Perceptions Of Tourism Research Articles

Exploring the enablers of virtual tourism experiences for Gen Z

PurposeThis study explored the enabler role of novelty-seeking and materialistic values on technology-based outcomes: usefulness, ease of use and enjoyment of virtual tourism. Furthermore, this study explored the direct effects of Gen Z’s word-of-mouth intentions. The study also explored the contingent effects of gender and educational level.Design/methodology/approachSurvey-based responses were gathered from 342 Gen Z participants using specific filtering criteria to ensure sample representativeness. Subsequently, the final responses were analysed using partial least squares.FindingsThe findings suggest a significant role for novelty-seeking and materialistic values in Gen Z’s overall perception of virtual tourism. Furthermore, with higher perceived usefulness, ease of use and enjoyment, Gen Zs are more inclined to share positive word-of-mouth for virtual tourism experiences.Originality/valueThis study aims to explore the orientation of Gen Zs toward virtual travel experiences in an emerging economy such as India. Implications for managers and practitioners are also discussed.

Applying the Theory of Planned Behavior to Understand Ecotourism Behavior: The Role of Human–Land Coordination and Self-Mastery

Ecotourism, which promotes environmental conservation and brings social and economic benefits through conscious and harmonious interactions between humans and nature, has become a principal tool for achieving these objectives. Sustainable tourism can only be supported with tourists realizing the elements of attraction toward ecotourism. This study analyzes the roots of ecotourism behavior using the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB), specifically determining the roles of ecotourism tendency, attitude, human–land coordination stress, and sense of self-control in influencing tourists’ intention and behavior toward ecotourism. This study used a cross-sectional design, requiring 847 participants to complete a standardized questionnaire assessing their behavior toward ecotourism, attitudes, and perceptions. Reliability testing, descriptive statistics, regression analysis, and factor analysis were used to analyze the datasets to discover major factors relating to ecotourism intention behavior. A consequent outcome is that ecotourism attitude and self-determination are the significant drivers of ecotourism desire, while behavioral norms only impact ecotourism attitude and selflessness. The study concluded that the subjective perception of tourists and their behavior control ability are the ones that affect their ecotourism behavior more than other factors. The findings suggest that enhancing tourists’ ecotourism attitude, sense of self-control, and awareness of human–place coordination can significantly promote ecotourism behaviors. These results highlight the importance of comprehensive regional ecotourism analysis, robust environmental education, and promoting normative behaviors to foster sustainable tourism practices. To validate these findings, further research should focus on longitudinal studies and clinical trials to standardize integrated ecotourism strategies and explore the underlying mechanisms influencing ecotourism behavior.

Spatiotemporal Information, Near-Field Perception, and Service for Tourists by Distributed Camera and BeiDou Positioning System in Mountainous Scenic Areas

The collaborative use of camera near-field sensors for monitoring the number and status of tourists is a crucial aspect of smart scenic spot management. This paper proposes a near-field perception technical system that achieves dynamic and accurate detection of tourist targets in mountainous scenic areas, addressing the challenges of real-time passive perception and safety management of tourists. The technical framework involves the following steps: Firstly, real-time video stream signals are collected from multiple cameras to create a distributed perception network. Then, the YOLOX network model is enhanced with the CBAM module and ASFF method to improve the dynamic recognition of preliminary tourist targets in complex scenes. Additionally, the BYTE target dynamic tracking algorithm is employed to address the issue of target occlusion in mountainous scenic areas, thereby enhancing the accuracy of model detection. Finally, the video target monocular spatial positioning algorithm is utilized to determine the actual geographic location of tourists based on the image coordinates. The algorithm was deployed in the Tianmeng Scenic Area of Yimeng Mountain in Shandong Province, and the results demonstrate that this technical system effectively assists in accurately perceiving and spatially positioning tourists in mountainous scenic spots. The system demonstrates an overall accuracy in tourist perception of over 90%, with spatial positioning errors less than 1.0 m and a root mean square error (RMSE) of less than 1.14. This provides auxiliary technical support and effective data support for passive real-time dynamic precise perception and safety management of regional tourist targets in mountainous scenic areas with no/weak satellite navigation signals.

