Participation In Tourism Research Articles

Community Empowerment Strategy in Maritime Tourism: A Qualitative Approach in Pari Island, Thousand Islands, Indonesia

This research aims to analyze community empowerment strategies in marine tourism management in Pari Island using a qualitative approach. Data were collected through in-depth interviews, participatory observation, and documentation. The results showed that community empowerment has increased local participation in tourism, particularly in economic activities such as homestay management and tourist equipment rental. However, challenges in environmental sustainability and gaps in access to economic resources remain an issue. In conclusion, inclusive empowerment strategies and continued support from various parties are needed to ensure tourism develops sustainably.

Enhancing Tourist Well-Being in Jilin Province: The Roles of Eco-Friendly Engagement and Digital Infrastructure

This study fills a research gap by examining how tourist participation, well-being, eco-friendly engagement, and digital infrastructure affect tourism results. We assessed 3692 tourists in Jilin Province, China, using structural equation modeling. We found that tourist participation is directly associated with tourist well-being, and eco-friendly engagement positively mediates tourist participation and tourist well-being. Furthermore, digital infrastructure moderates tourist participation and tourist well-being. Key findings reveal that actively participating in tourism activities considerably increases visitor well-being. Furthermore, eco-friendly behaviors and digital infrastructure may improve tourist well-being and overall experience. These findings may influence many tourist features in the Jilin Province of China. Tourism management should first provide a range of fun and engaging activities to boost tourist well-being. Second, promoting sustainable practices protects the environment and improves visitors’ quality of life. Third, digital infrastructure expenditures support these activities and enhance visitor pleasure. Policymakers should prioritize sustainable tourism. They should employ digital technologies to promote sustainability and improve services. Addressing these concerns may strengthen the country’s economy, sustainable development, and tourism. This study enhances tourist well-being theory by adding eco-friendly interaction, digital infrastructure, and visitor participation. It illuminates the importance of technology, sustainability, and active involvement in producing enjoyable tourist experiences.

The Influence of Environmental Factors, Perception, and Participation on Industrial Heritage Tourism Satisfaction—A Study Based on Multiple Heritages in Shanghai

With the increasing public awareness and strength of industrial heritage protection, industrial heritage plays an increasingly important role in tourism after transformation and upgrading. The influence of built environment factors and visitors’ participation on satisfaction has been fully confirmed, but the primary and secondary relationships between the two variables remain unclear. The purpose of this study is to explore the relationships between the built environment, tourist participation, and tourism satisfaction, and compare the actual loads of different routes to find the dominant variable. The data of this study came from three industrial heritage renovation projects in Shanghai with remarkable transformation results. Field investigations and questionnaire surveys were conducted on them, and a total of 362 valid samples were received. Descriptive statistical analysis and structural equation models were used to analyze the data. Two paths of “built environment–tourism satisfaction” and “tourist participation–tourism satisfaction” are compared and demonstrated. The path coefficient of the former is 0.63, while that of the latter is 0.77, and the influence of the latter is more significant than that of the former. The study creatively found the audience orientation of both sexes for different types of experience activities, confirmed the mediating effect of subjective perception, and provided the following suggestions for managers of built industrial cultural heritage. Interactive experiences and guided tours deepen visitors’ understanding of the historical and cultural value of industrial heritage. Virtual reality and augmented reality technologies can be introduced to provide an immersive visit experience and attract a wider audience to participate, effectively enhancing the attractiveness of and satisfaction with industrial heritage tourism.

