Tourism Development Policies Research Articles

The road back to performance: Promise and precarity of tourism development for the lives of Siem Reap dancers

Visitors at an evening event in Cambodia’s Angkor National Park gasp as red light reveals dancers framed by the windows of an ancient temple. Apsaras come to life, hyperextended fingers moving through a sequence of offering. While they embody celestial beings of the past for cultural tourism productions, these Siem Reap performers are in a position of precarity in Cambodia where tourism development plans simultaneously create performance opportunities and relocate the homes of artists living in the Angkor Protected Zones. The COVID pandemic left the province economically adrift. To bring hope back, massive development projects were completed that project to serve up to 18 million visitors (up from 6 million pre-Pandemic). These are just the beginnings of the Siem Reap Tourism Development Master Plan 2021–2035 which aims to increase the quality of tourism through a stronger infrastructure, new tourism products including performance activities, and a focus on sustainability. While the return of tourism and the re-emergence of touristic performance productions is a sign of hope for Siem Reap’s dancers, the focus of sustainability has been a source of precarity, particularly for those living in the Angkor National Park area where thousands of residents have been “voluntarily relocated.” This article uses poetry and prose to examine the relationships that tourism performers have with the land and with development in Siem Reap amidst the glimmers of tourism resurgence post-pandemic bringing attention to the tensions between a global interest in sustainability and the impacts of tourism development policies on locals.

Evaluation of Tourism Development Policies in the Context of Empowering Local Communities in a Logic Model Perspective

Evaluation of Tourism Development Policies in the Context of Empowering Local Communities in a Logic Model Perspective

The Matching Relationship Between the Distribution Characteristics of High-Grade Tourist Attractions and Spatial Vitality in Xinjiang

The development of the tourism industry serves as a crucial pathway for guiding urban spatial vitality, making the study of the matching relationship between the spatial distribution characteristics of tourist attractions and regional spatial vitality particularly important for the advancement of the tourism sector. This study combines Amap POI data and Weibo sign-in data, employing various quantitative methods, including Kernel Density Estimation (KDE), Hotspot Analysis (Getis-Ord Gi*), and the Geographically Weighted Regression (GWR) model, to thoroughly explore the distribution characteristics of different grades of tourist attractions in Xinjiang and their matching relationship with spatial vitality. The findings indicate that AAAAA attractions are primarily concentrated in Urumqi and its surrounding areas, where spatial vitality highly matches the distribution of attractions. The distribution of AAAA attractions shows regional differences, exhibiting higher matching degrees in certain areas of southern and western Xinjiang, while some regions in northern Xinjiang demonstrate lower matching degrees. Conversely, AAA attractions are more widely distributed in remote areas, where the matching between vitality and attraction distribution is low, particularly in southern and eastern Xinjiang, revealing a notable mismatch between tourism resources and spatial vitality. By analyzing the matching relationship between tourism resources and spatial vitality, this study provides a scientific basis for optimizing the allocation of tourism resources in Xinjiang and enhancing regional tourism spatial vitality. Additionally, this study also offers valuable insights for tourism managers and planners to formulate more precise tourism development policies.

Renewable energy, regional tourism, and exports to tackle stagnant growth in developed economies

This study examines the effects of energy resources in the form of clean and unclean energy on the economic progress of 30 selected developed economies. This study used data from 1990 to 2020 and it employs the CS-ARDL method to obtain results. The results present that both clean and unclean energy significantly stimulate economic progress. The findings further expose that foreign investment resources in the form of inflow are significant factors that accelerate economic progress in developed economies. The results reveal that tourism development, capital accumulation, and exports are significant factors in boosting economic progress in the selected economies. Estimates from Dumitrescu and Hurlin's method for heterogeneous panels confirm the presence of the feedback-effect hypothesis for unclean energy, while the energy-conservation hypothesis holds for clean energy. This study suggests that targeting low-cost clean energy production is crucial for promoting economic growth and protecting the environment through carbon mitigation strategies. There is also a need to develop a policy framework that emphasizes the transformation of industry towards clean energy at a macro level. Furthermore, transitioning from unclean to clean energy may enhance economic progress by improving environmental quality norms in the selected developed economies. Finally, policies for tourism development, export improvement, and increased inflow of FDI should be directed towards fostering clean energy agreements and achieving environment-friendly economic progress in developed economies.

