Key Destination Research Articles

Territorial Inequality Driven by Tourism: A Queer Mapping of Urban Space in Acapulco, Mexico

Drawing on the life stories of nine LGBTTTIQ-identified people who have lived in Acapulco (Guerrero, Mexico), this article provides a queer mapping of this city, peripherally situated in the Global South yet with longstanding entangled transnational connections. The frame for this analysis is the concept of “territorial inequality,” a term coined by urbanism scholar Óscar Torres Arroyo, whose seminal work examined the emergence of this southern Mexican city as an urban space formed through a process of socioeconomic segregation driven by tourism. This article also responds to the call of queer urban scholars to look beyond the metropole for spaces of the political theorized on their own terms. In Acapulco, class, race, and nationality intersect with sexuality in ways that have made it a destination for some queers while also dangerous and unpredictable for others, a segregated sociopolitical space where norms of masculinity have collided with multiversal expressions of sexuality imbued with patterns of exploitation. A key destination during the 20th-century rise of international tourism and a place now securitized as “violent,” this urban space is also the site of evolving LGBTTTIQ movements, communities, and shifting patterns of queer life and queer tourism. This article reconsiders proposals made by queer theorists such as Lionel Cantú and Jasbir Puar regarding the complicated role of tourism in shaping sexualities, urbanization patterns, and state practices structured through colonial, neoliberal, and liberational processes, to theorize queer dimensions of the development of this city.

Access to Parks and Green Spaces in Quebec City, Canada: Developing Children-Specific Accessibility Measures

Accessibility indicators are gaining traction in research and planning as they provide a joint understanding of how transport networks and land-use patterns enable individuals to reach a variety of destinations. Local accessibility is especially beneficial for children as they do not have the same capacities to travel as adults and their independent mobility is generally constrained to active modes such as walking and cycling. Further, active and independent travel are linked to their health and well-being. Yet, there does not appear to have been much work done in relation to developing accessibility indicators specific to children. This study presents a methodology to specifically assess accessibility to parks (a key destination for children) on foot and by bicycle for children in Quebec City, Canada using open-access data. Accessibility indicators were generated for each residential lot based on the suitability of the pedestrian and cycling infrastructure for children. The number of parks accessible was presented and the equity of accessibility to parks was considered through population and socioeconomic measures. The results revealed a notable decrease in walking accessibility when only dedicated pedestrian infrastructure was considered, and differences between walking and cycling accessibility. This enabled the identification of accessibility gaps where the existing infrastructure did not provide safe access to parks and green spaces for children This research will be of interest to researchers and planners aiming to refine accessibility indicators to support children’s independent mobility, while taking equity into consideration.

Migration informal human capital of returnees to Central Europe: a new rescource for organisations

PurposeThis paper aims to investigate the interplay between international migration, soft skills and job and life satisfaction after returns.Design/methodology/approachThe paper uses the dataset of Human Capital in Poland 2010–2014 representative surveys with 4040 return migrants, who worked temporarily abroad and returned to an origin in comparison with almost 70,000 stayers, who never worked abroad. In this study, Poland is treated as a strategic research site for the labor migration processes, which happened after the biggest European Union enlargement in 2004.FindingsThis study discovered that working abroad had a positive relation with cognitive, intrapersonal and interpersonal competencies, as well as job and life satisfaction. However, the relations differ depending on the key destination country.Practical implicationsThis study discusses the implications for future research and practice, offering recommendations to organizations on how to embed employees with these resources in companies and how to support return migrants and their potential employers with the use of migratory informal human capital in personnel management and counseling.Originality/valueThis paper brings quantitative arguments about the hidden impacts of international migration on human capital by uniquely comparing the migrant population with the non-migrant population.

Measuring accessibility to parks: Analyzing the relationship between self-reported and calculated measures

Accessibility to all types of destinations is an important research field in transport. Parks and green spaces are key destinations due to their contribution to individuals' well-being. Most studies focus on calculated accessibility to parks (e.g., number of parks within walking distance), typically neglecting how needs, preferences and constraints may vary across individuals. More recently, a few studies have assessed self-reported accessibility. Yet, little attention has been paid to the relationship between these two types of measure. This study evaluates the relationship between calculated and self-reported accessibility to parks in the city of Montreal. Three calculated measures were generated based on the cumulative-opportunity method considering (i) the number of parks, (ii) the surface area, and (iii) the parks' attributes. The self-reported measure was collected from a representative sample of city residents through an online survey (n = 873). Three ordered logistic regressions were used to model the relationship between self-reported and calculated accessibility, while controlling for individual characteristics, followed by an analysis of the mismatch between the two measures. Findings show that the two types of accessibility are positively associated when considering park attributes, but a negative association is observed between the number of parks and self-reported accessibility. The study also confirms that individual characteristics influence self-reported accessibility and suggests that the mismatch between self-reported accessibility and the number of parks is explained by both spatial and individual factors. This research highlights that researchers, planners and decision-makers should consider destinations' attributes, individual characteristics and perceptions when assessing accessibility to parks.

