Emerging Tourism Destination Research Articles

Destination promotional videos and tourism ethnocentrism in emerging tourism destinations: is there a link?

PurposeThere is an increasing focus on the significance of tourism ethnocentrism in determining the success of tourism development and marketing. However, the relationship between tourism ethnocentrism and various tourism-related concepts remains inadequately explored. Hence, this study aims to address the growing need to examine the factors that bolster tourism ethnocentrism in emerging tourism destinations using stimulus-organism-response (S-O-R) paradigm.Design/methodology/approachUsing a quantitative cross-sectional survey design, the study gathered data from 434 respondents, which were subsequently analyzed using structural equation modeling.FindingsThe results highlight crucial findings: destination promotional videos contribute to the accumulation of tourism knowledge, which, in turn, fosters tourism ethnocentrism. These findings imply that tourism knowledge mediates the relationship between destination promotional videos and tourism ethnocentrism.Practical implicationsThe study strongly advocates for using destination promotional videos to enhance resident support for tourism by augmenting perceived tourism knowledge. Managers in destination marketing organizations (DMOs) are encouraged to adopt destination promotional videos as a novel approach for promoting inclusive tourism development by enhancing tourism knowledge as mechanisms for promoting tourism ethnocentrism.Originality/valueBy considering and proposing destination promotional videos as an ambivalent mechanism of tourism ethnocentrism, this study is an academic endeavor that advances insights into the occurrence of tourism ethnocentrism as an important component of inclusive tourism development.

Towards green hospitality: exploring the consumer perceived value of pro-environmental star-graded accommodation

PurposeThis paper explores the effect of pro-environmental measures and green behaviour of star-graded accommodation establishments on the consumer perceived value that domestic tourists associate with them. From our study’s perspective, value creation via green hospitality may promote more responsible and environmentally friendly consumptive behaviour amongst domestic tourists.Design/methodology/approachDesigned as a cross-sectional deductive study, data were generated from an online panel sample of 440 South African domestic tourists. The hypotheses were tested using SmartPLS 4 via partial least squares–structural equation modelling. Further, multi-group analysis assessed and exposed gender-based differences.FindingsThe findings imply that green hospitality positively influences the value perceptions of tourists. More in-depth analyses indicate gender-based heterogeneity in the effect of green hospitality aspects on consumer perceived values. Our findings establish pro-environmentalism within the accommodation sector as an approach to initiating pro-environmental behaviour change through value creation.Originality/valueOur study extends the theory around pro-environmental behaviour and provides empirical evidence from domestic tourists as an under-researched population within the debate around tourism sustainability and green hospitality. The study sheds new light on the importance of supply-side green interventions in tourist behaviour and highlights the potential influence of gender differences. It explores this in the context of an emerging tourism destination in the Global South.

Predictors of Sustainable Tourism Development during the Post-Pandemic Period in Bangladesh

The goal of this study was to examine the predictors of sustainable tourism development during the post-COVID-19 pandemic period in the context of Bangladesh. Quantitative-type research was applied, and this study used a descriptive research design. A standardized questionnaire was used to collect 302 data points from actual indigenous tourists using an online purposive sampling method. A partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) approach was used to evaluate the data and test the hypotheses. The results of the PLS-SEM analysis method demonstrate that environmental integrity, social equity, economic prosperity, and technological adaption had a positive relationship with sustainable tourism development during the post-COVID-19 pandemic period in Bangladesh. This research article provides practical guidelines for tourism authorities (BTB, BPC, and so on) and stakeholders on how to effectively impact environmental integrity, social equity, economic prosperity, and technological adaption on sustainable tourism development during the post-COVID-19 pandemic period in the context of Bangladesh. This study recommends that influential strategic factors be utilized to develop a sustainable tourism business in Bangladesh, positioning it as an emerging tourism destination.

