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Over the past 50 years dark tourism has also seen exponential growth in terms of both physical and digital contexts. Dark tourism is primarily a concentration around documented accounts of physical violence, and theorisations centred on dark tourism studies have generally fallen within either behavioural or interpretivist perspectives. Such perspectives are indicative of the continually evolving nature of dark tourism and its receptiveness to new definitions, conceptual frameworks, and theorisations. Taking this into consideration, this concept paper seeks to develop and broaden the notion of "dark tourism" within the era of late capitalism by presenting a content analysis of Amazon's virtual warehouse tour. In drawing upon critical notions of violence and the emerging deviant leisure framework, this paper will aim to instigate fresh academic enquiry into the nature of dark tourism, expand its theoretical underpinnings, and subsequently provide a means in which to examine how banal forms of tourism play an integral part in the proliferation of some of the most serious harms that populate the contemporary neoliberal landscape. Within this fresh interpretation of dark tourism, this paper also examines the relationship between the Internet, technology and late-stage capitalism, and the implications that this has in studying how corporations use such forms of media in tourism production in order to downplay and obfuscate the realities behind their activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the twenty-first century, with the development of urbanization, large-scale mine wastelands in peri-urban areas have become increasingly closely related to the daily lives of urban and rural residents. Adopting a reuse method that meets the health needs of these residents, restoration, construction of mine wastelands in the suburbs of cities, and the formation of high-quality healthy environments and service supply are in line with the demands of healthy city construction and sustainable development. In addition, they have received increasing attention from all sectors of society. Based on the main criteria for constructing a healthy urban environment, this paper takes the comprehensive remediation and construction project of mine wastelands in the Taiyuan Xishan Ecological and Cultural Tourism Demonstration Area as a case study. It uses on-site surveys and an open-ended web-based questionnaire. It focuses on researching the perceived health needs of urban and rural residents in Taiyuan City, Shanxi Province, China concerning the main elements that determine health, such as the natural ecological environment, the construction of facilities and activities, and the local economic and industrial development. The results of 748 questionnaires that were completed by participants who effectively participated in the survey show that most participants preferred a comprehensive development model (86.6%) to reuse these areas. In addition, the specific needs of urban and rural residents for health safety, equity and quality, and healthy low-carbon industries should be considered. The differences in demand among groups of citizens due to different ages, living distances, levels of education, and occupations should be comprehensively considered. This paper demonstrates that a full understanding of the health needs of residents has great practical significance when improving the healthy environment and service supply level in mine wasteland restoration and construction and promoting the development of regional healthy city construction. Recently, the healthy environment and sustainable development of areas that host large-scale mine wastelands on the outskirts of cities have received increasing attention from all sectors of society. This paper suggests that during the reuse and construction of these areas, government management, development, and construction companies, planning and design organizations, and other departments that are involved in policy formulation and construction implementation should give full consideration to the perceived health needs of urban and rural residents in the host city, and to groups of residents of different ages, living distances, occupations, and educational levels, to form a high-quality and equitable health environment and services in the area. In addition, active public participation, on-site research, and interviews are essential for relevant departments to improve their understanding of resident health needs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study is to examine the evolution of Ecotourism on Geoheritage through bibliometric analysis. Total of 53 papers pertaining exclusively to the domain of Ecotourism on Geoheritage, spanning from 2008 to 2022, were gathered from the Scopus database. This study examines the core aspects and features of Ecotourism on Geoheritage in academic research. It employs topic analysis, concurrence analysis, and timeline analysis of author keywords to investigate factors such as annual publication contribution, popularity, and focus. Furthermore, the analysis incorporates many productive entities, including journals, authors, institutions, countries, regions, and the mapping of significant collaboration links. These elements are utilized to determine the level of attention received by different entities in the field of Ecotourism on Geoheritage research. Furthermore, this study examines the citation structure of authors and journals and provides a detailed analysis of burst detection in cited authors, journals, and references. Ultimately, the study findings will be integrated with the present financial circumstances to delve further into future development obstacles and prospects. This bibliometric analysis reveals a consistent rise in yearly publications, a notable shift in emphasis towards financial inclusion, a prevailing presence of authors from Australia, and a growing number of international collaborations and publications from diverse sources. These findings indicate that the field of Ecotourism on Geoheritage is dynamic and holds promise for future scientific advancement. Hence, this exhaustive analysis of the Ecotourism on Geoheritage document not only examines the features and course of existing research but also assists researchers in identifying the appropriate research starting point and conducting thorough investigations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Virtual reality has emerged as a powerful tool for the design of immersive tourism experiences. Prior studies have primarily relied on externally produced 360-degree stimuli, with the potential to undermine causal inference among concepts and increase risk of flattening real-world responses. Consequently, building on design principles embedded in human–computer interaction, this paper draws on an exemplar of an iconic nature-based tourism destination to elucidate the process which underpins the development of 360-degree stimuli, with an emphasis on the manipulation of 'presence'. Emergent findings demonstrate the efficacy of a five-step procedure: (1) concept manipulation and location selection; (2) preliminary field filming; (3) expert evaluation