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The aim of this research is to investigate tourist marketing within the embryonic context of the metaverse in order to comprehend the building blocks and the primary technologies employed in the sector. A systematic literature review (SLR) was conducted on 386 articles, with an overall qualitative approach that included 86 references, all of which dealt with the topic of the metaverse and had direct or potential implications for the tourism sector (hotels, restaurants, means of transport, leisure activities and destination itself). The articles are taken from: Science Direct, Taylor & Francis, Emerald, Springer and Google Scholar. The SLR was carried out according to the PRISMA search protocol. The results indicate the technologies that have been most thoroughly studied at the confluence of marketing, tourism, and the metaverse (AI, virtual reality, augmented reality, mixed reality, blockchain, tokens (NFTs) and digital twins). Moreover, they establish the foundational components of tourism marketing in the metaverse for the first time (tourism products, the metaverse as a distribution and branding channel for tourism and, tourist customer as protagonist). Finally, the study exposes research gaps and recommends future directions for exploration (monetization of products in the metaverse, promotion and marketing strategies in the metaverse, new profiles for marketing professionals, policy development that regulates commercial activity in the metaverse). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Social media is commonly used by governments to disseminate information related to transparency and institutional promotion, but its potential for the dissemination of cultural resources is often overlooked. This research proposes a strategy for adopting social media to achieve cultural dissemination in the municipality of Lamas, Peru, which has tourism potential and has been awarded the "Best Tourism Villages" seal of the World Tourism Organisation. Methodologically, we propose a case study at a propositional exploratory level. We start by determining the current state of dissemination of tangible and intangible resources, as well as the practical use of social media, through a survey of 20 officials. The results reveal that crafts are the most widely disseminated tangible resource in the municipality (according to 55% of officials), and intangible resources are occasionally disseminated (50%). We also find that Facebook is the only digital channel used to disseminate cultural information. In this context, we formulate a strategy for adopting social media to improve cultural dissemination, which consists of six phases: (i) forming a work team, (ii) preparing a budget plan, (iii) strengthening capacities, (iv) taking inventory of cultural resources, (v) coordinating community interests and (vi) preparing a cultural dissemination plan. The findings can contribute to formulating public initiatives for the institutionalisation of social media in governments for the purposes of preserving, promoting and guaranteeing the accessibility of cultural heritage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aims to add to the debate on the negative externalities of tourism-related megaprojects. It examines the policy adoption and implementation of two contentious airport projects in two tourist-heavy regions, Heraklion (Kastelli), Greece, and Cusco (Chinchero), Peru. In the context of destination competitiveness and commitment to neoliberal economic growth, national and regional governments in both countries became attracted by the idea of regional economic development and further increasing the number of international tourists and tourism investments. Deciding whether building a new airport serves the public interest or not is a complex policy problem with technical uncertainties and conflicting interests, which entails both a technical and political process of expressing and pairing policy actors' goals and means. The aim of the paper is to identify similarities and differences between the tactics adopted and arguments used for and against the two airport development projects by the respective advocacy coalitions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is a consensus that the global tourism system needs to undergo decarbonization and achieve net-zero emissions by mid-century. However, given the anticipated growth in the most energy-intensive subsector of tourism, air transport, achieving this goal seems unlikely. This paper focuses on the role of distance in the global geography of tourism, against evidence that National Marketing Organizations (NTOs) often seek to attract visitors from all over the world. The analysis of data for a sample of 12 NTOs in Europe, the USA and Canada reveals that the number of markets targeted varies between six and 33, with significant differences in the average distance to markets (<4,000 to 8,000 km), as well as emissions per arrival by market (0.2 t CO2 to 2.5 t CO2). For the countries studied, the 17% of the most distant arrivals cause 62% of the emissions. Results also show that more distant markets are more sensitive to disruptions such as COVID-19. These findings have relevance for destination marketing that point to new climate change related roles for NTOs such as rebranding, demarketing, market segmentation, and communication. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In 2022, Thailand became the first country in Asia to decriminalize the possession of cannabis. Despite the government's unwillingness to legalize recreational cannabis or promote cannabis tourism, a recreational cannabis industry fueled by tourism quickly emerged on a large scale in just a few months after decriminalization. Through the tourism worldmaking theory, the article seeks to show how cannabis tourism has taken shape in a semi-legal context following the decriminalization of cannabis in Thailand. Through a qualitative methodology combining document analysis, semi-structured interviews, and active participant observation, it is shown that following legislative changes, a recreational tourism industry has rapidly developed alongside the medical cannabis industry in which an array of cannabis products and services for tourists have emerged in the country's major tourist destinations, transforming the tourism landscape of these places. Cannabis tourism has grown rapidly despite legal restrictions and government rhetoric aimed at preventing recreational cannabis tourism. The article aims to show that after opening Pandora's box through the decriminalization of cannabis, cannabis tourism has developed on its own where many market-driven actors capitalized on this new economic opportunity following years of loss of income due to the COVID-19 pandemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cultural routes are a composite set of heritage sites that refer to historical routes of human communication. As key products of cultural tourism, they provide visitors with rich cultural experiences across regions. We systematically review reports and studies related to the tourism development of 38 cultural route cases worldwide, with a special focus on their distribution, typology, planning patterns, and tools for cultural tourism. We summarized eight tools and found some differences in how often these eight tools are used by the different types of routes and different planning patterns for route tourism. This study also developed an evaluation system based on the conservation principles of cultural routes to determine how different tourism tools affect the conservation and development of historical regions. Although tourism decision-makers have made numerous efforts to protect and develop cultural routes, there are still many problems