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Copyright of Tourism & Rural Development Studies / Turisztikai és Vidékfejlesztési Tanulmányok is the property of CampInvest Kft. 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 level of expenditure by cruise passengers in the various cities visited during their journey is a crucial variable for the key stakeholders involved in this industry. Promoting higher spending by cruise passengers in non-overnight stay ports is a challenge led by the destination manager. This study aims to shed light on the effect that different phases in the cruise passenger's travel cycle have on their propensity to spend during their stay. Our case focuses on the city of A Coruña, a non-overnight stay port on Europe's Atlantic arc routes, where the average spending per cruise passenger during their visit is quite low. The analysis considers the impact of passenger profiles and the cruise product consumption phases on the average spending per passenger. From a methodological perspective, we have applied logistic regression. The results indicate that the profile of the cruise passenger, variables related to the onboard journey, and the experience of the city are the factors with the greatest potential to increase cruise passenger spending during their visit to the city. This has allowed the areas of greatest impact and where actions should be focused to be identified for both the destination manager and key stakeholders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines sustainability in tourism, with a particular focus on enhancing destination management through comprehensive visitor monitoring. Precise data on visitor volumes constitute an essential prerequisite for the sustainable planning and management of tourism-related services and infrastructure. This research investigates the correlation between destination attendance and the utilization of visitor centers, employing regression analysis and the Kolmogorov–Smirnov test to quantify these relationships. The study specifically addresses the distribution of domestic and international visitors in the city of Prague and their engagement with municipal information centers, enabling the identification of key visitor behavior patterns. The results offer a robust foundation for forecasting future trends in international visitor flows, which is critical for strategic planning and the sustainable development of tourism destinations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose – As the Journal of Tourism Futures celebrates its 10th Anniversary, Dr Stefan Hartman (head of department at the European Tourism Futures Institute, NHL Stenden University of Applied Sciences) interviews Jeremy Sampson (CEO of The Travel Foundation) about his view on the evolution of the tourism industry and the need for systemic change. Design/methodology/approach – A personal interview held on July, 16, 2024. Findings – Jeremy Sampson highlights the importance of scenario planning and strategic foresight and its evolution. Sampson elaborates on his personal career journey, the approach of the Travel Foundation and how this informed a strong focus on the ground impact as well as systemic change. Originality/value – The interview provides unique insights into the motivation of Sampson and The Travel Foundation and their approaches, aiming to be the change makers in the tourism industry. A role that is very much needed, perhaps particularly from a third sector organization such as The Travel Foundation.

Purpose – As the Journal of Tourism Futures celebrates its 10th Anniversary, Dr Stefan Hartman (head of department at the European Tourism Futures Institute, NHL Stenden University of Applied Sciences) interviews Bernadett Papp (senior researcher at the European Tourism Futures Institute (ETFI) at NHL Stenden University of Applied Sciences) about her recent work in tourism practice and academic and future perspectives on topics relevant to the future of tourism. Design/methodology/approach – A personal interview was held on September 16, 2024. Findings – Bernadett Papp draws attention to the importance of bringing equity into debates on tourism development and destination governance. She sees a crucial role for governments, the redesign of institutional frameworks, monitoring and data collection and rethinking systems of governance. Originality/value – The interview provides unique insights into the viewpoints of Papp, highlighting the importance of the still understudied topic of equitable tourism. A topic that still requires a lot of work before hitting mainstream approaches to destination development, even though it should have been on the policy agendas for many years already.

The level of expenditure by cruise passengers in the various cities visited during their journey is a crucial variable for the key stakeholders involved in this industry. Promoting higher spending by cruise passengers in non-overnight stay ports is a challenge led by the destination manager. This study aims to shed light on the effect that different phases in the cruise passenger’s travel cycle have on their propensity to spend during their stay. Our case focuses on the city of A Coruña, a non-overnight stay port on Europe’s Atlantic arc routes, where the average spending per cruise passenger during their visit is quite low. The analysis considers the impact of passenger profiles and the cruise product consumption phases on the average spending per passenger. From a methodological perspective, we have applied logistic regression. The results indicate that the profile of the cruise passenger, variables related to the onboard journey, and the experience of the city are the factors with the greatest potential to increase cruise passenger spending during their visit to the city. This has allowed the areas of greatest impact and where actions should be focused to be identified for both the destination manager and key stakeholders.

Online reviews are crucial for revenue management on online platforms in the tourism industry. However, there is a gap in detecting greedy review behavior that can negatively impact destinations. This study uses locus of control theory to examine how greed influences online review content. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with tourists exhibiting varying degrees of greed. The transcripts were manually coded to identify themes around the evolution of greedy review behavior and strategies to mitigate exaggerated reviews. The findings indicate that greed, combined with an external locus of control, leads to exaggerated negative reviews. Reviewers from individualistic cultures also displayed stronger external locus traits. Theoretically, this expands understanding of electronic word-of-mouth and attribution theory in tourism. Managerially, destination marketers should implement sophisticated review filtering, respond strategically to negative reviews, and offer activities to address tourists' psychological needs in order to protect reputations from greedy behavior.

