Slow Tourism Research Articles

Slow tourism experience: impact on emotions, engagement and well-being

PurposeAs the overflow of information accelerates the pace of life, people search for opportunities to escape from their fast-paced lifestyle by engaging in slower consumption. This research empirically tested the role of slow tourism experience (STE) in improving one’s well-being.Design/methodology/approachIn Study 1, 205 qualified tourists participated. Exploratory factor analysis using principal component analysis with Promax rotation in SPSS v.26 was deployed to examine scale factors. Study 2 consisted of 460 tourists to test the conceptual model using partial least squares structural equation modeling. Multi-group analysis identified statistically significant differences between path coefficients in the structural models for males and females.FindingsResults revealed a three-dimensional STE measure: deceleration, immersion and self-reflection. STE significantly impacted positive emotions and mediated tourist engagement and subjective well-being. Gender multi-group analysis indicated STE had a positive direct impact on SWB for male tourists; however, STE positively affected SWB through tourist destination engagement for female tourists.Research limitations/implicationsThe study was limited to tourists who had stayed at a destination. Future research may consider the different modes or mindsets that tourists use in designing their itinerary, length of stay, type of transportation, level of investment in the environment and culture.Practical implicationsPractitioners can distinguish tourism activities based on gender, focusing on engaging female tourists and triggering emotions for male tourists.Originality/valueThis is one of the first studies to operationalize and examine STE, extending the broad-and-build theory’s relevance in slow tourism research by revealing the effects of STE on tourists’ SWB.

Preserving paddy fields through tourism in Indonesia: opportunities and challenges

Purpose This paper aims to show the opportunities and challenges of implementing slow tourism through a slow city concept, particularly concerning preserving paddy fields. Design/methodology/approach A qualitative approach using FGD, in-depth interviews and questionnaires with open questions. Findings Paddy field preservation can be achieved through the slow city concept if there is a strong commitment from the government and influential local wisdom. Research limitations/implications This research is conducted in five areas (cities and regencies). Hence, there should be similar research in other areas to find whether it can be implemented in other areas. Furthermore, other aspects have not been explored, such as how to convince policymakers to implement a slow city concept, integrate urban infrastructures and paddy fields or encourage and protect local residents who develop a slow city concept. Practical implications This research will give insight for policymakers to establish a policy that can realize livable cities for local residents and tourists, particularly in terms of food resiliency through tourism. Social implications This research will give new information about the importance of slow tourism to improve the quality of life in a city and to maintain food resilience. Originality/value This research shows the implementation and challenges of realizing slow city and slow tourism in some regions in Indonesia, particularly related to paddy fields preservation.

Sailing into Tranquility: The Rise of Slow Yachting in Luxury Tourism

ABSTRACT This study introduces the concept of “slow yachting” by investigating the alignment of Slow Movement principles within the luxury yachting sector. Using insights from 24 Ultra High Net Worth Individuals (UHNWIs) owning and chartering yachts, this paper explores five distinct dimensions of slow yachting: Luxurious Tranquility, Personal Retreat, Social Cohesion, Environmental Symbiosis, and Discovery Travel. The research illustrates how luxury yachting experiences embrace slow tourism principles. The study reveals the nuanced interplay between quality, authenticity, and sustainability in luxury travel experiences, establishing the foundation for a unique paradigm of mindful yachting. The theoretical implications underscore the importance of fostering mindful, immersive, and socially engaging travel experiences within the luxury yachting domain, catering to the discerning preferences of ultra-high-net-worth travelers while advocating for responsible and enriching tourism practices.

A systematic literature review of slow tourism

This systematic literature review focuses on slow tourism, which grew in popularity during COVID-19. It highlights the gaps in the literature for future researchers by compiling the papers published on slow tourism between 2010 and 2021. In addition, the managerial suggestions we make serve as lessons for practitioners. Developed as a systematic literature review, we used different selection criteria including papers published in English in Q1 or Q2 journals between 2010 and 2021 in the sample. This study identified the following parameters: the number of publications, the most preferred research methodology and data collection methods, and the geographical coverage of slow tourism papers. The relationship between slow tourism and sustainability is strengthened by our analysis. We identified qualitative studies, particularly in-depth interviews, as the most popular data collection method for slow tourism studies. Australia, the United Kingdom, and Poland were the most popular destinations in terms of the geographical context of these studies, followed by Italy. As the literature is missing a unified definition of slow tourism, we propose one based on the four-pillar model.

