Tourism Stakeholders Research Articles

Metaversal sustainability: conceptualisation within the sustainable tourism paradigm

Purpose This paper aims to address the novel phenomenon of tourism in the metaverse and analyse possible scenarios that could influence the resilience of a sustainable tourism paradigm in response to this new phenomenon. Design/methodology/approach Based on Kuhn’s paradigmatic framework, this paper offers an innovative perspective for the integration of new theories and practise-relevant phenomena. It emphasises the relevance and commensurability of different paradigmatic dimensions and outlines the scenarios for the integration of metaversal sustainability. Findings The phenomenon of tourism in the metaverse of the 21st century poses a new challenge to the existing paradigm of sustainable tourism, which traditionally focuses on the economic and ecological sustainability of planet Earth’s physical environment. The adoption of a metaversal sustainability scenario for the virtual and mixed reality is key to a responsible implementation of the paradigm of sustainable tourism development that considers all its environments, whether fantastic or realistic. Research limitations/implications This study has its limitations, as metaversal tourism is still in the experimental phase. A more comprehensive understanding of the metaverse and its terminology is still evolving. There is potential to adapt the sustainable tourism paradigm to new technological environments if the metaverse is recognized as one in the future. Practical implications There are practical implications for tourism policy and practise. Tourism stakeholders need to adapt to the changing tourism landscape by recognising the metaverse as a viable environment committed to sustainable development. This will enable innovative strategies to govern, lead, promote and manage metaversal tourism and ensure that it is in line with the long-term goal of sustainability. Social implications The metaverse holds considerable potential for transforming social perception and behaviour. Integrating the metaverse into the sustainability pillars of the sustainable development paradigm implies a forward-looking approach that takes into account the dynamics of people’s evolving desires and preferences. This inclusion advocates for sustainable development in all environments in which people live and explore. Originality/value This research stands out for its pioneering role in advancing a sustainable tourism paradigm that goes beyond the traditional planetary dimensions. By examining the impact of tourism in the metaverse, it proposes a path towards a more holistic and future-oriented paradigm of sustainable tourism in both the physical and virtual worlds. The coining of the term “metaversal sustainability” contributes to the lexicon of paradigms for both tourism and societal sustainable development.

Examining Cross-Industry Clusters among Airline and Tourism Industries

Cross-industry clusters are essential for the economic prosperity of a region. However, studies do not address competitive clusters among the airline and tourism industries. Thus, this paper considers the case of both industries in terms of the clusters and synergies formed. This research aim is to provide an understanding of both industries’ protagonists’ involvement in contributing to insights into the establishment of synergies or clusters among the two industries. Cyprus is highly dependent on tourism and airlines because they facilitate connectivity. The research comprises semi-structured interviews with the leading players and organizations of the airline and tourism industries (government bodies, airports, airlines, tour operators and hotels). The results indicate that in a small geographical context, the notion of clusters involves a synergetic relationship among tourism stakeholders. The airlines’ role is essential and affects all stakeholders involved in tourism. Additionally, the research provides new insights into the role of Destination Management Organisations (DMOs) in providing applicable tourism policies that can positively impact effective cooperation among industry partners.

Collaborative Synergies for Elevated Destination Experiences: A Model of Cooperation between Hotel Companies, DMOs, and Local Stakeholders

Abstract Background and Purpose As outlined in the National Tourism Development Strategy until 2030, Croatia aims to provide higher value, innovative, sustainable, and authentic tourist experiences. There is a need to examine how the main tourism stakeholders can contribute to the transformation of traditional and commodified tourism products into premium-class offerings that add value throughout the entire value chain. It is important for premium-class hotels to take additional steps in improving their offerings to positively impact the entire destination and enhance service quality. This paper aims to: explore initiatives for promoting innovation in premium-class experiences within destinations focusing the cooperation between on hotel companies and DMOs; identify anticipated trends influencing the future of the tourism industry, and assess the future prospects of premium-class hotels in Croatia. Design/Methodology/Approach The methodology incorporated both quantitative and qualitative approaches, driven by the structured nature of the questions in the online survey that target sales and/or marketing directors of hotel companies that have premium-class hotels in their portfolio. Suitable statistical methods were employed to conduct the analysis for the quantitative portion of the data. Content analysis was utilized to analyze the open-ended questions. For this purpose, the MAXQDA software for coding, categorizing, and exploring patterns within the data. Originality/value This study represents one of the pioneering investigations into the essential initiatives that hotel companies need to undertake in order to orchestrate the development of a destination that relies on its premium-class experiences. Furthermore, the study examines the role of supporting institutions such as destination management organizations (DMOs) in facilitating this process. A conceptual model to improve the development of the premium hotel segment and destination at the same time, pursued by the responsible practices and initiatives of the hotel companies and strong partnerships with DMO and the local community, is proposed.

