Tourism Practices Research Articles

Implementation and challenges of sustainable tourism programs in Bali

The rapid growth of tourism in Bali has led to extensive development of accommodations, infrastructure, and facilities, positioning the island as a major tourist destination. However, this growth has brought significant challenges, including environmental degradation, cultural commodification, and social inequalities. The overexploitation of natural resources, unsustainable waste management, and deforestation have raised concerns about the island’s long-term ecological health. Additionally, the commercialization of cultural traditions and rising land prices have disrupted local communities and eroded the authenticity of Balinese heritage. In response, Indonesia has launched the "Decarbonization Roadmap for the Tourism Sector" to transition towards a more sustainable tourism model. This roadmap, supported by traditional values like Tri Hita Karana, emphasizes balancing economic growth with environmental preservation and cultural respect. Sustainable tourism practices such as community-based tourism and ecotourism are emerging as potential solutions, focusing on local participation and environmental conservation. Despite these efforts, significant challenges remain, including the uneven distribution of tourism benefits, income inequality, and the heavy reliance on tourism for Bali’s economy. Addressing these issues will require integrated and thoughtful approaches that prioritize sustainability and inclusive development.

Souvenir practices of domestic tourists

ABSTRACT Although souvenirs have received considerable academic attention, their role and significance for domestic tourists are less researched. This paper focuses on the souvenir-purchasing practices of domestic tourists, and the post-holiday role of their souvenirs. Interviews were undertaken with 49 tourists in Romania at the point of souvenir purchase, and 12 follow-up interviews were conducted to explore the role of their souvenirs after the holiday. Purchasing souvenirs appears to be a habit of travel and in some ways the souvenir practices of domestic tourists mirror those of international tourists. Souvenirs are purchased as mementos of place and as gifts for others. They can play an important role after the holiday in stimulating memories. However, there were also distinctive characteristics of domestic souvenirs. There was a preference for items that were inexpensive, small, and familiar, and for objects which had post-holiday usability within the home. Furthermore, both the purchase and subsequent display of souvenirs in the home were used as expressions of religious and/or national identity, so that domestic souvenirs are implicated in practices of everyday nationalism. In this way, domestic souvenirs are both objects for personal use and a way of making a statement to others.

Coupling coordination analysis on digital economy-tourism development-ecological environment

Growth-oriented tourism has caused global environmental degradation. The digital economy is widely regarded as a strategic engine of sustainable tourism, creating new potential for eco-environmental improvement by increasing innovation and efficiency, optimizing tourism sustainability management, and promoting sustainable tourist behavior. To reveal the coordination associations of the digital economy, tourism development, and ecological environment (DTE) and achieve sustainability in tourist destinations, this study aims to explore the DTE coupling coordination. We used the coupling coordination model to explore the coupling coordination degree of the DTE in 30 provinces in China from 2011 to 2021. Using Markov and modified gravity model, the dynamic evolution and spatial correlation intensity of the coupling coordination were examined, and influencing factors were determined by applying the GTWR model. The evaluation indices of the digital economy, tourism, and environment steadily increased but with significant spatial disequilibrium. The dominant trend was shifting from a lagging digital economy to lagging tourism development. Temporally, the coupling coordination state experienced a mild imbalance transformation to a near imbalance and a large gap with excellent coordination. Spatially, the coupling coordination is characterized by decreasing steps in the eastern, central, and western regions. The coupling coordination has regional diffusion and spatial correlation phenomena. Third, economic development, opening up, and government support positively affected the coupling coordination. Industrial structure had a fluctuating impact on the coupling coordination, and urbanization and transportation accessibility had a negative effect. Our study emphasizes the importance of DTE coordination development. Policymakers should consider these dynamics when promoting sustainable tourism practices in the digital age.