Residents’ perceptions of tourism development in the context of a new governance framework for Portuguese protected areas: The case of a small peripheral natural park

Historically, Portuguese protected areas (PAs) have been operating under top-down governance, often neglecting local communities. In 2019, the Portuguese government established a new governance model for PAs, based on co-management. The new co-management approach emphasises collaborative and participatory governance and positions sustainable tourism as a catalyst for territorial revitalisation and local development. However, local communities' attitudes and perceptions regarding tourism in these areas remain largely uncharted. This study focuses on the Alvão Natural Park (PNAL), a small rural and mountainous Portuguese PA, which is currently in the early stages of co-management implementation. Our goal was to investigate local residents' perceptions of tourism's impacts and identify potential divergence among resident groups and their level of support for tourism development. These insights are crucial because the active engagement of local communities is a key element for sustainable tourism development and the successful implementation of co-management. The study employed a self-administered survey, garnering responses from 250 PNAL residents representing over half of the park's population. Factor analysis identified four primary perceptual dimensions and cluster analysis classified residents into three distinct groups based on their tourism perceptions. While most PNAL residents express support for tourism development, there is a resounding call for new policies to revert the legacy of top-down governance. This research provides essential insights for shaping effective tourism policies, planning and development strategies, and ensuring the active involvement of local communities in co-management and sustainable development efforts within the PNAL. Moreover, this study demonstrates the applicability of this research approach in the context of evolving governance models with the potential for adaptation to other PAs across Portugal and other countries undergoing similar governance transitions.

Perceptions of pet-accompanying tourism: Pet owners vs. nonpet owners

This study used a mixed-methods design combining qualitative interviews (30 respondents: pet owners and nonpet owners) and quantitative questionnaires (832 valid samples) based on the extended theory of planned behavior (TPB) to explore the formation of behavioral intentions in pet owners and nonpet owners in pet-friendly tourism destinations. This study found that the green environment of tourism destinations significantly affects behavioral intention, specifically for pet owners. In contrast, perceived constraints had no significant effect on behavioral intentions. In addition, although pet owners and nonpet owners showed consistency in their attitudes toward pet tourism, there was a significant difference in the importance they placed on a green environment. This finding not only enriches the application of the TPB in the field of pet tourism, but also emphasizes the importance of the green environment in pet tourism planning and provides the industry with targeted recommendations for improvement.

Exploring Gastronomy Tourism as Potential Halal Tourism Products: Preliminary Study of Tourist Perception on Baba Nyonya Cuisines

Gastronomy tourism has gained prominence globally, offering local and international tourists unique experiences for their taste palettes. The demand for Halal food among Muslim tourists has significantly increased as more people seek authentic and culturally appropriate dining experiences when travelling. This paper examines gastronomy tourism from the perspective of Islamic tourism, focusing on the Baba Nyonya cuisine; a combination of Chinese and Malay flavors as a viable Halal tourism product, aligned with the growing demand for Halal-certified options in the tourism industry. Factors of Halal certification, cultural familiarity, food awareness, and involvement, were explored. A structured survey was distributed to 385 tourists around Banda Hilir, Melaka, to explore Baba Nyonya cuisine's potential as a gastronomy tourism attraction. Baba Nyonya cuisine was found to be a promising attraction for Halal-conscious tourists. Interestingly, the Baba Nyonya cuisine appealed more to non-Halal food enthusiasts compared to a Halal option among Muslim tourists, since few of the Baba Nyonya restaurants were not Halal certified. This study underscores opportunities to increase the variety of Halal-certified foods and provide insights for travel marketers and local cuisine operators to capitalize on Baba Nyonya cuisines, thus pinning Malaysia as a leading destination for Halal gastronomy tourism.

Sun and Sand Ecotourism Management for Sustainable Development in Sisal, Yucatán, Mexico

The promotion of tourism without planning or management can lead the degradation of ecosystems and conflictive social dynamics. This study was conducted in a coastal location where tourism has recently intensified and aimed to reconstruct the preliminary history of tourism and analyze which social groups were involved in tourism and conservation for conducting an ecotourism management. A qualitative content analysis was conducted based on the perceptions of developers, authorities, and tourists in the locality. The results identify social groups involved in the use of ecosystems within the context of local tourism, their interactions, interests, and actions. An analysis of actions contrary to the conservation of these ecosystems that cause land use conflicts and hinder the development of endogenous local tourism was conducted. Social movements and collective actions reveal common interests and values among the inhabitants of Sisal that reveal the potential for transformation into a sustainable tourism project for endogenous local development.