A sustainable integration of mining activity in a tourist mountain territory: The case of GermanascaValley

Every mining activity shows a footprint on the territory. The signs left by mining operations are physical, such as tunnels, extractive waste facilities, dressing plants, but also economic and social, due to job placement, income and knowledge connected to mining activity sensu lato. In the extraordinary context of the Germanasca Valley, mining has coexisted for hundreds of years with the mountain environment of the Alps and with the local population, and has become a fundamental part of local development, intimately connected with the territory and the local economic and social fabrics.The progressive migration of mining crops at lower altitudes has left behind old mining structures that here, more than elsewhere, guaranteed new forms of industrial and geo-tourism. Similarly, the technological advance and the evolution of mining production, towards a higher quality product, with a consequent reduction in the quantities exploited, led over time to a progressive reduction in the number of employed miners. The resilience of the local population, however, balanced the contraction of work in the mine, transforming former miners in tourist guides and increasing the induced activities, passing from the previous “in house” model to an “outsourcing” model, characterized by external management of mine-related activities. The transformation of old mines into museums has certainly contributed to the development of the area, particularly considering a slow tourism that shows scarce attitude to a “fast and junk” tourism. The challenge is to understand if and how geotourism influence, in specific mining areas (such as Germanasca Valley), the attractiveness of a place.

Blogs vs Vlogs: Evaluation of Chinese Audience Resonance In Slow Tourism

Slow tourism has been implemented in rural areas and small towns in China for over a decade. However, the effectiveness of utilizing blogs or vlogs for promoting slow tourism destinations varies significantly. This study explored the reasons for the differences in marketing effectiveness of slow tourism destinations from the perspective of audience resonance. A total of 231 college students participated in the study and PLS-SEM was employed for hypothesis testing. The study results revealed positive impacts of value accord, expectation fitting, and cultural credibility on cognitive resonance. Additionally, there were positive impacts of slowness, self-congruence, and entertainment on emotional resonance. These factors further contribute to audience resonance in slow tourism. Emotional resonance turned out to be the driving factor of audience resonance. In addition, this research has also proved that the degree of resonance is the same whether the information carrier is text, photo, or video. No prior research has quantitatively validated the audience resonance in a slow tourism setting. This study addresses this knowledge gap and adds to the body of knowledge on slow tourism marketing and resonance theory.

Slow Tourism Concept: Strategies in Improving Tourism in Indonesia

This research is a qualitative research with a descriptive approach. The data used in this article are secondary data that researchers obtained from various credible scientific sources and were analyzed with the stages of data collection, data selection, data reduction, and drawing conclusions. The result in this article show that Pesona Indonesia and Slow Tourism Concept have contrasting differences but can be collaborated. As is the case, regarding Pesona Indonesia, it focuses more on the target visitors in terms of quantity while Slow Tourism Concept focuses more on quality. If collaborated, the focus can change to quantity and quality where visitors are in large numbers and get education about nature, good relations between visitors, and good relations between local residents. In addition, the experience gained by visitors will be more pronounced if they get a beautiful tourist spot according to the Pesona Indonesia concept if accompanied by valuable experiences from the Slow Tourism concept. Thus, researchers are increasingly convinced that the presence of the Slow Tourism Concept collaborated with the Pesona Indonesia Concept can further increase tourism in Indonesia.

¿Cómo de slow es tu mensaje?: Efecto en la comunicación turística en redes sociales

The accelerated growth of tourism in recent decades has led to the massification of many destinations, generating a great deal of controversy about this massive form of tourism and its effects on society and/or the environment. In response, new trends are emerging, such as slow tourism, which are more concerned with sustainability, decelerating the speed of travel and connecting with the destination and with yourself. This study examines the extent to which the tourism orientation of a social media post influences consumer behaviour in terms of attitude towards the post and intention to visit. For this purpose, a one-factor experimental design, the tourism orientation of the message (slow versus mass), is carried out. The results show that the message with a slow orientation generates a higher visit intention than the message with a mass orientation. In addition, the attitude towards the post mediates this relationship. This study offers important implications by highlighting how the inclusion of slow features in a tourism message on social media improves the attitude towards the post and contributes to generate a higher visit intention.