Implementation of religious and cultural tourism development policies in Penyengat island

The tourism development program on Pengenyat Island, Tanjungpinang City has been running with the aim of increasing public awareness about the importance of culture and religion. The aim of this research is to analyze the policy implementation model using Meter & Horn (1975) theory. This research method uses a descriptive-qualitative approach by studying related documents and conducting interviews with relevant informants. Data analysis uses triangulation techniques which are analyzed in depth. The research results show that the tourism development program on Penyengat Island has made a positive contribution to tourism development. Model in the Implementation Process of Meter & Horn (1975) Development Policy for Tourism Development on Penyengat Island on Policy Standards and Targets requires continuous evaluation and improvement, then resources are carried out such as training and increasing insight into both human resources and natural resources. The characteristics of the Implementing Organization have the potential to increase cooperation with the government and other related parties. Next, Inter-Organizational Communication is related to institutional capacity in decisions on Development Programs so that the importance of community participation in monitoring, then the Disposition or Attitude of the Implementer and the Implementing Activities that have been carried out must pay attention to the importance of the government playing an active role by paying attention in the early stages of the plan, providing guidance and education to the community . Finally, socio-economic and political environmental conditions need to pay attention to the customs and cultural awareness of local communities that must be maintained in the policy implementation process. The conclusion of this research is that local governments need to increase public awareness about the importance of culture and religion through Tourism Development programs that are in accordance with local culture and traditions.

Unraveling Factors Influencing Local Willingness to Participate in Sustainable Komodo Conservation and Protected Area Tourism

Komodo National Park is at the forefront of balancing environmental conservation with the challenges and opportunities of sustainable tourism. This research delves into the attitudes and engagement levels of the local communities within Komodo's distinctive ecological context, aiming to unravel the factors that drive or hinder their involvement in sustainable tourism and conservation activities. Through Exploratory Factor Analysis, we distilled key influences on community engagement, followed by a K-Mean Cluster Analysis to segment the community by their involvement levels. Logistic Regression was then employed to explore the likelihood of continued participation in these initiatives. The analysis identified three primary factors affecting community participation: the degree of involvement in sustainable tourism activities, the extent of community and environmental involvement, and the level of awareness regarding tourism development policies. The Cluster Analysis illuminated diverse engagement patterns across demographic lines, revealing how differences in settlement type, income levels, marital status, gender, and age contribute to varied participation rates. Interestingly, the logistic regression pointed to a paradox where higher engagement in sustainable tourism correlates with a lower probability of future participation, hinting at possible sustainability fatigue among highly active community members. These intricate dynamics of community engagement in sustainable tourism within Komodo National Park, highlight the importance of tailored, demographic-specific approaches to foster inclusive participation in conservation efforts. The insights gained underscore the complexity of promoting sustainable tourism in sensitive ecological areas and offer critical recommendations for policymakers and conservation stakeholders aiming to enhance sustainable development in Komodo and similar settings globally.

Implementation of The Lake Paisu Pok Tourism Development Policy (Challenges and Recommendations for Enhancing Tourist Attraction)

This research aims to analyze the implementation of the flagship tourism development policy at Lake Paisu Pok. The research method used is a case study with a qualitative approach. Data were collected through in-depth interviews with various stakeholders, field observations, and documentary studies. The results of the research indicate that the implementation of the flagship tourism development policy at Lake Paisu Pok has achieved several achievements but still faces several challenges, such as a lack of supporting infrastructure, suboptimal coordination among relevant agencies, and ineffective tourism promotion and marketing. Based on these findings, it is recommended that local governments and various stakeholders improve coordination and cross-sectoral cooperation, enhance supporting infrastructure, and improve tourism promotion and marketing to enhance Lake Paisu Pok's attractiveness as a flagship tourism destination.