Analysis of the Tourism Revenue Sharing Status at the Aksu-Zhabagly Nature Reserve of Kazakhstan

Sharing tourism-generated revenues with local people has become a popular strategy for implementing sustainability in nature-based tourism destinations globally. Although the local people have received some economic gains from tourism development, there are still some limitations to fair income sharing. These limitations are evident in many underdeveloped countries and lead to a passive situation of local community participation in tourism development. The primary purpose of this article is to determine the level of tourism revenue sharing in the Aksu-Zhabagly tourist destination and, at the same time, to make appropriate recommendations on the remaining issues. To understand the status of tourism revenue sharing, we surveyed the perceptions of 44 nature reserve employees and 66 travel company workers, respectively. The survey results show that although the business operations of tourism organizers do not harm the living environment of the local population, they usually do not spend part of the income from tourism on the common good of the local population. Most residents are unsatisfied with tourism development, and their participation in tourism is also comparatively low. The results also reveal that the comparatively low level of sharing the tourism-associated revenue with local development is the leading indirect cause of residents’ dissatisfaction with the development of the tourism industry. In conclusion, we believe that the results of this study and our recommendations help local authorities understand the importance of removing constraints in the fair distribution of tourism revenues in this tourist destination.

Exploring Culture and Sustainability: Community Participation in Indigenous Tourism in Malaysia

Nowadays, Indigenous tourism contributes to the conservation of cultural heritage and further supports sustainable development for Indigenous communities, which ultimately increases socio-economic well-being. By providing unique cultural experiences, Indigenous tourism gives greater recognition and respect for the culture while also economically benefiting. This paper aims to examine how such dynamics operate in the context of Indigenous tourism from the viewpoint and experiences of Indigenous community members who participated in tourism initiatives. Identifying culture as one of the crucial parameters that determine successful outcomes in this field, this study intends to explore how people participate in sustainable development through tourism and close important gaps using a cultural lens. Numerous databases containing scholarly research, including the Emerald Insights, Science Direct, and Web of Science, have been used in this study. As a response to the ever-growing call for inclusive and respectful tourism, this study aims to contribute valuable insights and geographical relevance to defining policy change, practice modifications, or academic pursuits of Indigenous tourism. The result of this study will fill crucial empirical research gaps in terms of how cultural restoration, tourism management, and community participation can be optimized for sustainable development with nuanced voices that are necessary to drive policy change as well as practice modifications.

Motivations of Sports Tourists and Their Companions in Participating in Rowing Activities in the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC)

This study explores the motivations of sports tourists and their companions in participating in rowing activities within Thailand’s Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC). Water-based sports tourism, such as rowing, has increased in popularity due to its integration of physical activity with natural environments. A quantitative research design was employed, using structured questionnaires to assess five key motivational categories: physical health, personal achievement, social interaction, psychological well-being, and experiential enjoyment. A total of 200 participants, including sports tourists and their companions, were surveyed at various rowing events in the EEC. Results show high motivation levels across all categories, with experiential motivation being the most significant factor, followed by physical health and personal achievement. These findings underscore the importance of promoting rowing as an activity that addresses both physical and psychological needs while fostering social connections. Future research could explore how these factors influence long-term participation and retention in sports tourism.

“She” power: role transition and self-empowerment of women in rural tourism

It is widely believed that participation in tourism empowers women, particularly by providing direct employment and income generation. However, this perspective frequently overlooks women’s agency and self-actualization. This study examines the Tingsong Cultural Community (TCC) in northeast China, integrating self-empowerment with role theory to focus on female participation in tourism. Utilizing multiple data collection strategies, both primary and secondary data were gathered between July 2019 and December 2022. Through inductive thematic analysis, the research unpacks the role transitions of Chinese rural women within tourism practices and the dynamics of self-empowerment. The findings reveal that: (1) role transition is a dynamic process involving exploration, identification, and obligation, marked by an enhanced sense of self-empowerment; (2) self-empowerment arises from awareness and interaction, benefiting from economic, cultural, and subjective dimensions; and (3) external support is essential for empowerment, ideally starting with vulnerable individuals to allow self-empowerment to develop organically. This study refines the concepts of role theory and self-empowerment while establishing the relationship between rural women’s role transitions and self-empowerment, contributing to existing knowledge. The practical implications related to external investment, endogenous development, and digital engagement are insightful for the sustainability of similar destinations.

