Tourism Products Research Articles

The effect of awe in wildlife tourists on animal-friendly behavioural intentions: a serial mediation model of connectedness to nature and empathy

ABSTRACT Wildlife tourism is experiencing rapid growth as people's desire to connect with nature intensifies, making the improvement of tourist behaviour in wildlife destinations a crucial research issue. In light of this, the current study, grounded in the appraisal theory of emotion, scrutinises how awe, connectedness to nature (CN), and empathy impact animal-friendly behavioural intentions (AFBI) by establishing and appraising a model incorporating serial mediation and moderation. The results reveal that awe positively influences AFBI, with CN and empathy serving as serial mediators. Furthermore, the extent to which awe, CN, and empathy affect AFBI is amplified at higher levels of animal welfare literacy. This research represents a beneficial attempt to investigate AFBI and its internal mechanisms. Destination management organisations (DMOs), tourism product and service designers, marketers, and policymakers can derive valuable practical insights from this study to enhance sustainable development in wildlife tourism.

How hotel VR photography previews enhance customers’ immediate booking intention through mental imagery and perceived value

Purpose The purpose of this study is to examine how a hotel virtual reality photography (VRP) preview enhances customers’ immediate booking intention compared to a picture preview. Design/methodology/approach Data were collected using a one-factor between-subject experimental design and time-based systematic sampling. Respondents were asked to read a scenario on an iPad and assess a hotel preview (VRPs vs pictures) before answering the questionnaire. Findings The results show that a hotel VRP preview generates more mental imagery than a picture preview in terms of quantity, vividness, modality and valence. These four dimensions of mental imagery indirectly influence customers’ immediate booking intentions through perceived utilitarian value and hedonic value, among which modality has the greatest influence on utilitarian value and valence has the greatest influence on hedonic value. Moreover, utilitarian value has a stronger impact on customers’ immediate booking intentions than does hedonic value. Originality/value The results obtained in this study contribute to hospitality research by using cognitive consistency theory as the overarching framework, combining mental imagery theory, media richness theory and perceived value theory to explain the mechanism of tourists’ hotel booking decision-making from hotel previews. Comparing this study’s results with previous studies shows the difference in the effects of 360° (head-mounted) videos, VRPs and pictures on evoking mental imagery across tourism and hotel products, updating our knowledge of VR technology in tourism marketing.

Indigenous communities and tourism-integrated climate change outcomes on subsistence within the hinterlands: a development management perspective

PurposeThe study focused on rural commodities, climate change and tourism activities for socioeconomic welfare and enhanced productivity within disadvantaged indigenous communities and remote areas. It relates primary and secondary data details on the Musina Municipality’s rural biodiversity, tourism management and integrated pastoral livelihoods, alongside climate change issues locally and abroad.Design/methodology/approachThe study employs focus group discussions and interviews to gather data. Descriptive statistics, cross-tabulation analysis and central tendencies, along with manual data sorting, provide non-inferential data analysis.FindingsThis study discloses a harmful connection between unsustainable integrated rural activities and tourism products and climate change-linked environmental consequences within such environs. Ultimately, the study has highlighted the need for proper biodiversity resource management and an agricultural approach to diminish climate change hazards and permit the indigenous communities of the municipality. Thus, there is a need for awareness and practices in responsible tourism, decent rural ecotourism and agro-tourism for enhanced productivity and sustainability achievements.Originality/valueMany rural citizens in the world naturally live in low-income areas. Southern Africa and Africa, with specific reference to the Musina Municipality in Limpopo Province, South Africa, are no exception. Despite the abundance of assorted natural and cultural biodiversity and rural tourism qualities, such regions are nonetheless prone to climate change consequences and the deprivation of socioeconomic sustainability.

Tourism Contribution in Increasing Local Original Income

This study aims to determine the contribution of tourism in increasing Regional Original Income in North Aceh Regency and Lhokseumawe City. The method used is sociological juridical with a qualitative approach and using primary and secondary data. The subjects in this study were the head of the BPKD office, the Youth, Sports and Tourism Office, CO waterboom Blang Mangat - Lhokseumawe, and cottages in marine tourism areas (beachside). Law Number 10 of 2009 concerning Tourism, that tourism is a variety of tourism activities and is supported by various facilities and services provided by the community, entrepreneurs, government and local government. And Tourism plays an important role in supporting economic growth, increasing Gross Domestic Product, and making a significant contribution to the country's foreign exchange earnings. However, in reality, it has not run optimally. The results of the study found that first, there is no qanun that regulates the collection from tourist attractions. Second, there are no playgrounds for children. Third, inhibiting factors in its implementation. Regional income from tourist attractions so far has only come from parking levies. Therefore, it is necessary to develop tourism using appropriate strategies, such as tourism promotion, accessibility, tourism areas, marine tourism, tourism products, human resources, transportation and the National Tourism Awareness Campaign.

