Space Tourism Research Articles

A panacea to address the legal, administrative and economic aspects of space debris

There is no doubt that space matters in today’s time. We have become highly reliant on space science and technology; life without it cannot be imagined. No one can deny the significance of space safety. Thus, for the smooth functioning of life, there is a need for safety and security in outer space. So, it would not be wrong to say that we are at the mercy of these new space technologies. Currently, space debris has been facing universal embryonic challenge to the sustainable activities of outer space, and if not coped at the earliest, the world would face titanic catastrophe. From the preceding decades, there have been some crashing episodes that heightened the space debris build-up, and the speed at which myriad space activities have caused the production of debris. Such huge congregation of debris can pose dangers to the working space satellites. It could also fetch numerous challenges at the same time. In addition, the tremendous development in space technology, involvement of private sector in space activities, Anti Satellite tests adventure of space powers, weaponization and commercialization (space tourism) has made outer space more vulnerable. Presently, there is a dearth of stringent space laws with regards to the proliferation of space debris. So, these issues can have an impact on the long-term sustainability of space activities. Progressing and advanced space faring nations have found the worth of a proficient International Regime that can play a vital role for ordering, overseeing, and managing the research and advancement of space. The paper will magnet the attention towards the real legal, technical, financial and managerial facts. Some countries are capable of removing space debris but encounter many obstacles while applying such actions. Besides who will bear the expense for the removal of space debris as its prerequisites giant sum of money. This paper is going to put forward an independent international space regime (ISR). In order to meet the financial issues this paper proposed to establish a Global Debris Removal Fund. The old-fashioned space law regime is the core obstruction for the debris removal procedure. Finally, it is desirable that all legal issues be fixed through the innovative procedures and reformed international space law (ISL) system with inclusive coordination and co-operation. Thus, it would be the perfect ISR for the resolutions of remediation and mitigation of space debris.

Reinforcement learned adversarial agent (ReLAA) for active fault detection and prediction in space habitats

With growing interest for human space tourism in the twenty-first century, much attention has been directed to the robust engineering of Environmental Control and Life Support Systems in space habitats. The stable, reliable operation of such a habitat is partly achieved with an ability to recognize and predict faults. For these two purposes, a reinforcement learning adversarial agent (ReLAA) is utilized in this work. A ReLAA is trained with experimental data to actively recognize and predict faults. These capabilities are achieved by proposing actions that activate known faults in a system. Instead of issuing these harmful actions to the actual hardware, a digital twin of the mock space habitat is simulated to discover vulnerabilities that would lead to faulted operation. The methods developed in this work will allow for the discovery of damaging latent behavior, and the reduction of false positive and negative fault identification.

Research on the Spatial Design of resort Hotel from the perspective of Regional culture

From the perspective of space design, this paper intends to conduct in-depth research and analysis on the expression of regional cultural forms used in the development process of domestic resort hotels and the practical application of regional culture in hotel design, and summarize different regional cultural characteristics in the resort hotel spatial environment design in different embodiment techniques. It emphasizes the uniqueness, history and inheritance brought by regional culture in the space design of resort hotels. And in order to meet the masses of the resort hotel design and development into the regional cultural characteristics of the modern aesthetic requirements, launched a certain degree of exploration and discussion. First of all, according to the relevant theories of resort hotels, combined with the performance of regional culture and the status quo of domestic hotels in the actual development situation, analyze the existing problems in the current conceptual planning and design process of resort hotels, and explain the reasons. Then, it further discusses the relevant theories of the development of Chinese local culture, the characteristics of different regional resort hotels and the forms of cultural expression. Finally, based on the analysis of the present situation of regional cultural elements displayed in the resort hotel design, the paper further explores the design ideas, creativity and the most important forms of regional culture in the resort hotel space design.

Virtual reality, augmented reality and mixed reality: For astronaut mental health; and space tourism, education and outreach

Virtual reality, augmented reality and mixed reality: For astronaut mental health; and space tourism, education and outreach

Through the lens of a space tourist

This essay attempts to contextualise the experience and documentation of the world’s first space tourist, a multi-millionaire American businessman Dennis Tito, who vacationed on the International Space Station in 2001. The essay brings together two parallel elements of this historical event: the political transformation of the Russian space programme which made the private flight possible and the cultural significance and impact of the event. The first space tourist is both a direct product of the newly commercialised space programme and a reflection of a new worldview, with new values and expectations.