Behavioral Intentions in Metaverse Tourism: An Extended Technology Acceptance Model with Flow Theory

This study aims to develop a new theoretical framework from the perspective of the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM), incorporating flow theory, to explore the factors influencing behavioral intentions to participate in metaverse tourism. Using data from 518 respondents with metaverse experience and participation in metaverse tourism, the study employed R Studio and Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) to test the relationships between variables in the model. The results indicate that metaverse flow has a significant positive impact on users’ perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use, with flow demonstrating strong explanatory power as a precursor factor. Perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use are predictors of users’ attitudes to using metaverse technology. A positive attitude towards the metaverse can enhance users’ support for metaverse tourism and their behavioral intention to participate in it, while support also positively influences behavioral intention. Support for metaverse tourism acts as a clear mediator between attitudes and behavioral intention. The newly developed theoretical framework in this study provides a fresh perspective for metaverse tourism research and helps enrich empirical analysis in this field. By deeply analyzing tourists’ behavioral intentions, the study provides valuable insights for stakeholders to develop targeted marketing strategies and services, thus promoting the future development of metaverse tourism.

Exploring the influence of historical storytelling on cultural heritage tourists’ revisit intention: A case study of the Mogao Grottoes in Dunhuang

The revisit intention of tourists has long been a focal point of academic inquiry. However, there is still insufficient research on the antecedents of revisit intention from the perspectives of historical storytelling, destination image and perceived value. Taking the Mogao Grottoes in Dunhuang, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, as a case study, this paper, based on stimulus–organism–response (SOR) theory, examines the impact of historical storytelling on the destination image, perceived value, and revisit intention. Additionally, it further explores the mediating role of destination image and perceived value, as well as the moderating effect of place attachment in this chain. The research findings indicate that: (1) Historical storytelling significantly enhances tourists’ perception of the tourism experience and revisit intention; (2) The study supports the mediating effect of destination image and perceived value; (3) Place attachment has a significant positive moderating effect between historical storytelling and revisit intention. Effective historical storytelling can significantly enhance destination image and perceived value, improve tourists’ participation and satisfaction in tourism, stimulate revisit intention, and promote the sustainable development of tourist destinations. These findings enrich the research content of cultural heritage tourism, providing valuable suggestions for improving the management level of cultural heritage tourism attractions and increasing visitors’ revisit intention.

Reimagining Tourism Sustainability in the North-Western Himalayas: A Community-Based Perspective

ABSTRACT In contemporary times, the prominence of inclusive tourism participation is gaining traction worldwide. This research examines the residents’ perspectives on sustainable tourism development in the north-western Himalayas and determines the theoretical validity of the sustainable tourism attitude scale (SUS-TAS). For carrying out the study, a random survey technique with a structured questionnaire (N = 351) has been used at Sonamarg, which forms the ideal site for assessing community perceptions toward sustainable tourism. An exploratory factor analysis (EFA) with Varimax rotation was employed to identify the SUS-TAS dimensions. Our findings support the seven SAS-TAS dimensions with 42 items that maintained validity and reliability. Overall, the study findings infer that in six out of seven factors, residents’ level of agreement was above 70%. These insights highlight the quintessence of incorporating residents’ attitudes in the intersection of the decision-making process and tourism planning strategies. By quantifying residents’ perceptions of sustainable tourism, it becomes feasible to prioritize management measures in concert with the rights of the local community. Furthermore, this study forms the basis for a prospective sustainable tourism framework in mountain tourist destinations worldwide and in the Himalayan belt particularly owing to the growing tourist footprint in the region.

