Destination Development Research Articles

Multilayered Borders as a Method for Studying Tourism Destinations: A Case of Northern European Border Regions

ABSTRACT The article problematizes tourism destination development in the European borderlands of Denmark–Germany, Sweden–Denmark and Sweden–Finland, where border crossing has been relatively free for decades, except for the time of Covid-19 pandemic border restrictions in 2020–2021. The research contributes to border studies and tourism studies by developing a framework for analyzing tourism destinations through the prism of the multilayered border, with a focus on destination images, attractions, and hosts. The reseach complements previous studies on tourism development and cross-border partnership in the European Union territory by investigating multiple tourism destinations in the border regions and by contemplating to what extent borders form a resource for destination promotion in the aftermath of the pandemic. The examination of regional tourism development through the prism of borders informs us about the compatibility of the idea of a “borderless” Europe with border region “realities.”

Meningkatkan Potensi Kampung Wisata Pengolahan Susu Samar sebagai Destinasi Wisata Digital melalui Pemanfaatan Aset MOOC

The aim of this community service is to develop the Samar Milk Processing Tourism Village as a digital tourism destination through the use of Massive Open Online Courses (MOOC) assets. This implementation focuses on efforts to utilize MOOCs as an important tool to improve education, development and marketing of dairy farming-based tourist destinations in Samar Village through the Asset Based Community Development (ABCD) method. Media expert validation results show an approval level of 89.5% for the concept of using MOOCs in marketing tourist destinations. Meanwhile, the material expert validation results reached an agreement level of 92.5%, indicating that this approach was received positively by experts in the field of milk processing. Furthermore, the implementation of this activity also recorded a significant increase in the learning outcomes of participants who took part in the MOOC related to the dairy industry. This confirms that the use of MOOCs in digital tourism destination-based education and training can provide real benefits. Keywords: MOOC; Asset; Tourism; Digital; Samar’s Milk

SUPPORTING AND INHIBITING FACTORS IN DEVELOPING GASTRONOMIC POTENTIAL AS A TOURIST ATTRACTION IN SUKOREJO TOURISM VILLAGE, SRAGEN REGENCY, CENTRAL JAVA

This research aims to determine the supporting and inhibiting factors in developing the potential of gastronomy as a tourist attraction in the Sukorejo Tourism Village. The research method used is a qualitative approach with data collection techniques through interviews, observation and documentation. The research informants consisted of managers and culinary activists in the village. The research results show that the supporting factors in developing the potential of gastronomy as a tourist attraction are destination readiness, carrying capacity, cultural attractions, agro-tourism attractions, while low public awareness about the potential and benefits of tourism, skills in processing derivative products can hinder the development of gastronomic potential and tourist attractions in addition to There are also budget limitations which can hinder the realization of tourism projects, most recently the lack of communication and community involvement creates synchronization between destination development and support from the village government. This research concludes that an emphasis on natural, culinary, cultural, agrotourism and accommodation attractions, coupled with support and expectations from the community, is the key to realizing the development of this village's gastronomic potential as an attractive and sustainable tourist destination

Analysis of Perceived Value as an Intervening Variable of Aspect-Based Sentiment and Tourist Experience on Lake Toba Tourism Destination Development Problems

Tourism problems must be resolved quickly because every problem that exists will make the name of the tourist spot a negative value in the eyes of other tourists who want to visit, the tours visited at least provide comfort for visitors so that this positive value will have an impact on the decision to revisit or spread positive information to potential new tourists in the tourist environment itself. This research approach is quantitative with the Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) model. This approach is able to test the most ideal model in estimating endogenous variables. This research was conducted in the North Sumatra region, precisely at the Lake Toba tourist location and the research target was Lake Toba tourism visitors who came from outside the Tobasa Regency area, the population of Lake Toba tourists who had visited at least 250 people twice, the analysis model used to test the hypothesis in this study was multiple regression analysis using the Smart PLS application. Directly Perceived Value, Aspect-Based Sentiment and Tourist Experience have a Significant Effect on the Problems of Lake Toba Tourism Destination Development, Directly Aspect-Based Sentiment and Tourist Experience have a Significant Effect on Perceived Value of Lake Toba Tourism, Indirectly Aspect-Based Sentiment and Tourist Experience have a Significant Effect on the Problems of Lake Toba Tourism Destination Development through Perceived Value.

