National Destination Research Articles

Mapping the Distance: An Analysis of Visitor Travel Distance to German National Parks and Biosphere Reserves

The ecologically valuable and unique natural and cultural landscapes of protected areas are popular nature tourism destinations. From a spatial perspective, travellers visit protected areas by moving from their place of origin to the destination for a temporary stay. This paper analyses the travel distances of day visitors and overnight guests to German national parks and biosphere reserves. National parks position themselves as both regional and national destinations. In contrast, biosphere reserve tourism is more regionally concentrated due to the proximity of biosphere reserves to urban centres, which are the primary places of origin for visitors. On average, visitors travel 278.6 km by car to visit a national park, taking 172.1 minutes (02:52 hours). Opting for public transport increases the average travel distance to 312.5 km, with a travel time of 284.5 minutes (04:43 hours). Visitors to German biosphere reserves travel 208.7 km by car, requiring 134.7 minutes (02:15 hours). When using public transport to visit biosphere reserves, the average distance increases to 234.0 km, with a travel time of 239.1 minutes (03:59 hours). The automated, GIS-supported distance analyses offer an innovative approach for assessing nature tourism catchment areas and the accessibility of protected areas, serving as a basis for effective spatial planning, development, and regional marketing.

Collectivism-Based Travel Culture as the Antecedents of Travel FOMO And Intention to Travel Responsibly

As collectivists, Indonesians tend to travel with friends and family. The destination is usually inspired by social media content which then will increase fear-of-missing-out anxiety (FOMO) for traveling because it generates travel intention. A previous study claimed that collectivist culture has a strong correlation with FOMO behavior. This research analyzes the role of collectivism-based travel culture as the antecedent of travel FOMO on Indonesian domestic tourists. High travel intention may lead to high profits for tourism businesses, but the sustainability of the natural habitat of the natural tourism destinations is no less important. Tourists must also increase their intention to travel responsibly when visiting natural destinations to protect nature. This study employed an empirical quantitative research method with 340 sample data of Indonesian domestic tourists. The analysis of statistical data analysis is provided from PLS-SEM. This research is limited to collectivist behavioral observation of Indonesian domestic tourists to natural tourism destinations. Future studies can be conducted on different cultural dimensions and tourism market segmentation. The analysis showed that the collectivism-based travel culture of Indonesian tourists had positive influences on both travel FOMO and intention to travel responsibly individually, but will bring damage if combined.

Trends and Future Directions in Analysing Attractiveness of Geoparks Using an Automated Merging Method of Multiple Databases—R-Based Bibliometric Analysis

Since their creation, geoparks have been among the fastest growing natural environments. Their attractiveness is one of the most important factors for the success of this natural destination. Despite their importance, a bibliometric analysis on geopark attractiveness is missing from the studied databases. The aim of this paper is to synthesise a heterogeneous body of knowledge of geoparks in terms of attractiveness, highlighting the evolution and breadth of the research field. To achieve this, the following objectives were set: (a) to adopt a method based on functions provided by the bibliometrix package to automatically combine databases, namely WoS, Scopus, PubMed and Dimensions, detailing the method used and (b) to analyse the bibliometric indicators in order to identify the trends in the literature and the possible directions for future research. The applied methodology was based on bibliometric analysis using R for non-coders. From the 707 documents retrieved, the validation process resulted in 349 eligible documents published between 2002 and 2024, on which the analysis was carried out. The current study elaborated a method and examined the key information on the topic trends, which were given by production performance, productivity trends, spatial analysis and abstract approach analysis. Additionally, strategic mapping of the conceptual context was performed. Thus, the result provides a description of the automatic method with practical applications. As discerned from the three-dimensional analysis (spatial, temporal and size), the emerging research directions within scientific creativity encompassed (1) forms of tourism practiced in geoparks, especially focused on ecotourism and volcanic tourism; (2) geomorphological features, mineral springs and mud volcanoes; (3) aesthetic aspects, scenic sites and mining heritage; and (4) methodology, data analysis and modelling methods across different regions and countries.