How awe affects value co-creation in virtual reality tourism experience

ABSTRACT While virtual reality tourism can stimulate positive emotions in tourists, the impact of these emotions on tourist participation, value co-creation processes, and the role of awe in tourism remain largely unexplored. This study is the first to explore the antecedents of co-creation in virtual reality tourism and reveal the role of awe in shaping co-creation. It investigated how awe induced by virtual scenic attractions can enhance tourists’ experience and collaborative participation. An online survey utilizing the “Zhangjiajie Planet” XR metaverse platform served as the research stimulus. Data analysis was conducted on 556 valid responses collected from the survey, employing SPSS and AMOS for statistical evaluation. Awe was directly related to value co-creation and indirectly affected value co-creation through telepresence and content attachment. The findings highlight the importance of considering awe as a critical experiential component in the development of virtual tourism.

A Change in Event Tourism: Developing Business Model for Sulayau Fabric as Community-Based Tourism Event Attraction

This study explores the best model for community-based tourism events (CBTE) model with the inclusion of social innovation as part of the process. Producing Sulayau fabric is seen as a factor that contributes to the development of social innovation activities among the community in Sabah. Two workshops were conducted to empower communities to understand the use of the new social innovation tool known as Memating and gave support to those communities to improve the quality of their participation in tourism. Semi-structured interviews and observation were used as data collection techniques. The results revealed two interesting findings the need for using the social innovation tool of Memating in increasing efficiency among craft traders and the need for marketing strategies in creating visibility of Sulayau fabric in Sabah. Future studies are required for an empirical discussion in understanding how the role of social innovation shapes community-based tourism events.

Towards the Wall or the Bridge? A Case Study of Host–Guest Symbiosis in a Chinese Heritage Tourism Site

The close connection between community residents and tourists in heritage tourism sites strengthens the relationship between people and places. To explore the mechanisms of host–guest interaction and the driving factors of residents’ willingness to participate in tourism in heritage tourism destinations, this study adopts a mixed-method approach combining qualitative research and quantitative analysis. The results of the study show that host–guest symbiosis in heritage tourism destinations goes through four stages: identity qualification, bodily co-presence, common focus, and emotional solidarity. Quantitative research (SEM) reveals the impact of residents’ welcoming nature, emotional closeness, and sympathetic understanding towards tourists on the sense of community belonging, as well as the subsequent response of willingness to participate in tourism. Through the analysis of the host–guest interaction mechanisms and symbiotic relationships in heritage tourism sites, the key emotional factors influencing residents’ participation in tourism are revealed.

Coupling Coordination Relationship between Cultural Landscape Conservation and Socio-Economic System in Ethnic Villages of Southeast Guizhou

Amidst the transition from agriculture to tourism, ethnic villages are facing issues of “misalignment” and “disequilibrium” between economic growth and cultural heritage conservation. Previous research has often isolated the effects of cultural heritage conservation or socio-economic development, neglecting their reciprocal influences within the coupling coordination. This study addresses this gap by assessing 43 villages in Leishan County, quantifying the preservation status of the cultural landscape (PSCL) and socio-economic level (SEL) using a comprehensive evaluation model and revealing the coupling coordination relationship between PSCL and SEL in each village with the coupling coordination degree (CCD) model. Spatial autocorrelation and the geographical detector model reveal the spatial agglomeration characteristics and influential factors of the CCD. The results highlight three findings. (1) The majority of villages (93%) are in a moderate imbalance stage or a serious imbalance stage, underscoring an urgent need for targeted policies. (2) Spatial autocorrelation analysis exposes significant clustering, with the northwest corner exhibiting the most pronounced high-value aggregation, which contrasts with the southern region’s low-value clustering. A ‘low–high’ clustering pattern is observed in the northern region, while the southwestern corner presents a ‘high–low’ distribution. (3) Key determinants affecting the CCD include the tourism revenue, tourist volume, resident participation in tourism, village hollowing level, and number of historical buildings. The interactions between driving factors show non-linear and two-factor enhancement effects. This study concludes with policy recommendations advocating for context-specific strategies to enhance the CCD, emphasizing the importance of aligning cultural preservation with economic progress in ethnic villages.