and challenges in the process of tourism development along cultural routes. We conclude the paper by making recommendations for decision-makers and researchers concerning future route tourism planning and study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Stakeholder‐led coral reef restoration efforts, aimed at locally retaining or rebuilding coral populations, have rapidly grown over the last two decades. However, the cost‐effectiveness—and in turn viability—of coral restoration projects remains rarely reported. We therefore evaluated coral planting (often termed "outplanting") cost‐effectiveness across the first 3.5 years of the Coral Nurture Program (CNP), a coral restoration approach integrated within tourism operations on Australia's Great Barrier Reef. CNP operator activity reporting forms (63,632 corals planted, 5 tourism operators, and 23 reef sites) were used to opportunistically calculate coral planting costs (PC; US$ coral−1 trip−1) for "routine" planting versus when additional stewardship activities—that regulate planting effectiveness—were undertaken (e.g., nursery maintenance). Mean PC (±standard error) was US$2.34 ± 0.20 coral−1 trip−1 (ranging US$0.78–6.03, 5th–95th percentile), but increased 2‐ to ‐6‐fold on trips where nursery propagation, site maintenance, or staff training was conducted to support planting efforts. The "realized" cost (PCR) of establishing coral biomass was subsequently determined by evaluating survivorship of planted corals across space (9 sites, single survey timepoint, n = 4,723 corals up to 3 years old) or over time (2 sites, over 9–12 months, n = 600 corals), resulting in costs increasing from PC to PCR by 25–71%. We demonstrate how integration of practices into tourism operations creates potential for cost‐effective coral planting at "high‐value" tourism reef sites, and discuss important steps for improving cost‐accounting in stakeholder‐led restoration programs that may be similarly positioned to routinely determine their cost‐effectiveness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the positive coupling between the sports industry and tourism, exploring the ways to promote their interconnection. Under state guidance, the integration of sports industry services is facilitated to attract sports culture and tourism fairs, leveraging regional economic development advantages to enhance the industrial market appeal. The emerging leisure consumption mode of sports tourism injects vitality into the economy, fostering the core sports service industry. The coupling of the education and tourism sectors is strategically aligned with long-term national policies. Using IoT technology, this paper employs a grey relational analysis to assess the coupling between the sports industry and tourism, revealing a significant correlation. Experimental results demonstrate a positive coupling trend, likened to conjoined twins with a natural material basis and technical support. This coupling not only aligns with industry trends but also resonates with the "environmental protection era," "green era," and "ecological era," marking a pivotal aspect of industrial development. The study contributes valuable insights into the symbiotic relationship between the sports and tourism industries, emphasizing their interconnectedness and the positive implications for economic and environmental sustainability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Taking Baiyun Mountain Scenic Area in Guangzhou as the research object, 300 online travel notes were selected as research samples, and text analysis and ROST CM6 data analysis software were used to analyze tourists’ image perception of Baiyun Mountain Scenic Area in Guangzhou from three aspects of cognitive image, emotional image and perceptual image. It is found that: ① in terms of cognitive image, tourists’ perception of the tourist attractions is not balanced, and the service facilities such as catering, entertainment, shopping and accommodation are generally negative perceptions, while the perception of the tourism atmosphere tends to be positive. ② In terms of emotional image, tourists have a positive attitude towards the overall evaluation of the scenic area. Most of these positive perceptions come from the natural landscapes and scenic spots of the scenic area. Part of the negative perception mainly comes from the lack of infrastructure, amusement facilities, service facilities or construction management, and the lag of maintenance management within the scenic area. ③ In terms of overall perception, the favorable rate accounts for 81%. The overall perception image of tourists is mainly concentrated in the three core vocabulary of “Baiyun Mountain Scenic Area”, “ticket” and “cable car”. At the same time, suggestions for improvement are proposed in four aspects, including integrating tourism resources in the scenic spot to improve the spatial balance of scenic spots in the scenic area, strengthening the maintenance of infrastructure construction and public environment to improve the service level of the scenic area, increasing the number of recreational tourism products and the entertainment experience of the scenic area, and deepening the reform of the ticket sales system to implement the combination of the set ticket system and the separate ticket system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The 21st century has seen tourists from various source markets significantly impacted by non-communicable diseases, including mental disorders. Yet, research and practice frequently overlook tourists with mental disorders. Building on Buckley's discussion in the Journal of Travel Research about tourism and mental health, this study examines the travel eligibility of tourists diagnosed with four prevalent mental disorders: major depressive disorder (MDD), generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), schizophrenia, and dementia. We present preliminary recommendations for accommodating these tourists and highlight the urgent need for collaborative efforts between stakeholders in tourism, hospitality, and medicine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Transformative tourism experiences are powerful life moments with the capacity to elevate individuals' well-being. With the rise of transformative tourism and the growing attention to well-being, theoretical research is needed to outline the underlying processes that connect transformative tourism experiences with individual well-being. This study employed grounded theory to critically analyze a set of travel blogs that narrate individual tourists' transformative tourism experiences. Specifically, we explored how sets of activities during transformative tourism (e.g., backpacker tourism, volunteer tourism, and study tours) contributed to travelers' hedonic and eudaimonic well-being. We took psychological needs as processes of well-being realization to construct an integrated "activities–needs–well-being" conceptual framework to demonstrate how transformative tourism contributes to travelers' hedonic and eudaimonic well-being. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