Exploring micronations as emerging tourism destinations: factors, policies, and impacts

ABSTRACT The purpose of this paper is to contribute to understanding the singularity of the so-called micronations as tourism destinations, identifying some factors that act as inputs (external and internal) of their policies on tourism development, and influencing their outputs (such as number and type of visitors). It finds its justification in the fact that the intersection between micronations and tourism is a field in the academic literature almost fully unexplored. As an inductive research designed based on a multi-case study (the responses of six micronations were obtained), an explanatory model was proposed in line with the aim described above, with the potential to be tested in a future hypothetical-deductive investigation. The main findings were four research propositions connecting the type of population or citizenship in a micronation with its approach to tourism and, subsequently, with its tourism development. In this line, the role of the micronation attributes perceived as attractors by potential visitors and those that play the role of constraints or limitations were also considered in the model as moderator variables. Despite its inductive character, an obvious limitation of this study is its exploratory nature supported by a few cases, which cannot represent the whole universe of micronations.

Destination Promotion Videos and Tourism Knowledge: A Road Toward Residents’ Empowerment in Emerging Tourism Destinations

There is a major outcry among Destination Management Organizations (DMOs) in emerging tourism destinations regarding the low participation or engagement of key stakeholders, mainly local residents, in sustainable tourism. Although several initiatives have been taken by DMOs to ensure that local residents participate in inclusive tourism development, major progress has not been achieved so far. Past studies indicate that even though local residents are engaged and involved in tourism development, they have not been able to fully exercise power and control over tourism, hence they participate as passive beneficiaries rather than active beneficiaries. Thus, this study is an attempt to investigate the role of destination promotion videos and tourism knowledge as drivers of residents’ empowerment in emerging tourism destinations. The study used convenience sampling to determine a sample of 417 local residents in the Dodoma region, from whom data were collected. The data analysis, using structural equation modeling, suggests that tourism knowledge is an important driver of residents’ empowerment among local residents. Additionally, tourism knowledge can be cultivated through the use of destination promotion videos as important sources of information about tourism destinations. This study recommends that DMOs should utilize various public awareness campaigns, such as short destination videos, to empower individuals with knowledge. This knowledge could instill confidence and encourage their participation in inclusive tourism development.

Strengthening tourism ethnocentrism in emerging tourism destinations

Purpose Despite the importance of tourism ethnocentrism in emerging tourism destinations, there is limited, but growing, research interest in this area. This study aims to respond to current calls for investigating mechanisms that can promote tourism ethnocentrism in both emerging and developed tourism destinations.

Destination advocacy behaviour of residents: examining the role of psychological ownership

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to investigate the impact of psychological ownership (PO) on residents’ destination advocacy (DA) behaviour in the context of emerging tourist destinations and to assess the role of attitude as a mediator in the relationship.Design/methodology/approachA quantitative methodology was used and primary data was collected via an online survey to a sample of 333 residents from emerging tourist destinations in India. This study used the partial least squares (PLS) method to test the hypotheses.FindingsThe results indicate that residents’ knowledge about their hometown positively influences PO which in turn affects DA behaviour. Furthermore, PO influences attitude which in turn significantly influences DA behaviour. Additionally, the findings reveal the mediating role of attitude between PO and residents’ advocacy behavioural outcomes.Research limitations/implicationsThis study advances the concept that residents are important stakeholders who can promote a destination. Local authorities should prioritise residents over tourists and incorporate their image, identity, personality, style and values into destination promotion. They can also improve destination services to boost residents' positive attitudes.Originality/valueThe uniqueness of the study lies in associating PO and outcome as DA behaviour. The model suggests that enhancing PO of their hometown among the residents can have significant advantages for tourism development.

