Search Results (1,800)

Recreation, aesthetic appreciation, identity, and spiritual values are among the cultural ecosystem services (CES) produced by long-distance historic and pilgrimage trails. However, it is still difficult to convert these experiential benefits into quantifiable economic flows. This study collected 560 valid responses from an in-field survey conducted along the Via degli Dei (Bologna–Florence). Robust visitor clusters were created using Gower dissimilarities, Partitioning Around Medoids (PAM), silhouette diagnostics, and Factor Analysis for Mixed Data (FAMD). Each cluster was then profiled according to seasonal patterns, information channels, individual-level, per-category expenditures (accommodation, food, transport, services, and equipment), as well as motivations. Four segments are identified—Student Campers (low-budget, peak-summer), Working-Age Male B&B Hikers (short stays, B&B), Young Women on Mixed Lodging (mixed accommodation), and Midlife Comfort-Seekers (higher spend, shoulder-season)—underpinning our spending, seasonality, and managerial implications. Student Campers had the lowest absolute expenditures, while Midlife Comfort-Seekers had the highest (median lodging €180; food €175). The study offers practical levers for route governance (targeted communications, low-impact lodging strategies, shoulder-season promotion) to improve local value capture while reducing environmental pressure by connecting typologies to monetary CES flows. The findings provide a reproducible model for implementing recreational CES on historical-cultural tours. Full article

In the context of museums’ transformation into active social agents, the Entre Luces (Between Lights) project, developed at the Pablo Gargallo Museum in Zaragoza, serves as a compelling example of accessibility understood as a shared cultural responsibility. Implemented within a listed heritage building, where structural modifications were not possible, the project deliberately shifted the focus from architectural accessibility to communicative, cognitive, and sensory dimensions, placing the quality of the cultural experience at the centre. The study employed a qualitative case study design based on document analysis, participant observation, and semi-structured interviews with museum staff, educators, and members of disability organisations. Through a participatory and iterative co-design process, curators, educators, vocational students, and disability organisations collaborated to develop inclusive solutions. People with disabilities were not regarded as passive users but as co-authors of the process: they contributed to the creation of tactile replicas, audio descriptions, sign language resources, braille, pictograms, and motion-activated audio systems. The project generated three main outcomes. It expanded cultural participation among people with diverse disabilities, enriched the sensory and emotional experience of all visitors, and initiated an institutional transformation that reshaped staff training, interpretive approaches, and the museum’s mission towards inclusivity. Entre Luces demonstrates that even small and medium-sized museums can overcome heritage constraints and promote cultural equity and social innovation through inclusive and sensory-based approaches. Full article

Tourism is a fast-growing sector that generates a significant greenhouse gas (GHG) footprint, yet subnational data needed to measure the sector remain scarce. Quantifying tourism-related emissions is essential for effective climate policy and alignment with international targets. This study contributes to quantifying tourism sector GHG emissions using the 2023 Korean National Travel Survey data and a spend-based environmentally extended input–output (EEIO) model. Expenditure data were mapped onto the 33-sector multiregional EEIO framework, estimating a total of 2623 tCO_2eq emissions by region, expenditure type, and industry sector in 2023, where about 73% of the total was attributed to tourism-related sectors with the sample data, 24,282. The results illustrate how tourism emissions are shaped especially by transportation systems and regional context. Provinces that surround metropolitan cities in the mainland, for example, Gyeonggi and Gangwon Provinces near Seoul and Incheon, and Gyeongnam Province neighboring Busan and Ulsan, record higher emissions due to large travel volumes from these metropolitan cities and energy-intensive transportation services. Jeju Island stands out as an outlier, with disproportionately high emissions relative to its size, driven by reliance on aviation, which significantly raises its per-visitor footprint. Sectoral analysis identified transportation services, agriculture, electricity, and gas as key sectors. By providing detailed provincial-level data, this study offers a first empirical foundation to corporate Category 6 of Scope 3 reporting and supports central and local governments in designing region-specific climate strategies associated with tourism-related sectors. Full article