RESONANSI OBJEK WISATA DENGAN NILAI ERGO-IKONIK UNTUK PENGEMBANGUN BERKELANJUTAN

This research aims to complete or fill the research gap conducted by previous researchers related to sustainable tourism development. This research uses a quantitative approach with a survey technique of 50 responses conducted during the April 2024 joint leave at the Belitung island tourist attraction. This research found that tiktok, natural, no additional costs, halal culinary are important points for tourists when deciding to travel. aligning tourist attraction development with these values, destinations can increase visitor satisfaction, preserve cultural and natural heritage, encourage local community involvement, and promote responsible and sustainable tourism practices. To achieve this resonance, tourist destination development should engage local stakeholders, adopt a place-based approach, apply ergonomic and eco-friendly design principles, authentically interpret cultural and natural heritage, and monitor and manage tourism impacts. The resonance of tourist attractions with ergo-iconic values can create meaningful tourism experiences and contribute to sustainable tourism development.

The Contribution of Sustainable Tourism to Economic Development: A Bibliometric Approach

This study employs bibliometric analysis to investigate the expansive field of sustainable tourism, focusing on the thematic evolution, research trends, emerging opportunities, and author collaboration networks from 1990 to 2024. Through a comprehensive review of the literature using VOSviewer, we identified key thematic clusters such as economic impacts, governance structures, social dimensions, and innovative practices in sustainable tourism. The temporal analysis revealed a shift in focus towards innovation and stakeholder perceptions, underscoring the dynamic nature of this research area. Emerging opportunities in the field include integrating advanced technologies and exploring the impact of local policies on sustainable tourism practices. Furthermore, the analysis of author collaboration networks highlighted the importance of scholarly partnerships in advancing the discourse, with prominent researchers playing pivotal roles in bridging various aspects of the field. This study not only maps the existing landscape but also highlights potential pathways for future research, aiming to enhance the efficacy and scope of sustainable tourism.

Sustainable tourism and city branding: Balancing growth and authenticity

Background: The rapid growth of tourism has necessitated a re-evaluation of its impacts on local cultures and economies, highlighting the need for sustainable practices. This paper explores the intersection of sustainable tourism and city branding, focusing on how destinations can balance economic growth with the preservation of authenticity. Method: Through a comparative case study analysis of Indonesia and the Philippines, this research examines the strategies employed by major cities in these countries to attract tourists while maintaining cultural integrity and promoting sustainability. In Indonesia, cities like Bali and Jakarta have implemented various initiatives aimed at fostering sustainable tourism, such as community-based tourism projects and environmental conservation efforts. Similarly, destinations like Manila and Cebu have developed branding strategies in the Philippines that emphasize cultural heritage and ecological sustainability. This study identifies common challenges faced by both countries, including managing the environmental impact of tourism and ensuring local community involvement in tourism planning. Result: The findings suggest that while Indonesia and the Philippines have made significant strides in integrating sustainability into their tourism and branding efforts, substantial hurdles remain to achieving a perfect balance. Conclusion: Key recommendations include enhancing policy frameworks, increasing stakeholder collaboration, and fostering greater awareness among tourists about sustainable practices. This paper contributes to the broader discourse on sustainable tourism and city branding by providing insights that can inform policy and practice in other regions facing similar challenges. Novelty/Originality of this study: They are developing a holistic and adaptable comparative framework for evaluating sustainable tourism strategies, integrating economic, social, cultural and environmental aspects, and considering each destination's unique characteristics. Various tourism destinations can adopt and adapt this framework to develop and implement tourism practices that effectively balance economic growth, cultural preservation and environmental sustainability in their local context.

Food, glorious food! The intersection of food cultures and creative tourism in Brunei