Spatial evolution pattern of tourism flow in China: case study of the May Day Holiday based on Baidu migration data

ABSTRACT Tourism flows are an elementary part of mobility and an important topic in tourism research. Utilising Baidu migration data, we model tourism flows during China’s May Day holiday from 2019 to 2023. Employing hotspot analysis and the differential index for tourism flow methods, we scrutinise the spatial and temporal dynamics of tourism flows in China before, during, and after the COVID-19 pandemic. The findings are as follows: (1) Regarding temporal variations, the COVID-19 pandemic has profoundly impacted China’s tourism industry, albeit with a slow recovery currently underway. (2) Spatially, tourism flows primarily concentrated within four major city clusters, with emerging tourism destinations like Zibo gradually gaining prominence. (3) Analysing changes in tourism flow during holidays reveals that cities can be categorised into four major types and six minor types, with a predominant trend of continuous decrease in tourism flow. These findings shed light on the intricate dynamics of tourism flows in China, offering valuable insights for stakeholders in the tourism sector.

Residents’ Risk Perception in Developing Destinations

This paper addresses a gap in research concerning local communities’ perceptions of emerging tourism destinations through the lens of risk perception theory. Despite extensive exploration of perceived risk across disciplines, little attention has been paid to how local communities perceive the risks associated with tourism development. This article aims to propose a framework to explore the multifaceted aspects of residents’ risk perception, encompassing various types of risks, emotions, personal factors, and the role of the media. By formulating research questions that probe into these dimensions, the paper also aims to provide a background for empirical studies that validate and refine the proposed model. Ultimately, this research contributes to a deeper understanding of local community perceptions, offering insights for policymakers and practitioners to foster sustainable tourism practices and community engagement.

The Role of Air Transport Infrastructure Towards Breaking Seasonality in Emerging Tourism Destinations: A Qualitative Study of Akureyri, North Iceland

This paper examines the impact of air infrastructure development on emerging insular destinations by focusing on Akureyri, located in North Iceland. It examines the intricate relationship between airport infrastructure capacity expansion, the building of human capacity, hospitality infrastructure growth, and seasonality challenges. Through extensive qualitative interviews and literature reviews from stakeholders, policymakers, and academics, the research synthesises how an airport expansion offers democratisation of tourism mobilities and connectedness with the outside world for remotely located communities in the region. The analysis found that despite the stakeholders’ increased awareness of the complexities in accommodating year-round tourism, there is a readiness to increase the tourism enterprise flows. Nevertheless, the study shows a high deficit in hospitality infrastructure along with regional investment imbalances, revealing the lack of a comprehensive capacity building strategy. Ultimately, the authors advocate for an ‘extended capacity’ approach to tackle the challenges presented in the process of overcoming seasonality issues. The paper stresses the need for developed human skill capacity and diversified services and products alongside infrastructure capacity upgrades. The gained insights are gathered in two figures. The first identifies and maps the contextual landscape encompassing North Iceland’s tourism industry and its stakeholders, while the other showcases the complexity of the process the destination undergoes for breaking seasonality, while exposing the interconnections of potential outcomes, stakeholders’ needs, and the existing and in process capacities.

Destination Identification and Destination Community Identification as Drivers of Destination Brand Value Co-Creation in Emerging Tourism Destinations: A Social Identity Theory Perspective

ABSTRACT This study investigates the impact of destination identification and destination community identification on the co-creation of destination brand value through tourism ethnocentrism. Data from a survey of 302 local residents in Dodoma City, Tanzania, were analyzed using structural equation modeling. The results demonstrate that both destination identification and destination community identification influence the co-creation of destination brand value through tourism ethnocentrism. This study suggests that fostering local residents’ connection to both the tourism destination and its communities is essential to promote their participation in co-creating destination brand value. Furthermore, it highlights the theoretical significance of social identification categories, such as destination identification and destination community identification, as key drivers motivating local residents to engage in co-creating destination brand value.

Perception and Attitude Towards Wildlife-Based Tourism: Bangladesh Perspective

This study aims to know the prospect of wildlife tourism and measure visitor satisfaction in this market segment. The world tourism industry is proliferating with many changes, and destinations must cope with all these changes that are determined to tourist satisfaction. Bangladesh is an emerging tourism destination and shows immense prosperity in wildlife tourism. This study adopted a quantitative research approach. A well-structured questionnaire was designed to collect data, and 207 questionnaires were selected for further analysis. Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) was used for data analysis. This study shows that tourists are satisfied and interested in wildlife tourism in Bangladesh. The challenge of wildlife tourism today is to develop more marketing strategies to attract more tourists. Wildlife operators must make appropriate connections with other attractions to maximize exposure. Policymakers must consider wildlife conservation and ensure the proper security systems in developing wildlife tourism in Bangladesh.

