Tourism Infrastructure Research Articles

Dating of avalanches in Pirin mountains in Bulgaria by tree-ring analysis of Pinus peuce and Pinus heldriechii trees

Snow avalanches are among the most important disturbances in mountain ecosystems. The effects of avalanches on the endemic Pinus heldreichii and Pinus peuce forests in the Pirin Mountains in Bulgaria are poorly understood. These forests are among the few remaining old-growth forests with preserved natural dynamics in Europe. However, the ongoing development of tourist infrastructure at the borders of some of the best-preserved Pinus heldreichii and Pinus peuce forests close to Bansko ski resort leads to increased tourist pressure. Many backcountry skiers and snowboarders venture beyond the resort boundaries, practicing their activities in these forests and avalanche tracks and couloirs within them. The objective of our study was to collect tree-ring cores from Pinus peuce and Pinus heldreichii trees affected by avalanches and verify the specific types of damages and tree responses characteristic for the species and region. Then using the collected data, we aimed at reconstructing the years in which specific areas were affected by avalanches and in this way obtain data on the magnitude of larger events. Our study shows that large magnitude avalanches (LMA) in the vicinity of Bansko ski resort in the Pirin Mountains in Bulgaria occurred dozens of times in the 20th century. On average the period between LMAs ranged between 9 and 20 years with the shortest period between two such events in one couloir being 2 years. Avalanches affected forests high on the couloir banks and left traces in the tree rings related to the mechanical impact that snow avalanches had on the surviving trees. In the studied tree-ring cores of Pinus peuce and Pinus heldreichii the most informative types of responses were sharp growth suppressions, including missing rings, followed by reaction wood and in less cases visible scars and callus tissue. Our data for frequent large avalanches shows that is necessary to address the avalanche risk with high priority especially for the Palashica couloir, which directly threatens the lower parts of the ski runs as well as other facilities in Bansko ski resort.

Research on Image Perception of Tourist Destinations Based on the BERT-BiLSTM-CNN-Attention Model

Image perception of tourism destinations plays an important role in destination marketing and management. Considering that long-distance feature information of travel review text is difficult to capture and local key information is ignored, BiLSTM and CNN are improved to propose a travel text classification method based on BERT-BiLSTM-CNN-Attention hybrid neural network model. Taking Sanya City as the research object, we adopt the emotion classification and content analysis methods and construct the tourism destination image perception analysis framework based on the “cognitive-emotional” three-dimensional model, providing a research perspective for the sustainable development of tourism in Sanya City. The results show that the accuracy of the proposed model reaches 93.18%, which is better than other models. Tourists’ perception of destination image includes four aspects: tourism resources, tourism environment perception, tourism infrastructure and supporting services, as well as tourism activities. Positive emotions dominate emotional image, and negative emotions are mainly focused on tourism infrastructure and supporting services. On the overall image perception, tourists have a high evaluation of the tourism image of Sanya City. This research has some implications for tourism destinations, such as improving their management programs, enhancing their marketing strategies, and achieving long-term sustainable development of their destinations.

Application of geographic information systems for zoning tourism clusters in the Voronezh Region: economic effect

The article examines the economic effect of using geographic information systems (GIS) to create tourism clusters in regions, such as the Voronezh Region, and considers how this approach in the study opens up new opportunities for attracting tourists and increasing economic activity. The article analyzes how GIS contributes to the formation of tourism clusters in the region and what economic benefits this brings. A tourism cluster is an association of tourism enterprises, services, and infrastructure in a specific geographical area. GIS zoning of clusters opens the way to synergy and interaction among industry participants, which helps to increase the attractiveness of the region for tourists and raise the economic potential in the development of the hospitality sector.

Leasing in tourism as an innovative approach to business development

The article explores the role and significance of leasing in the tourism sector, presenting various aspects of the use of leasing schemes in the tourism business. Through case studies of companies from various segments of the tourism industry, the authors demonstrate how leasing of equipment, vehicles, real estate, and technology contributes to increasing the efficiency, flexibility, and competitiveness of tourism enterprises. In addition, the article examines the potential of leasing for the development of tourism infrastructure and attracting investment in the industry.

