Regional Tourism Research Articles

This research examines tourism development strategies through an industrial tourism programme in Sidoarjo Regency as an alternative for regional tourism diversification. Sidoarjo Regency is known as an industrial hub with various production centres, such as shrimp crackers, batik, and shrimp paste (terasi), which have considerable potential to be developed into industrial tourism destinations. The objectives of the study are to analyse industrial tourism development strategies, identify supporting and inhibiting factors, and formulate a collaborative model for sustainable industrial tourism development. The research employs a qualitative approach with data collection techniques including in-depth interviews, participant observation, and documentation study. Research informants include the Sidoarjo Regency Tourism Office, industry stakeholders, tourism communities, and tourists. The results indicate that the industrial tourism development strategy in Sidoarjo utilises a pentahelix approach involving the government, academia, businesses, the community, and the media. Supporting factors include the diversity of local industrial products, good accessibility, and government policy support. However, there are constraints such as minimal digital promotion, limited tourism facilities, and low awareness among business actors regarding the concept of industrial tourism. The recommended collaborative model encompasses institutional strengthening, increasing Human Resources (HR) capacity, developing supporting infrastructure, innovating tourism products, and integrated digital marketing. This research provides a practical contribution to the development of industrial tourism in regions with a strong small and medium-sized industrial economic base.

Sambas possesses significant potential for developing its natural resources into tourism assets, supporting local city branding initiatives. Efforts to promote Sambas as a tourist destination have included hosting culturally-rooted festivals, which stimulate the local economy by attracting visitors and creating business opportunities for residents. This study aims to assess Sambas Regency's tourism scope by identifying tourism areas in West Kalimantan, using a qualitative-descriptive approach. This approach focuses on the cultural festivals in Sambas Regency, which hold considerable tourism potential. The findings reveal that although various efforts have been made to promote Sambas, practical challenges persist. Visitor motivation can be enhanced by addressing factors such as festival cleanliness, food variety, beach conditions, and event program content. Despite these initiatives, most festival attendees are locals from West Kalimantan, with limited foreign tourist engagement. This study highlights both the progress and areas needing improvement in promoting Sambas as a unique cultural tourism destination.

This theoretical review explores how six foundational theories, Stakeholder Theory, Resource-Based View (RBV), Triple Bottom Line (TBL), Institutional Theory, Systems Theory, and the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology 2 (UTAUT2), can be integrated to guide the development of sustainable cultural tourism in the Mount Kenya region. The paper critically analyzes how these theories illuminate the relationships among cultural tourism opportunities, development, challenges, AI adoption, and socio-economic outcomes. By applying a multi-theory approach, the review demonstrates how strategic resource utilization, inclusive stakeholder engagement, supportive institutions, and emerging technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI) can collectively enhance community-based tourism and cultural heritage preservation. The study presents an integrated conceptual model linking independent, mediating, and dependent variables, offering a coherent theoretical foundation for empirical inquiry and policy design. Findings suggest that theory-driven, AI-enabled cultural tourism can promote equitable development, digital inclusion, and long-term sustainability in heritage-rich regions like Mount Kenya. The review concludes by highlighting the implications for research, practice, and policy, particularly in designing culturally sensitive, technology-driven tourism interventions.

The polar regions face growing threats from climate change, making sustainable practices in polar cruise tourism essential. This study examines the role of marketing in promoting sustainability by analysing cruise operators’ websites (n = 50) and testing alternative advertising strategies. Survey findings (n = 790) highlight that well-crafted sustainability advertisements can reduce interest in close-up wildlife interactions, increase willingness to pay for conservation-focused trips, and promote the adoption of sustainable technologies in travel. Content analysis shows that award-winning operators emphasise conservation, sustainability, and community engagement through distinctive digital traits. While traditional adverts were preferred for their adventure focus, sustainability adverts resonated with those valuing education. This study provides valuable insights for operators, policymakers, and researchers dedicated to advancing sustainable tourism in the polar regions.