Background/Objectives: Unpaid medical expenses incurred by foreign nationals represent a growing concern for healthcare systems amid increasing international mobility. Japan, which lacks mandatory public insurance coverage for non-resident visitors, faces particular vulnerability in terms of uncompensated hospital care. This study aims to identify factors contributing to unpaid medical charges among uninsured, non-resident foreign patients hospitalized at a tertiary care facility in Tokyo. Methods: This retrospective observational analysis was conducted using medical and administrative data from patients admitted between January 2023 and February 2025. Patients who received elective medical tourism care were excluded. Data on demographics, length of hospital stay, care intensity, payment status, and third-party financial assistance were analyzed. Logistic regression models were applied to assess predictors of nonpayment. Results: Among 153 eligible cases, 9 patients (5.9%) had outstanding hospital bills upon discharge. Compared with those with completed payments, the unpaid group experienced longer admissions, more intensive care utilization, and higher total charges. Notably, the absence of third-party financial support (primarily travel insurance) was significantly associated with unpaid charges. Multivariate analysis identified this factor as the main independent predictor (adjusted odds ratio [OR]: 0.12; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.02–0.915; p = 0.040). Total amount of billing was also statistically significant (adjusted odds ratio [OR]: 1.01; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.00–1.01; p = 0.039). Conclusions: These findings highlight the importance of private insurance in mitigating financial risk in hospitals. Implementing policy measures to promote or require insurance enrollment, along with streamlined reimbursement systems, may contribute to sustainable care delivery for international patients. Full article

Augmented reality (AR) offers a novel way to enrich museum visits by deepening engagement and enhancing learning. This study presents the development of a mobile application for the Abylkhan Kasteyev State Museum of Arts (Almaty, Kazakhstan), designed to recognize and visualize exhibits through AR. Using computer vision and machine learning, the application identifies artifacts via a smartphone camera and overlays interactive 3D models in an augmented environment. The system architecture integrates Flutter plugins for AR rendering, YOLOv8 for exhibit recognition, and a cloud database for dynamic content updates. This combination enables an immersive educational experience, allowing visitors to interact with digital reconstructions and multimedia resources linked to the exhibits. Pilot testing in the museum demonstrated recognition accuracy above 97% and received positive feedback on usability and engagement. These results highlight the potential of AR-based mobile applications to increase accessibility to cultural heritage and enhance visitor interaction. Future work will focus on enlarging the exhibit database, refining performance, and incorporating additional interactive features such as multi-user collaboration, remote access, and gamified experiences. Full article

In the context of urban cultural heritage tourism, this study examines how visitors’ expectations and perceptions contribute to satisfaction and loyalty. We develop and validate an integrative model using structural equation modeling (SEM) on data collected from a large-scale visitor survey of Lingnan classical gardens in China, supplemented by quantitative simulation analysis. The results reveal that Cultural Expectation (CE) and Spatial Expectation (SE) serve as key antecedents to Perceived Cultural Immersion (PCI) and Perceived Spatial Aesthetics (PSA), respectively. PCI and PSA both positively influence visitors’ Perceived Value (PV), which in turn drives overall Satisfaction (SAT) and ultimately enhances Loyalty (LOY). Notably, PCI and PSA act as mediators in the model, channeling the influence of initial expectations into value perception and satisfaction. By highlighting the roles of cultural immersion and spatial aesthetics, this research extends the perceived value–satisfaction–loyalty paradigm in cultural heritage tourism. Theoretically, it bridges urban cultural heritage and environmental psychology with place-attachment theories. Practically, the findings offer guidance for cultural landscape management and visitor experience enhancement, suggesting that narrative storytelling, interactive cultural engagement, and authentic spatial design can elevate perceived value, satisfaction, and loyalty. This article will provide valuable reference material for urban planners. Full article

