Given that destinations heavily rely on tourism to fulfill their socio-economic needs, it becomes imperative to evaluate the potential transformative impact of accessible tourism on their sustainable development. METHODOLOGY: A self-administered survey was completed using a two-stage sampling approach with 321 tourists and 321 local residents from five tourist destinations in northern Pakistan. Subsequently, the collected data were analyzed using Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) to test the proposed hypotheses. FINDINGS: The results show the significance of all four dimensions of accessible tourism (accessible core resources and attractors, accessible supporting factors and resources, accessible qualifying and amplifying determinants, and destination planning and management) in the sustainable development of local communities. The moderation assessment further confirms that destination image strengthens the relationship between accessible core resources and attractors, contributing to the sustainable development of local communities. However, destination image was found to have a negative moderating effect between accessible qualifying and amplifying determinants and the sustainable development of local communities. IMPLICATIONS: Empirical findings offer fresh insights for destination planners and policymakers in the tourism industry. These insights pertain to the effective utilization of accessible tourism practices, which can significantly contribute to the sustainable development of destinations. Additionally, tourism businesses can leverage the research to attract a broader segment of tourists, increase profitability, and enhance tourist satisfaction by implementing accessible practices and services. Understanding the moderating role of destination image can further guide them in crafting responsible tourism narratives that resonate with diverse travelers. ORIGINALITY AND VALUE: The study marks an initial attempt to explain how destinations, particularly those heavily reliant on tourism, can strategically leverage accessible tourism as a crucial factor in fostering sustainable community development.

Domestic leisure tourism destination choice and who do we trust-the case of Bulgaria

Destination marketing and branding are key factors that considerably influence the destination choices for both domestic and international visitors. Understanding the dynamics of how tourists select which destination to visit is crucial for destination planners, tourism organizations, and businesses. This is particularly so in the context of domestic tourism, in which it is imperative to study the factors that influence consumer choices and more specifically, the factors that influence domestic destination choices. This paper explores the influence of different information sources when choosing a destination in the context of the domestic tourism market in Bulgaria. The study is based on the data collected from a national representative survey (N = 1,003) which utilizes a two-staged random sample stratified by districts and the residence place type. The findings suggest that the most influential information source for destination choice for domestic visitors is the opinions/suggestions of friends and relatives. This is the case for all age groups, regardless of their gender, marital status, number of children, education levels, income, or place of residence. The findings of the study provide valuable insights into the existent literature on domestic tourism and destination marketing. Although particularly focused on the unique dynamics of domestic tourism in Bulgaria, the findings of the study can be useful to tourism stakeholders at destinations with a developed domestic market, particularly in Central and Eastern Europe.

Perception of Gaborone as a Tourist Destination: The Tourists’ Point of View

The main aim of this paper is to explore perception of Gaborone as a tourist destination from the tourists’ point of view. Specifically, this paper has two objectives which are to explore the perceptions of tourists on the brand image of Gaborone city as a tourist destination, and to explore the perception of tourists on the brand identity of Gaborone city as a tourist destination. The study location is Gaborone city in Botswana. A total of 50 tourists as a sample size. The methodology used was quantitative. The usable questionnaire for analysis were 35 and subjected to descriptive analysis. The findings have shown that there were different perceptions by tourists regarding the image and identity of Gaborone city as a tourist destination. Hence, this study’s outcome is helpful to business communities, destination planners and Destination Marketing Organizations (DMOs) to consider brand image and identity as marketing strategy tools to attract visitors.

Envisaging creative tourism through boutique hotels: an integrated framework of transformative experience

ABSTRACT Experience co-creation as a distinguishing aspect of creative tourism has garnered significant scholarly attention. However, there remains a dearth of studies that investigates the phenomenon of value co-creation in innovative spaces such as boutique hotels. The present study examines boutique hotels in the creative city of Jaipur in India as potential vehicles of creativity. The study aims to identify boutique hotel attributes that facilitate value co-creation and their association with transformative tourism experiences. By utilising value co-creation theory and transformative learning theory, this study has proposed a research framework which has been empirically validated by performing structural equation modelling on data collected from 508 tourists. The results indicate that the three boutique hotel attributes, namely interactive authenticity, emotional authenticity, and novel atmosphere, are significant predictors of perceived value co-creation and transformative experiences. Further, we find that ethnocentrism, as a pre-trip emotion, exerts a positive moderating effect on the association between emotional authenticity and value co-creation. This study highlights the key attributes of boutique hotels envisaging creative tourism which can be strategically incorporated by hotel managers and destination planners. The findings offer insightful implications for industry practice and policy towards developing business opportunities and entrepreneurial ventures for creative tourism.

