Regional Tourism Research Articles

Can Tourism Drive Economic Growth and Development? A Dual Perspective from Portugal's Regions

ABSTRACT The impact of tourism from an economic perspective has been widely analyzed in the empirical literature, with many works that have studied the causal relationship between tourism and economic growth and, to a lesser extent, between tourism and economic development. Both analysis streams are characterized by generally using an analysis approach at the country level or in groups of countries. Contextually, the present work offers an innovative approach by analyzing tourism's relationship with these variables with a regional approach, using NUTS-2 data from Portugal from 2001-2022. In fact, this allows us to know if the contribution of tourism to economic growth and development differs within a country. The instantaneous and Granger causality test results offer significant differences when a regional approach is used instead of analyzing the country as a whole. These results will allow the development of regional tourism policies that enable the benefits of tourism to be channeled.

Enhancing Sustainable Tourism In East Nusa Tenggara Through Air Transport Connectivity

Air transport connectivity is a critical element in supporting tourism in archipelagic regions like East Nusa Tenggara (NTT). This article employs a Systematic Literature Review (SLR) approach to examine key variables in sustainable tourism development, including flight frequency, airport infrastructure, tourist accessibility, and environmental conservation. The analysis reveals that improved air transport connectivity significantly contributes to achieving several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), such as SDG 9 (Sustainable Infrastructure), SDG 11 (Sustainable Communities), SDG 13 (Climate Action), and SDG 15 (Biodiversity Conservation). This article provides strategic recommendations for inclusive and environmentally friendly air connectivity development to support tourism growth in NTT.

Science–tourism intersections onboard Arctic expedition cruise ships: Reflective insights from a fieldwork at the geographic North Pole

In August 2023, we both embarked on an icebreaker cruise ship in order to conduct fieldwork with and among cruise passengers and together with four other scientists. Departing from Longyearbyen, Svalbard, this two-week ship-time fieldwork took us to the geographic North Pole, across the Arctic Ocean sea ice, and to several locations in northern Svalbard. While cruise vessels operating as platforms of opportunity for researchers are not new, cruise tourism in the polar regions has raised ethical and sustainable concerns in times of increasing awareness regarding climate change. In addition, cruises bringing together tourists and scientists are currently objects of vivid discussions both in academia and the media. Drawing from our ship-time fieldwork experience, we aim to contribute to these recent debates. Building on the work of Lamers et al. (2024), we argue that misunderstanding on the concept of platform of opportunity can lead to potentially poor data collection, scientists’ disappointment, and detrimental reputation for both science and tourism actors. We argue that carefully selecting research projects that align with the specificities of expedition cruise tourism, and facilitating nighttime research are effective strategies to avoid these misunderstandings. This may also enhance the credibility of cruise companies that may often be accused of science- and greenwashing.

Unravelling the Magnetic Pull: Decoding Tourist Decision-Making Amidst Northeast Monsoon Floods in Terengganu

Terengganu, situated on Peninsular Malaysia's east coast, is a renowned tourism hotspot, celebrated for its pristine beaches, vibrant marine ecosystems, rich cultural heritage, and flourishing ecotourism prospects, despite its susceptibility to monsoon floods. This study aims to investigate key factors influencing tourists' decision-making regarding travel to destinations affected by monsoon floods, using Terengganu as a case study. Through an extensive literature review, several variables have been identified, which the independent factors been assessed by utilizing a regression model. The findings reveal that five of the six independent variables exhibit p-values less than 0.05, indicating their significance in influencing tourists' decisions. These variables encompass safety assurance, information reliability, communication mediums, flood control, and promotional strategies. Notably, the factor related to flood resilience yields a p-value of 0.621, exceeding the 0.05 threshold. Consequently, the hypothesis that flood resilience plays a significant role in shaping tourists' decisions towards Terengganu is rejected. Given the paramount importance of the tourism industry in Terengganu, the analysis serves as a pivotal foundation for crafting a comprehensive model guiding tourists' decision-making processes when considering destinations susceptible to northeast monsoon floods. This model, tailored to Terengganu's unique context, directly contributes to enhancing the region's tourism sustainability.