Psychology of space tourism marketing, technology, and sustainable development: From a literature review to an integrative framework

AbstractSpace tourism, a niche segment of the aviation industry, has radically altered the private sector. A noticeable trend in this market has been the development of commercial space with numerous start‐ups and ventures underway. Adopting a concept‐driven approach, we conduct a hybrid review to sketch the emerging market areas in space tourism and provided insights into tourists' behavioral responses. Our results are supplemented by an analysis of public viewpoints on space‐faring to gauge their alignment with academic views on space tourism. We also develop an integrative framework to elucidate how personality interacts with scenario to influence the feelings, thoughts, and behaviors of space tourists and their responses toward space tourism. We recognize critical gaps in previous literature and propose the following recommendations to guide future research: 1) Conceptualization of travel services and tourism typology in the new space market; 2) theoretical contribution on pragmatic and semantic levels; 3) need for empirical and multi‐disciplinary studies; 4) investigating the role of ethical issues on bilateral arguments toward commercialized space tourism; 5) integrating stakeholders' perspectives to maximize the socioeconomic impacts of space tourism and environmental sustainability; 6) media platforms and application of new technologies; and 7) role of scientific journals in knowledge enhancement.

Labour precarity in the visitor economy and decisions to move out

This article examines social disadvantage in tourist sites through the lens of labour geography by focusing on the residential trajectories of a sample of workers in Barcelona (N = 8,651) over a decade (2008–2019). Contrasting with the common view that tourism growth brings prosperity to local communities, it suggests instead that buoyant destinations may be prone to leaving their workforces behind. Path analysis modelling reveals that tourism sector workers are at a higher risk of residential displacement. Our analysis unearths stratifications in such results, pointing to different tactics to cope with housing market pressure depending on sex, age, and nationality. Residential displacement and the self-imposed devaluation of housing conditions are introduced in this paper as key avenues leading to social exclusion. In this sense, we contribute to the concern of critical tourism geographies with the inequality and disadvantage ingrained in tourist space production, bridging to the domain of labour geography and social mobility. The city of Barcelona offers a template for other urban contexts that have been reliant on tourism as a major driver of economic growth in recent decades. Following the call for closer attention to labour in the debate on transitions to sustainability in tourism, our results hint at future research avenues that extend their interpretation.

Capitalization of Tourist Resources in the Post-COVID-19 Period—Developing the Chorematic Method for Oltenia Tourist Destination, Romania

The paper aims at adapting the knowledge regarding the capitalization of tourist resources to the method of tourist choremas in the Oltenia region, Romania, thus creating a tool for planning and organizing the geographical space for sustainable development. The tourism choremas method uses the graphic and cartographic modelling of the territory of the South-West Oltenia region, and in a post-COVID-19 period it is important that the research can help in increasing the productivity in tourism, which can lead to higher incomes for managers in the tourism sector and for the locals from different rural/disadvantaged area of the region. GIS (Geographical Information Systems) represents a key element for the future development of tourism in the virtual environment, given the fact that many travellers use virtual electronic systems to see the tourist destination, surroundings, protected areas, accommodation, tourist routes, recreation and entertainment areas (zoos, hunting areas), etc. Choremes of the Oltenia region were created using ArcGIS 10.1 software, showing different entities and a series of attributes (descriptive elements) marked on the created maps as follows: elements of the natural environment (landforms altimetry, hydrographic network, lakes, national parks and reserves, waterfalls); man-made environment (roads, landmarks—churches, monasteries, museums); or conventional delimitations (county boundary, the boundaries of the two areas—Northern and Southern Oltenia). Four successive stages were conducted in order to create the choremes using the GIS software: (1) creating the database for the analysis of the studied destination; (2) processing the statistical data for Northern and Southern Oltenia; (3) the interpretation of the data obtained in correlation with the specialized literature on the capitalization of tourism resources and forms of tourism existing in the region; and (4) cartographic representation. The chorematic maps are represented at the scale of the geographical territory where the study analysis is carried out. The representation of physico-geographical elements, but also of touristic elements, was represented by lines, points and polygons, using the vector and raster spatial data model. The chorematic method proves to be innovative and up-to-date especially for the organization of the tourist space, for the sustainable development of the region and for the tourism research activity in the area.

