Tourist Destination Research Articles

ABSTRACT Tourists’ authenticity, helping to increase the tourists’ satisfaction, revisiting rate and tourism expenses, promotes tourism development of traditional villages. And the construction of tourism service space has a vital impact on the tourists’ authenticity. This study explores the potential effects of tourism service space to the tourists’ constructive authenticity based on the investigation of seven case villages in Zhejiang province. The conclusions are as follows: 1. Three types of tourists, the Enthusiasts of ancient village, the Ordinary tourists and the Authenticity seekers, are identified. The Authenticity seekers contain the largest number of tourists, indicating the enthusiasm for tourists to explore the authentic features of traditional villages; 2. A hierarchical construction menu was developed, which contains the Basic Construction Elements, the Extended Construction Elements, and the Inefficient Construction Elements; 3. Multi-culture exhibitions and basic commercial functions (accommodation, meal and retail) should be promoted, while other modern commercial function might be restricted. Special design techniques, such as traditional construction technique in new buildings, etc. could be promoted for higher quality. Tourism destination type of traditional village could be added into the current regulation for practical guidance.

This study aims to analyze the influence of destination image, perceived quality, perceived value, and tourist satisfaction on revisit intention in the context of natural tourism at Lon-Malang Beach, Sampang Regency. The research method used is a quantitative approach with Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) analysis technique. A total of 250 domestic tourist respondents who have visited Lon-Malang Beach were sampled through purposive sampling technique. The results of the study indicate that destination image significantly influences quality, value, and tourist satisfaction, and contributes directly and indirectly to revisit intention. In addition, tourist satisfaction acts as a strong mediator in shaping behavioral loyalty. These findings reinforce the importance of image development strategies, improving service quality, and creating valuable experiences in supporting sustainable tourism based on natural beaches. Managerial implications include the need to brand Lon-Malang Beach as a natural tourism destination and strengthening healthy tourism infrastructure and services.

The development of digital technology has encouraged the widespread use of photography to promote tourist destinations on social media. However, the ease of access and dissemination of visual content often leads to copyright infringement on photographers. This study aims to analyze the legal protection of photographic works in the context of tourist destination promotion in Jakarta, as well as to identify challenges and solutions. The method used is a normative-juridical approach, analyzing relevant laws and regulations, such as Law Number 28 of 2014 concerning Copyright, as well as a case study of the use of tourist destination photos on social media by government agencies and tourism industry players. The results indicate that, normatively, photographic works are protected as creations with economic and moral value to their creators. However, the implementation of protection in the digital realm remains weak due to a lack of legal awareness, the difficulty of proving violations, and weak oversight of content on social media. Protection efforts can be strengthened through increased digital legal literacy, the implementation of open licenses (creative commons), and collaboration between the government, photographers, and tourist destination managers.

Effect of calligraphic landscapes in tourist destinations on the psychological recovery of tourists.

The COVID-19 pandemic′s harmful effects have varied across economic sectors and been particularly adverse for the transport and tourism sectors. This article analyses the pandemic′s impact on tourists′ use of public transport since 2020, including its patterns of change and general decline, using data from more than 40000 smart card holders considered to be summertime users during the peak tourist season in Camp de Tarragona (Catalonia, Spain). 3 model-based clustering analyses of pre-pandemic data from 2019 were performed and used to classify data generated since the pandemic began in 2020. The 1st model included variables of each smart card′s volume of activity, the 2nd model analysed the concentration or spatial dispersion of validated uses of each card, and the 3rd model examined the temporal dimension of the use of smart cards depending on the defined objective. Among the major findings, the number of journeys plunged by 92% in summer 2020 – that is, by far more than throughout the year (64%), which suggests a higher loss of travellers linked with tourism activities (e.g., tourists, 2nd-residence owners, and workers in the tourism sector). Regarding the spatial dimension, patterns with minor reductions related to trips taken within cities (45%) or between major cities (78%). By contrast, travellers with sprawled patterns fell the use by 93%. Last, profiles obtained from variables of a temporary nature presented similar percentages of losses; the most significant losses were for use distributed throughout the day (91.81%) and throughout the night (90.12%). This article provides valuable insights into the pandemic′s varied effects on the use of public transport during peak season at a tourist destination, insights that could inform policies and actions to ensure a more robust response to future crises.

