Sustainable Tourism Activities Research Articles

Open innovation big data analytics and its influence on sustainable tourism development: A multi-dimensional assessment of economic, policy, and behavioral factors

This study investigates the increasingly important issue of sustainable tourism development through the lens of Big Data analytics, economic considerations, and policy frameworks. Guided by the Theory of Planned Behavior, we formulated seven hypotheses to explore how these variables impact attitudes, subjective norms, perceived behavioral control, intentions, and actual engagement in sustainable tourism. Using a questionnaire-based survey we collected data from N=398 respondents and employing Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) for data analysis, we found substantial evidence supporting our hypotheses. Findings revealed that Big Data analytics significantly influence attitudes towards sustainable tourism. Economic factors shape societal norms and expectations regarding sustainable tourism, whereas policy frameworks impact individuals' perceived control over sustainable tourism activities. The study also confirmed that positive attitudes towards sustainable tourism led to higher intentions to engage in such practices, which in turn are predictive of actual engagement. Furthermore, societal norms and perceived behavioural control were found to be significant predictors of both the intention to engage in and the actual engagement with sustainable tourism practices. Overall, the results indicate that Big Data analytics play a significant role in shaping attitudes and behaviors towards sustainable tourism. Moreover, economic and policy considerations were also found to be key determinants. This research not only fills a scholarly gap but also provides actionable insights for policymakers and business stakeholders in the tourism sector.

Improving Cultural Sustainable Tourism: Evidence of Saba Budaya Baduy from Baduy Tribe, Indonesia

Summary Baduy Cultural Tourism is the activity of visiting the Baduy Tribes in Indonesia, which potentially threatens the resilience of the Baduy’s culture. Responding to this, the Baduy Customary Institution changed the nomenclature of Baduy Cultural Tourism to Saba Budaya Baduy . This case study explores the value and specialty of Saba Budaya Baduy as the identity of Baduy Tribes, to analyze the potential of threats and the cultural resilience from the usage of Baduy Cultural Tourism and Saba Budaya Baduy nomenclatures. It explores the values of Saba Budaya Baduy as the effort of cultural resilience to realize cultural sustainable tourism. This qualitative research is based on tourism anthropology and social psychology perspectives in line with the interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) technique. The initial findings indicate that Saba Budaya Baduy is guided by the principle of fostering a strong relationship between hosts and guests, rooted in the cultural values of the Baduy Tribe. This approach aims to enhance the representation of the Baduy Tribe and improve the overall experience for visitors engaging in activities with the tribe. The results also highlight how psychological resilience, in responding to external threats, is reflected in the Baduy indigenous people, who are obedient in maintaining and implementing their ancestral traditions. Finally, Saba Budaya Baduy is oriented toward the social, cultural, tourism economy, and environmental resilience dimension of visiting activities within the Baduy Tribe. Therefore, Saba Budaya Baduy can realize and improve cultural sustainable tourism which is oriented toward cultural resilience and sustainable tourism activities. Information © The Authors 2024

Mega-infrastructure development, tourism sustainability and quality of life assessment at world heritage sites: catering to COVID-19 challenges

