Sustainable Destination Research Articles

Social Media: Its Impact on Youth Travelers and Formation of Sustainable Destination Image

Social media is widely used, particularly in the travel industry. With the rapid changes in technology, there has been a substantial escalation in the usage of various social media networking sites like Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram. On these platforms, users are encouraged to make blog entries, upload images of their adventures, and exchange information about their activities and hobbies with other users. Various researchers have examined how social media has the potential to influence the trip-planning process significantly, and it has been concluded that social media has a noteworthy influence on travel decisions. The current study aims to investigate the influence of social media on the travel decisions that are being taken up by the young generation. The present research aims to investigate the influence of social media in the generation of images of various destinations in the minds of prospective travelers. To fathom the influence of social media in the minds of the young generation while they are making travel decisions, a conceptual framework has been developed in the current study with the help of the Technology Acceptance Model. To achieve the objective of inspecting the influence of social media in generating sustainable destination images in travelers’ minds, a sample size of 420 has been taken. Perceived Costs, Perceived Ease of Use, and Perceived Enjoyment have been used to evolve the conceptual model. The findings of the study will play a vital role for online travel marketers as it will provide them insights regarding the way the young generation makes use of social networking sites and how these sites are helpful in the creation of destination images in the minds of these travelers and allow them to modify their online marketing tactics accordingly.

Resident Communities and Perception of Tourism Sustainability in Sun And Beach Destinations: An Empirical Analysis in The Province of Manabí (Ecuador)

Objective: To know the perception of the resident population on the multidimensional variables of sustainable tourism in sun and beach destinations in the province of Manabí, Ecuador. Theoretical reference: Within this process, methodologies developed by researchers who have worked in nature tourism, conservation and sustainable development were used. The contributions used as theoretical reference are related to the Organization for World Economic Cooperation and Development and its Pressure-State-Response model (OECD 1993); the methodology designed by Torres and Guzmán (2020) through the ISSOT tool to study the variables associated with the multidimensional nature of sustainable tourism or those developed by Casas et al. (2017) and Salvatore, Chiodo and Fantinni (2018). Method: This study was developed through mixed research with an exploratory descriptive approach. For this research, the use of the deductive method was considered for the processing and analysis of data and information collected. From the processed data, a triangulation of quantitative and qualitative data was implemented to achieve a greater understanding of the perception that residents have regarding the impacts generated by tourism in these destinations. Results and conclusion: The results analyzed in this work aim to make contributions to the orientation, design and implementation of public policies in Ecuadorian sun and beach destinations based on a more inclusive, equitable and sustainable tourism development. This requires considering that the benefits and costs perceived by residents play a fundamental role in the local tourism development process, as they will have a greater willingness to accept this development to the extent that the former surpass the latter. Implications of the research: The results of this research have served to validate the criteria, guidelines and variables related to the planning, management and sustainable development of tourism in the territory, all with a strategic and sustainable long-term approach that allows generating positive benefits for local rural populations without degrading ecosystems and through the conservation of natural heritage. Originality/value: This work is an authentic and original work that has been developed for several years through the Academy and scientific research in different territories of continental and insular Ecuador, which seeks to establish real data that allows generating valuable information for more effective and efficient decision making from the point of sustainability and local development.

Towards the sustainability of tourist destinations: the role of trip quality and perceived value in increasing revisit intention at Madiun Umbul Square