Review of ‘Kalpitiya Urban Development Plan 2021-2030’ using TIES Ecotourism Principles


 
 
 Rapid urbanization-driven economic growth creates opportunities and challenges for inclusive and sustainable urban planning. Kalpitiya, being the only city in Sri Lanka surrounded by both sea and lagoon, with its unique ecosystems, and historical and cultural structures, has become an attractive tourism destination. Kalpitiya, as an emerging tourism destination, contributes 10 percent to the local economy through tourism. It experienced 15,500 visitations in 2017, while the projection for 2030 is 29,770. In 2018, 18 % of residents engaged in ecotourism as an alternative income source while 69 percent expressed their willingness. The Kalpitiya Urban Development Plan 2021-2030 (the Plan) was formulated envisioning, ―Blue Peninsula Emerging from Nature Resort‖-the first goal to make Kalpitiya the most attractive tourism destination. In this context, adopting ecotourism principles in development planning seems prudent for Kalpitiya. The study aimed to assess the extent to which the Plan had incorporated 8 TIES (The International Ecotourism Society) ecotourism principles, which, according to UNEP, have been embraced by a growing constituency of NGOs, private sector businesses, governments, and local communities. Utilizing a qualitative approach, incorporation of 8 TIES principles [P1-minimize impacts, P2-increase awareness, P3- positive experiences, P4-financial benefits for conservation, P5-financial benefits for locals, P6- increase sensitivity to local conditions, P7-low-impact facilities, P8-recognize community rights] into the components of the plan [Introduction-C1, Preliminary studies-C2, Need of the Plan-C3, Framework-C4, Summary and SWOT-C5, the Plan-C6 and Zoning-C7] were assessed. Secondary data were obtained from official sources and reviewed journal articles. Within all components of the Plan, the importance of tourism development was mentioned while addressing P1, P3, and P5. P6 is recognized in C6, while P7 was not mentioned. P8 was recognized in C2, C6 and C7. Although it specifically identified an ecotourism zone, C6 only addressed P2, and P4-through the development of a mangrove garden. The respective project was prioritized as 19 of 25. Rehabilitating and conserving income-earning cultural assets were prioritized as 10 and 11 of 25-without any carrying capacity considerations, despite their importance for the industry. Considering P1, water effluent control measures for shrimp farming-a means of income for many-were not mentioned, despite the pollution of groundwater and estuarine system, on which the ecotourism industry depends. The review reveals that the Plan has not adequately considered or addressed the 8 ecotourism principles, therefore, it is recommended for Kalpitiya Local Government Authority to pass bylaws in line with ecotourism principles, while enforcing a guideline by the Urban Development Authority.
 
 
 
 
 Keywords: Urban development planning, Ecotourism principles, Kalpitiya urban development plan, Local economy, Environmental conservation
 
 
 
 
 
 

Sustainable Tourism and Stakeholders’ Satisfaction in Batulayang Tourism Village Bogor Indonesia

Summary Desa Wisata Batulayang (Batulayang Tourism Village) is an emerging tourist destination in Bogor Regency, West Java, Indonesia, offering a unique experience of rural life, traditions, and nature. Developing such tourism villages is vital for the community, providing economic benefits, alleviating poverty, and unemployment, and preserving the environment and culture. Enhancing the availability of job opportunities in rural areas by creating sustainable tourism villages will expand the range of services such as healthcare and education. Consequently, this is expected to reduce the tendency of rural communities to migrate to urban areas. Desa Wisata Batulayang adheres to sustainable tourism principles to ensure the village’s long-term sustainability. The success of sustainable tourism hinges on active involvement, satisfaction, and support from various stakeholders. Involving stakeholders in decision making promotes the village’s viability, community development, resource preservation, and economic prosperity. Information © The Author 2024