In response to frequent disruptions such as public health incidents and natural disasters, enhancing tourism ecological resilience (TER) has become crucial for achieving sustainable tourism development. This study constructs an evaluation index system for TER from three dimensions: resistance, recovery, and innovation. Employing the entropy weight method and fuzzy-set Qualitative Comparative Analysis (fsQCA), an empirical analysis was conducted on the spatiotemporal evolution and formation mechanisms of TER in the Chengdu-Chongqing Economic Circle (CCEC) from 2013 to 2023. The results indicate that: First, although an overall upward trend in TER was observed, significant regional disparities existed. Chongqing (0.634) and Chengdu (0.491) consistently led, while the average values for the other cities were generally below 0.155, revealing a pattern characterized by “dual-core prominence and peripheral lag”. Second, the impact of the pandemic exacerbated imbalances among subsystems, with resistance, recovery, and innovation capabilities all exhibiting core–periphery differentiation. Third, fsQCA results demonstrated that high resilience was driven by a “technology-service” core coupled with auxiliary conditions such as transportation or consumption, while low resilience stemmed from multiple systemic deficiencies, including insufficient government support, underdeveloped transportation, and weak technological innovation. This study provides configurational pathways and policy implications for building regional tourism resilience.

As tourism develops, more study focuses on tourism sustainable development assessment. To solve ambiguous indicators and subjective weight distributions in such evaluations, this paper proposes a hybrid model combining Fuzzy AHP (FAHP) and Grey Relational TOPSIS (GR-TOPSIS). A 13-secondary-indicator evaluation system is established across four dimensions (economy, society, environment, culture), distinguishing positive/negative indicators based on tourism’s local impacts. FAHP builds a triangular fuzzy judgment matrix, with confidence ranking to determine index weights and consistency tests to ensure weight rationality. Grey relational theory improves TOPSIS, which integrates Euclidean distance and grey relational degree to form a hybrid closeness index, overcoming traditional TOPSIS’s poor fuzzy data handling. Verified with seven tourist regions in our cases, the method yields indicator weights and final superiority–inferiority rankings. Among the seven evaluated regions, Lijiang Qinghsui (P4) achieves the highest sustainable development level (hybrid closeness: 0.693), while P6 performs the poorest. Among the 13 indicators, Tourism Revenue Contribution is the most important (weight: 0.189) and Tourists’ Cultural Respect Degree (F13) is the least important (weight: 0.015). Compared with traditional TOPSIS, this innovative model quantifies sustainable tourism development levels, offering a scientific basis for regional tourism decision-making.

This study investigates the extent of regional concentration and global interconnectedness in international tourism flows using network science analytical tools. To this end, we algorithmically detect international tourism communities and investigate whether tendencies toward regionalization and globalization differ across different communities and groups of countries. A cross-country dataset consisting of 190 origin and destination countries over the period 1995 to 2021 is used for the empirical analysis. The results show that the international tourism network is predominantly regionally concentrated, and this pattern has strengthened over time. Our findings highlight that mesoscale network structures in tourism can serve as a foundation for predicting future tourism trends. This challenges the notion that this sector is primarily driven by globally interconnected factors. Policies promoting international destination marketing on a regional basis and collaboration in marketing regional tourism destinations can help countries gain a competitive edge, such as reaching a wider audience.

Research aim . The aim of the research is to identify and evaluate the distinctive competitive advantages of ski tourism within Kazakhstan’s Almaty Aountain Aluster (AMC), and determine how these advantages can be strategically leveraged to enhance sustainable regional tourism development. Research Methodology . The study employs a mixed-method approach, integrating Geographic Information Systems (GIS)-based spatial analysis, comparative benchmarking against established ski destinations (French Alps and Georgian ski clusters), and economic impact assessments based on secondary data from governmental and international sources. GIS methodologies included data extraction via Python from open-source geospatial databases (2GIS, OpenStreetMap), proximity analysis, and infrastructure density visualization. Value of the study . This research is significant as it provides a comprehensive comparative spatial and economic analysis of AMC, a strategically crucial yet relatively understudied ski tourism destination. The combination of advanced GIS analytical tools and comparative benchmarking delivers practical insights and robust strategic recommendations, uniquely tailored to the sustainable tourism development needs of Kazakhstan. Research findings . The study identified AMC’s core competitive strengths, including its accessibility, affordability, unique cultural and ecological assets, and governmental support. At the same time, the study reveals significant infrastructure scarcities in hospitality, gastronomic services, and complementary tourist facilities were evident. Comparative analysis with Georgian and French counterparts underscored AMC’s critical need to substantially expand its infrastructure, recommending the construction of 30-40 new accommodations, 60-70 restaurants, and approximately 20-30 complementary service facilities. Strategic infrastructure development aligned with sustainable tourism practices is projected to notably enhance AMC’s tourism capacity and its contribution to Kazakhstan’s GDP by an estimated 0.5%-1.5% annually by 2027.