E-tourism has become a key component in the tourism industry and allows travelers to easily access information about destinations and services via the Internet, facilitating their travel planning process. Through e-tourism, travelers can research destinations, plan trips, book accommodations, purchase transportation tickets, and explore tourist attractions through online resources. Also, this area helps tourism businesses to effectively promote their services, communicate with clients and manage reservations. E-tourism represents the integration of information and communication technologies in the tourism sector. This concept encompasses the application of digital technologies such as the Internet, mobile applications, online reservation systems, web platforms and social media to improve aspects of travel and tourism. The legal foundation of educational procedures utilizing artificial intelligence algorithms in e-tourism holds significant importance because of the multitude of potential legal complexities and obstacles that could emerge. The Republic of Serbia, like many other countries, is working on improving its regulations in order to enable the development of e-tourism and at the same time ensure the protection of the interests and safety of travelers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aiming at sports tourism environment simulation, this paper aims to explore the application of machine learning algorithm based on light sensor in this field. We propose a new method for sports tourism simulation, which is based on optical sensor data acquisition and processing. The aim of this research is to develop an accurate and efficient algorithm to simulate the optical properties of sports event venues in order to provide a more realistic sports tourism experience. The research method consists of two main steps: optical sensor data collection and machine learning algorithm modeling and training. First, a network of optical sensors was set up to collect light intensity and color information at different locations in the stadium. This data is then used to train a machine learning algorithm to predict and simulate the sports tourism environment under different optical scenarios. Through experiments and evaluations, the proposed algorithm performs well in terms of accuracy and efficiency, and can simulate the lighting characteristics of sports venues with high accuracy. This provides a strong technical support for sports tourism simulation, which can provide users with a more realistic experience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to construct an evaluation index system suitable for tourism management classroom teaching, this article evaluates the teaching effectiveness of teachers and improves the teaching quality of tourism management courses. This article is based on developmental evaluation theory, using Analytic Hierarchy Process, Project Response Theory, and CIPP model to construct an indicator system suitable for tourism management classroom teaching. Then, based on the collected data of 5763 students, the reliability and effectiveness of the tool and indicator system were first verified. Then, the variable of teacher teaching style was introduced to construct an OLS regression model for empirical research. The research will summarize teacher and student data collected through the platform and conduct reliability analysis in SPSS 22.0 software, using Cronbach α The credibility of coefficient testing and evaluation tools. Cronbach in Environmental Fundamentals α The cβoefficient value is 0.8350. Cronbach for resource allocation α The coefficient is 0.735, and the Cronbah of the implementation process α Cronb Bach with a coefficient of 0.7 47 for teaching performance α The coefficient is 0.7240, indicating that rat ings has high reliability. Research has found that among the four specific types, the holistic type has the greatest impact on the specific situation, the holistic type has the greatest impact on the environmental foundation and resource allocation, and the legislative type has the greatest impact on the implementation process and teaching performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The infrastructural development of the Greater Bay Area in China has experienced rapid growth in recent years. Given the national plans, local governments have to upgrade their urban habitat, convenience, leisure and recreation. Particularly, municipal governments have built lengthy bike lanes for multiple purposes such as commuting, exercise, leisure and tourism. Users' preferences have become more diversified. Within the GBA region, several bike lanes exceed 100 km and thus many rest stations are available along the route. Nevertheless, prior bike travelling studies in Asia Pacific countries have focused on the whole trip experience and bike lanes' safety design focusing in rural areas. There exists a paucity of information about users' preference of amenities for a relatively long-haul bike journey for leisure and tourism purpose in a metropolitan setting. To fill the gap, research with mixed methods using interviews with two groups of insightful persons and a survey of 342 potential users were undertaken to gather their perspectives on the 30 value-added amenities of rest stations for biking travelling. At last, the implications of findings on related policy planning were discussed inclusive the proposed establishment of a commission comprising boarder representativeness of stakeholders and the prioritized facilities in the planning for optimization of bike path for tourism and leisure. • Prior bike travelling studies in Asia Pacific countries have focused on the whole trip experience and bike lanes' safety design focusing in rural areas. There exists a paucity of information about users' preference of amenities for a relatively long-haul bike journey for leisure and tourism purpose in a metropolitan setting. • Two-phrase research design using interviews with two groups of insightful persons and a survey of 342 potential users were undertaken to gather their perspectives on the 30 value-added amenities of rest stations for biking travelling. • Implications of findings on related policy planning were discussed inclusive the proposed establishment of a commission comprising boarder representativeness of stakeholders and the prioritized facilities in the planning for optimization of bike path for tourism and leisure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tourist flows, crucial information within online travelogues, reveal the interactive relationships between different tourist destinations and serve as the nerve center and link of the tourism system. This study takes Hangzhou, China, as a case to investigate the spatial network structure of its tourist flows. Firstly, a BERT-BiLSTM-CRF model and pan-attraction database are built to extract tourist attractions from online travelogues and create the tourist flow matrix. Then, this study uses social network analysis (SNA) to examine the structure of the tourist flow network from a county-level perspective. Additionally, GIS spatial analysis methods are applied to analyze the evolution of the tourist gravity center and standard deviation ellipse (SDE) of the network. The results reveal that the identification performances of the tourist flow extraction model this study proposed are significantly better than those of previous mainstream models, with an F1 value of 0.8752. Furthermore, the tourist flow network in Hangzhou displays a relatively sparse and unbalanced distribution, forming a "Core–Semi-Periphery–Periphery" structure. Lastly, from 2020 to 2022, the network's gravity center experienced a shift towards the southwest, paralleled by an initial expansion and subsequent contraction of the SDE in the same southwest direction. These findings provide valuable insights into the spatial network structure of tourism in Hangzhou and can serve as a reference for policymakers to promote the "all-for-one" tourism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reviews influencer marketing (IM)-research in the tourism and hospitality (H&T) field to provide a state-of-the-art of the past, present, and future of IM-research. It identifies research themes, theoretical underpinnings, and methodologies utilized in IM-research. Seventy-five studies are examined through co-citation, bibliographic coupling and content analysis based on the TCCM (theory/context/characteristics/methodology) framework. Co-citation