Tourism Professionals Research Articles

Fishing tourism and the environment: Examining fishing tourists’ resource consumption reduction and recycling behaviors at fishing destinations

With increasing climate change, it is becoming imperative to implement pro-environmental practices. The present study aimed to delineate the determinants of fishing tourists’ eco-friendly behaviors by adopting a fuzzy-set approach. The results revealed the complex interplay of VBN (value–belief–norm) factors, perceived barriers, and motives in shaping fishing tourists’ environmental behaviors. While no single factor emerged as a necessary condition for pro-environmental behaviors, the findings provide valuable insights for policymakers and tourism professionals seeking to promote sustainability in fishing tourism sites. Moreover, the results offer insights that will help in the understanding of fishing tourists’ underlying psychological structure and in devising tactics to promote pro-environmental measures for recreational wildlife tourists.

An Empirical Approach to Archaeological Heritage Conservation Through Tourism Planning: A Proposal in the Case of Tyana, Türkiye

ABSTRACT Archaeological heritage is too important and valuable a resource to be left to tourism professionals and/or archaeologists alone. Protecting archaeological heritage sites and transferring them to future generations is not possible only through legal regulations and archaeological studies. They need to be brought into tourism by involving local people in the scope of archaeotourism planning. To address the issue, the ancient city of Tyana was chosen as a model to theorise and design a micro-level archaeotourism plan. The study aims to reveal the significance and characteristics of the city’s archaeological heritage and to understand local people’s attitudes towards archaeotourism through qualitative research. The study revealed that local people are keen to be a part of tourism activities for better service and that the heritage site is an important chance for development. The study then proposes on how local people can contribute to tourism development in the site in line with these results.

Critical Reflections: A Qualitative Study on the Development and Impact of Critical Thinking Skills Across Industries

Critical thinking is a vital skill in professional settings, contributing to increased efficiency and innovation. Recognizing its importance, this study aims to explore how critical thinking is developed and applied across various industries. It is based on qualitative interviews with professionals in Education, Health, Logistics, Tourism, and Media. The analysis utilizes thematic, comparative, and content analysis to provide a sophisticated insight into the conceptualization, learning, and practice of critical thinking skills in each industry. By examining industry-specific differences, the study emphasizes the necessity for specialized training programs tailored to the unique demands of each sector. The uniqueness of this study lies in its comprehensive cross-sectoral analysis, offering a detailed comparative perspective on the role and impact of critical thinking across diverse professional landscapes. The results highlight critical thinking as a cornerstone of professional competence, supporting the development of the "Critical Reflections" program, which aims to provide intensive training adapted to sector-specific needs. Ultimately, this research underscores the importance of critical thinking in fostering adaptability, strategic decision-making, and innovative problem-solving across diverse professional landscapes, ensuring that professionals are equipped to meet contemporary challenges effectively.

The impact of global and regional challenges on the decrease in tourist flows

The article presents a comprehensive analysis of the impact of global and regional events on the dynamics of tourist flows. The primary reasons for the decrease in inbound tourist flows have been identified and categorized into three main groups: military-political class, economic class, and natural-technological class. Additionally, a hybrid class was identified, to which COVID-19 was assigned. The article is based on causal and comparative analysis, utilizing statistical data on tourist flows provided by the World Bank and UNWTO, as well as an assessment of similar patterns among countries worldwide. The main characteristics of tourist flows from 1995 to 2022 have been identified, pinpointing leaders among countries in increasing and decreasing the number of tourists per year. During the study, countries with similar patterns of tourist flow dynamics were identified. It was concluded that relying solely on quantitative analysis has limited applicability in identifying these patterns. Therefore, it is recommended that quantitative analysis be complemented with expert assessments for a more comprehensive understanding. The basic strategies for responding to the identified classes of causes were outlined. The research will benefit tourism professionals, governmental authorities, and researchers in socio-economic and political disciplines.

The Role and Practice of Practical Teaching in Tourism Management Education

Tourism is not only a sunrise industry in the new world, but also one of the world s big industries. China has a large population and the tourism industry is developing well. In order to promote the rapid development of the tourism industry, the tourism industry is transforming, which needs to train tourism professionals with strong comprehensive ability. Practice teaching is gradually coming into view. This paper expounds the role of practice teaching in tourism management education, analyzes the shortcomings of practice teaching, and focuses on exploring solutions in order to improve the quality of tourism management education.