The leisure tourism industry has become highly competitive, offering tourists a multitude of travel options that influence tourists' decisions. Therefore, tourism managers must understand visitor behavior to maintain tourism destinations. The sustainability of a tourist attraction can be influenced by repeat tourist visits, which is easier to achieve than attracting new tourists. Destination managers must continue to improve the quality of products and services to increase the overall value perceived by tourists, which ultimately encourages repeat visits. This research aims to investigate the relationship between trip quality, perceived value, and revisit intention among visitors to Madiun Umbul Square. This quantitative research uses an online questionnaire distributed to visitors to Madiun Umbul Square, with samples collected through incidental sampling. A total of 125 complete questionnaire responses were used as research data and analyzed using multiple regression to ensure the relationship between variables. The results of this research reveal that trip quality, apart from having a direct impact, also indirectly influences revisit intention through perceived value. This study shows the important role of perceived value in increasing the influence of trip quality to increase revisit intention. Future research suggests that researchers can further identify key attributes that form overall perceived value, especially by ensuring visitors experience trip quality positively and include other variables in this research model by adding a satisfaction variable as an antecedent of revisit intention. Previous research recommends that quality and perceived value measurements always accompany satisfaction surveys. This is because quality and value are the main drivers of satisfaction.

Resident perspectives unveiled: The role of a sustainable destination image in shaping pro-sustainable responses

This paper examines the effects of a sustainable destination image on residents' satisfaction and pro-sustainable behavior considered through positive word-of-mouth (WOM) and engagement in sustainable tourism practices. The paper also explains the moderating role of two demographic variables, i.e., gender and age, in the proposed research model. The findings show that a sustainable destination image affects residents' satisfaction, positive WOM, and engagement, while satisfaction is found to influence only positive WOM with an insignificant impact on engagement. Whereas gender moderates only the relationship between residents’ satisfaction and engagement, the moderating role of age is not confirmed.

Past behaviour intentions, present normative beliefs, and future customer loyalty

AbstractTourists are often motivated by a desire to reduce their impact on the environment and support local communities. By understanding the motivations and preferences of different types of tourists, destinations can tailor their offerings to attract and retain a diverse range of visitors. This study aims to determine if tourists who are attracted to the natural environment in a destination are more likely to engage in sustainable behaviors. It also explores whether easy access to information on sustainability influences decision‐making when traveling. The article raises the question of whether post‐pandemic tourists seek sustainable destinations due to both internal motivations and external influences. This article examines the convergence of pull‐push tourist motivations in sustainable destination preferences post‐pandemic. Using data from 12,101 Eurobarometer 2021 respondents from the TOP 12 countries with high pro‐environmental attitudes, the study found a confirmation of sustainable behaviors among European citizens. Future research directions and limitations are discussed.

Advancing smart tourism destinations: A case study using bidirectional encoder representations from transformers‐based occupancy predictions in torrevieja (Spain)

AbstractTourism represents a crucial socio‐economic pillar globally, yet the multifaceted challenges it poses necessitate innovative management approaches. The paradigm of smart tourism harnesses advanced data analytics tools to promote both profitability and sustainability in tourist destinations, leading to new levels of destination smartness. Accurate tourist occupancy prediction, particularly in areas dominated by second‐home accommodations where traditional hospitality data may be insufficient, plays a key role in optimising tourism management. To address this data gap, our prior research employed ARIMA modelling on Airbnb booking time series and analysed tourism‐related Twitter conversations to forecast occupancy levels in Torrevieja (Alicante); a prominent second‐home tourism destination in Southeastern Spain. In this extended study, we delve deeper into the realm of social sensing by utilising bidirectional encoder representations from transformers (BERT) for topic modelling. Our methodology involves the processing and analysis of Twitter data to identify prominent themes related to Torrevieja. The findings not only reveal nuanced perceptions and discussions about the destination but also underscore the effectiveness of BERT in capturing intricate topic dynamics. Importantly, this work highlights how the alignment of specific topics with booking patterns can further enhance predictive accuracy for tourist occupancy, presenting a robust toolkit for stakeholders in the tourism sector.

EXPLORING HOW SUSTAINABLE DESTINATION PREFERENCE MEDIATES THE EFFECTS OF TOURISTS' MOTIVATION ON SATISFACTION

This study investigates the effect of Sustainable Destination Preference (SDP) on the relationship between escapism motivation, affordability perception, and tourist satisfaction at UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Indonesia. A survey was conducted on 228 international tourists, and analyzed through Confirmatory Factor Analysis and Structural Equation Modeling. SDP significantly mediates the relationship between escapism motivation and tourist satisfaction, while affordability perception directly impacts tourist satisfaction but not SDP. The Sobel test validates SDP's mediating role. The findings underscore the importance of sustainability in enhancing tourist experiences, suggesting that tourists value both ethical and environmental aspects of travel, beyond just cost.