Fiscal Incentives for Hotels in the City of Buenos Aires, Argentina

Summary This case study focuses on the Hotel Sector Promotion Scheme, a programme implemented in the City of Buenos Aires, Argentina, for the period 2019–2023. The scheme provides fiscal incentives in the form of tax credits for developing and improving hotel infrastructure in the city. To explore this case, we use secondary data from the City Legislature and media outlets specialising in tourism, as well as primary data from interviews with tourism stakeholders. By reviewing the programme and its particularities, this contribution sheds light on the interface between policy making, evidence use and partnerships. Information © The Authors 2024

Sustainable medical tourism service network with a stakeholder perspective

ABSTRACT Along with the challenges and disruptions faced in the COVID-19 outbreak, medical tourism is an emergent field of business bringing multiple sources of service providers to provide cross-border medical treatment with affordable costs and touristic activity opportunities. The sustainability of medical tourism is of paramount importance in terms of economic, social and environmental dimensions with a high level of collaboration, coordination, cooperation and integration of the stakeholders of this service network. Hence, the purpose of this study is to analyze the sustainability objectives of medical tourism service with a detailed stakeholder involvement. In this regard, medical tourism stakeholders are identified via a systematic review of literature and industrial reports, and next, the objectives associated with sustainability are described in detail, then, a novel Fermatean Fuzzy MACTOR (‘Matrix of Alliances and Conflicts: Tactics, Objectives and Recommendations’) is proposed to determine the triggering relationship between each stakeholder and to highlight the convergency of each stakeholder towards each objective. Hence, the findings reveal the major responsibilities of stakeholders to achieve each individual sustainability objective. The analysis results indicate that even if the main service providers fulfil their duties perfectly, in case of having language barrier, demand of medical tourists cannot be sustained.

Competency Development of Food Tourism in Thailand

Purpose: Food tourism has become great potential in the tourism industry, especially in Thailand. When foreign tourists come to travel and witness the diverse gastronomic experience at local levels, however, in 2022, Thailand received 11.15 million foreign tourists, and only 19.45% came because of food attractions. Therefore, this study aims to develop competency in food tourism in Thailand. Theoretical Framework: This study examines and reviews the concepts of competitive advantage and food tourism. Competitiveness in terms of human resource is the ability to sell his or her ability over other competitor’s employees. Competitive Advantage in human resource is developed either by himself or by company attitude and resource. Competitive Advantage can be developed by (1) Elevating productivity, (2) Purposeful collaboration, (3) Learning Agility, (4) Social binding, (5) well- being. Moreover, food tourism is defined as “visitation to primary and secondary food producers, food festivals, restaurants and specific locations for which food tasting and/or experiencing the attributes of specialist food production region are the primary motivating factor for travel”. Food tourism is also defined as cultural turn from those early management-focused studies to more wholesome and exploratory discussions of food and culture. Not only did the frequency or volume of the studies significantly increase, but so did the variety of research approaches and concepts be explored. Design/Methodology/Approach: This quantitative research collected data from food tourism stakeholders in Thailand 400, including foreign visitors, local visitors, restaurant owners, culinary academic institutions, and tourism authorities. Data were analyzed in descriptive and inferential statistics, and a structural equation model tested the hypothesis. Findings: The findings reveal that (1) Tourism policy must include food tourism in the tourism event and public relation scheme of tourism authorities, (2) Unique local cultural experiences must be embedded into food stories, and (3) Nutrition and herbal nutrition must be presented for health-conscious tourists. The observed variables had component weights between 0.241 and 0.79. They were significantly different from zero at the 0.01 level. Latent variables were between 0.058 - 1.153, and 2) the harmonization of the hypothetical model and the empirical data found that all criteria were within the acceptable range (Pass) structural equation model analysis (Chi-Square = 44.113, df = 35, p = 0.139, RMSEA = 0.026, GFI = 0.026, AGFI = 0.960). Research Practical and Social Implication: Food tourism has become great potential in the tourism industry, especially in Thailand. When foreign tourists come to travel and witness the diverse gastronomic experience at local levels. However, in 2022, Thailand received 11.15 million foreign tourists; only 19.45% came because of food attractions. Therefore, this study aims to develop competency in food tourism in Thailand. This quantitative research collected data from food tourism stakeholders in Thailand 400, including foreign visitors, local visitors, restaurant owners, culinary academic institutions, and tourism authorities. Data were analyzed in descriptive and inferential statistics; a structural equation model tested the hypotheses. Originality/Value: The findings reveal that (1) Tourism policy must include food tourism in the tourism event and public relation scheme of tourism authorities, (2) Unique local cultural experiences must be embedded into food stories, and (3) Nutrition and herbal nutrition must be presented for health-conscious tourists.