analysis reveals that IM-research focused on travel blogs, vlogs, celebrity endorsement, influencer authenticity. An assessment of recent studies through bibliographic coupling indicates a partial shift toward the study of more contemporary issues. This field-discipline-focused hybrid-review contributes to literature and practice by presenting the past, present, and future of IM-research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hotel booking websites to collect information about hospitality products/services are becoming more popular in the hotel industry. As a result, the importance of these websites for tourism firms marketing their services and products through electronic word of mouth (eWOM) on these hotel booking websites continues to grow. Despite its importance, there has been little research on how guests interact with information to increase eWOM. This paper creates a new scale for assessing guest interaction with Meituan.com information to fill this void. To this end, a three-step mixed-methods approach using open-ended surveys and published relevant research is used. Data were gathered from 440 hotel guests in Taiwan, China, and Hong Kong. Using SmartPLS 4, confirmatory factor analysis revealed 33 final items for the new scale. This paper significantly contributes to potential guest behavior by creating and confirming this new scale in the hospitality context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rural B&B industry is a key component of rural tourism, local economic development, and the wider rural revitalization strategy. Despite the abundance of tourism resources in Yunnan, the B&B sector faces significant challenges. It is therefore imperative to accurately identify the most pressing issues within the current B&B industry and formulate appropriate solutions to advance Yunnan's rural revitalization efforts. This study uses recent reviews of rural B&Bs on Ctrip.com and employs machine learning techniques, including Bert, CNN, LSTM, and GRU, to identify the key management challenges currently facing Yunnan's rural B&B industry. An analysis is then conducted to identify the key stakeholders involved in the process of improving the management of Yunnan's B&Bs. To assess the willingness of each stakeholder to support the improvement of the rural B&B industry, this paper establishes a three-party evolutionary game model and examines the dynamic evolutionary process of management improvement within Yunnan's rural B&B industry. Two scenarios of evolutionarily stable strategies are analyzed, and parameters impacting stakeholders' strategy choices are simulated and evaluated. The results show that: i) Improving the "human factor" is the top priority for the current management improvement because tourists are most concerned about the emotional experience. Operators need to focus on improving service attitude and emotional experience; ii) The main stakeholders in the current management optimization process of Yunnan B&Bs are the local government, B&B operators, and tourists. Under appropriate conditions, the evolutionarily stable strategy of (1, 1, 1) is reachable. iii) variables such as additional costs, tourists' choice preferences, and government penalties significantly affect the strategy choices of stakeholders, especially B&B operators. This paper offers effective strategies for improving B&B management that can benefit the government, B&B operators, and tourists, and ultimately contribute to the promotion of quality rural revitalization. The paper not only identifies focal areas for improving B&B management in rural Yunnan, but also provides an in-depth understanding of stakeholder dynamics. As a result, it provides valuable insights to further the cause of quality rural revitalization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While traveling, people need to utilize smart tourism service systems based on the Internet of Things (IoT) to enhance their journeys' convenience. However, existing IoT-based smart tourism service systems still possess certain shortcomings. In light of this, this paper delves into the integration of IoT and machine learning (ML) technologies to improve the design of smart tourism service systems and establish a platform for intelligent tourism services. Simulated datasets are employed to evaluate the performance and functionality of the smart tourism service system. The primary contributions, as inferred from the test results, are as follows: In area 1, the model achieves a congestion recognition rate of 92.6% with an error rate of only 1.5% in congestion judgment. In area 2, congestion is accurately identified 93.5% of the time, with a misjudgment rate of just 1.2%. In area 3, the model achieves a congestion identification rate of 94.2% along with a 1.3% misjudgment rate, effectively identifying congestion situations in scenic spots. When comparing the research and design system with the system based on the support vector machine (SVM) algorithm, the results demonstrate that the smart tourism service system designed in this paper, leveraging IoT technology and ML algorithms, achieves higher prediction accuracy than the SVM-based system. These findings can serve as a valuable guide for designing future smart tourism service systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Architecture, often regarded as a three-dimensional art form, relies on a multitude of abstractions during the design process. In this context, architectural elements are effectively represented through vector-based data processing techniques, offering a canvas for creative exploration. To further our understanding of spatial configurations and generate multiple design insights, mathematical structures known as graphs come into play. Graph theory, a fundamental component of this process, it is a mathematical field that studies relationships and connections between objects using vertices and edges, finding applications in computer science, network analysis, and more finds application in architectural design. This study delves into the application of graph theory in the analytical exploration of urban networks, with a focus on tourism parameters in the picturesque town of Pondicherry, Tamil Nadu, India. Traditionally, urban network analysis seeks to determine the shortest distance between origin and destination, a metric rooted in accessibility. However, in leisure destinations, a novel approach involving an optimized distance-based algorithm is introduced. This innovative methodology aims to facilitate efficient access to all tourist destinations within the spatial extent while minimizing discrete physical distances. To illustrate this concept, we take the iconic French Quarters in the White Town of Pondicherry as a case study. By applying the optimized distance-based algorithm, we endeavor to uncover the most efficient route for tourists to navigate and leisurely explore the area. The outcome of this analysis reveals a path graph structure, which, when compared to a circular graph structure, demonstrates superior efficiency in guiding tourists through the space. The implications of this tourist route extend beyond the realm of tourism itself. It has the potential to enhance the organization of tourist activities, allowing stakeholders to manage and regulate the flow of visitors. Additionally, it presents an opportunity to promote and develop the region's often-underestimated tourist destinations, which can, in turn, have a positive impact on the local economy. In summary, the integration of graph theory into architectural and urban design methodologies enriches the approach to tourism and offers a holistic perspective on spatial optimization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current geologic era—the Anthropocene—is defined by human-driven