Research on the tourist destination image of the Huaiyang Canal based on network data

The Huaiyang Canal, a significant section of the Grand Canal, boasts representative tourist attractions. This study analysis of online reviews from Ctrip and Mahive using R language, Gephi, ROST CM, and SPSS has provided insights into tourists’ perceptions of the Huaiyang Canal’s image. Key findings include: (1) Dominant landscape images encompass gardens, canals, and buildings, emphasizing the historical and cultural assets. Both cultural and natural landscapes equally captivate tourists. (2) The canal’s tourism image perception follows a “garden-history-canal” hierarchy with the canal as the central space and history expanding its tourism features. (3) The perceptions can be categorized into historical and cultural landscapes, man-made projects, and attraction perception. Despite varying tourist numbers in Huaian and Yangzhou, scenic spot experiences are similar. The overall perception of tourists is largely positive, but some express concerns about service attitudes and travel time planning.

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.

The Impact of Tourists’ Perceived Value on Environmentally Responsible Behavior in an Urban Forest Park: The Mediating Effects of Satisfaction and Subjective Well-Being

Urban forest parks serve as significant venues for tourists’ leisure and recreation. The experiences and perceptions of tourists in these parks considerably influence their attitudes and behaviors. While numerous studies have investigated the functions and values of urban forest parks at a macro level, the mechanisms influencing tourists’ perceived values and their environmentally responsible behavior at a micro level remain under explored. This research used structural equation modeling (SEM) to test the association between tourists’ perceived values and their environmentally responsible behavior, including the mediating functions of tourists’ satisfaction and their subjective well-being. 502 valid questionnaires in total were obtained from Changpoling National Forest Park in Guiyang City, Guizhou, China, for this case study. The results show that there are some variances in the impact of the dimensions of tourists’ perceived value on environmentally responsible behavior, in which service quality, resource quality, and emotional value impose a pronounced positive effect on environmentally responsible behavior, tourism costs impose a pronounced negative effect on environmentally responsible behavior, and the activity experience does not exert a pronounced effect on environmentally responsible behavior. Satisfaction and subjective well-being have a mediating function during the process of positive influence of tourists’ perceived value on their environmentally responsible behavior and serve as partial mediators, and the significant positive influence of satisfaction on subjective well-being as well as subjective well-being on environmentally responsible behavior are verified. This research can help better explain the mechanism of the effect of tourists’ perceived value exerted on environmental responsibility behavior in nature-based tourism destinations, and also has a guiding and reference significance for the sustainable development of urban forest parks.

Identification of Opportunities for Capitalizing on Tourist Potential in Hunedoara County through Rural Tourism Activities and Supporting the Development of the Local Community

The need to diversify economic activities in rural areas is essential for stimulating sustainable development. In this regard, rural tourism can be an effective tool for supporting the development in rural areas. The purpose of this article was to identify the favorability of Hunedoara County for rural tourism activities, which would contribute to the sustainable development of tourism. Rural tourism activities would generate economic and social benefits both for local communities and for tourists, and at the same time preserve and protect the cultural and natural values of the area. The research methods used to carry out this study are both qualitative (documentary study) and quantitative (a questionnaire applied in order to identify the perceptions of tourists with respect to the tourist development potential of Hunedoara County through rural tourism). The main results of the research consist in the identification of some directions for future development of Hunedoara County. These directions would, in the future, lead to an increase in the visibility of local rural communities; to the preservation of local traditions and customs, while promoting sustainability and respect for the environment; and to the implementation of a plan for sustainable development through rural tourism in the studied area.

Reimagining Tourism Sustainability in the North-Western Himalayas: A Community-Based Perspective

ABSTRACT In contemporary times, the prominence of inclusive tourism participation is gaining traction worldwide. This research examines the residents’ perspectives on sustainable tourism development in the north-western Himalayas and determines the theoretical validity of the sustainable tourism attitude scale (SUS-TAS). For carrying out the study, a random survey technique with a structured questionnaire (N = 351) has been used at Sonamarg, which forms the ideal site for assessing community perceptions toward sustainable tourism. An exploratory factor analysis (EFA) with Varimax rotation was employed to identify the SUS-TAS dimensions. Our findings support the seven SAS-TAS dimensions with 42 items that maintained validity and reliability. Overall, the study findings infer that in six out of seven factors, residents’ level of agreement was above 70%. These insights highlight the quintessence of incorporating residents’ attitudes in the intersection of the decision-making process and tourism planning strategies. By quantifying residents’ perceptions of sustainable tourism, it becomes feasible to prioritize management measures in concert with the rights of the local community. Furthermore, this study forms the basis for a prospective sustainable tourism framework in mountain tourist destinations worldwide and in the Himalayan belt particularly owing to the growing tourist footprint in the region.