Local creativity and economic growth: Creative economic potential in developing village tourism area

The aim of this research is to identify the potential of the creative economy in depth and formulate a model for strengthening the creative economy that can increase the attractiveness of tourism in rural areas. This research uses qualitative methods with a participatory action research approach. Data was collected through observation, structured interviews, and triangulation to obtain comprehensive information. The research results show that the villages that are the focus of the research have a variety of potential creative economic activities that can be a mainstay in supporting tourism activities. Support from tourism stakeholders is an important factor in strengthening creative economic activities in village areas. Thus, this research provides an in-depth view of the potential of the creative economy in rural areas and formulates a strengthening model that can increase tourism attractiveness and have a positive impact on the welfare of local communities.

The Interactions of City Tourism Stakeholders in Indonesia: Lessons from Surabaya Heritage Track

Given the increased in historical tourism in urban areas, sustainable and competitive city tourism requires an integrated management approach based on the principles of collaborative governance. This article aims to discuss the collaboration among stakeholders in managing Surabaya Heritage Track as a historical city tour. The collaboration involves the private sector, local government, and the community. This qualitative analytical descriptive study uses case a study approach, and collected data through in-depth unstructured interviews and observation. The study shows that the success of Surabaya Heritage Track is influenced by the government policies of corporate social responsibility, and the commitment of the private sector to make the innovation design on the tourism objects with thematic tours. The finding reveals that community support also becomes the strength and resources in collaborative governance, while the initiation of collaboration comes from the private sector. However, the role of local government is still limited, because the collaboration is informal. Interestingly, the collaboration continues because the private sector has a high commitment to preserving the historical heritage of the city. We suggests that local governments facilitate the expansion and enhancement of stakeholder involvement and the institutionalized collaboration can be enhanced to ensure competitive and sustainable city tourism.

The Interactive Effect of Message Framing and Power Distance Belief on Tourists’ Attitudes Toward Slum Tours

Slum tourism, an activity in which tourists visit impoverished areas, has grown rapidly in recent years and, in turn, triggered intense debates in the public sphere and on social media. In the current research, we examine how and why different frames regarding slum tours (i.e., poverty tour vs. cultural tour) interact with tourists’ power distance belief (PDB) to influence their attitudes toward such tours. Using three studies, we show that tourists with low (vs. high) PDB have more negative attitudes toward slum tours when they are framed as poverty tours than as cultural tours, because they perceive taking such tours as being immoral. We further demonstrate that an appeal for donations mitigates the perceived immorality among low-PDB tourists, which consequently alters their negative attitudes toward such tours. Our research offers stakeholders in slum tourism, including travel agencies and policymakers, valuable insights into operating slum tours in a more ethical way.

