Urban Tourism Destinations Research Articles

EXPLORING BANDUNG CITY ON FOOT: WHAT MOTIVATES TOURISTS TO JOIN WALKING TOURS?

Walking is a practical and popular tourist activity, but it remains underexplored in the field of tourism. Although extensive literature has been published on topics related to walking and walkability driven by public health, sustainability, livability, and urban design concerns, tourism sector requires deeper exploration, particularly in urban settings. Walking tourism has been observed to possess the capability to promote sustainable tourism. Therefore, this study aims to examine the influence of motivation on the decision of tourists to engage in walking tour in urban tourism areas of Bandung City, Indonesia. Data from 220 tourists and interviews with resource persons were subsequently analysed using multiple linear regression to assess the impact of push and pull factors on walking tourism decisions. The results showed that tourist motivation significantly influences walking tourism decisions. The motivating factors include physical health, pleasure and satisfaction, knowledge gained, and local community behaviour. Physical health and relaxation were considered crucial push factors, while tourists’ attractions and social media promotions were categorized as significant pull factors. This study provides valuable input for local governments and tourism agencies seeking to develop sustainable urban tourism destinations.

Examination of experience attributes of parks in urban tourist destinations and their influence on visitor satisfaction: a topic modelling approach

ABSTRACT Understanding visitors’ park experience in urban tourist destinations to enhance their satisfaction is crucial for effective park management and urban planning. Through a topic modelling analysis using user-generated data from TripAdvisor and employing the Latent Dirichlet Allocation (LDA) algorithm, 20 attributes of urban park experience are identified and grouped into three categories and five dimensions. Besides confirming some of the attributes of park experience identified in previous research, this study also uncovers new attributes that provide insights into visitors’ urban park experience related to the historical and cultural aspects (e.g. filming location, carriage rides and rickshaws). Furthermore, positive and negative effects of each attribute on visitor satisfaction are identified. Findings also suggest significant seasonal difference in attributes of visitors’ urban park experience.

Examining the complex causal relationships between the digital economy and urban tourist destination competitiveness

Examining the complex causal relationships between the digital economy and urban tourist destination competitiveness

Culture and Tourism in Urban Spaces: Opportunities and Challenges (Kutaisi Case)

Cultural heritage and cultural environment determine the face of the country and give us special features that we got from our ancestors. It is the basis of our identity, a source of knowledge and experience, containing a lot of information which needs to be deciphered and passed on to future generations. Urban tourist destinations are distinguished not only by their cultural-historical heritage but also by the diversity of their cultural landscape. In this regard, Kutaisi has a unique opportunity to emerge as one of the tourism urban centres in Georgia and bring great benefits to the country.There-fore, our research aims to evaluate and study Kutaisi as a cultural-tourist urban centre through its nat-ural and cultural heritage monuments, considering future trends, opportunities and challenges. Based on the study of the mentioned issues, we tried to identify the city of Kutaisi as an authentic tourist destination and prove its competitiveness.To achieve the goal and objectives of the research, we were guided by qualitative research methods and an analysis of statistical information, literature, and publi-cations within the framework of desk research. We collected data and formulated a set of innovations.The conducted research theoretical and statistical materials allow us to analyze the development of the cultural destinations of Imereti to identify the existing tourist potential in the Kutaisi municipality using the systematic analysis method. By developing and implementing the right destination planning strategy, Kutaisi will be one of the leading cities in terms of tourist destinations, bringing us economic benefits in the long term.

Digital halal literacy and halal destination attribute as the antecedents of revisit intention

Purpose This paper aims to explore the influence of digital halal literacy and halal destination attributes on revisiting intention through satisfaction and trust as mediating variables. Design/methodology/approach The study collected data from 308 domestic tourists in Indonesia who visited urban tourist destinations using a Likert-scale questionnaire, conducted between June and July 2023, and analysed using PLS-SEM for comprehensive data collection. Findings Digital halal literacy and halal destination attributes significantly impact tourist satisfaction and trust, potentially leading to the desire to revisit previously visited destinations. The higher the digital halal literacy and halal destination attributes, the higher the satisfaction and trust of tourists towards these destinations, potentially resulting in their intention to revisit. Research limitations/implications This study focused on the Greater Bandung area in western Indonesia, a popular tourist destination. Future studies should explore the eastern region and its surroundings, as they do not differentiate between nature-based and man-made tourism. Practical implications The absence of information on halal tourism destinations hinders travellers' understanding and decision-making, particularly considering the preference for symbols as a means of communication, a crucial factor that destination managers must consider. Social implications Visual elements, such as symbols and signage, significantly influence tourist behaviour and experiences, leading to the decision to revisit the destination. Originality/value The integration of digital halal literacy and halal destination attributes offers a comprehensive understanding of halal tourism, particularly in terms of revisit intentions.