Application of AI Technology for the Development of Destination Tourism towards an Intelligent Information System

"The pervasive influence of Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology is fundamentally transforming industries and daily life. AI, an emulation of human intelligence in machines, endows systems with the capacity to autonomously learn reason and make decisions. By processing extensive datasets at unprecedented speeds, AI is ushering in a revolution across diverse domains, including healthcare, finance, education and manufacturing. Its applications span from elevating customer experiences through personalized recommendations to propelling advancements in areas like autonomous vehicles and precision agriculture. With the tourism industry in transformative evolution, AI is pivotal in enhancing visitor experiences, streamlining operations, and fostering sustainable destination management. AI-powered solutions personalize and simplify the entire traveller journey, offering tailored recommendations for pre-trip planning, on-site experiences and post-travel engagement. This not only boosts customer satisfaction but also elevates the overall appeal and competitiveness of destinations. Moreover, AI optimizes operational processes by utilizing predictive analytics and machine learning for demand forecasting, resource allocation, and crowd management. This facilitates data-driven decision-making, promoting efficient resource utilization and minimizing environmental impact. In sustainable tourism, AI monitors and manages environmental factors, employing smart sensors and analytics to assess ecological impact. This enables the implementation of proactive measures to preserve natural resources and protect biodiversity, contributing to smart infrastructure development for destination resilience. The integration of AI in destination tourism drives economic growth and enhances safety for travellers. AI-powered systems analyse real-time data to detect and respond to potential threats, ensuring a secure environment. As the tourism industry evolves, embracing AI becomes imperative for destinations to remain competitive, sustainable, and resilient. This abstract provides insights into the diverse applications of AI in destination tourism, underscoring benefits for tourists and destination management stakeholders."

Space of Conflict in the Reproduction of Hindu Sacred Places into Spiritual Destination

Holy places used as spiritual tourism destinations are considered to have more value than merely holy places since they can produce economic benefits. Visiting holy places builds a positive tourist experience and often a positive vibe for the local community. However, in the case of Bali, various complaints have arisen regarding the arrival of spiritual tourists, resulting in overcrowding and long queues. This study reveals the use of religious shrines as spiritual tourism destinations and the entailed conflict regarding the division of space between the locals and the tourists to achieve a middle-way solution to this conflict. This study collected data through observation, in-depth interviews and focus group discussions (FGD). The collected qualitative data were then analysed. The findings reveal that people use religious holy places as spiritual tourism destinations because they get economic benefits. Conflicts of interest, of course, arise due to crowding and long queues. This conflict is mediated by various proposals for dividing space between the two interests. The study contributes to the need for limits on the use of religious holy places as tourist destinations to ensure the destination's sustainability.

The Pathway to Sustainability in a Mass Tourism Destination: The Case of Lanzarote

This article delves into the unique evolution of Lanzarote as a benchmark for sustainable tourism. It examines how the island’s cultural values and political influences have shaped its sustainable tourism model over the last 50 years. This study utilizes a review of academic literature on tourism sustainability and case studies, emphasising the need for a conceptual and analytical framework. By analysing Lanzarote’s sustainable practices and challenges, this article highlights the island’s paradoxical status as both a mass tourism hub and a sustainable destination, led by the artist César Manrique’s visionary approach, which seamlessly integrates art and nature while providing a blueprint for sustainable tourism. Key milestones and achievements are identified, such as UNESCO’s designation of the entire island as a Biosphere Reserve in 1993, showcasing Lanzarote’s governance approach to balancing economic, socio-cultural, and environmental sustainability. The findings underscore Lanzarote’s role as an international benchmark in sustainable tourism, offering insights and lessons applicable to other destinations. The article concludes that Lanzarote’s sustained commitment to social awareness and natural resource protection continues to address global challenges, serving as a reference for sustainable development in island tourism destinations.