The Development Path of E-Commerce Tourism in Ethnic Regions—A Case Study of Sanjiang Dong Autonomous County

The Development Path of E-Commerce Tourism in Ethnic Regions—A Case Study of Sanjiang Dong Autonomous County

Comprehensive Evaluation and Dynamic Evolution Characteristics of Tourism Ecological Security Using the DPSIR-DS Model in the Yangtze River Economic Belt, China

The Yangtze River Economic Belt (YREB) is positioned as the main battlefield of ecological priority and green development in China. It is of great significance to dynamically grasp the situation of tourism ecological security in YREB for promoting the green and high-quality development of regional tourism. Aiming at the disadvantage of either-or in evaluation research, this study established the index system based on the inter-period DPSIR framework, designed an integrated assessment model combining the entropy method, the membership function, and the D-S evidence theory model to assess the tourism ecological security level from the perspective of probability value, then revealed its spatiotemporal dynamics characteristics. Results showed that: (1) the regional security level is in a good trend of weakening fluctuations and stable improvement, in which the upstream and downstream improvement is more significant, but still at a lower level in general. (2) The security levels of the 11 areas included were all located at Risk level to Relative Security level with significant differences, including Zhejiang, Anhui, Hubei, and Chongqing were the key ecological nodes for tourism ecological security improvement. (3) The transitions among security levels were frequent, while the higher levels were relatively unstable, implying that the tourism ecology has not improved in essence. Finally, strategic suggestions for improving tourism ecological security are proposed in terms of building joint prevention and control mechanisms, clarifying risk factors, and innovating protection paths.

Personalized recommendation of regional tourism routes based on weighted matrix decomposition

Personalized recommendation of regional tourism routes based on weighted matrix decomposition

Culinary destination enchantment: The strategic interplay of local gastronomy in regional tourism development

Culinary destination enchantment: The strategic interplay of local gastronomy in regional tourism development

EXPLAINING TOURIST SATISFACTION WITH COMMUNITY-BASED TOURISM IN THE MEKONG DELTA REGION, VIETNAM

In the Mekong Delta region (Vietnam), community-based tourism is developing and achieving impressive results. To maintain this success, community tourism sites should pay special attention to improving tourist satisfaction. Therefore, this study aims to demonstrate the factors influencing tourist satisfaction with community-based tourism in the Mekong Delta region (Vietnam). A mixed research method was used, combining qualitative and quantitative research to test the research hypotheses. The research data were collected using a convenient sampling with a sample size of 350 tourists who had experienced community-based tourism services in the Mekong Delta region. The research results have pointed out 08 factors that positively affect tourist satisfaction with community-based tourism in the Mekong Delta region, including trust, responsiveness, assurance, empathy, tangible facilities, perceived price, cultural interaction, and local cuisine. Among these, the trust factor has the most powerful impact on tourist satisfaction. Several management implications have been proposed for community tourism sites to enhance service quality and tourist satisfaction with community-based tourism in the Mekong Delta region, Vietnam.

THE STATE OF TOURISM DEVELOPMENT IN TRANSFRONTIER CONSERVATION AREAS IN SOUTHERN AFRICA

This study adopts a cross-border approach to examining the state of tourism development within the context of Transfrontier conservation areas, based on three case study sites (Botswana, Zambia, and Zimbabwe). In-depth interviews conducted with 58 wildlife tourism stakeholders, including tourism businesses, conservation NGOs, community representatives, and governing authorities, demonstrate that while natural resources constitute the basis of the tourism economies, the level of development and ownership of tourism offerings differs significantly among the three destinations. Additionally, while international and regional tourists have been the dominant market for these destinations, there is a strong emergence of domestic tourists stemming from the post-pandemic era. The unbalanced scale of tourism development in the three destinations demonstrates that closer attention must be paid to tourism policies and practices that support the inclusion of local entrepreneurs in the tourism sector to generate a greater localised socioeconomic impact and align stakeholder interests.