The Resilience of Entrepreneurship in the New Era of the Tourism Supply Chain: A Case Study of the Economic Corridor of Thailand, China, and Laos

ABSTRACT With the pace of global growth in tourism, Thailand, China, and Laos have begun to consider the resilience of entrepreneurship in the tourism supply chain (TSC) industry. Therefore, this study aims to explore and analyze the new tourism supply chain among Thailand, China, and Laos and explore entrepreneurs’ resilience to adapt to new tourism trends. This study used the case and consensual qualitative approaches by conducting thorough observations and in-depth interviews with fifteen stakeholders related to tourism with the phenomenon and perception of the TSC and resilience of entrepreneurs by the narrative supplement of an economic corridor. The result indicated that information flow management benefits customer orientation by sharing information. The input provider needs collaboration to create a tourism experience. Tourism activity and products are focused on developing and adding value. The contribution responds to the different levels and groups of the TSC that are also the basis for new TSC management and addresses effective strategies for entrepreneurs’ resilience in the future, which benefits tourism sustainable development.

Solutions to Protect the Tourism Environment in an Binh Islet, Vinh Long Province

The objective of this study is to present a group of solutions in order to protect the tourism environment in An Binh Islet, Vinh Long province, Vietnam. Although Vietnamese law has very complete regulations on environmental protection in the tourism sector. But for Vinh Long, it seems that this is still a very new issue. In the tourism planning of Vinh Long province for the period 2011 - 2020, the issue of tourism environment is only mentioned in a very general way: developing tourism products on the basis of exploiting the potential of existing tourism resources, promoting rapid economic growth, and at the same time focusing on environmental protection, biodiversity, protection, promotion and preservation of national traditions.

Research on the Optimization of Night Tourism Products in Xidi and Hongcun Based on Tourist Experience

Research on the Optimization of Night Tourism Products in Xidi and Hongcun Based on Tourist Experience

Strengthening Tourism Products Through Storytelling Exploration in Kemiriombo, Gerbosari Village, Samigaluh District, Kulonprogo Regency

Kemiriombo, a hamlet in Gerbosari Village, Kulon Progo, Yogyakarta, is known for its diversity of spices (empon-empon) cultivated and processed by the local community. This area has significant potential for developing tourism based on local culture and traditions, but the tourism narrative has not been optimally managed. This study aims to explore the potential of storytelling as a strategy for developing tourist destinations in Kemiriombo. The methods used include observation, interviews, Focus Group Discussions (FGD), surveys, and community participation to understand the needs and expectations of the local community. The study found that Kemiriombo has tourism potential such as the processing of empon-empon at Rumah Jamu Menoreh, local cultural arts such as Jathilan, Gejog Lesung, and Karawitan, as well as culinary traditions like Sega Brongsong and Legondo. The 5W1H technique (Who, What, When, Where, Why, How) was applied in the storytelling analysis to produce engaging narratives that can promote local cultural identity. Storytelling plays a crucial role in introducing local products and traditions, enhancing tourist attraction, and preserving community culture. Through the development of strong narratives, Kemiriombo is expected to become a tourist destination that offers not only visual experiences but also emotional and social dimensions for visitors. The integration of local traditions and storytelling innovation is expected to positively impact the welfare of the local community.

Domestic Tourists' Perceptions of Education-Based Tourism Products at Bali Bird Park

Tourist perception is a tourist's view, understanding of a tourist towards a tourist destination. Educational tourism products are activities that integrate learning experiences with recreation to provide added value to tourists. This study was conducted at Bali Bird Park with the aim of determining the perception of domestic tourists towards educational tourism products at Bali Bird Park. This study is quantitative with a sample of 100 respondents who have visited Bali Bird. The data obtained were processed using SPSS with Descriptive Analysis, Validity Test and Reliability Test. Based on the average of each variable, the accessibility variable has the highest average value of 4.54 with a very good category. Based on the accessibility variable indicator, tourists really like access to the Bali Bird Park tourist attraction because it makes it easy for tourists to find the location of Bali Bird Park. While the variable that has the lowest average value is the price variable with an average of 4.13 in the good category. This is because the prices given are still quite expensive such as food and drinks due to the lack of restaurant facilities or food stands.