Pendampingan Penyusunan Rancangan Paket Wisata Menggunakan Metode Analisis Value Chain pada Wisata Kampung Warna-Warni Jodipan

Jodipan Colorful Village (KWJ) in Malang City has become an attractive tourist destination, changing its image from a slum village to a beautiful and clean village. The community service program with the title "Assistance in the Preparation of Tour Package Designs Using the Value Chain Analysis Method in Jodipan Colorful Village Tourism" aims to increase the attractiveness and income of tourism in KWJ through the preparation of tour packages. Jodipan Colorful Village (KWJ) in Malang City has succeeded in achieving a significant increase in tourist attraction and income through a mentoring program that focuses on preparing tour packages. First, in the data collection stage through Focus Group Discussion (FGD), KWJ's key values were identified: aesthetics, education and social interaction. The results of the FGD provide an overview of these values, forming the basis for formulating tour package ideas. Second, the implementation stage is carried out with assistance from the service team to the KWJ management. By using the value chain analysis method, tourism package ideas such as educational, social and culinary are generated. This process involves understanding activities that create added value for tourists, optimizing resource utilization and increasing efficiency. Third, trials and launching are carried out involving tourism stakeholders. Tour packages are tested on tourists, and the results are used for improvement. The launch was carried out via social media to increase promotion. This program succeeded in formulating 4 tour packages (Color Package, Warni Package, Jodipan Package, KWJ Package) based on the results of value chain analysis. The results are supported by positive responses from tourists during trials and launching, showing high potential attraction.

Strategies for Landslide Disaster Mitigation in Baktiraja’s Tourism Zones, Humbang Hasundutan Regency, Indonesia

Mitigation disaster is very important to develop region in many areas. This study addresses landslide mitigation for tourism development in the Baktiraja District, Humbang Hasundutan Regency. Four parameters, including slope inclination, rainfall, soil type, and land use, reveal four levels of landslide vulnerability: low, moderate, high, and very high. The method in this study used spatial analysis using ArcGIS (Geographic Information Systems) 10.8 identifies Tipang Village, Simangulampe Village, and Marbun Tonga Marbun Dolok Village as areas with the highest vulnerability, covering 77.60% of the Baktiraja District. MSP+DM analysis categorizes the tourism potential in these villages as "Embryonic." To elevate this status to "Growing" and "Self-sustaining," emphasis on improving marketability indicators through enhanced packaging, diverse promotional models, and an extensive marketing network is needed. Sustainable development efforts by the local government and active community participation in preserving local wisdom, natural attractions, and cultural heritage are crucial. Recommendations include regular updates on disaster vulnerability data, establishment of evacuation routes and shelters, early warning systems, and community training. Regulations on open land use for physical development need attention, and the government should allocate budget for tourism infrastructure. Ensuring synergy among the government, local community, and tourism stakeholders is key to sustainable tourism development in this area.

A Review and Future Directions of Brand Experience Research in Tourism

This paper presents a review of brand experience studies in tourism using a systematic literature review while utilizing a total of 44 articles that were published in 30 journals. Four databases were used to search for the articles including Taylor and Francis, Google Scholar, Emerald, and Science Direct. The objectives of this review were to discuss the extant state of brand experience literature in the tourism industry, summarize the antecedents, mediators, moderators, and outcomes of brand experience and identify the gaps in the current studies and suggest the areas of future research. The results indicate that the quantitative research approach, convenience sampling technique, cross-sectional survey strategy, and structural equation modeling have dominated brand experience research. Various theories used, contexts, methodologies, antecedents, mediators, moderators, and outcomes of brand experience are also discussed in the paper. It is concluded that brand experience influences the majority of customer-related and brand-related constructs. Thus, it is recommended that tourist agencies, destination practitioners, and other tourism stakeholders should invest in generating pleasurable experiences at every touch point of their service to differentiate themselves from their competitors.

Social Media as A Strategic Communication Tool in The Development and Promotion of Ecotourism (The Case of a Small and Medium Ecotourism Enterprise in Pangalengan, West Java)

This research explores the role of social media as a strategic communication tool in developing and promoting ecotourism enterprise. The research was conducted by studying five social media used by Ecoethno Leadcampsite, an ecoturism site located in Pengalengan, West Java runned by a Small and Medium Enterprise (SME). This study assesses how social media is used to strengthen the visibility of these destinations, facilitate engagement with tourists, and promote sustainable tourism practices. The research findings show that not all social media are used effectively, and they tend to highlight certain aspects of strategic communication, including tourism activities, resource utilization, and environmental orientation. Strategic communication aspects of travel expenses, timetables, and customer care are relatively not covered in the marketing communications messages. Insights from this research have implications for tourism stakeholders, policymakers, and society in general, demonstrating the need for a paradigm shift towards integrated use of digital technology to promote and build sustainable ecotourism.