Is the global technological outage a caution for the service industries? Evidence from the tourism industry

ABSTRACT This study aims to examine the impact of the Global Technological Outage on July 19, 2024, on the tourism industry. The study employs a two-stage methodology: first, analyzing tourism-related news on websites, and second, conducting interviews with tourism professionals to validate the findings. The results highlight the extensive outages caused by the outage, particularly in reservation systems, customer communication, and operational management within the tourism sector. The study underscores the importance of developing robust, adaptable strategies to mitigate the effects of technological dependencies and outages, providing critical insights for future business continuity planning in the tourism industry.

Sustainable city tourism—A systematic analysis of Budapest and Mumbai

International Tourist arrivals, guest nights and their contribution to GDP are key indicators reflecting a country’s actual perception. A growing percentage of tourists prioritize environmental awareness across tourism products and services each year. Destinations aiming to meet the expectations of eco conscious travellers must center sustainability in their branding strategies. This approach aligns with UNWTO (World Tourism Organization of United Nations) Agenda 2030 of sustainable tourism development. This paper examines various dimensions of sustainability in tourism, focusing on Mumbai and Budapest. Using specific sustainability indicators, it employs sustainability city index to compare international tourism in these cities, which face distinct environmental and infrastructural challenges. By using specific sustainability indicators such as: (1) Carbon Emissions: Measurement of the total greenhouse gases produced by the city. (2) Proportion of Green Public Spaces: Evaluation of the percentage of urban areas dedicated to parks and natural spaces. (3) State of Infrastructure: Assessment of the quality and sustainability of urban infrastructure, including transportation systems. (4) Water Usage: Analysis of the amount of water consumed by the city and its conservation practices. (5) Waste Management: Review of the city’s effectiveness in managing and recycling waste. (6) Air Pollution: Monitoring of the levels of pollutants in the air to assess environmental health. This research provides a comprehensive view of how cities can attract environmentally conscious tourists. The findings offer guidance for policy makers and tourism professionals to align strategies with sustainable development goals. This detailed assessment highlights each city’s commitment to sustainability and delivers actionable insights for improving tourism strategies in accordance with global standards. While valuable for tourism professionals, it is important to note that this research covers only six SCI factors, with incomplete data for studied countries. The practical and social implications indicate areas needing improvement to enhance tourist appeal, beneficial for industry professionals and educational purposes. This comparative analysis aids in promoting sustainable tourism and can guide governments in achieving sustainability goals with raising awareness of environmental quality and conscious living.

“Whether and how digital celebrities make us hungry for travel?”—An exploration of broadening and constructing perspectives on gastronomic tourism

AbstractThis study explored the influence of digital celebrities on gastronomic tourism through the lens of the broaden‐and‐build theory. Utilizing partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS‐SEM) and a case study focused on TikTok, the research examined how consumers' subjective well‐being (SWB) affects para‐social interaction, novelty seeking, and audience participation, and how these factors, in turn, influence behavioral intention in the domains of food and travel. The results validated the proposed hypotheses, underscoring the importance of SWB in shaping behavioral intention within gastronomic tourism driven by digital celebrities. This paper enhances the current literature by elucidating the role of digital celebrities in gastronomic tourism and offers practical insights for marketers and tourism professionals on optimizing the influence of digital celebrities to improve the gastronomic tourism experience.

Reflecting Experiences of Regional Academic, Tourism, and Education Specialists in Geoheritage Evaluation for Fujairah, UAE and Southeast Arabia

In Southeast Arabia (i.e. the United Arab Emirates [UAE] and Oman), geoconservation is a budding initiative, but to date, there has been limited evaluation of geoheritage sites in this region. Many geoheritage evaluation methods have been developed over the last 20 years, but the most popular methods reflect experiences from experts in Europe. The representativeness of these methods for different regional, cultural, and social contexts requires scrutiny. This study developed the first parametric method for geoheritage evaluation focused on Southeast Arabia, using Fujairah, UAE as a case study. The study applied a novel approach based on questionnaires completed by regional geoscience academics, local nature tourism professionals, and local science teachers. The preferences they expressed for scientific value, educational value, and touristic value, respectively, were used to develop the evaluation method. To test the requirements for informed decisions by tourism professionals and science teachers, the study compared results of questionnaires from two occasions: after a seminar on regional geoheritage sites, and after site visits. The resulting method deviates from previous methods in the relative weight it places on various criteria, substantiating the need to target wider regional voices in methods for geoheritage evaluation in Fujairah and Southeast Arabia. It reflects the need to consider cultural and societal differences, as well as curricular requirements for the educational value, that are not highlighted in existing evaluation methods. The applicability of the method was tested and confirmed by ranking geosites in Fujairah, and the method could be used at a regional scale in the future.