Tourists’ ethically responsible participation in animal-based tourism: A configurational impact assessment

Ethical concerns about animal-based tourism are raising ongoing attention from the international community, and investigation of tourists’ ethically responsible behaviors in animal eco-tourism is limited. This study investigated the formation of ethically responsible behaviors by integrating constituents from the value-belief-norm (VBN) theory, the norm-activation model (NAM), and the theory of planned behavior (TPB), including biospheric value, altruistic value, ethical beliefs, awareness of ethical issues, ascribed responsibility, personal norm, attitude, social norm, and behavioral intentions with regard to animal-based tourism. The cultural involvement of Confucian harmony and media coverage were found to positively influence awareness of ethical issues. The proposed research framework was further optimized by identifying a moderator, described as perceptions of animal protection. Methodologically, along with structural equation modeling (SEM) analysis, this study also used fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA) to evaluate asymmetric configurations (causal recipes) and necessary conditions for predicting different levels of behavioral intentions in animal-based tourism.

Local Community Based Tourism Village Development Strategy in Buluh Awar Tourism Village Deli Serdang District

Buluh Awar Tourist Village is one of the tourist villages that were established by Bupati Deli Serdang on SK Bupati in 2022 and 2023 managed to obtain the nomination of the 300 Great Anugerah Village Tourism of Indonesia after attending the contest of Adwi 2023. The village of Buluh Awar is known for its cultural tourism and is the zero entry point of Christianity into the Karo land. The village is located in the Sibolangit district of Deli Serdang. The purpose of writing this thesis is to describe the tourist destination components that exist in Buluh Awar Village, to identify the level of irritation of the local community to the development of tourism in the Buluh Tourism Village, then identify local community participation in tourism development in the village of Buluh aware as well as to design a strategy of development of the village tourism based on the local community in the tourism village. To meet these objectives qualitative and quantitative descriptive analysis using Buhalis's theory, 2000 on the component of Tourist Destinations, Doxey Irridex's theory (1975) on the level of public irritation to the development of tourism, then Tosun's theory (1999) related to the rate of participation of tourists. Based on the results of the analysis, found the tourist destination component in Buluh Awar Tourist Village that most requires attention is the component amenity and ancillary service, and the level of irritation of the community after being analyzed is in the position of Euforia, whereas for the rate of participation of its community is passive participation. Related recommendations for the involvement of local communities can be more active by forming tourism communities such as Pokdarwis as a container for communities to accommodate ideas or ideas related to tourism development and engage communities actively in tourism activities under strategy 1). Identify Local Champion. 2). Make a memorandum of understanding about the distribution of roles and functions of stakeholders. 3). Strengthening the capacity of the community. 4). Institutional strengthening. 5). Real action that can be implemented in the Tourist Village Buluh Awar. Keywords: strategy, development, Tourism Village, local community, community participation.

How Do Location-Based AR Games Enhance Value Co-Creation Experiences at Cultural Heritage Sites? A Process Perspective Analysis

The sustainable development of tourism in cultural heritage sites benefits from the active participation of tourists in the co-creation process. Location-based AR games show great potential in tourists’ participation in creation and positive experiences. This study explores the relationship between the stage factors of the co-creation experience and the overall co-creation. Combining the service-dominant logic and process perspective of value co-creation theory, this research proposes a conceptual framework for co-creating experiences in cultural heritage tourism using augmented reality technology through two studies. In the first phase of the study, quantitative research was conducted on 256 visitors to measure the impact of factors in the three processes of pre-co-creation experience, on-site experience, and post-co-creation experience on the overall co-creation experience. In the study’s second phase, follow-up qualitative interviews were conducted based on multiple linear regression analysis results to expand the interpretation of the relationship and importance of factors affecting the co-creation experience process. The results show that psychological engagement, awareness, knowledge, and social relations during pre-visitation help enhance the overall co-creation experience. In contrast, the overall co-creation experience is enriched by real-time storytelling, interaction, and emotional resonance in both on-site and post-experience processes. The proposal of this framework model advances the discussion of augmented reality technology and co-creation experience to the empirical level. It provides a basis for further tourism co-creation experience design practice.

