Domestic Tourism Research Articles

‘Experience the destination in times of crisis’: lessons from the approach of DMOs to destination marketing from concept to practice

ABSTRACT The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted the established practices of DMOs. However, it also prompted a shift towards utilising the untapped potential and resources of regions, which could present unique opportunities for future destination marketing. The main goal was to explore the approach of DMOs to destination marketing and to the recovery of domestic tourism amid the COVID-19 pandemic in the context of experience marketing. This includes the initial reactions of the DMOs, their short-term plans, future plans, and long-term perspectives. The paper used desk research and conducted in-depth semi-structured interviews with key informants from regional Polish DMOs, specifically, the chief marketing officers and the presidents of the DMOs. The results confirm the use of an experience-based approach in destination marketing to achieve domestic tourism recovery. The destinations have offered various forms of involvement during tourist experiences, including: active or passive participation, absorption, and immersion. Additionally, DMOs can strategize for more sustainable, eco-friendly, and small-scale tourism through experience marketing.

Tourism development: A capacity dynamic

<p>The internationally adopted definition of tourism prompts to develop a systemic dynamic approach of tourism development. The paper proposes to conceptualize tourism development as a system interlinking three agents: transport, domestic tourism activities and the visitor; generating three types of development tourism development dynamics. In a second step, it uses this framework to develop, with a minimalist set of hypotheses, a capacity-based model enabling to consider destination tourism development as a microfounded supply-driven systemic dynamic process. Through the lens of the model, exhaustion or asymmetric distribution of market power may halt destination tourism development. Using the model’s framework, the structuring forces of the Tourism Area Life Cycle (TALC) are explained by the dual impact of capacity dynamics: accelerating by increasing arrivals, and at the same time decelerating by declining price elasticities.<strong></strong></p>

Hình ảnh điểm đến ảnh hưởng đến ý định quay trở lại tỉnh Bình Thuận của du khách nội địa

This study explores the component factors of destination image and the extent to which these factors influence the intention to return to Binh Thuan province among domestic tourists. Based on a research model derived from previous studies, combined with primary data collected from 363 valid responses, the results of linear regression analysis indicate that tourism infrastructure, natural environment, social environment, recreational activities, and accessibility all positively affect the intention to return to Binh Thuan province among domestic tourists. Among these factors, recreational activities have the most significant impact, while tourism infrastructure has the least influence on the intention to return to Binh Thuan province among domestic tourists. Based on the research findings, the author has proposed several managerial implications to enhance the intention of domestic tourists to return to Binh Thuan province.

Conditional Subsidies for Domestic Tourists: The Case ofPreViajein Argentina

SummaryThis case study exploresPreViaje(in English, PreTrip), an unprecedented tourism demand program launched in 2020 in Argentina as a response to the COVID-19 outbreak.PreViajeis a public policy at the national level that subsidises the selling of tourism services to residents travelling within the country. Itssui generisnature primarily lies in two characteristics: (i) the selling of tourism services takes place before travelling and (ii) the government subsidises (up to) half of the tourist spending. The program features conditionalities that determine eligibility for the subsidy.To study the emergence and evolution of the program, we use the three policy strategies suggested by the UNWTO to deal with the negative effects of COVID-19: (i) managing the crisis and mitigating the impact, (ii) providing stimulus and accelerating recovery and (iii) preparing for tomorrow.Information© The Authors 2024