PurposeThe purpose of this research is to apply the theoretical frameworks of resource-based view (RBV) and Social Creativity to elucidate insights related to food cultures and creative tourism in the context of Brunei. This addresses an important gap in the literature to unpack how food cultures and creative tourism can become a vehicle for the diversification of a country’s reliance on oil and gas as primary industries.Design/methodology/approachA case study approach was taken in this research, utilising both primary and secondary data such as social media posts, media reports and semi-structured interviews to shed light on an emerging niche market in Brunei tourism.FindingsThe research revealed the entrepreneurial mindset of local food chefs and enthusiasts in showcasing Bruneian heritage and cultures, supported by government campaigns and technological advances. This lends further evidence that food cultures and creative tourism can be a lever for a national economic diversification strategy and can be validated elsewhere.Research limitations/implicationsThis is one of the first studies to investigate the intersection of the RBV and Social Creativity to advance the theory and practice of tourism in South East Asia.Practical implicationsThe intersection of food cultures and creative tourism within Brunei is dovetailed into the theoretical frameworks of the RBV and Wilson’s Social Creativity Framework. This is evidenced in a diversification strategy emerging from the case study of Brunei, where food is earmarked as a heritage resource and leverages individual, and in particular, young people’s creativity to generate a niche tourism market for the country.Social implicationsThe paper illuminates the role of technology as a vehicle for the discourses of creativity, reflexivity, education and economy to flourish. Through co-created content on social media, food heritage and creative tourism experiences are foregrounded and assisted by the entrepreneurs in reaching their desired audiences. Arguably, such tools helped the country alleviate the devastating impacts of COVID-19 and thrust domestic food tourism experiences into the spotlight, like other destinations.Originality/valueThis is one of the first studies to investigate the intersection of the RBV and Social Creativity to advance the theory and practice of tourism in South East Asia.

Smart tourism practice in the scope of sustainable tourism in emerging markets: a systematic literature review

Smart tourism practice in the scope of sustainable tourism in emerging markets: a systematic literature review

Experiential tourism and community narratives: Non-Tourist Guidebook of Ussita

In recent decades, experiential tourism studies have developed strongly within a transforming tourism development paradigm. The enhancement of the territory is more focused on its intangible resources, and experience becomes a strategic concern within a renewed way of practicing tourism where individuals look primarily for what to experience. Tourism becomes an opportunity to create and exchange experiences by challenging conventional tourism practices and advocating new value references and new forms of tourism including experiential tourism. This article will focus on the relationship between experiential tourism and community narratives: the Non tourism Project, and particularly the Non tourism Guidebook of Ussita, a small Italian municipality in an inland area and an earthquake victim, will be presented. Non tourism is a way of understanding the encounter between a community and those from outside: the non tourist seeks an intimate and authentic relationship with a territory and the community rediscovers its identity through a collective narrative. The paper aims to investigate whether community narratives can help transform tourism into an enriching and meaningful experience, creating deep bonds between tourists and the places they visit, promoting sustainability, and enhancing local cultural heritage. The non-tourist guide, as a result of the local community’s collective storytelling experience, brings tourists closer to experiential ways of visiting and has enabled the local community to rediscover its identity through the use of narrative practices. This article aims to highlight how non-tourist guides can also be a tool for dialogue between tourists and the community through the proposal of experiential itineraries. The experience of non-tourist guides is purely Italian and is at an early but interesting stage of diffusion, with volumes covering both urban contexts and smaller and inland territories. The article is the result of an initial exploratory work (Yin, 2017) that offered a preliminary understanding of the opportunity that non-tourist guides have to promote sustainability, enhancing local resources and offering significant benefits to both tourists and host communities.

Analysis of Sustainable Tourism Management, Tourist Education, and Environmental Awareness on Visit Intention in Ubud, Bali

This study examines the impact of sustainable tourism management, tourist education, and environmental awareness on the visiting intentions of tourists in Ubud, Bali. Utilizing a quantitative approach, data were collected from 160 respondents using a Likert scale ranging from 1 to 5. Structural Equation Modeling-Partial Least Squares (SEM-PLS 3) was employed for data analysis to explore the relationships among the variables. The findings indicate that effective sustainable tourism management and heightened environmental awareness significantly enhance tourists' intentions to visit. Additionally, tourist education plays a crucial role in fostering environmental consciousness, further influencing visiting intentions. The results underscore the importance of integrated tourism strategies that prioritize sustainability and education to promote environmentally responsible travel behavior. This research provides valuable insights for policymakers and tourism operators in developing sustainable tourism practices that align with visitors' environmental values.

