Search Results (111)

Under the dual pressures of urbanization and tourism development, the Historic Centre of Macao, as a World Cultural Heritage site, faces challenges including the inadequate transmission of cultural elements and the excessive commercialisation of tourism development. To systematically identify and safeguard its cultural characteristics, this study introduces the theory of cultural genes, constructing a dual-strand identification model encompassing both tangible and intangible cultural genes. This model integrates architectural function, structure, and ornamentation, alongside indigenous religions, arts, and folklore, thereby achieving a comprehensive extraction of cultural elements. Building upon this foundation, the study employed the AHP-fuzzy comprehensive evaluation method to quantitatively assess the degree of identification with various cultural elements, integrating perspectives from three distinct groups: tourists, residents, and third-party experts. The findings revealed significant disparities in cultural identification across these groups. For instance, residents demonstrated the highest level of identification with beliefs and folk customs, whilst tourists favoured more tangible aspects such as decorative elements and cuisine, exhibiting generally weaker identification with architectural structures. The findings demonstrate that this study, through the establishment of a systematic framework for identifying cultural genes and a multi-stakeholder evaluation system, has accurately discerned the characteristics of various cultural genes and the public’s level of identification with them. This provides a scientific basis for evidence-based, differentiated, and precise governance of the Historic Centre of Macao, offering significant reference value for the conservation and revitalisation of similar cultural heritage sites. Full article

This study examines how community-based tourism (CBT) supports sustainable livelihoods by clarifying the mediating roles of community participation and tourism-related employment. Drawing on the Sustainable Livelihood Framework, Community Participation Theory, and the community development and empowerment approach, survey data were collected from 320 CBT-involved residents in three Vietnamese CBT settings (Ba Vì–Hà Nội, Lào Cai, and Lâm Đồng) during April–June 2025. Using PLS-SEM with bootstrapping and IPMA, the findings show that community participation and tourism-related employment are pivotal pathways through which livelihood assets translate into sustainable livelihood outcomes. Indigenous cultural values and policy commitment enhance livelihoods mainly by stimulating employment generation, whereas community awareness, human resource capacity, and access to financial capital operate primarily by strengthening community participation. IPMA indicates that participation and employment represent the most actionable leverage points for interventions. This study’s novelty lies in providing a mechanism-based explanation of CBT’s livelihood effects and converting SEM evidence into practical prioritization. Policy and managerial implications emphasize strengthening inclusive participation mechanisms, expanding and upgrading local employment (skills development, job stability, and market linkages), and reinforcing enabling institutional support that safeguards indigenous cultural values while improving household livelihood resilience in CBT contexts. Full article

This paper portrays both how indigenous people reframe indigeneity as a local defense against tourism politics through active participation rather than passive performance, and how touristic actors redefine Indigeneity in tourism marketing through visual depletion and depiction in the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT), Bangladesh. The research adopts an ‘otherness’ vs. ‘belongingness’ approach to question the dual position of tourism promotion in the context of indigeneity. Focusing on three research sites in the two districts of CHT, it employs ethnographic analysis of eighty-eight in-depth interviews and three focus group discussions, and netnographic analysis of twenty-five tourist blogs and posts and reviews of six travel websites. The findings unearth that the construction of indigenous ‘otherness’ invokes the reproduction of stereotypes such as ‘primitivism’ and ‘exoticism’. In contrast, indigeneity serves as a local mechanism to control the representation of exogenous agents in opposition to such categorization. The research contributes to reckoning indigeneity as a defensive mechanism for self-visualization in response to one-sided representations of indigenous lifeworlds. Full article

The donkey (Equus asinus), despite its long domestication history, has often been overlooked and is currently facing the dual challenge of genetic erosion and emerging economic opportunities. Global research indicates that although Chinese indigenous breeds maintain a moderate level of genetic diversity, the rapid transition from draft purposes to large-scale ejiao production has driven them into severe endangerment, leading to a dramatic decline in donkey population. In contrast, donkey populations in Europe and the Mediterranean, though numerically smaller, have achieved greater stability through conservation programs and integration into specialized sectors such as dairy production and tourism. Genomic studies further reveal region-specific selection for traits associated with body size, adaptability, and productivity, underscoring the profound influence of ecological and management contexts. This review systematically compares Chinese and international donkey breeds in terms of genetic resources, genetic characteristics, phenotypic and reproductive traits, adaptive capacity, and industrial utilization models, with the aim of providing a foundation for global strategies in genetic conservation and sustainable development. Full article