Conceptual approaches to the development of scientific-cognitive tourism in St. Petersburg

Aims. To develop an effective program for the development of science-cognitive tourism in St. Petersburg, which will help to attract tourists and increase the level of people’s knowledge about science.Objectives. To analyze the current state of scientific-cognitive tourism; to identify the main problems and obstacles for the development of this type of tourism in St. Petersburg; to form conceptual approaches, key activities and projects to be included in the program of scientific[1]cognitive tourism development; to develop a system of indicators of scientific-cognitive tourism development in St. Petersburg.Methods. The methods of descriptive literature review and statistical data analysis were used in the research process. The research includes the study and analysis of scientific articles, reports of scientific conferences and other publications related to the topic of scientific-cognitive tourism in St. Petersburg. This allows to form the theoretical basis of the study, to identify the main approaches, concepts and directions of development of scientific-cognitive tourism and its impact on the socio-economic sphere of the city. The analysis of statistics is based on the official statistical data on tourism provided by the Committee for Tourism Development of St. Petersburg, as well as on the data of international and domestic travel agencies, operators. On the basis of their analysis the trends and indicators of scientific and cognitive tourism development in the city at the present stage are revealed, the factors affecting supply and demand in this sphere are determined. To achieve the goals set in the article the general scientific methods were applied: synthesis, comparison, generalization.Results. The authors proposed conceptual approaches, main activities and projects that are included in the program of development of scientific and cognitive tourism. The system of indicators of development of scientific-cognitive tourism in St. Petersburg is developed.Conclusions. The conceptual approaches are presented within the framework of measures for the development of scientific-cognitive tourism. A program for the development of scientific[1]cognitive tourism has been developed, including such measures as the creation of a department for the development of scientific-cognitive tourism in the Committee for Tourism Development of St. Petersburg, the organization and implementation of a set of measures for the formation of sightseeing tours for schoolchildren of 10-11th grades in all state universities of St. Petersburg on priority areas of science, the construction and implementation of training and retraining courses for tourism workers in order to increase expertise in scientific-cognitive tourism. The system of indicators is developed, which will reflect in dynamics the growth of infrastructure of scientific-cognitive tourism and in view of it the increase of tourist flow. Thus, it is proposed to systematically develop this type of tourism, using the proposed program, taking into account the existing challenges.

Factors for the Success of Tourism Startups During the Pandemic

Due to the pandemic caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, numerous sectors of the world economy were practically paralyzed, and tourism activity can be highlighted as one of the main ones. Given that, tourist attractions, equipment, services, and tourist infrastructure sought ways to overcome this moment of crisis. However, only a few were successful. Tourism organizations linked to digital environments, which sought to innovate in the market, faced greater challenges and effectively dealt with the uncertainty environment created by Covid-19, were the ones that stood out the most. These companies that survive during a risky scenario, which have a technological base and a scalable, sustainable, and repeatable business model, are currently called Startups. Therefore, this study aims to analyze and identify the main critical factors for the success of tourism startups during the pandemic, using real examples of organizations that were successful in this period as the main basis for extracting information.

The Great Canadian (Electric) Road Trip: Evaluating EV Use in National Park Tourism

As part of its 2050 net zero emission commitment, Canada has a mandate to transition to electric vehicles (EVs) to decarbonize transportation. While the EV charging infrastructure is expanding in urban areas, the infrastructure for inter-city and nature-based tourism has not been assessed. This study combined four metrics of feasibility and convenience into an EV readiness index to evaluate 94 road trip itineraries associated with Canada’s iconic national parks. Index scores ranged from not possible (0) to equal to the travel experience of internal combustion vehicle (20). With the summer range, the average one-day route score was 19.2, as 82% of one-day itineraries could be completed without requiring additional charging. Multi-day routes scored lower (14.0), with 24% being highly inconvenient or impossible due to gaps between charging stations. With a reduced winter EV range, average index scores for one- and multi-day trips declined as charging needs increased (18.4 and 13.2, respectively). Across the 94 travel routes, EVs were estimated to produce only 17% of the carbon dioxide emissions of internal combustion vehicles (this was much lower in some provinces). The findings also highlight key regional differences in tourism EV readiness and where infrastructure is needed to provide equitable access to Canada’s national parks for tourists seeking to decarbonize their holiday travel.