A stakeholder perspective on poverty reduction through the implementation of social marketing in the context of tourism.

This study aims to establish a model that identifies the role of tourism, target group, tourism stakeholders, and the marketing mix factors in the context of tourism marketing based on behavior change and exchange theory, to contribute to poverty reduction through the implementation of social marketing in the tourism context. Phenomenology and grounded theory designs were used in the research. The research findings have revealed that social marketing tools and techniques are effective methods for reducing poverty in the context of tourism and have contributed to a better understanding of the impact of tourism on poverty in terms of roles, barriers, and expectations. It was concluded that for social marketing to be successfully applied in tourism, it needs to be adapted to government policies, institutions, and the private sector. According to the results of the study, government policies should be conducive to promoting behavior change through tourism. In line with the philosophy of social marketing, it is expected that the results will focus on behavior change in the target group in the context of tourism, creating shared values for society, and developing roles for the benefit of individuals and society.

Promoting Intercultural Communicative Competence through Intercultural Tourism Brochures

This paper aimed at promoting intercultural communicative competence (ICC) through designing intercultural tourism brochures. This is expected to raise the awareness of the tourism stakeholders to the necessity of designing the intercultural tourism brochures and the tourists to insist on having pre- intercultural knowledge about the culture they are intending to have an excursion. Consequently, tourism will develop and prosper on a solid ground of intercultural understanding and diversity. The methodology of this paper was based on suggesting some tourism brochures about six different cultures and destinations. Each brochure includes, the culture, a photo of one of the landmarks, a quote from one of the icons of the targeted culture, an ICC concept, the cultural purpose and “Dos” and Don’ts”. This paper is original since it presents new and creative ideas, applies new method of promoting both tourism and intercultural understanding, and even provides a new vision for developing tourism sector. The study came up with sample tourism brochures, which interpret the concepts of intercultural communicative competence alongside promoting tourism. Consequently, the researcher recommends adopting these tourism brochures by both tourism stakeholders and individuals.

A Conceptual Model e-Collaboration for Rural Tourism – Combining Soft System Methodology and UML

Through the IT utilization, stakeholders in rural tourism can engage in e-collaboration to develop tourism products and services together. While existing literature has not extensively addressed the e-collaboration model specifically tailored for rural tourism, this research sheds light on the emerging role of IT and its value within this context. To effectively model the intricate and less-structured environment of e-collaboration in rural tourism, the SSM is deemed the most suitable approach. Nonetheless, one limitation of SSM is the absence of explicit references during the implementation stage, requiring an additional methodological approach to realize the e-collaboration conceptual model within a system. To overcome this limitation, the present study applies both SSM and UML an e-collaboration system for rural tourism. The findings of this research can serve as a valuable reference for the development of an e-collaboration tool.

Razvoj veština kao indikator napretka digitalizacije srpskog turizma

In the tourism and hospitality sector, digital skills become one of the critical factors as they enable organizations and professionals to effectively utilize and adapt to the latest technological developments, improving the overall travel experience and/or operational efficiency of service providers. Based on the previous, this paper aims to evaluate the digital skills of supply-side stakeholders in Serbia's tourism and hospitality sector and to determine the main factors that influence their level of proficiency. By analyzing primary data from 418 respondents, the findings indicate a notable gap in advanced digital skills, which is particularly emphasized among administrative officers, primarily tourist inspectors. Additionally, multinomial logistic regression shows that the education and employment sector (catering, tourism agencies, tourism guides, tourism organizations, tourism inspectors and administrative officers) are factors associated with the level of digital skills. The results allow stakeholders to review the possibilities for improving skills, especially in the public sector, to address current skills gaps and prepare the workforce for future technological developments to ensure the sector's resilience and competitiveness in the global market.

