Search Results (1,581)

This study examines how digital nomads act as unintentional brand ambassadors shaping destination image via lifestyle content. Although nomads influence place perceptions through blogs, vlogs, and social media, tourism institutions rarely acknowledge their role. We theorize this diffuse effect as ambient influence—the cumulative, non-promotional impact of lifestyle posts—and test whether nomads operate as unintentional brand intermediaries affecting destination image and travel intention. A multi-method design includes a survey of 487 international travelers modeling links among exposure, perceived authenticity, destination image, and travel intention; an experiment with 210 participants comparing nomad versus influencer videos; and interviews with 14 DMO professionals examining institutional responses. Results indicate that nomad content improves destination image and travel intention via perceived authenticity and relational trust. Relative to influencers, nomads are viewed as more credible and less commercially motivated. However, qualitative evidence shows that DMOs often overlook this influence due to ambiguity, control-oriented branding, and reliance on performance metrics ill-suited to informal media. The study formalizes ambient influence to capture the cumulative, non-promotional impact of nomad content and identifies a strategic blind spot in institutional engagement. It contributes by reconceptualizing influence beyond formal marketing and offers guidance for tourism management, including broader recognition frameworks and updated evaluation of user-generated content. Full article

As global environmental concerns escalate, tourism is increasingly viewed not only as a leisure activity but also as a strategic platform for advancing environmental sustainability, particularly through nature-based travel. This study investigates how different types of travel motivations—specifically Push and Pull factors—influence environmental attitudes and eco-friendly behaviors, aiming to unpack the psychological mechanisms driving sustainable tourism engagement. Push factors, such as relaxation, nature appreciation, and escape from routine, represent intrinsic motivations, while Pull factors, including key natural and cultural resources, serve as external attractions influencing destination choices. The research examines how these motivational forces contribute to the development of environmental attitudes and, in turn, encourage pro-environmental behaviors among tourists. Data were collected from a structured survey targeting travelers who engaged in nature-based tourism experiences, and the analysis was conducted using structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) to assess the hypothesized relationships. The findings reveal that Push factors such as family togetherness and appreciation of nature significantly enhance environmental attitudes, whereas adventure-seeking does not yield the same effect. Among Pull factors, key tourism resources positively influence environmental attitudes, while accessibility and convenience-related attributes show no significant impact. Moreover, environmental attitudes strongly predict eco-friendly behaviors, reinforcing the importance of sustainability consciousness in tourism. Despite these insights, challenges remain in translating environmental awareness into consistent, sustainable actions, particularly due to external constraints such as infrastructure limitations and economic considerations. This study contributes to the sustainable tourism literature by differentiating effective and ineffective motivational drivers and by providing actionable insights for destination managers and policymakers to foster deeper environmental engagement among travelers. Full article

The present paper deals with community participation in destination planning, using the small town of Koroni in Greece and the associated Maniatakeion Foundation as a case study. Benefiting from the author’s consulting experience and based on interviews with the foundation’s owner and the local community, on local press articles and a business plan on the development of Koroni, the paper aims at exploring the following: (A) how the participation of the local community in destination planning can lead to concrete plans and actions towards achieving sustainable development; and (B) the role of civil society organisations to this end. At first, the existing development model of Koroni is outlined. Then, the new development model of Koroni, based on the Mediterranean Diet, is analysed: how it was crafted; how it was implemented; what the role of the Maniatakeion Foundation was; and whether it was embraced by the local community groups. It is shown that (A) Koroni managed to shift from a mass tourism development model towards an alternate model that is rooted in sustainable development. Also, the fact that Koroni, which had no brand name (even on a local level), succeeded in acquiring an international brand name through the inscription of the Mediterranean Diet on the UNESCO Intangible Heritage List; (B) the destination planning process was initiated, coordinated, and operated by the local civil organisation Maniatakeion Foundation. The key lesson of broader application to be taken is that civil society organisations can build integrity and capacity and play a leading (and not only a supportive-supplementary) role in destination planning. Full article