The effect of health-perceived risks on domestic travel intention: The moderating role of destination image

Domestic travel is a significant path to revive tourism during crises. Tourist destinations use it to compensate for the decline in international tourist arrivals. This study aims to investigate the influence of risks of health crises on domestic travel intention in the UAE, Egypt, and Jordan. It also measures the moderation role of destination image to decrease the impact of health-perceived risks on local travel intentions. A questionnaire was addressed to domestic tourists in the three countries (i.e. UAE, Egypt, and Jordan) to collect data and findings revealed that health risks are of negative influence on local travel intention, and that safe destination image partially decreases the negative impact of perceived risks on travel intentions. Significant implications for destination planners and marketers are then presented.

Transformative experiences in tourism: A conceptual and critical analysis integrating consumer and managerial perspectives

Transformative tourism experiences are gaining increasing attention due to a shift in research towards longer-lasting experiences that have a greater impact on tourists' happiness. However, the existing body of knowledge on this topic remains disjointed, with different approaches appearing to be disconnected. Therefore, the purpose of this conceptual paper is to further clarify and integrate various theories and lines of research on transformative tourist experiences. It proposes a managerial approach, as an offering, within the framework of the experience economy, and a consumer approach, as an inner-oriented product, within the scope of transformation experiences theories. Although these perspectives may seem quite dissimilar, they are complementary, as inner changes in tourists must occur for any offer to be truly transformative. This paper aims to provide a more coherent and comprehensive conceptualization of transformative experiences by incorporating both managerial and consumer perspectives. It also pretends to support tourism stakeholders and destination planners in designing and developing more impactful and potentially transformative tourism experiences.

Understanding tourist experiences of sounds at nature-based destinations: from a relational perspective

ABSTRACT This study incorporates a relational approach to investigating the dynamics and complexity of how tourists interact with diverse sounds as they are mobile while visiting nature-based destinations. Using a mixed-methods approach, this study combined in-situ photos and videos, real-time portable sound sensing, GPS tracking, wristband wearing, and in-depth interviews among 34 participants during their one-day trip to Mount Huangshan, China. The study argues that tourists’ experience of sounds in nature are dynamic and contextual. Sound influences tourist experiences not as intrinsic properties but through ongoing interrelationships among individual tourists, sounds, and their surroundings. Natural sounds of silence are experienced only when human voices and visual stimuli are absent and when certain natural sounds are assembled in particular situations. This study contributes theoretically and methodologically to the literature by understanding the mobile and relational process of how various sounds influence tourist experiences at nature-based destinations. The mechanisms of why tourists experience sounds differently can be explained by the contingency, temporality, and heterogeneity of the interrelationships among tourists, sounds, and the contexts. This study also provides practical implications for nature-based destination planners and managers through re-connecting tourists with diverse natural sounds in various contexts to enhance tourist experience.

Tourism Sustainability and COVID-19 Pandemic: Is There a Positive Side?

The COVID-19 pandemic has wreaked havoc on the tourism industry like never before, resulting in massive losses of revenue and jobs around the world. Accordingly, the pandemic exacerbated the already existing sustainability challenges of the tourism industry. However, there is also a positive side of the pandemic which is often overlooked by international scholarship. Thus, the present study aims to review the extant literature in the area of COVID-19 and the tourism industry’s sustainability and resilience in future crises. Through a synthesis of secondary data, it was possible to bring attention to the negative as well as the positive effects of COVID-19 on the global tourism industry. This article contributed to a better understanding of the positive side of the pandemic in terms of rethinking, resetting, and redefining the industry in a more sustainable way. The study lays out a conceptual framework for tourism managers and destination planners to identify the pandemic as an opportunity and adopt sustainable solutions to deal with the post-pandemic challenges, thereby developing more sustainable and resilient tourism businesses and destinations.