Not just a game: Understanding eco-gamification in sustainable destination development

Eco-gamification is increasingly recognized as a promising approach to address critical environmental challenges and support the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of ‘net zero’ emissions and neutrality in land degradation by 2050. However, sustaining long-term engagement remains a challenge, which may be due to the insufficient integration of gamified media elements with visual representations of users' sustainability efforts. Building upon theory of media richness, this study proposes a ‘gamification-user-destination’ model to explore the psychological mechanisms underlying the connections formed between users and destinations through eco-gamification. Based on data from 308 experienced users, a higher-order model indicates that no single strategy can promote environmentally friendly behaviours. Instead, a moderated moderated-mediation effect is observed, suggesting that eco-gamification achieves optimal results when destinations demonstrate genuine environmental commitment. Conversely, superficial environmental campaigns can be counterproductive. This study contributes to the eco-gamification discourse by demonstrating how eco-gamification, in linking users and destinations, is geared toward sustainability goals.

Intelligent Exchange of Sustainable Tourist Habits among the EU Member States

Despite much research being conducted within the scope of sustainable tourism, more progress has yet to be made in defining how close or far different countries are from achieving this goal. Consequently, this paper aims to evaluate and compare the commitment of citizens, as tourists, from the 27 member states of the European Union to sustainable tourism. A map of sustainability was developed through the use of machine learning algorithms. A cluster analysis was performed, followed by a sustainable rating. The main findings indicate the existence of three country segments among the European Union member states according to the involvement of its citizens as tourists with sustainable practices: highly committed, moderately committed, and uncommitted. Based on these segments, we proposed a recommendation system that suggests the top-five countries where tourists could exchange sustainable tourism habits based on the idea of contagion or imitation behaviours among individuals across an extensive set of everyday decisions. The results reveal significant variations in sustainable tourism practices across member states, highlighting both challenges and opportunities for harmonisation. By implementing this recommendation system, we facilitate the adoption of sustainable habits among tourists and stakeholders, driving a more unified approach to sustainability in the multiple tourism destinations. This study shows no convergence between the 27 European Union member states regarding sustainable tourism. Therefore, political policies are necessary so that all citizens converge on sustainable tourist habits and the European Union contributes, as a whole, to sustainable tourism.

Emplacing Ecological Grief in Last Chance Tourism: Cryospheric Change and Travel in the Arctic

Last Chance Tourism (LCT) is an increasingly popular phenomenon whereby tourists seek encounters with vanishing landscapes, cultures, and endangered species. However, there are concerns that it is not sufficiently ecologically informed, has a large carbon footprint, and may put further pressure on vulnerable ecosystems and communities. This review specifically focuses on the Arctic, which is a major global frontier for LCT and is at the forefront of disruptive and accelerating climate change. It draws on theoretical insights from the Ecological Grief concept to chart a new research focus as well as a pathway to share empathy, concern, and sorrow between scientists, communities, and visitors. Key literature sources on LCT and Ecological Grief were selected from major international scientific journals and monographs. The major findings of the study are (i) the Arctic cryosphere is a life-sustaining entity and disruptive changes in its mechanisms currently threaten the unique ecologies and culture of the region and (ii) LCT must be attentive to the emotive accounts of loss and grief associated with cryospheric change and emplace both human and non-human voices in the narrative. These findings are relevant for LCT researchers, tourism planners, and conscious travelers in the Arctic who prioritize destination sustainability.