Occupational Mobility of Tourism Sector Workers during the COVID-19 Pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic has shocked the travel and tourism industry, namely the arrival of international and domestic tourists has reduced significantly. This has an impact on reducing working hours, income and even job loss for formal and informal workers in the tourism sector. Tourism sector workers, in their efforts to maintain their income, carry out job mobility and adopt strategies to survive the COVID-19 pandemic. The aim of this research is to determine the occupational mobility of tourism sector workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. The research was conducted in 8 districts and 1 municipality in Bali Province, Indonesia. Data collection in the field was carried out using survey methods. The research findings showed that 59.6 percent of respondents stated that they carried out job mobility. Some respondents stated that they experienced 1 job change from before the pandemic to during the COVID-19 pandemic. How long does it take to change jobs from the initial job to the next job, 31.8 percent of respondents said they experienced it in less than 6 months, 21.9 percent said they experienced a job change in a period of more than 6 months to 1 year, as many as 6.6 percent said they experienced changing jobs within a period of more than 1 year, while 39.7 percent did not experience occupational mobility. The association of occupational mobility of tourism sector workers with the socio-economic characteristics of respondents shows that there is an association between the presence/absence of job mobility and the variables of gender, level of education, professional education/training held, frequency of experiencing job changes/transfers from one job to another. other jobs, the time span of how long it takes to change jobs from the first job to the next job, and variable changes in income during the pandemic compared to income before the COVID-19 pandemic.

Impact of Agro-Tourism on Travel Experiences of Domestic Tourists in Sri Lanka

Agro-tourism as a branch of tourism refers to a form of commercial enterprise that links agricultural industries and tourism to attract visitors to a farm or other agricultural businesses with the objectives of generating income and entertaining or educating the visitors. As the research problem, it was identified that limited number of research has been done on agro-tourism and its impact on the experiences of domestic tourists to travel as a path to establish a sustainable tourism industry in Sri Lanka. Hence, this study aimed to study the impact of agro-tourism on travel experiences of Sri Lankan domestic tourists. A mixed research design method was used in the study. It was mainly based on the primary data and the sample in the study was 50 which was randomly selected out of the total population of 233. As the variables, general demographic variables, main source of finance, trip length, major reasons to travel, the most favourite experience in selecting the destination and willingness to travel again were used for the study. Cross tabulation in SPSS analysis was mainly used with the descriptive analysis to obtain the results. As per the findings of the study, seventy percent of females and thirty percent of males were recorded representing the whole sample. Eighty four percent of domestic tourists had the willingness to travel again while sixteen percent had not. From the Cross-tabulation results, it was determined that 82.85% females from 70% and 86.66% of males from 30% showed interest to travel again to the same place. Further results showed that both female and male domestic tourists were interested to pick fresh fruits/vegetables from the farm recording 57.14% and 66.66% respectively. Rest of the domestic tourists was also interested in visiting agricultural farms, petting and feeding animals, and other activities. It is an evident fact that most of the domestic tourists are willing to gain live experiences in engaging into certain types of agriculture sectorial practices. Hence, it is highly recommended to concern on the agricultural practices of tourists’ areas in Sri Lanka as both domestic and foreign tourists yearn to gain live experiences in current context. Further researchers are suggested to study on the foreign tourists and their travel experiences in connection with agro-tourism.
 
 Keywords: Agro-tourism, Domestic tourists, Sri Lanka, Travel experiences

Ecosystem Services Value Realization and Ecological Industry Design in Scenic Areas of Karst in South China

Ecosystem services (ESs) value realization and ecological industry (eco-industry) are essential components of regional development. Due to the vulnerability and non-renewability of natural landscape resources in Karst areas, once unreasonable resource development takes place, it is easy to pose threats and causes damage to its ecosystem. This article selects the grain data correction equivalent factor coefficients in Guizhou Province, China, and establishes accounting indicators for Karst scenic areas. It is found that the total economic value of ESs is as follows: Shanmuhe Scenic Area (CNY 5096.3 thousand) > DaXiaoQiKong Scenic Area (CNY 2778.6 thousand) > Huangguoshu Scenic Area (CNY 2130.7 thousand). Among them, the value of regulating services plays a dominant role in the composition of ESs, and the value of forests accounts for the largest proportion. Through web crawlers, tourism data can be acquired, and the Product–Experience–Feedback–Improvement (PEFI) model can be applied to reveal that tourists have a predominantly positive perception of Karst scenic areas. This indicates that karst landscape resources are deeply loved by domestic and foreign tourists, especially mountain, water and forest landscapes. Based on the results of the ES value accounting of the scenic area and the external perception data of tourists towards the scenic area, the eco-industry spatial layout development plan is formulated. According to local conditions, the development, construction, and protection of the scenic area are carried out, jointly promoting the realization of the ecological product value (EPV) of the Karst scenic area, to determine the optimal development direction of the eco-industry, and to promote the coordinated development of ecological resources and assets.