Sustaining the brand and branding sustainability: landscape as homeland in Greenland’s visual marketing

Arctic destinations are continually reshaping their global identities to manage external expectations about the region. Existing portrayals of Greenland often stereotype the area as untouched wilderness or oversimplify its social, economic, and cultural realities. Our study combines visual analysis of cultural landscape and cultural ecosystem services (CES) to unveil a novel narrative in Greenland’s sustainable tourism branding we termed ‘landscape as homeland’. Empirically this research is based on the photographic database of Greenland’s national destination marketing organization. We explore Greenland’s destination branding as a strategic tool to define local meanings of sustainable tourism, homeland, and “Arcticness” in a branding that distinctively positions itself amidst Arctic destinations. Using pictured landscape as a dwelling place discerns locally valued CES, and realigns tourist engagements toward a culturally and ecologically integrated relationship. Applications of these findings extend to other rapidly changing regions seeking to expand economic opportunities, harnessing the synergy between destination branding and sustainable tourism. We reflect on the efficacy of our integrated CES and cultural landscape research to reveal local framings of the tourism-sustainability tension. We highlight the role of destination marketing organizations to bridge the gap between local identity, visitor expectations, and sustainable tourism development.

Pendampingan Tamanisasi: Upaya Meningkatkan Daya Tarik Bukit Tinatar sebagai Destinasi Wisata Alam

Tinatar Hill is a natural destination located in Sri Mulyo Village, Piyungan District, Bantul Regency, currently requiring management to increase its natural charm to attract more visitors. Pengelola Wisata Bukit Tinatar has synergized with the local community and the Srimulyo Village Government to make various breakthroughs to make Bukit Tinatar a natural tourist destination that is popular with tourists. However, the land on Tinatar Hill is less fertile, so during the dry season, this tourist area looks very barren and hot. Pengelola Wisata has reforested several plants that dry out and die during the dry season. Pengelola Wisata Bukit Tinatar also continues to improve by creating a main park that tourists can find before entering the hill area. However, Pengelola Wisata still encounter obstacles regarding the types of plants that suit the conditions of the barren land and their maintenance. Based on this background, this service activity aims to increase Pengelola Wisata' capacity to create the main park on Tinatar Hill through outreach and mentoring activities. Service is carried out in the form of counseling activities, assistance with ornamental plants, and assistance with garden maintenance. The result of this dedication is the creation of the main park and the Pengelola Wisata' ability to maintain the park, but in the long term, there is still a need for high awareness of caring for the park.

A business model framework for nature tourism entrepreneurs

ABSTRACT Small-scale tourism entrepreneurs play an important role in the development of nature tourism destinations, and building competitive business models can be crucial for the success of both these entrepreneurs and the nature destinations they inhabit. However, traditional business model frameworks do not adequately capture the unique characteristics of nature tourism and its entrepreneurs, such as their non-economic and nature-based values. Thus, developing knowledge about business models for nature tourism entrepreneurs calls for an alternative theoretical approach. This paper aims to develop such a novel approach by integrating existing knowledge about the unique characteristics of nature tourism and its entrepreneurs with a Service Dominant Logic theory, which incorporates both human and non-human actors such as nature. To illustrate the analytical relevance of the framework, it is applied in a case study of nature tourism entrepreneurs that identifies internal incongruences within the entrepreneurs’ existing business models. The case study also demonstrates how the entrepreneurs attempt to address these incongruences. The framework is relevant also to other small scale tourism entrepreneurs operating in other contexts.

Is the ancient city of Benin Kingdom a preferred tourist location? A qualitative-based study to achieving sustainable development Goal 11

Studies on preferred tourist locations focus on developed countries and selected Asian cities. Many African cities like the Ancient City of Benin Kingdom (ACBK) have been grossly under-researched in global extant literature regarding preferred tourist locations and how they may improve achieving Sustainable Development Goal 11 (Goal 11). Thus, this study examines the attributes of a tourist location. Also, it investigates perceived barriers facing the ancient city and suggests measures to improve achieving the ACBK as a tourist location and, by extension, improve achieving Sustainable Development Goal 11 in Nigeria. The study adopted qualitative research and collected primary data via face-to-face interviews and observations of tourist locations. A convenient sampling technique was used to select 30 knowledgeable participants. The researchers analysed the collected data manually. Findings reveal nature destinations (historical/archaeological), natural attractions, ecotourism/wildlife, landform areas, prompt quality services, basic amenities/infrastructure, mangrove forests, and safety/security as the attributes of a global tourist location. Findings show that the sustenance of these attributes will improve achieving Goal 11. Also, the findings identified the barriers and recommended measures to mitigate them and, by extension, promote ACBK as a preferred tourist location and improve achieving Goal 11. This study reawakens the need for all-inclusive tourism planning management and marketing in developing countries.