PurposeMega-infrastructure development plans pave the way for policies to upgrade the infrastructure, environmental management and different aspects of locals’ well-being. These developmental dynamics can positively affect rural tourism including heritage sites destinations. The quality of life of local people can be linked to this positive developmental change through long-term and sustainable economic revitalization projects. In terms of this process, developing large-scale infrastructure and incorporating tourism sustainability can improve the quality of life-related to different dimensions that are critical to the community's well-being. Therefore, researchers have attempted to address this issue.Design/methodology/approachData were collected between September and October 2020. The study sample size was the residents of Zhabagly village, including Zhabagaly, Abaiyl and 115 Railway settlements. Moreover, the residents were older than 18 years. A systematic random sampling technique was utilised to reach the targeted sample size and the researchers received 243 responses from the locals. Structural equation modelling (SEM) was used for analysis.FindingsThe findings from the structural equation modelling suggest that sustainable tourism increases due to the positive effect of mega-infrastructure development and positively impacts the locals' quality of life. Notably, no direct effect of mega-infrastructure development on quality of life reveals the pivotal role of sustainable tourism. Therefore, during the COVID-19 period, the dimensions of sustainable tourism – economic, market, socio-cultural and environmental – played a role in securing the positive impact of mega-infrastructure development on the locals’ quality of life.Research limitations/implicationsThis research highlighted the fact that when infrastructure projects are implemented to their full potential, they will generate sustainable tourism activities, provide eco-adventure activities, relax, treat signatories and boost the economy of all stakeholders. The study used AMOS to test the hypotheses. Qualitative research methods, including interviews with citizens, government officials and tourism managers, require further study.Practical implicationsThe infrastructural development on a mega-scale means building an upscaling tourism ecosystem. This ecosystem is marked by the availability of drinking water, waste and energy management facilities that support the elevation of living material, community, health, safety and emotional well-being. It reflects the policy-level implications for future Belt and Road initiatives (BRIs). The tourism industry's resilience during COVID-19 has practical lessons for other industries.Originality/valueLarge-scale infrastructure construction must create favourable conditions for the rapid development of tourism. The availability of clean water, waste and energy management facilities contributes to the food production, social cohesion, physical and mental health and general well-being of the ecosystem. This is one of the few studies that used sustainable tourism as a mediator between the impact of large infrastructure projects and their impact on the quality of life of locals during the COVID-19 pandemic. Aksu-Zhabagly, a World Heritage Site in Kazakhstan, was the site of this field study.

Tourism on the roof of the world: Socio-ecological impacts of tourism on the Indian Trans-Himalaya

Tourism is a rapidly developing industry in ecologically sensitive remote areas, especially in developing countries. Although a lucrative livelihood alternative, it is often responsible for degrading the environment and stratifying the socio-economic setup, if not managed prudently. We assessed the impact of tourism on ecological integrity and local livelihood in wetlands of Changthang Wildlife Sanctuary (CWLS), Indian Trans-Himalaya. Change in behaviour of wetland birds was studied using flight initiation distance (FID) approach to understand the ecological sensitivity of CWLS. We evaluated livelihood contribution of tourism and attitude of local people towards tourism as a futuristic livelihood opportunity using questionnaire-based interviews and focus group discussions. Although traditional communities of CWLS see tourism as a livelihood opportunity; they are still sceptical about its effectiveness and indicated leakage of tourism benefits. People were also dubious about its impact on their socio-cultural and environmental structure. FID estimates have shown level of sensitivity among wetland birds towards presence of tourists. We recommend, site-specific FID based ‘minimum approach distances’ of most sensitive species for delineating buffers around wetlands to ensure no disturbance to waterbirds. Community managed nature-based tourism is suggested to maximise the tourism benefits to local people. Prototypical sustainable tourism activities should be endorsed in the region that can elicit advancement of local economy and efficacy of conservation efforts.

A Review to Overrecreation on Effects and Future Perspectives

Overrecreation is emerging as a new concept that ecological environment and sustainable tourism activities have faced in recent years. There are some negativities such as uncontrolled growth, density and unplannedness brought about by this development. Recreational activities carried out without considering these problems can lead to discussions at both the national and international levels after a certain period of time. The problems that can be caused by the intense interest in recreational activities in destinations have brought up the issue of "overrecreation", which is becoming increasingly important in the literature. This research presents the foreseen future perspectives on the subject by addressing the basis, effects and consequences of overrecreation. With this research, it is aimed to contribute to overrecreation, which is limited in the related literature. As a result of the research, it is understood that scientific studies on the subject are insufficient and authorized institutions do not act sensitively. While it is understood that the subject is expressed in a very limited way in the relevant literature, it is observed that the negative effects are not taken into account. In the field of application, it is understood that the large number of participants and possible harm to the environment are ignored due to commercial concerns.In the light of the results obtained, some suggestions are presented and attention is drawn to the issue of overrecreation.

Tourists as Stakeholders. For a Better Tourist Involvement in Promoting Sustainable Tourism

The development of tourism activities will be achieved, in line with global and regional policies, by promoting sustainable development and increasing stakeholders’ involvement. Beyond the affirmation of principles, it is necessary to establish concrete methods for integrating tourists, as stakeholders, into the decision-making process of tourism companies and for educating tourists in the choice of sustainable tourism destinations and activities. This article aims to review some possible methods for educating and involving tourists in sustainable tourism principles and behaviours, with reference to the measures already undertaken by large groups of tourism establishments.