Assessing the ecological security of tourism in Northeast China

Abstract The ecological security of tourism provides an important guarantee of the sustainable development of regional tourism. In this study, the authors use the Driving Force-Pressure-State-Impact-Response model to construct a system to assess the ecological security of tourism in three provinces of Northeast China. We analyze the characteristics of the dynamic spatiotemporal evolution of the ecological security of tourism in 34 prefecture-level cities, one prefecture, and one region in three provinces of Northeast China from 2010 to 2019 and identify obstacles to this evolution. The results show the following: (1) The ecological security of tourism in Northeast China fluctuated and grew during the study period. Significant changes were observed in the rankings of the provinces in the ecological security of tourism. The pattern of spatial distribution has gradually shifted, from “high in the west and low in the middle” in 2010 to “slightly high in the middle-east and slightly low in the west” in 2019. (2) The ecological security of tourism exhibited prominent characteristics of spatial agglomeration on the whole, where the degree of agglomeration has gradually decreased over time. Economically developed cities in Central China exhibited strong local autocorrelation, and the majority had the characteristics of spatial agglomeration and dependence. (3) There were significant differences in obstacles to the ecological security of tourism among the cities (prefectures and regions) and provinces. Industrial sulfur dioxide emissions and urban population density are the main obstacles to the ecological security of tourism, while the pressure system has emerged as the main hindrance to improvements in it in the three provinces considered here. These results provide insights into the ecological security of tourism in the three provinces of Northeast China, as well as a theoretical reference for formulating and implementing the relevant measures of risk prevention and control. This study shows that increasing the protection of the tourism ecological environment and the construction of new energy sources, building complete tourism infrastructure, coordinating the relationship between tourists and the natural environment, adopting differentiated tourism development measures, and overcoming the obstacles will help to gradually improve the level of tourism ecological security in three provinces of Northeast China.

Analyzing the Evolution of Nepal's Tourism in 2022: Insights and Future Perspectives

This paper focuses into Nepal's internal aviation and tourism industries, underlining the essentiality of strategic planning. It investigates how Nepal's tourism sector has adapted to the global repercussions of COVID-19 and identifies successful strategies to increase tourism revenue following the pandemic. Through the application of both descriptive and inferential statistics, this research analyses data and visually conveys its conclusions. It emphasizes the importance of tailor-made marketing and promotional approaches designed for particular market segments and to exploit local strengths. The document evaluates recovery tactics post-COVID-19, the role of domestic tourism, and the need for upgrades in infrastructure and policies to foster the sustainable development of tourism in Nepal. The necessity for a cohesive approach among federal, provincial, and local governments to facilitate the proper allocation of resources and the execution of tourism initiatives is strongly advocated. The expansion of tourism-related infrastructure, including hotels with high star ratings and improved transport systems, is highlighted as a fundamental factor in supporting the surge of tourists to Nepal. The paper postulates that reinforcing economic development through policies favorable to the tourism industry will have a beneficial impact on international tourism. It urges a policy shift towards the improvement of tourism infrastructure and the adoption of technological innovations in its management.

Determinants of International Tourist Arrival in Nigeria

This paper examines the effect of economic and non-economic factors on international tourist arrival in Nigeria. Annual data on tourist arrival from 53 countries and explanatory variables from 2010-2016 were analyzed using the dynamic panel data regression technique. Results suggest that travel cost, internet use, political stability and number of hotel rooms are the main determinants of tourist flows. The income of tourist-origin countries outside Africa negatively and significantly affects tourist arrival. Travel cost has a robust negative effect on tourists from within and outside Africa. The number of hotel rooms and urbanization rate positively influence tourist arrival, indicating the importance of tourism infrastructure. Government and policymakers must provide an enabling business environment, infrastructure, and policies to improve the country's global competitiveness.

