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Ecotourism and Sustainable Development: Challenges and Opportunities

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A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050). This special issue belongs to the section "Tourism, Culture, and Heritage".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (15 March 2023) | Viewed by 41274

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Special Issue Editors

Dr. Valasia Iakovoglou

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Chief Guest Editor

UNESCO Chair “Conservation and Ecotourism in Riparian and Deltaic Ecosystems, Con-E-Ect”, International Hellenic University, 60100 Drama, Greece
Interests: biodiversity; climate change effects; conservation; ecophysiology; ecotourism; nature-based solutions; regeneration; seed ecophysiology; seedling production; sustainable ecosystem management; urban forestry
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Dr. Martin C. Gimenez Suarez

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Assistant Guest Editor

School of Forest Engineering and Natural Resources, Universidad Politécnica De Madrid (UPM), 28040 Madrid, Spain
Interests: climate change; land protection; sustainability; nature based solutions; environmental projects

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Considering your expertise, you are invited to submit your work in a Special Issue entitled “Ecotourism and Sustainable Development: Challenges and Opportunities” at the international, peer-reviewed open access journal Sustainability. The scope of the issue is aiming to bridge research conducted at a multi-disciplinary level and address issues relevant to the sustainable practice of ecotourism; a worldwide fast-growing trend in the travel industry.

The practice of ecotourism enhances economic growth and improves the livelihood mainly in rural and undeveloped areas by increasing job and business opportunities for a vast number of professions. Tourists are able to visit unique ecosystems while also gaining benefits such as embracing and getting acquainted with the natural and cultural heritage as well as being environmentally educated. Under the recent COVID-19 pandemic, ecotourism seems to be an ideal practice of alternative tourism that allows outdoor activities under the safe practice of regulations.

Nonetheless, the unmanaged practice of ecotourism poses many irreversible risks for the environment. Problems related to restoration and biodiversity loss become more intense, especially when dealing with protected areas. Sustaining the healthy function and structure of natural ecosystems in relation to their services is a challenge, particularly under the foreseen obstacles posed by climate change in relation to the negative impacts of anthropogenic interference. Safeguarding ecosystems is of high priority leading to the need of more concrete holistic innovative ecofriendly management methods such as Nature-based solutions that prioritize environmental aspects. Innovative technological tools substantially contribute in achieving sustainable practices of ecotourism that help bridge and bring balance among the sectors of tourism, natives, and the environment.

Undoubtedly, ecotourism provides many opportunities for growth and business development as well as challenges in order to achieve the best social-economic-cultural outcome while prioritizing the welfare of ecosystems. Consequently, a vast number of relevant topics could be covered to address sustainable application of ecotourism.

The purpose of this issue is to show the work that has been done from a wide range of multi-disciplinary professions. Specifically, scientific organizations (from the research fields of environment economy, business, computer sciences, etc.), hospitality professions, policy makers, NGOs and stakeholders can help enlighten the path to achieve sustainable long-term practices of ecotourism while safeguarding ecosystems. You are all welcome to take advantage of this unique outstanding opportunity to show your work.

Dr. Valasia Iakovoglou
Chief Guest Editor

Dr. Martin C. Gimenez Suarez
Assistant Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Sustainability is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

alternative tourism
biodiversity
business development
ecosystem services
protected areas
sustainable ecosystems
SDGs
wold heritage sites

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Published Papers (8 papers)

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Research

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17 pages, 2803 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Carbon Footprint Analysis of Tourism Life Cycle: The Case of Guilin from 2011 to 2022

by Rui Cao, Yanhua Mo and Jiangming Ma

Sustainability 2023, 15(9), 7124; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15097124 - 24 Apr 2023