This paper studies the connection between the 4As factors and tourist satisfaction and evaluates the impact of digital interaction that can either strengthen or weaken the effect of these factors. The study has been conducted in five major tourist destinations in Serbia with 577 tourists as the sample, who used high category hotels. Bayesian statistics allowed a specific evaluation of the effects of predictors and the effects of moderation. The findings reveal that all the 4As determinants are important predictors of tourist satisfaction with attractions and amenities playing the strongest roles. Digital interaction: Digital interactions will become a major mediator of its presence, with an amplification of the effect of ancillary services and accessibility in the case of attractions and amenities, and a dependent effect on the perceptions of authenticity and technological literacy by the tourists. The research is relevant to the theoretical discussion on the impact of digitalization in tourism because it extends the concept of the 4As framework by providing it with a digital aspect. Practical implications show that there is a necessity to introduce a balance between digital and physical aspects of the tourist experience to maximize visitor satisfaction. Full article

Countries encounter significant challenges in the context of the climate crisis, prompting the implementation of environmentally sustainable measures in vulnerable sectors such as tourism. Nevertheless, inadequate levels of public awareness often delay or—in certain cases—hinder the adoption of such measures. This study focuses on the tourism sector in Greece, which is particularly resource-intensive in terms of energy and water consumption, especially in regions frequently affected by extreme weather events. The study’s objective is to evaluate the level of environmental awareness and behavioral profiles of tourists. Firstly, our study provides a literature review addressing the tourism vulnerabilities related to climate change, the nexus between tourism and environmental pressures, the role of public awareness in shaping policy obstacles, and finally issues related to environmental social and individual responsibility and attitudes. Subsequently, a relevant survey was conducted using a structured questionnaire to outline the profile and preferences of home domestic tourists in Greece. Our results indicate a generally moderate to low level of awareness: approximately 80% of respondents believe tourism has minimal or no impact on climate change, while only about 15% endorsed the need for stricter regulatory measures. Moreover, our findings underscore a significant knowledge gap regarding ongoing challenges related to water resource management. Notably, respondents with higher levels of awareness exhibited more positive attitudes towards sustainability-oriented measures. Overall, our study indicates that enhancing environmental awareness through targeted campaigns and effective communication strategies is crucial. In this respect, cultivating the notion of the “responsible tourist” emerges as a key prerequisite for ensuring the long-term sustainability of the tourism sector in Greece, as a responsible tourist contributes to the long-term sustainability and the tourist profile of a destination for both visitors and residents. Full article

This study investigates the potential of creative tourism in Thailand’s national parks and the role of social media in promoting creative tourism experiences. The objectives were to examine creative tourism activities, identify visitor segments based on activity preferences and media use, and propose targeted communication strategies to enhance engagement and support sustainable tourism. A mixed-methods design combined document reviews of 133 national parks, field surveys in 10 parks, and a structured visitor survey with 1133 respondents across terrestrial and marine parks. The study identified 25 tourism activities, of which 20 were classified as creative tourism. Exploratory Factor Analysis revealed four key dimensions: nature-based learning, scenic immersion, community participation, and culinary experiences. Cluster analysis segmented visitors into five groups: Local Advocates, Nature Explorers, Food Enthusiasts, Nature Learners, and Diverse Enthusiasts. Media preferences varied across groups. Nature Explorers and Food Enthusiasts engaged strongly with short-form videos and scenic visuals, while Local Advocates and Nature Learners preferred educational and text-based formats. Diverse Enthusiasts, the largest segment, interacted with multiple content types. Scenic imagery emerged as the most influential theme overall. These results provide practical implications for designing creative tourism strategies and creating social media campaigns to diverse groups of tourists in Thailand’s national parks. Full article