The quest for sustainability in lower orbit: Conceptual models for space tourism

The quest for sustainability in lower orbit: Conceptual models for space tourism

Missions and factors determining the demand for affordable mass space tourism in the United States: A machine learning approach

This paper investigates the future U.S. demand for streamlined space tourism by showing the missions and factors impacting traveler choices with machine learning. Space tourism is growing and is expected to become available to the masses soon. While private companies need to better understand the demand for space tourism to customize their services, transportation agencies require guidance to support fund management related to commercial space exploration. This work analyzes the three most prominent missions for streamlined space tourism (i.e., suborbital, orbital, and space tourism around the moon) and their selection determinants (i.e., price, safety, training, number of passengers, take-off locations, among other decision-maker factors). A stated preference experiment is constructed to collect data that is analyzed using machine learning. Results provide valuable insights into the mixed opinions of Americans with respect to space tourism, their mission preferences, and risk considerations.

Spatial experience on tourism through MaaS (Mobility as a Service): Applying for a conjoint model of portfolio choice

Travel significantly affects tourism and tourist satisfaction. Better tourism transport provision is essential to sustainable mobility and smart tourism. Knowing why tourists prefer specific travel alternatives is therefore important. Travel needs several trip stages over tourism space. Mobility as a Service (MaaS) offers alternatives to traveling to tourist attractions through various trip stages. The paper aims to show the relationships of the tourist preference for tourism travel alternatives represented as MaaS portfolios with MaaS provision of tourism destinations. To this end, the paper analyzes conjoint choices of tourism travel portfolios using a mixed logit model, evaluates the resultant willingness to pay (WTP)-based travel service preferences for 10 locally most visited cities of Korea, and compares the evaluations with the physical levels of MaaS provision of those cities. The preference for travel is found unique for tourism, and the tourists' evaluation of travel services has subtle differences from the MaaS provision level.

Experimental study on the influence of virtual tourism spatial situation on the tourists' temperature comfort in the context of metaverse.

The Metaverse is a new application of the internet and social form which integrates a myriad of new technologies. It can not only create a parallel space that is closely connected to the real world while highly independent, but also bring the immersive experience of virtual scenarios without delay. The virtual tourism space situations that integrate realistic visual, audio, and temperature sensations can restore the real tourism environment to the greatest extent, and improve tourists' perception and satisfaction with the experience. The purpose of this experimental lab study is to examine the effects of the virtual tourism audio-visual conditions and environmental temperature on tourists' thermal sensation and temperature comfort. VR equipment and microclimate simulation technology was applied in a 3 × 2 × 2 experimental design (n = 180), simulating the virtual tourism scenarios. Electrocardiogram devices were also employed to assess participants' physiological indicators. Study results suggest that: (1) Virtual tourism spatial situations (environmental temperature and audio-visual conditions) significantly affect participants' thermal sensation and part of the physiological indicators; (2) Virtual tourism spatial situations (environmental temperature and audio-visual conditions) significantly affect participants' temperature comfort; and (3) Physiological responses (indicators) mediate the effect from tourism spatial situations to temperature comfort. The study mainly contributes to the literature about virtual tourism experience and spatial situations under the concept of the Metaverse, as well as provides theoretical and managerial implications for the development of "immersive" virtual tourism scenarios.

Definition of the relationship between tourism and the concept of “space tourism”

Currently, the topic of space tourism has become the subject of discussions by scientists. While some scientists associate space tourism with tourism, some argue that space tourism is not related to tourism. The main reason for the controversy surrounding the concept of “space tourism” is that there is no clear definition of “space tourism.” There are also those who still perceive the concept of space tourism as a futuristic term. All this follows from the fact that measures have not yet been developed to identify the main features of space tourism, its definition has not been clarified and its place in the tourism classification has not yet been determined. To determine whether there is a connection between tourism and space tourism, first of all it is necessary to scrutinize how it corresponds to the existing term “tourism,” taking “space tourism” as a concept. The purpose of this article is to identify the relationship of the concept of “space tourism” with tourism. The discussion section will analyze data from various Western and domestic sources. As a result of desk studies, it is proposed that the definition of “space tourism” fully corresponds to the definition of “tourism” and can be recognized as a type of tourism.