Conceptual approaches to sustainable development of tourism in Ukraine: case of Transcarpathian region

The article discusses important issues related to ensuring sustainable tourism development in Transcarpathian region of Ukraine. The goals of sustainable development in Ukraine are defined at the legislative level, and their achievement is determined annually by state monitoring data. Transcarpathia is one of the most attractive tourist regions of Ukraine, and tourism is actively developing here. The latter has been gaining even more popularity as a key destination during the Covid-19 pandemic and the martial law in Ukraine, which relates to the restriction of opportunities for tourist travel abroad, as well as the temporary loss of access to other traditional tourist destinations in Ukraine, in particular the Black and the Azov Sea coasts. Both providers and users of tourism services show interest in sustainable development of the tourism industry. Sustainable tourism in the global dimension is a strategic concept for the development of the tourism industry in the coming years and decades. At the same time, in addition to substantial benefits, the growth of the tourist services market in Transcarpathia and the increase in the number of tourists cause certain negative impacts and pose a threat to the sustainable development of the region and the achievement of certain sustainable development goals. It is obvious that these potential negative impacts and threats should be considered in the regional strategy for tourism development in Transcarpathia, and the tourism industry itself should further develop based on the principles and approaches ensuring the sustainable development of the region. The article analyzes the negative impacts and challenges of tourism industry development at the current stage and suggests key elements of ensuring sustainable development of tourism and their gradual implementation. The most attractive tourist destinations are determined based on the amount of tourist tax paid to the budgets of individual territorial communities. Special attention is paid to the role of forestry in Transcarpathia in the development and support of the tourism industry and more active use of ecosystem services, particularly recreational ones provided by forests. The research on the implementation of sustainable tourism development in Transcarpathia aims to ensure general understanding and commitment to sustainable tourism approaches and demonstrate its significance in promoting economic and social growth of the region while minimizing negative social, cultural, and environmental impacts.

Polish subsidiaries in Germany – post-transition country firms’ legitimation strategies

Legitimacy in foreign markets, a concept rooted in institutional theory, has traditionally been examined for firms originating from advanced economies. However, it becomes more complex for firms from emerging and post-transition economies. Polish firms began establishing foreign subsidiaries after the accession to the EU, primarily in European markets. In this context, Germany was a key destination for Polish foreign direct investment (FDI). However, scholarly literature about foreign subsidiaries established or acquired by Polish firms is limited. This article presents the analysis of the legitimation strategies employed by post-transition country firms in advanced economies, using Polish subsidiaries in Germany as empirical cases. The empirical context is chosen due to its economic significance and the close linkages between Poland and Germany. With a conceptual framework, the authors synthesise legitimation strategies discussed in scholar literature and highlight some unique challenges for post-transition economy’s firms. The article presents outcomes from a qualitative study, extending the framework and offering some fresh perspectives in the field of international business legitimacy.

Analisis Daya Saing Ekspor Kayu Manis Indonesia di Pasar Amerika Serikat

Indonesia is one of the world's leading cinnamon producers, competing with Sri Lanka and Vietnam. The United States stands out as a key destination for cinnamon exports, experiencing a growth rate of 16.9%. While Indonesian cinnamon prices consistently increase, this growth doesn't align with export volumes. This study aims to analyze the competitiveness and potential of Indonesian cinnamon exports to the United States market. The research focuses on cinnamon commodities with HS code 090611 (Spices; cinnamon (Cinnamomum zeylanicum Blume), neither crushed nor ground) during the period of 2016-2021. The study employs various methods, including the Revealed Comparative Advantage (RCA) method, Export Product Dynamics (EPD), Porter's Diamond, X-Model Potential Export Product, and Ordinary Least Square (OLS). The study results indicate that Indonesia possesses comparative and competitive advantages. However, an evaluation of Porter's Diamond analysis reveals challenges such as a lack of labor quality, limited export destinations, decreasing land for Indonesian cinnamon production, a shortage of advanced technology, and insufficient downstream industry activities. Indonesia remains optimistic in the market and shows a significant relationship with cinnamon prices, population size, and the value of the rupiah exchange rate in major export destination countries.