Breaking Down the Barriers: Rethinking Government's Role in Indonesian Tourism Destination Development

Stakeholder involvement is essential to destination development. They may serve as catalysts or impediments to the growth of tourist sites. This study explores the barriers to tourism destination development associated with the role of local tourism authorities. A qualitative approach, employing semi-structured interviews, was utilized to examine the root causes of these challenges. Sixteen stakeholders, including ten government officials responsible for regional tourism development and six community leaders, were selected as informants in this study. Thematic analysis was used to analyze the interview data. The investigation revealed four main barriers to destination development from government agencies. There are bureaucratic hurdles, contrived program activities, overlapping roles of local governments, and the community’s misconceptions about the government’s role in destination development. These factors collectively hinder the successful implementation of government-led tourism programs. The study suggests that understanding and addressing these barriers are vital to fostering a progressive, sustainable, competitive tourist destination. On a practical level, the findings can help policymakers redesign their strategies to create more community-centric programs, clearly define roles, and manage community expectations. Conceptually, this study expands the existing literature on the role of government and bureaucracy in developing tourist destinations. The study highlights the importance of a participatory approach that engages all stakeholders in the planning and implementation tourism policies and programs.

DDMMO Website Quality, Destination Image and Intention to Use Metaverse Platforms

Background/Objectives: Destination Development, Management, and Marketing Organizations (DDMMOs) have the power to influence perceptions and behaviors regarding both actual and virtual travel in the rapidly changing landscape of digital environments. Within newly emerging Metaverse platforms, their websites can serve as critical touchpoints that enhance destination attractiveness and enable visitors to engage in valuable experiences. In this vein, this research attempts to determine if DDMMO website quality and destination image can influence users’ intention to virtually visit a place by using a Metaverse platform. Methods: Users who navigated a European DDMMO website were asked to fill out a self-administered questionnaire, and 318 responses were collected. Then, structural equation modeling (SEM) was used to test the research hypothesis. Results: The results show that website interactivity and affective destination image had a direct positive impact on a user’s intention to use the Metaverse platform. Furthermore, indirect impacts of website design and usefulness and cognitive destination image were detected. Conclusions: DDMMOs and destination marketing experts can gain valuable insights from the outcomes of this research. Thus, focusing on the aforementioned website features can help them enhance destination image and attract users to their Metaverse platforms.

The effect of investments in recreational trail development on trail-related business operations and profitability: a case study of Northern Ireland

ABSTRACT In nature-based tourism (NBT), recreational trails may play an important role for sustainable recreation and local communities’ development. Therefore, development of the trail-related tourism sector is essential, in particular through successful trail-related business operations. However, trail-related businesses as one of the key stakeholders have been neglected in decision-making processes. Therefore, this research note studied trail-related business perceptions of environmental and recreational amenities and estimated projected effects of investments in trail-related recreation on business operations and profitability. Businesses see natural and recreational landscapes as being the most important. Branding and marketing was viewed as the highest priority attribute of trail investments. The feedback from business was shown to be essential for local economic development since it ensures maximized efficiency of investments. Implications were suggested for enhanced sustainable trail destination development and management.

Stimulating tourists’ senses for sustainable destination development: Combining embodied cognition theory and the S-O-R model

Tourists’ environmentally responsible behavior (ERB) is crucial for the sustainable development of destinations, and the external environment can alter individuals’ cognition and behavior through sensory perception. To investigate the impact of the natural environment on tourists’ ERB, a conceptual model was developed and validated from a sensory perspective by integrating the embodied cognition theory and the stimulus-organism-response model. The results of structure equation modeling indicated that, with the exception of auditory perception, tourists’ perceptions through each sense influenced ERB to varying degrees, mediated by memorable tourism experiences (MTEs) and environmental awareness. Additionally, the fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis method was employed to identify five distinct configurations associated with high ERB. Notably, MTEs and environmental awareness, driven by sensory perceptions, emerged as critical factors. While all senses played a role, none alone could singularly determine high ERB. The findings reveal the mechanism through which sensory perception influences tourists’ ERB and offer practical insights for destinations to integrate tourism resources by aligning with tourists’ sensory experiences to promote sustainable tourism.

EXPRESS: Feeling Grounded: Exploring the Sense of Groundedness in Cultural Tourism Driven by Live Streaming Technology

As information and communication technology advances, the on-site experience of traditional field tourism is being transformed into a virtual experience under digital tourism. The sense of groundedness occurs when tourists connect to the geography, humanity, and history of destination. Little is known about how technology, marketing, and tourism resources can be combined to enrich the authenticity of the virtual tourism experience. This study explores the main characteristics of groundedness in cultural tourism to address this research gap. It develops and validates the scale for measuring tourism experience based on live streaming technology. The findings also reveal groundedness as a driver of tourists’ willingness and behavior to participate. The study theoretically promotes the development of groundedness and the emerging research on digital cultural tourism marketing. Meanwhile, the study results provide stakeholders with an attractive and implementable tourism perceptual experience, groundedness, implying references for overall sustainable destination development.

