As iconic vessels of the Aegean and Mediterranean coasts, gulets play a central role in Blue Voyage, presenting a valuable opportunity for advancing sustainable marine tourism through cleaner propulsion solutions. This study investigates the hydrodynamic performance and environmental impacts of two Bodrum Gulet-type hull forms, with overall lengths of 24 and 33.8 m, through Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) analyses and environmental sustainability assessments. The hydrostatic characteristics of the modeled hulls are determined, and flow characteristics, total resistance, and power requirements are evaluated. A case study based on a typical Blue Voyage route is conducted to evaluate the environmental implications of operating gulets with marine diesel oil (MDO), liquefied natural gas (LNG), and methanol (MeOH). Emission Ratio (ER) and Energy Efficiency Index (EEI) are calculated to quantify the performance of each fuel type. Results show that the current gulet hull forms can be optimized to reduce total resistance, enhancing the feasibility of adopting alternative fuels. The use of LNG and MeOH can lower CO₂ emissions by up to 9.8 % and 15.8 %, respectively, compared to MDO, with corresponding reductions in EEI of 8.3 % and 12.3 %. In addition, these benefits are found to be more pronounced for larger gulets operating at high occupancy levels. While LNG and MeOH offer notable environmental advantages, their application to gulets presents significant challenges, such as increased space requirements, safety considerations, and retrofitting constraints, making them more appropriate for new constructions or long-term planning.

From sustainable marketing to sustainable travel intention: Moral, experiential and cognitive pathways.

This research aims to develop a framework for cultural tourism investment strategies based on the philosophy of place, which involves understanding the ontological relationship between humans, culture, and landscape. So far, most tourism investment policies tend to focus on economic aspects, while the values of local wisdom and spirituality have not been sufficiently integrated into investment planning. This study emphasizes the importance of applying the philosophy of place and local wisdom, such as <i>Tri Hita Karana</i> (THK) in Indonesia, the concept of gross national happiness in Bhutan, and the Satoyama landscape approach in Japan, as foundations for sustainable tourism investment strategies. This study demonstrates that the philosophy of place can serve as an integrative principle to balance economic interests with cultural and ecological values. The key findings reveal a significant normative gap in Indonesia’s investment law, which fails to operationalize concepts of local wisdom such as THK. In response, this study proposes a public-private-people-place investment governance model, in which “place” is positioned as a living entity with moral rights, and recommends specific amendments to law number 25 of 2007 concerning Investment to mandate a cultural and spiritual impact assessment. The integration of local wisdom into cultural tourism investment strategies has proven to not only enhance sustainability but also strengthen the social legitimacy and global competitiveness of destinations.

The decline in foreign tourist arrivals in Bali in 2025 represents a critical issue, given ‎the strategic role of tourism in regional economic development and community welfare. This ‎phenomenon occurs amid intensified global tourism competition and significant changes in ‎international travel behavior. This study aims to examine the dynamics of declining foreign ‎tourist arrivals in Bali and to identify the key factors influencing this trend. A descriptive ‎qualitative approach was employed by analyzing tourism-related conditions and phenomena ‎without relying on interview-based data. The findings indicate that the decline in foreign tourist ‎arrivals is driven by an interplay of global and local factors, including global economic ‎uncertainty, shifts in tourist preferences, destination overcrowding, environmental concerns, and ‎the perceived quality of tourism experiences. The impact of this decline extends beyond the core ‎tourism sector to supporting industries and local communities that depend on tourism-related ‎activities. These findings emphasize the need for adaptive and sustainable tourism management ‎strategies to strengthen Bali’s competitiveness as an international tourism destination amid ‎evolving global tourism dynamics.‎

This study aims to examine the impact of green transport on sustainable tourism development, focusing on the tourist destination of Rugova. Tourism is an important sector for economic development and environmental protection, and the use of sustainable transport has an important role in minimizing negative impacts on the environment a nd improving the quality of life for residents. This study will analyze the green transport practices that have been implemented in Rugova and will assess the impact of these practices on preserving natural resources, promoting eco-tourism, and improving the image of the destination as a sustainable place for tourists. The methodology used in this study will include analysis of primary and secondary data, including interviews with tourism industry stakeholders and representatives of transport institutions. Local policies and strategies that support the use of sustainable transport will also be examined. This study has shown that, altho ugh there is great support and significant potential for the development of green transport in Rugova, there are still major challenges that need to be addressed. The expected results will help identify opportunities and challenges related to the integration of green transport in the development of sustainable tourism in Rugova, providing recommendations for improving transport infrastructure and policies that support sustainable tourism development in the region. This study will contribute to the field of tourism and environmental management by providing an in-depth analysis of the impacts that green transport can have on sustainable tourism development, with a special focus on an important destination like Rugova.