Migration of high-skilled and STEM professionals from India: Addressing Global Compact for Migration objective 1

This research note examines the dimension and characteristics of the outflow of Indian high-skilled and Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) professionals to five key destination countries, namely, the United States of America, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. Indian migrants constitute a significant and growing share of high-skilled and STEM professionals in the major immigration countries of the world. Statistics highlight the proposition that retaining them is vital for the origin countries to realize the Sustainable Development Goals with particular focus on mitigating global inequalities in the 21st century. This note also addresses objective 1 of the Global Compact for Migration by exploring specific statistics on emigration from India representing the Global South.

Celebrity Endorsement Influence on Destination Image

Abstract Destination image influences the tourist decision-making process, and their intention to visit, revisit and recommend. Therefore, a positive destination image is considered one of the key destination success factors. Tourists will form the image according to their own or others’ experiences and information related to the destination, one option to provide destination information is one of the most effective promotional tools called celebrity endorsement. With the assumption that a positive celebrity image will be transferred to the destination, this study will explore the effect of celebrity endorsement on destination image. The study aims to test the celebrity endorsement effect on destination image through the source attractiveness model, source credibility model, and the Match-up model. Data were collected using the online survey technique, the sample size was 204 respondents. Research hypotheses were tested by regression analysis. Results indicated that celebrity attractiveness, trustworthiness, expertise, and match-up impact the destination image. The theoretical contribution is reflected in new information regarding the role of celebrity endorsement in tourism, which is limited in foreign and domestic scientific literature. As a practical contribution, the study provides information that may be useful to tourism service providers in creating a promotional campaign.

Where to invest in cycle parking: A portfolio management approach to spatial transport planning

A lack of cycle parking is a known barrier to promoting the uptake of cycling in urban areas. Unlike cars that can be parked on the roadside with little additional infrastructure, bikes usually require dedicated parking facilities. The existing research and guidance on where cycle parking should be provided primarily focuses on key destinations such as train stations or schools. Thus, there is a gap in knowledge about the amount of general-purpose cycle parking required and how it should be distributed across a city. This paper presents a novel method for analysing and prioritising the spatial distribution of cycle parking. The method draws on established portfolio management techniques but applies them in a spatial context. Using the case study of London, we demonstrate that it is possible to identify areas that have a deficit of cycle parking as well as locations that have the most significant potential for increasing cycling uptake by providing additional cycle parking.

Impacts of Express Bus Service on Passenger Demand

The Region of Waterloo, Ontario, is a rapidly-growing metropolitan area approximately 100 km west of Toronto. In 2005, the Region’s transit operator, Grand River Transit, introduced an express bus service, known as iXpress, along the central north-south corridor of the Region. This paper explores the impact of the iXpress service on transit user costs and passenger attraction. We employ a methodology to quantify the generalized cost (including waiting time, in-vehicle and transfer times) of transit trips between key destinations in the Region before and after the implementation of iXpress. We also develop a methodology to identify those customers who benefit from the reduced cost of the iXpress. Finally, we present the change in ridership (boardings) in the corridor pre- and post-implementation. From these demand and cost data, we compute transit elasticity of demand with respect to generalized cost.

Migration Coverage in Europe, Russia and the United States

Six years after the so-called ‘refugee crisis’ in 2015, the European Union remains divided on questions of migration and asylum policy. The issue also remains high on the agendas of the USA and Russia, two other key destination countries with immigration from Latin America and the Post-Soviet space. This article presents results from a comparative study of news coverage in 17 countries, focusing on 10 EU member states in Western and Central Eastern Europe (CEE), the USA and Russia. The intensity of coverage was remarkably different, with Hungary’s and Germany’s media standing out while Russian media displayed relatively low levels of coverage. Individual migrants and refugees were most visible in the two outlets from the USA. Media in CEE countries tended towards a more critical approach than media in Western Europe. However, differences between most countries’ pairs of analyzed media outlets indicate a more pluralistic debate than frequently assumed.