Dynamics of Local Communities Through the Transformation of Agriculture to The Camping Sector in Pancasari Village, Buleleng, Bali

This study explores the dynamics of local communities in Pancasari Village, Buleleng, Bali, as they transition from traditional agriculture to the emerging camping sector. This transformation has led to significant economic, social, and environmental changes within the community. Economically, the shift has generated new employment opportunities, increased household incomes, and stimulated local businesses, thereby enhancing the village’s economic resilience. However, challenges such as potential inflation, uneven distribution of benefits, and increased vulnerability to external economic shocks have also arisen. Socially and culturally, the move to camping has altered traditional roles and lifestyles, facilitated cultural exchange and the introduction of new ideas but also posing risks of cultural dilution and commodification. Environmentally, the camping sector promotes sustainable tourism practices, yet it also brings negative impacts like habitat loss and increased waste. This study employs a qualitative research methodology, including interviews, observations, and document analysis, to understand these dynamics comprehensively. The findings highlight the need for sustainable planning and inclusive development strategies to address economic challenges, robust environmental management to mitigate negative impacts, and effective policy and governance frameworks to ensure equitable benefit distribution and stakeholder coordination. The study concludes that while the transformation to the camping sector presents significant opportunities for economic growth and cultural exchange, it also requires careful management to ensure long-term community well-being and sustainability. By understanding these dynamics, policymakers and stakeholders can better support the community through this transition, promoting balanced and sustainable development in Pancasari Village.

Analysis of Sustainable Tourism Practices and Sustainability Reports on the Websites of Environmentally Friendly Five Star Hotels in Antalya Destination

Analysis of Sustainable Tourism Practices and Sustainability Reports on the Websites of Environmentally Friendly Five Star Hotels in Antalya Destination

El legado matemático de la escritura cuneiforme: matemática funcional en la antigua mesopotamia

Tourism for the observation of large cats, such as the jaguar in the Brazilian Pantanal and the puma in Chilean Patagonia, has emerged as a powerful tool to promote biodiversity conservation and sustainable economic development. This article explores the opportunities and challenges associated with this form of tourism, highlighting best practices and strategies for maximizing benefits and mitigating negative impacts. The analysis reveals that big cat tourism can provide significant economic benefits to local communities, creating livelihoods and raising living standards. However, it is crucial to maintain a balance between economic benefits and ecological sustainability. Implementing capacity limits, strict regulations, and sustainable tourism practices are essential to prevent the degradation of natural habitats and animal stress. Tourism education plays a vital role in promoting responsible behaviors among visitors. Orientation programs and the presence of experienced guides help ensure that wildlife interactions are safe and informative. Additionally, collaborating with academic institutions to monitor and research the impact of tourism on feline populations and their habitats is critical for making informed decisions. The involvement of local communities is another critical aspect. Initiatives that ensure communities directly benefit from tourism strengthen local support for conservation efforts and create sustainable income streams. Habitat restoration projects and anti-poaching units, funded by tourism revenue, can promote ecological recovery and reduce threats to wildlife. Diversification of tourism activities is also recommended to distribute pressure on wildlife habitats and extend the stay of tourists. In addition to feline watching, cultural visits, ecological trails and other activities can promote conservation and environmental education. Jaguar and cougar sighting tourism presents a valuable opportunity to promote conservation and economic development. Adopting sustainable tourism practices, education, and community engagement are essential to ensure that this form of tourism continues to thrive, benefiting both wildlife and local communities.