Digital twins are emerging as promising yet underexplored tools for addressing overtourism, sustainability, and governance challenges in tourism. This study assessed their acceptance using a mixed-methods design that combined a large-scale survey of tourists (N = 1286) with semi-structured stakeholder interviews across four Spanish destinations (Barcelona, Málaga, Valencia, and Benidorm). Factor analyses validated a six-dimensional acceptance model comprising trust, usefulness, ease of use, perceived risks, sustainability attitudes, and awareness. The quantitative results demonstrated that trust, usefulness, and ease of use strongly predicted adoption intentions, while risk perceptions negatively influenced acceptance. Sustainability orientations and digital familiarity further enhanced support. Qualitative insights revealed that governance capacity, equity concerns, and readiness critically shaped stakeholder evaluations, highlighting that adoption is mediated not only by individual perceptions but also by local infrastructural and institutional contexts. The study advances technology acceptance theory by integrating sustainability and awareness as domain-specific constructs and by showing how governance dynamics condition adoption across destinations. Practically, it underscores the need for institutional trust, transparent risk management, equitable participation, and alignment with sustainability agendas. While limited to Spanish destinations, the findings offer broader lessons for European cities seeking to embed digital twins in tourism governance.

This research examines tourism development strategies through an industrial tourism programme in Sidoarjo Regency as an alternative for regional tourism diversification. Sidoarjo Regency is known as an industrial hub with various production centres, such as shrimp crackers, batik, and shrimp paste (terasi), which have considerable potential to be developed into industrial tourism destinations. The objectives of the study are to analyse industrial tourism development strategies, identify supporting and inhibiting factors, and formulate a collaborative model for sustainable industrial tourism development. The research employs a qualitative approach with data collection techniques including in-depth interviews, participant observation, and documentation study. Research informants include the Sidoarjo Regency Tourism Office, industry stakeholders, tourism communities, and tourists. The results indicate that the industrial tourism development strategy in Sidoarjo utilises a pentahelix approach involving the government, academia, businesses, the community, and the media. Supporting factors include the diversity of local industrial products, good accessibility, and government policy support. However, there are constraints such as minimal digital promotion, limited tourism facilities, and low awareness among business actors regarding the concept of industrial tourism. The recommended collaborative model encompasses institutional strengthening, increasing Human Resources (HR) capacity, developing supporting infrastructure, innovating tourism products, and integrated digital marketing. This research provides a practical contribution to the development of industrial tourism in regions with a strong small and medium-sized industrial economic base.

The transition from extractive to sustainable economies represents a complex challenge for post-mining regions in Indonesia. This study explores the emergence and development of locally initiated tourism villages in Membalong and Tanjung Rusa Villages, Belitung, as a model of socio-ecological transformation from tin-extractive landscapes toward creative tourism economies. Employing a qualitative-descriptive approach through in-depth interviews and a literature review, this study analyzes the processes of social mobilization, tourism narrative construction, and landscape regeneration undertaken by local communities to transform mining voids (kolong or camui) and environmental degradation into valuable tourism assets. The transformation model is supported by five pillars : (1) revitalization of mining voids into tourism lakes and ecological parks, (2) diversification of eco-friendly local products (pandan thorn handicrafts and natural culinary), (3) integration of traditional gardening and fishing practices as coastal tourism attractions, (4) preservation of hospitable coastal Malay culture as social capital for welcoming tourists, and (5) capacity building in homestay management and tour guiding aligned with SAPTA PESONA principles (represents Indonesia's seven tourism hospitality standards: safety, order, cleanliness, beauty, friendliness, memorable experiences, and comfort) integrated with enhanced English communication competencies to serve international tourist mobility. Despite its success, the model faces critical callenges : dependency on external financing, managerial capacity gaps, limited foreign language proficiency, inadequate marketing communication strategies, and risks of pseudo-empowerment in governing village enterprises (BUMDes) and tourism awareness groups (Pokdarwis). This study contributes to community-based tourism (CBT) theory by demonstrating how environmental rehabilitation can simultaneously cultivate socio-economic and communicative capacities at the grassroots leve. The findings provide valuable practical models for other post-mining regions in Indonesia to develop inclusive, competitive, and sustainable tourism destinations.