Effects of travel vlogs on travel intention of slow tourism in China: an evaluation of resonance and destination image

PurposeThe distinct characteristics of slow tourism compared to mass tourism determine the differences between slow travelers and mass travelers. This transformation is essential for potential tourists to transition into slow travelers when promoting slow tourism to them. Can travel vlogs, a “fast” way of promoting, achieve such a “slow” transformation? To address this question, the purpose of this paper is to introduce the resonance theory and investigate the impact of resonance with slow tourism vlogs on potential travelers’ destination image and travel intention.Design/methodology/approachThrough the distribution of online questionnaires on site, this study collected a total of 349 valid questionnaires. Subsequently, the researcher used partial least squares structural equation modeling to analyze the data and test the hypotheses.FindingsThe research findings indicate that cognitive resonance only positively affected cognitive image, while emotional resonance was positively associated with both cognitive image and affective image. In addition, it was observed that cognitive image and affective image played a positive mediating role between resonance with slow tourism vlogs and travel intention.Originality/valueThis research is pioneering in quantitatively validating the structure linking resonance, destination image and travel intention in the context of slow tourism. By validating the second-order structure of cognitive and emotional resonance, this study underscores the crucial role of resonance in shaping tourists’ transition toward a slow mindset in slow tourism.

The Movement of slow: From English to Italian and Back Again. A Diachronic Corpus-Based Study

The present study explores the changes in the meaning of the word slow, both in Italian and English, from the beginning of the Slow Food Movement (SFM) up to 2019. Since 1989 and the early days of Carlo Petrini’s SFM, technology has increasingly led people towards multi-tasking in an attempt to save time, while at the same time, back to the past trends are increasingly evident as seen in several other Slow Movements, for example, in catering and hand-made/retro chains. The concept of slowness is becoming a relevant and ethical topic that is often related to what is organic, local and sustainable, leading to the introduction of an anglicism in Italian, but also to a new whole re-semantization of the word slow in English. The primary objective of this study is to explore the semantic changes in the word slow diachronically both in Italian and in English. To this aim, two robust corpora were created, one from the Italian newspaper La Stampa and the other from the British The Guardian. The word slow was analysed within the different newspaper domains exploring frequencies, collocates, and identifying significant “repeated events” (Sinclair 2004: 28) together with their semantic preferences. Results from the diachronic analysis show that through the SFM, the word slow has taken on specific new meanings in Italian, related to the dimensions of ethics, wellbeing, and environmental awareness. These were then partly re-introduced in English. More specifically, the case of reborrowing of slow within the context of movements (slow fashion, slow tourism, etc.) has quite likely been influenced by the Italian SFM. As a matter of fact, this process of reborrowing involves both acquisition and loss in meaning in both languages. This seems to be a relevant phenomenon in a global context of constant linguistic contact where English appears to play a relevant role as a global language.

Barriers to adoption of slow tourism: An innovation resistance theory perspective

AbstractSlow tourism is a recent concept in the travel and tourism industry. It offers rejuvenation and immersion in local culture to travelers along with environmental and economic benefits. While slow tourist destinations are picking up the pace and interest of consumers, they also face a lot of resistance from consumers. However, existing literature on slow tourism has essentially focused on travelers' adoption intentions and motivations toward slow tourism, scarcely investigating the sources of such resistance. Addressing this pertinent gap, this study applies the innovation resistance theory (IRT) to examine the barriers to consumer adoption intention toward slow tourism. A mixed‐method research approach with in‐depth discussions with slow travelers and a large‐scale cross‐sectional survey of 350 travelers from India is used to test the proposed model. Findings advocate that the usage and image barriers are the prime inhibitors of slow tourism adoption. As a moderator, consumers' environmental concern and an individualistic culture dampens the strength of the association between the barriers and slow tourism adoption intentions. Results present important ramifications for slow tourism marketers and researchers.