Destinations such as Bali face intensifying overtourism, which undermines ecological integrity, cultural authenticity, and local livelihoods. Traditional sustainable tourism approaches have proven insufficient, leading to calls for regenerative tourism that restores ecosystems and strengthens communities. This study examines how Penta-Helix collaboration can drive regenerative tourism, mitigate overtourism, and deliver sustainability outcomes. A mixed-methods design was employed. Survey data from 220 domestic and international visitors were analyzed using structural equation modeling (SEM–PLS) to test relationships among Penta-Helix collaboration, regenerative tourism, overtourism mitigation, and sustainability outcomes. To complement these findings, an analytic hierarchy process (AHP) was conducted with 30–40 key stakeholders drawn from 100 informants (government, businesses, communities, academia, and media) to prioritize mitigation strategies. SEM–PLS results indicate that Penta-Helix collaboration significantly enhances regenerative tourism practices (β = 0.62), which strongly reduce overtourism impacts (β = 0.58). Mediation tests reveal that overtourism mitigation is a key mechanism linking regenerative tourism to triple bottom line outcomes (economic, socio-cultural, environmental). AHP results show that carrying capacity enforcement and participatory governance emerge as the top-priority strategies, underscoring the dual importance of institutional policy and community empowerment. The findings advance theoretical debates by positioning regenerative tourism as a systemic innovation enabled by networked governance and operationalized through overtourism mitigation strategies. Practically, the study highlights the need for policy enforcement, participatory governance, and adaptive destination management to embed regenerative principles in overtourism hotspots. Full article

The study investigates how agriculture can serve as a driver of sustainable tourism and local development within the Vesuvius National Park under the European Charter for Sustainable Tourism (ECST) framework. Based on 14 semi-structured interviews with farmers, tourism operators, cultural institutions, and producer consortia, the findings reveal that agriculture plays a central role not only as a productive sector but also as a custodian of biodiversity, identity, and territorial resilience. Stakeholders emphasised the economic and symbolic value of traditional crops, highlighting how farm-based experiences, product certifications, and civil-society networks strengthen community cohesion and diversify visitor flows. Nevertheless, tourism remains predominantly concentrated in the vicinity of the volcano’s crater, thereby excluding the park’s other trails, limiting the positive impacts on rural and peripheral areas. Practical implications point to the need for improved mobility infrastructure, cross-sector coordination, and targeted incentives to link agrotourism circuits with regional branding and EU sustainability policies. Overall, the study shows that integrating agriculture into tourism governance can foster more inclusive, resilient, and territorially embedded forms of rural development in protected areas. Full article

Cat cafés are gaining popularity worldwide, yet little is known about their impact on feline welfare. This study examined a Swedish cat café from an animal perspective by assessing space use, cat–cat interactions, and cat–human interactions. A total of 27 neutered domestic cats (12 males, 15 females), with a median stay of 8 weeks, were directly observed in groups of 8–9 individuals for a total of 227 h over 70 days. Scan sampling and focal observations were conducted without prior knowledge of cat background to minimize bias. Results showed that elevated structures (χ²-goodness-of-fit test, χ² (2) = 1234.2, p < 0.001, post hoc Bonferroni correction p_adj = 0.013) were important, particularly during periods of high customer occupancy, when cats preferred vertical levels or cat-only rooms. Cat–cat interactions were infrequent (0.58 interactions/cat/h) and mostly affiliative (51.9%), consistent with avoidance as a conflict-reduction strategy. Cat–human interactions were absent in 44.4% of the observation time. Cats varied in their responses to human presence, from engaging to avoiding. Findings suggest that cat cafés should provide complex vertical environments, hiding places, and private areas to support natural behaviors, reduce stress, and promote group stability. As cats come into contact with large numbers of visitors prior to adoption, further research should assess its long-term effects on cat–human relationships and optimize café design to balance cat welfare and visitor experience. Full article