Optimizing Tourism Development in Haryana: A Comprehensive Analysis of Connectivity, Promotion, Cost dynamics and ICT Utilization in the Context of Total Tourist Products

Optimizing Tourism Development in Haryana: A Comprehensive Analysis of Connectivity, Promotion, Cost dynamics and ICT Utilization in the Context of Total Tourist Products

Research on the Influencing Factors of Consumption Intention of Psychological Tourism Products and Marketing Strategies

In response to the growing mental health challenges faced by individuals in modern society, psychological tourism products have emerged as a significant area of interest. This paper aims to define the concept of psychological tourism products, highlighting their critical importance in the contemporary market. It explores the factors influencing consumer purchase intentions regarding these products, focusing on cognitive aspects, pricing strategies, precise customer identification, and innovative product design. Additionally, the paper delves into the corresponding marketing strategies that can effectively enhance consumer engagement and satisfaction. By examining these factors, the study offers valuable insights for the tourism industry, providing targeted directions for marketing optimization. The goal is to facilitate the successful positioning and promotion of psychological tourism products in a competitive market. This paper holds both theoretical and practical significance, contributing to the ongoing innovation and development of marketing strategies within the tourism sector. By addressing the nuanced needs of consumers seeking psychological benefits from their travel experiences, it aims to foster a deeper understanding and better implementation of effective marketing approaches. The findings can ultimately support the industry in creating meaningful and impactful tourism products that resonate with consumers’ psychological well-being.

Innovative Model of Creative Tourism as a Factor of Sustainable Development in the Context of Modern Challenges

The aim of this study is to develop an innovative model of creative tourism as a key driver of sustainable development in response to modern challenges. In a world where globalization and technological advancements are reshaping traditional tourism approaches, creative tourism emerges as a novel strategy to attract visitors and foster economic growth. This study employs a data-driven analytical approach (BIG DATA analysis) to examine creative tourism, recognizing the need to manage, systematize, classify, and draw insights from large datasets enabled by digital technologies. Creative tourism systems leverage advanced neural networks with multiple hidden layers to intelligently process and extract maximum value from data, providing essential insights for tourism service consumers. This positions creative tourism as both a critical business asset and a valuable tool for improving the human experience. Research Objectives: 1.To develop a model of creative tourism that supports sustainable development. 2.To examine the daily practices and impact of creative tourism on sustainable development. 3.To identify ways to enhance the effectiveness of creative tourism models and their contribution to sustainable development. The study highlights the essential components of an innovative creative tourism model, integrating local culture, environmental responsibility, digital technologies, and the creation of unique tourism products. Special focus is given to sustainable development principles, which not only protect environmental resources but also promote the social well-being of local communities. The paper also presents successful examples of creative tourism practices, showcasing their potential to open new market opportunities and increase regional competitiveness. The findings underscore that this innovative model of creative tourism holds the potential to revolutionize the tourism industry, advancing economic, social, and environmental progress.

Promoting and ImprovinPromoting and Improving the Tourism Industry in Malaysia through Tourist Satisfactiong the Tourism Industry in Malaysia through Tourist Satisfaction

Tourism is an important sector that contributes to the countries’ economies. Tourism has a direct relationship with other industries such as hotels, transportation, and retail as tourists who come to the country will spend their money on these categories. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the tourism industry was badly affected and so did the other related industries. Now, people are back visiting attractive places, staying in hotels during their visits, and spending money on food and other items. However, little is known about why people are attracted to visit some places or countries and not others. The study is meant to investigate the factors that lead to tourist satisfaction when they visit a country. A total of 150 respondents answered the survey that was distributed to students, and public and private sector employees in Malaysia through an online platform. The results indicated that accommodation, tourism products and host attitudes were significant in leading to tourist satisfaction. While price was not a significant predictor of tourist satisfaction. The practical and theoretical implications of the study are discussed at length in this paper.