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2940

Abstract

Low-carbon tourism is an important way for the tourism industry to achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and the goals of carbon peaking and carbon neutrality. In order to promote the development of Guilin as a world-class tourism city and ensure the sustainable development of the tourism industry in Guilin, this paper combines the concept of carbon footprint and the theory of life cycle to build a tourists’ carbon footprint life cycle analysis model of Guilin. Taking tourists in Guilin as an example, the composition and changes of tourists’ carbon footprint are dynamically analyzed. The research shows that: (1) The overall tourism carbon footprint of Guilin showed an upward trend during 2011–2019. From 2020 to 2022, due to the impact of COVID-19, Guilin’s tourism carbon footprint has decreased significantly. The per capita carbon footprint of tourism in Guilin showed a downward trend from 2011 to 2022; (2) The order of the size of Guilin’s tourism carbon footprint is tourism transportation > tourism catering > tourism accommodation > tourism activities; (3) From 2011 to 2022, the carbon footprint of tourism transportation in Guilin showed an obvious narrowing state, while the carbon footprint of tourism accommodation, tourism activities, and tourism catering showed an obvious expanding trend. Based on the characteristics of the carbon footprint of Guilin’s tourism and the current situation of the development of Guilin’s tourism, this paper puts forward suggestions on reducing carbon emissions, forms a new tool for evaluating and constructing low-carbon tourism, and provides a scientific basis and practical reference significance for the sustainable development of low-carbon tourism in Guilin. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ecotourism and Sustainable Development: Challenges and Opportunities)

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21 pages, 1589 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Does Psychological Contract Violation Change the Original Intention of Eco-Tourists to Participate in Scenic Value Co-Creation?

by Hailing Liu, Ping Hu, Kewei Shi and Yudan Zhang

Sustainability 2023, 15(6), 4750; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15064750 - 7 Mar 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1985

Abstract

Eco-tourists are the practitioners of promoting the harmonious development of humans and nature, and have a very important significance for the scenic spots and sustainable development of scenic areas. However, external factors often interfere with the eco-tourists’ original intention, which not only affect the tourist experience, but also bring a negative influence to the scenic spots, and even the destinations where they are located. Identifying the triggering factors and processes that influence eco-tourists’ participation in scenic value co-creation will lay a solid foundation for the effective governance of scenic areas. This paper systematically explores whether, how and when psychological contract violations significantly affect the eco-tourists’ participation in scenic value co-creation from the perspective of psychological contract violations. The data are collected from 556 eco-tourists’ questionnaires from the Yellow River Estuary Ecotourism Zone of Dongying City, Shandong Province, China. Through a hierarchical regression analysis and further validated by the Bootstrap method, the study finds the following: First, eco-tourists’ psychological contract violation has a significant negative effect on their participation in value co-creation. Second, moral disengagement plays a mediating role in the relationship between psychological contract violation and value co-creation behavior. Third, moral disengagement acts on value co-creation. The process of moral disengagement on value co-creation behavior is influenced by the level of expertise. The negative effect of moral disengagement on value co-creation decreases as the level of expertise increases. The findings of this paper not only expand the antecedents of tourists’ participation and the path of psychological contract violation in value co-creation, but also have important practical implications for promoting eco-tourists’ participation in value co-creation as well as reducing, preventing and identifying psychological contract violation in ecotourism scenic spots. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ecotourism and Sustainable Development: Challenges and Opportunities)

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21 pages, 2596 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Evolution of Ecotourism in Coastal Indigenous Communities: Comparison of the Case Studies of La Ventanilla and La Escobilla in Oaxaca, Mexico

by Clara Cordon, Beatriz Carmena, Martín C. Giménez, José L. García and Carlos Calderon-Guerrero

Sustainability 2023, 15(3), 2207; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15032207 - 25 Jan 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2411

Abstract

The state of Oaxaca is one of the most economically depressed in Mexico, and this has been recently aggravated by various geopolitical and ecological events that make the lives of its inhabitants even more precarious. There is a strong interest in accelerating the state’s development with sustainable alternatives. Within the neighbouring communities of La Ventanilla and La Escobilla in the Coast of Oaxaca, the promotion of the protection and productive use of sea turtles through ecotourism has been introduced. However, the two communities have observed different socio-economic development rates. This article aims to analyse these two case studies and why La Ventanilla has made ecotourism its livelihood, whereas, in La Escobilla, it has been a source of problems. The objective is, therefore, to analyse the evolution of their ecotourism initiatives and draw a comparison between both communities to understand the differences. This objective was evaluated through surveys, expert observation, and subsequent SWOT analyses (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats). In the next step, TOWS Optimum Strategic Alternative matrices were created to establish strategies for future proposals. The authors found a clear disparity between the two communities in terms of Strengths—La Ventanilla is 55% higher than La Escobilla— and Weaknesses—La Escobilla is 43% higher than La Ventanilla. The possible suggested causes could be “sanctuary status”, “urban planning”, “different origins of the problems”, “diversification of the ecotourism product”, and “external focus”. Consequently, community empowerment, sustainable urban planning, the creation of a diversification plan for ecotourism activities, or a dissemination strategy, in addition to project proposals with external research organisations and NGOs, are considered essential strategies for the success of the ecotourism plan and thus for the sustainable development and conservation of sea turtles. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ecotourism and Sustainable Development: Challenges and Opportunities)