Does haze pollution governance promote the growth of urban tourism economies? Evidence from China’s Clean Air Act

Haze pollution has caused huge losses to the tourism industry, but China’s Clean Air Act (CAA), implemented in 2013, provides an important opportunity for the tourism industry to recover. Using a difference-in-differences model and panel data across 275 prefecture-level cities, we investigate the effects of the CAA on their urban tourism economies. The results confirm significant positive effects of the CAA mainly through adjusting the urban industrial structures and stimulating technological innovation. However, there is significant heterogeneity of the policy effects. The CAA plays a greater role in promoting the tourism economies of small-scale cities and non-first-tier cities. In addition, domestic tourism is more affected than inbound tourism. Our findings verify the positive effects of China’s haze pollution governance and provide theoretical evidence for the cities to promote the high-quality development of their tourism economies.

A gift from travel: The shift of gift-giving in the new mobilities paradigm

This study explores the tourism gifting practices, examining their patterns, experiences and social benefits under the New Mobilities Paradigm (NMP). Through interview and observations, it investigates Chinese domestic tourists' gift-giving practices with the destination of Dali, Yunnan Province, China. We reveal that tourists casually purchase lightweight, practical, and regionally featured tourism merchandise as gifts, engaging in gift exchanges-both online and offline-during fragmented time. Tourist gift donors and recipients tend to share and consume tourism gifts briefly, with easy opportunities to reacquire the same goods online. This dissolves traditional gift-giving, as represented by the three-stage tripartite circulation model, into a fluid relational network with decentralized and diversified experiences, which brings about “network capital” for all involved actors. By introducing the NMP perspective, this study enriches and extends the research boundary of the tourism gifting. It also refines the explanatory power of the NMP in the materiality studies of tourism mobilities.

Resurgence and transformation: the impact of COVID-19 on Myanmar’s tourism industry and future trends

PurposeThis paper analyses the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Myanmar’s tourism industry, identifying challenges and innovations, and predicting future trends to foster a resilient and sustainable sector.Design/methodology/approachThe study uses a comprehensive analysis of tourism trends, government and private sector responses and changes in tourist behaviour, employing data, case studies and policy reviews.FindingsThe pandemic significantly disrupted Myanmar’s tourism, causing economic losses and shifts towards sustainable, outdoor and cultural experiences. Effective strategies by the government and private sector are aiding recovery and suggesting a more diverse and resilient future.Research limitations/implicationsThe research is limited by the availability of data during the pandemic, highlighting the need for ongoing strategy adaptation.Practical implicationsThe study recommends digitalization, health protocols, domestic tourism focus and sustainable practices for a robust post-pandemic industry.Social implicationsThe study emphasizes the pandemic’s social impact on tourism-dependent communities and the need for inclusive, sustainable tourism practices.Originality/valueItprovides unique insights into COVID-19’s multifaceted impact on Myanmar’s tourism, offering valuable information for future sector strategies.