Pulque, an available traditional Mexican fermented beverage, has deep ethnographic and cultural significance. It was originally consumed by pre-Columbian civilizations, including the Teotihuacanos, Mexicas, Otomies, Zapotecas, Mixtecas, and Maya. It was revered as a sacred drink with both ceremonial and medicinal uses, often reserved for elites and priests. Its production is based on the ancestral extraction and fermentation of aguamiel, a sweet sap obtained from agave plants. While advances in food technology have occurred, traditional techniques for obtaining and fermenting aguamiel remain prevalent, especially in rural communities, reflecting the resilience of indigenous knowledge systems. Recent interest in pulque has focused on its nutritional content and potential health benefits when consumed in moderation, though risks related to excessive intake remain a concern. Moreover, cultural initiatives aim to revitalize indigenous heritage through gastronomic promotion, tourism routes, and festive traditions. This study explores pulque’s production processes, its cultural symbolism, and its evolving role within Mexican society, suggesting that its survival reflects both continuity and adaptation in the face of modernity. This paper is also presented as a narrative integrative review to explore the biocultural significance of pulque across the anthropological, historical, biochemical, and public-health domains. Full article

Although lagoons are sites of water accumulation and runoff where a variety of animal species and plant varieties inhabit, they have also been positioned as spaces where rituals and religious practices take place, from which the transmission of knowledge emanates, and social activities are strengthened. The Laguna de Cajititlán (Cajititlán Lagoon) in the town of Tlajomulco de Zúñiga, Jalisco, México is a lacustrine landscape that faces a state of fragility due to incessant processes of urbanization along with basin desiccation and wastewater pollution. However, the community of Cajititlán has managed to protect its lacustrine landscape through the rescue of the religious tradition of the Procesión Los Santos Reyes (Procession of the Wise Men). Therefore, the objective of this article is to analyze how this tradition, as cultural heritage, has influenced the conservation of the lacustrine landscape. We conclude that cultural heritage and the lacustrine landscape are bidirectionally correlated because fostering Indigenous traditions like the Procesión in Cajititlán, as a manifestation of devotion and faith, enhances identity, promotes tourism, and supports conservation practices and the sustainability of the lacustrine landscape. At the same time, conservation of the lacustrine landscape enables the preservation of cultural heritage, generating an interdependent relationship between these elements. Full article

Saninten (Castanopsis argentea (Blume) A.DC.) is a protected plant that grows in the Mount Gede Pangrango National Park (MGPNP) area in West Java. Its population is limited, and as a valuable biological resource, Castanopsis has traditionally been utilized by indigenous communities, particularly those residing in proximity to the forest. However, the expansion and development of tourism pose a potential threat to the ecosystems of C. argentea and other endemic plant species, as well as to the wildlife that depend on these habitats. Comprehensive data on biodiversity, species composition, forest structure, and carbon stock status are crucial for assessing the potential impact of future tourism development. Our investigation was conducted from November 2023 to March 2024 in a three-hectare utilization zone within the confines of the national park. The findings documented a total of 36 species across 23 distinct plant families, with the families Fagaceae, Moraceae, and Myrtaceae exhibiting the highest levels of dominance. The regeneration of stands at the study site predominantly comprised arboreal species with the most substantial carbon stocks, including C. acuminatissima (Blume) A.DC. (Riung anak), C. argentea (Saninten), and Litsea sp. (Huru). C. argentea supplies several functions within this ecosystem that are interconnected with other components. With aboveground carbon stocks reaching 560.47 tons C/ha, the forest demonstrates high sequestration potential, reinforcing the need to conserve mature stands for both biodiversity and climate benefits. Therefore, in the future, the conservation of C. argentea will benefit the maintenance of the ecosystem’s attractiveness without adversely affecting the social and cultural structures of the local population. Full article