Malaysian homestay experience programme: A qualitative investigation on operator's crisis management practices and resiliency strategies

Understanding the specific crisis management practices and resilience strategies homestay operators adopt during a crisis is critical. Currently, it is an area that remains under-researched despite the growing importance of resilience in community-based tourism operations. As such, this study investigates the crisis management practices and strategies for resiliency that homestay operators adopt during a health crisis. This qualitative study has been conducted via semi-structured interviews among ten prominent homestay operators in Malaysia. The thematic data analysis using an inductive approach was employed to ensure the transferability of the findings. The study found that marketing initiatives, pandemic prevention measures, maintenance practices, and government assistance were the best crisis management practices homestay operators could implement during the pandemic phase. Homestay operators have adopted four resilience strategies to survive after the pandemic: for other creative business opportunities, government assistance, use of technology innovation, togetherness in mitigating the pandemic, and industry engagement and collaboration. The results provide comprehensive strategies to the policymakers and industry stakeholders to strengthen homestay businesses in the future. Such understanding enables government efforts to maintain CBT sustainability, which is in line with the National Tourism Policy (2020–2030) and Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) 1 (No Poverty), 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth) and 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities). The results are also expected to assist homestay operators in re-strategizing and striving toward recovery and resiliency after the crisis.

Dampak Pariwisata Terhadap Kondisi Perubahan Sosial Masyarakat Suranadi

This research aims to analyze the impact of tourism on social changes in Suranadi Village, West Lombok. The village has experienced rapid tourism development, bringing both positive and negative impacts on the community's life. Positive impacts include economic growth, job creation, and the preservation of local culture. However, tourism also causes significant negative impacts, such as changes in cultural values, decreased religious practice intensity, changes in dressing styles, increased crime rates, and environmental damage. The research method used is descriptive qualitative with a case study approach, involving observation, interviews, and documentation studies. The results show that tourism development in Suranadi Village brings significant economic benefits but also requires ongoing efforts to address social and environmental challenges. Therefore, sustainable tourism strategies involving local communities, strict supervision of tourism activities, and environmental conservation programs are needed to ensure a balance between economic benefits and the preservation of local cultural values and environment. This research provides insights for stakeholders in formulating sustainable tourism development policies and strategies in Suranadi Village.

Stakeholder engagement, government policy, and tourist satisfaction

The tourism industry has a complex relationship between geography, and all-natural resources, human, so tourism can create problems in human life. Good management in the tourism industry can create benefits for the nation's economy such as foreign exchange income, business development, and employment opportunities. For the optimum goals, the tourism industry can establish good relations with stakeholders and government policy support. Aim to the research on the evaluation of the effect of stakeholder engagement in tourism development and government policy on tourist satisfaction in the Indonesian tourism industry. This research is based on quantitative to test the hypothesis affecting stakeholder engagement in tourism development and government policy on the Indonesian tourism industry. The sample size of the research 250 with propulsive sampling and the main instrument is a questionnaire. The data analysis to use examine hypothesis with structural equation modelling Amos 20 version. The result of the investigations shows that the stakeholder engagement in tourism development has not been able to provide a level of tourist satisfaction, but the government policies can be influenced by tourist satisfaction.

Analysis of The Effect of Cultural Tourism Development, Accessibility and Economic Policy on Tourism Competitiveness in Indonesia

Analysis of The Effect of Cultural Tourism Development, Accessibility and Economic Policy on Tourism Competitiveness in Indonesia

Balancing people-park conflict, conservation and tourism in Hainan Tropical Rainforest National Park

ABSTRACT The main aim of protected areas is biodiversity conservation, yet those areas are getting increasingly popular among tourists. Previous research indicates that creating protected areas strengthens management initiatives, which in turn causes park-people conflicts around the resources. This study focuses on community development issues within China's newly established Hainan Tropical Rainforest National Park. We aim to understand the relationship between residents’ individual development and their attitudes towards the park's construction. Through a qualitative multi-method approach utilising participant observation, field notes, 16 interviews, and three Ketso workshops with ten residents living and working within the park’s borders. The findings revealed three themes: tourism development, social welfare, and heritage policies, all highlighting economic tensions between the national park and the community. This study examines factors influencing park-people conflicts and offers policy recommendations for national parks. Subsequent research could utilise quantitative methods for additional empirical support.