Constructing extraordinary experience from everyday life: Zibo barbecue check-in vlogs’ digital narratives

Examining the intersection of check-in tourism and travel vlogs within the context of Zibo, China—a destination popularized on social media platforms for its barbecue culture—this study analyzes 24 check-in vlogs from Bilibili platform. Through the rite of passage theoretical lens, this work investigates how vloggers utilize digital storytelling to shape and construct destination narratives. The research reveals how tourists assert agency over space by integrating place, body, and narrative elements, contributing to an extraordinary tourist experience comprising liminal moments of ordinariness and authenticity, thereby effectively (re)writing Zibo as a welcoming city of barbecue and a slow-life destination. This investigation provides insights into the evolving dynamics of contemporary tourism influenced by social media practices, highlighting the transformative role of digital narratives in shaping tourist perceptions and experiences, as well as meaning-making processes.

Assessment of the Relationship between Cultural Product Features and Tourist Perceptions

The historical product aspects affect consumer happiness and choice, it is important to consider they affect tourists' impressionslike their market worth, genuineness, and remembrance value which affect travelers' opinions and purchase choices. The essential elements that influence travelers' choices and draw attention to disparities differently men and women value these attributes. The results imply that cultural products might be made more appealing by adjusting them to suit the tastes of tourists. This offers insightful information that can be used to enhance the creation and promotion of products and plansfor the cultural tourism industry. To analyze the data, use the SPSS software. Due to any possible prejudices in expressed data and the personal nature of visitor views, the assessment has limitations. Furthermore, the range of elements affecting tourist choices is not fully captured by focusing on certain cultural characteristics of products. To surmount challenges in evaluating the correlation between indigenous products attributes and visitor opinions, guarantee a varied sample to apprehend differing inclinations and incorporate sophisticated analytics to more effectively comprehend and cater to particular customer requirements. Furthermore, collaborating with cultural specialists can improve product solutions' validity and credibility. By aware of these variables, marketing campaigns can be more focused and successful in raising visitor happiness and involvement.

Resident well-being and perceptions of World Heritage Site management: divide between urban and rural WHSs

ABSTRACT This comparative case study focuses on residents’ subjective well-being (SWB) and their perceptions of conservation and tourism in two prominent World Heritage Sites (WHSs) in Turkey, i.e. (rural) Cappadocia and (urban) Istanbul’s Historical Peninsula, to evaluate them in tandem with their governance frameworks. A modified SWB survey instrument is administered to residents in both WHSs. The most notable differences in SWB surface in community, environment, and standard of living domains favouring Cappadocia – underlining tourism’s varied influence on SWB domains in rural and urban settings. While the perceived association between conservation and tourism is stronger in Cappadocia, Istanbul’s residents view conservation more positively. These differences point towards conservation’s perceived instrumental role in facilitating tourism development in rural WHSs and the disconnection of urban WHS residents from conservation efforts and tourism management. Our findings suggest SWB may complement tourism impact analysis and build a bridge between residents, policymakers, and administrators. Addressing the disconnection between residents and tourism and conservation-related frameworks and initiatives to increase resident awareness of heritage value are suggested as potential contributors to the long-term viability of WHSs as heritage tourism destinations.

Cinematic Influence: The Role of Film in Shaping Malaysians' Travel Intentions and Destination Choices

Film tourism has emerged as a significant factor in enhancing tourist numbers by drawing visitors to locations depicted in movies and dramas. This study explores films' influence on Malaysians' perceptions and intentions to travel to these destinations. Utilizing the push and pull theory, the research examines how movies affect Malaysians' travel motivations and destination choices. Data were gathered through an online survey involving 267 Malaysian moviegoers, selected via convenience sampling. The findings indicate that several factors, including the reflection of personal values and interests in movies, significantly influence the intention to travel. Respondents expressed a stronger connection and likelihood to visit destinations featured in films that resonate with their interests. The study suggests that future research could employ different methodologies further to explore the impact of movies on tourist perceptions globally. Additionally, the findings underscore the potential for filmmakers, destination marketing organizations (DMOs), and local authorities to leverage films as powerful marketing tools to enhance tourist demand for real-life film locations.