Purpose Good places are welcoming spaces where people can relax and enjoy themselves. The purpose of this study is to expand Ray Oldenburg’s “good places” theory in the realm of tourism, recognising its potential in exploring how tourism activities engage with and interpret third places. Oldenburg argued that society thrives on three essential spaces: home and work as first and second places, while third places are social environments where people gather informally. Surprisingly, the role of tourists in shaping third places has not received much academic attention. The purpose of this study is to explore the tourism-related third places on Instagram. Design/methodology/approach The visual analysis draws upon Oldenburg’s third places theory and explores an Instagram reel on third places that solicited 2,436 comments by tourists. To further explore visuals on “great, good places”, text mining and co-occurrence analysis were used on 13,746 Instagram posts and hashtags of #goodplace and #greatplace. This meta-data analysis provides insights into the Instagram travel content labelled as good places. Findings The results of the study indicate that tourists associate the concept of “great good places” on Instagram with the walkability of cities, the spontaneous encounters with people, the availability of outdoor facilities, parks and squares and the opportunities for social interaction they offer daily. These places are perceived as offering free experiences. The visual analysis reveals that travel-related good places can be at the centre of social media travel narratives. Research limitations/implications The study focused on #great #good places but while the hashtags were widely used on Instagram, it cannot be assumed that people intend to refer to third places as great, good places. It is acknowledged that maybe these hashtags were added to the travel related content to get more reactions from followers. The co-occurrence analysis of Instagram posts has difficulties in capturing the depth of user sentiment or emotional attachment. Practical implications Tourism marketers can use the results to emphasise the importance of third places on social media. Three key aspects of good places emerged: the importance of walkable cities; the possibility of spontaneous gatherings, which tourists appreciate for their serendipity; and the desire to enjoy outdoor experiences in natural surroundings. Tourism experience designers aiming to position destinations as good places could take these aspects into account. The hashtag #goodplace is popular on Instagram; therefore, marketers of tourism destinations aiming to attract tourists seeking relaxed, walkable and visually pleasant environments should consider incorporating it into their social media strategies. Originality/value Findings provide new insights into how Oldenburg’s third place theory can be expanded into the field of tourism and it opens paths for further research. The utilisation of a mixture of qualitative and quantitative methods enables a better understanding of tourism-related visual data shared, commented and tagged on Instagram.

This research aims to analyze the Regional Government's strategy in developing the Tanjung Lesung Tourism Area and identify obstacles and efforts to improve the community's economy. As a Special Economic Zone (SEZ) and a national priority tourism destination, Tanjung Lesung has great potential in encouraging local growth, but its development still faces challenges. The research uses a descriptive qualitative method through interviews, observations, and documentation studies with informants from the Tourism Office, SEZ managers, MSME actors, and Pokdarwis. The analysis refers to the theory of Suryadana's tourism development strategy, including attractions, accessibility, amenities, and institutions. The results of the study show that the government's strategy focuses on the development of attractions through the involvement of MSMEs and cultural preservation, as well as improving facilities with training and community assistance. This strategy has a positive impact on increasing income and job creation. However, there are obstacles in the form of limited regional authority in SEZ management, lack of optimal accessibility and infrastructure, weak collaboration between stakeholders, low capacity of local human resources, and inconsistent promotion. The government's efforts include increasing human resource capacity, facilitating MSMEs in events, and cross-sector coordination. In conclusion, the Tanjung Lesung tourism development strategy has contributed to economic empowerment, but it is not optimal, so stronger synergy is needed between the government, the private sector, and the community to realize sustainable tourism.

Ningxia is a renowned cultural tourism destination with rich heritage and natural landscapes. Current research, however, remains unclear on how multi-dimensional cultural experiences influence tourist behavior-particularly the mediating role of cultural identity (CI) and the moderating effect of perceived cultural distance (PCD). To address this gap, this study expands the Cognitive-Affective-Behavioral model and examines how Rich Cultural Tourism Experiences (RCTE) affect satisfaction and behavioral intentions, using network semantic analysis (14,163 texts) and PLS-SEM (547 questionnaires). Five RCTE dimensions are identified: historical, modern, folk, spiritual, and ecological. Results show that RCTE boosts satisfaction, which in turn enhances behavioral intentions. Among the dimensions, spiritual, historical, and ecological experiences exert the strongest effects on CI, with path coefficients of 0.247, 0.244, and 0.200 respectively. CI serves as a key mediator, while PCD weakens RCTE's impact on CI-but not on satisfaction.

The main problem faced by the partner, namely the Matano Iniaku tourism management group in Matano Tourism Village, is the low communication ability and public speaking skills of tour guides in delivering information about tourist destinations in an engaging and persuasive manner. To address this issue, a Public Speaking Clinic was conducted to improve participants’ speaking abilities, build self-confidence, and enhance their storytelling techniques. The program was implemented using an experiential learning approach through interactive training, hands-on practice, presentation simulations, and mentoring by professional trainers from PT. Dialogika Pesona Indonesia. The two-day activity was attended by 19 participants consisting of tour guides and destination managers. The evaluation results showed a 93% increase in communication skills, particularly in articulation, intonation, message structure, and nonverbal expression. This program has provided a tangible solution for partners in improving tourism service quality and can serve as a model for communication competency development in the local tourism sector.