Mountain forestscapes are among the planet’s most vital socio-ecological systems, functioning as critical reservoirs of biodiversity, regulators of climate, and essential sources of water and livelihood for surrounding and downstream communities. However, these landscapes face intensifying threats from climate change, land-use transformation, resource extraction, unsustainable tourism, and fragmented governance. While sustainable forest management has provided essential frameworks for conservation, its focus on maintaining existing conditions is increasingly insufficient amid accelerating ecological and social decline. This paper explores the conceptual and practical evolution from sustainability to regeneration in mountain forest management, distinguishing between the theoretical foundations of each paradigm and analyzing the key drivers of degradation across diverse biocultural regions. Methodologically, the study employs a transdisciplinary and qualitative design, integrating critical literature synthesis, comparative regional analysis, and Indigenous and local knowledge systems. A structured review of 72 peer-reviewed sources and ethnographic materials was conducted, combined with a qualitative comparative analysis (QCA) of mountain case studies from the Alps, Carpathians, Andes, Eastern Arc Mountains, and Himalayas. The study synthesizes regenerative strategies such as ecological connectivity restoration, agroecological landscape design, participatory watershed management, and adaptive, polycentric governance. Based on these insights, an integrated framework for regenerative mountain forestscape management is proposed, aligned with global policy agendas including the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration, nature-based solutions (NbS), and the post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework. By prioritizing ecological renewal, cultural continuity, and community agency, this work contributes to transformative, place-based approaches that restore the functionality, resilience, and integrity of mountain landscapes. Full article

This paper critiques the Western-centric lens in gender studies, emphasising the need for decolonial, intersectional, and inclusive methodologies in community-based tourism (CBT) research. It argues that universalist narratives often overlook local power structures, gendered labour divisions, and socio-economic inequalities, disregarding localised knowledge and the structural barriers that shape women’s realities in tourism. In the case of rural women, these dominant perspectives fail to address key issues such as the unequal distribution of benefits, the complexities of tourism participation, and the tensions between market demands, social change, and cultural preservation. This paper calls for context-sensitive approaches that amplify women’s voices and lived experiences in CBT. It highlights the urgency of decolonising knowledge, challenging hegemonic epistemologies that homogenise women’s experiences and reinforce Eurocentric gender norms. The study also underscores intersectionality as a crucial tool to expose the overlapping systems of oppression—including ethnicity, class, race, and access to global tourism markets—that deepen gender inequalities in CBT. Without a decolonial and intersectional lens, tourism studies risk reproducing extractivist logics that marginalise local voices and perpetuate inequitable structures. Future research must move beyond Western frameworks, fostering more ethical, sustainable, and socially just approaches to gender studies in tourism. Full article

Rural tourism is closely linked to a local’s tradition, identity, and cultural heritage. When staying in a specific tourist destination, a modern tourist expects a complete experience of the destination. Experience is necessary in rural tourist accommodation where guests can feel the local culture, nature, gastronomy, environment, and heritage. However, what about the interior design of the accommodation facility and the furniture design that will provide a rural and at the same time modern atmosphere? The paper aims to explore the traditional heritage, culture, indigenous elements, and ornamentation of rural artifacts of Istria, a region in Croatia, to propose a conceptual design of functional contemporary furniture for furnishing the living room in tourist accommodation. The furniture collection, with visual and artistic elements, surface treatment, construction, and selected sustainable materials and ornamentation, aims to brand the indigenous rural Istrian heritage, while at the same time combines an innovative contemporary expression. The research is divided into two stages: the first stage was conducted during field research using photography, observation, and interview methods, and the collected data from this stage served as inspiration for designing a furniture collection in the second stage. The second stage uses the cyclical method of the creative process to design new sustainable furniture concept, consisting of a table, stool, chest of drawers, and coffee table, which form a collection in the tourist interior environment. This furniture design model that uses original heritage to brand the rural environment and increase the attractiveness of accommodation in rural areas could be applied to other locations so tourists can fully experience the rural area they visit and achieve experiential, relaxed holidays and amenities, thus supporting the sustainable development of rural tourist destinations. The practical implications of this research have yet to be confirmed. It is desirable to investigate the impact and satisfaction of users in such designed interiors and confirm such a concept. This will require the engagement of architects and designers and hotel accommodation owners, as well as and the support of economic entities, local authorities, and the government, who need to systematically change the ways of branding rural values to achieve a holistic approach to the tourism offer. Full article