Culinary culture shock (CCS)—the discomfort and ambivalence travelers feel when encountering unfamiliar foods—remains underexplored from a short-horizon, trip-bounded perspective. While prior work notes both attractions and impediments of food in tourism, a process-oriented account of how ordinary travelers experience and navigate CCS during brief trips is still limited. This study examines CCS in Guangzhou, China and delineates how it shapes travelers’ evaluations of place. We adopt a qualitative design, combining 30 semi-structured interviews with in situ ethnographic observations across markets, street-food settings, restaurants, and guided food tours, supplemented by document analysis (e.g., visitor materials and menus). Using reflexive thematic analysis, we identify three recurrent coping trajectories—avoidance, gradual adaptation, and immersion—that unfold nonlinearly as travelers recalibrate expectations, manage sensory dissonance, and renegotiate comfort boundaries. We integrate expectancy–disconfirmation theory (EDT) with an embodied view of tasting to develop the Palate Adaptation Spiral Model (PASM), which explains CCS as recursive cycles of appraisal, strategy enactment, and re-appraisal within the span of a trip. Social influence (peers, guides, and service staff) operates as a cross-cutting mechanism that can accelerate adaptation or entrench avoidance depending on cue valence and credibility. The study clarifies the scope of CCS as general travel encounters (not restricted to culinary-motivated tourists) and specifies contextual conditions under which negative reactions are reversible. Theoretically, we connect EDT to short-term culinary adaptation through PASM; practically, we outline design levers—pre-trip expectation management, pictorial/transparent menus, and guide-mediated tasting sequences—to reduce anxiety and support constructive exploration. Full article

The contemporary landscape is characterised by overlapping values and pressures, where ecosystem services and cultural spaces are used by diverse categories of users. In fragile contexts such as the Phlegraean Fields in Italy, the exponential growth of mass tourism has intensified the anthropogenic impacts, exacerbated by limited landscape awareness among local communities. Thus, walkability fosters direct exploration, while experiential transects provide a lens to read ecological, cultural, and perceptual layers of places. Together with digital storytelling, these approaches converge in a phygital approach that enriches physical experience without supplanting it. The study covered approximately 115 km of routes across five municipalities, combining road audits, an 11-item survey, participatory mapping, and ArcGIS StoryMaps. Results showed a structurally complex and functionally fragile mobility system: sidewalks are discontinuous, lighting insufficient, less than one quarter of the network is fully pedestrian, and cycling facilities are almost absent. At the same time, digital layers diversified routes and supported situated learning. By integrating geo-spatial analysis and phygital tools, the research demonstrates a replicable strategy to enhance the awareness and sustainable enjoyment of complex landscapes. The present research is part of the PNRR project Changes ‘PE5Changes_Spoke1-WP4-Historical Landscapes Traditions and Cultural Identities’. Full article

Industrial tourism has become an increasingly important means of promoting corporate identity and fostering public engagement, yet many factory tours suffer from fragmented layouts, congestion, and low visitor engagement. This study addresses these challenges by developing a hybrid framework that integrates expert-driven spatial zoning with bottom-up visitor analytics. Using an optical lens manufacturer in Taiwan as a case study, we applied a three-step process: (1) Delphi-based zoning of key subareas into functional zones, (2) empirical analysis of visitor movement, feedback, and shadowing data, and (3) computational spatial evaluation through Visibility Graph Analysis (VGA). The findings revealed thematic inconsistencies, overlooked exhibits, and bottlenecks that disrupted narrative flow and reduced engagement. Spatial reorganization—such as relocating interactive subareas to visually integrated zones—enhanced circulation, storytelling alignment, and experiential coherence. A complementary service blueprint linked spatial redesign to operational delivery, ensuring consistency between frontstage activities and backstage support. The data-driven spatial analytics validated the effectiveness of this study’s hybrid approach—combining expert-driven insights with grounded visitor behavior data—to optimize factory tours. Spatial efficiency contributes to reduced energy use and congestion, participatory experiences enhance education and inclusivity, and improved visitor satisfaction strengthens brand resilience and economic viability. The framework thus provides a replicable and sustainable model for industrial tourism development across diverse manufacturing sectors. Full article

The global population is rapidly aging, positioning seniors as one of the most influential consumer segments in the contemporary tourism market. As culinary tourism increasingly represents a value-laden and culturally embedded form of experience, understanding how senior tourists perceive and react to such experiences has become essential. This study investigates the structural relationships among seniors’ culinary tourism experiences, perceived value, positive emotions, and behavioral intentions, while also examining the moderating effect of gender. A structural equation modeling (SEM) analysis based on survey data from senior tourists revealed that the proposed model exhibited a satisfactory fit, with most hypothesized relationships supported. Seniors’ culinary experiences significantly enhanced perceived value, which in turn positively influenced both positive emotions and behavioral intentions. Positive emotions also had a significant effect on behavioral intentions. However, the moderating role of gender was not statistically significant, suggesting minimal gender-based differences in seniors’ cognitive and affective evaluations. Full article