An ecotourism suitability index for a world heritage city using GIS-multi criteria decision analysis techniques

The concept of ecotourism has experienced a significant surge in popularity over the past two decades, primarily driven by the multitude of adverse impacts associated with mass tourism. The objective of the study was to develop a comprehensive ecotourism suitability index to guide policymakers in implementing tourism development policies. Given the considerable appeal of the study area to both local and international tourists, it is essential to conduct a systematic evaluation to pinpoint suitable areas for ecotourism development. This necessity arises from the study area's placement within a fragile ecosystem and its proximity to a UNESCO World Heritage site. We employed a Geographic Information Systems (GIS) integrated environment coupled with a fuzzy Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA) methodology. The GIS-MCDA integrated framework leverages the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) and a weighted linear combination that seeks to amalgamate many features and criteria to assess ecotourism potential by integrating 20 criteria into six separate categories: landscape, topography, accessibility, climate, forest and wildlife, and negative factors. Weights were allocated to each criterion and factor based on the expert's opinions of their impact on the development of ecotourism. The final ecotourism suitability index comprised five unique classes: very high, high, moderate, less, and not suitable. Results reveal that out of the total areas, 45.4 % (259 km2) are within the high and very high suitable classes. The sensitivity analysis suggested that ecotourism potentials are more favorable to forest and accessibility variables. The generated index can be utilized as a road map since validation verified a 64 % accuracy. Given the dearth of earlier research, this study provides vital support for the development of sustainable ecotourism projects in the study area.

ANALYSIS OF CONDITIONS PROMOTING TOURISM DEVELOPMENT IN AN GIANG PROVINCE IN REGIONAL LINKAGES

This study was conducted in An Giang province, Vietnam, to analyze factors affecting tourism development in An Giang province in regional linkages, including geographical location, tourism resources, infrastructure, tourism development policies, and safety and security in tourism. The study uses methods of synthesizing documents and comparative statistics to find conditions that promote tourism development in An Giang province. The factor analysis results show the advantages and disadvantages, from which there are reasonable solutions to develop tourism in An Giang province in regional linkages.<p> </p><p><strong> Article visualizations:</strong></p><p><img src="/-counters-/soc/0716/a.php" alt="Hit counter" /></p>

The link between waterfalls and biodiversity as a key element for sustainable development and tourism in Amazonian communities

The importance of waterfalls in the Ecuadorian Amazon is highlighted as a fundamental component for promoting sustainable development and boosting tourism in local communities. Indeed, it is emphasized that these natural spaces not only dazzle with their imposing scenic beauty, but also play a vital role in preserving the ecological balance and biological richness of the area. Consequently, their protection and care should be a priority in tourism development policies. It is also noted that nature tourism centered on waterfalls has enormous potential to generate significant economic benefits for the Amazonian populations. However, it should be noted that for these benefits to be truly sustainable over time, it is essential to implement conscious and responsible tourism initiatives that prevent the deterioration of ecosystems and ensure a fair and equitable distribution of the income generated. This research highlights the imperative need to embrace a holistic and multidisciplinary approach to protect and sustainably manage the waterfalls of the Ecuadorian Amazon, harmonising the optimisation of economic benefits for local communities, the application of responsible tourism practices and the enhancement of their ecological and cultural significance. Only through this holistic approach will it be possible to ensure the preservation of these natural treasures for future generations, while promoting equitable and environmentally friendly socio-economic development.

Ecotourism or ecological concerns? Tracing the impact of economic policy uncertainty and natural resources on tourism-driven ecological footprints.

The influence of tourism development and economic policy uncertainties on environmental sustainability is substantial. Promoting responsible tourism and using sustainable tourism practises, like offering eco-friendly lodging, is a key part of protecting natural habitats and lowering carbon footprints. Hence, this study tries to examine the relationship between tourism development, economic policy uncertainty, renewable energy, and natural resources on the ecological footprint of India during 1990-2022. This study applies a novel dynamic ARDL simulation approach for long-run and short-run analyses. The study also employs frequency-domain causality to check the causal relationship between the variables. The result reveals that tourism has a positive effect on the ecological footprint. Similarly, economic policy uncertainty has a positive and significant effect on the ecological footprint in India during the sample period. Additionally, natural resource rent shows a positive effect on the ecological footprint or deteriorating environmental quality in the short and long run in the sample period. However, renewable energy consumption indicates a negative effect on the ecological footprint. The results reveal that TDI and EPU have rejected the null hypothesis of no Granger cause in the long, medium, and short term. While renewable energy has a causal relationship with ecological footprints in both the long run and medium run, it is imperative for India to adopt measures that facilitate the advancement of sustainable tourism, with a particular focus on promoting environmentally friendly lodging options, enhancing public transportation systems, and implementing effective waste management strategies.