Analysis of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the development of the international tourism market

The COVID-19 pandemic has dealt a significant blow to the international tourism market, resulting in job losses, reduced incomes, and rising unemployment. Therefore, studying the impact of the pandemic on the development of the international tourism market is relevant and important. This article focuses on analyzing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the international tourism industry in the context of globalization. It highlights key aspects and trends that emerged during the crisis period and influenced the development of the tourism market. The authors specifically concentrate on the pandemic's effects on the global travel network, encompassing changes in demand, restrictions on international travel, and the industry's adaptation to new global challenges. The COVID-19 pandemic has been identified as the cause of the most significant drop in international tourism in human history. It led to a sharp decline in the number of international tourist arrivals, export earnings from tourism, and the economic contribution of tourism to the world economy. The impact of the pandemic on international tourism varied across regions, with the Asia-Pacific region being the most affected, experiencing an 84% decrease in international tourist arrivals. The authors pinpoint the main challenges facing the industry after the pandemic, such as changes in demand, restrictions on international travel, and the reorganization of tourism services and infrastructure. The study also explores possibilities for recovery and adaptation of the tourism industry to new realities post-pandemic, with particular attention given to strategies and innovations that can restore interest in international travel and enhance the competitiveness of countries in the global tourism market. It was found that the recovery of international tourism is progressing slowly. In 2022, international tourist arrivals were still 34% lower than in 2019. The study determined that the development of tourism in the post-pandemic period will be influenced by trend changes such as the prioritization of health and safety, shifts in consumer behavior, a desire for unique emotional experiences, new forms of employment, digital transformation, and the emphasis on ecotourism. Taking these trends into account will contribute to the recovery of the tourism industry and ensure its sustainable development in the future.

Factors determining changes in the network of marked hiking trails in the Sudetes

Hiking trails are a basic type of tourist infrastructure, which, on the one hand, make areas available for tourist traffic, and on the other hand, can contribute to the protection of the natural environment (if they are well designed and maintained). Owing to the variety of performed functions, their designation is determined by several factors: natural, technical, economic, social. Networks of trails change constantly. The aim of this article is to determine exactly what factors influence transformations within the hiking trail networks and what is their significance. To this end, three study areas in the Sudetes were analysed: one on the Polish side of the Sudetes–the Table (Stołowe) Mountains, and two on the Czech side–the rock town near the village of Sloup v Čechách and the central part of Zlatohorská vrchovina. An analysis of changes in the shape of the networks over time was carried out, as well as surveys of institutions that were responsible for or influenced these transformations. These areas are characterised by a significant level of changes in the trail network. Among the factors influencing these changes, the tourist attractiveness of the area, the resilience of the environment, the intensity of tourism traffic, the environmental transformations associated with it, the history of tourism development and land ownership changes should be considered the most important. At each stage of forming networks, the key factor should be tourists’ needs, including the desire to escape the urbanised environment. For this reason, trails should avoid roads with artificial (hard) surfaces and heavy automobile traffic.

Performance evaluation of tourism infrastructure in Ciwaluh, Wates Jaya, Cigombong

Performance evaluation of tourism infrastructure in Ciwaluh, Wates Jaya, Cigombong

MEMBUKA PINTU DUNIA: EKSPLORASI TREN BISNIS PARIWISATA DI KABUPATEN LAMPUNG SELATAN DALAM PERSPEKTIF GLOBAL

The background to the study of global trends related to tourism and creative business in Lampung Province, Indonesia, emerges from the importance of understanding the global dynamics that affect the development of these sectors at the local level. The phenomenon of globalization has changed the landscape of the tourism industry and creative business significantly. By understanding global trends related to tourism and creative, the Province of Lampung can identify opportunities, overcome challenges, and develop appropriate strategies to increase competitiveness and strengthen the contribution of tourism sector and creative enterprises to economic growth and sustainable development. The city of Lampung Selatan offers a wide range of tourist products, ranging from natural beauty, such as beaches, mountains, and waterfalls, to cultural heritage, like temples and museums. This diversification allows tourists to enjoy a variety of experiences during tourist visits. Exploring tourism business trends in Lampung City in a global perspective requires a holistic and planned approach for local governments among them: analysis of global trends, strengthening tourism infrastructure, digital promotion, development of tourist packages, international partnerships, environmental and cultural preservation, investing in SDM training, as well as environment and cultural conservation.