This study investigated the use of indigenous fruits and wild vegetables for treating common tropical ailments in Ilaro, Nigeria, with a focus on supporting sustainable tourism. The research was conducted over 12 months (January–December 2023) using an ethnobotanical approach that included site observations and plant specimen collection. Out of 120 questionnaires distributed, 100 were completed and returned,providing valuable information on locally used medicinal plants. Each species was documented with its family, botanical and local names, plant parts used, preparation techniques, dosage, and treatment duration. Plant identification began with common namesand was later confirmed using standard references such as Trees of Nigeria. The results recorded 34 wild vegetable species from 15 families and 22 native fruit trees from 16 families used to treat illnesses such as malaria, typhoid, ulcers, infertility, and skin diseases. These natural plant resources strengthen biodiversity, support cultural heritage, and offer opportunities for sustainable tourism Medi

This study examines residents’ perceptions of sustainable tourism and regional development in Great Rye Island, Slovakia, which is particularly well-suited for cross-border urban and rural tourism. The area’s development falls short of its potential, and we examined the reasons for this from the perspective of the attitudes of local residents. Drawing on social exchange theory, the research explores how local identity, satisfaction with services and infrastructure, and expectations for development shape attitudes toward sustainable tourism. A survey of 528 residents was conducted between January and March 2025. Participation in the research was voluntary and anonymous, and the respondents were selected randomly. Data were analyzed using IBM SPSS, and the following analytical techniques were applied: descriptive statistics, ANOVA, principal component analysis (PCA) and k-means cluster analysis. The research revealed moderate satisfaction with local conditions and that residents prioritize social, cultural, and educational development over commercial or tourism-related services. Besides, development initiatives are likely to gain stronger legitimacy and community support when they build on settlement or Great Rye Island identities rather than on more distant regional or national frames. Furthermore, the analysis identified five underlying factors and eight resident groups with distinct profiles. Results show that dissatisfaction with basic infrastructure - especially utilities, roads, and cleanliness - emerges as a common concern and a prerequisite for tourism development. Moreover, identity alone does not determine support for tourism; rather, attitudes are shaped by the interplay of satisfaction, expectations, and local identities. The findings highlight the heterogeneity of borderland communities and underline the need for tailored development strategies that combine infrastructural improvements with initiatives enhancing community cohesion, cultural vitality, and environmental quality.

Forest wellness tourism is an emerging form of nature-based tourism that leverages forest ecosystem services for health promotion while contributing to regional sustainable development. Although the integration of Strengths-Weaknesses-Opportunities-Threats (SWOT) analysis and the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) has been applied in tourism planning, their combination with quantitative strategic positioning remains underexplored in the context of forest wellness tourism development in emerging economy mountain regions. This study applies an integrated SWOT-AHP strategic positioning framework to assess the sustainable development of forest wellness tourism in Shangluo City, Qinling Mountains, China. Through multi-round Delphi consultation (n = 46 for factor identification;n = 28 for AHP pairwise comparisons), 18 factors were identified across four SWOT dimensions. AHP weighting revealed that the Strengths dimension received the highest overall weight (dimension weight = 0.3652), with ecological resource quality ranking as the highest-weighted individual factor (composite weight = 0.1175), followed by policy support frameworks (0.0985) and traditional wellness culture (0.0871). Infrastructure deficits constituted the most prominent weakness (composite weight = 0.0647, representing 53.96% of total Weaknesses weight). Four-quadrant strategic positioning yielded coordinates P(0.2454, 0.1706), an intensity coefficient ρ = 0.2989, and an azimuth angle θ = 34.82°, placing Shangluo in Quadrant I (Strengths-Opportunities) and suggesting a competitive strategy that leverages internal advantages to capitalise on external opportunities. Sensitivity analysis confirmed the robustness of this positioning across all tested scenarios (ρ ranging from 0.2632 to 0.3489; Quadrant I maintained throughout). All findings should be interpreted as expert-perceived strategic priorities derived from structured expert judgment, rather than as objectively verified empirical outcomes of actual tourism demand, ecological measurement, or economic impact assessment.The findings provide case-based insights into how ecological resource endowment and institutional capacity are perceived by domain experts to jointly shape tourism development priorities in China's western mountain regions, and illustrate one contextually grounded approach to reconciling economic development with ecological conservation in comparable mountain destination contexts.