Unveiling the influence of natural environment in urban tourism destinations on local community’s quality of life

Unveiling the influence of natural environment in urban tourism destinations on local community’s quality of life

Urban Tourism Appeal: The Effectiveness of Communication Channels and Multimedia Formats in Creating Tourists’ Expectations

Tourists’ expectations related to urban tourist destinations, which often derive from wider concept of destinations’ images, encompass a wide range of needs, desires and anticipations that tourists develop prior to visiting a particular destination. They are formed under the influence of different factors, one of which is traditional and digital communication channels. The objective of this research is to determine whether different communication channels and multimedia formats, used by tourists in the pre-travelling phase, could shape their expectations related to tangible and intangible characteristics of urban tourist destinations. The data gathering was conducted by applying Computer-Aided Web Interviewing (CAWI) on a representative sample of 312 adult citizens residing in Belgrade, the capital of the Republic of Serbia. The findings indicate that both traditional and digital communication channels, alongside personal recommendations used prior to the trip, significantly contribute to shaping respondents’ expectations concerning tangible characteristics of urban tourist destinations. Digital communication channels and personal recommendations appeared to be more important in shaping expectations related to the intangible characteristics of urban tourist destinations. Also, different formats of online media content exhibited positive associations with expectations concerning the tangible and intangible characteristics of urban tourist destinations. The obtained results provide recommendations for tourist organizations and local government entities, valuable for developing effective communication strategies for targeting potential tourists.

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.

Heritage, tourism theming, and intercultural processes: The cases of Oaxaca, Mexico, and Malaga, Spain

ABSTRACT Theming is a common tool in urban tourist destinations. It allows the recognition of some type of brand that makes a destination more competitive. In this work, the themings of Oaxaca, Mexico, and Malaga, Spain, are compared. Malaga offers an international and avantgarde cultural experience, while Oaxaca is known for the ancestral traditions that still prevail in the city. It is possible to define a highly touristified spatial core in both cities. Additionally, both cities have themed their historic centers, focusing on historical and intangible elements. We focus on how some tourist systems reproduce ethnocentric, colonial, or other forms of domination while branding their cities for consumption. Even within systems where such an asymmetry cannot be clearly defined, the selection of discourse might affect social self-attitude and identity on varying levels. Although Oaxaca looks firmly at its past, at the same time, such success magnifies tradition and hinders modernity. Meanwhile, Malaga looks to the future but loses some of its traditions at a very high cost.

Planning Urban Regeneration through Heritage Tourism: The Case of Kliptown, South Africa

Literature on heritage tourism planning in sub-Saharan Africa is underdeveloped. The aim in this paper is to investigate one highly significant heritage site, which is located in metropolitan Johannesburg, South Africa’s leading urban tourism destination. The specific focus is on Kliptown, a township of modern Soweto, situated 25 km south-west of Johannesburg city centre. In South African history, Kliptown is important in the anti-apartheid struggle for hosting the 1955 Congress of the People and the signing of the Freedom Charter. The planning of Kliptown as a destination for heritage tourism and its local impacts for physical area regeneration are analysed. It is demonstrated that at Kliptown, as has been the case with several other heritage tourism projects implemented during the post-apartheid period, the promised developmental effects for local communities have not materialised.