transformation of landscapes and seascapes that has profoundly altered Earth's climate and other life-support systems. This letter advocates for a landscape-scale regenerative tourism management strategy aimed at transforming coastal destinations into carbon sinks (meaning they sequester more carbon than they release). Specifically, coastal destinations can transform product offerings into a network of restoration projects that collectively seek the landscape-scale restoration of blue carbon ecosystems such as marshes, mangroves, and seagrass meadows. Restoration of blue-carbon ecosystems is a cost-effective way to mitigate the effects of climate change. Tourism has potential to overcome obstacles in large-scale restoration of blue carbon ecosystems and can play a foundational role by providing a long-term presence at restoration sites, logistical and human resources, and a business model dependent on restored ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using dynamic capabilities (DCs) and the disaster/crisis management cycle (DMC) as the theoretical lens, this study explores how different types of DCs build and sustain organizational resilience of tourism firms during COVID-19. Taking a processual view, the study advances theorization of the relationship between DCs and organizational resilience in tourism studies. A qualitative study of 30 owners and senior managers of tourism and hospitality firms in Bangladesh reveals that threats and opportunities presented by the COVID-19 pandemic activated 10 different types of DCs (replicating, integrating, reconfiguring, creating, developing, assimilating, renewing, adaptive, innovative, and regenerative) across the pre, response (short-term) and future recovery intentions (long-term) stages. DCs activated different resilience facets (networks and relationships, leadership and culture, and change ready), highlighting the criticality of achieving planned and adaptive resilience for tourism firms during COVID-19. Response and recovery implications for tourism firms during disruptive events are suggested. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, the theoretical framework of the Stereotype Content Model (SCM) was applied in the context of a host country promoting its tourism to new or underdeveloped markets. The host country's perceived Warmth, Competence and Status were each relevant to an understanding of the attitude toward the country itself and as a tourism destination. However, in both instances, the influence of perceived Status was found to be direct and not, as existing SCM theory suggests, via Competence. The findings support Status being a primary dimension of human perception alongside Warmth and Competence within SCM theory. Warmth evaluations also dominated the prediction of Tourism Attitude but not Country Attitude, again contrary to established thinking. The influence on Tourism Attitude of both Uncertainty Avoidance and Individualism/Collectivism were moderated by the perceived Warmth and Status of the host country. Thus, the SCM requires adaptation to the context of tourism in underdeveloped markets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Three-dimensional reconstruction is a key technology employed to represent virtual reality in the real world, which is valuable in computer vision. Large-scale 3D models have broad application prospects in the fields of smart cities, navigation, virtual tourism, disaster warning, and search-and-rescue missions. Unfortunately, most image-based studies currently prioritize the speed and accuracy of 3D reconstruction in indoor scenes. While there are some studies that address large-scale scenes, there has been a lack of systematic comprehensive efforts to bring together the advancements made in the field of 3D reconstruction in large-scale scenes. Hence, this paper presents a comprehensive overview of a 3D reconstruction technique that utilizes multi-view imagery from large-scale scenes. In this article, a comprehensive summary and analysis of vision-based 3D reconstruction technology for large-scale scenes are presented. The 3D reconstruction algorithms are extensively categorized into traditional and learning-based methods. Furthermore, these methods can be categorized based on whether the sensor actively illuminates objects with light sources, resulting in two categories: active and passive methods. Two active methods, namely, structured light and laser scanning, are briefly introduced. The focus then shifts to structure from motion (SfM), stereo matching, and multi-view stereo (MVS), encompassing both traditional and learning-based approaches. Additionally, a novel approach of neural-radiance-field-based 3D reconstruction is introduced. The workflow and improvements in large-scale scenes are elaborated upon. Subsequently, some well-known datasets and evaluation metrics for various 3D reconstruction tasks are introduced. Lastly, a summary of the challenges encountered in the application of 3D reconstruction technology in large-scale outdoor scenes is provided, along with predictions for future trends in development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pilgrimage tourism, among the earliest forms of tourism with a tradition spanning centuries, stands as a steadfast global attraction. This article delves into the significance, diversity, and historical roots of this tourism type, recognizing the contemporary surge in interest in pilgrimage sites. Offering an overview of globally prominent pilgrimage destinations and highlighting key locations in Slovakia, the article emphasizes the country's considerable potential for the utilization and development of these sacred sites, despite its compact size. It stresses the need to foster this historically significant tourism sector and the necessity for attention and support from the government sector to maximize its potential. The relevance of pilgrimage became particularly apparent during the COVID-19 pandemic, with observable visitor participation despite challenging conditions at various pilgrimage sites. The article examines the pilgrimage's evolution before, during, and after the pandemic, using Levoča and Šaštín in Slovakia as illustrative cases. One of the main objectives of this study was to clarify the development of pilgrimage tourism in Slovakia over the past decades and the factors influencing it. The attendance analysis unmistakably reveals a significant upward trend at these specific locations, emphasizing the need to establish collaborative efforts to support this sector. Such collaboration is crucial for ensuring the sustainability of historically significant sites, fostering local development, and increasing the visibility of less-visited pilgrimage destinations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the face of escalating global concerns surrounding environmental sustainability and the preservation of cultural heritage, this research explores the intricate connection between residents' environmentally responsible conduct (ERB) and tourists' sustainable involvement with cultural heritage sites (SU). Highlighting the pivotal importance of destination identification (DI) as a mediator and self-congruity (SC) as a moderator, our study utilizes a quantitative data approach to investigate the nuanced relationships inherent in the domain of tourism destinations. The data were collected from 324 tourists (visiting Luxor heritage city in Egypt) and analyzed by PLS-SEM, and the results showed a positive correlation between residents who strongly identify with their local environment and an increased dedication to environmentally responsible actions. Moreover, tourists who demonstrate elevated levels of self-congruity with the cultural heritage destination are inclined to embrace more sustainable behaviors, thereby