Ідентифікаційні ознаки функціонування туристичного ринку Іспанії

The article examines a set of instruments that characterize the national peculiarities of achieving the quality of tourism services in the recreation industry of Spain, which has specific signs of competitiveness in the world tourism market. The necessity of the State support for the implementation of the conception of improving and ensuring the quality of tourism services as one of the prerogatives of the national policy of Spain, which is a characteristic feature of the tourism market, is substantiated. The content of five basic directions of the New Strategy for the Development of the Tourism Sector in Spain until 2030 is disclosed: joint management; sustainable growth; competitive transformation; tourist space, companies, and individuals; product, marketing and travel intelligence. It is noted that the comprehensive nature of the concept of marketing in tourism provides for its implementation at different levels of management of creation, formation, promotion and sale of tourism product. It is emphasized that an important role in comparing the pricing policies of hotels and tourist apartments in Spain is played by online travel agencies, which, on the one hand, attract tourists who are price sensitive, and on the other hand, combine many different hotel offers, which reduces the cost of information for tourists. The article allocates the brand of Spain and the tourist image, which it designs and which acts not only as a «brand umbrella», containing both communicative and tourism elements, but also forms its own tourist image of Spain, realized through tourist advertising. The article shows the necessity of segmentation of the tourism services market, i.e. development of a complex of marketing – targeting for classification of tourists into homogeneous groups or segments in terms of tourist preferences. The effectiveness of the State support of transport infrastructure as a key element of intensification of tourist flows to Spain is verified.

Strategi Pengembangan Wisata Edukasi pada Candi Sambisari di Kabupaten Sleman

There is a shift in tourist interest in an environmentally friendly tour, including interest in educational tourism. Tourists are more interested in natural scenery and the lack of interest in historical tourism is an obstacle for Sambisari Temple, especially if it is seen as a site of historical and cultural value, Sambisari Temple has the potential to be developed into educational tourism. This study aims to recommend educational tourism development strategies in educational tourism of Sambisari Temple. Data analysis was carried out with descriptive techniques on the potential of Sambisari Temple. In the next stage, a SWOT analysis is carried out. The result is that the development strategy can be carried out by conducting periodic checks on buildings and areas around the temple, especially during the rainy season, involving tourists in the learning process in making tour packages, providing space for tourists to explore attractions accompanied by a tour guide, promoting temple educational tours through websites or social media, establishing more intensive cooperation and collaboration with the government, improve the quality and quantity of visitor facilities, create a mini museum and other supporting facilities such as ATMs in the Sambisari Temple complex.

A Scenario-Based Strategy for the Development of Maritime Silk Road Cultural Space in the Qiantang River Basin

The year 2023 will mark the 10th anniversary of the "One Belt, One Road" initiative, and the state is vigorously promoting the integration of the tourism industry into it. Qiantang River plays a crucial role in connecting the Maritime Silk Road and the Land Silk Road. This study aims to explore and propose a development strategy for the Qiantang River Maritime Silk Road cultural space based using scenario theory, in order to revive and pass on the rich Maritime Silk Road culture in the basin. By collating and analyzing the Maritime Silk Road culture in the Qiantang River basin, addressing the current challenges in protecting and utilizing this cultural heritage. Scenario theory was used to reassemble the currently fragmented area into a more cohesive space. Centred on the cultural connotations of the Maritime Silk Road.and based on the protection and use of the cultural resources of the Maritime Silk Road, and is structured and organised at multiple levels, including macroscopic, mesoscopic, and microscopic levels. Our objective is to systematically build a Maritime Silk Road cultural space for tourism that seamlessly blends history and modernity. This initiative will provide new impetus for the development of Maritime Silk Road culture in the Qiantang River region.

The Importance of Space for Tourism in Croatia

The Importance of Space for Tourism in Croatia

Формирование интегрированной территориальной структуры внутреннего туризма

In the context of intensified sanctions against the Russian Federation, it is important to improve domestic tourism, utilise diverse tourism potential, and develop tourist areas by forming integrated tourism structures (ITS) to overcome municipal (regional) administrative barriers. The study presents theoretical and methodological aspects of the formation of integrated tourism structures affecting Russian tourism under economic transformation. A systems approach based on structural and functional analysis, content analysis, as well as sociological research methods were applied. Conditions for the integration of tourist space include the possibility of integrating tourist and recreational resources, relative positioning of tourist destinations, complementarity of services, shared transport systems, and similar climatic conditions. Tourism integration can be divided into horizontal, vertical, and diagonal. The study demonstrated the advantages of diagonal integration, which implies the creation of a governing body coordinating the activities of tourism enterprises and the hospitality industry. An integrated tourism structure can be formed by combining tourist areas of the Sochi city district and Tuapsinsky district in Krasnodar Krai. The article proposed to establish ITS Council, composed of heads of settlements in these districts, representatives of tourism enterprises (associations) and the hospitality industry, and leaders of national diasporas. Further, the Council’s tasks were defined. Establishment of an integrated territorial structure can be economically effective, resulting in an increase in the provision of additional and complementary services to tourists. Diagonal integration contributes to the formation of an integrated tourism product by combining complementary tourism products, reducing dependence on seasonal factors, creating new jobs, and increasing regional gross tourism product. The obtained results can be used by public authorities in the field of tourism when creating regional spatial development concepts.