The future of tourism: interview with Bernadett Papp on brining equity into debates on tourism development and destination governance

PurposeAs the Journal of Tourism Futures celebrates its 10th Anniversary, Dr Stefan Hartman (head of department at the European Tourism Futures Institute, NHL Stenden University of Applied Sciences) interviews Bernadett Papp (senior researcher at the European Tourism Futures Institute (ETFI) at NHL Stenden University of Applied Sciences) about her recent work in tourism practice and academic and future perspectives on topics relevant to the future of tourism.Design/methodology/approachA personal interview was held on September 16, 2024.FindingsBernadett Papp draws attention to the importance of bringing equity into debates on tourism development and destination governance. She sees a crucial role for governments, the redesign of institutional frameworks, monitoring and data collection and rethinking systems of governance.Originality/valueThe interview provides unique insights into the viewpoints of Papp, highlighting the importance of the still understudied topic of equitable tourism. A topic that still requires a lot of work before hitting mainstream approaches to destination development, even though it should have been on the policy agendas for many years already.

Distribution characteristics and development layout of rural tourism resources based on LSTM in-depth learning in the context of common prosperity

<p style="text-align:justify"><span style="font-size:10.5pt"><span style="line-height:150%"><span style="font-family:Calibri,"sans-serif""><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size:12.0pt"><span style="line-height:150%"><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"">The development and layout of rural tourism resources is the core issue supporting the development and planning of tourism destinations. Currently, it mainly relies on the experience and judgment of planners, with strong subjectivity and lack of objective information technology support. Therefore, in the context of common prosperity, a method for distribution characteristics and development layout of rural tourism resource based on LSTM deep learning is proposed. After distinguishing various rural tourism resources using the classification method of rural tourism resources based on LSTM in-depth learning, the spatial distribution characteristics of various tourism resources are estimated using the analysis method for spatial distribution characteristics of tourism resources based on kernel density estimation; After identifying the current status of tourism resource functional areas through a method of tourism resource development and layout based on a grid spatial analysis model combined with the distribution characteristics information mastered, and from the perspective of tourists, it can optimize the layout mode of functional areas to maximize the benefits of rural tourism resources on the basis of satisfying tourists' preferences. After testing, this method can utilize intelligent information technology to optimize the development and layout of rural tourism resources.</span></span></span></span></span></span></p>

The Impact of Sustainable Tourism on the Economic and Social Development of Rural Destinations: A Case Study in Ecuador

A documentary review was carried out on the production and publication of research papers related to the study of the variables Sustainable Tourism, Economic Development and Rural Destinations. The purpose of the bibliometric analysis proposed in this document was to know the main characteristics of the volume of publications registered in the Scopus database during the period 2018-2023, achieving the identification of 135 publications. The information provided by this platform was organized through graphs and figures categorizing the information by Year of Publication, Country of Origin, Area of Knowledge and Type of Publication. Once these characteristics have been described, the position of different authors regarding the proposed theme is referenced through a qualitative analysis. Among the main findings made through this research, it is found that Spain, with 19 publications, was the country with the highest scientific production registered in the name of authors affiliated with institutions in that nation. The Area of Knowledge that made the greatest contribution to the construction of bibliographic material related to the study Sustainable Tourism, Economic Development and Rural Destinations, was Business, Administration and Accounting with 65 published documents, and the most used Type of Publication during the period indicated above were Journal Articles with 68% of the total scientific production.

Cultural Practices as a Tool for the Tourist Destination Development

The aim of the article is to analyse the functional peculiarities of cultural practices under the conditions of transforming tourist destinations in Ukraine. Results. On the basis of the conducted analysis, it is proved that the preservation of the uniqueness and attractiveness of tourist destinations depend on effective management and strategic priorities. It allows preserving the integrity of the cultural and tourist space with qualitatively new and attractive cultural practices. It is revealed that the tourist destination formation is one of the main tasks in the system of cultural policy development of modern states. The study analyses the role of tourist destinations as custodians of cultural heritage at all levels, such as global, glocal and local. It is established that such destinations form a unique cultural space for the entire country. They act as cultural receptacles and centres of cultural life that attract both local residents and tourists from other countries. It is noted that the symbiosis of cultural and tourist practices allows to form a national image with its unique cultural potential. The scientific novelty of the study consists in the theoretical understanding and determining the practical role and significance of cultural practices in the process of transforming tourist destinations. Conclusions. Ukrainian reality and world practices testify to active cultural transformations of tourist destinations. As custodians of cultural heritage, tourist destinations form the cultural space of the entire country. They are a concentration of cultures, a centre of cultural life of the state’s citizens, and a centre of tourism for representatives of other countries. An important tool for the qualitative transformation of the tourist destination functionality are cultural practices that are able to provide emotional recovery, establish rational communication and dialogue between all participants in the cultural process. As a cultural practice, intercultural dialogue is the most important value in solving the global problems of nowadays. The formation and development of a cultural landscape with unique cultural practices are the most important factors for preserving and restoring tourist destinations together with their values, which depend on national identity.