making positive contributions to heritage preservation initiatives. This study enriches the evolving domain of sustainable tourism by providing insights into the intricate interactions between residents and tourists, fostering environmentally responsible behavior, and promoting the sustainable utilization of cultural heritage. Practical applications encompass the formulation of community-based interventions, the design of destination marketing strategies, and the proposal of policy recommendations. These initiatives aim to enhance the engagement of both residents and tourists, fostering the long-term preservation of cultural and environmental assets. Ultimately, the research seeks to guide sustainable tourism practices that strike a balance between the economic advantages of tourism and the essential preservation of cultural heritage and natural environments for future generations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Personalized recommendation plays an important role in many online service fields. In the field of tourism recommendation, tourist attractions contain rich context and content information. These implicit features include not only text, but also images and videos. In order to make better use of these features, researchers usually introduce richer feature information or more efficient feature representation methods, but the unrestricted introduction of a large amount of feature information will undoubtedly reduce the performance of the recommendation system. We propose a novel heterogeneous multimodal representation learning method for tourism recommendation. The proposed model is based on two-tower architecture, in which the item tower handles multimodal latent features: Bidirectional Long Short-Term Memory (Bi-LSTM) is used to extract the text features of items, and an External Attention Transformer (EANet) is used to extract image features of items, and connect these feature vectors with item IDs to enrich the feature representation of items. In order to increase the expressiveness of the model, we introduce a deep fully connected stack layer to fuse multimodal feature vectors and capture the hidden relationship between them. The model is tested on the three different datasets, our model is better than the baseline models in NDCG and precision. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to advancements in technology and digital connectivity, travel patterns have changed. Technological developments have increased the amount of information and inspiration available to consumers, and big data analytics allows for the creation of innovative insights. When it comes to implementing cuttingedge technologies, small businesses typically lag behind larger ones. In light of the above, this study aims to examine the extent of usage and challenges SMEs face concerning e-marketing. SMEs in the tourism sector have demonstrated that they are drivers of economic growth through the development of entrepreneurial skills and job creation. In this study, data was qualitatively collected from 14 SME service providers, through a purposive sampling method. The findings revealed that SMEs struggle with the adoption of e-marketing. Moreover, the findings revealed that SMEs are also faced with the challenge of easy access to funding, this was found to affect their flexibility towards digital transformation. Lastly, this study found that SMEs are faced with the challenge of lack of expertise to implement digital transformations. This study concludes that, although in South Africa government funding provided to SMEs through grants plays a critical role, it is still not enough. The government can further their SME development initiatives through public sector and private sector partnerships. By increasing SMEs access to funding, joint SME development programs offer a substantial chance to promote entrepreneurship in South Africa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prospect theory has been an essential theoretical foundation for behavioral economics, as recognized with the Nobel Prize in economic sciences in 2002. The growing interest in behavioral economics among tourism researchers necessitates a systematic assessment of prospect theory and its application in tourism research to critically examine the current status of tourism decision-making studies. This study therefore clarifies the theoretical background of prospect theory and analyzes 93 published studies to examine how prospect theory has performed in explaining tourism decision-making. The study also evaluates the application of prospect theory in tourism research and provides future research directions with respect to under-researched dimensions, reference points, dynamic decision-making processes, and the logical continuity and systemization of prospect theory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We examine the association between climate policy uncertainty (CPU) and corporate investment using U.S. data on tourism and hospitality firms over the period 2001–2020. We find that the aggregate country-level CPU is significantly negatively associated with capital investment, with the impact extending at least 4 years into the future. In particular, we find that CPU has an influence on firms' capital investment that is incremental to economic policy uncertainty (EPU). By contrast, we document that CPU is unrelated to R&D investment. Our main findings are robust to a battery of sensitivity tests, including an instrumental variable approach and sub-industry analyses. Overall, our findings highlighting the impact of CPU on capital investment have significant implications for academics, managers, and policy makers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Belt and Road (B&R) plan is put out within the framework of global economics and strategic growth. This study examines the written material of popular tourist sites along B&R and the tourism assets from the viewpoint of B&R, based on the wireless network and AI technology, and using a big data platform and the Internet of Things (IoT) User Generated Content (UGC) network structure. To manage tourist pictures from customers' views, online travel notes are first utilized as examples. Next, tourism texts' keywords are extracted using Python big data and AI technology to understand consumers' perceptions of scenic spot preferences, tourism facilities and services, and social and cultural customs. The findings demonstrate that, when compared to the conventional tourism brand development strategy, the integrated development strategy based on the AI big data platform can not only increase the effectiveness of managing tourists' perceptions of scenic locations but can also encourage the common development of national sports event components and intelligent tourism image management. Several sports tourist boutique picturesque locations have also been built along B&R following years of development of intelligent tourism and sports projects, which will strengthen the effect of multicultural exchanges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tourism in small islands is usually prioritized over fishing on the assumption that marginal fishers will eventually benefit from the multiplier effects of tourism activities. This leads to the difficult coastal tourism and fisheries nexus (CTF) conundrum, however, since the natural balance in small islands has been disturbed. Thus, to compare how locals and visitors perceived sustainability in small islands with the entry of tourism activities, Delphi surveys of 395 fishers and 113 tourists were conducted in Boracay, Gigantes, and Guimaras islands, Philippines. The indicators used were based on the UN sustainability framework and measured through a five-point Likert scale. Sustainability status was determined using the IUCN