문화적 도시재생에 의한 도시관광 개발과 방향

Purpose: This study is a case analysis of Yangrim-dong, Gwangju. For each of the five strategic sectors, the current status of implementation, performance, problems, and limitations so far were analyzed, and implications and future improvement directions were presented.
 Methods: Based on the theoretical review, an analysis framework was established by deriving five strategic elements necessary for cultural urban regeneration and urban tourism activation, and the current status and problems of each strategy were analyzed for Yanglim-dong and activation plans were proposed.
 Results: We analyzed the plan for revitalizing urban tourism in connection with the cultural urban regeneration of Yangrim-dong, the research target site, and proposed the revitalization plan. As a result of the study, meaningful implications are presented in that it pursues sustainability
 Conclusion: This study is significant in that it analyzes the process and status of cultural urban regeneration and urban tourism projects in Yanglim-dong, Gwangju, and suggests strategies to revitalize urban tourism through cultural urban regeneration in Yanglim-dong. First, open traditional and Christian buildings. Second, develop a travel program. Third, organize community governance to seek directions for development. Fourth, it is necessary to prepare guidelines for environmental landscape design. Accordingly, it is hoped that Yanglim-dong can become a representative urban tourism destination in Gwangju through multilateral search and help achieve sustainable development.

Exploring digital innovation in smart tourism destinations: insights from 31 premier tourist cities in digital China

Purpose This study aims to unveil the pivotal components and implementation pathways in the digital innovation of smart tourism destinations, while constructing a theoretical framework from a holistic perspective. Design/methodology/approach The research focuses on 31 significant urban smart tourism destinations in China. Secondary data was collected through manual search supplemented by big data scraping, whereas primary data was obtained from interviews with municipal tourism authorities. Grounded theory was used to theoretically construct the phenomenon of digital innovation in smart tourism destinations. Findings This research has formulated a data-driven knowledge framework for digital innovation in smart tourism destinations. Core components include digital organizational innovation, smart data platforms, multi-stakeholder digital collaborative ecosystem and smart tourism scenario systems. Destinations can achieve smart tourism scene innovation through closed innovation driven by smart data platforms or open innovation propelled by a multi-stakeholder digital collaborative ecosystem. Practical implications Based on insights from digital innovation practices, this study proposes a series of concrete recommendations aimed at assisting Destination Management Organizations in formulating and implementing more effective digital innovation strategies to enhance the sustainable digital competitiveness of destinations. Originality/value This study advances smart tourism destination innovation research from localized thinking to systemic thinking; extends digital innovation theory into the realm of smart tourism destination innovation; repositions the significance of knowledge in smart tourism destination innovation; and constructs a comprehensive framework for digital innovation in smart tourism destinations.

Planning For The Development of Urban Tourism Destinations (A Study on The Tourism Office of Kupang City

The relatively low revenue from the tourism sector indicates that tourism management in Kupang City requires serious attention from the local government, considering the promising tourism potential of Kupang City, which can be an option to increase local revenue and boost the community's economy towards building the region for the better. This research is qualitative, and the data were obtained from primary and secondary sources collected through observation, interviews, and document review with 40 informants. The collected data were analyzed using data analysis techniques (Creswell, 2016). The research findings indicate that the planning for the development of urban tourism destinations at the Kupang City Tourism Office revealed: (a) the actors involved in the planning process include both official and unofficial actors; (b) a review of the situation and identification of issues from an economic perspective shows that the threat is the community's mindset, which is difficult to change, while the opportunity lies in the economic development involving many creative economic players in Kupang City. The weakness is the lack of budget for urban tourism development, but we have the strength of being the capital city of NTT province and a gateway to Timor Leste; (c) forecasting indicates that the current tourism condition is still limited to natural tourist destinations, while urban tourism development has not been maximized. The actors strongly support the planning for more advanced urban tourism development; (d) the establishment of goals and strategy formulation refers to the vision and mission of the Kupang City Government. In implementing tourism development strategies, the organization first conducts communication among stakeholders and the local community; (e) the approval of plans indicates that, to date, the development plan for urban tourism destinations at the Kupang City Tourism Office is still in the planning stage

Experiences and Expectations: Drivers of Urban Tourist Destination Competitiveness