When tourism intersects traditional rural livelihoods: A case study on lagoon fishing in Thừa Thiên Huế Province, Vietnam

ABSTRACT Tourism development is an oft-touted strategy to enhance the livelihoods of local residents and reduce their dependence on resources. This study explores the determinants of lagoon fishermen’s participation in tourism-related activities and evaluates whether tourism is an alternative livelihood option for Thừa Thiên Huế Province, Vietnam. We employed propensity score matching to analyze the survey data from 265 households in the coastal area of the lagoon. Our study indicates that tourism cannot provide a sustainable livelihood for local residents if the locals forego their traditional livelihood practices and completely transform the region into a tourist attraction, even though it can contribute to increasing household income. Other factors, such as low levels of education and larger travel distances between the lagoons and existing tourist areas, are the primary barriers to fishermen participation in tourism. Finally, we analyzed the related policy and managerial implications to improve tourism and diversify the locals’ livelihoods.

DEMOGRAPHIC, ECONOMIC AND PSYCHOLOGICAL DRIVERS OF WOMEN'S PARTICIPATION IN RURAL TOURISM IN DARJEELING DISTRICT, WEST BENGAL, INDIA

Rural tourism has gained global popularity, with varying characteristics across regions. This study explores the demographic, economic, and psychological factors influencing women's participation in rural tourism in Darjeeling, West Bengal, India. Despite its proximity to Sikkim, Darjeeling remains under-researched, particularly regarding women's motivations. Data from 200 women, including 50 in the hospitality sector, were collected via a pre-tested, interviewer-administered questionnaire to understand the push factors for their involvement. The analysis shows that middle-aged, married women with secondary or less education dominate the rural tourism workforce. Their primary motivations are economic need, improved educational opportunities for their children, and escaping socioeconomic challenges. Significant economic drivers include contributing to family businesses and achieving financial independence. Psychological factors, such as improving living conditions and securing future stability, also play a crucial role, though aspirations for leadership and decision-making are less prominent due to cultural norms. The findings highlight rural tourism's critical role in providing employment and empowerment opportunities for women in Darjeeling. Enhancing participation and empowerment requires addressing economic and psychological needs, improving income levels, supporting leadership roles, and fostering greater family decision-making power. These efforts can strengthen women's involvement in rural tourism, boosting their socioeconomic development and quality of life.

Women Initiatives and Its Impact on Agro-Ecotourism Development in Rural Areas

In Indonesia, a new form of tourism called agro-ecotourism has emerged from rural agricultural activities. It holds great promise in conjunction with cultural and ecotourism. The participation of women in agro-ecotourism has had substantial impact on its development and socio-economic well-being. However, the societal expectations that limited women to the home have diminished their significance within it. This article analyzed the current status of agro-ecotourism in Sukowilangun village, Kalipare sub-district, Malang District, East Java. The focus was on identifying the factors that drove and hindered participation in tourism, with a particular emphasis on gender. This article also explored the role of local communities in the development of a gender-inclusive agro-ecotourism model. This study utilized a qualitative approach, incorporating in-depth interviews and Rapid Rural Appraisal (RRA) techniques. It was evident from the findings that, despite progress in the tourism sector, the current level of female involvement in tourism destinations remains unsatisfactory. It was discovered that Sukowilangun village has great potential for developing Agro-ecotourism centered around processed cassava. This initiative, led by The Perempuan Singkong, a collective of migrant women’s families, shows great promise as a source of income and a way to generate more community interest in tourism. Lastly, the development of a top-notch tourism destination necessitates the focus on three crucial aspects: establishment of proper institutions, investment in skilled personnel, and fostering women’s involvement. Through the promotion of gender equality and the inclusion of women in decision-making processes, tourism destinations foster a more diverse and inclusive environment that brings benefits to all. Keywords: Agro-ecotourism; Community-based; Institutionalization; Women- participation