Enhancing Tourism in the South Caucasus through Coopetition

This article explores the concept of “coopetition” as a strategic approach for enhancing tourism development in the South Caucasus region, comprising Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia. The region holds significant tourism potential but faces infrastructure gaps, limited awareness, safety standards, and accessibility. Additionally, political instability, including the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict and the ongoing occupation of Georgian territories by Russia, has hindered growth. Fortunately, recent peace efforts between Azerbaijan and Armenia offer opportunities for collaborative tourism initiatives, potentially boosting economic stability. Through an assessment of tourism intelligence, competitiveness, and regional dynamics, the study identifies key areas where these countries can both compete and cooperate to attract high-value tourists. Coopetition offers a strategy for enhancing the region’s competitiveness through joint marketing, shared tourist routes, and improved cross-border infrastructure while also allowing each country to utilize its unique strengths in niche tourism products. At the same time, coopetition also poses risks, such as unequal benefit distribution and coordination challenges in aligning policies, among other issues. The analysis concludes that by balancing competition with strategic cooperation, the South Caucasus countries can boost regional tourism, attract high-value visitor segments, strengthen their global market position, and contribute to lasting peace in the region.

Application of Quality Function Deployment Method for Tourism's City Branding Analysis

This research aims to measure how much influence West Bandung Regency Tourism's City Branding has on the perceptions of tourists who will visit West Bandung Regency tourism using the Quality Function Deployment (QFD) method. City branding is an important marketing strategy in promoting tourist destinations. This study uses QFD as a tool to analyze the relationship between aspects of city branding and tourist perceptions to improve visiting decisions. The research method involves collecting data through surveys of tourists who have visited West Bandung Regency as well as content analysis of various marketing and branding materials used by local governments and related institutions. Data was analyzed using QFD techniques to determine the relationship between branding elements and tourist needs and preferences. The research results are expected to show that the elements in Tourism's City Branding in West Bandung Regency have a significant influence on tourist perceptions. Aspects such as destination image, tourism promotion, facilities and tourist experience are the main factors influencing tourists' decisions to visit West Bandung Regency. The implication of this research is the importance of local governments and other stakeholders in strengthening city branding as an effort to increase tourist visits and advance the regional tourism sector

DIRECTIONS OF APPLICATION OF THE ECO-MUSEUM APPROACH TO THE CONSERVATION OF THE NATURAL AND CULTURAL HERITAGE OF THE EAST ZANGEZUR REGION OF THE REPUBLIC OF AZERBAIJAN

The article analyzes the features of the creation of eco-museums in world practice and its application for the organization of eco-museums in the reconstructed East Zangezur region of the Republic of Azerbaijan. The functions of eco-museums in conservation of the natural and cultural heritage and their role in the development of regional tourism are described in detail, and 5 pilot zones in the corresponding administrative districts of Eastern Zangezur are proposed for the creation of eco-museums. The authors compared the corresponding indicators characterizing eco-museums and natural and cultural features of the region and gave a description of the development of potentially privileged areas of the region’s tourism sector.

Challenges and opportunities of strategic communication in health and wellness tourism in Portugal

The growing focus on wellness and well-being has led to the consolidation of health and wellness tourism as a strategic part of the tourism economy in Portugal. This study analyses how regional tourism boards communicate these concepts and explores the challenges and opportunities presented by this rapidly changing market. The study examined the evolution of communication related to health and wellness in tourism between 2020 and 2022 based on a literature review, analysis of institutional websites and monitoring of digital trends. The results show a predominant focus on spa tourism and limited exploitation of the concept of well-being in a broader sense. The research highlights the need for more innovative and diversified communication strategies capable of attracting tourists seeking a holistic balance between physical, mental, and emotional health. Effectively communicating this distinctive value will be essential to strengthening Portugal’s competitiveness and resilience in a constantly evolving sector.

Padusan Pacet Mojokerto Tourism Object Development Strategy to Improve Community Welfare

Tourism development is the key to the success of Mojokerto Regency as a developing city, which is able to transform Mojokerto Regency as a tourism destination as well as a tourist destination. The development strategy in Mojokerto district which was developed based on tourism destinations is closely related to the concept of defense economics so that it places the community as the main actor. The problem that then arises is that tourism development has implications for the welfare of the people of Mojokerto Regency. The trend of increasing local original income over the last five years has enabled the potential of the Mojokerto Regency tourism sector as an alternative for alleviating poverty as well as increasing community welfare. The research aims to analyze new tourism objects in Mojokerto Regency as well as increasing new economic sectors through tourism activities in each sub-district in the Mojokerto City area. The research used qualitative methods through interviews and observations at Mojokerto Regency Government levels as a tourist destination as well as group discussions with residents. The research results show that the tourism sector contributes to the welfare of Mojokerto Regency, especially equal distribution of income as well as regional cash income, however the facilities and infrastructure as well as tourism infrastructure still need to continue to be improved so as to attract more visitors to Mojokerto Regency.