Evaluating Tourist Dissatisfaction with Aspect-Based Sentiment Analysis Using Social Media Data

Tourism satisfaction is essential for encouraging tourists to stay longer, spend more and return. However, visitor dissatisfaction can also prove useful for understanding any shortcomings of a tourist destination, and Twitter, Instagram and TripAdvisor reviews might be able to provide an insight into tourist perceptions and experiences. This study examines the major causes of tourist dissatisfaction with a tourism destination using an aspect-based sentiment analysis approach to understand the key points of negative tweets, posts or reviews. We examined 19,340 tweets, 7,712 Instagram posts and 25,483 reviews about Granada in Spain in order to evaluate the negative user's perceptions, discover management-related problems and provide feedback to destination management organizations to enable them to improve their services and operations. Our work contributes to computational methods to address tourism (dis)satisfaction with a process to identify the most important entities (places), an algorithm to identify aspects and opinions, and the use of word-trees to show the most important aspect-opinion tuples. In practical terms, we provide to tourism industry professionals and managers, as well as travelers, with methods to identify the reasons for tourist dissatisfaction from available social media data, in such a way that managerial strategies or travel plans can be improved.

빅데이터 의미연결망 분석을 활용한 내국인의 국외관광 인식 연구: COVID-19 전·후 비교

Purpose: This study aims to analyze changes in Korean nationals' perceptions of overseas tourism before and after COVID-19 using social media big data analysis. Methods: The study collected data from social media platforms focusing on Japan, China, and Vietnam as travel destinations. The pre-COVID-19 period was set from January 2017 to December 2019, and the post-COVID-19 period from January 2021 to December 2023. Using the TEXTOM and UCINET, TF-IDF keyword frequency analysis, centrality analysis, and CONCOR analysis were conducted. Results: The analysis revealed an increased desire for overseas travel after COVID-19, along with heightened concerns for health and safety. There was a preference for stable, short-distance travel, as well as increased interest in international experiences and new travel trends. Japan and China emerged as preferred destinations, while interest in Vietnam slightly decreased. Keywords related to COVID-19 preventive measures became prominent in travel considerations. Conclusion: Based on the findings, the study suggests developing tourism products emphasizing hygiene and safety, creating programs for small group travelers, and formulating marketing strategies focused on Japan and China. This research contributes to understanding the impact of COVID-19 on tourism perceptions and can aid in policy-making and marketing strategy development for the tourism industry in the post-pandemic era.

체류형 관광자의 어메니티 인식과 만족 및 행동의도에 관한 연구 - 제주 체류 한달살기 경험자를 대상으로

The purpose of this study is to examine the impact of amenity perceptions of long-stay tourists on tourism satisfaction and behavioral intention. As long-stay tourists stay in a certain area for a certain period of time and engage in tourism behaviors, they are likely to strengthen their relationship with the area and develop into a settled population. Therefore, we set up amenities that represent local characteristics as spatial resources, and examined how long-stay tourists perceive the amenities in Jeju, and how their tourism satisfaction and behavioral intentions change according to their perceptions of the amenities. To achieve the objectives, a survey was conducted among long-stay tourists in Jeju during the month of April 2024, and 230 idle copies were obtained. The results of the empirical analysis showed that first, amenity factors have a significant effect on tourism satisfaction. Among the amenity factors of environment, convenience, and culture established in this study, environment has the most significant effect on satisfaction. Second, tourism satisfaction has a significant effect on behavioral intention. These results have academic implications for the development of a grounded theory of long-stay tourists. In addition, given that local amenities have a significant positive effect on tourism satisfaction and behavior, identifying the amenity preferences of long-stay tourists can be used as basic policy data for attracting a permanent population to a region.

E-Service Quality on the Ubud Monkey Forest Website, Gianyar (Demand Perspectives)

This study aims to determine the e-service quality on the Monkey Forest Ubud website, Gianyar with a tourist perception approach. The sampling technique used was non-probability sampling with a total of 192 respondents consisting of domestic and foreign tourists. The analysis technique used in this study was measured using Importance Performance Analysis (IPA). The results of the study show that the level of satisfaction of domestic and foreign tourists has different satisfactions. Domestic tourists have a 92% suitability rate and foreign tourists have a 90% suitability rate. Based on the GAP analysis, it was found that the average was (-0.30) which means that tourists are still not satisfied with the service that meets the expectations of tourists. The findings of this study can be used as a consideration to improve the quality of electronic services by prioritizing indicators that have low performance with high levels of tourist expectations.