Historic and cultural districts serve as important carriers of urban heritage, but increasing tourist flows have placed growing demands on the capacity of their tourism infrastructure. This study constructs a node-based evaluation framework to assess tourism infrastructure within such districts and applies it to three transport nodes in the Ciqikou Historic and Cultural District of Chongqing. Drawing on Lynch’s theory of spatial nodes and an analytic hierarchy process, the framework integrates field-based infrastructure observations with tourist perception data to generate objective node-level evaluations and to validate their consistency with visitor experience. The results reveal substantial differences in infrastructure performance across nodes, with transport accessibility, information services, and environmental hygiene emerging as key factors shaping satisfaction. The comparison of objective scores and tourist perceptions also highlights mismatches at specific nodes, underscoring the need to align facility provision with actual visitor experience. Based on these findings, the study proposes targeted improvement measures addressing transport connectivity, signage systems, basic service facilities, and public safety. The node-based approach offers a practical tool for diagnosing infrastructure gaps in historic cultural districts and provides empirical guidance for refined management and sustainable tourism development. Full article

Against the backdrop of globalization, environmental pressures, and rapid tourism development, digital technologies are emerging as vital supplementary tools for cultural heritage preservation. This study investigates the impact of augmented reality (AR)-enhanced cultural heritage landscapes on rural tourists’ perceptions, validating their effects through two physiological dimensions: visual attention and autonomic nervous system regulation. Employing a mixed experimental design (n = 81), the research integrates heart rate variability, eye tracking, and subjective questionnaires, with the Aoluguya Village in Inner Mongolia serving as the testing site. Participants viewed videos and images of real and AR environments in an isolated space. Data were analyzed using repeated measures ANOVA and paired t-tests. The results revealed that AR significantly increased RMSSD in the native rural environment (t(89) = −3.606, p = 0.001, d = 0.38), indicating heightened parasympathetic activity, while no significant effect was observed in the artificially recreated environment (t(89) = −2.020, p = 0.407), demonstrating that physiological benefits depend on the setting. Eye tracking data revealed that both AR environments increased total gaze duration and gaze frequency (average increase of 1.5–2.0 gazes), enhancing visual attention. The questionnaire results (n = 26) supported this finding on attention focus, novelty, and esthetic dimensions, though improvements in authenticity and overall satisfaction were limited. This study demonstrates that AR environments significantly capture visitor attention, particularly when integrated with authentic local spaces to enhance visitor experiences. The findings provide practical insights for revitalizing traditional village cultural heritage and optimizing rural tourism. Full article

The issue of tourism in protected natural areas is becoming central to defining new patterns of use, so managers, policy makers, and local businesses have an interest in improving visitor experiences and the promotion of sustainable tourism. This study analysed the factors influencing tourists’ choices regarding the role of ecosystem services provided by protected natural areas by studying the behaviour of 400 visitors to the Gran Paradiso National Park (Italy). The results identified the key motivations driving tourists’ choices and behaviour, categorising them into distinct visit patterns in relation to the role air quality, consumption of local products, and biodiversity. Furthermore, certification systems were found to be central in defining the level of appreciation of local products among visitors. These results can provide valuable insights into improving visitor experiences and promoting sustainable tourism and highlights the potential of ecosystem services as a key driver for conservation-oriented tourism strategies. Full article

This study explores how sustainable culinary tourism fosters rural diversification and resilience in the Baltic Sea Region (BSR). Despite increasing recognition of gastronomy as a driver of sustainable tourism, comparative analyses across macro-regional contexts remain limited. The paper addresses this gap through a qualitative comparative analysis of twelve thematic culinary trails involving seventy-three small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) developed under the INTERREG Baltic Sea Region Programme’s BASCIL project. Drawing on documentary analysis, stakeholder consultations, and thematic coding, the research identifies six interconnected pathways: agritourism and farm-based experiences, rural gastronomic branding, culinary festivals, digitalization, sustainability and circular economy practices, and European Union (EU) policy support. Results reveal that culinary tourism strengthens local economies, reinforces cultural identity, and promotes transnational cooperation, while challenges persist in professionalization, digital adoption, and infrastructure. The study underscores the enabling role of EU frameworks in scaling innovation and embedding gastronomy within rural development strategies. It concludes that culinary tourism operates as a strategic lever for sustainable rural transformation, integrating economic, social, and environmental dimensions, and calls for further longitudinal research on its long-term socio-economic and policy impacts in the BSR and beyond. Full article