The Interplay Between Tourism Ethnocentrism, Residents’ Support for Tourism and Destination Brand Value Co-Creation in Emerging Tourism Destinations: Lessons from Tanzania

ABSTRACT Even though the concept of value co-creation has received significant attention in the field of tourism research, there have been few studies that explore the mechanisms of value co-creation from the perspective of local residents. Therefore, in order to address this significant gap in knowledge within the tourism domain, this study adopts a resident-centered dominant logic to develop a research model and test the hypothesized relationship between tourism ethnocentrism, residents’ support for tourism, and the co-creation of destination brand value. The conceptual model was tested among 357 local residents in Dodoma City, Tanzania, by collecting data through a survey approach. The collected data were analyzed using structural equation modeling. The results indicate a positive relationship between tourism ethnocentrism and residents’ support for tourism. More specifically, residents’ support for tourism was found to mediate the effect of tourism ethnocentrism on the co-creation of destination brand value. These findings provide valuable insights into the mechanisms that can foster the co-creation of destination brand value among local residents.

MAPPING OF EVACUATION PATHS AND SOCIALIZATION OF DISASTER MITIGATION IN TOURISM AREAS: EDU WISATA LONTAR SEWU, GRESIK REGENCY

Background: Indonesia is a country that is rich in various tourism potentials. Tourist destinations in Indonesia have spread not only in big cities, but also in districts and even villages that have the potential for promising tourist sites. Gresik Regency is one of the regencies with lontar sewu tourist destinations that are quite interesting to visit. The number of emerging tourist destinations in various regions makes the manager consider the safety aspects of visitors and employees working at tourist sites. Therefore, tourism managers need to develop contingency plans and mitigation measures to improve preparedness and reduce the adverse impacts of disasters. Purpose: This service activity aims to map evacuation routes and educate employees at tourist sites with disaster mitigation socialization activities related to knowledge and awareness of disasters and a simulation of disaster occurrences in Gresik Regency tourism, namely Edu Wisata Lontar Sewu, Hendrosari Village, Menganti District. Methods: The method of activities carried out is divided into 3 main stages, namely 1) the planning stage starting from exploring partner problems, reviewing the program target areas, preparing proposals, mapping evacuation route points at tourist sites; 2) the implementation stage consists of the location mapping stage, Focus Group Discussion (FGD), visualization stage, installation stage and socialization activities; 3) The last stage is the evaluation stage consisting of a question and answer session at the end of the socialization session, and 2) disaster simulation by participants. Results: The result of this service activity is that 21 evacuation routes have been installed at tourist sites, the installation of evacuation route maps at 5 location points that have the potential to have many visitors, and the presence of gathering point locations at tourist sites. In addition, related to the results of non-structural disaster mitigation, showed that participants looked enthusiastic when socialization related to disaster mitigation was carried out and they were able to take part in disaster simulation activities properly and correctly and carry out self-rescue efforts by following the evacuation route that had been installed and heading to the gathering point according to the time. determined is 1 minute 25 seconds. Conclusion: Employees at tourist sites can make mitigation efforts by the directions at the time of socialization, namely by running in the direction of the evacuation route that has been installed at the tourist location and can go to the meeting point location according to a fast time of 1 minute 25 seconds.

RESIDENTS’ PERCEPTION TOWARDS THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS OF RURAL TOURISM DEVELOPMENT — THE CASE STUDY OF DA LAT CITY, VIETNAM