Interests, motivations and gastronomic experiences in the world heritage site destination of Granada (Spain): satisfaction analysis

PurposeGastronomy can be a key destination choice factor. As tourists, people will be able to learn more about the culture of the place through its culinary assets. This paper aims to analyse the interest and the gastronomic motivations of tourists to the city of Granada (Spain), where two important UNESCO World Heritage Sites (WHS) are included.Design/methodology/approachTo achieve the aim of this study, fieldwork was carried out on a representative sample of tourists in Granada (Spain). Specifically, a total of 1,612 valid surveys were filled out in culinary establishments and historical sites. In these surveys, the opinion of tourists regarding gastronomy and their motivations when travelling was assessed.FindingsThe results of this research allow to make a segmentation of tourists into three groups according to their position and their interest in gastronomy based on their destination choice, distinguishing among survivors, enjoyers and experiencers’ tourists. Additionally, it is confirmed that gastronomy is shaped as a motivation that influences the level of tourist satisfaction, performing as a differentiating element that can help increase the competitiveness of the destination.Originality/valueThis research contributes to the scarce academic literature on tourism experiences in a city with WHS recognitions. This study confirms the existence of a relationship between gastronomic motivations and the level of satisfaction achieved by tourists who visit the city of Granada, where no similar studies were found. In addition, this work confirms the connection between gastronomy and culture.

International graduates on temporary post‐graduation visas in Australia: Employment experiences and outcomes

AbstractWhile a growing body of literature focuses on international students, their post‐study experiences and employment outcomes when they are on temporary graduate visas in the host country are under‐researched. The article addresses this critical gap by investigating international graduates' employment experiences and outcomes. It is derived from a study that includes 50 in‐depth interviews with employers, graduates and related stakeholders, and a survey with 1156 international graduates from 35 Australian universities . The study widens the lens of the discourse around international student graduates operating in a labour market which is overgeneralised by high‐skilled and low/unskilled segments. It shows that international graduates engage with a complex labour market which can see them work in or out of their professional disciplines in multiple forms of full‐time, part‐time, and casual jobs. In particular, the findings indicate that international graduates on post‐graduation visas who studied Information and Technology are more likely to secure employment in their field of study and spend less time to gain the first job in their area of expertise than those in Business and Engineering. This finding underscores the various effects of the structural conditions in different industries on international graduates' employability. The study also provides substantial insights into the increased vulnerability, deskilling, and precarity experienced by international graduates as migrant workers on temporary visas in the host country. It highlights a concern not only for the students, who place a premium on the acquisition of work experience, but also for host institutions and key destination countries and their delivery on promise in such a competitive international education market.

Supporting Sustainable Development by Identifying Ways to Enhance and Conserve Local Food Wisdom, Loei Province, Thailand

Traditional diets are generally nutrient-rich and utilise locally available resources. Strategies to help conserve local food wisdom and increase its value could facilitate a reduction in the burden of all forms of malnutrition and achieve global goals. Our objectives were to: (1) investigate the variety of local foods and food preparation methods in Loei province, Thailand; (2) investigate ways of increasing the nutritional, social, and economic value of local food in this province; and (3) construct a local food database to catalogue and conserve the local food wisdom. Nine out of fourteen districts in Loei province were purposively selected. All were designated key sustainable tourist destinations and represented a range of terrains. There were 423 interview participants, representing all villages in one subdistrict of each of the nine selected districts. We also conducted nine focus group discussions with a total of 90 participants. Data were analysed and categorised, based on the content analysis technique, and we created an online database of the catalogued recipes. There were 240 dishes, placed into seven categories of recipe type. Many of the characteristics of the local dishes from Loei province today remain closely connected to the history of this part of Thailand. We identified that the value of local foods could be improved by investing in technology used for home preservation, actively engaging younger generations to improve the transfer of local food wisdom, investment in technology to utilise local biodegradable materials, and tourist activities based around local food heritage. Future work will involve further development of the local food database, and research to evaluate the application of the database. Moreover, this research can serve as a model for retaining and valuing local food wisdom elsewhere, to promote food security, combat malnutrition, and benefit the local economy.

Framing Migrant Memories: Lampedusa's Fragmented Archives

The small island of Lampedusa, a key destination of the Central Mediterranean Route connecting Africa to Italy, offers a special observatory on the contemporary trans-Mediterranean odyssey of migrants, although often transformed into a “border spectacle.” Upon landing, migrants are stripped of their belongings, as these are impounded by the authorities. Such an act of dispossession is intended to deprive them of their histories, family ties and cultural identity. Photographer Mario Badagliacca has portrayed a selection of these lost and retrieved items in his work Fragments (2013). Each object reveals expectations, fears, desires, endurance, but cannot tell a full story. They are fragments of an open-ended narrative that requires to be framed and told, if we wish to gain a better understanding of the Black Mediterranean, its history, and consequences. What remains untold can only be imagined. Writer Maaza Mengiste imagines what lies behind two smudged photographs portrayed by Badagliacca. As always, the force of imagination provides signification, solidarity, and survival in the fractured history of the African Diaspora.