Young Segment Attitudes towards the Environment and Their Impact on Preferences for Sustainable Tourism Products

This paper aims to understand better how attitudes towards the environment could influence preferences and willingness to pay for the development of sustainable tourism products on the Spanish island of Gran Canaria. A hybrid choice model is estimated to analyse how different latent constructs related to environmental concerns affect individuals’ preferences for a set of sustainable tourism activities. The data used in the analysis are obtained from a discrete choice experiment where different scenarios with nature-based tourism packages are created. A set of measurement indicators allowed us to gain insight into the underlying latent structure regarding the individuals’ attitudes towards the environment. The analysis consists of integrating these attitudes into a choice model, focusing on a market segment primarily composed of potential customers who are young residents and non-residents. The results reveal significant heterogeneity in preferences and willingness to pay for the various activities under study when attitudinal latent factors are incorporated into the model. Our findings provide valuable insights for researchers, policymakers, and practitioners promoting sustainable tourism products.

Conservation and Education in Spanish Geoparks: Exploratory Analysis of Land Stewardship Experiences and Valuation Proposal through Outdoor Education

Advances in research on environmental problems and public awareness of them have led to renewed concern about the need to establish mechanisms and figures to protect and manage sites so that geoecological processes remain outside the dynamics of anthropic occupation. This research has been approached from an inductive and qualitative perspective based on case studies to examine the articulation of the Spanish geoparks, their dynamics, and the experiences of private valorization in them. Geological heritage is seen as a lever for the promotion of the territory. In all cases, although the geological–geomorphological–paleontological–environmental resources must be significant, this designation aims to enhance the value of all assets, both natural and cultural, conceiving the geopark not as a figure of environmental protection but as a “figure to promote local development”. A total of 48 land stewardship initiatives were identified in 11 of the 15 Spanish geoparks. The most significant presence of initiatives was found in the geoparks of Catalonia, followed by the Lanzarote Geopark. No nature-based schools are located within geoparks, except for Wild Me in Central Catalonia. However, the presence of nature-based schools in biosphere reserves (BRs) seems to be more common. Framing alternative proposals, such as nature-based schools in these areas and using land stewardship in their operation, can become an opportunity to protect a region’s geological and cultural heritage and improve local communities’ quality of life through sustainable and responsible economic and tourism activities. Early-years education in the natural environment facilitates the acquisition of long-term pro-environmental skills, competencies, and behaviors that last into adulthood and act as multipliers for others.

Cultural and Wellness Tourism: The Potential of Yoga, Meditation and Self-Purification Ceremony

Cultural and wellness tourism is one of the tourism assets that can be developed to support sustainable tourism. Yoga, meditation, and self-purification are components of Balinese culture that are practised by many Indonesians and foreigners alike. Yoga, meditation, and self-purification activities can be used to promote cultural and wellness tourism to attract domestic and foreign tourists. This research was conducted to determine whether yoga, meditation, and self-purification activities support cultural tourism in Bali. The research method used is a qualitative method where data were collected through interviews and field observations. The data were then analyzed descriptively. This study found that yoga, meditation, and self-purification activities can be used to promote cultural and wellness tourism in Bali. This research has implications that yoga, meditation, and self-purification activities can be designed to be used for sustainable cultural tourism activities and can also be used for attractive promotional media.

Attractive Landscape Features as Drivers for Sustainable Mountain Tourism Experiences

Mountains are perceived as places of biodiversity, as attractive places with breathtaking aesthetic views and epitomized by their unique landscape features. As mountains are the second most demanded outdoor destination category at a global level after beaches and islands, the steady growth of tourism places high pressure on sensitive mountain ecosystems. As can be observed from tourism practice in mountain environments, the distribution of tourism activities is highly uneven. In the Alps, one of the best-known regions with relentless tourism growth, a substantial concentration of tourism intensity can be traced to specific locations and valleys, whereas other parts have to cope with trends of marginalization. In this situation, many concerned stakeholders have long advocated for more balanced economic and tourism development. The initiative of “Mountaineering Villages” promoted by the Alpine Convention is one of a few respective actions to shift perspectives and persuade tourists to engage in sustainable tourism activities. The paper explores how these activities are linked to the balanced use of cultural landscapes and the narratives that are exposed as convincing development models in these regions.