and preliminary test; (4) re-filming and editing; and (5) confirmatory test. Physiological and self-report measures assessed the internal and external validity of the 360-degree stimuli, confirming the effectiveness of the manipulation. This research contributes to knowledge through the transfer of core principles from information technology and tourism into the design of immersive 360-degree stimuli to facilitate rigorous manipulation and multi-measurement in experimental design in tourism. Future research should focus on enhancing validity and reliability of internally produced immersive stimuli, overcoming methodological challenges with the design and manipulation of stimuli in tourism research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studies on women in ecotourism can be classified into two categories. First, women become empowered by participating in community-based ecotourism. Second, such projects continue to push women into gender-specific roles. Drawing from a qualitative study on community-based ecotourism projects in the Chilika Lagoon, this paper argues for a third category. Here, within the rubric of sanskritisation – social mobility and cultural factors associated with patriarchy – women are excluded from working in community-based ecotourism projects. Instead, they need to become "good wives" to uphold the community's izzat (honour) and samskruti (culture) by dissociating themselves from "indecent" works like engaging in the ecotourism projects in the lake. The paper concludes that articulating the embodiment of honour and culture with the framework of sanskritisation can help us broaden our understanding of developmental practices in rural India and explain complex interplays of caste and gender that prevent Dalit women from entering certain labour markets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and aims: As a part of the framework of the EU-funded Energy efficiency through Behavior CHANge Transition (ENCHANT) project, the present paper intends to provide a "Research Protocol" of a web-based trial to: (i) assess the effectiveness of behavioral intervention strategies––either single or in combination––on electricity saving, and (ii) unravel the psychological factors contributing to intervention effectiveness in households across Europe. Methods and materials: Six distinct interventions (i.e., information provision, collective vs. individual message framing, social norms, consumption feedback, competitive elements, and commitment strategies) targeting electricity saving in households from six European countries (i.e., Austria, Germany, Italy, Norway, Romania, and Türkiye) are evaluated, with an initial expected samples of about 1500 households per country randomly assigned to 12 intervention groups and two control groups, and data is collected through an ad-hoc online platform. The primary outcome is the weekly electricity consumption normalized to the last seven days before measurement per person per household. Secondary outcomes are the peak consumption during the last day before measurement and the self-reported implementation of electricity saving behaviors (e.g., deicing the refrigerator). The underlying psychological factors expected to mediate and/or moderate the intervention effects on these outcomes are intentions to save electricity, perceived difficulty of saving energy, attitudes to electricity saving, electricity saving habit strength, social norms to save electricity, personal norms, collective efficacy, emotional reaction to electricity consumption, and national identity. The intervention effectiveness will be evaluated by comparing psychological factors and consumption variables before and after the intervention, leading to a 14 (groups including 2 control groups) × 6 (time) mixed factorial design, with one factor between (group) and one factor within subjects (time)–6 measurements of the psychological factors and 6 readings of the electricity meters, which gives then 5 weeks of electricity consumption. Results: Data collection for the present RCT started in January 2023, and by October 2023 data collection will conclude. Discussion: Upon establishing feasibility and effectiveness, the outcomes of this study will assist policymakers, municipalities, NGOs, and other communal entities in identifying impactful interventions tailored to their unique circumstances and available resources. Researchers will benefit from a flexible, structured tool that allows the design, implementation and monitoring of complex interventions protocols. Crucially, the intervention participants will benefit from electricity saving strategies, fostering immediate effectiveness of the interventions in real-life contexts. Trial registration: This trial was preregistered in the Open Science Framework: https://osf.io/9vtn4. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As one of the largest industries, tourism receives substantial attention for planning and development. This attention can contribute to achieving Agenda 2030 and localising the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Over the last decades, sustainable tourism has been promoted as an economic and cultural activity that supports local communities. However, there has been limited research on evaluating sustainable tourism projects from a comprehensive perspective aligned with the SDGs. This paper introduces the sustainable tourism value chain analysis (STVCA), a tool to evaluate how sustainable tourism can contribute to advancing the SDGs at local levels. This study tested the STVCA on one Indigenous ecotourism venture in Mexico, considering economic, socio-cultural, and environmental components. Findings exposed that even though economic benefits were limited, the most significant benefits were non-economic, showing that sustainable tourism has contributed to the well-being of the community by empowering Indigenous people and, in doing so, advancing several SDGs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bali, one of the world’s tourism destinations, is now facing a paradoxical situation because the increasing number of tourists visiting Bali is going hand in hand with the gradual reduction in productive agricultural land due to land conversion. This paper analyzes the massive practice of converting productive farmland for tourism in Bali. It off ers a human rights law lens, particularly the rights to land, food, and tourism, to view the problem discussed in the paper. Legal research primarily reads international legal instruments, Indonesia’s laws and regulations, and some secondary materials. The paper suggested that although the Bali provincial government has issued rules and policies to prevent the practice of land conversion, the government cannot fully control it because many agricultural lands have ownership status. Therefore, there is an urgent need to increase awareness of local communities as landowners to prevent such a practice. This paper also proposes using subak, a traditional farming system, as the basis for ecotourism and agrotourism activities to tackle the problem of land conversion in Bali. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Considered among the fastest-growing industries in the world, tourism brings immense benefits but also creates certain challenges. Conservation of natural resources is a stringent necessity, without which the extraordinary ecosystems' attributes that create the premises for nature-based tourism would reduce, alter, and subsequently disappear. The aim of the present review is twofold: gaining a general understanding of what nature-based tourism is and providing a systematic literature review of articles on nature-based tourism in European national and natural parks, with emphasis on their applicability. The articles included in the present review were selected based on the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) statement. The review accounts for research conducted between 2000 and 2021 and is divided into two sections: articles aimed at understanding tourists' behaviour and articles that are focused on other stakeholders or have the local communities in the foreground. While many studies are aimed at understanding tourists' behaviour as a means of improving parks' management, participatory strategies including local communities are often indicated as beneficial. The results of this paper can facilitate future research in the field and provide valuable knowledge to policymakers and any interested parties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Farmers' participation in ecological tourism management in nature reserves is an important way to increase income. Based on 921 pieces of household survey data from 44 villages in six nature reserves in Liaoning Province, this paper uses multiple linear regression (OLS) and propensity score matching (PSM) to explore the impact of ecotourism on rural household income. The research results show that (1) a total of 90 rural households participated in ecotourism management, accounting for 9.78% of the total, and 831 rural households did not participate in ecotourism management, accounting for 90.22% of the total. The participation rate of farmers around the nature reserves was not high; (2) the participation in ecotourism management of farmers around the nature reserve has a positive and significant impact on the per capita annual net income of their households; and (3) multiple linear regression analysis will overestimate the income effect of ecotourism. This article provides inspiration for the government to propose relevant policies to encourage farmers to participate in ecotourism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Issues with social and ecological sustainability in tourism should be seen as the result of widespread neoliberal policy making. This has led to tourism strategies that focus largely on growth of visitor numbers and spending. This paper investigates the transition to alternative strategies based on degrowth and regeneration, applying doughnut economics to urban tourism development. Action-oriented workshops were used as a research method. The workshops were offered to Destination Marketing Organisations (DMOs) and municipalities of seven cities in the Netherlands. Drawing from this method, this paper aims to investigate how and to what extent the doughnut economics model can be applied to an urban tourism context in order to facilitate a sustainability transition and what barriers are encountered in doing so. It also sheds light on the role academia can have in instigating change in practice. The results show that the doughnut model can be used in an urban tourism context to help DMOs and municipalities rethink their current strategies and replace them with more sustainable ones. However, even though the workshops made the majority of participating stakeholders question growth-based tourism strategies, neoliberal thinking often (unconsciously) prevails. The biggest barrier was found in the cultural dimension, underlining the argument that a sustainability transition in tourism can only happen if the mindset of the individual people in the tourism system changes (Grin et al., 2010; Loorbach et al., 2017). Future research could benefit from innovative research methods, for example by incorporating design thinking, to further facilitate such a transition in tourism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For many decades, southern Africa has been at the forefront of global conservation paradigms and practices, ranging from protected area models and community-based conservation to transfrontier parks and, more recently, the wildlife economy. A key goal of many of these was to meet conservation and development goals, something that often proved elusive. In fact, what has been consistent across these conservation strategies is a continuation of many environmental and, especially, socio-economic and racial injustices. Currently, a further increase of both conventional and novel capitalist conservation initiatives—including wildlife estates, different tourism activities and wildlife breeding—seems to further intensify rather than ameliorate existing uneven and unjust conditions. This introduction preludes some of the most important recent and contemporary dynamics in southern African conservation addressed in this special issue. Titled Fallen from grace? The legacy and state of southern African conservation, the papers in this special issue reflect on these dynamics and ask whether the global significance of southern African conservation has crumbled under the weight of its own contradictions, or whether it can still turn the tide. Pushing theoretical discussions on the links between environmental injustice, race, labour, power, inequality and conservation, we argue that the contributions do not merely critique conservation in southern Africa for failing to live up to its promises; together they question the very sustainability of the entire enterprise and the ideologies on which it is based. This is important because some conservationists continue to laud the region as a shining example for biodiversity conservation globally. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The inscription of properties on the World Heritage List often places restrictions on existing livelihoods. In these contexts, tourism is widely held to be a panacea for the economic and social wellbeing of local communities. Ecotourism, in particular, is regarded as addressing both environmental and social needs of communities. However, existing research demonstrates that tourism seldom delivers benefits to Indigenous peoples or local communities in developing countries. This paper suggests that such limitations are equally problematic for local communities in developed nations such as Australia. Through ethnographic research including participant observation and interviews, this paper describes the impacts of tourism on the local community of Strahan, a small logging, fishing, and mining town that transformed into a tourism village following the World Heritage listing of Southwest Tasmania. We suggest that contrary to the widely held view that tourism created employment and economic growth in the town, locals experience diminished quality of life, limited opportunities, and reduced amenity and services. This suggests that ecotourism overlooks its responsibilities for local communities in developed countries, with profound consequences for social