Tourism development in any destination can bring about positive and negative impacts on the natural environment and social and economic aspects. Da Lat, an emerging tourist destination in Vietnam, is confronted with the positive and negative environmental impacts of tourism, especially in rural areas. Several studies have explored the effect of tourism. However, only few studies have focused on the environmental impacts of tourism development in the rural area of a developing country. On this basis, this research aims to: (i) investigate residents’ positive and negative perceptions of the environmental impacts of tourism development in the rural areas of Da Lat city, (ii) examine the influences of age, gender, length of residence, economic dependency on their perception, attitude and supportiveness; and (iii) investigate the influences of the independent variables (residents’ socio-demographic features, perception and attitude) on residents’ supportiveness. This work involved a case study of four rural communes, namely, Xuan Truong, Xuan Tho, Ta Nung and Tram Hanh at Da Lat City, and a stratified sampling technique was used. This study utilised a quantitative research method by using face-to-face questionnaires with a total of 305 usable responses. The findings revealed that the residents’ perception on the environmental impacts of tourism are influenced by age, length of residence and economic dependency. Majority of the residents’ demonstrated a positive perception on the environmental impacts of tourism and support the tourism development even though the actual environmental effect is visible at Da Lat city. Attitude is the most significant variable that affect residents’ supportiveness. This empirical study may provide the current situation on the supportiveness of residents in Da Lat destination that may benefit the decision-maker in conserving environmental sustainability as a tourism destination.

A Study on the Atghar Kuriana and Vimruli Tourist Destination’s Challenges to Sustainability

The study mainly focuses on the limitations and challenges of Atghar Kuriana and Vimruli as a tourism destination and local communities’ attitude toward tourism. Actually, there is a little study about this amazing tourist destination, though it is an emerging tourist destination in Bangladesh. This study was conducted following survey research methodology; a separate survey questionnaire for tourists and local communities were developed to serve study objectives. The survey was conducted using both open and close-ended questionnaires. This study uncovered that tourists who visited there have bewitched enjoying the natural beauty, boating, zig zag canals, row upon row boats loaded with guava, amra and lemon but dissatisfaction over sanitation facility, quality restaurants and cottages, recreational and entertainment facilities, safety security, eve teasing, sound pollution as well as actually no authority to look after the overall activity. Moreover, there is no difference both gender and civil status in terms of visitors’ response to destination facilities as well as visitors’ knowledge on sustainable tourism, but collectively gender civil status revealed a significant difference. I hope the results of the survey might be worthwhile to policy makers, private entrepreneurs and marketers while formulating their policies, to attract local and foreign tourists and also to ensure sustainability of this amazing tourist destination.

Analysis of the interaction and collaboration of the actors of a tourist destination from a network perspective

ABSTRACT Considering the tourism activity as a system that still includes subsystems or multilayers, this article seeks to analyse the level of interaction and collaboration of tourism stakeholders in four cities of Ecuador with different stages of tourism development. The analysis is carried out from a multilevel perspective, based on the application of density and centrality indicators of the Social Network Analysis (SNA) and statistical analysis to know the strengths of their associations. The results show that the interaction and collaboration of the stakeholders impact the tourism dynamics of the cities. These cities are more or less dynamic due to those interactions, which may influence the level of tourism development, thus agreeing with the existing literature regarding factors and conditions, their structure, their productive links, and their impact on the tourism activity. It shows an implication in the analysis of the interaction and collaboration within the productive process of an emerging tourist destination, as well as the networks of actors that become a fundamental element in the planning and management of the aforementioned destinations.

Investigating tourist visit behavior in Bengkulu, Indonesia: The role of satisfaction, trust, and price

Bengkulu, a rapidly developing tourism destination in Indonesia, presents a unique context for understanding tourist behavior. This study investigates the influence of satisfaction, trust, and price on tourist visit behavior in Bengkulu. Using a sample of 340 tourists and employing Structural Equation Modeling (SEM), the study tests the relationship between these variables. Results indicate that both satisfaction and trust have a significant positive impact on visit behavior. However, the price does not significantly influence visit behavior. These findings underscore the importance of enhancing tourist satisfaction and building trust to improve visit behavior in Bengkulu. The findings also suggest that price, in this particular context, might not be a crucial determinant for tourists' decisions to visit. This study contributes to the literature on tourist behavior and provides practical implications for destination marketing in Bengkulu and similar emerging tourist destinations.