SLOW TOURISM AS A CONTEMPORARY TENDENCY IN THE TOURISM MARKET: IMAGE CONTENT AND GEOTAG ANALYSIS ON INSTAGRAM

Although it originated from the Slow Food and Cittaslow movements, slow tourism has spread to many spheres of tourism. The purpose of the paper is to investigate what people associate with slow tourism, and how and where they engage in slow tourism. Social media content analysis on Instagram, using hashtag #slowtourism, was performed in the research. The general conclusion is that people mostly associate slow tourism with different forms of architecture and landscape, and to lesser extent with transport and food. Also, there was significant content variation within the architecture and landscape categories, suggesting that people associate different types of architecture and tourism destinations with slow tourism. When it comes to location, the majority of photos were taken in Italy, which is not surprising, considering that Slow Food and Cittaslow movements originated in this country.

Sustainable rural development through slow tourism images: A case study of Gaochun International Cittàslow in China

As urbanization rapidly progresses, rural areas are being increasingly recognized as havens for individuals seeking a slower pace of life. Despite the growing interest in slow tourism as a travel modality, there is a lack of rural destinations that have successfully established slow tourism as their primary image. This research focuses on Gaochun International Cittàslow in China, including a mixed-method approach to investigate how rural areas can cultivate a slow tourism image to attract visitors. This paper introduces a new conceptual framework for rural China's slow tourism image, termed the bullseye framework. This framework divides the image of slow tourism into three concentric layers: experiential foundation, interactive framework, and value resonance. Compositional analysis reveals a certain mismatch between the promotion of the image of slow tourism by the government and tourism companies and the perception of tourists. This mismatch is particularly evident in promoting an eco-original lifestyle, preserving folk culture, and creating a slow-paced living atmosphere. Therefore, the government and tourism companies must more accurately understand the needs of tourists to formulate more effective promotion strategies.

A Systematic Literature Review on Slow Tourism and Its Implications to the Uttarakhand State of India

This paper explores how slow tourism might promote sustainability in India. Slow tourism is a sustainable travel strategy that prioritizes high-quality travel experiences above quantity and aims to protect the environment, promote local culture, and increase travelers' happiness. This study examines the main ideas, themes, and behaviors related to slow tourism through a thorough literature assessment. It assesses their applicability to India's socio-cultural and ecological contexts. It draws attention to the potential of slow tourism to promote sustainable development through strengthening local economies, protecting the environment, and cultivating an awareness of the natural and cultural history of the region. The report also evaluates the potential and challenges for slow tourism in India and makes recommendations for future study and policy formation. This study highlights slow tourism's potential to advance sustainability in India's tourist industry, using Uttarakhand as a relevant case study.

Can co-creating a “slow destination” image boost sustainability?

The aim of this study is to determine whether a “slow tourism” image, coupled with value co-creation, can help develop sustainable tourist destinations. The study adapts a “slow destination image” scale and proposes that online value co-creation can be a valid strategy in the quest to encourage pro-environmental behaviors among visitors. A quantitative empirical study is conducted on a sample of Spanish domestic tourists (n = 681) and a covariance-based structural equation modeling analysis is performed. The findings of the study add value to the literature, providing empirical evidence that a “slow destination” image has a positive effect on tourist pro-environmental behavior and that online value co-creation has a positive and significant effect on “slow destination” image and tourist pro-environmental behavior. The study will also be of practical use to destination/tourism agents, both public and private, by indicating how to develop a type of tourism—slow tourism—and a marketing strategy—online value co-creation—that are useful for building sustainability and applicable to any tourist destination.

Dwelling with sustainable pedagogy aboard Amtrak: pathways for transdisciplinary and affective general education

ABSTRACT Intersecting pressures within higher education ask geographers to be ever-more applied, global, community-engaged, field-based, and sustainable. Particularly within the liberal arts education systems, we navigate these pressures for both students seeking geography degrees and those completing their general education. While aspirational if often economically driven, these goals are in some ways contradictory. How can a course be both field and community based? How can a program deliver global and sustainable experiences? Where is the balance between applied practice and critical theory? Focusing beyond these high-level questions, while nevertheless engaging with them, we question the very possibility of drawing upon the legacy of community-based field research to offer a study away experience to students that not only teaches sustainable tourism, but practices it. Using autoethnographic fieldnotes and student surveys, we ask how field-based programs may show significant curricular application both within and beyond geography. We do so via a case study of our Amtrak Tourism: Trains, Cities, and Sustainability domestic faculty-led study away program which seeks to simultaneously practice and teach multiple forms of place-based sustainable-tourism. Our findings point towards the significance of slow tourism and dwelling as key components necessary in navigating both the pedagogical and touristic paradoxes programs such as our face.