The ecosystem of Dal Lake, an important freshwater lake in Srinagar, India, has been rapidly degraded in recent decades due to intensified eutrophication. The main causes of eutrophication were determined to be different types of human activities in the catchment area and its inappropriate development as well as excessive loads of pollutants introduced into the lake. The heightened algal blooms brought significant water quality deterioration, a reduction in indigenous fish populations, and a general disturbance of the ecological balance of the lake. Such changes adversely influenced the living conditions of the inhabitants depending on the lake for tourism, fishing, and other economic pursuits. The aim of the research was the evaluation of the specificity of the course and spatio-temporal dynamics of Dal Lake eutrophication process on the base of accurate assessment of its actual trophic state. The applied assessment methodology was based on the biotic balance approach. As an indicator of the biotic balance in water, the Index of Trophic State (ITS) was chosen and adopted for the conditions of the lake ecosystem in humid subtropical climate conditions. The assessment was based on data from a five-year lake monitoring period (2019–2023) and analyzed for four lake basins: Hazaratbal, Nishat, Nagin, and Gagribal. The results indicated a steady increase in the lake’s trophic status, with the Hazaratbal basin evolving from mesotrophic to eutrophic, while the other basins progressed from meso-eutrophic to eutrophic during the research period. At the end of the research period, the whole lake was classified as eutrophic, with a modest inclination towards heightened eutrophication severity. The research underscores the pressing need for elaboration of a holistic lake management approach, where ITS, which has proven to be a valuable and reliable express-monitoring tool, can be used for obtaining information necessary for solving different applied tasks for protection and conservation strategies. Full article

Set in a wide open plain, the monolith of Uluṟu (‘Ayers Rock’) has become an internationally recognizable symbol for the Australian outback, currently attracting hundreds of thousands of tourists each year. Promoted since the 1950s as an exotic tourist destination, one of the major activities has been the ‘conquest’ of Uluṟu by completing the steep climb to the top. Always disapproved by the Aṉangu, the Indigenous Australian community of the area, and actively discouraged since 1990, the climb became an extremely contentious issue in the final two years before it was permanently closed to tourists on 26 October 2019. Given that climbing Uluṟu as a tourist activity has become an event of the past, this paper will examine the nature, materiality, and potential heritage value of the portable material culture associated with the climb. The background to the history of climbing Uluṟu in the context of European invasion (‘exploration’), the nature of tourism at Uluṟu and the role climbing played in this, as well as the management decisions that led to the closure of the climb can be grouped into four thematic periods: the beginnings of settler colonialist ascents (1873–1950), the ‘heroic’ age of Uluṟu tourism (1950–1958), lodges in a National Park (1958–1985), and joint management and the eventual closure of the climb (1985–2019). Based on a description of the material culture associated with the climb, particularly badges, patches and certificates, and drawing on the methodologies of historic and material culture studies, this paper will discuss the various interpretations of climbing Uluṟu and how the portable material culture reflects or exemplifies climbing as a conquest and heroic deed, as a spiritual ritual, and as a violation of cultural rights. After examining the materiality of the wearable material culture, we conclude by exploring which of these portable items are culturally significant and which, if any, should be curated in public collections. Full article