Research Question: This paper investigates into how the relationship between the perceived quality of tourists’ experiences and their expectations of the well-reputed urban tourist destinations affect its competitiveness. Motivation: Most of the published research in this field focuses on a general approach to the competitiveness, while the effect of the individual dimensions of tourist destination attractiveness, especially in case of urban tourist destinations, is still insufficiently explored. This study provides insights and recommendations for destination management that would result in a more effective management of urban tourist destinations and, consequently, increase competitiveness of the destination. Idea: The main idea of this study is to empirically evaluate the relationship between the perceived quality of tourists’ experiences and their expectations from urban tourist destinations, and to identify the most important dimensions of tourist destination attractiveness, taking into consideration different motivational factors. Based on the obtained results, it is possible to give recommendations that can contribute to increasing tourists’ satisfaction and competitiveness of the urban tourist destination. Data: The study was conducted on a sample of 312 respondents from Belgrade, a large outbound tourist centre, who met the pre-established set of criteria. Computer-aided web interviewing (CAWI) was used for data collection. Tools: The study was conducted using the Pearson correlation coefficient to determine the relationship between the perceived quality of experiences and expectations, and the SERVQUAL model for measuring quality of dimensions of tourist destination attractiveness by evaluating the differences between perceived quality and expectations, and descriptive statistics. Findings: Traditional understanding of tourists’ satisfaction that leads to tourist destination competitiveness is that the tourists’ expectations must be either met or exceeded. This study showed that tourists’ expectations from certain dimensions of tourist destination attractiveness may be higher than the quality of the experience with them, but tourists would still be satisfied if the perceived quality of their experiences was positive. Moreover, the study has identified three social and one physical dimension of tourist destination attractiveness as the most significant, regardless of tourists’ travel motivation. Contribution: The study contributes to the existing body of literature by introduction of the new data-driven approach to the strategic processes of managing urban tourist destination and its dimensions of tourist destination attractiveness.

Casual walking in urban tourism destinations through the lens of stimulus–organism–response (S–O–R) and hierarchy of walking needs theories

ABSTRACT Applying the stimulus – organism – response (S – O – R) and hierarchy of walking needs theories, this exploratory study examined the stimuli that triggered tourists to take a casual walk in an urban tourism setting, whether and how these stimuli interacted, and how the stimuli evoked the tourists’ emotions, experiences, and responses. Macao (China), a popular tourism and leisure hub, was selected as a case study. Twenty-eight qualitative face-to-face interviews with tourists were conducted. Personal conditions (feasibility) and interest were found as the two primary intrinsic stimuli that drove tourists to take a casual walk, and the walkable physical environment (or pleasureability) was the extrinsic stimulus. Most respondents considered two or more factors in their walking decision-making, and the factor of personal conditions came before personal interest and the pleasureability factors. Taking casual walks further evoked positive emotions and experiences including ‘interested’, ‘joyful’, and ‘calm and relaxed’, and led to increased walking frequency, walking for a longer distance, and consuming street foods and shopping along their walks. Negative emotions and experiences of boredom were also noted, which led to the reduction of casual walking. This study contributed to the limited studies on causal tourist walking in the urban setting. Managerial implications were also given.

Analysis of Comfort Level in Public Open Space Facilities at Anjungan Sungai Mata Allo Enrekang: Visitors’ Perspective

This study aims to conduct an in-depth analysis of the level of comfort in public open space facilities at Anjungan Sungai Mata Allo, Enrekang, based on visitors’ perceptions using a mixed-method approach, including the Likert scale method. Additionally, direct observation and structured interviews were employed to collect data on various facility aspects, such as the availability of seating, lighting, greenery, cleanliness, and recreational amenities. The data was analyzed both statistically and qualitatively to gain insights into visitors’ preferences and expectations. The results of the analysis revealed that visitors’ perceptions of the comfort level in public open space facilities at Anjungan Sungai Mata Allo Enrekang varied. Several factors significantly influencing comfort included the availability of adequate seating, sufficient lighting, the presence of refreshing green areas, and the cleanliness and quality of recreational amenities. The mixed-method approach allowed for a comprehensive understanding of visitors’ preferences and expectations regarding these facilities. This research provides valuable insights for local governments and area managers in improving and developing public open space facilities. By understanding visitors’ needs and preferences, local authorities can plan urban development more centered on the community, thereby enhancing the experiences of city residents at Anjungan Sungai Mata Allo. The findings from this study are expected to serve as a strategic foundation for creating a more user-friendly, comfortable, and high-quality public space for the community, ultimately boosting the attractiveness of Anjungan Sungai Mata Allo as an urban tourism destination.