Segmenting social media users in international tourism: Insights integrated from multi‐homing theory and international visitor survey data

AbstractThis study utilizes multi‐homing theory to assess international travelers' usage of social media platforms, revealing insights into their gender, country of origin, generation cohorts, and travel purposes. These insights can guide the development of effective social media marketing strategies for national destination management organizations (DMOs). Data from South Korea's 2019 International Visitor Survey (with 12,194 participants) was analyzed using chi‐square and correspondence analysis techniques. The results revealed distinctive preferences of international visitors among generational cohorts with different travel purposes across 19 countries in the usage of online travel communities, social network platforms, video‐sharing platforms, and travel blogs. Understanding the dynamics of social media platforms helps national DMOs enhance their social media marketing strategies for international visitors, based on the multi‐sided platform usage paradigm. Nevertheless, acknowledging the study's limitations points towards potential avenues for future research.

The effect of human versus virtual influencers: The roles of destination types and self-referencing processes

Social media influencers are increasingly recognized for their ability to influence tourists’ decision-making processes. The emergent phenomenon of virtual influencers presents an unprecedented challenge to their human counterparts, reshaping the dynamics of the tourism industry. It remains a challenge to integrate various forms of destination advertising and harmonize the approaches of both human and virtual influencers to effectively attract tourists. This study addresses this gap by investigating the effectiveness of human and virtual influencers in endorsing natural versus cultural destinations. Adopting source credibility theory, we conduct five empirical studies. Our findings reveal that virtual influencers boost visit intentions for cultural destinations, while human influencers do so for natural destinations. Credibility and self-referencing play a serially mediating role in this process. Furthermore, this study explores the moderating role of tourists’ preference for uniqueness. This research offers valuable insights for tourism industry managers aiming to harness the power of virtual influencers effectively.

Choosing culture or nature: How temporal landmarks affect tourism destination preferences

Start and end temporal landmarks are powerful in altering individual perceptions and behavior. However, there has been little research on how temporal landmarks affect tourists' choice of destination. This paper draws on conservation of resources theory in analyzing how temporal landmarks influence tourists' choice of cultural vs. natural destinations. In four studies based on secondary data analyses and experiments, using different operationalizations of temporal landmarks and tourism destinations, and recruiting samples from distinct cultural backgrounds, we show that end temporal landmarks deplete tourists' perceived psychological resources and increase their preference for natural over cultural destinations. However, this effect is mitigated when a tourist has a circular time perspective. This paper contributes to the theoretical literature about temporal landmarks and destination decision-making by showing the effect of temporal landmarks on tourists’ destination preferences. It also provides useful insights for tourism marketers aiming to advertise cultural or natural destinations at the beginning or end of a period.

Back to the nature and travelling off the beaten path? – The explicit and implicit examination of ‘new’ destination choices and travel decisions in the shadow of the COVID-19 pandemic

Despite occasional shocks, tourism, as one of the world’s largest industries, has undergone rapid evolution in the last decades. Nonetheless, the industry has been shocked by the recent COVID-19 outbreak, and it is still unclear how the tourist psyche has changed and what the aftermath will be. This study presents an innovative explicit-implicit approach to examine how the pandemic-induced (re)connection with nature influences travel and destination choices. Based on the findings, respondents explicitly and implicitly reported a favourable perception of natural destinations amid the pandemic. Consequently, the author can observe an increase in the popularity of natural sites, along with a corresponding surge in the frequency of nature visits, particularly among women and individuals with less committed or no relationships. Key values were identified as the driving forces behind this trend, including serenity, uniqueness, safety, closeness, and discovery, which can be considered crucial factors in shaping the future of sustainable tourism.

Industries of Sanduru Taluk: A Historical Overview

Sanduru and Sanduru Environment are located in the Ballari district, often known as the KarthikeyaTapovana. During the Krutayuga, Tretayuga, Dwaparayuga, and Kaliyuga, it went by the names Devagiri, Swarnagiri,Divayachala, and Lohachala. Swami Karthikeya is said to have prayed to Lord Brahmadi's gods for Tarakadi Asura'sdeath.1 Since then, it has served as a natural destination, a place of worship, and an industrial site. Due to the splendourof nature and its natural resources, several enterprises have existed since ancient times. The Ballari ParisaradaSamskrutika Parampare Volume I and the Gazetteer of the Bellary District were used to review all of those industries.