This study presents a needs-based analysis and the development of an English language skills module specifically designed for front office employees at a local hotel in Batam, Indonesia. Using a Research and Development (R&D) approach and the ADDIE model (Analysis, Design, Development, Implementation, Evaluation), the module was developed based on Hutchinson & Waters' needs analysis framework. Data were collected through interviews with four front office employees, while two experts—a hotel manager and an ESP lecturer—validated the module. The analysis revealed that employees primarily struggled with listening comprehension, speaking fluency, and confidence when interacting with international guests. The findings imply that conducting a thorough needs analysis is crucial for developing effective English training materials in the hospitality industry. Without understanding the specific language challenges faced by front office employees, training programs risk being irrelevant or ineffective. This study highlights that a conducted needs analysis leads to more targeted, practical modules that directly address real workplace communication problems. It also underscores the importance of aligning training content with employee needs to improve service quality, enhance guest satisfaction, and strengthen the hotel’s role in supporting regional tourism growth.

Cultural ecosystem services (CES) represent fundamental expressions of human-environment interactions. A comprehensive assessment of CES supply and demand offers a robust scientific foundation for optimizing the transformation of ecosystem service values to improve human well-being. This study integrates multi-source datasets and employs Maximum Entropy (MaxEnt) modeling with the ArcGIS platform to analyze the spatial distribution of CES supply and demand in Hunan Province, a typical mountain tourism regions in China. Furthermore, geographical detector methods were used to identify and quantify the driving factors influencing these spatial patterns. The findings reveal that: (1) Both CES supply and demand demonstrate pronounced spatial heterogeneity. High-demand areas are predominantly concentrated around prominent scenic locations, forming a “multi-core, clustered” pattern, whereas high-supply areas are primarily located in urban centers, water systems, and mountainous regions, exhibiting a gradient decline along transportation corridors and river networks. (2) According to the CES supply-demand pattern, Hunan Province can be classified into demand, coordination, and enhancement zones. Coordination zones dominate (45–70%), followed by demand zones (20–30%), while enhancement zones account for the smallest proportion (5–20%). (3) Urbanization intensity and land use emerged as the primary drivers of CES supply-demand alignment, followed by vegetation cover, distance to water bodies, and population density. (4) The explanatory power of two-factor interactions across all eight CES categories surpasses that of any individual factor, highlighting the critical role of synergistic multi-factorial influences in shaping the spatial pattern of CES. This study provides a systematic analysis of the categories and driving factors underlying the spatial alignment between CES supply and demand in Hunan Province. The findings offer a scientific foundation for the preservation of ecological and cultural values and the optimization of spatial patterns in mountain tourist areas, while also serving as a valuable reference for the large-scale quantitative assessment of cultural ecosystem services.

This study investigates the pivotal role of tour guides as key practitioners in fostering responsible consumption behaviors among tourists visiting climate-impacted regions. Positioned as trusted sources of knowledge, tour guides employ diverse strategies to promote environmental conservation and sustainability. Findings reveal that guides act as environmental educators, connecting tourists to local ecological challenges through storytelling, role modelling, and polite intervention. These approaches foster emotional connections, encourage responsible behavior, and mitigate inappropriate tourist actions. Despite these efforts, barriers such as time constraints, diverse tourist motivations, the balance between education and entertainment, and concerns about social media exposure limit their effectiveness. This research highlights the complex yet impactful role of tour guides in promoting environmental stewardship and offers concrete implications for enhancing training programs and policy development to support sustainable tourism in climate-induced regions.