“The best” and “The least”: Cross-country cluster analysis of Instagram and tourism destinations

The study provides an analysis of the key destination image attributes influencing the number of likes and comments by cross-country cluster on the basis of Stimulus-Organism-Response. The two main clusters are “the best” and “the least”, measured by their success in numbers of likes or comments from Instagrammers. Photographs taken during daytime showing tourism or entertainment facilities and panoramic natural seascapes prevail in the successful cluster group. Photographs showing visitors interacting in daily life tourist activities of their destination, are common among the successful images. Presenting people and water impacts positively, whereas multi-images of countries and destinations lacking authenticity have the opposite effect. Overall, the results are consistent with the hypothesis that attributes in Instagram photographs are associated with the success of a country’s image.

Exporting Mongolian Beef to China: The Opportunities and Challenges

Mongolia is a nomadic country. Due to the small population, large land area, and geographical location, the country has mainly focused on animal husbandry as one of the sources of income for the local people and foreign currency of the country. Beef exports play an essential role in Mongolia’s economy. However, due to several constraints that hinder export growth, Mongolia cannot export its agricultural products to its full capacity. One of the main challenges for Mongolian beef exporters is identifying key destination markets for their products and the know-how to access them. This article discusses the export of Mongolian beef to China, focusing on the potential of Mongolian beef cattle and its economic importance, the overall situation of Mongolian cattle products in the Chinese market, and the opportunities and market expansion challenges in China. This study is characterised as qualitative and quantitative research of an exploratory and descriptive nature, using bibliographic research. According to the findings, it became evident that Mongolia still has low participation in the Chinese market despite the opportunities in the Chinese market. However, with internal improvements and adjustments in policies, there is exponential growth potential in the sales of Mongolian beef to the Chinese market. Thus, Mongolian beef exports can be improved with more stress on value-added products and their marketing strategy based on consumer-oriented processing and packaging, expanding (or) changing export destinations, market promotion and brand image, adopting international hygienic standards norms and diversification of livestock products.

Labor Migration from Mongolia and Uzbekistan: New Trends and Approaches to Regulation

The article discusses trends and approaches to the regulation of labor migration in two countries of Eurasia – the Republic of Uzbekistan and Mongolia – in a comparative aspect. The research highlights factors contributing to the development of labor emigration from the states, including demographic, socio-political and economic factors. Mongolia and Uzbekistan have similar socio-economic and demographic development conditions. They are at approximately the same stage of the demographic transition, have a fairly young population age structure, are labor-surplus countries, and are ready to export labor resources abroad. These factors make them active migratory donors. A significant number of labor migrants including young people are looking for employment opportunities abroad. Migrants are mostly heading for more developed neighboring countries: Uzbeks go to the Russian Federation, and Mongols – to the Republic of Korea. Given the importance of labor migration in the socio-economic development of both countries, on the part of the governments there are quite active steps towards giving the processes of labor emigration an organized and documented character. The authorities of the Republic of Uzbekistan facilitate the opening of pre-departure training centers by receiving countries, conclude intergovernmental agreements on organized labor recruitment in key destination states. The Mongolian authorities are more focused on the organizational and legal issues of bringing labor migration into a documented channel. Both countries have developed an approach to understanding labor migration as a factor in the sustainable development of society and the state. In this regard, the migration policy of Mongolia and Uzbekistan is built around finding solutions for the optimal regulation of labor migration in the interests of national development.

Constructing a smart destination framework: A destination marketing organization perspective

Smart destinations have emerged as a means of integrating physical and technological infrastructure to create seamless experiences for tourists and to improve the quality of life for residents. However, the operationalization of the smart destination concept, and especially the roles and functions of Destination Marketing Organizations (DMOs), remain poorly understood. This study uses interviews with experts in destination marketing, place management and technology, alongside analysis of Destination Marketing Systems (DMSs) to identify how DMOs can lead and facilitate the development and effective governance of smart innovations. The data are used to examine several key themes including: the potential for a ‘smart vision’ of the destination; the contributions of DMO leadership in smart destination strategies; the functions and utility of DMSs; the involvement of key destination stakeholders; and the supporting pillars of information technology infrastructure, sustainability, livability, and governance as the foundations for smart destination development. The article concludes by providing a conceptual framework that can help to comprehend and evaluate both the components of smart destinations and the roles of DMOs in their implementation and management. • Presents a framework for conceptualizing and evaluating Smart Destinations. • Encompasses IT, e-governance, sustainability, and livability domains of practice. • Uses multimethod strategy to assess Smart Destination initiatives in USA, UK, and Asia. • Examines Destination Marketing Organization and Destination Management System roles. • Identifies the value of DMO leadership in facilitating Smart Destination transition.