sustainability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Swimming pools are key assets in the hotel industry. With climate change and water stress, more sustainable pools are needed in tourist areas. The study examines the relationship between hotel categories and the consumption of water in swimming pools in a Mediterranean coastal region facing water scarcity. The study focuses on the Costa Brava, with a focus on Lloret de Mar, a popular tourist destination. The research employs a combination of data analysis and the utilisation of evaporation models in order to estimate the consumption of water by swimming pools. The findings indicate that hotels in the higher categories, particularly those with three or four stars, contribute a notable proportion of the total water consumption due to their larger pool sizes and higher guest numbers. The study underscores the necessity for the implementation of sustainable water management strategies, particularly in the context of climate change. It recommends the utilisation of pool water-saving technologies as potential solutions. Furthermore, the paper highlights the broader environmental impact of tourism infrastructure on water resources and suggests policy measures to mitigate these effects. The research aligns with global sustainability goals such as the European Green Deal and the 2030 Agenda. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Despite increased militarization along international borders, border communities share elements of natural and cultural heritage. This shared heritage invokes a form of solidarity whose influence on cross-border tourism and bordering processes is understudied. The purpose of this study is to analyze how community solidarity influences tourism and border processes at the highly militarized U.S.-Mexico border by using photo-elicitation. Data were collected from 21 participants from Mexico and the U.S. A direct and indirect analysis of the interviews and photos found major themes and common focal points within photos, and the findings demonstrate binational solidarity for heritage and a desire for sharing this heritage with visitors. The paper contributes a conceptual framing of how borders are reinforced through militarization and softened through tourism, cross-border collaboration, and biodiversity conservation and ecological restoration. The implications of these findings for border theories and frameworks are discussed in further detail. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Tourism Tribune / Lvyou Xuekan is the property of Tourism Institute of Beijing Union University and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Nature-based tourism is often touted as an inherently effective form of ecotourism, where visitors become ambassadors for the places they visit and participate in transformative experiences. However, research demonstrates that behavior change and transformative experiences remain elusive. This study builds upon the Contextual Model of Learning and Transformative Learning Theory by exploring visitors' learning and behavior change at both in situ and ex situ polar bear tourism experiences. A detailed conceptual analysis and integration of existing literature provides evidence to support an integration of these learning frameworks to more effectively guide the intentional design of visitor experiences in order to target specific outcomes and domains of learning. This paper offers an important next step in providing a guiding process to facilitate and evaluate free-choice learning experiences that seek to offer visitors more intentionally designed, impactful, and potentially transformative experiences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The wildlife tourism industry faces increasing threats of climate change and human demand, both of which have been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. The decrease in human activity resulting from the pandemic has created disruptions for wildlife tourism destinations that are being felt by the local communities, the wildlife, and the surrounding environment. This paper examines the impacts of these disruptions and highlights the opportunity for wildlife destinations to start building back towards the goal of sustainability with increased resilience. The principles of resilience and ecotourism are examined, with the intersecting and applicable fundamentals further explained. A framework for wildlife destination sustainability is then presented alongside a conceptual model for policymakers, tourism operators, and community leaders to consider. This study argues that wildlife tourism destinations should apply and promote sound ecotourism principles to better prepare for and recover from disruptions, promote biodiversity conservation, and support socio-economic stability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the modern period, tourism is one of the most important global industries. It often appears to guarantee contact with nature, claims to protect habitats and respect principles of ecological sustainability. This paper explores Sicilian tourism and its representation in publicitary material from an ecolinguistic perspective. It asks what kind of imaginary of nature in modern Sicily can be viewed through such shots of the natural world, how these imaginaries might reflect current ecosophy, and how compatible they might be with ecological principles. It applies the heuristic notion of 'imaginary', current in social sciences such as sociology, psychology, and anthropology, to the context of ecolinguistic enquiry, asks how our ideas of a place and its ecosystems may be socially or culturally determined, and how these factors play into a mindset which may, or may not, be ecologically sensitive. The findings suggest that tourism photographs tend to present place images that conform to strict generic criteria, responding to public expectations and pragmatic, commercial requirements. They neither present reliable images of Sicily, nor contribute to the propagation of a specific sense of place, but rather conform to a generic pattern that tends to homogenize tourist destinations at a global level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This issue of Development in Practice focuses on gender and the systemic disadvantages faced by women and gender minorities in various settings across the Global South. The articles cover topics such as the lack of tailored agricultural programs for women farmers, the neglect and discrimination faced by transgender individuals, the emotional support and pay disparities in the service industries, the exclusion of women from ecotourism work and land governance, and the specific challenges faced by women in accessing COVID-19 support. The papers highlight the need for gender-neutral policies, increased support for women in various sectors, and targeted interventions to address gender disparities. [Extracted from the article]