Sambas possesses significant potential for developing its natural resources into tourism assets, supporting local city branding initiatives. Efforts to promote Sambas as a tourist destination have included hosting culturally-rooted festivals, which stimulate the local economy by attracting visitors and creating business opportunities for residents. This study aims to assess Sambas Regency's tourism scope by identifying tourism areas in West Kalimantan, using a qualitative-descriptive approach. This approach focuses on the cultural festivals in Sambas Regency, which hold considerable tourism potential. The findings reveal that although various efforts have been made to promote Sambas, practical challenges persist. Visitor motivation can be enhanced by addressing factors such as festival cleanliness, food variety, beach conditions, and event program content. Despite these initiatives, most festival attendees are locals from West Kalimantan, with limited foreign tourist engagement. This study highlights both the progress and areas needing improvement in promoting Sambas as a unique cultural tourism destination.

Consumerism, a core value or lifestyle centered on the pursuit of material abundance, often links personal satisfaction with consumption behavior. With the development of the global economy and society, these values are becoming increasingly common and accepted, particularly among young people. This paper focuses on the similarities and differences in consumer attitudes, behavioral habits, shopping preferences, and social influencing factors among adolescents aged 13-19 in China (the world's second-largest economy) and Thailand (a renowned tourist destination). Using a combination of qualitative and quantitative research methods, including data analysis and literature review, the paper analyzes these differences by focusing on four specific consumer-related concepts and areas: consumption platforms, consumption motivations, payment methods, and consumption sectors. This paper finds that while the consumption attitudes of adolescents in the two countries share many similarities, they also differ significantly, stemming from their different cultural backgrounds and perspectives. Thai adolescents are relatively more inclined to spend their income immediately, while Chinese adolescents are more inclined to save their income. Furthermore, due to the development of infrastructure and logistics, Chinese adolescents are more accustomed to shopping online. On the contrary, since Thailand's logistics industry still has relatively room for improvement, and one-fifth of the country's population and nearly half of its GDP are concentrated in the Bangkok metropolitan area, offline stores are more popular among Thai teenagers because of their convenience.

Since the pandemic, protected areas in mountain regions have become increasingly popular tourist destinations. However, mountains are considered fragile in terms of natural and cultural heritage, so a balanced use of resources is needed to develop tourism with long-term benefits for local communities. The present study investigates, through multi-stage research, the perspective of accommodation providers in the Serras D'Aire and Candeeiros Natural Park (PNSAC) (Portugal) regarding sustainable tourism. Data reported on Booking.com, a leading online tourist accommodation platform, in terms of their commitment to predefined sustainability practices was considered. Then, the tourist accommodations were analysed by proposing a ranking through an integrative approach. Additionally, in-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted with accommodation providers to gain a deeper understanding of their journey towards sustainable tourism and its connection with the PNSAC authority as a promoter of this activity. Results emphasise that only 33.3% of the accommodation providers claimed sustainability practices, with 40% categorised as 'inadequate' in the rankings. This indicates that these units implement only a few measures. Content analysis of the interviews highlights commitment to sustainable tourism but also reveals a lack of interaction between accommodation providers and the PNSAC authority. There is, therefore, a disconnect between the two actors, which can be improved by creating an exchange framework. Furthermore, the providers acknowledge the need for collaboration with authorities to promote sustainable tourism, preserve natural resources, and suggest areas for improvement.

The development of tourism in Neum , Bosnia and Herzegovina’s only coastal town, represents a complex process that began during Yugoslavia’s socialist era, marked by various social, architectural, and ecological challenges. During the 1960’s, alongside accelerated urbanization, transportati on infrastructure, and secondary housing, Neum experienced a transformation from a local community to a remarkable tourist destination. Architecture of that period, marked by modernist principles, was not just functional, but reflected a wide socialist ide ology - promoting collective welfare, harmony with natural surroundings, and inclusivity. However, the expansion of tourism in Neum also brought problems, such as illegal construction, the destruction of landscape, and spatial segregation . The aim of this research is to analyze how the elements of socialist modernist architecture can be used as a base for the further development of hotel complexes in Neum. Modernist architecture from the socialist period provides various important lessons for today’s u rban p lanning. It’s basic principles - simplicity, functionality, and the adaptation to the natural terrain, offer a relevant frame for the contemporary development of tourism. In this context, this research focuses on the integration of those principles into con temporary architecture, with the aim of creating sustainable, functional, and aesthetically pleasing hotels that satisfy the needs of t ourists, while keeping the local identity. With the use of primary and secondary sources, the analysis includes the study of current hotels in Neum, their architectural characteristics, and urban organization. Special attention is paid to challenges, such as unplanned const ruction, degradation of the coast, and the unequal development of different parts of the municipality. Through this analysis, concrete models for the further development of hotels are suggested, which include the incorporation of modernist principles, but with a comb ination of new approaches.