Planning strategy for Tukad Bindu destination as a tourist Attraction in Denpasar city

Tukad Bindu is one on the river-based tourist attractions in Denpasar Bali which has been visited by domestic tourists. However, it has not got a well planning strategy to establish this tourism sites sustainably and become a competitive destination in Denpasar City. This research aims to identify the development potential along Tukad Bindu, Denpasar, Bali, using qualitative methods and applying SWOT analysis. The research location focused on the revitalization of the river as a driver of tourism and increased agricultural productivity, tourist attractions, and active community participation. The results showed that the S-O (Strengths-Opportunity) strategy can be applied by preserving river revitalization as a carrying capacity for tourism while increasing agricultural productivity and tourist attractions. The S-T (Strengths-Threats) strategy can be done by empowering the community through active participation to overcome potential threats. The W-O (weaknesses-opportunities) strategy involves providing education and counselling through the Denpasar City Environment Agency to local communities. Meanwhile, the W-T (Weaknesses-Threats) strategy emphasizes cooperation with the government and the private sector to increase tourism promotion, develop cultural agricultural attractions, and maintain the sustainability of the program in the future. This research recommends the implementation of these strategies as concrete steps in maximizing the development potential around Tukad Bindu, Denpasar, and Bali. The implementation of these strategies is expected to have a positive impact on tourism, agriculture, and the welfare of the local community.

Tourist Revisit Intention: Does Image Affect Their Preference?

<span lang="FI">Tourism is a cross-cultural encounter that happens every day. Thus, the life cycle of the tourism industry is represented by first-time tourists and tourists who make return visits to a destination. This study aims to examine the relationship between destination image and revisit intention through utilitarian value, hedonic value, and preference. The population of this study consisted of domestic tourists who traveled to three main destinations, namely Bandung, Yogyakarta, and Bali. The sample was considered by the criteria as many as 333 tourists were asked to answer the questionnaire. The method used in this research is a survey with a Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) analysis technique. The results revealed that destination image positively affects utilitarian and hedonic values. Utilitarian and hedonic values are positively related to preference. Preference is positively related to revisiting intention. The results of this study make a theoretical contribution by deepening the understanding of revisit intention. In addition, this study makes a practical contribution to the tourism industry. Limitations and future research directions are included at the end of the article</span>

The role of emotional solidarity–driven tourists’ nostalgia in shaping advocacy intentions

PurposeExamining emotional solidarity that drives tourists’ nostalgia has received significant attention, offering valuable insights that can aid in the selection of a travel destination. However, tourists’ nostalgia, along with its antecedents—perceived safety risk and emotional solidarity, has gained less attention within the setting of Pakistan. Therefore, this research has been carried out and validated a research framework using the stimulus-organism-response model to investigate the links between perceived safety risk, emotional solidarity—welcoming nature, emotional closeness, sympathetic understanding, perceived nostalgia, and destination advocacy intentions. In addition, this model employed destination attachment—place identity and place dependence—as a boundary condition on the relationships between emotional solidarity and advocacy intentions.Design/methodology/approachThis study collected 545 responses through two methods: offline distribution of print copies of the questionnaire and online surveys from domestic tourists who visited scenic destinations last year. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was performed using AMOS 26, and the PROCESS macro was conducted using IBM SPSS 28.FindingsThe findings highlighted that perceived safety risk negatively influences emotional solidarity—welcoming nature, emotional closeness, sympathetic understanding—, resulting in a positive effect on perceived nostalgia. Furthermore, tourists’ perceived nostalgia positively triggers advocacy intentions. The findings also confirmed the boundary conditions of destination attachment—place identity and place dependence—on the association between emotional solidarity and perceived nostalgia.Practical implicationsThree major practical implications of these findings: First, ensuring visitor safety with smart security measures, digital tools for quick response, and local community involvement. Second, highlighting local markets, art, and architecture to enrich cultural experiences and promote accessibility and diversity. Finally, using marketing to generate nostalgic experiences through local collaborations, professional storytelling, and engaging social media content to build emotional ties and curiosity.Originality/valueIn terms of originality, this is pioneering research intended at developing and validating the model in the context of Pakistani destinations. Furthermore, this marks the initial step in examining the proposed relationships between perceived safety risk and emotional solidarity in fostering tourists' perceived nostalgia, ultimately leading to a strong desire to advocate for the destination.