Sustainable Tourists Behaviour on Environmental Aspects in Pangandaran Beach

This study aims to determine how the level of tourist behavior in environmental aspects of sustainable tourism activities and is useful for reducing the negative impact of environmental pollution on Pangandaran Beach by adjusting actions that need to be taken in the future. This study uses a descriptive quantitative method through a questionnaire with the contents of the questionnaire consisting of the realm of knowledge (knowledge), the realm of attitude (attitude), and the realm of action or (practice) which have been tested for validation and reliability of 30 respondents. Then the research sources used in this study are primary data and secondary data. Research respondents were 100 tourists who visited Pangandaran Beach from 2020 to 2022. Based on the results of the study, it was found that all sub-variables were in the high category on the continuum line, but this is contrary to the phenomenon that occurred on Pangandaran Beach, there are still many tourists who litter. However, tourists feel that sustainable tourism activities are important to do so as not to have a negative impact on the environment on Pangandaran Beach. The sub-variable that has the highest average score is the knowledge sub-variable so that it can be interpreted that tourists' knowledge about sustainable tourism is higher than attitudes and actions, especially in the action sub-variable which is the sub-variable with the lowest score which can be caused by several factors. factors such as education or age.

Status of homestay tourism in Indian Himalayan region: Analysis of customer review and policy support for sustainable tourism

Homestays, which have emerged as a popular idea in the growing tourism industry, act as the most suitable alternative to encourage sustainable tourism activities in the Indian Himalayan Region (IHR). Homestay tourism not only provides economic benefits to rural communities but also promotes local art, architecture, traditions, and food habits. The objective of this study was to determine the distribution of homestays in the IHR and to evaluate and compare homestay management facilities between states; between rural and urban homestays; and based on reviews and ratings from previous guests. The study included all of IHR’s states and union territories. The data for the number of homestays, ratings, and reviews of guests were taken from the popular travel booking sites with the help of a data extracting tool. According to the findings, Himachal Pradesh had the highest number of homestays (968), while Tripura had the least number of homestays (3), compared to all other states and union territories. The homestays in Jammu and Kashmir received the highest ratings. In Himachal Pradesh, homestays were available at a variety of pricing points, ranging from 300 to 38,000 INR a night. Overall, it was observed that rural homestays were equally good as their counterparts in urban areas when the hospitality standards of the rural and urban homestays were compared. To boost the effectiveness of this programme in IHR, the study’s findings may be used to design local policies, rules, and incentive programmes for the areas in which they will be put into practise.

Role of energy utilization intensity, technical development, economic openness, and foreign tourism in environmental sustainability

Since intensive energy utilization in open macro economies has posed severe environmental challenges, mitigation of climatic adversities can be substantiated by advancing the technical development of those economies. We attempt to empirically analyze the varying effects of energy utilization intensity, technical development, economic openness, and foreign tourism industry on environmental degradation across the development levels of Chinese provinces. We extend the following cutting-edge contributions to the existing knowledge: First, the energy utilization intensity, technical development, economic openness, and foreign tourism industry are included in the statistical and conceptual “Stochastic Impacts by Regression on Population, Affluence and Technology (STIRPAT)” framework. Second, the principal component analysis is employed on 30 Chinese provinces' data to calculate the multidimensional environmental degradation index. The long-run estimates are obtained by employing an advanced continuously-updated-bias-corrected technique (CUBCT). The core results are as follows: Energy utilization intensity displayed a positive and statistically significant impact on environmental degradation, with the greatest degree of impact captured for the highest development level provinces. Technical development inhibited environmental degradation, with the most intensive influence in highly developed provinces and the least intensive one in the least developed provinces. Economic openness and the foreign tourism industry manifested homogeneous inverse U-shape links with environmental degradation across the aggregate panels. However, both variables showed a diversified range of varying results across provincial units. Based on our results, we suggest complementing the energy efficiency promotion with energy conservation to avoid the energy rebound effect of technical development. Also, adjusting the energy structure to increase the share of renewables and mitigate that of fossil fuels are recommendable options. Besides, we emphasize the strengthening of trade in green products and the proliferation of sustainable tourism activities to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations.