The Ifugao Rice Terraces have been the Philippines’ first and only Globally Important Agricultural Heritage System (GIAHS) since 2011. More than a decade later, this study assesses whether Ifugao farmers find this designation beneficial and if it enhances their sense of involvement. Through a cross-sectional survey of GIAHS farmers in Banaue, Ifugao, this study examines perceived benefits and involvement, along with views on youth participation in agriculture, farmer livelihoods, and tourism management in Ifugao. The findings reveal that 65.1% of farmers see the GIAHS designation as beneficial and 58.7% feel involved. Farmers who perceive limited tourism benefits from the GIAHS are more likely to feel uninvolved, while those who value the designation’s potential for improving income and consumer demand for Ifugao rice report higher involvement. Cultural heritage and ancestral values are significant motivators, with some farmers viewing the GIAHS as a means of preserving traditions. Support from local government, subsidies, and media enhances involvement, particularly among those practicing rituals or growing the traditional Tinawon rice, which strengthens ties to the GIAHS. Additionally, farmers involved in discussions or training on Environmental Conservation Agriculture (ECA) report a stronger connection to the GIAHS, as ECA practices align with their traditional, sustainable approaches. Overall, this study highlights the complex role of the GIAHS as a bridge between cultural heritage, livelihood, and sustainability, underscoring the need to integrate farmer perspectives more closely into GIAHS initiatives in Ifugao. Full article

In recent decades, it has become apparent that during parturition events in a number of social mammals, social support behaviours from group mates can be directed to parturient females (and their newborn neonates). Such behaviour has been documented in diverse taxa, across non-human primates, Elephantidae, Cetacea, and Chiroptera, living in a range of social group organisations, from matrilineal groups to cooperatively breeding groups and multi-male, multi-female groups. Since sociality, in association with parturition, has been demonstrated to confer several health benefits to human mothers and neonates, here, we also consider the potential adaptive significance of social support behaviours for other, non-human, social mammals. If appropriate social environments reduce a parturient female’s dystocia risk and improve her responsiveness to her neonate following a successful birth, then the impacts of the peri-parturient social environment may ultimately have far-reaching impacts on the mother–neonate dyad’s fitness. This seems a logical sequela since the health condition of a neonate at birth and the successful establishment of a strong maternal-neonate bond are often the most critical factors influencing mammalian offspring survival to independence. The principles of kin selection and alliance enhancement may serve to explain the fitness benefits to individuals who support group mates during their parturition and thus the selective advantage conferred to those exhibiting such behaviours. Older, multiparous females appear to hold a particularly important role in the assistance they can provide during the parturition of their group mates, given their greater level of experience of these events. Furthermore, a social birth may have an important influence on horizontal information transfer within a group. In particular, in long-lived, cognitively advanced social mammals (e.g., non-human primates, Elephantidae, Cetacea), witnessing birth events, early neonate responses, and maternal care, and engaging in allomaternal care with young neonates may be essential for nulliparous females’ normal development. Such events may serve to prepare them for their own parturition and may improve their own parturition-related survivorship and that of their first-born offspring. Thus, it is vital that a better understanding is gained of the importance and salient features of social births in improving the health and survivorship outcomes for both the mother and her offspring in highly social species. The aim of this commentary is to assemble our current understanding of these highly interconnected themes. We suggest in the future, insights gained through observation of non-human social parturition in domestic and non-domestic species, by a wide and highly interdisciplinary range of stakeholders (including zookeepers, wildlife tourism guides, breeders of domestic animals, indigenous people, and ethologists), will be critical for enhancing our understanding of the influence of social environment on this rarely witnessed, yet highly important life event. Full article

This article theorizes the role of local and indigenous culture in its intersection with development initiatives. It argues that Communication for Development and Social Change (CDSC), through a cultural studies framework, strengthens the potentiality of democratization and participation within community-based development and social change settings. We advocate that applied cultural studies can facilitate agency (through voice and self-representation) in social interventions. This is a cultural studies approach that has been recontextualised from the Birmingham origin as read through Marxist development studies, first adapted and mobilized during the anti-apartheid struggle in developing cultural strategy, and more recently with efforts to indigenise research practices with research participants in the southern Kalahari. We draw on an example of the community-owned, state-funded, and privately operated !Xaus Lodge cultural tourism asset. We illustrate how CDSC strategies, influenced by applied cultural studies, can work with an agentic imperative to effect development and mutual understanding in a defined geographical area, where multiple stakeholder agendas, cultural backgrounds, and ontologies are to be negotiated. Full article