Consuming placelessness: a geographic critique of current Antarctic tourism development

This paper explores the ongoing development of products, activities, and experiences in the rapidly expanding Antarctic tourism industry and their potential implications for the production of Antarctic places. Informed by theories of place and placelessness, the paper identifies three particular place framings informed by tourism diversification: the compression of time and space, the detachment of Antarctica from Earth, and the progressive consumption of wilderness through luxury and comfort. The paper argues that these dynamics may contribute to a detachment from the ways in which Antarctic places are situationally and materially assembled, leading to the abstraction, simplification, and obfuscation of socio-material relations making for a place. The possible consequence is the transformation of the Antarctic into a placeless space of consumption. By emphasizing the detachment facilitated by certain prominent activities and infrastructure, the paper contributes to debates about tourism destination development, urging consideration of how tourism can be shaped to foster an appreciation of places in their own right.

FUNDAMENTALS OF THE TOURIST DESTINATION MANAGEMENT SYSTEM

In the present period, tourism has become one of the priority areas of development of economic and cultural spheres of life in many countries of the world. Actions in this direction are actively taking place in Kazakhstan, considering the identification of the main development factors specified in the strategic and programmatic planning documents. The purpose of the study: to develop methodological approaches and practical recommendations for managing the process of developing tourist destinations with the active participation of the main tourism entities in order to promote them as a tourist destination in tourism. The basis of management of the tourist destination is to bring the tourist product of the region to the market and ensure its competitiveness in order to achieve a high level of well-being and quality of life. At the same time, the organizational and economic relations arising in the process of managing the development of the tourist destination are the mechanisms for realizing the tourist and recreational potential in the regions and promoting the tourist product. The article deals with the evaluation mechanisms of the management system of tourist destinations.

Tourism Development Strategy Sustainable Environmental Insight In Kampar District, Riau Province

The exploitation of various tourism potentials in Kampar Regency is still not maximized; incredibly natural attractions such as lakes and playgrounds, history and education, as well as folk crafts. In general, the problem that causes the low number of tourist visits to tourist places is tourism management that has not been optimally packaged so that tourists are less interested in visiting; this is evident from the unavailability of the typical souvenir market for Kampar Regency, the unavailability of adequate transportation facilities, and the lack of promotion. Go out. Based on these potentials and problems, researchers need to conduct further research related to tourism development strategies, focusing on studying tourism resource management and internal and external factors that influence its development. Through the results of the data collection obtained, the researcher can carry out an analysis in the form of a SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats) analysis so that alternative strategies and patterns of developing tourist destinations will be arranged that prioritize ecological, cultural sustainability and increase the income of local communities. This study used saturated sampling techniques with data collection through interviews, observations, and questionnaires. The role of the Government, private sector, and the community contributes to the development of tourist destinations in Kampar Regency. During its existence, POKDARWIS has made various efforts to sustainably change and improve the quality of management of tourist destinations. Most of those not involved with internal issues have made various developments and changes related to the tourism products offered to enhance the quality of service.

OSTRICHES AND GEOTOURISM: THE EVOLUTIONARY PATHWAY OF A SMALL TOWN TOURISM DESTINATION IN SOUTH AFRICA

Small towns are a critical tier in the settlement hierarchy. For many small towns tourism is a vital sector of local development. This paper contributes an historical perspective on small town destination development. Using archival sources the paper provides a window on the evolutionary development of one small town tourism destination in South Africa. The case study is Oudtshoorn in the Western Cape. During the late 19th century and early 20th century Oudtsthoorn experienced phases of economic boom and bust which linked to international fashion and the trade in ostrich feathers. The imprint of this era is manifest in the town’s landscape of ‘feather palaces’. In terms of early 20th century tourism growth it is demonstrate d geotourism was a critical driver with the asset of Cango Caves. In the period after the Second World War, the local tourism economy diversifies with the revival and reorientation of ostrich farming which incorporates ostriches as tourism attractions. The evolutionary pathway of this small town changes such that its local tourism economy is anchored on the dual foundations of its geotourism and ostrich attractions.