ABSTRACT Using a constructivist grounded theory approach, this study investigated the themes influencing the attitudes, perceptions, and willingness of tourists and service providers, and developed a conceptual model, illustrating how these stakeholders co-create a bicycle tourism destination. Through thematic analysis, five key themes emerged: awareness, belief, bicycle-friendly infrastructure, pro-sustainable behavior, and participation intention. These themes informed the Concentric Circular Model of Bicycle Tourism Development within the Stakeholder Triangle. The study extends the Extended-Value-Belief-Norm (EVBN) theory by incorporating tangible elements such as infrastructure into understanding sustainable tourism behavior and supports the Norm Activation Model by emphasizing environmental awareness in shaping personal norms. Practically, the research highlights the need for strategic infrastructure investment and stakeholder collaboration to foster sustainable and economically beneficial bicycle tourism, providing policymakers and practitioners with a framework for development in regions facing infrastructure and awareness challenges.

ABSTRACT Taking Macao Historic Centre as an example, this study adopts an exploratory sequential mixed-methods approach to construct the tourism image of Macao Historic Centre and quantify the discrepancy between its official projection image and tourist perception image in bilingual contexts. A comprehensive tourism destination image (TDI) model for Macao Historic Centre is developed and reveals a dynamic cognitive progression from human geography to psychological perspectives that collectively shape heritage tourism image formation. Key findings reveal that the English projection image emphasizes ‘Social Function’ and ‘Cultural Value’ while the Chinese projection image highlights ‘Architectural Features’ and ‘Basic Information.’ English-speaking tourists pay more attention to ‘Cultural Value’ and ‘Tourism Value,’ whereas Chinese tourists prioritize ‘Architectural Features’ and ‘Historical Value.’. The consistency between official projection and tourist perception is higher in the Chinese context, while the discrepancy is more pronounced in the English context. This study offers new perspective for understanding heritage tourism image and provides empirical evidence for optimizing bilingual promotional strategies and enhancing interactive experience design in heritage destinations.

Although the history of the Ombilin mining site and its infrastructural transformation has received scholarly attention, studies specifically tracing the functional transformation of the Goedang Ransoem Museum in Sawahlunto remain limited. This research aims to describe the process of functional transition of the Goedang Ransoem Museum from its inauguration as a museum to its transformation into a heritage tourism destination in the city of Sawahlunto. The study employs historical research methods, including the heuristic stage for data collection, followed by source criticism through external and internal evaluations, data interpretation, and historiographical writing as the final stage. The findings reveal that following the closure of the Ombilin mine in the early 1990s, various remnants of colonial infrastructure—including the former communal kitchen building for mine workers—underwent functional changes. The Goedang Ransoem Museum, which had previously served several non-museum functions, was officially inaugurated as a museum in 2005 and reclassified as a heritage tourism site in 2019. These findings contribute to a deeper understanding of post-industrial spatial transformation in the context of colonial heritage preservation. The implications highlight the importance of adaptive management of historical assets as part of a sustainable cultural tourism development strategy in post-mining regions.

Community-based tourism (CBT) development is a strategic approach to improving community welfare, particularly in rural areas rich in natural and cultural resources. Embung Tanjung Anom, located in Central Lampung Regency, is one such local destination that has been developed through active community participation under the CBT concept. However, the implementation of CBT still faces various challenges, such as inadequate infrastructure, limited human resource capacity, and weak promotional and institutional management. This study aims to analyze the application of CBT principles, identify supporting and inhibiting factors, and formulate strategic models for developing community-based tourism potential in Embung Tanjung Anom. A qualitative descriptive approach was employed, using data collection techniques including interviews, observations, and documentation, with SWOT analysis as the analytical tool. The findings indicate that the Tourism Awareness Group (Pokdarwis), largely comprised of local youth, plays a central role in organizing attractions and promoting the site. However, tourism development remains suboptimal due to unequal distribution of economic benefits, lack of tourism education and training, and poor road access. Development strategies are directed towards strengthening tourism education, enhancing digital promotion through collaboration with tourism influencers, and positioning Embung Tanjung Anom as a leading tourism destination in the region. This study proposes a strategic model for community-based tourism development that emphasizes synergy among communities, government, and the private sector to achieve sustainable tourism outcomes. Keywords: Community-Based Tourism, Embung Tanjung Anom, Pokdarwis, development strategy, sustainable tourism.