ADAPTATION STRATEGIES FOR IMPACTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE ON SUSTAINABLE TOURISM IN MALAYSIA

Climate change is a critical issue today which significantly affected not just the ecosystem of the community but also the sustainability of tourism industry. Climate change consequences on sustainable tourism are crucial because it increases the danger of species extinction, decreases freshwater, increases wildfire accidents, heat waves, and illnesses, all of which cause visitors to avoid certain places. This study surveyed the community awareness toward climate change and also their perceptions regarding the adaptation strategies for impacts of climate change on sustainable tourism in Malaysia. A number of 400 respondents living in the area of sustainable tourism in Malaysia which are directly and indirectly affected by climate change was selected to fulfill the objectives of the study. An online survey was implemented for the purpose of distributing questionnaire during the pandemic. The findings indicated that two domains derived as adaptation strategies and were named as enhancing awareness and capacity development and also diversification of sustainable tourism activities. This study significantly provides the policymakers a comprehensive adaptation plan to overcome the impacts of climate change on sustainable tourism in Malaysia through the community perspectives. It also assists the policymakers to strongly understand the consequences of adaptation measures of climate change for the future sustainability of tourism industry in Malaysia.

The importance of local community attitudes for sustainable tourism in protected areas: The case of Tikvara Nature Park, Serbia

Abstract One of the most important elements of tourism development is encouraging the participation of the local community. In order to encourage their participation, it is necessary to be aware of the attitudes of the local residents with respect to the development of tourism. The aim of this research is to determine the attitudes of the local community towards the development of sustainable tourism and ecotourism in the protected area Tikvara, along with the local residents’ level of nature protection and preservation in the Tikvara Nature Park. A survey was conducted among 301 residents and the results indicate that while good community support for sustainable tourism activities in each area captured by the survey (planning, participation, activities, and decision-making) exists, local residents’ attitudes are affected by their sociodemographic characteristics. Nonetheless, a large number of locals were happy to participate in protection programs and believed that the environment should be protected for future generations to enjoy the natural and cultural resources of this area. These findings should be considered when designing sustainable tourism management strategies, while respecting the needs and rights of the local community, as the willingness of locals to develop sustainable tourism is essential for the success of this sector.

Sustainable Tourism and Housing Development for Panggang Island, Seribu Islands Jakarta: Learning from Maldives' Sustainable Tourism Development

In 2016, Indonesia's tourism sector contributed 4 per cent of the Indonesian Gross Domestic Product (GDP). By 2019, the Indonesian Government wants to increase the tourism contribution to 8 per cent of GDP, requiring 20 million tourist visits. Ten "New Bali" destinations have been developed by President Jokowi, including the Seribu Islands Regency. Seribu Islands, located in Jakarta Capital Region, has various potentials and problems, such as economic disparity, rising seawater levels, declining fisheries production, limited water resources, and environmental pollution. Some Neighborhood Units (Rukun Warga) in the Seribu Islands are slums, including Panggang Island. Therefore, an Integrated Kampung Improvement (Muhammad Husni Thamrin Plus Program) was proposed. This study is prepared to identify potential concepts for spatial rezoning of Panggang Island, integrating sustainable tourism and housing neighbourhood redevelopment. The research problems are how can the community create a healthier and safer home, how can the sustainable 'tourist lodge' model in Panggang Island, and what concept of spatial rezoning of Panggang Island can be proposed. To understand the integration of tourism and residential development, we conducted Case Study Research (CSR) to learn from the Maldives Islands and implemented a qualitative approach of Strength, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats (SWOT) analysis for Panggang Island. Based on the SWOT, we propose a rezoning concept for sustainable Panggang Island, integrating potential tourism zones, new fisher's housing zones, polder infrastructures, utilities, and green zones. Further, in the COVID-19 Era, an additional review on personal tourism was conducted to propose sustainable tourism activities on the Panggang Island while reducing the spread of COVID-19.