КОНКУРЕНТОСПРОМОЖНІСТЬ УКРАЇНИ НА СВІТОВОМУ РИНКУ ТУРИСТИЧНИХ ПОСЛУГ В СУЧАСНИХ УМОВАХ

The article examines the Ukrainian tourism market and the potential for growth, analyzes global market trends and factors affecting them. The purpose of the study is to analyze the current state of the Ukrainian tourism market, to identify, analyze and evaluate the factors, potential limitations and challenges of the Ukrainian tourism market. Based on statistical data, an analysis of the current state of tourist activity was carried out. The dynamics of tourist activity are determined by structuring methods. Proposals have been developed for the further development of the tourism industry in the post-war period and for the post-war recovery of tourism. It is established that the post-war and post-war development of the tourism sector of Ukraine requires further research to increase its competitiveness in the global tourism market. It has been established that memorial tourism in Ukraine will be actively developing in the near future. The State Agency for Tourism Development has already presented the Concept of memorialization of memorial sites in the Kyiv region. The ultimate goal of the Concept is to memorialize locations that will become new outposts of national memory, which will be visited by many tourists after the Ukrainian victory. New Concepts of memorialization as a commemoration of the victims of the war tragedy need to be developed for all affected regions of Ukraine, which will be the subject of further research. In order to implement the decisions of the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) to provide specialized technical assistance to support Ukraine in its post-war reconstruction efforts, including restoration of tourism infrastructure, destination marketing, and capacity building of local tourism stakeholders, it is advisable for the Ukrainian side to work more actively in these areas. In the post-war recovery of the tourism business in Ukraine, it is necessary to rely on the support of national and international organizations, develop and create recovery strategies in the affected regions, include tourism development in strategic post-war recovery programs, involve international experts in the modernization of the country, study the experience of many countries where military operations took place, and develop tourism programs to places of military glory.

Do community entrepreneurial development shape the sustainability of tourist villages?

This study looks at the role of community entrepreneurial development in mediating the linkages between geographical conditions, local wisdom, and traditional culture on the sustainability of tourism villages. In this study, this hypothesis was evaluated quantitatively. Respondents filled out a questionnaire as a research instrument. Village officials, the Tourist Awareness Group (Pokdarwis), and the community in Cikolelet Tourism Village, Banten Province, participated in this research. 140 individuals were selected for this study using purposive sampling, and the data were analyzed using a structural equation model (SEM). According to the conclusions of this study, geographical conditions, local wisdom, and traditional culture have a beneficial and statistically significant influence on community entrepreneurial development but do not directly affect the sustainability of tourism villages. Community entrepreneurial development influences the sustainability of tourist villages. Furthermore, community entrepreneurial development mediates the relationship between geographical conditions, local wisdom, and traditional culture on the sustainability of tourist villages. These findings recommend that tourism stakeholder cooperation between village officials, the Tourist Awareness Group, and the community must collaborate in the sustainability of the tourist village. This paper offers novelty by investigating community entrepreneurial development variables as mediators of the influence of geographical conditions, local wisdom, and traditional culture on the sustainability of tourist villages with exploratory quantitative analysis. In contrast, previous research only used explorative qualitative analysis, at least in the tourism sector, from an Indonesian perspective.

ETHNIC MINORITY PARTICIPATION IN TOURISM PLANNING: EVIDENCE FROM VIETNAM

This study aims to investigate the participation of ethnic minorities in tourism planning with particular reference to the political context in Vietnam. A mixed research approach was adopted including qualitative and quantitative methods. Data were collected via semi-structured interviews with key tourism stakeholders and a follow-up survey. This study reveals that participation in tourism planning by ethnic minorities is hindered by government structures and policy, style of planning, inadequate education, and unequal distribution of the benefits of tourism. In particular, the top-down government tourism planning structures hinder participation by ethnic minorities through the process of tourism planning. As involvement enhancing implementation measures, the study proposes capacity building, education, and a fine tuning of approaches to participation. Involvement by indigenous researchers should be encouraged so that research data are more easily understood in the context of ethnic minority ideologies. Future scholars should also take more account of power relations in tourism planning.