Corporate Social Responsibility and Sustainable Tourism in Tourist Destinations: A Qualitative Case Study from Türkiye

ABSTRACT This study investigated the critical success factors for Türkiye’s competitiveness in sustainable tourism practices. The study is based on data collected from face-to-face qualitative interviews with key tourism stakeholders in Antalya (n = 15) and Istanbul (n = 15), Türkiye’s most popular and most visited cities. A qualitative multiple-case study approach was employed as a research design, and content analysis was used to analyze the data using an abductive technique. The findings confirm that an all-inclusive system creates the main obstacle to achieving sustainable tourism and corporate social responsibility (CSR) in Antalya, with overtourism being a main sustainability challenge in Istanbul. Further, it was found that the dependency between tour operators and hotels hinders the development of alternative tourism, subsequently causing barriers to the sustainability of destinations. Moreover, technology was proposed as the most influential driver in integrating sustainable tourism, CSR, and awareness.

Enabling active visitor management: local, short-term occupancy prediction at a touristic point of interest

After the temporary shock of the Covid-19 pandemic, the rapid recovery and resumed growth of the tourism sectors accelerates unsustainable tourism, resulting in local (over-)crowding, environmental damage, increased emissions, and diminished tourism acceptance. Addressing these challenges requires an active visitor management system at points of interest (POI), which requires local and timely POI-specific occupancy predictions to predict and mitigate crowding. Therefore, we present a new approach to measure visitor movement at an open-spaced, and freely accessible POI and evaluate the prediction performance of multiple occupancy and visitor count machine learning prediction models. We analyze multiple case combinations regarding spatial granularity, time granularity, and prediction time horizons. With an analysis of the SHAP values we determine the influence of the most important features on the prediction and extract transferable knowledge for similar regions lacking visitor movement data. The results underline that POI-specific prediction is achievable with a moderate relation for occupancy prediction and a strong relation for visitor count prediction. Across all cases, XGBoost and Random Forest outperform other models, with prediction accuracy increasing as the prediction time horizon shortens. For effective active visitor management, combining multiple models with different spatial aggregations and prediction time horizons provides the best information basis to identify appropriate steering measures. This innovative application of digital technologies facilitates information exchange between destination management organizations and tourists, promoting sustainable destination development and enhancing tourism experience.

Deciphering Melasti Beach’s Tourism Development: A Tourism Area Life Cycle Study

Melasti Beach Ungasan is a nature-based tourist destination that is one of the popular Tourist Attractions (DTW) in the South Bali region. Located in Badung Regency, the development of Melasti Beach Ungasan as a tourist destination began on August 1, 2018, and continues to experience rapid development in terms of facilities and infrastructure. To analyze the extent of the development of the Melasti Beach Ungasan tourist attraction so that appropriate management strategies can be adopted, the Tourism Area Life Cycle (TALC) model can be used. This research aims to (1) determine the characteristics of tourism at Melasti Beach Ungasan which includes tourism facilities, tourist attractions, tourist visits, and community involvement in tourism management at Melasti Beach Ungasan, and (2) its position in the Tourism Area Life Cycle model which is stated by Butler. To obtain relevant data and information, direct observation and literature review were applied on October 11th, 2023 during the first Field Trip. This research uses a qualitative approach with primary data sources in the form of field observations and secondary data originating from relevant literature reviews. Then the descriptive-qualitative analysis is carried out. The research results show that tourism activities at Melasti Beach Ungasan have developed rapidly compared to when it opened in 2018, marked by the presence of well-arranged parking facilities, minimarkets, beach clubs, and MSME kiosks. Based on the analysis based on the TALC model, Melasti Beach Ungasan is at the "involvement" and "development" stages. The "involvement" stage includes collaboration between parties and the presence of symptoms of seasonality. Meanwhile, the "development" stage includes developed modern facilities, high accessibility, and increasingly frequent promotions and news. Ensuring the protection of nature, socio-culture and community involvement in the management of Melasti Beach Ungasan will ensure the sustainability of this tourist destination.