Riau is a province rich in history. Many historical heritage buildings can be found in Riau, one of which is the Siak Sri Indrapura Palace. This palace is a historical legacy of the Siak Sultanate, once inhabited by the Sultan of Siak, and today serves as one of the tourism attractions in Siak Regency. The proper development of the tourism sector has the potential to attract both domestic and international tourists to visit and spend money during their travels. In this context, particularly concerning the development of the Siak Palace as a tourist attraction, internal and external environmental analyses are conducted to identify strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats through a SWOT analysis. Furthermore, this study also examines the long-term goals of the Tourism Office, particularly in achieving its mission over the next five years. The research evaluates whether the strategies implemented have been successful by reviewing the annual targets set by the Siak Regency Tourism Office and the policies employed to achieve them. These policies consist of guidelines, rules, and procedures established to support the intended objectives. The findings indicate that the Tourism Office of Siak Regency has carried out the strategic planning process effectively. Every aspect of strategic planning has been implemented optimally and in accordance with the established regulations. However, despite the successful implementation of the strategic plan, the process has not yet fully maximized the development of the Siak Palace as a tourism destination, as further actions beyond the current plans are still required. Tourism development in Siak Sri Indrapura is pursued through the development of tourism resources and the creative economy, enhancement of tourist attractions, and tourism marketing. Nevertheless, these efforts have not yet been fully optimized and therefore need improvement in order to better manage and advance tourism development in Siak Regency. The factors influencing tourism development strategies include budget, human resources, and community participation. Successful tourism development requires cooperation to achieve the desired outcomes, while the government is also expected to pay greater attention to the condition of tourism objects.

Educational tourism (eduwisata) is a combination of tourism and education, eduwisata is a positive tourism concept that combines the two fields with learning and tourism. Eduwisata is a non-formal learning activity that is not rigid in its learning activities. Kediri Regency Regional Regulation Number 2 of 2020 concerning the Master Plan for Tourism Development in Kediri Regency for 2019-2034 which is stated in Attachment II of Kediri Regency Regional Regulation Number 2 of 2020 has been stipulated on September 2, 2020 concerning the regional map for the development of Regency Tourism Destinations as a geographical area in Kediri Regency. This study will examine the implementation of the Tulungrejo village government policy in developing eduwisata in Kampung Inggris, Pare, Kediri, East Java based on the seven sapta pesona: safe, orderly, clean, cool, beautiful, friendly, and memorable. This study uses qualitative methods by conducting interviews and Focus Group Discussions (FGD). The results of this study indicate that the policy implementation between the Tulungrejo village government and the Kampung Bahasa Forum, which comprises community members, is not yet effective and requires optimization. The Kampung Inggris (English Village Forum) should prioritize and prioritize the interests of Kampung Inggris residents in developing educational tourism.

This study examines the influence of social media on regional destination brand identity, addressing post-COVID-19 challenges for regional destinations through the Adaptive Control of Thought-Rational (ACT-R) theory framework. We conducted two studies: a qualitative analysis of 2325 social media user-generated content posts using Leximancer, and a quantitative survey of 1239 potential tourists using structural equation modelling (SEM) with AMOS. The qualitative study identified distinctive brand associations for the regional tourism destination, which informed Study 2. The quantitative study demonstrated that electronic word of mouth (eWOM) on social media has a positive influence on perceptions of regional tourism destination brand identity, affecting tourists’ intentions to visit and recommend that destination. This study highlights the role of social media in reinforcing regional destination brand distinctiveness, emphasising the importance of information consumption and information sharing on social media by tourists. Further, it addresses a literature gap on regional tourism brand identity formation. It offers practical insights for brand managers and practitioners seeking to establish strong regional tourism brands through social media.

This research examines the tourism marketing communication strategies implemented by the Pasuruan Regency Tourism Office, considering the region's significant potential yet facing challenges in the digital era. Aiming to identify existing strategies and formulate effective innovations, this study employs a descriptive qualitative method. Data collection involved observation, interviews, and documentation, analyzed through data reduction, display, and conclusion drawing. Findings reveal the office has implemented comprehensive and integrated strategies through meticulous market segmentation, targeting, and positioning. Integrated Marketing Communication, predominantly utilizing digital media and influencer collaborations, complemented by offline promotions, serves as a core pillar. This holistic approach proves effective in informing, persuading, and building tourist loyalty, contributing to the sustainable development of the tourism sector and local economy.

At the current stage of development, the tourism industry plays an increasingly important role in the country’s economy. In the current geopolitical situation, domestic regional tourism is developing more actively, which requires greater intervention from government authorities. Moscow and the Krasnodar Territory are the leading destinations for domestic tourism in Russia, generating diverse travel flows based on the purpose and duration of trips. To promote tourism destinations, government agencies in various countries use targeted programs and grants to develop the tourism industry. This article also explores the conditions for increasing the competitiveness and unlocking the potential of regional tourism in the Russian Federation.