ADAPTING KIRKPATRICK’S MODEL FOR EVALUATING PROFESSIONAL EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS IN TOURISM WITHIN HIGHER EDUCATION

In the context of rapidly changing geopolitical dynamics and constant evolution in the tourism sector, the effectiveness of educational programs in tourism has become critically important for preparing professionals capable of adapting to new challenges. This article focuses on the use of the Kirkpatrick Model as a strategic tool for evaluating and improving professional higher education programs in tourism. Based on four levels of evaluation — reaction, learning, behavior, and results — the model is adapted to the specifics of educational programs in the field of tourism, offering a comprehensive analysis methodology. The aim of adapting the Kirkpatrick Model is to diagnose and address the vulnerabilities of educational programs, refine curricula, and introduce innovative courses that meet both current and projected sector needs. This approach is particularly relevant in the light of the rapidly changing requirements of the tourism industry, where it is crucial not only to provide up-to-date knowledge but also to develop students’ skills in critical thinking, adaptation, and innovative problem-solving. Applying to the Kirkpatrick Model to university programs in tourism ensures not only high quality of education but also its relevance and practical orientation. This paves the way for creating a new generation of tourism professionals, prepared to work effectively in the conditions of global competition and changing market demands. Such an approach not only improves educational programs but also enhances the international competitiveness of graduates, which is a key factor for success in the modern tourism industry.

Lighting Design for Lanna Buddhist Architecture: A Case Study of Suan Dok Temple, Chiang Mai, Thailand

In Chiang Mai, Thailand, there has been an increasing demand for lighting design strategies that enhance tangible and intangible values of cultural heritage destinations. This research explores the role of lighting design in enhancing the cultural experiences and promoting the cultural tourism of Lanna Buddhist architecture. Suan Dok Temple was selected as a case study due to its historical, social, and cultural significance. This research uses qualitative approaches such as field surveys, photographic documentation, and interviews with temple authorities, cultural heritage experts and tourism professionals for the formulation of initial users’ requirements and lighting design criteria and concept. Data analysis suggested that cultural heritage and conservation, cultural tourism management, and operation and maintenance are important factors in heritage lighting design for cultural tourism. Realistic rendering images of lighting design scenes for the temple’s chedis and vihara are generated based on the concept of luminance layers representing the Buddhist cosmology idea. In addition, lighting operation and installation details are developed and presented to stakeholders for discussion on contextual and operational appropriateness. Finally, the study discusses critical lighting design factors for the development of lighting design solutions for heritage sites, particularly Lanna Buddhist temples, contributing to sustainable cultural tourism.

Factors influencing climate change adaptation of tourism businesses

ABSTRACT Climate change poses significant challenges to the tourism industry, making understanding the factors influencing businesses’ adaptive responses crucial. This research investigates the complex interplay of social discourse, belief systems, perceived costs, risk perceptions, response efficacy, and self-efficacy in shaping tourism professionals’ adaptive and maladaptive behaviors. Focusing on businesses near Iran’s Lake Urmia, the study employs the model of private proactive adaptation to climate change on a sample of 320 tourism businesses. The findings highlight the positive impact of climate change-related discussions on perceptions and behaviors, the critical role of strongly held beliefs, and the barriers posed by perceived costs. Risk perception emerges as a central driver of decision-making, emphasizing the importance of raising risk awareness. The study also reveals how response efficacy and self-efficacy impact adaptive behavior, while maladaptation presents a significant challenge. These insights are valuable for developing strategies to enhance tourism resilience to climate change in vulnerable destinations.

Medical Tourism Management

Medical tourism, the practice of traveling abroad for medical treatment, has gained substantial attention in recent years due to its implications for healthcare delivery and tourism industry dynamics. This paper investigates the management strategies employed in medical tourism destinations, focusing on enhancing healthcare services and tourism competitiveness. Utilizing secondary data from scholarly articles, reports, and industry publications, the research synthesizes existing knowledge on medical tourism management frameworks, destination competitiveness factors, patient experiences, and healthcare quality metrics. The study employs a qualitative analysis approach to distill key insights and patterns from the literature, shedding light on effective management practices and their impact on patient outcomes and destination attractiveness. Findings reveal the importance of strategic planning, collaboration between healthcare providers and tourism stakeholders, quality assurance mechanisms, and marketing strategies in optimizing medical tourism experiences. The paper discusses implications for policy development, industry regulations, and sustainable growth strategies in medical tourism destinations. By leveraging secondary data sources, this research contributes to a comprehensive understanding of medical tourism management dynamics, offering practical insights for healthcare providers, policymakers, and tourism professionals navigating this evolving landscape. Keywords- Medical tourism, Management strategies, Destination competitiveness, Healthcare quality