Feline watching tourism in South America: Conservation, sustainability and impacts in the Pantanal and Patagonia

Tourism for the observation of large cats, such as the jaguar in the Brazilian Pantanal and the puma in Chilean Patagonia, has emerged as a powerful tool to promote biodiversity conservation and sustainable economic development. This article explores the opportunities and challenges associated with this form of tourism, highlighting best practices and strategies for maximizing benefits and mitigating negative impacts. The analysis reveals that big cat tourism can provide significant economic benefits to local communities, creating livelihoods and raising living standards. However, it is crucial to maintain a balance between economic benefits and ecological sustainability. Implementing capacity limits, strict regulations, and sustainable tourism practices are essential to prevent the degradation of natural habitats and animal stress. Tourism education plays a vital role in promoting responsible behaviors among visitors. Orientation programs and the presence of experienced guides help ensure that wildlife interactions are safe and informative. Additionally, collaborating with academic institutions to monitor and research the impact of tourism on feline populations and their habitats is critical for making informed decisions. The involvement of local communities is another critical aspect. Initiatives that ensure communities directly benefit from tourism strengthen local support for conservation efforts and create sustainable income streams. Habitat restoration projects and anti-poaching units, funded by tourism revenue, can promote ecological recovery and reduce threats to wildlife. Diversification of tourism activities is also recommended to distribute pressure on wildlife habitats and extend the stay of tourists. In addition to feline watching, cultural visits, ecological trails and other activities can promote conservation and environmental education. Jaguar and cougar sighting tourism presents a valuable opportunity to promote conservation and economic development. Adopting sustainable tourism practices, education, and community engagement are essential to ensure that this form of tourism continues to thrive, benefiting both wildlife and local communities.

‘We are the roots!’ Decolonial practices of local tourism

The roots of ancestral legacy persist entangled with the currents of modern globalisation. While the global tourism market promotes corporate ventures and international travel, rural and Indigenous communities confront the challenge of adapting amidst hegemonic influences. In coastal communities of Ecuador, the juxtaposition of pre-colonial belonging and contemporary tourism development exemplifies this tension. Drawing on decolonial perspectives, this paper investigates how rural Indigenous communities on the Pacific coast of Ecuador have navigated their tourism ventures, negotiating notions of private property, access to credit, and business administration formalities, while upholding traditional Indigenous values and collective land property needs—what we term decolonial practices of local tourism. Moreover, the emergence of proximity tourism offers a promising avenue for advancing decolonial practices within the global tourism market, prioritising geographical and cultural closeness over conventional distance-focused approaches. Employing a collaborative approach, the research integrates Indigenous methodologies with conventional research methods, bridging diverse backgrounds within the research team, including academia, consultancy, and Indigenous leadership. The analysis underscores the pivotal role of collective land ownership in preserving cultural identity and fostering resistance to capitalist encroachments. The study concludes with a call to amplify Indigenous voices, cultivate solidarity, and advocate for more inclusive and equitable approaches to tourism development. This imperative stems from the need to decolonise and promote culturally sensitive local tourism practices, urging a reconfiguration of the tourism industry towards a more equitable and respectful engagement with Indigenous communities.

Regenerative tourism development as a response to crisis: harnessing practise-led approaches

The pandemic has drawn attention to the unsustainable nature of tourism, intensifying social and economic inequalities and heightening issues of urban vulnerability. As destinations reimagine their future, a holistic approach that addresses social and ecological perspectives through collaboration, stewardship and environmental ethics is required. Regenerative tourism enables destination communities to develop new ways of thinking and build the capability and capacity to work towards embedding tourism practices and ecological processes that advocate human and non-human health and wellbeing. As the tourist-historic city of York, United Kingdom emerged from the pandemic, practice-led regenerative development was evident in the city’s framework for post-Covid recovery and renewal. Semi-structured interviews with leading stakeholders identified how communities can build sustainable city ecologies through living systems thinking, evidenced through collaborative models of engagement. In York, the pandemic catalysed community stewardship and a re-orientation towards a more inclusive tourism environment. This research demonstrates how regenerative practice principles manifest in the interconnections and the networks that support the distinctive qualities and needs of York’s local communities. The study also contributes to understanding how regenerative tourism approaches support cultural revival, as evident in York. Such approaches to tourism management in historic cities highlights the transformative potential of practice-led regenerative development as a tool for addressing tourism development concerns in urban spaces.