The municipalities of the Campo Grande dos Ipês and Cerrado Pantanal Tourist Regions, located in the state of Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil, concentrate archaeological sites, geosites, and natural landscapes with potential for the establishment of a UNESCO Global Geopark. These areas are part of the Trilha Rupestre Institutional Programme, coordinated by the Federal University of Mato Grosso do Sul (UFMS), which promotes actions aimed at the valorisation of cultural and natural heritage, heritage education, and sustainable tourism. Based on this rationale, a mixed-methods study was conducted, grounded in the analysis of secondary data from official sources (IBGE, RAIS, SNIS, Cadastur, among others) and the collection of information on public policies, tourism planning, infrastructure, and socio-economic indicators across 16 municipalities. The variables considered included inclusion in the Brazilian Tourism Map, the existence of municipal tourism plans, Tourism Councils and Funds, number of enterprises registered with Cadastur, conservation units, and sites recognised by IPHAN. The results reveal institutional and structural disparities among the municipalities. The Cerrado Pantanal Region presents a higher concentration of geosites, experience with intermunicipal cooperation, and more favourable conditions for an initial Geopark application. The municipalities in the Campo Grande dos Ipês Region, in turn, show partial engagement with tourism public policies. Notably, Campo Grande, Rio Negro, and Jaraguari are the only municipalities included in the Brazilian Tourism Map, and the region concentrates important archaeological sites and natural formations with potential for tourism development and heritage-based initiatives. The implementation of a Geopark in this context requires coordinated efforts between universities, public authorities, and local communities, with heritage education playing a key role in fostering belonging and active preservation. Based on the data analysed, it was concluded that the initial feasibility for Geopark implementation is more evident in the Cerrado Pantanal Region, which demonstrates more favourable technical and institutional conditions.

ABSTRACT Portugal is one of the European countries most vulnerable to water shortages driven by climate change. This study explores the factors influencing household water demand across Portuguese municipalities with urban centres, emphasizing two often-overlooked elements: population trends (growth or decline) and regional location. Another innovation of the study is the inclusion of tourists in the estimation of household water demand. Using panel data for 2011 and 2021, models were developed for four population trajectories and three geographic regions. Results reveal that water consumption drivers vary depending on demographic and regional context. The lowest tariff block (5 m³) has little effect on consumption, while the highest block (15 m³) tends to reduce usage in most models. Municipalities with growing populations in the North tend to consume less water, while growing municipalities in the South – in a touristic region – exhibit higher levels of water consumption. These findings underscore the importance of tailoring water management policies to local demographic and regional characteristics, offering valuable insights for other areas facing similar pressures from climate and population change. Effective policies should combine pricing strategies with initiatives promoting efficient appliances and public education.

Against the backdrop of rapid growth in the tertiary sector, red tourism centered on revolutionary narratives is flourishing, attracting increasing numbers of visitors. This study examines the spatial patterns and influencing factors of 408 red tourism sites in Henan Province using spatial analysis techniques and the geographic detector method. Analysis reveals uneven distribution of these sites, with concentrations primarily in the Yellow River basin and southeastern Henan. Spatial analysis of the study subjects reveals a pronounced clustering pattern among these sites. Simultaneously, geographic detector analysis identifies natural, economic, and social factors as significantly influencing the spatial distribution of these attractions. Based on these findings, the paper examines the relationship between the spatial layout of red tourism sites and regional tourism development and economic growth, proposing recommendations for rational planning and development of red tourism attractions.

This paper employs the difference-in-differences analysis method to probe into the impact of low-carbon city construction on tourism specialization. Results indicate that it significantly enhances tourism specialization via industrial restructuring and ecological governance. Low-carbon cities only positively impact tourism specialization in central cities, while the impact is not significant in eastern and western cities. Furthermore, low-carbon city construction only significantly positively impacts tourism specialization at low administrative levels, non-ETS pilot cities, and non-resource-based cities. Besides, economic development and human capital significantly and negatively moderate the positive influence on tourism specialization, while environmental quality positively moderates this positive effect. These findings highlight tourism’s response to low-carbon transition, offering insights for sustainable tourism and regional development.