Pollinators are essential for the productivity of many fruit crops, yet their diversity and abundance can be strongly influenced by local management practices. This study investigates the impact of weed management on the abundance and diversity of wild bee communities in Moroccan cherry orchards (Ain Leuh, Middle Atlas). Using a sampling strategy combining pan traps in the orchard and netting on the cherry flowers and the weeds during the cherry bloom season, we found that weeded orchards had significantly higher bee abundance (i.e., number of specimens), while unweeded orchards supported greater species richness (i.e., number of species). Vegetation structure significantly influences bee activity and the performance of sampling techniques. Yellow pan traps contributed to collecting more individuals in weeded orchards, likely due to enhanced visual contrast in the absence of floral cues. Across all sites, the most observed flower visitors included species from the genera Andrena and Lasioglossum, known as important cherry pollinators. These findings highlight the ecological value of maintaining wildflower resources through reduced weed management intensity and suggest that enhancing floral complexity in orchards can support more diverse and abundant pollinator communities, with potential benefits for crop pollination services. Full article

Tourism is a rapidly growing sector in Kazakhstan, yet Almaty city and its surrounding region have experienced stagnant growth despite rich natural and cultural assets. This study identifies governance-related barriers that impede sustainable tourism development and effective stakeholder participation. Using a mixed-methods design centered on semi-structured interviews with stakeholders from government, business, NGOs (Non-Governmental Organization), and community organizations conducted in 2018 and 2024, and supplemented by PEST (Political, Economic, Sociocultural, and Technological factors) analysis and stakeholder mapping, we distill recurring constraints and opportunities. The findings show that, while digitalization, through digital platforms, improved some administrative processes by 2024, the fundamental obstacles identified in 2018 remained largely unchanged. Three core constraints persisted across both periods: fragmented institutional governance, prolonged and opaque permitting procedures that deter investment, and a deep-seated lack of trust between the private sector and public authorities. These systemic failures continue to limit the sector’s potential, especially amid rapid post-pandemic visitor growth. This paper proposes actionable measures to address these challenges: establishing a unified regional tourism coordination authority, streamlining and standardizing regulations and approval processes, and offering targeted capacity building for SMEs (Small and Medium-sized Enterprises) and local administrations. Implemented together, these reforms can align Almaty’s tourism governance with international good practices and foster more inclusive, resilient, and sustainable tourism growth. Full article

Understanding the reproductive biology of orchids is essential for evaluating population viability and guiding conservation strategies, as their persistence often depends on complex interactions between ecological, physiological, and environmental factors. Govenia capitata, a threatened orchid endemic to the montane forests of central Mexico, had not previously been studied in this regard. We examined flowering phenology, floral longevity, stigmatic receptivity, natural and experimental pollination success, seed viability, and asymbiotic germination in two wild populations. Flowering was synchronous, with inflorescences lasting up to 57 days and individual flowers persisting for an average of 20 days. Stigmatic receptivity was detectable from the first day of anthesis and remained evident for at least eight days. Natural fruit set was very low (16.6%), while assisted self- and cross-pollination reached 100% success, demonstrating self-compatibility despite the inability for autonomous selfing due to floral structure. Seed viability differed significantly among treatments, being lowest in selfed capsules (11%) and highest in cross-pollinated ones (32%), representing a 65% reduction and reflecting severe inbreeding depression that extended to germination performance. In vitro germination success also varied, with the L-arginine medium yielding the highest values (46% for cross-pollinated seeds and 44% for naturally pollinated seeds), though post-germination survival requires optimization for conservation applications. Despite the conspicuous floral display, floral visitation was extremely rare and the pollinator identity remains unknown, with only one potentially effective visitor observed during 144 h of monitoring, and most floral visitors were non-pollinating arthropods such as crab spiders, weevils, hymenopterans, and thrips. Population density varied dramatically (26-fold) between sites separated by less than 1 km, indicating pronounced sensitivity to local environmental conditions. These findings reveal that reproduction in G. capitata is constrained by both extrinsic (pollinator limitation) and intrinsic factors (reduced seed viability), which collectively jeopardize long-term population persistence. From a conservation perspective, protecting montane forest remnants and pollinator communities is essential, while the demonstrated potential of asymbiotic germination provides a complementary tool for ex situ propagation and management of this endemic orchid. Full article