Emerging Opportunities in Blue Tourism

The ocean has intrinsic value that attracts people for various reasons including residence and recreation. Blue tourism has become one of the most popular forms of tourism in coastal and marine environments. This commentary considers the emerging opportunities in the blue tourism sector, which refers to the application of sustainability practices in coastal and marine tourism. The article considers the therapeutic nature of the ocean environment and how this may be linked to health tourism, which includes wellness tourism and medical tourism. Water has been proven to be very effective as a therapeutic agent and combining these characteristics with tourism creates unique opportunities for blue tourism businesses. The ocean also has strong spiritual value to many different cultural and religious groups, and this can be a valuable draw card for cultural heritage and religious tourists. Tourism products could include packages that allow tourists to witness unique cultural practices that take place in and around the ocean. With blue tourism, and its implicit link to sustainability, there is significant potential for tourism to help reach some of the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The commentary further considers emerging issues for blue tourism in a postCOVID‐19 environment as they relate to technological advancements through virtual and augmented reality experiences.

Regenerative tourism as a post-disaster response: lessons from Cammino nelle Terre Mutate

Disasters, resulting from natural hazards, have a profound impact on communities and places, revealing vulnerabilities while shaping unique identities. Regenerative tourism offers promise in aiding recovery and revitalization, supporting local economies, and fostering a transition to alternative development approaches. Drawing on emerging conceptual frameworks in regenerative tourism, this paper proposes their application in post-disaster contexts. It explores walking itineraries as potential regenerative practices, embodying spiritual and political acts of re-signifying place. Using the Cammino nelle Terre Mutate case study, which traverses rural villages in central Italy struck by violent earthquakes in 2009 and 2016–2017, the study examines the application of regenerative thinking in post-disaster tourism practices. It illustrates how walking itineraries, when guided by regenerative principles, can facilitate the coexistence of humans and the environment, which includes natural hazards as intrinsic components of a dynamic living system. This study highlights the role of communities in enhancing system capacity, revealing the inherent potential of affected areas beyond recovery, and paving the way for tourism as part of a regenerative process. However, tourism’s effectiveness depends on nurturing a regenerative mindset and harnessing transformative capacities to stimulate local economies and imaginaries, prompting a re-evaluation of tourism’s role in local development.

Beyond the forests: ecotourism and sustainable livelihoods in Karnataka’s protected landscapes

ABSTRACT The paper is situated within the context of two prominent tiger reserves, namely the Kali Tiger Reserve and Nagarahole Tiger Reserve, located in Karnataka, India. The primary objective of this study is to evaluate the pivotal role played by ecotourism in shaping rural livelihoods and to evaluate the outcomes that result from the integration of ecotourism into pre-existing livelihood strategies. Employing a sustainable livelihoods approach, the study engaged 214 participants from 25 adjoining villages of the tiger reserves, service providers, and government officials at various administrative levels. The findings of the study suggest that although ecotourism has not supplanted traditional livelihoods, it has effectively contributed to income augmentation for residents in the study areas. This research also illuminates a notable disparity between policy intent and on-ground implementation due to the inherent ambiguity present in tourism policies, which tends to generate and exacerbate a plethora of issues that impede the effective integration of ecotourism into existing livelihood strategies. The paper sets the stage for further deeper exploration of the intersection between ecotourism and rural livelihoods, aimed at fostering more inclusive and sustainable tourism practices within ecologically sensitive areas.

Resident perspectives unveiled: The role of a sustainable destination image in shaping pro-sustainable responses

This paper examines the effects of a sustainable destination image on residents' satisfaction and pro-sustainable behavior considered through positive word-of-mouth (WOM) and engagement in sustainable tourism practices. The paper also explains the moderating role of two demographic variables, i.e., gender and age, in the proposed research model. The findings show that a sustainable destination image affects residents' satisfaction, positive WOM, and engagement, while satisfaction is found to influence only positive WOM with an insignificant impact on engagement. Whereas gender moderates only the relationship between residents’ satisfaction and engagement, the moderating role of age is not confirmed.