ABSTRACT This study examines how institutional trust, social participation, and place-based identity shape sustainable tourism development in Mesara, Crete. The study is grounded in place-based development theory, institutional governance literature, and multi-level governance frameworks. The research adopts a predominantly quantitative design enriched with qualitative insights. Data were collected from 133 stakeholders across the tourism industry, agri-food production, public administration, academia, and civil society. Statistical analysis included correlation, analysis of variance, regression, and exploratory factor analysis. Findings indicate that institutional trust significantly strengthens sustainability perceptions, while social participation enhances acceptance of collaborative development models. Regional branding linked to gastronomy and agritourism is structured around cultural identity and institutional credibility, contributing to territorial cohesion.

Much has been written about the nomenclature of sustainable tourism education as a vehicle to prepare students for sustainability-centric careers and futures. Yet, despite the wide body of work surrounding the broad conceptualisations of sustainable tourism, the evaluation of sustainable tourism education has largely been nested in the perspectives of student feedback and outcomes. Through a critical collaborative ethnography reflection, we seek to unpack the current body of sustainable tourism education literature, the gaps that exist between theory and practice, and the best practices of how tertiary education can be redesigned toward more impactful and desired outcomes beyond institutional or governmental metrics.

ABSTRACT Culinary traditions play a vital role in shaping and preserving the cultural heritage of local communities. This study explores the influence of culinary education and public awareness on social norms, with local people's culinary culture as a mediator variable, specifically within the context of rural tourism in Guizhou, China. An exploratory mixed-method approach was adopted to address the research questions. 959 participants completed questionnaires, and structural equation modelling (SEM) was employed to test the research hypotheses. Furthermore, in-depth interviews were conducted with 10 selected participants to further validate the quantitative findings. The results demonstrate that culinary education significantly enhances public awareness and contributes positively to the development of local culinary culture. Local people's culinary culture positively benefited from both culinary education and public awareness. Although the culinary culture of local people does not significantly impact tourists’ social norms, both culinary education and public awareness have a strong and direct influence on these norms, as well as an indirect effect through the medium of culinary culture. Furthermore, the findings emphasize the necessity of strengthening educational programmes and conducting awareness campaigns centred on local culture to reinforce positive social norms and support sustainable rural tourism development.

Urban tourism has become a major driver of economic growth in cities, yet its long-term sustainability depends on effective planning and destination competitiveness. This study examines the economic impacts of sustainable urban tourism through an integrated framework that links tourism performance, planning strategies, and destination competitiveness. Using a secondary-data-based case study approach, the analysis draws on internationally recognized tourism statistics, urban tourism planning frameworks, and competitiveness indices to assess how tourism demand translates into economic outcomes in urban destinations. The findings indicate that tourism generates substantial economic benefits, including increased visitor expenditure and accommodation demand, but these benefits are unevenly realized across cities. Destinations with stronger planning capacity and governance structures are better able to manage tourism growth, mitigate negative impacts, and sustain economic gains. The results further demonstrate that destination competitiveness plays a mediating role by shaping the effectiveness of tourism development within broader urban systems. Challenges such as overtourism and resident dissatisfaction are found to be closely linked to planning and management limitations rather than tourism intensity alone. By integrating economic, planning, and competitiveness perspectives, this study contributes to the literature on sustainable urban tourism and provides practical insights for urban policymakers and planners. The findings highlight the importance of harmonised data, strategic planning, and governance capacity in achieving sustainable and competitive urban tourism development.

Urban agglomerations serve as a critical vehicle for advancing high-quality regional urbanization, with the Lanzhou-Xining (Lanxi) urban agglomeration representing an advanced stage of urbanization in western China. As a nationally significant urban agglomeration in the western region, the Lanxi urban agglomeration also functions as a vital ecological barrier. Studying the supply and demand dynamics of ecotourism in this area is therefore important for the development of ecotourism and for promoting sustainable regional tourism practices. Based on this premise, this study focuses on the supply and demand conditions of new urbanization and ecotourism across 19 cities (districts and counties) within the Lanxi urban agglomeration. An evaluation index system is developed to assess the development of regional new-type urbanization and ecotourism supply and demand. The study employs methods including the coupling coordination model, the obstacle degree model, and the geographical detector to examine the comprehensive development levels of the regional systems, their spatial and temporal distribution characteristics, and the associated obstacle factors. The results indicate the following: (1) During the study period, the average comprehensive development level of the three major systems within the Lanxi urban agglomeration exhibited a steady upward trend overall. (2) Over the study period, the degree of coupling coordination among the three systems shifted from moderate imbalance (with coordination values between 0.2 and 0.3) to mild imbalance (with coordination values between 0.3 and 0.4). Significant regional differences and spatial clustering were observed in the coupling coordination levels. The overall spatial distribution of new-type urbanization and ecotourism supply and demand in the Lanxi urban agglomeration generally presented a pattern characterized by higher values in the central area (Lanzhou and Xining) and lower values in the peripheral areas. (3) The four dimensions represented by eight influencing factors-namely tourism scale, tourism benefits, tourism resources, and infrastructure-are identified as key determinants influencing the coupled and coordinated development of regional new urbanization and ecotourism supply and demand.