Creativity and digital strategies to support food cultural heritage in Mediterranean rural areas

Creativity and digital strategies to support food cultural heritage in Mediterranean rural areas

Floating Market-Based Slow Tourism: Harnessing Climate-Based Entrepreneurship towards Community Development in the South-Western Region of Bangladesh

Purpose: Slow tourism is a new, alternative form of tourism competing with mass tourism, as tapping its full potential can be utilised in riverine and flood-prone countries. The key purpose of this study is to find the elements of slow tourism in the southwestern part of Bangladesh, known for its serene floating market, and assess its features that are compatible with the principles of slow tourism. 
 Methodology: This research adopted a qualitative approach. Qualitative methods such as narrative interviews, key informant interviews and FGDs were used to collect primary data. The southern region of Bangladesh, is famous for floating market and was selected as a study site.
 Findings: To incorporate the floating market through the broader lens of “Slow Tourism”, synthesising the attributes of slow tourism was significant. As the attributes of the floating market supported the characteristics of slow tourism to a certain degree, the floating markets and adjacent areas were a suitable premise for developing the concept of slow tourism.
 Originality: Since there hasn’t been ample research on slow tourism in Bangladesh, this study can transform the perception of conventional tourism into alternative tourism. It provides tourists with spiritual tranquillity in the desired destinations of floating markets and a leeway to connect with local people, history and cultural products rendering a mutual reciprocity for future research.

Digital reactivation of territories through geospatial cultural itineraries: the VIDA-HTL web application

The significant imbalances between human settlements and their surrounding environments, stemming from sector-specific policies and urban regional planning tools, constitute a primary factor in the resilience and responsiveness of territories in crisis scenarios. Within this context, the promotion of territorial heritage values emerges as a crucial means for the reactivation of vulnerable areas. Furthermore, the utilisation of technological resources, such as Geographic Information Systems (GIS), has proven to be highly effective in managing cultural landscape areas. This contribution aims to enhance the valorisation of territorial heritage through the geolocation of a system of architectural and archaeological assets of public interest, and by enabling the flexible design of cultural itineraries within the framework of slow tourism. For this purpose, a replicable methodology for the construction of a WebGIS application has been proposed. This methodology has been put into practice in the territorial area of the lower Guadalquivir River in Spain, which encompasses 73 municipalities and one UNESCO World Heritage Site, all interconnected by rural areas. A four-stage plan has been followed for the construction of the VIDA-HTL web application: (1) conceptualisation; (2) development; (3) technical verification; and (4) social viability. The fundamental approach of the web application is based on the comprehensive integration of subsystems related to cultural heritage on one hand, and to tourist and environmental services on the other. Two main functions for the exploration of cultural assets and designing cultural routes have been designed, which complement other capabilities implemented in the web application. As a result of a detailed standardisation process, 981 cultural assets and 43 supplementary data layers have been georeferenced and included in the web application, with customised itineraries available for planning within the study area. Additionally, 49 thematic cultural itineraries are proposed. Finally, the web application is complemented with the development of a collaborative hub, which encourages its use and enhances its capabilities. It is concluded that digital tools, such as that proposed, foster knowledge and valorisation of territorial cultural heritage, while contributing to greater local development. In this way, they function as a counterbalance to the development of metropolises and the global economy, thereby improving levels of regional resilience.

Slow Tourism and Local Development as Agents of Revaluation of Cultural and Natural Heritage in Lacandonas Communities, Community Case: Lacanja Chansayab

Slow Tourism and Local Development as Agents of Revaluation of Cultural and Natural Heritage in Lacandonas Communities, Community Case: Lacanja Chansayab