Assessing social carrying capacity of tourists in protected natural areas

ABSTRACT Knowing the limits of the social carrying capacity of tourism is a fundamental component of sustainable destination management, especially in protected natural areas, which implies understanding the characteristics of demand and travel. The research presented in this paper was conducted in a natural destination, the Sierras de Cazorla, Segura y Las Villas National Park (Spain), identifying two segments of tourists by means of cluster analysis according to a set of sociodemographic and socioeconomic variables, as well as their willingness to pay to improve the sustainability of destinations. Subsequently, each cluster was related to the variables of the social carrying capacity of tourism, and multivariate logistic regression analysis was applied. The results indicate that there is a relationship between the clusters identified and their social carrying capacity, which would be very useful to policy makers, managers, and business owners in protected natural areas, in terms of designing of pro-sustainability strategies.

Peran Pemerintah Dalam Pengelolaan Pariwisata Di Desa Sippan Tiga Raja Pamatang Silimahuta Kabupaten Simalungun

Anugerah Indah Sippan Tourism is a natural destination that offers the charm of a hill in the Saribu Dolok area.. Even though it has just opened, Anugerah Indah Sippan Tourism is a favorite vacation location on weekends. This is because many distinctive charms can be found such as stunning views of the surrounding natural orchestra, a garden on a hill and cool fresh air. However, there are several problems such as accessibility and infrastructure facilities for the Sippan Village tourist attraction, which are still lacking in attention from the government. In this case, the Simalungun Regency Tourism and Culture Office as the manager of the Sippan Village tourist attraction has an important role in managing village tourism objects. The theory used in this study is the role theory by Pitana and Gayatri (2005:95), this research uses a qualitative type methodology that uses interview techniques, observation, and also documentation. As reinforcement, this study also consisted of key informants, main informants and additional informants using data analysis techniques by Miles and Hubermen namely data collection, data reduction, data presentation and conclusions. The purpose of this study was to determine the role and constraints of the Simalungun Regency Tourism and Culture Office in tourism management

ENHANCEMENT OF BRAND LOVE RESONANCE CAPABILITIES ON DESTINATION LOYALTY: S-DL PERSPECTIVE

The emergence of inconsistencies in study findings regarding destination brands does not contribute to an increase in customer loyalty toward tourist destinations. Furthermore, exploring the capacity to expand affection for the brand is a meaningful topic within the tourism business phenomenon. Therefore, it is crucial to examine how well the tourism business can reflect the affection for the destination brand. This study aimed to explore and develop the conceptual and empirical relationship between brand authenticity and destination loyalty. To conduct the analysis, a quantitative method was selected, using a sample of 297 respondents in Central Java, Indonesia. The data collected from distributing questionnaires were then processed using SEM-PLS software. Furthermore, the study was grounded in the Service-Dominant Logic perspective and focused on operant resources with the potential to enhance the value of natural destinations by capturing the emotional resonance of the destination brand. The results showed that loyalty goals were empirically and practically increased by creating a context-based model and leveraging the capability of brand love resonance. The approach addressed the gaps in prior studies and provided tourism actors with the means to consider external characteristics.

Is tourism live streaming a double-edged sword? The paradoxical impact of online flow experience on travel intentions

ABSTRACT This study used a mixed method to investigate the dual effects of the flow experience provided by tourism live streaming (TLS) on tourists’ travel intentions and how such effects vary across different types of destinations. The results reveal that, in contrast to managers’ predictions, while flow experience from TLS may boost offline travel through inspiration, it can also increase tourists’ concern for substitutability and thereby reduce their travel intentions. Live streamers’ expertise positively moderates the positive effect of flow experience on inspiration. Furthermore, the negative impacts are more salient in highly reputable cultural destinations and natural destinations with limited reputation.