Drawing on social contagion theory, this study conceptualizes value co-creation in group tours as a situational and episodic contagion process, operating in socially intensive yet temporally bounded contexts with limited normative stabilization. Across four complementary studies, including a field experiment and three scenario-based experiments, results show that tour guides’ value co-creation behaviors significantly enhance tourists’ value co-creation behavioral intentions. This effect is mediated by tourists’ perceptions of a value co-creation climate, defined as a transient, interaction-based construct reflecting rapidly formed shared perceptions within a specific tour experience rather than a stable organizational climate. The perceived climate significantly strengthens tourists’ participation behavioral intentions but does not significantly affect their citizenship behavioral intentions. In addition, trait cynicism negatively moderates the effects of tour guides’ value co-creation behaviors on both perceived climate and tourists’ value co-creation behavioral intentions. By demonstrating how contagion operates differently in short-term, experience-based tourism contexts, this study refines social contagion theory in guided tourism. Importantly, the findings suggest that tour guides function as critical leverage points for stimulating tourists’ value co-creation behavioral intentions and perceptions of a value co-creation climate, offering actionable implications for guide training and destination management aimed at fostering sustainable tourism outcomes.

This paper presents an extended investigation into the dynamics of sustainability perception, eco-brand trust, and brand loyalty within the context of eco-tourism. Drawing on a mixed-methods design comprising a quantitative survey of 247 eco-tourism consumers and 18 in-depth qualitative interviews, the study develops and tests a theoretical framework grounded in Expectation-Confirmation Theory and Brand Trust Theory. The quantitative findings reveal that sustainability perception (? = 0.421, p < 0.01), eco-motivation (? = 0.387, p < 0.01), and premium payment willingness (? = 0.312, p < 0.05) are significant positive predictors of eco-brand trust, which in turn exerts a strong positive influence on brand loyalty (? = 0.563, p < 0.001). Qualitative analysis identifies five overarching themes — authenticity, transparency, emotional value, digital engagement, and sustainability commitment — that enrich the quantitative model and explain the psychological mechanisms underpinning consumer loyalty. The study culminates in a novel 4-P Eco-Tourism Branding Strategy Framework and a Digital Engagement Funnel model, offering actionable guidance for practitioners, brand managers, and policy-makers. The paper contributes to the growing body of knowledge linking environmental values, trust-building, and long-term brand equity in the sustainable tourism industry. Keywords: Eco-tourism, Brand Loyalty, Sustainability Perception, Eco-brand Trust, Mixed Methods, Strategic Branding, Consumer Psychology, Green Marketing.

ABSTRACT This study investigates how residents of Sarapiquí, an emerging tourism destination, perceive sustainability and tourism, and what influences their willingness to engage in sustainable tourism development initiatives. Guided by the Norm Activation Model (NAM), the study employs a mixed-methods approach and draws perspectives from both sustainability and community-based tourism. Focus group findings reveal a strong understanding of sustainability and a generally positive sentiment toward tourism across various stakeholder groups. However, survey results highlight a gap between residents’ support for sustainable tourism and their actual intention to participate in related initiatives. The quantitative analysis also emphasizes the critical role of knowledge in shaping these intentions. Collectively, the findings question the applicability of NAM in this context, suggesting that resident sentiment is more closely tied to social norms in non-western settings. The study underscores the need for a more comprehensive, cross-cultural framework to better understand resident attitudes in developing and emerging destinations.