Kampung Saribu Gonjong: Pengembangan Pariwisata Budaya di Kabupaten Limapuluh Kota

Tourism is a set of ‘machines’ that can drive the economy for regions that have tourist destinations. At present, tourism is developing according to the demands of the global market which tries to combine culture and tourism. This process is called commodification, which essentially leads to the transformation of cultural values into goods or services that have exchange value in the tourism industry. The Sarugo Village tourism area is included in the KPPK (Regency Tourism Potential Area) in Gunuang Omeh District which has cultural, religious, ecological and historical attractions. So, the development of community-based cultural tourism. This paper aims to explain the mix between culture and tourism in Sarugo Village so as to show the positive and negative effects on the culture itself or even make the culture survive. Through an ethnographic approach and data collection by observation and in-depth interviews with 15 informants, the results show that cultural aspects that are an important element in the lives of people in Sarugo Village are modified into tourism products. Rumah Gonjong is transformed into a homestay to accommodate overnight guests. This shows that the private sphere (Rumah Gonjong) turns into a public sphere in the tourism industry with the management of the local community itself. Thus, the managers of the Gonjong House, which initially only made it a place to stay, have now provided an economic increase. Therefore, the Gonjong House is currently maintained and the consequences of the tourism industry make the cultural survival of the Sarugo Village community.

The Critical Success Factors Towards Homestay Development in Penang

Since its introduction in 1988, the Homestay Programme in Malaysia has become an iconic rural tourism product. Tourists pay a reasonable price to stay with a host family and experience daily life alongside the local community. The pandemic outbreak in February 2020 severely impacted the tourism industry, causing many homestays to cease operations. In the post-pandemic period, the tourism industry, including homestays, is striving to regain momentum. Studies have been conducted to identify critical success factors influencing homestays' success. This study focuses on identifying these factors for homestays in Penang, Malaysia, considering perspectives from tourists, government agencies, institutions, industry players, and the community. A semi-structured interview and thematic analysis were used to process data collected from eleven informants with varying levels of involvement in homestays, ranging from those directly engaged in their development to those with little or no experience in visiting them. The interviews were conducted mainly in Bahasa Melayu, with the input translated into English. The data was then classified into several themes for further discussion.

Somatic coliphages as bioindicators of contamination in Lake Guamuez, Colombia

Lake Guamuez is the second largest lake in Colombia and economically supports hundreds of families in the area. The main activities carried out in the region have focused on tourism, agriculture, livestock, and rainbow trout production; however, these activities have been associated with contamination of the lake. This research aimed to evaluate the water quality of Lake Guamuez using somatic coliphages (SCs) as bioindicators. For this purpose, periodic sampling was carried out for six months at 9 strategic points of the lake. For the detection of SCs, the method described in 9211 D of the Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater was used. The genomic variability and presence of virulence genes in the isolated SCs were determined. Water contamination in the lake is evident, and the SCs titer is greater in areas with a high flow of anthropogenic activities. An important degree of genetic diversity and a high prevalence of virulence genes could be observed among the SCs analyzed. The results when compared with guidelines and water quality standards from various countries, showed concentrations of SCs higher than those allowed. The high prevalence of gastrointestinal diseases in the region suggests a link to water contamination.

MARKETING FACTORS OF COMPETITIVENESS MEDITERRANEAN MARKET OF TOURIST SERVICES

The article analyzes the system of marketing factors of the competitiveness of the Mediterranean leisure industry since the promotion of tourist services today becomes impossible without the use of modern technologies. It is noted that the digitalization of marketing communications allows for the formation of unique competitive advantages of the Mediterranean tourism industry through the use of an integrated approach to the most effective combination of classical marketing provisions and the potential of modern technologies in the competitive environment of the tourism industry. Classical marketing techniques and digital technologies offer enormous potential for maximizing tourism revenues, increasing tourism demand, improving the quality of supply and facilitating communication. The influence of marketing elements on the competitiveness of the tourism industry of the Mediterranean countries is evaluated. It has been proven that this influence is uneven and differs according to the destination and the stage of creation and provision and implementation of the tour service. This influence is observed most in the sphere of pricing in Spain and least - in the sphere of tourism product promotion in such European countries as Albania and African countries - Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia. Directions for the analysis of the competitiveness of destinations in the Mediterranean region are proposed, which can be carried out according to different criteria and through different perspectives, such as: customer expectations, tourist satisfaction and service value, tourist and destination motivations, branding, destination attractiveness, destination sustainability and destination value. It is emphasized that, in contrast to classical marketing, modified tourism marketing was formed as a mix that includes seven elements: tourism product, tourism product pricing, distribution of tourism services, tourism promotion, human potential, service provision process and customer service, and which to varying degrees provide competitive advantages of the countries of the Mediterranean basin. It is shown that the competitiveness of the Mediterranean tourism industry has a double structure. Its first element is the process of positioning tourist products on the market of leisure services, the second is the efficiency of the operational activities of tour operators. It has been confirmed that the drivers of the main changes in the market of tourist services of the Mediterranean that have occurred recently are the intensive introduction of information technologies in marketing activities, where the main trends in the development of the leisure industry have become the globalization of the tourist business and the dominance of Internet technologies in the system of promoting tourist services.