Emerging hospitality practices in the sharing economy

Tourism and hospitality – as social practices and discourses – are increasingly digitally mediated. Many resources at destinations, such as accommodation and local knowledge, are becoming shareable via digital platforms. Technology mediates everyday encounters and offers new practices for hosting and guesting. This study explores hospitality practices developed on Airbnb in the geographical context of Finnish Lapland. The data for this study were collected from Airbnb hosts and guests. The hospitality practices emerging from the data are analysed using the social practice model. The practice theory-informed framework developed in the study illustrates how digital platforms increase the elasticity of hospitality practices. Hence, the digital hospitality practices emerging from the data show how the specialist knowledge and hospitality resources of the local people are being used for the benefit of the hosts, guests, the platform and destinations when constructing a hospitable and sustainable destination experience.

The role of aesthetics in tourist satisfaction in the Ghanaian hospitality industry

PurposeThe study examines the role of aesthetics in tourist satisfaction in the Ghanaian hospitality industry. Design/methodology/approachThe study is quantitative and cross-sectional in nature. A total of 5 tourist destinations and 350 tourists were selected using purposive sampling technique. Data for the study was gathered using self-reported questionnaires and analysed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). A total of 300 retrieved questionnaires representing 85.7 % of response rate was used for data analysis. FindingsThe study results proved that the three main types of aesthetics that influence tourists' visitation to tourist destinations are visual product aesthetics, package aesthetics and taste aesthetics. The study also discovered that visual product aesthetics, package aesthetics and taste aesthetics had significant positive correlations with tourist satisfaction. Again, the results established that, aesthetic types (visual product aesthetics and package aesthetics) have significant positive impact on tourists' satisfaction whereas taste aesthetics has a negative effect on tourists’ satisfaction. Research limitations/implicationsThe Ghanaian hospitality sector should push creativity to new heights by ensuring that venues change their appearance and ambiance through the use of creative lights, music, and food setups, so as to often attract consumers and offer them a completely unique experience each time. The hospitality sector also need to provide more effective and dependable channels for user complaints, recommendations, and contributions, as well as consumer feedback systems. Originality/valueThe study adds to literature on aesthetics and tourist satisfaction as well as contributes to the agenda towards tourist destination sustainability.

Modeling the metamorphosed paradigm sustainable tourism of post-COVID-19. Case study: the Danube Delta Reserve

Within the framework of this paper, we proposed to analyze the evolution of demand for this destination during the restrictions generated by COVID 19, but also the interest of investors in this area. The Danube Delta represented the ideal destination of 2020, in a pandemic context, and continued to represent it in 2021. In this sense, the objectives of the research are represented by the analysis of the main indicators of sustainable tourism development, for which there are statistical data at the territorial level; they are recommended to be the most important for shaping the metamorphosed tourism paradigm. The purpose of the research carried out is to propose some measures/solutions to protect the ecosystem of the Danube Delta Biosphere, so that they can be implemented by the state institutions and even by the inhabitants of the local communities, in order to ensure the sustainability of the Danube Delta tourist destination in the future. The methodology for the analysis of the modeling the metamorphosed paradigm sustainable tourism post-COVID-19 in the Danube Delta was implemented through three successive stages: (1) the analysis of the main theoretical elements regarding sustainable tourism in the Danube Delta, (2) the evaluation of the main indicators proposed for shaping the metamorphosed paradigm of tourism and (3) calculating the average length of stay.

Development of a maturity assessment model for sustainable tourism

ABSTRACT Sustainability has become one of the most pressing worldwide concerns for the tourism sector. Destination managers face the challenge of developing strategies and assessing their success in pursuing sustainable development. However, the concept of sustainability is still vague, and existing measurement frameworks are complex and fail to sufficiently include relevant factors such as digitalisation. This article adopts a design science research (DSR) approach to address these issues, creating a conceptual solution for assessing sustainability in tourism destinations and providing directions for destinations’ future development based on a maturity model concept. Objectives for this conceptual solution are developed by critically reviewing relevant literature and existing assessment models for sustainable tourism and operationalised by designing a maturity assessment model for sustainable tourism. To validate this model, interviews with tourism experts and stakeholders are conducted in the Algarve region, Portugal. The study concludes by acknowledging limitations and offering directions for further research.