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16 pages, 1952 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Leisure Boating Environmental Footprint: A Study of Leisure Marinas in Palermo, Italy

by Manfredi Bruccoleri, Pietro Cannova, Noelia Cruz-Pérez, Jesica Rodríguez-Martín, Florin Ioras and Juan C. Santamarta

Sustainability 2023, 15(1), 182; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15010182 - 22 Dec 2022

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 11109

Abstract

Ports have played a significant role in the touristic development and further economic growth of Italy. It is the country with the highest number of berths among the nations in the Mediterranean Sea; over time, Italy has created ports with a range of functions. Therefore, it is of vital importance to evaluate the potential pollutants generated from these docks and propose ways to eliminate those problems. A survey that asked about the carbon footprint and the quality of the water in the water footprint calculation was created and distributed to the management of the marinas’ operations. After receiving the completed surveys, the data were analyzed and translated using emission factors into tons of CO₂ equivalent. The amount of greenhouse gases generated by the investigated marinas was determined by calculating the carbon and water footprints of five representative Palermo marinas, and we aimed to better understand how these port-related operations affect the environment. To pinpoint the pollutant sources within the investigated marinas, an original P-Mapping/Pareto ratio approach was performed as supported by Pareto’s principle. The findings indicated that the primary operations of the marina sector are the main sources of pollution. However, a sizable portion of the emissions were also caused by pollution from supporting operations. Based on the study, the origins of CO₂ and pollution in marina operations were clarified. The results obtained enable the authors to make recommendations that all recreational boating activities should be closely supervised in order to reduce CO₂ emissions and their input in relation to environmental degradation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ecotourism and Sustainable Development: Challenges and Opportunities)

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17 pages, 1727 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Nexus between Sustainable Behaviour of Tourists from Generation Z and the Factors That Influence the Protection of Environmental Quality

by Gina Ionela Butnaru, Valentin Niţă, Cristiana Melinte, Alexandru Anichiti and Geanina Brînză

Sustainability 2022, 14(19), 12103; https://doi.org/10.3390/su141912103 - 24 Sep 2022

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 3146

Abstract

In a context in which tourism is considered to favour the degradation of the environment, it is important to promote forms of travel with low environmental impact. Globally, studies have shown a good understanding and increased receptivity to the practice of sustainable forms of travel among tourists. Therefore, this study proposes an analysis of the nexus between sustainable behaviour of tourists from Generation Z and the factors that influence the protection of environmental quality. The research methodology included the development and application of a questionnaire on a sample of 492 tourists belonging to Generation Z, with travel experience. The results showed nexus among the analysed factors and the Cronbach Alpha score for the latent variables: cultural factors (α = 0.769), personal factors (α = 0.829), psychological factors (α = 0.809), technological factors (α = 0.800), sustainable behaviour of young tourists (α = 0.910), social factors (α = 0.857) and conservation of the environmental quality (α = 0.906). The hypothesis regarding the testing of tourists’ sustainable behaviour in nexus with the protection of the environment quality was confirmed, even if the results of testing the nexus between the social factors and sustainable behaviour of Generation Z Romanian tourists could not be considered statistically significant. However, the study represents a contribution to the literature in a field concerned with this aspect of sustainability and interest, which is constantly growing, and for which, at least until now, there have been no studies in the literature pertaining to Romanian space. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ecotourism and Sustainable Development: Challenges and Opportunities)

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Review

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20 pages, 2355 KiB

Open AccessReview

Orangutan Ecotourism on Sumatra Island: Current Conditions and a Call for Further Development

by Agus Purwoko, Wanda Kuswanda, Rospita Odorlina Pilianna Situmorang, Freddy Jontara Hutapea, Muhammad Hadi Saputra and Parlin Hotmartua Putra Pasaribu