Understanding the influence of environmental triggers on tourists' pro-environmental behaviors in the Pakistan’s tourism industry

PurposeThe research analyzes the influence of three environmental triggers, i.e. awareness, concern and knowledge on environmental attachment and green motivation that affect tourists' pro-environmental behavior in the Pakistan’s tourism industry. Furthermore, this study has analyzed the moderating role of moral obligation concerning environmental attachment and green motivation on tourists' pro-environmental behavior.Design/methodology/approachData were gathered via a structured questionnaire by 237 local (domestic) tourists of Pakistan. Furthermore, the data were examined by employing SmartPLS.FindingsFindings demonstrate that all three environmental triggers have a positive and significant relationship with environmental attachment and green motivation. Accordingly, environmental attachment and green motivation promote tourists' pro-environmental behavior. Furthermore, the moderating role of moral obligations has also been incorporated in the study. The finding reveals a strong and positive relationship among environmental attachment and tourists' pro-environmental behaviors during high moral obligations. In contrast, moral obligations do not moderate association between green motivation and tourists' pro-environmental behavior. Therefore, competent authorities should facilitate tourists to adopt environmentally friendly practices; which will ultimately promote pro-environmental behavior.Originality/valueThis study provides useful insights regarding the role of tourism in fostering environmental attachment and green motivation that sequentially influence tourist pro-environmental behavior. Secondly, this research has employed moral obligations as a moderator to identify the changes in tourists’ pro-environmental behavior based on individuals' ethical considerations. Hence, the study provides an in-depth insight into tourists' behavior. Lastly, the present research offers effective strategies for the tourism sector and other competent authorities to increase green activities that can embed the importance of the environment among individuals.

Strategi Pengembangan UMKM Dengan Ide Kreatif Melalui Program Kuliah Kerja Nyata Di Kelurahan Kolo

The Real Work Lecture (Kuliah Kerja Nyata or KKN) at STIE Bima is a community empowerment activity carried out by students and Field Supervisors (DPL). This KKN program at STIE Bima took place from August 18 to October 18, 2023, in the Kolo Sub-District. It is undeniable that the Kolo Sub-District has natural potential that needs to be developed through tourism and marine resources by promoting Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) and creative industries to be more innovative. The method used in the implementation of the KKN at STIE Bima is through participatory approaches and community involvement in interactions and data collection with MSME actors at the Kolo Sub-District Office. The results obtained from this KKN program include the enhancement of the local community's knowledge in Kolo Sub-District in improving MSMEs and creative industries, thus creating new job opportunities for the community through the application of digital marketing and providing local tourism needs to attract both domestic and international tourists.

Does the resumption of international tourism heighten COVID-19 transmission?

Reopening countries also carries the risk of another wave of infections in many parts of the world, raising the question of whether we are ready to reopen our countries. This study examines the impact of reopening countries to receive foreign tourists on the spread of COVID-19 in 2022, encompassing 83 countries worldwide. We employ spatial quantile models capable of analyzing the spatial impact of tourism on the spread of the virus at different quantile levels. The research categorizes countries into three groups: low infection rate (10th-30th quantiles), moderate infection rate (40th-60th quantiles), and high infection rate (70th-90th quantiles). This allows for a more comprehensive and detailed comparison of the impacts. Additionally, considering the spatial dimension enables the explanation of both the direct and indirect effects of tourists on the country itself and neighboring countries. The findings reveal that the number of international tourists has a significant effect on the COVID-19 infection rate, particularly in countries with high initial infection rates. However, countries that effectively controlled their infection rates at a low level could maintain a low infection rate even after reopening to foreign tourists. It is also observed that reopening a country's borders negatively impacts the infection rate of neighboring countries. These important findings imply that governments of highly infected countries should shift their focus towards bolstering their economy by promoting domestic tourism and should delay reopening until the number of infections decreases.