ANIMATION SERVICES AS AN INTEGRAL COMPONENT OF MODERN HOTEL BUSINESS

During the last decade, the hospitality industry in Ukraine has undergone significant development, which is manifested in the opening of new hotels, tour operator and travel agency firms, excursion bureaus, and other enterprises that serve the tourism sector. This growth reinforces the need for high-quality service, a key success factor in any industry, and hospitality is no exception. The success of enterprises in this field directly depends on the level of service, professional training of personnel, as well as on the ability to offer tourists unique and interesting services. One of the important elements of the modern hospitality industry is the development of animation services. Animation as a new direction in the tourism sector involves the active involvement of customers in various entertainment and educational activities, which allows them not only to diversify their vacation but also to create unforgettable impressions. This is an important component of the competitiveness of hotel enterprises since it is animation programs that are targeted at different age groups and cultural preferences, which can ensure customer loyalty and their desire to return to a particular establishment. In addition, animation services become a tool for increasing the economic efficiency of the hotel business. Since animation programs make it possible to compensate for the shortcomings of infrastructure or the location of objects, they can significantly increase the attractiveness of resorts and hotels even in less popular tourist regions. Considering the rapid development of technologies, interactive and virtual animation solutions are becoming especially relevant, giving companies the opportunity to attract modern tourists who value innovation and high-tech entertainment. The animation segment of the hotel services market is an indirect source of income that contributes to the profitability of enterprises through the variety of animation services, compensating for possible shortcomings of the tourist and social infrastructure. The positive mood of the guests and their desire to return to the place of rest is closely related to the level of animation service. Given the globalization processes, which sometimes eliminate the individual features of hotel complexes, animation services become important competitive advantages. They allow businesses to maintain their uniqueness by focusing offers on guests' interests, which is supported by individual programs and survey results. The animation segment of the hotel business, although it is an indirect source of income, has a significant impact on the overall profitability of enterprises. It makes it possible to compensate for the shortcomings of the tourist infrastructure, allowing hotels to attract customers through a variety of entertainment programs. The article also presents the author's animation program aimed at improving the animation service in hotel complexes, which emphasizes its importance for the development of the hospitality industry.

Urban Solid Waste Management: Evaluation of Practices and Contributions to Sustainable Development

Objective: This article aims to assess the practices adopted for the final disposal of urban solid waste in the municipality of Tutóia, located in the state of Maranhão. Theoretical Tablework: The literature for this study is based on the impacts generated by the inadequate disposal of Urban Solid Waste (USW) in Brazil and worldwide, considering current environmental regulations. Method: Through a qualitative, descriptive, and exploratory approach, data were collected on-site. To assess the environmental impact in the study area, the Checklist and Interaction Matrix methods were used. Results and Discussion: The lack of proper management and environmentally adequate final disposal of urban solid waste poses risks to public health and the environment. Research Implications: Important contributions to sustainable waste management, aiming to reduce the social and environmental impact of inadequate final disposal. Originality/Value: It is worth mentioning that this is the first study conducted in this area. Thus, it is hoped to foster discussions that will effectively promote the fulfillment of Sustainable Development Goals, SDG 3, SDG 11, SDG 12, and SDG 15 in one of the most important tourist regions in the state of Maranhão.

The Impact of Seasonal Variations in Rainfall and Temperature on the Performance of Wastewater Treatment Plant in the Context of Environmental Protection of Lake Como, a Tourist Region in Italy