Sustainability 2022, 14(18), 11328; https://doi.org/10.3390/su141811328 - 9 Sep 2022

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 4682

Abstract

This paper aimed to provide a narrative review of the current conditions of orangutan ecotourism on Sumatra Island, problems in the current management systems, and some recommendations for further development. Orangutan conservation centers have been developed on Sumatra Island since 1973. The Bukit Lawang Conservation Station is one of the orangutan conservation centers that have practiced ecotourism to overcome ecological and socio-economic issues. Even though the Bukit Lawang Conservation Station has operated for decades, this station has faced several issues, in particular a monetary crisis in 1997, a flash flood in 2003, and the COVID-19 pandemic. We identified that orangutan conservation centers on Sumatra Island have the potential to support orangutan ecotourism. These conservation centers have ecological support, available facilities, and rich local wisdom that can provide added value for orangutan ecotourism. Therefore, we propose that the development of orangutan ecotourism on Sumatra Island should accommodate surrounding communities through community-based wildlife ecotourism. We also recommend the following strategies to develop orangutan ecotourism on Sumatra Island: (1) mapping the location and distribution of wild orangutans in their natural habitats; (2) managing captive and semi-captive orangutans in conservation centers; (3) provision of tour packages; (4) community empowerment; (5) institutional strengthening of community-based ecotourism management (CBEM); (6) developing ecotourism through a benefit-sharing model; (7) anticipating and minimizing the negative impacts of ecotourism on orangutans; and (8) integrating orangutan tourism with local wisdom. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ecotourism and Sustainable Development: Challenges and Opportunities)

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15 pages, 1940 KiB

Open AccessReview

Is Ecotourism an Opportunity for Large Wild Animals to Thrive?

by Svetlana Ivanova, Alexander Prosekov and Anatoly Kaledin

Sustainability 2022, 14(5), 2718; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14052718 - 25 Feb 2022

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 4072

Abstract

The development of ecotourism involving wild animals in Russia is overlooked despite the fact that the country’s territory is significant not only in terms of area but also in terms of the diversity of its flora and fauna. A significant part of Russia’s territory has a low population density, especially beyond the Ural ridge. It retains its natural primeval nature, which can contribute to the development of ecotourism. Initial attempts have been made to develop this, mainly in the European part (Tatarstan, Murmansk Region, the Baltic Sea, Baikal, Altai), but the commercial use of wild animals within ecotourism programs, including the ones in Siberia and the Far East, has not been discussed. This work focuses on the basics of launching ecotourism in the industrial region of Siberia (Kuzbass, Russia) as part of the Alcesalces conservation program. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ecotourism and Sustainable Development: Challenges and Opportunities)

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Other

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20 pages, 4290 KiB

Open AccessSystematic Review

Investigating Ecotourism Opportunities Measurements in a Complex Adaptive System: A Systematic Literature Review

by Riyan Mohammed Sahahiri, Amy L. Griffin and Qian (Chayn) Sun

Sustainability 2023, 15(3), 2678; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15032678 - 2 Feb 2023

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 7974

Abstract

Identifying and quantifying ecotourism opportunities are critical processes in sustainable tourism planning, which is challenging, since ecotourism is a Complex Adaptive System (CAS). This study investigated Ecotourism Opportunities Measurements (EOMs) in the literature and mapped the research trends to provide practical implications for research in this area. A systematic quantitative literature review began with a scientometric analysis in CiteSpace to examine the existing knowledge and the state of the art in EOMs. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) protocol was then applied to refine the initial search results, and snowballing was used to collect additional articles. The refined set was then thematically coded and quantitatively analyzed. Our findings show that existing studies on ecotourism opportunities predominantly focus on the impacts of ecotourism on the environment, stakeholders’ contributions toward ecotourism development, sustainability, and responsible behavior of local communities in ecotourism promotion. In addition, five dimensions have been identified under which ecotourism opportunities can be measured, including nature, environmental education/protection, sustainability, socio-cultural benefits, and tourist satisfaction. Existing scales or indices assess potential destinations qualitatively rather than quantitatively. In contrast, an index-based approach might help to solve the challenges of evaluating ecotourism opportunities as a CAS, as well as to quantitatively assess potential destinations to support decision-making related to ecotourism promotion. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ecotourism and Sustainable Development: Challenges and Opportunities)

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