Ancestral tourism: at the intersection of roots journeys and genealogy research

Ancestral tourism is a popular activity for amateur genealogists interested in tracing their family lineage and experiencing affective connections with a tangible personal past. Nowadays, technologies such as mobile applications, digital archive deposits and online platforms for making virtual family trees facilitate the ancestral tourist experience. Ancestral tourism is also growing as a niche form of tourism at the destination-level with communities, regions and national destination management organizations alike seeking to attract tourists with relevant descendance through homecoming events and branding strategies. Tourism researchers have made considerable progress conceptualizing the ancestral tourist experience and its role in identity formation. However, there is still room to study the performative and narrative work shaping the ancestral tourist experience. I suggest that further research should investigate the role of local genealogists, family members, and community-members in the co-production of this tourist experience. Furthermore, I propose that tourism research can enliven the conceptualization of genealogy. Genealogy is not just about past histories of relatedness on a family tree, but rather a movement along a way of life that enables people to expand their participation in a lifeworld. As amateur genealogists expand their realms of performance and social networks, they unavoidably endow places with new meanings and materiality. Tourism geographers should thus continue exploring the place-making power of ancestral tourism.

Inclusive tourism: the experiences and expectations of Indonesian wheelchair tourists in nature tourism

ABSTRACT This study sought to understand the travel experiences and expectations of wheelchair tourists. The increasing demand for wheelchair tourists to visit natural destinations, the barriers while travelling, and the inclusivity of tourism are the main motivations of this study. While previous studies have investigated accessibility in tourism, they have rarely focused on inclusive tourism, especially from wheelchair tourists’ perspective. Driven by social constructivism theory, this research presents the results of the experiences of Indonesian wheelchair tourists in natural destinations by utilising the exclusion-inclusion and critical theory. In this emancipatory disability research, snowball sampling was employed to conduct semi-structured interviews with ten wheelchair users, and the empirical materials were thematically analysed. The findings revealed that participants were excited about travelling, but the barriers made wheelchair tourists more selective in choosing natural destinations. Inclusivity was perceived to be an issue that required the achievement of a cultural shift. While accessibility was deemed necessary, service and concern from tourism providers and other tourists were crucial at the lower experience level during travel. A ‘friend in tourism’ was reported as necessary to push toward inclusivity and equality in the tourism industry to ensure a better future.

Karts Area Mining and Social Conditions Communities

Karst is a very vital landscape, karst areas as natural destinations function as water buffers, are able to store water throughout the year and are useful in meeting the supply of clean water for the survival of the Maros people. The karst area around Salenrang Village has been exploited on a large scale and until now has affected the economic conditions of the community. The research aims to determine the impact of the socio-economic conditions of the community due to mining in the Karts area. The informants in this study consisted of government, community leaders, traditional leaders, environmentalists and the community. This research method is qualitative with an environmental sociology approach, the data collection technique is field research which is taken through observation, in-depth interviews and document review. While data analysis includes data collection, data presentation, data reduction, to conclusions.The results of research show that mining in Karts areas has a major impact on the economic life of the community so that it influences the sustainability of people's lives to the point of changing social structure, social interaction and economic conditions. The impact of mining in karts areas affects the condition of society both positively and negatively, positively mining Karts areas has an impact on reducing unemployment, opening up job vacancies, stimulating the development of social infrastructure such as places of worship, banking and markets and educational facilities, changing the mindset of industrial society. While the negative impacts of mining in Karts areas include environmental degradation, social conflicts due to economic injustice, and decreased farmers' income due to environmental damage.

Selfies versus conservation: The influence of user-generated content in the image of protected natural spaces

This study uses geolocated Instagram posts to understand the influence of User-Generated Content (UGC) on image projection and its influence on the behaviours of visitors in vulnerable destinations that should be managed by sustainable precepts. Based on a sample of 34,948 posts geotagged in Congost de Mont-Rebei, a protected natural destination located in Catalonia (Spain), this study reveals the existences of three types of visitor profiles which do not always exhibit sustainable behaviour and often project narcissist images where the destination is merely a background, without contributing to the value of the place. The findings extend previous understanding of research on images of tourist destinations and visitor behaviours from a sustainable perspective. This study also provides recommendations for destination management organizations (DMOs) to improve the projection of the value of protected spaces and influence the behaviour of its visitors. Management implicationsFor industry, administrations and those responsible for managing vulnerable destinations, this work shows the importance of incorporating social media analysis into the management of flows and spaces. Not only to analysing the type of content that is projected on social media as just another element for determining the profile of the visitor; it can also be especially relevant as a tool for measuring activity, helping to plan actions that guarantee the sustainability of the destination. Having a communication strategy on social media should enable DMOs to reinforce the social value of protected spaces and preserve their natural resources.