This study investigates the impact of extreme weather conditions on the performance of a wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) in Como, Italy, in terms of influent (inf) and effluent (eff) quality parameters. During winter (October–December), the average temperature was 8.76 °C ± 11.43 °C, with 7.01 mm rainfall, while summer (May–September) averaged 23.24 °C ± 6.2 °C with 5.2 mm rainfall. Despite seasonal variations, the pH levels remained consistent. Phosphorus removal by the WWTP was efficient, with the winter influent averaging 4.16 ± 5.53 mg/L, the winter effluent averaging 0.33 ± 1.06 mg/L, the summer influent averaging 3.53 ± 2.9 mg/L, and the summer effluent averaging 0.31 ± 0.75 mg/L. The COD and BOD5 levels showed seasonal trends, with a higher winter-influent COD (450.43 ± 560.56 mg/L) than in summer (410.96 ± 302 mg/L). These higher winter values of effluent may be due to lower biological activity at cooler temperatures, affecting the efficiency of organic matter breakdown and treatment. The winter influent BOD averaged 249.57 ± 220.42 mg/L, with the winter effluent being 2.95 ± 2.04 mg/L, while the summer influent BOD was 214.44 ± 345.5 mg/L and the summer effluent was 3.01 ± 7.5 mg/L. The TSSs and Total-N showed similar seasonal patterns, with there being slight decreases in the TSSs removal efficiency during warmer months. Although microplastic pollution was not directly analyzed in this study, wastewater treatment plants play a crucial role in mitigating microplastic contamination. Despite rainfall influencing the phosphorus and organic load concentrations, the studied plant maintained over 90% pollutant removal efficiency, demonstrating resilience and compliance with regulatory standards. The WWTP’s consistent COD and BOD5 reductions highlight its robust performance amid climate variations

Predicting sustainability for slowtourism events

<p>The increasing demand for slow tourism in rural regions is leading many organizations to reorganize events by planning new strategies able to predict the impact of incoming visitors and new stakeholders. Typical economic benefit-cost analysis often cannot be used in such contexts in which it is hard to predict socio-economic impacts that are the most relevant. In this way, a methodology like the SROI Method, based on a wide set of indicators and a flexible analytical method, could give a prediction estimation useful to predict socio-economic impacts and tailored for a wide set of people. In this paper we consider three examples taken from small villages around Rome for which a set of events has been analyzed through a revised SROI Method in which we calculate the corresponding SROI value and compare it under a set of revised stages named as—SMARTOUR SROI focused on Slow Tourism Planning. The proposed evaluation methodology obtained by the application of the SROI Method to smart tourism stages is a first example of new sustainable analysis for slow tourism. The result shows that the methodology always gives a positive evaluation by highlighting the main issues related to the impact of slow tourism in such emerging scenarios. Moreover, in the discussion we can show that the case of the historical train example gives the best result due to the particular impact of such a typical scenario.</p>

INNOVATIVE COMPONENT OF THE SOCIAL AND LABOR POTENTIAL OF THE CARPATHIAN REGION AS A TOURIST REGION: PRIORITIES AND PROSPECTS FOR DEVELOPMENT

Based on an analysis of various approaches to understanding labor potential, this article presents a unique definition of socio-labor potential. It is conceptualized as a combination of the capabilities, resources, and characteristics of the economically active population that enable their participation in labor activities, the creation of material and intangible goods, and contributions to socio-economic development. The article proposes a component-based structure of socio-labor potential, with a particular emphasis on its innovative dimension. This dimension is defined as the population's readiness and ability to adapt to change, adopt new technologies, apply modern work approaches, and actively engage in digital transformation. Its significance for the development of tourism regions is illustrated using the Prykarpattia region of Ukraine as a case study. To detail the innovative dimension of socio-labor potential in the Prykarpattia region, specific types of activities contributing to the generation and application of innovative resources, opportunities, knowledge, and technologies were identified. These activities, which enhance the efficiency and development of human resources, include professional, scientific, and technical work, education, information services, and telecommunications. Collectively, they are categorized as the intellectual services sector, which plays a key role in shaping the innovative component of socio-labor potential. Innovations related to labor organization, professional training, human resource management, and the integration of digital and environmentally oriented technologies into labor practices are highlighted as pivotal in boosting productivity. An analysis of the structure and employment trends within the intellectual services sector has revealed key trends and challenges in Prykarpattia’s innovative development. The article identifies strategic priorities for the formation and effective utilization of the innovative component of socio-labor potential. These priorities encompass advancements in technological, socio-cultural, educational-professional, institutional, and human resource management innovations. They are framed within the context of addressing the challenges of wartime and supporting Ukraine's post-war recovery, emphasizing the potential for sustainable and transformative regional growth.