Resilience and Loyalty in the Face of Adversity: A Case of Local Employees in Kerala’s Backwater Tourism

Summary This case study reports on Kerala’s backwater tourism and the associated experiences of houseboat employees in the sector. Kerala’s backwater tourism is a significant facet of the state’s tourism industry, drawing both foreign and domestic tourists. Houseboats, referred to as ‘kettuvallam,’ play a central role in backwater tourism, harmonizing tradition with modernity. Despite gaining global recognition, challenges such as escalating costs and external crises, including the COVID-19 pandemic, have impacted Kerala’s backwater tourism sector, leading to severe hardship and job insecurity among employees. Despite these adversities, interviews conducted as part of the case study reveal remarkable levels of ongoing resilience and loyalty on the part of houseboat employees, most of whom are local residents. Their resilience and loyalty are rooted in affective commitment and intrinsic motivation, wherein houseboat employees see themselves as custodians of tradition and ambassadors of the backwater region. In turn, their unwavering dedication may be seen as being a vital factor that can contribute to the ongoing adaptability and resilience of the backwater tourism sector as a whole. Information © The Authors 2024

Research on the application of bilateral collaborative algorithm in hotel tourism consumption preference recommendation

SummaryThe continuous expansion of the domestic tourism market has driven the development of the hotel related industry. It is a key focus of the hotel industry to provide accurate supporting services to tourists based on their preferences. However, the current recommendation model mainly considers tourist factors and lacks consideration for hotel factors. In order to address the concerns of recommendation services, a bilateral collaborative recommendation model is proposed, which first analyzes tourist feature data through comprehensive similarity calculation. Firstly, the comprehensive similarity calculation is used to analyze tourist feature data, and the K‐means Clustering Algorithm (K‐means) is introduced to improve the clustering effect between data. And to better distinguish tourist preferences, the Gale Shapley (G‐S) bilateral matching model is introduced to achieve preference matching of consumer features. In the Mean Absolute Error (MAE) analysis of the model, the User‐based Collaborative Filtering (UBCF) model performs the worst. When the k value is 90, the minimum MAE value is 0.7896. The Item‐based Collaborative Filtering (IBCF) model is 0.7776, with the best performance being the improved G‐S model of 0.7325. In the performance testing of three models' preference recommendations, the improved G‐S model achieves an accuracy of over 90% in all three types of feature data recommendations, with the lowest accuracy of 62.5% for UBCF and 71.3% for IBCF. It can be seen that the proposed improved G‐S model can accurately identify tourist and hotel preference data and accurately recommend corresponding projects. The research content provides important technical references for the digital transformation and development of the tourism industry.

Tourism industry shrinkage and the economic loss of China in the COVID pandemic years

ABSTRACT Tourism industry represents one of the industry sectors which are ravaged mostly by the COVID pandemic. This study attempts to systematically quantify the economic loss to China triggered by the shrinkage of tourism industry during two pandemic years, 2020 and 2021. For this purpose, we develop a double-sided spatial shrinking (DSSS) model to calculate the loss of regional domestic tourism income in China due to travel restrictions. Then the multi-regional input-output model (MRIO) and the computable general equilibrium (CGE) model are employed to estimate the aggregate loss to Chinese economies in both the short and long terms. Besides significant theoretical contributions, we suggest practical approaches to how to respond effectively to the pandemic shock.

Factors that influence domestic tourists’ decision to visit nature-based tourism destinations in the northern region of Malaysia

Nature-based tourism is a growing trend that drives sustainable options within the tourism industry. This study aimed to explore the factors that influence domestic tourists’ decision to visit nature-based tourism in relation of six independent variables: nature, escape, activities, novelty, nostalgia, and attractions. A survey through a questionnaire was distributed to domestic tourists who travel to nature-based destinations. The research used descriptive analysis to investigate the demographic visitors that visit nature-based destinations. Regression analysis was used to identify the most popular reason for choosing the factors. The results of this study provide information to industry players and academics on domestic tourists’ preferences in nature-based tourism.