The Phenomenon of (Sustainable) Tourism Activities on Farms in Slovenia During the COVID-19 Pandemic

The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic is the reason why the development trends of the tourism industry are changing today. The purpose of this article is to address issues of future tourism industry development, linking it to elements of sustainable development trends. The article presents the main elements of the sustainable concept of rural and farm tourism. Using the method of compilation and description, we want to check, based on statistical data related to farm tourism activities in Slovenia (before and during the COVID-19 pandemic), whether it is possible to detect development trends in Slovenia, in the direction of sustainability that are linked to the concept of farm tourism. This study also aims to identify a number of measures that can improve sustainability at the farming tourism level in Slovenia, in a post-COVID phase. According to the findings of numerous comparisons and statistical analysis, it can be stated that the future development trends show a great need to develop the decarbonisation of the industry, digitalisation of industry, and the involvement of the local population in the provision of services. In the present global situation, we have reached a point where it will be necessary to focus on sustainable and digital forms of the industry, in order to further post-COVID development of the tourism industry.

Brand Association of Ciletuh - Palabuhanratu Geopark Towards COVID-19 Pandemic and Sustainable Tourism

The purpose of this research is to investigate brand association of Ciletuh – Palabuhanratu UNESCO Global Geopark towards the COVID-19 pandemic and sustainable tourism. This research employs a qualitative research method with a case study and descriptive statistics model. The data used in this study are primary and secondary ones in which the techniques of data collecting is by observation, purposive random sampling with Likert scale, as well as literature studies. The results of this study show that Ciletuh-Palabuhanratu Geopark is not only a strategic place for tourism activities in the COVID-19 pandemic since it has characteristics to comply health protocols but also able to meet the tourism recovery during the pandemic. The tourism activities provided by Ciletuh-Palabuhanratu Geopark sites meet the concept of quality adventure tourism and in line with sustainable tourism with concerns on balancing the environmental conservation, local economic empowerment, as well as local social and culture preservation. The brand association of Ciletuh-Palabuhanratu Geopark is shown by its tourism product scope and quality which are associated to sustainable tourism, moreover the use occasion is line with the COVID-19 pandemic situation. The attributes of UNESCO Global Geopark also create the values of tourism activities during and after COVID-19 pandemic which meet the points of sustainable tourism activities and recoveries.

AN ASSESSMENT OF TOURIST KNOWLEDGE AND AWARENESS LEVEL TOWARDS THE ENVIRONMENT IN TUNKU ABDUL RAHMAN PARK, MALAYSIA

Tunku Abdul Rahman Park (TARP) is the first Marine Protected Area gazetted in Sabah, Malaysia in 1974. It is also one of the most famous tourist destinations in Sabah which experiences a high anthropogenic disturbance that could create major damage in the long run if not properly managed. TARP has been flooded by tourists receiving more than 500,000 tourists in 2018 and 2019. It is clear that tourism activity in TARP is one of the major contributions to anthropogenic disturbance. Therefore, it is essential for tourists to have a high level of awareness to conduct sustainable and eco-friendly tourism activity. In this study, we assessed the level of awareness and knowledge of the marine environment among tourists in TARP. Briefings by tour guides or companies were also assessed. Overall, results showed a low awareness level among tourists in TARP. This is somehow related to the fact that the briefing score by tour companies was low and only focused on promoting their company. TARP authority should implement a standard 5-minute video on the marine environment and assign more signage on the island in an effort to raise awareness among tourists.

Sustainable Tourism Planning: A Strategy for Oecusse-Ambeno, East Timor

This paper aims to explore the topic of sustainable tourism activity. The subject has emerged in the last two decades from discussions about the content of the report, Our Common Future. The decision to transform developing countries into new offerings for ecological and cultural tourism brings to the discussion the imprecise and conflicting definitions of the concept and the need to distinguish between the development of tourism, and sustainable tourism supported on the principles of sustainable development. The research reviews the environmental and social contexts of the Oecusse-Ambeno region in East Timor. It discusses the new sustainable tourism activities in the region with the need to ensure that the concept includes a strong base of perceived authenticity in the human context and the physical environment. The problems of the carrying capacity control of tourism development, and the term’s relevance to mass or conventional tourism, are strategically anticipated. The region is confronted with an offer that supports more peacefulness, and that is more aligned to the culture and the natural environment. This paper provides insight into the ways in which tourists perceive the authenticity of visitor attractions and highlights the importance of the cultural and environmental values of tourism destinations for strategic planning and marketing purposes.