sustainability barometer, whereas sustainability ratings were compared (a = 0.05) for respondents and study sites using standardized Mann-Whitney U-test and Kruskal-Wallis H-tests, respectively, with Games-Howell multiple comparison tests as post hoc. Results show that, overall, the three small islands are in potentially sustainable status (i.e. acceptable performance). In specific terms, both ecological and institutional dimensions are also in potentially sustainable status, whereas the socio-economic dimension has a sustainable status (i.e. desirable performance). Gigantes, however, has a significantly lower sustainability score (p < 0.05) compared to Boracay and Guimaras, which were not significantly different. Interestingly, tourists rated all small islands as sustainable with a perception rating significantly higher (p < 0.05) than fishers who perceived that their islands have only a potentially sustainable status. These findings suggest the difference in how fishers and tourists may look at programs and initiatives with long-term viability, and this needs to be addressed to attain a better and stable CTF so it can be used as a CRM strategy that can contribute to the sustainability goals in small islands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper proposes a wireless network-based machine intelligence model to enhance the predictive capability of green tourism satisfaction in regions with cultural differences. The model combines big data analysis techniques and machine learning algorithms to collect tourist data through intelligent machines and devices. Analyzing tourists' behavior and preferences establishes a reliable prediction model to effectively assess tourists' satisfaction with green tourism. Additionally, the paper constructs a distributed integration scheduling and feature mining model of green tourism satisfaction, which extracts relevant information features of big statistical data using an integration feature detection method. Furthermore, the paper establishes a fuzzy network structure model and designs the objective function of green tourism satisfaction prediction through decision scheduling and parameter optimization. The model's parameter-weighted learning enhances the optimization prediction ability of green tourism satisfaction under regional cultural differences. The paper also carries out green tourism satisfaction prediction and tourists' preference feature analysis using the fuzzy big data matching feature clustering method. The fuzzy network block fusion and clustering results also enable tourists' preference behavior feature analysis, further improving the predictive capability of green tourism satisfaction under regional cultural differences. The simulation results demonstrate high accuracy and good optimization ability, ultimately improving green tourism satisfaction prediction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Global aquaculture production continues to grow to meet the high demand for fish food by the ever-increasing population worldwide. In particular, the Malaysian aquaculture sector produced approximately 411,781 tonnes of total aquaculture production with an estimated economic value of USD 700 million in 2019. However, this industry in Malaysia faces many challenges that hinder future development, especially in sustaining this industry. This is mainly due to the lack of motivation to meet the sustainability criteria. Therefore, the aquaculture industry is under immense pressure to embrace sustainability measures due to concerns about environmental impacts. Therefore, this article outlines the production and value of common cultivable species in Malaysia for freshwater and brackish water aquaculture and the intensification and development of the aquaculture industry in Malaysia. This review also thoroughly discussed various sustainable challenges such as waste generation, the use of chemicals and drugs, the outbreak of diseases, and others related to the aquaculture industry. In contrast, it also highlighted many opportunities, such as the expansion of extractive species aquaculture, the conversion of aquaculture waste into value-added products, and aquaculture tourism to pursue a sustainable aquaculture industry in Malaysia. Hence, this comprehensive review will positively impact the future development of the aquaculture industry in the global context, particularly in Malaysia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The recent health crisis has created a new scenario where rural tourism stands out as a beneficiary of the post-COVID era. The results of this research, based on the conducted surveys, show that agrotourism is an attractive and interesting activity for tourists, offering a diversified experience with livestock-related and pastoral activities in Andalusia (Spain). Agrotourism, a form of rural tourism, has the potential to align with emerging tourist interests, while reactivating the economy of livestock farming families and recognizing the important environmental, social, and economic role of extensive livestock farming. However, based on the findings of this study, specific areas of focus include (i) developing marketing strategies that encourage tourist participation throughout the year; (ii) integrating theoretical and practical content into educational training pro-grams to raise awareness of agrotourism projects and foster interest among future professionals in both the tourism and livestock sectors; and (iii) providing training and support for livestock farmers interested in diversifying their activities through agrotourism (considering such aspects as investment, time commitment, dedication, tourist engagement, forming alliances with companies, etc.). This support could be facilitated by public administrations, fostering synergies between the public and private sectors. This study aimed to analyze the interest, willingness to pay, and profile of tourists participating in specific agrotourism activities linked to extensive livestock farming in order to encourage the development of those activities that are most demanded by tourists, as well as to support the proposals for improvements to promote this kind of tourism in the region of Andalusia (Spain). For this purpose, a survey was conducted, which was organized into six sections: (i) sociodemographic data, (ii) general aspects of tourism, (iii) rural tourism, (iv) livestock farming and tourism, (v) benefits of extensive livestock farming, and (vi) tourism activities linked to livestock farming. A total of 892 responses were received, out of which 753 were analyzed. The results show that the respondents are interested or motivated by the proposed activities. The most attractive activities are those related to livestock farming, which involve some kind of workshop on the production of handicrafts. Despite tourists having low-to-medium knowledge of extensive livestock farming, they all express a highly positive perception of the associated attributes. Developing strategies to enhance the willingness to pay for agrotourism activities is crucial, with the overall experience being a key element of their success. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Connectivity measures real energization state of manifold applications and user interference in many criteria-based network systems. Randic index is a parameter of this type that can be used to measure the combined power of molecular graph or graphical network system. The concept of Randic index has been applied in a connected system in Indonesia tourism sectors under some uncertain conditions. First, Randic index of fuzzy graph (FG) and fuzzy subgraph are introduced and investigated their properties. Second, different upper and lower bounds of Randic index and their isomorphic properties in fuzzy graphs are exhibited. Third, the Randic index in directed fuzzy graph (FDG) is introduced. Due to presence of similar contribution of vertices, many formulas for calculating Randic index of regular fuzzy graphs are presented. Fourth, some similarity and distinction of Randic index with connectivity index (CI) and Wiener index (WI) in fuzzy graph are analyzed. Fifth, an algorithm and a flowchart are proposed to determine Randic index in a fuzzy graph. Finally, an application is depicted to mention the order of important crossroads and stoppages between Balai Kemambang (BKB) and Bukit Kendalisada (BKS) in Indonesia tourism sectors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Grasping the concerns of customers is paramount, serving as a foundation for both attracting and retaining a loyal customer base. While customer satisfaction has been extensively explored across diverse industries, there remains a dearth of insights into how distinct rural bed and breakfasts (RB&Bs) can effectively cater to the specific needs of their target audience. This research utilized latent semantic analysis and text regression techniques on online reviews, uncovering previously unrecognized factors contributing to RB&B customer satisfaction. Furthermore, the study demonstrates that certain factors wield distinct impacts on guest satisfaction within varying RB&B market segments. The implications of these findings extend to empowering RB&B owners with actionable insights to enhance the overall customer experience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Advanced mobile functions and empowered smartphones have provided tourists with various location-based service apps that reshaped the business model of the tourism sector. Despite their importance to tourists, l-apps still have limitations, such as ignorance of tourist preferences and the mismatch between app introduction and tourist experience, therefore affecting tourist loyalty to destinations. Understanding tourist-oriented factors thus becomes critical for l-app designers and service providers. This study integrates the technology-acceptance model (TAM) into a unique context to examine the roles of digital literacy, perceived ease of use, perceived autonomy, virtual-content congruence, and tourist engagement on tourist loyalty. Our empirical test of a structural equation model based on a randomly recruited 319 customers found that tourists' digital literacy influences their engagement and perceived ease of use, which mediates the relationship between digital literacy and engagement; tourists' perceived autonomy influences their engagement. Moreover, we found the moderating role of information-experience congruency between digital literacy, perceived ease of use, and perceived autonomy and tourist engagement, thus contributing to the boundary conditions of the TAM model. Finally, tourist engagement contributes to tourist loyalty. The study contributes to the integration of the technology acceptance model with a tourist orientation. The findings also offer meaningful, practical implications and recommendations on l-app design to stakeholders of tourist destinations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Exploring the of regional tourism efficiency is of great significance in promoting high-quality development of regional tourism. However, there are not many studies that measure the quality development of tourism destinations from the perspective of inputs and output. Based on this, the data envelopment analysis model is used to measure the overall technical efficiency (TECRS), pure technical efficiency (TEVRS), and scale efficiency (SE) with the help of DEA-SOLVER software, taking the ten prefecture-level cities in Shaanxi Province as examples, to further analyze and evaluate the spatial differences of different tourism destinations and the reasons for the differences. The results of the study found that: the efficiency indicators explain the differences in the development quality of tourism destinations from different sides; the development quality of tourism destinations in Shaanxi as a whole is low, with excessive inputs and insufficient outputs; and the tourism destinations with relatively high development quality are distributed in the Guanzhong. On this basis, corresponding countermeasure suggestions are put forward to promote the improvement of governance efficiency of tourism destinations in Shaanxi Province, and then optimize the quality of development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The proliferation of mobile technology has significantly changed non-traditional tourism types such as the ecotourism sector and thus significantly impacted visitors' experience at tourism sites. However, there is a lack of instrumentation to assess the visitors' experience with mobile technology and the general experience of the visitors at ecotourism sites. This research aims at establishing and validating the instruments to measure the visitors' experience with and without mobile technology. A standard psychometric scale development methodology was utilised to develop and validate the scales. Three hundred participants responded to the online advertisement and participated in this research. Data were analysed using IBM SPSS. Findings from Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) revealed the multi-factor attributes of visitors' experience with the smartphone app and general experience for the ecotourism site. The Ecotourism Smartphone Application (ESAS) yielded five factors: App Ease of Use, Mobile App Usability, App Utilitarian Value, App loyalty, and App Meaningful Experience; whilst General Experience Scale (GES) yielded two factors: Learning and Satisfaction. These two scales can measure the overall visitor experience at ecotourism sites that use and do not use mobile technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Considered to be an emerging topic in tourism research, traveling to familiar places benefits both the travelers and destinations. However, the current development of familiar tourism is severely affected by the epidemic. Recognizing the potential of virtual reality (VR), this research aims to explore VR's relevance in the application of visiting familiar places and the empirical features of VR beyond on-site familiar tourism. We first reviewed the literature and developed an experience framework. Secondly, we conducted an exploratory activity in which participants (N = 16) used Google Earth VR to travel to their familiar places with two conditions (free exploration and task-oriented travel). In the activity, we employed think-aloud protocols, a scale, and semi-structured interviews. With our framework, we categorized findings into five dimensions and indicated the similarities and differences between familiar tourism in VR and that in actual places. Particularly, three empirical features (the sense of distance, multi-view space, and montage time) were recognized and formed VR's opportunity to outperform on-site travel. We conclude by discussing the impacts of VR on familiar tourism and providing implications, including designing the timeline, sounds, tasks, and virtual guides. These suggestions inspire designers to acknowledge VR limitations and identify directions for future tourism applications. As a beginning of empirical investigation on VR familiar tourism, this study opens up a new field of discussion around VR tourism experience. We invite the Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) community to collectively probe into the VR experience and design of visiting familiar places. Efforts in this area will stretch beyond the current understandings of various forms of tourism and contribute to crafting rich travel experience by immersive technologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]