Unravelling the effects of disruptive crises on residents’ support for tourism. Lessons from COVID-19

Residents’ behaviour towards tourism could be affected by a major crisis such as the recent pandemic. In this context, we evaluate how specific elements, such as residents’ characteristics, perceptions on specific origins, and the development of alternative tourism activities and segments need to be considered in this analysis. The Social Exchange Theory is used as a conceptual framework, and the empirical analysis is done for Bangkok, a grand urban tourism destination. Our results indicate that residents are aware of the potential trade-off between economic prosperity and health concerns, and that they have a different perception towards tourists from different origins. Additionally, locals were more concerned about health considerations than foreigners. The findings and the conceptual framework can serve as guidelines for tourism organisations and authorities managing urban destinations in times of crises.

Police service in urban destination points: does it promote urban destination advocacy among tourists?

PurposeThis study aims to test an integrated model that examines the relationship between the service qualities of police at any urban tourist destination and the tourist urban destination advocacy at tourist cities in the Shimla region of India, where tourists’ trust in police acts as a mediating variable. This study mainly focused on the type of service shown by police officials to develop trust among the tourists, resulting in their urban destination advocacy.Design/methodology/approachThe questionnaire was adopted from previously developed and validated scales. The questionnaire was administered to different tourists who came to India. This study used the bootstrapping technique and structural equation modelling (SEM) to address the research questions and test the hypotheses.FindingsThis study results indicate that trust in the police mediates the relationship between police service quality and tourist satisfaction at any urban tourist destination. The study’s findings add to the literature on tourists’ trust in policing tourist sites, police service quality and leader behaviour.Research limitations/implicationsThe above-tested model has a very limited number of constructs. There are a variety of additional antecedents (e.g. police organization culture and urban destination attributes) and consequences (word-of-mouth referrals and customer identification) that could be considered for future research to develop a more comprehensive model. The cross-sectional study raises concerns about the causal relationships between constructs in the tested model. More substantial evidence of causality via longitudinal and experimental studies is needed.Originality/valueThe study’s findings added a chapter to the literature by identifying how police service quality impacts tourist trust building and urban destination advocacy.

Exploring memorable travel experiences in urban tourism: Insights from five vibrant cities

Being a traveler’s city is about understanding travelers’ behavior and experiences. This makes it easier to know who is going to visit a city and why. In this context, this study explores the attractions that transform travelers’ experiences into memorable travel experiences in urban tourism destinations. However, the research’s contributions are mainly for cities aiming to become urban tourism destinations. The study was conducted with urban tourism, urban travelers, and memorable travel experience concepts. Interviews were conducted with 79 travelers in two European cities (Prague and Berlin), two Asian cities, (Kyoto and Busan), and a bridge city between Asia and Europe (Istanbul). Hence, the main attractions were determined. As a result, architecture, cultural heritage, art, pedestrian orientation, trust in locals, flavor varieties, transportation, nightlife, events, ethnic districts, low-cost opportunities, shopping markets, lively/vibrant atmosphere, and freer districts emerged as attractions that transform travelers’ experiences into memorable travel experiences. These attractions also may transform urban experiences into memorable travel experiences for all visitor groups.

Walking as soft mobility: A multi-criteria GIS-based approach for prioritizing tourist routes

Walking, as the main mode of soft mobility, has become an integral aspect of urban tourism. The development of pedestrian tourist routes plays a crucial role in enhancing the positive walking experience in urban tourist destinations. This research employs a hybrid multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) with GIS to rank street segments, establishing walking-oriented tourist paths in Shiraz's historic district, Iran. The initial steps involve identifying pivotal criteria through literature reviews and expert surveys. The Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) establishes criteria and sub-criteria weights using input from 30 experts. The Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) then prioritizes street segments based on sub-criteria such as traffic safety, image ability and heritage assets, security, land use and activity, accessibility, comfort and convenience, and human scale. Furthermore, a Space Syntax analysis (SSA) is conducted to evaluate the morphology of the street network in the study area and identify streets with potential for pedestrian movement. By integrating these analyses, a prime corridor for a pedestrian tourist route is identified. This study offers planners and policymakers a valuable tool for pre-investment decision-making, aiding the promotion of walkability in tourist-centric areas.