A comprehensive perspective on local drivers in community-based health tourism industry development: a qualitative study of Mazandaran Province, Iran

BackgroundHealth tourism is an important component that may influence the direction of development in a region. Mazandarn, Iran, is recognized as a highly sustainable market in the region because of its abundant natural resources, temperate temperature, and strategic geographical location. Therefore, considering the importance of health tourism and its existing potential in Mazandaran, Iran, this study was conducted with the aim of exploring a comprehensive perspective on local drivers in community-based health tourism industry development and factors affecting the attraction of health tourism.MethodsWe conducted this study in Mazandarn, Iran, using a qualitative approach. Participants included a sample of Iranian people, aged 34–54 years, with previous history of health tourism or expert in it. Participants were selected from three different categories of the community: academic professionals in health tourism, managers in health tourism, and health tourists. Data were obtained via semi-structured in-depth interviews and focus group discussions. Inductive qualitative content analysis was used to converge and compare themes through participant data. The interviews kept going until data saturation was achieved.ResultsBased on our findings, we distilled local drivers in community-based health tourism industry development into five main categories and 30 subcategories: (Sharifabadi AM, Ardakani FA. A model for health tourism development using fuzzy TOPSIS and interpretive structural modeling in Yazd province. J Health Adm (JHA). 2014;17:55.) infrastructure and resources; (Hemmati F, Dabbaghi F, Mahmoudi G. Investigating the impact of Information Technology on the status of Health Tourism in Mashhad, Iran. Revista Publicando. 2018;5(15):54–65.) tourist attractions; (Sarabi Asiabar A, Rezapour A, Raei B, Tahernezhad A, Alipour V, Behzadifar M. Economic, Cultural, and Political Requirements for Medical Tourism Development in Iran: Insights from a Fuzzy Analytical Hierarchy Process Method. Med J Islamic Repub Iran. 2022;35:199.) socio-cultural contexts; (Mosadeghrad AM, Sadeghi M. Medical tourism: Reasons for choosing Iran. Payesh (Health Monitor). 2021;20(2):145–66.) economic-financial factors; and (Manna R, Cavallone M, Ciasullo MV, Palumbo R. Beyond the rhetoric of health tourism: shedding light on the reality of health tourism in Italy. Curr Issues Tourism. 2020;23(14):1805–19.) political-communicative factors. The findings of the study showed that, from the participants’ point of view, although there are several strategies, such as the development of public service and tourism infrastructure, increasing tourist attractions, and formulating appropriate policies and procedures for the development of health tourism, they are also faced with many challenges, especially political, economic, and cultural challenges.ConclusionThis study showed that improving infrastructure and resources, promoting tourist attractions, informing socio-cultural contexts, improving economic and financial capacity, and developing political and communicative contexts might increase the attraction of health tourists. The suggested components are not contextually driven, although empirical outcomes may differ based on the level of service offerings in health tourism locations.

Environmental, Geographical, and Economic Impacts of Inbound Tourism in China: A Mixed-Effects Gravity Model Approach

This study examines the dynamics of inbound tourism in China, utilizing a mixed-effects gravity model to analyze data from urban clusters around China’s three major airports. The research methodology of the study includes applying advanced econometric techniques, such as the Poisson pseudo-maximum likelihood estimation, to ensure robust and accurate results. The study focuses on international tourist arrivals and foreign exchange earnings, identifying key drivers such as tourism resources, transportation safety, and service quality. Our findings indicate a 10% increase in per capita GDP correlates with a 0.88% rise in inbound tourist numbers. Additionally, proximity to major urban centers like Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou significantly influences tourist arrivals, with every 100 km increase in distance resulting in a 5.56% decrease in tourist numbers. The study also explores the impact of environmental factors on tourism, suggesting that improvements in green coverage and reductions in industrial waste and traffic fatalities could enhance tourist arrivals. Conversely, environmental protection measures can both positively and negatively impact tourism. This research provides a strategic blueprint for policymakers and professionals in tourism and environmental sustainability, emphasizing the importance of integrated environmental sustainability in tourism development strategies. The model accounts for up to 79% of the variability in inbound tourism flows, offering robust evidence that economic and policy dimensions impact tourism.

Exploration of the diversity of virtual influencers used as tourism ambassadors in South Korea

ABSTRACT This study explores the diversity of virtual influencers used as tourism ambassadors. Using qualitative research methods, in-depth interviews with 27 tourism professionals were conducted from August in 2023 to January in 2024. Data analysis revealed four key themes: Visual Impact, Control Over Image and Messaging, Promotion of Unrealistic Beauty Standards, and Limited Diversity Representation. This study offers an in-depth perspective on how diversity is reflected in virtual influencers, how the diversity of virtual influencers is connected to the values of modern tourists. Findings have managerial implications for the development of strategies to improve diversity using virtual influencers in tourism.