This paper examines leveraging social capital to regenerate the ecotourism sector in Cameroon. Using a qualitative approach, in-depth interviews were held with local community leaders, governmental stakeholders, and NGOs. These informants possessed nuanced knowledge of the state of ecotourism in the region, thus constituted integral stakeholders in the ecotourism–community–social capital nexus. The findings of the study indicate that notions of social capital can be leveraged in the traditional hierarchy of communities to influence support for regenerating the sector. This can also address problems affecting the successful (re)development of the sector, stemming from the geopolitical crisis, where levels of trust (associated with social capital) in national authorities may be influenced by traditional authorities, like community leaders. The novelty and theoretical contribution of this paper lie in its unique conceptualisation of regeneration of ecotourism, through the lens of social capital and the nuanced geopolitical situation which contextualises the landscape. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Investigaciones Turisticas is the property of Investigaciones Turisticas and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Hiking and cycling have gained popularity as ways of promoting well-being and physical activity. This has not gone unnoticed by Portuguese authorities, who have invested in infrastructure to support these activities and to boost sustainable and nature-based tourism. However, the lack of reliable data on the use of these infrastructures prevents us from recording attendance rates and the most frequent types of users. This information is important for the authorities responsible for managing, maintaining, promoting and using these infrastructures. In this sense, this study builds on a previous study by the same authors which identified computer vision as a suitable technology to identify and count different types of users of cycling and hiking routes. The performance tests carried out led to the conclusion that the YOLOv3-Tiny convolutional neural network has great potential for solving this problem. Based on this result, this paper describes the proposal and implementation of a prototype demonstrator. It is based on a Raspberry Pi 4 platform with YOLOv3-Tiny, which is responsible for detecting and classifying user types. An application available on users' smartphones implements the concept of opportunistic networks, allowing information to be collected over time, in scenarios where there is no end-to-end connectivity. This aggregated information can then be consulted on an online platform. The prototype was subjected to validation and functional tests and proved to be a viable low-cost solution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper shows the performance of HR collaboration on the environment, in other words, GHRM can increase agricultural productivity while protecting the environment. The method is qualitative with a case study on a farm in Cirebon Regency, West Java, which applies the concept of GHRM. Data were collected through interviews, observations, and document analysis through SWOT Analysis. The findings of GHRM can be achieved through fostering a workforce that cares about the environment, encouraging innovation and collaboration, influencing organisational culture and decision-making, and generating new businesses such as garden/nature tourism, educational tourism, and spiritual tourism. The novelty of the research from the SWOT analysis is that collaborative GHRM leads to new sustainable businesses. Limitations The study was only conducted in Cirebon Regency, West Java implications of the research directly on stakeholders and government through policies that favour collaboration for sustainable business. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper begins by analyzing the effect of market economic fluctuations on the digital economy's tourism economy. Second, this paper uses a city cluster in the Yangtze River Delta in China as an example, selects the tourism economic data of the region from 2011 to 2021, and forecasts the tourism development potential of the region from 2022 to 2026 using the conventional methods for predicting economic fluctuations. However, conventional models for predicting economic fluctuations, such as ARIMA, have large prediction errors. This paper combines the RBF neural network and exponential smoothing method and compares them to GM(1, 1), ARIMA, and other models. The findings indicate that the tourism economy in this region is spatially distinct and relatively stable. Therefore, the methodology presented in this paper is capable of accurately predicting tourism demand and growth potential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Protected areas (PAs) such as national parks face funding issues that undermine effective management. Therefore, many PAs are exploring new financial instruments, such as visitor donations, to supplement their conservation budgets. This paper investigates visitor perceptions of one such system, a new conservation donation under consideration in Aso Kuju National Park, southwest Japan, is due to be introduced. Our on-site survey at two trailheads in autumn 2022 gauged visitors' willingness to pay (WTP) the expected JPY 500 donation. The analysis used Bayesian linear regression to look for significant predictors of WTP. Findings show that female, older, and higher-income visitors were more likely to pay the donation collectively rather than voluntarily. Prior knowledge of the donation system was also a significant predictor of WTP, but more frequent climbers were significantly less likely to pay the donation collectively, regardless of prior Kuju climbing experience, possibly due to the perceived increase in use costs. Moreover, visitors willing to pay the cooperation donation collectively are also willing to pay higher prices than those willing to pay voluntarily. The elicited WTP values confirm that the implementation of a new conservation donation could help to improve the long-term sustainable financing of PAs such as Aso Kuju while raising issues over price fairness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The literature on cross-border cooperation in Europe is predominated by the analysis of the European Union (EU) INTERREG Programmes' results, while other support funds are often neglected. To fill this research gap, the authors undertook the research on cross-border cooperation of the area-based partnerships (Local Action Groups – LAGs) from Poland and the Czech Republic, financed by the Rural Development Programmes (RDPs) 2014–2020. The main purpose of our paper is to identify the rationales for cooperation, strategies to find partners, the scope of activities and obstacles in implementing the joint projects. The qualitative research involved a content analysis of LAG documents and interviews with LAG managers. The actions in twelve identified cooperation projects were mainly related to local traditions, inventory and the promotion of local products and services, the development of tourism and environmental issues. The respondents have emphasised that these actions required separate financing by national RDPs following different administrative rules, even though when constituting the components of a single project. The bureaucratic restrictions resulted in a clear asymmetry of LAGs activities, manifested in a lower involvement of the Czech LAGs. As a result, many projects can be considered as highly unilateral, solely national rather than genuinely international, which has not been the intention of the LAG managers, however. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the absence of sufficient regulation of wildlife tourism attractions (WTAs), standards of treatment of animals are typically determined by what tourists find acceptable. Under this model there is little motivation for operators to improve standards if tourists do not leave reputationally damaging feedback. Given this current state, the objectives of this paper are twofold. First, we highlight and categorise existing systemic barriers that prevent the operation of an ethical market for WTAs. Second, we combine knowledge of these barriers with a recently published theoretical framework on animal justice to derive an initial, robust set of practical criteria with which non-expert tourists can externally assess ethical standards at WTAs. Viewed at this stage as a prototype, these criteria allow tourists to better understand the scope and consequences of the proper and improper use of animals in tourism along governance, conservation and animal welfare lines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nepal has linked protection of endangered rhinos to nature-based tourism and poverty reduction. Successful anti-poaching and conservation campaigns have resulted in increases in tourist numbers and rhino populations, which in turn have increased incidences of human and rhino casualties in the areas surrounding Chitwan National Park. Thanks to Nepal's National Trust for Nature Conservation, orphaned or injured rhinos are transported to facilities where they can safely recover or mature. This paper suggests the use of a posthuman and symbiotic ethics view of multispecies communities to challenge normative ethical assumptions on animal 'rescue.' It tells the stories of rhinos raised at the NTNC campus, who became celebrities as well as tourist attractions. These rhinos regularly transgressed both human- and other rhino-imposed boundaries. Their stories offer insight into the struggles of wild individuals who find themselves thrust into increasingly anthropogenic areas, and the ways in which rhinos and humans adapt to shared landscapes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper offers paradigmatic insights from an international workshop on Ecological Legacies: Bridge Between Science and Community, in Ecuador, in the summer of 2023. The conference brought together foreign and local scholars, tour operators, village community, and Indigenous leaders in the upper Amazonia region of Ecuador with the goal of developing a vision for a sustainable and regenerative future of the upper Amazon. The conference offered three epistemological contributions to the existing literature in the emergent field of Montology, including addressing issues of (a) understanding the existing linguistic hegemony in describing tropical environments, (b) the redress of mistaken notions on pristine jungle environments, and (c) the inclusion of traditional knowledge and transdisciplinary approaches to understand the junglescape from different perspectives and scientific traditions. Methodologically, the conference bridged the fields of palaeoecological and ethnobotanical knowledge (as part of a wider conversation between science and local communities). Results show that local knowledge should be incorporated into the study of the junglescape and its conservation, with decolonial approaches for tourism, sharing language, methodology, tradition, and dissemination of the forest's attributes. Our research helped co-create and formulate the "Coca Declaration" calling for a philosophical turn in research, bridging science and ethnotourism in ways that are local, emancipatory, and transdisciplinary. We conclude that facilitating new vocabulary by decolonial heightening of Indigenous perspectives of the junglescape helps to incorporate the notion of different Amazons, including the mountainscape of the Andean–Amazonian flanks. We also conclude that we can no consider Ecuador the country of "pure nature" since we helped demystify pristine nature for foreign tourists and highlighted local views with ancestral practices. Finally, we conclude that ethnotourism is a viable alternative to manage heritagization of the junglescape as a hybrid territory with the ecological legacies of the past and present inhabitants of upper Amazonia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Resources & Ecology is the property of Journal of Resources & Ecology and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This research intends to look into the connection between Thailand's tourist industry and environmental quality. This study specifically examines how tourism industry and trade sector affect the environmental quality in Thailand. The objectives of the study are to assess how trade and tourism affect the environment and to provide suggestions for environment friendly travel habits. The autoregressive distributed lag model was used in the research to analyze in both the long- and short-term links between environmental quality, tourism, and trade in Thailand. The study's statistics, which span the years from 1995 to 2021, were taken from the World Bank database. According to the study's results, Thailand's trade and tourism are significantly inversely correlated with environmental quality. Based on this research, both the short- and long-term effects of increased trade and tourism are a reduction in the country's environmental quality. By presenting factual proof of the damaging effects of commerce and tourism on Thailand's ecosystem, the research adds to the body of previous material. The report also emphasizes the need for decision-makers to implement environmental protection laws and sustainable tourism practices in order to lessen the damaging effects of trade and tourism on the environment. The study's conclusions suggest that the Thai government gives concentration in implementing environment friendly tourist practices a higher priority. To further guarantee that the detrimental effects of trade and tourism on the environment are kept to a minimum, the government should think about enacting environmental protection measures. The paper concludes by recommending more research be conducted to examine how other elements, such as technology, may affect Thailand's environmental quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The assessment of suitability is the cornerstone for the development of ecotourism in nature reserves. This paper adopts the Delphi method to invite 30 experts to score and screen a series of indicators and then calculates the weight of each indicator through the hierarchical analysis method (AHP) to establish a comprehensive evaluation index system for the suitability of ecotourism development. The AHP method includes four constraints layers (tourism resources, socio-economic environment, ecological conditions, and tourism market), in addition to eleven element layers and thirty-eight indicators. It establishes overarching criteria for evaluating ecotourism suitability. Our research focuses on Dinghushan, Xilin Gol Grassland, Hongze Lake