Exploring the influence of historical storytelling on cultural heritage tourists’ revisit intention: A case study of the Mogao Grottoes in Dunhuang

The revisit intention of tourists has long been a focal point of academic inquiry. However, there is still insufficient research on the antecedents of revisit intention from the perspectives of historical storytelling, destination image and perceived value. Taking the Mogao Grottoes in Dunhuang, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, as a case study, this paper, based on stimulus–organism–response (SOR) theory, examines the impact of historical storytelling on the destination image, perceived value, and revisit intention. Additionally, it further explores the mediating role of destination image and perceived value, as well as the moderating effect of place attachment in this chain. The research findings indicate that: (1) Historical storytelling significantly enhances tourists’ perception of the tourism experience and revisit intention; (2) The study supports the mediating effect of destination image and perceived value; (3) Place attachment has a significant positive moderating effect between historical storytelling and revisit intention. Effective historical storytelling can significantly enhance destination image and perceived value, improve tourists’ participation and satisfaction in tourism, stimulate revisit intention, and promote the sustainable development of tourist destinations. These findings enrich the research content of cultural heritage tourism, providing valuable suggestions for improving the management level of cultural heritage tourism attractions and increasing visitors’ revisit intention.

Visitor’s Perception towards Event Management in Kathmandu Valley

Background: Events are significant drivers of tourism and play a key role in the development and marketing of destinations. In Kathmandu Valley, the increasing trend of event organization has raised questions about visitor perceptions toward event management. However, no previous study has explored this topic in Nepal. Objective: The study aims to analyze visitor perceptions of event management in Kathmandu Valley, focusing on how affective engagement influences these perceptions and identifying areas for improvement. Method: An exploratory research design was adopted to uncover the realities of visitor perceptions. Quantitative data was collected from 343 respondents and analyzed using both descriptive and inferential statistics. Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) was employed to examine the relationships between variables. Result: The study found that affective engagement significantly impacts visitor perceptions. Attendees expect high-quality service from event companies and are likely to share their experiences on social media platforms like Facebook. Most respondents were between the ages of 21-30, indicating a strong youth interest in event attendance. The analysis revealed that one independent variable, affective engagement, had a significant effect on one hypothesis related to contingent factors, while another hypothesis was rejected. Conclusion: Event management companies in Kathmandu Valley should prioritize affective engagement, addressing attendees' emotions and feelings. Enhancing internal management practices can lead to better service delivery, addressing common issues such as overcrowding, location, and security. Additionally, adopting modern technologies could further attract and satisfy attendees, improving overall event experiences. Paper Types: Research Paper Key words: Event management, Planned behavior, Affective engagement, SEM, Quality of the event JEL Classification: C38, D9, N95, N3

Will the decrease in food availability affect food tourism? A historical and contemporary perspective: horizon 2050 article

Purpose This study aims to discuss the possible consequences of food crises caused by unsustainable food production and distribution, as well as how the rapid depletion of food resources may affect human life, destinations and the food tourism industry. Design/methodology/approach To address the lack of research examining the impact of sustainability issues and food crises on food tourism, this study conducted a critical review of the literature and reports related to agriculture, food production and sustainability. Findings Global conflicts, climate change and supply disruptions result in the reduction of food availability and quality. The high price of food and energy in such circumstances will further exacerbate poverty and delay destination development, which will negatively impact food tourism's economic sustainability. Furthermore, local businesses will be limited in their ability to offer a variety of culinary experiences, which will negatively impact the overall experience of food tourism. In this context, there is a pressing need to investigate the experiential aspects of food tourism as well as today's challenges relating to food crises at multiple levels, sustainable approaches, food quality and food services. Research limitations/implications The United Nations, FAO, WHO, UNICEF and other regional and international organizations refer to unsustainable practices and food crises on a variety of levels. Several sectors, including the food tourism industry, are predicted to be negatively affected by the current situation. However, governments have not adopted an emergency code to address this issue, except in some regions experiencing extreme inflation and food shortages. Besides promoting sustainable practices, responding to global crises and enhancing culinary and cultural tourism experiences, food crisis management and sustainability efforts can have a significant impact on future research, practical applications and societal outcomes. Originality/value As one of the first studies conducted in this field, this study examines the effects of declines in food production and issues in the supply chain on the food tourism industry.