Organic destination imagery and social media: Mapping tourism dynamics across China’s Greater Bay Area cities

ABSTRACT Drawing upon Gunn’s formative concept of organic destination image this study proposes an application and extension in a contemporary regional context. Noting that the formation of destination image now emanates from tourists as well as from tourism businesses, the researchers use a prominent Chinese social media platform – the Red – to evaluate tourist/user generated content on the destination image of the ‘9 + 2’ Greater Bay Area cities in southern China (9 mainland cites plus Macao and Hong Kong SARs). The authors employed computer-aided lexical analysis on over 10,000 posts extracted from the Red. Four clusters of designative and prescriptive image are revealed. The study contributes to knowledge by applying big data analytics to study destination image from the tourist perspective (user-generated organic image), especially in a regional context. The insights offer prospective benefits to destination planners at local and regional levels by showing the merits of mobilizing tourism resources across multiple cities.

Perceived constraints and negotiation strategies by elderly tourists when visiting heritage sites

ABSTRACT This study examined the accessibility of heritage tourism sites for elderly tourists by applying the leisure constraint theory and universal design principles. Qualitative face-to-face interviews with 21 elderly tourists in Macao were conducted. Results revealed major barriers including feeling unsafe, extensive efforts required to use the facilities, feeling crowded, unclear and insufficient signage, and untidy public lavatories. Both protected aspects and supplemental facilities of these heritage sites lacked compliance with universal design principles. Confronted with these barriers, the elderly tourists had several different constraint negotiation strategies to reduce the constraining effects. This study offers a new perspective on accessible tourism within heritage sites by linking the concepts of constraint negotiation and universal design. Practical suggestions to destination planners of ways to enhance the accessibility of heritage facilities for post-COVID-19 usage are also offered.

Effect of Regulation on Curbing Over tourism in East Africa. A Critical Literature Review

Purpose: Over tourism irritates local people especially in rural areas. Over tourism has sparked a backlash by the local community especially by increasing the costs of living in their cities. The general objective of the study was to examine effect of regulation on curbing over tourism in East Africa
 Methodology: The paper used a desk study review methodology where relevant empirical literature was reviewed to identify main themes and to extract knowledge gaps.
 Findings: From the findings identified, and the literature reviewed, the concept of tourism sustainability can be construed to be the preservation of natural capital, economic and socio-cultural ecosystems within a three-pillar model that defines the three dimensions of sustainability. This integrated approach to sustainable tourism development is key in efforts to achieve sustainable tourism development in Africa. The concept of regulations to curb overtourism in East Africa has brought striking paradoxes for destination marketers and destination planners alike.
 Recommendations: The study recommends that there is need to develop a national framework for identifying the physical, ecological, socio-cultural and economic limits and the carrying capacity of visitor activity or tourism development at a given tourism area and time. Institute and enforce tourism regulations and policies to ensure that the physical, social and ecological impacts of overtourism are addressed in East Africa. Enforce tourism certification as a means for advocating for tourism sustainability within the East Africa region

Climate services for tourism: An applied methodology for user engagement and co-creation in European destinations

This article presents an exploratory methodology to co-create climate services for the tourism sector together with local stakeholders, emphasizing focus groups as an essential step for obtaining relevant data throughout the process. The article describes the user engagement for defining the optimal conditions for tourism in four different types of destinations in terms of tourist specialisation in Spain (Jacetania Council in the Aragon Pyrenees, the city of Calvià on the island of Majorca; the city of Barcelona and the Barcelona Coast) and Italy (Sila National Park) This methodology involves a sequence of steps to extract and validate such information through engagement, with destination stakeholders along the value chain (from accommodation managers to destination planners as well as final users). The process facilitates the design of numerical indices based on the information collected (from qualitative to quantitative data). Our methodology is suitable for application in other contexts and tourism activities where the subjective perception of weather and climate plays a role, as well as in other sectors.