Wetland, and Jiuzhai valley, and the results are as follows: (1) Ecotourism suitability evaluation level is divided into five levels, level I (0 ≤ S < 30) ecotourism development suitability is the lowest, meaning an area is extremely unsuitable for ecotourism development. Level V (90 ≤ S < 100) has a very high ecotourism value, meaning an area is highly suitable for ecotourism development. (2) Jiuzhai valley scored the highest ecotourism suitability evaluation score of 87.63, and Xilingol Grassland scored the lowest score of 81.27. However, the composite scores of all the nature reserves were above 80, placing them at Suitability Level IV, and thereby indicating a high suitability for ecotourism development. (3) Divergences in ecotourism suitability emerge among various nature reserve types, with grassland and meadow reserves exhibiting lower suitability levels. Addressing this, a robust management and monitoring system is imperative, alongside intensified efforts in ecological restoration, vegetation protection, community engagement, education, awareness, and increased policy support and tourism capital investment. (4) The results of the expert questionnaire showed that the maximum weight of the indicators affecting the evaluation of the suitability of ecotourism was the satisfaction of tourists (0.120), and the minimum weight was the accommodation facilities (0.002), which illustrated the important role of tourists in the ecotourism development carried out in the nature reserve. (5) Through empirical analysis of numerous cases, the study validates the practicality and effectiveness of the index system and provides scientific guidelines for the suitability of existing nature reserves for further ecotourism development. This contributes to the research theory on the suitability evaluation of ecotourism development and serves as a valuable reference for the future ecotourism development of diverse nature reserves. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Through the lens of tiger photography on Instagram, this paper investigates a desire for wilderness without the human footprint; based on a false separation between nature and society, this aspiration finds expression through visual aesthetics on the platform. Protected areas in India are increasing, but this has not halted nature's financialisation. On the contrary, it has enhanced the availability of preserved nature for conversion to capital, mirroring earlier opportunities tied to resource extraction. Using insights from political ecology, I discuss how wildlife as hyper-spectacle on Instagram presents a natural world with the appearance of being untransformed by human intervention and available to tourism. Instagram offers a route into understanding the paradoxical stance of nature in contemporary tourism and conservation discourses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

(1) Background--Forest is a kind of high-quality ecological resource. Forest ecological products have multiple values such as material supply, ecological regulation, health care in tourism, scientific research and education. The value evaluation of forest ecological products is an important measure to practice the "Two Mountains" theory, promote the transformation of "Two Mountains" and rural revitalization, and realize the harmonious development of man and nature. At present, the relevant research on the value evaluation of forest ecological products in typical karst mountain areas mainly includes the value progress of forest ecological products and the service function of forest ecosystem, etc. The research on the value evaluation of forest ecological products in karst mountain areas has not been reported. This paper discusses the value evaluation and realization paths of forest ecological products in typical karst mountain areas of Guizhou Province, which is of great significance for economic decision-making, ecological protection, green sustainable development and ecological civilization construction in karst mountain areas. (2) Methods--This paper took Guizhou Province, which has typical karst mountain features, as the re search object. Based on the survey and statistical data from 2020 to 2022, the paper constructed an accounting system for the gross forest ecosystem product by using the literature research method, evaluated the value of forest ecological products in Guizhou province by using the gross ecosystem product (GEP) accounting method, and put forward the paths to realize the value of forest ecological products in typical karst mountain areas. (3) Results--First, from 2020 to 2022, the total value of forest ecological products (FGEP) in Guizhou Province showed a rising trend, rising from 2 752.758 billion yuan in 2020 to 2 919.637 billion yuan in 2022, an increase of 6.06%, which was 1.5 times the GDP in the same period. Second, the value of forest material supply services and forest regulation services increased by 29.826 billion yuan and 90.998 billion yuan, respectively, with an increase rate of 22.68% and 7.85%. From 2020 to 2021, the value of forest cultural services increased by 85.707 billion yuan, an increase of 45.71%. Affected by the epidemic and the mode of economic development, the value of forest cultural services showed a declining trend from 2021 to 2022. Third, in the different functions of forest regulation service, the sum of climate regulation value, soil conservation value and water conservation value accounted for more than 90% of the total value of forest regulation service. Fourth, the forest ecological products value (FEPV), forest ecological regulation value (FERV) and forest ecological culture value (FECV) accounted for 4.78%~5.86%, 88.41%~95.35% and 4.85%~9.92% of the total value, respectively, showing the characteristics of FERV>FECV>FEPV. (4) Conclusions and Discussions--Based on the above research conclusions, the following policy recommendations are put forward: First, improve the FGEP evaluation index system of forest ecological products and the value realization mechanism. 3S technology, Internet of Things and other digital technologies are used to collect relevant data in the forest ecological product catalog list. Establish a diversified carbon sinks trading mechanism, and improve the forest ecological compensation mechanism. Second, continue to strengthen the protection and restoration of forest ecology, and improve the realization rate of the value of forest ecological products. Strengthen the protection of forest ecosystems in karst mountain areas. Provide relevant training and technical sup port to the community residents. Strengthen technological innovation and technology application of enterprises to improve the quality and efficiency of forest ecological products. Third, develop the forestry ecological industry to help the transformation of forest ecological resources into ecological assets. Combine ecological environmental protection with forestry industry development. Establish karst forest parks and develop ecological tourism. Construct the characteristic industrial system of understory economy based on the resource endowment of Guizhou Province. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper looks at the potential benefits of mushrooms in terms of health, recreation, and tourism. Mycotourism is an innovative, specialised tourism product that has been successfully introduced in some regions of the world, helping to combat seasonality and promote economic development in rural areas. The aim of the study was to analyse the development of mycotourism in Poland in comparison with other countries. As a method, a questionnaire on the cultural significance of mushrooms was developed and disseminated via social media. It was found that there are strong mycophilic tendencies in Poland, leading to a strong interest in mushrooms, both in terms of cultural and culinary traditions. They are also a factor that attracts tourists to the forest areas. In contrast, the UK and Germany are more mycophobic, resulting in a lower interest in mushrooms, limited culinary use, and a lower awareness of their role in the ecosystem and their potential health benefits. The low average score for knowledge of mushrooms in countries such as the UK indicates a need for increased mycological education that can contribute to a better understanding of the conservation of these important components of the forest floor. The high proportion of people who see mushroom picking in Poland as a form of recreation emphasises its role as an important cultural and potential nature tourism asset. In Poland, where long traditions are associated with mushrooms and mushroom picking, they have a strong influence on the choice of mycological tourism, especially in regions with a rich tradition of mushroom picking. The high percentage of mushrooms used for culinary purposes, especially in Poland, emphasises their value and influences the health component of the diet, which is rich in proteins, vitamins, and minerals. Research has shown that mushroom consumption and its effects on health are perceived positively. This is evidenced by higher ratings in Poland than in the UK and Germany, indicating a general awareness of the health benefits of mushrooms, even though their use in medicine remains limited. The low level of awareness of the role of mushrooms and their potential health benefits suggests that educational and promotional activities should be increased to sensitise the public to mushrooms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Virtual reality is providing new opportunities for health and well-being, organizational learning, and tourism management. The study reported in this paper aims to examine whether engaging in a virtual reality tourism experience could function as a restorative intervention strategy to enhance mental well-being of employees in the workplace. The study employed a lab-based pre–post experimental design to test the effectiveness of a virtual reality tourism experience, involving a nature-based marine setting, to enhance mental restoration and reduce mental fatigue. The results show that 3 minutes of a virtual tourism experience can lead to enhanced concentration while boosting the mental well-being of employees, while, at the same time, providing destinations with an opportunity to promote "real" experiences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of China Tourism Research is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The purpose of this paper is to explore the positive and negative impacts of relocating the new national capital (IKN) to East Kalimantan on ecotourism resilience, in the context of scientific literature and international news. This research integrated the systematic literature review (SLR) and qualitative textual analysis (QTA) methods to validate each other's results. The QTA results could support or challenge the SLR results to answer research questions. The results showed that the relocation of IKN was a great opportunity for ecotourism resilience, positive transmigration, government and community collective action, and stronger stakeholder collaboration. In contrast, IKN relocation could also be a real threat to ecotourism resilience due to natural disasters, government capitalism, negative transmigration, deforestation, environmental degradation, and marginalization of local communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nature‐based tourism provides an outlet for people to experience non‐material nature's contributions to people (NCP) and can even promote care for nature. Yet, the literature on NCP is still dominated by studies on regulating and material NCP, with limited research on non‐material contributions.Semi‐structured interviews and photo‐elicitation methods were conducted online with 38 former tourists who have hiked Mount Kilimanjaro, Tanzania, to investigate NCP experiences during their hiking journey. Drawing on the guiding principles of the Intergovernmental Panel on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES), an interwoven approach was used to link context‐specific NCP expressed by tourists to the generalizing perspective.Ten context‐specific non‐material NCP emerged including Aesthetic experiences; Learning and life‐changing perspectives; New and unique experiences; and Social cohesion and bonding. All context‐specific NCP were linked back to the generalizing perspective, with most NCP falling under the generalizing category of Physical and psychological experiences.This paper reveals the unique and diverse ways that nature contributes to people's lives, promoting the visibility of multiple perspectives and their incorporation into biodiversity conservation and sustainable management strategies. Through an interwoven approach, NCP can be compared on a universal scale while respecting the context‐specificity of human–nature interactions across different social‐ecological contexts. Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog. Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coastal areas have progressively emerged as centers of tourism and economic development, leading to significant land cover transformations. This paper examines the dynamic interplay between tourism development and environmental sustainability within coastal regions, spotlighting three European seaside resorts: Eforie Sud, Romania; Torremolinos, Spain; and La Grande-Motte, France. Through a comparative case study approach, the research delves into the strategies employed by these destinations to manage tourism growth, with a focus on implementing spatial planning principles and sustainable practices. By analyzing spatial data on land use changes from 1990 to 2018, the study quantitatively assesses the extent of urbanization and its environmental impacts, offering insights into the transformation of coastal landscapes in response to tourism development. The study underscores the importance of sustainable tourism development as a means to balance economic objectives with the preservation of natural and cultural assets. It concludes with recommendations for strategic planning, conservation initiatives, and community engagement to ensure the long-term viability of coastal tourism destinations. This research contributes to the discourse on sustainable tourism, advocating for policies and practices that harmonize development with environmental stewardship and socio-economic benefits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]