Exploring Gastronomy Tourism as Potential Halal Tourism Products: Preliminary Study of Tourist Perception on Baba Nyonya Cuisines

Gastronomy tourism has gained prominence globally, offering local and international tourists unique experiences for their taste palettes. The demand for Halal food among Muslim tourists has significantly increased as more people seek authentic and culturally appropriate dining experiences when travelling. This paper examines gastronomy tourism from the perspective of Islamic tourism, focusing on the Baba Nyonya cuisine; a combination of Chinese and Malay flavors as a viable Halal tourism product, aligned with the growing demand for Halal-certified options in the tourism industry. Factors of Halal certification, cultural familiarity, food awareness, and involvement, were explored. A structured survey was distributed to 385 tourists around Banda Hilir, Melaka, to explore Baba Nyonya cuisine's potential as a gastronomy tourism attraction. Baba Nyonya cuisine was found to be a promising attraction for Halal-conscious tourists. Interestingly, the Baba Nyonya cuisine appealed more to non-Halal food enthusiasts compared to a Halal option among Muslim tourists, since few of the Baba Nyonya restaurants were not Halal certified. This study underscores opportunities to increase the variety of Halal-certified foods and provide insights for travel marketers and local cuisine operators to capitalize on Baba Nyonya cuisines, thus pinning Malaysia as a leading destination for Halal gastronomy tourism.

Visitor profile of enological tourism in Slovakia: Implications of the regional analysis of the demand for wine-themed experience stay

In recent years, enological tourism, also known as wine tourism, has emerged as a globally popular tourism product. The role of wine tourism in Slovakia is similarly significant, given the country’s favourable conditions for the development of wine tourism products. The objective of this study is to analyze the current demand for wine-themed experiences among tourists in the Nitra region. This paper presents a characterization of wine tourism based on an analysis of secondary sources. Following the processing of the initial findings from a demand-oriented questionnaire survey, the authors endeavor to delineate the profile of the wine tourism visitor by examining the demand for wine tourism from the vantage point of domestic consumers. It is the authors’ contention that an understanding of the profile of the wine tourism visitor is beneficial in optimising the provision of wine tourism products and stimulating the development of tourism infrastructure.

Solutions to insufficient incentives for developing green tourism by travel agencies: government intervention

PurposeThis research aims to develop an improved model with government intervention and find the government policy for developing green tourism to induce the travel agencies have incentives to produce green tourism products.Design/methodology/approachThis research employs Stackelberg game theory to study two travel agencies in the horizontal direction of the tourism supply chain. Two deterministic, price-sensitive linear demand functions are utilized for these two different tourism products to derive possible analytical solutions.FindingsNo travel agency is willing to produce green tourism products without government intervention. The solution proposed in this paper is that a government should subsidize green travel agencies for their production of green tourism products, and create a tax for non-green traditional travel agencies for the production of non-green traditional tourism products. The amount of government subsidies for green tourism products plus the tax on non-green traditional tourism products equals the difference in unit cost of the two products. The travel agency that produces green tourism products has incentive to produce if there is government intervention.Practical implicationsThis paper provides the stakeholders with three practical implications. The first one is that the amount of subsidy for green travel agencies can be paid by taxing non-green ones. This is the optimal solution. The second one for both the tourism sector and government is that technological innovation in cooperation between government and tourism industry such as low-carbon technology is critical to reduce the cost difference between green travel agency products and non-green ones. The third one is that green travel agencies that produce green tourism products can also fulfill their corporate social responsibilities and enhance their social image.Originality/valueThis paper is unique in that it develops a model to resolve the problem of insufficient incentives. In terms of government intervention, this article also considers tax policy in addition to subsidy policy which is different from previous literature.