Exploring the Potential of Traditional Business Towards 10th SDGs Program: A Case of Sukarara Village, Lombok

A tourist village is a location or settlement that offers a tourism experience focusing on culture, nature, or local heritage. One example of a tourist village in Lombok is Sukarara Village, renowned for its traditional weaving industry and traditional Sasak houses. The purpose of this paper is to analyze the potential of Sukarara Village in developing the traditional industry sector and cultural tourism, with a focus on implementing interventions that support economic growth and cultural preservation. The findings reveal that Sukarara Village has significant potential in the traditional industry, particularly in the production of woven fabrics, and offers significant attractions for tourism with its traditional Sasak houses. The results uncover that women in this village play a crucial role in the weaving industry, and collaboration among local stakeholders has contributed to supporting the village's economic growth. The conclusion of this study is that Sukarara Village possesses a substantial economic potential that can be enhanced through synergy between traditional industry and cultural tourism. With effective interventions such as digital promotion and collaboration with tour guide agencies or major events, the village can maximize its economic potential and preserve its culture. Collaboration among various stakeholders, including local government, artisans, tourism professionals, and the village community, is the key to achieving this goal.

Silencing the Rainbow: The Territorial Effects of Pride Cancellation

The pause in Pride parades, particularly highlighted during the pandemic, reminds us of the importance of actively including and celebrating nonheteronormative communities. It emphasizes the need to cultivate understanding and acceptance of diverse sexual orientations. This study navigates through the landscape of Madrid Pride, focusing on understanding how its unforeseen cancellation in 2020 due to the pandemic has influenced the LGBTQIA+ communities’ sense of space, openness, safety, visibility, acceptance, and equality. The research is centered on examining the connection between Pride parades and the appropriation of spaces that are typically seen as conforming to heterosexual norms. It takes into account the viewpoints of the LGBTQIA+ community (including activists, organizations, and potential attendees) as well as the perspectives of event stakeholders (such as organizations, local community members, and tourism professionals). A social representation theory‐based inductive approach was utilized, drawing from queer and feminist perspectives. The cancellation of Pride events in recent times has caused significant disruption to the de‐ and reterritorialization of space. This has had far-reaching implications in both the political and social realms for the LGBTQIA+ community and its public profile.

Gratitude notebooks in Israeli youths’ Holocaust journeys to Poland: ritual, confirmation, and reflection in heritage tourism

ABSTRACT The authors identify an unresearched practice of Israeli youth participating in organized Holocaust journeys: at the end of the journey, students write thank you letters in a notebook that is then given to the educational guide. Researchers qualitatively analyzed 20 such notebooks written by Israeli high school students. Using grounded-theory methods for document analysis, we identified the notebooks’ role as a incorporation stage after the journey, which is a pilgrimage-like rite of passage. In the letters, students proclaim their transformation, their attention to the guide, and their desire to be remembered. Thus, the notebooks affirm the journey’s success and allow for their return to Israel having had a transformational experience and inhabiting a new position. This analysis adds to our understanding of the role of ritual, especially document-based rituals, in the world of heritage tourism. We recommend the further study of similar reflective techniques in other heritage tourism contexts and their incorporation by heritage tourism professionals. The study adds to the body of knowledge by recognizing the importance of the personal approval of participants. The individual confirms by his signature the transition to the new status. The study illuminates the importance of written reflections on tourist transformation.

Travel footprint, or how responsibly and sustainably do professionals creating and providing travel experiences behave?

In the 21st century, sustainability has become a prominent issue in the tourism sector. While conscious and responsible consumer decisions are increasingly prioritized in our daily lives, the question arises whether similar scrutiny is applied during leisure and business travel. In this recent empirical research, these questions are examined in detail in the light of the travel habits of tourism experts. The findings indicate that tourism professionals make more conscious consumer decisions in their daily activities compared to when they engage in leisure or business travel, where economic considerations tend to take precedence amidst today's macro-environmental changes, alongside a preference for compressed experiences. We further investigated the extent to which tourism professionals attending a professional conference on sustainability behaved consciously and responsibly when choosing their mode of transportation to attend the event. In this regard, we calculated their travel footprint, which is consumption-based and solely based on the use of transportation modes. We introduced this indicator on a pilot basis, with plans to apply it more extensively and over longer timeframes in the future, and to compare it across different target groups. Our main findings that tourism professionals surveyed in the research consider sustainability to be important and even prominent in their daily activities, and less so in their business activities, only 11% of them consciously choose the means of transport.