Adoption of environmental technologies in the hotel industry: development of sustainable intelligence and pro-environmental behavior

Innovative environmental technologies such as solar energy, hydroelectricity, waste-to-energy, and rainwater reuse sources have the potential to completely transform the modern world to reduce climate change and dependency on fossil fuels. This study aims to investigate the role of environmental innovative technologies on customers' experiences of hotels with a mediating role of sustainable intelligence. The study theorizes that environmental innovative technologies enhance customers ‘experience and attitude towards hotels. The innovation diffusion theory is utilized as a main theoretical framework to address the research problem. The data was collected from tourists/visitors at top hotels with a usable sample size of 222 respondents. Survey results reveal that innovative technologies in the context of Environmental Responsibility and Economic Responsibility have a significant influence on Pro-Environmental Behaviour with the full mediating role of Sustainable Intelligence. These findings have important implications when implementing innovative technologies in the tourism industry to (1) improve customer satisfaction, experience, and attitude towards the hotels and destinations; (2) provide guidelines in tourism development policy and marketing; (3) help government agencies to effectively use pro-environmental technologies to change consumer attitude. After the investigation, some intriguing theoretical and practical conclusions have been made.

Tourism Development Policy in Tomini Bay Area Gorontalo, Indonesia

This study is intended to describe all local government problems in tourism development policies in the Tomini Bay area of Gorontalo. It outlines dynamic capability collaboration, relational perspectives, and resource-based theory to explain mechanisms and dynamics. The results of this study require collaboration, innovation, and integration of the interests of stakeholders of various parties in the development of a sustainable and innovative regional system. The tourism sector is one of the opportunities to increase local income. However, this has experienced constraints on aspects of local culture that are still attached to community customs, other things such as involvement and empowerment, education, technical guidance of the community that stand out in tourist destination services. This encourages local governments to continue to develop the tourism sector in improving community welfare. This study obtained novelty of new study findings in tourism development policy by the Gorontalo local government, namely the need for the role of stakeholders still requires the synergy of various parties in the Penta helix perspective (academics, business, community, government, and media). The collaborative governance process through face-to-face dialogue, trust building, commitment to the process, shared understanding, and intermediate outcomes has contributed positively in accelerating the development and promotion of digital platform-based tourism potential.
 Keywords: policy, development, tourism, collaboration

Scale development for measuring sustainability of urban destinations from the perspectives of residents, tourists, businesses and government

This study develops four subjective scales to measure a destination’s sustainability from the perspectives of residents, tourists, businesses and government agencies. Using the expert opinion survey, participants were asked to evaluate the initial list of indicators based on five aspects of sustainability, including economic, socio-cultural, environmental, political and technological sustainability for each stakeholder group. Then, the scales were validated using partial least squares - structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) and confirmatory composite analysis (CCA). This article has a unique theoretical contribution by developing four scales to measure the sustainability of destinations from the perspective of four main stakeholders. Moreover, this article provides practical implications and can assist tourism providers and governments in better understanding sustainable urban tourism development and shaping policy.

Measuring the Convergence and Divergence in Urban Street Perception among Residents and Tourists through Deep Learning: A Case Study of Macau

In today’s context of flourishing tourism, the development of urban tourism leads to a continuous influx of population. Existing empirical evidence highlights the interaction between tourists’ and residents’ perception of urban spaces and the local society and living spaces. This study, focusing on Macau, utilizes the region’s streetscape images to construct a deep learning-based model for quantifying the urban street perception of tourists and local residents. To obtain more refined perceptual evaluation data results, during the training phase of the model, we intentionally categorized tourist activities into natural landscape tours, historical sightseeing, and entertainment area visits, based on the characteristics of the study area. This approach aimed to develop a more refined perception evaluation method based on the classification of urban functional areas and the types of urban users. Further, to improve the streetscape environment and reduce visitor and resident dissatisfaction, we delved into the differences in perception between tourists and residents in various functional urban areas and their relationships with different streetscape elements. This study provides a foundational research framework for a comprehensive understanding of residents’ and tourists’ perceptions of diverse urban street spaces, emphasizing the importance of exploring the differentiated perceptions of streetscapes held by tourists and residents in guiding scientific urban tourism development policies and promoting social sustainability in cities, particularly those where tourism plays a significant role.