ABSTRACT Analyzing the causality between women’s empowerment and tourism sustainability has been a prominent challenge in numerous studies. These inquiries have predominantly focused on two perspectives: the impact of tourism development on women’s empowerment and, vice versa, and the influence of empowerment on sustainable tourism. However, examining this issue is particularly crucial in societies grappling with unsustainable tourism development and substantial barriers to women’s empowerment. Hence, this study aimed to assess the current state of women’s empowerment and their contribution to sustainable tourism. This study uses a mixed research method to explore the relationship between sustainable tourism and women’s empowerment across four sections. The study’s findings indicate that the condition of tourism and its level of competitiveness are not favourable. Furthermore, women’s empowerment has encountered numerous obstacles across economic, social, cultural, political, psychological, and skill dimensions. The institutional environment and social-cultural factors emerge as pivotal in women’s empowerment. Ultimately, enhancing women’s empowerment across economic, political, and social realms can contribute to the sustainability of tourism. Hence, the active participation of women in the institutional environment can contribute to both the empowerment and sustainability of tourism.

This study is motivated by the importance of local community participation in community-based tourism development, particularly at the Pura Lempuyang Tourist Attraction in Karangasem Regency, Bali. Although local communities have been involved in various tourism activities, the level of participation and distribution of roles in decision-making remain important issues to be examined. This research aims to analyze the forms of participation, levels of participation, and the impacts of local community participation in the development of tourism at Pura Lempuyang. This study employs a descriptive approach using both qualitative and quantitative data. Data were collected through in-depth interviews, observation, documentation, and questionnaires distributed to local community members. Qualitative data were analyzed thematically using NVivo, while quantitative data were analyzed using a Likert scale based on Arnstein’s ladder of participation (1969). The findings indicate that community participation is predominantly characterized as induced participation, with the main involvement occurring in operational and economic aspects of tourism. The level of participation is situated at the degrees of tokenism, particularly at the informing stage, where the community is involved through information dissemination and consultation but has limited influence on decision-making processes. Community participation also generates positive impacts on economic, social and cultural aspects, including increased income, expanded business opportunities, strengthened social interaction, and reinforcement of cultural and religious values. This study concludes that community participation in Pura Lempuyang has developed but still requires strengthening in terms of authority distribution, equitable benefit-sharing, and involvement in strategic planning to ensure more inclusive and sustainable community-based tourism development.

The global tourism industry is transitioning toward high-quality, sustainable development, making cross-organizational collaboration between hotel enterprises and Destination Management Organizations (DMOs) essential for optimizing service systems and enhancing regional competitiveness. Despite its importance, existing research largely overlooks the multi-dimensional structure of these strategic partnerships and their internal mediation mechanisms, particularly within less developed regions like Western China. To address this gap, this study investigates Guizhou Province, a prime example of cultural and tourism integration. Employing a quantitative cross-sectional design, data were collected from 358 stakeholders, including hotel managers, DMO staff, tourists, and residents. Grounded in synergy, service innovation, and resource-based theories, the research evaluates a theoretical model utilizing Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA), correlation analysis, and group comparisons. The empirical findings reveal that hotel-DMO strategic partnerships comprise four core synergistic dimensions: information sharing, benefit distribution, innovation cooperation, and resource integration. These collaborations directly enhance tourism performance and indirectly elevate service quality, fostering sustainable growth through continuous service innovation. Notably, the effectiveness of these partnerships remains consistent across diverse regional types, indicating that unified provincial policies successfully mitigate regional disparities. This study advances multi-stakeholder collaborative governance literature and refines synergy theory applications in sustainable tourism. Practically, it delivers actionable, standardized cooperation strategies for regional stakeholders and offers a valuable framework for other resource-rich inland provinces pursuing high-quality tourism development.

ABSTRACT Authenticity is widely recognized as a core principle in cultural heritage tourism, underpinning meaningful visitor experiences and the long-term sustainability of heritage sites. Despite extensive academic debate, research has predominantly focused on visitor (demand-side) perspectives, overlooking the role of institutional actors in shaping authenticity. Addressing this gap and contributing to a growing body of international supply-side scholarship, this study empirically examines authenticity from the perspective of heritage officials at liberation heritage sites in South Africa. Using thematic content analysis, five interrelated themes were identified: architectural restoration and site integrity, preservation of original physical features, accurate historical representation, aesthetic appreciation, and emotive and narrative connections. The findings reveal that authenticity is not merely an experiential outcome but a deliberately managed, multidimensional construct embedded in material preservation, narrative accuracy, and interpretive practices. By foregrounding heritage officials as key agents in constructing and mediating authenticity, the study advances supply-side authenticity theory. Practically, the results highlight the importance of a balanced, context-sensitive approach to authenticity, which enhances interpretive credibility, strengthens visitor engagement, and supports more sustainable and distinctive heritage tourism strategies.