СУТЬ ПОНЯТТЯ ТРАНСФОРМАЦІЇ КОНКУРЕНТНОГО ПОТЕНЦІАЛУ СУБ’ЄКТІВ ТУРИСТИЧНОЇ ІНДУСТРІЇ

The article interprets the concept of transformation from the standpoints of several approaches to its content characteristics. The emphasis is laid on the process-based, system-based, innovative, evolutionary, institutional, and qualitative approaches. The process approach interprets transformation as a process of qualitative changes and transformations, which leads to the emergence of new characteristics of the system or structure. The system approach considers transformation as a change of elements within the system, the transition of the system from a state of stability to a state of instability and vice versa. In other words, it implies any quantitative and qualitative changes of system elements. According to the innovative approach, transformation is innovation, the transition of the old development model to a more modern one, i.e., an innovative one. The evolutionary approach interprets transformation as any revolutionary or innovative changes that occur over a certain period of time. From the perspective of the institutional approach, transformation refers to the institutional changes that lead to the emergence of a new model or system. A qualitative approach examines transformation from the standpoint of qualitative structural changes or modifications occurring in systems, phenomena, or processes. The features that can be included in the content characteristic of the concept of ‘transformation’ are specified. They include the qualitative and quantitative changes that lead to the emergence of a new system, phenomenon, or process; the innovativeness of changes, i.e., the formation of a new transformational model of development; and the signs of gradual progression from one phase to another. This transition can be either progressive or regressive. The research findings provide basis for interpreting the transformational process as a staged transition of a system, process, or phenomenon from one state to another, which qualitatively and quantitatively changes its characteristics in compliance with the laws of the society (economy) development. One of the content characteristics of the concept of "transformation" is a staged process of changing qualitative and quantitative characteristics (signs) of a phenomenon or system as a whole, which allows for building a new innovative development model considering influencing factors. Transformation of the competitive potential of the subjects of the tourism industry appears as a gradual transition to a new conceptual system of the branch. The basis of such a system is the safety, stability, and competitiveness of its development in the national and international tourist spaces through the formation of a package of tourist services depending on the post-war conditions of the country's development.

Information and Communication Infrastructure as an Important Tool for Developing the Three Seas Initiative

W literaturze naukowej z zakresu gospodarki regionalnej i polityki gospodarczej w ostatnim czasie często podejmowana jest tematyka tzw. Trójmorza. Najczęściej wskazuje się, że obszar ten obejmuje 12 państw zlokalizowanych między trzema morzami: Adriatykiem, Bałtykiem i Morzem Czarnym. Często wskazuje się na potrzebę zdynamizowania rozwoju tej struktury poprzez rozbudowę infrastruktury Trójmorza, w tym zwłaszcza infrastruktury energetycznej, transportowej i informacyjno-komunikacyjnej. W prezentowanym artykule skoncentrowano uwagę na tej ostatniej. Przeprowadzone rozważania oparte na analizie literatury pozwalają przyjąć, że dla oceny współczesnej infrastruktury informacyjno-komunikacyjnej szczególna rola przypada takim kryteriom jak: stopień pokrycia państw stacjonarnymi sieciami szerokopasmowymi, dysponowanie nowoczesnymi sieciami mobilnymi w standardzie LTE, prędkość ściągania danych w sieciach stacjonarnych i mobilnych. Dla przeprowadzenia, według tych kryteriów, oceny porównawczej infrastruktury informacyjno-komunikacyjnej państw Trójmorza wykorzystano dane prezentowane przez urzędy statystyczne tych państw oraz dane międzynarodowych organizacji telekomunikacyjnych. Dokonana w oparciu o te kryteria ocena infrastruktury informacyjno-komunikacyjnej państw Trójmorza wskazuje na rozbieżności jakościowe tych infrastruktur, co nie sprzyja dynamizowaniu rozwoju społeczno-gospodarczego tej struktury. Istotnym zadaniem jest więc doprowadzenie do ograniczenia obserwowanych w badanym obszarze rozbieżności. Zdaniem autorów będzie to przede wszystkim wymagało: – dalszej rozbudowy nowoczesnych telekomunikacyjnych stacjonarnych sieci szeroko- pasmowych, – dalszego migrowania sieci operatorów telefonii stacjonarnej sieci operatorów telefonii mobilnej w kierunku standardu IP.