Wine tourism has become a key element for the economic and cultural development of Spanish rural areas, traditionally excluded from major tourist flows. This study analyzes the motivations of wine tourists in Spain and their influence on perceived value while also considering the moderating role of perceptions generated during the visit. A total of 357 valid questionnaires were collected between October and December 2022 and analyzed using structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM). Of the two hypotheses proposed, the positive influence of motivations on perceived value was confirmed, while the expected influence of perceptions on perceived value was not supported. The results highlight the importance of motivations as a determining factor for enhancing tourists’ perceived value and, therefore, their satisfaction and loyalty. These findings can be of great help to cooperatives and small wineries when designing wine tourism strategies and wine festivals that enrich the tourist experience and strengthen the positioning of destinations in the Spanish wine sector. Full article

Fun plays a pivotal role in unlocking positive outcomes. Tourists can fall head over heels for a destination or lose interest as they immerse themselves in their journey. This study examined the mediating role of fun in the relationship between service excellence and place love and further investigated how expectation congruence moderates this effect. Our findings reveal that service excellence exerts significant influences on all dimensions of fun. Moreover, the four dimensions of fun—social vigor, emotional spark, psychological zest, and flow–significantly affect place love. Additionally, expectation congruence significantly moderates the effect of service excellence on flow and emotional spark. Full article

Historic cities facing overtourism require evidence-based visitor dispersal to balance tourism growth with sustainable destination development. Focusing on Kyoto City, Japan, this study proposes an integrated analytical framework that combines objective tourism supply (POIs) and tourism demand (GPS trajectories) with visitor subjective perceptions from online tourist reviews to identify Alternative Attractions for Visitor Dispersal and evaluate their Composite Attractiveness. We (i) map supply–demand patterns to distinguish Hotspot Attractions versus Alternative Attractions (high-supply/low-demand); (ii) quantify Subjective Perceptions via an Aspect-Based Sentiment Analysis pipeline (ABSA) across landscape, experience, service, and transportation; and (iii) embed these sentiments into an improved Two-Step Floating Catchment Area (2SFCA) method that reframes accessibility from “reaching places” to “attaining high-quality experiences.” Kyoto exhibits a marked supply–demand mismatch, with Alternative Attractions concentrated around Fushimi, Sakyo (Nanzen-ji area), and outer Arashiyama. Negative perceptions (e.g., crowding) diminish the attractiveness of central Hotspot Attractions, whereas positive perceptions (e.g., pleasant atmosphere) enhance the attractiveness of peripheral Alternative Attractions, offsetting locational disadvantages. This framework offers not only data-driven support for Kyoto but also a replicable, experience-oriented model for sustainable tourism spatial management in other similarly challenged destinations. Full article

The article discusses the use of virtual reality (VR) as a tool for responsible tourism. Practical research was conducted in a group of 215 participants using VR headsets (Meta Quest Pro and HTC VIVE). Volunteers participated in a VR session using the Google Earth VR application. They visited two locations of their choice. The first was a place they had previously visited in real life, while the other was a location they had not visited but would like to. Participants completed a survey before and after the VR experience. In the survey, participants rated, among others, their level of satisfaction, willingness to visit given locations, and emotions accompanying the experience. The authors conducted a statistical analysis of the survey results. The scientific goal of the article was primarily to present a proposal for the use of virtual reality as an innovative tool supporting responsible tourism. The results confirmed a positive reception of VR experiences: average satisfaction ratings exceeded 4.0 on a 5-point scale, and positive emotions (most often +1 and +2 on a scale from −2 to +2) dominated among participants. Higher emotional valence was significantly correlated with satisfaction (ρ ≈ 0.434, p < 0.001) and with increased willingness to visit destinations (ρ ≈ 0.306, p < 0.001). Statistically significant differences were noticed in satisfaction level with visiting new places among groups of respondents with different tourism type preferences (people who prefer cultural or health tourism reported noticeably higher satisfaction with the VR experience than other respondents). The authors also conducted a discussion on how VR technology can be a tool supporting responsible tourism. Full article