Development Strategy for Tangkup Waterfall Towards Sustainable Tourism

This community service project, a collaborative effort between the government, the local community, and the tourism awareness groups, aims to provide development strategies for achieving sustainable tourism in Undisan Village. The main focus of the initiative is on our collective roles as facilitators, regulators, and motivators in supporting the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the area. The primary issue identified is the unsustainable economic development of the local community. The optimal utilization of Tangkup Waterfall in Undisan Village as a tourist destination is also a key concern. The results of this community service project indicate that the government, local community, and tourism awareness groups play a crucial role as facilitators in improving the supporting infrastructure and facilities for tourism in Undisan Village. As regulators, the government is responsible for designing regulations and policies that support sustainable tourism management. However, the government's role as a motivator has yet to be fully realized, necessitating efforts in socialization, training, and allocating stimulant funds to further develop tourism management in the area. In conclusion, the government has a strategic role in achieving the SDGs in Undisan Village through sustainable tourism development. Implementing strategies that align with the region's needs and potential is expected to make positive contributions to the economic, ecological, and socio-cultural aspects.

DEVELOPMENT AND RECOVERY MANAGEMENT OF TOURIST DESTINATIONS USING THE EXAMPLE OF KYIV CITY: OVERCOMING CONSEQUENCES OF THE NEGATIVE IMPACTS

The development of tourism at the destination level is closely linked to its attractiveness, which determines the prospects and opportunities for attracting tourist flows. New trends in the development of modern tourism as a socio-economic, cultural, and communicative institution require regional tourism entities to take appropriate practical measures. Increasing tourist flows requires the creation of an appropriate infrastructure, including the expansion of the network of accommodation facilities, the development of transport links and other services necessary to meet the needs of tourists. Political instability and the lack of a comprehensive, systematic model of tourism management have led to the decline of this sector in Ukraine. The relevance of this topic is driven by the need to develop strategies and management measures to ensure the attractiveness of urban destinations for tourists and to restore the tourism sector in line with international management models and examples of major urban tourist destinations. The main purpose of this study is to analyze the aspects of management, development, and recovery of a tourist destination on the example of Kyiv as part of Ukraine’s economic system in the context of a pandemic and war. The study uses systemic analysis, structural and functional approaches, as well as comparison methods. The study examines the problems associated with a decrease in tourist flow and loss of revenue in the tourism industry due to ineffective management of the tourist destination (pandemic and military operations in the country) and insufficiently developed infrastructure. This made it possible to formulate recommendations for solving problems, namely: improving transport infrastructure and creating and maintaining tourist infrastructure, such as hotels, restaurants and other facilities that will form an open state tourism policy. The concept of spatial-economic management and practical functionality of tourist destinations on the example of Kyiv is developed, provided that modern technologies, approaches, and methods of tourist destinations formation are used, which are components of the model of management of tourist areas development. The results of the study can be used to manage tourist destinations at the international and regional levels.

Рекомендации по развитию горного туризма с учетом особенностей региона

Introduction. Currently, one of the most popular destinations among tourists is mountain tourism. Moreover the territory of the North Caucasus is of particular interest due to its unique landscape, the presence of mineral springs and other natural resources, as well as cultural attractions. Considering the rich tourism potential of this region, ethno-cultural, rural, environmental and adventure tourism is successfully developing. As a separate relatively new direction, we will highlight geological tourism, in which travelers not only enjoy nature, but also gain new knowledge about the structure of the Earth, study the relief, rocks, soil and vegetation. The mountainous terrain promotes the active development of rock climbing and the hikes’ organization with various levels of difficulty. Thus, today the North Caucasus is open to the tourism’s development of various types and deservedly enjoys increased demand for tourism services. However its potential is not fully exploited. The issues of transport infrastructure and tourist awareness about attractions and constantly updated routes have not been sufficiently developed. This is especially true for spontaneous tourists who prefer to act independently. Materials and methods. When conducting the research, general logical methods, a systematic approach, and content analysis of scientific literature on the issues under study were used. In order to study individual issues in more detail, a survey was conducted. A total of 279 respondents were interviewed. The questionnaire was sent out through the digital tool “Yandex.Forms” and includes answers from respondents living in the Central, Northwestern, Southern, Volga and Ural federal districts. Results. The North Caucasus is considered one of the popular tourist regions, attracting a significant number of tourists for many decades, not only our compatriots, but also travelers from all over the world. Of particular interest is the tourism and recreational potential of the Republic of North Ossetia-Alania, which is rich in natural resources and cultural and historical heritage. The study revealed interest in solving the issue of further strengthening the tourism potential of the region on the part of not only the main participants, which are buyers and services’ sellers, but also representatives of the local administration and the state. For example, the Strategy for the development of tourism in the North Caucasus federal district until 2035 involves the formation of measures to ensure the tourists’ safety and the operation of tourist infrastructure, and improve the services’ quality. The results of the survey made it possible to determine that, in modern realities, many tourists prefer to organize their holidays on their own. It has also been established that a significant part of these tourists are young people under the age of 20. Discussion. Analysis of the data obtained by the authors during desk and field research allowed us to determine that one of the ways to increase the region’s attractiveness for tourists, especially spontaneous ones, is the task of timely informing them about new attractions and routes. This task must be solved comprehensively, through the interaction of state regulatory authorities, local authorities and travel companies. To do this, when assessing the natural and recreational resources of the region, it is recommended to calculate the integral indicator taking into account constantly updated operational data. Conclusions. The authors draw the following conclusion. In order to ensure the safety of tourists and increase the attractiveness of the region, it is necessary to develop an information resource that displays the maximum number of attractions in the North Caucasus, which will contribute to the construction of optimal and also the most interesting routes. It is proposed to create and place in the public domain an interactive map that will allow receiving constantly updated data, which will increase the interest of potential travelers and ensure the full disclosure of the potential for a particular region. Resume. In order to promote the region on the tourism services market in the era of the development of information technology and youth activity, we consider it advisable to provide access to tourist sites online, which will attract an additional flow of visitors. The interactive map must include the location of cultural and historical monuments, as well as types of tourism implemented in a certain area. Suggestions for practical applications and future research directions. The proposed recommendations will make it possible to regulate tourist flows, increasing the attractiveness of the region, and provide such services at a level that best satisfies the needs of modern society.

Development of the Regional Economy Through Recreational Tourism (The Leningrad Region Experience)

The crisis conditions in which the regional economy found itself require the search for new methods of forming budget assets. Internal resources began to be of extreme importance. The search for additional potential of specific territories has become especially relevant. The purpose of this study is to show on the example of the Leningrad region the possibilities of using the regional internal resources that can give positive economic dynamics. To achieve the goal, empirical methods were used in the work: collecting facts, comparison, logical analysis and generalization, as well as a comprehensive method. The article assesses the existing recreational potential of the region, its positive and negative aspects, examines the essence of recreational tourism, analyzes measures to support the tourism business, including preferential programs and lending programs for small organizations in the tourism sector. The study showed that one of the options for developing the region’s economy is the use of its resource specializations. The scientific novelty of the study consists in a comprehensive analysis of the recreational resources of the Leningrad Region, which shows the relationship between the state of tourism infrastructure and the level of economic development of the region. As a result, it was concluded that recreational tourism can become a trigger for the launch of the regional economy.

DEVELOPMENT OF A GEOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION SYSTEM FOR OPTIMIZING TOURIST ROUTES IN THE ULYTAU NATIONAL NATURAL PARK

This article analyzes the development of ecotourism in the Ulytau Nature Park using innovative Geographi c information systems technologies. The main purpose of the study is to create a favorable and innovative environment for the development of the tourist experience, including the search and discovery of historical sites, the development of optimal routes and infrastructure improvements. The use of GIS maps in ecological tourism contributes to the development of optimal routes, improvement of tourist infrastructure and provision of informative services. The analysis of the study makes it possible to identify recommendations for public and private organizations in the field of using GIS technologies for the sustainable development of ecotourism. The created GIS map provides information about the park's territory, the location of objects and routes, which contributes to a more informative and oriented tourist experience. The experience of working with GIS technologies enhances the ability of tourists to navigate, discover and obtain information about historical sites and attractions in ecotourism and help enrich the tourist experience.

The Impact of Tourist Infrastructure Development on Local Communities in Hyderabad

The research presented in this study delves into the impact of the current infrastructure on tourism destinations. It explores the repercussions of a gradual decrease in tourist activity on the local economy within and surrounding these popular tourist spots. The analysis aims to assess the condition and operational effectiveness of the infrastructure in these areas. Moreover, it examines strategies to enhance operational efficiency through spatial planning, with a focus on optimizing the synergy between the tourist hub and the adjacent local community. The study also highlights the potential for local communities to thrive by investing in the development of tourism infrastructure, ultimately fostering economic growth and sustainability in these regions.