This article explores the efforts of Destination Limfjorden in Denmark to enhance employees' competencies and skills in small and medium-sized tourism enterprises (SMEs) through the strategic use of data. The study employs a mixed-method approach, integrating digital questionnaires and semi-structured interviews to identify the competence needs of stakeholders. The research reveals a significant need for improved digital guest services and highlights the importance of data usage within companies, network building and general competence needs. The article also reviews the literature on the role of big data in augmenting tourism research and the challenges SMEs face in harnessing big data analytics. It underscores the need for robust knowledge management initiatives, targeted skill development programmes and a culture of collaboration among tourism SMEs. The article concludes by emphasising the increasing significance of big data competencies for SMEs in the tourism sector, particularly in remote European regions, and the potential of data analytics in fostering resilience among SMEs and enhancing their competitiveness within the evolving dynamics of the tourism industry landscape. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose - This paper conducts a meticulous bibliometric analysis of 659 documents indexed in the Web of Science database, exploring the intellectual evolution of Smart Tourism Destinations (STD) and contributing to understanding the evolution of scientific literature on STD until December 2023, guiding future explorations in this dynamic and evolving field. Methodology/Design/Approach - By unifying the conceptual structure and highlighting key descriptive elements with the application of statistical methods, this research provides insights into the intellectual fabric of STD research. Findings - Our findings show the evolution of the conceptual structure, influential authors, institutions and countries involved in STD research, as well as the evolving social structure within the field. The surge in scientific output, especially since 2019 aligns with the integration of advanced technologies, including artificial intelligence, immersive mechanisms, big data, and robotics, prompting uncertainty in business implementation and stakeholder responses. Originality of the research - This study sheds light on the intellectual evolution of STD by summarising a wide range of literature, helping the authors to be informed about future research directions in the field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article explores the efforts of Destination Limfjorden in Denmark to enhance employees’ competencies and skills in small and medium-sized tourism enterprises (SMEs) through the strategic use of data. The study employs a mixed-method approach, integrating digital questionnaires and semi-structured interviews to identify the competence needs of stakeholders. The research reveals a significant need for improved digital guest services and highlights the importance of data usage within companies, network building and general competence needs. The article also reviews the literature on the role of big data in augmenting tourism research and the challenges SMEs face in harnessing big data analytics. It underscores the need for robust knowledge management initiatives, targeted skill development programmes and a culture of collaboration among tourism SMEs. The article concludes by emphasising the increasing significance of big data competencies for SMEs in the tourism sector, particularly in remote European regions, and the potential of data analytics in fostering resilience among SMEs and enhancing their competitiveness within the evolving dynamics of the tourism industry landscape.

Tourism is a dynamic and highly competitive industry, with destinations worldwide vying for the attention of travelers. Central to tourists' decision-making processes are their perceptions of a destination, often encapsulated in the concept of "destination image." This study seeks to unravel the intricate relationship between destination image and tourists' behavioral intentions, specifically examining how tourists' perceptions of a destination influence their intentions to visit, revisit, and recommend it to others. To achieve this, a comprehensive review of the literature on destination image and its impact on tourists' behavior was conducted. Empirical research findings from various destinations and cultural contexts were analyzed to provide insights into the multi-faceted nature of destination image and its effects on tourists' behavioral intentions. The study explores the dimensions that contribute to the formation of destination image, including cultural, natural, social, and marketing factors. The research reveals that tourists' perceptions of a destination significantly affect their intentions. A positive destination image often leads to a higher likelihood of initial visitation, repeat visitation, and word-of-mouth recommendations to others. Conversely, negative perceptions may deter potential tourists and discourage repeat visits or advocacy. Furthermore, the study discusses the role of destination marketing and management in shaping and enhancing destination image. Strategies such as effective communication, experiential marketing, and sustainable development are identified as critical elements in managing and improving destination image. The findings of this study provide valuable insights for destination marketers, policymakers, and industry stakeholders. Understanding the dynamics of destination image and its impact on behavioral intentions can inform the development of more targeted and effective marketing campaigns, as well as sustainable destination management practices. Ultimately, a positive destination image can not only attract more tourists but also foster a loyal and enthusiastic visitor base, contributing to the long-term success and sustainability of tourism destinations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of R&S: Research Studies Anatolia Journal is the property of Dr. Arif Yildiz 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.)

Problems caused by overtourism are currently a major concern in the most visited destinations. Awareness of overtourism and the amount of news about reactions to overtourism has been increasing around the world recently. Overtourism has been frequently discussed by journalists in media, researchers in their research and politicians in their search for solutions. It also causes some negative impacts and reactions against tourism in destinations. Sustainable tourism policies should be developed to minimize the negative impacts and prevent potential reactions before they occur. The research aims to identify these necessary sustainable tourism policies for destinations at risk of, or struggling with, overtourism. The research was carried out in four stages, demonstrating the overtourism risk in Alanya, determining the negative impacts of tourism in the study area, examining international reports, and generating a list of proactive sustainable tourism practices and policies for destinations by document analysis. Long-term planning, involving destination stakeholders in the planning process, and the continuous monitoring of the tourism impacts on the destination are among the main results. Sustainable tourism policies and practices are enriched with concrete examples. The research results are expected to be a guide for decision-makers in the destinations at risk of, or struggling with, overtourism.

While sustainability is widely recognized as necessary for managing heritage sites, balancing preservation demands with tourism development pressures presents significant challenges. A critical gap in the existing research relates to understanding the recurring issues that undermine the long-term sustainability of prominent archaeological destinations in Egypt and visitor well-being. Specifically, more research is needed to identify the specific sustainability and visitor experience problems that persist across Egypt’s major archaeological sites despite ongoing management efforts. Addressing this knowledge gap could help inform strategies for these destinations to balance conservation priorities with tourism in a more sustainable manner that enhances visitors’ cultural exploration. This study contributes a novel multisite content analysis of over 4423 online reviews from TripAdvisor pertaining to three of Egypt’s premier archaeological destinations—Giza Pyramids, Al Mu’izz Street, and Saqqara. Using established text mining methodologies and algorithms within Voyant Tools, critical challenges were identified through word frequency, concept network, and trend analyses. Recurring issues documented included uncontrolled commercialization undermining the ambiance of historic locales, environmental degradation from inadequate waste management and tourism overflows, and overcrowding compromising visitor comfort, health and safety. Deficiencies in signage, transportation, and other tourist services were also prominent themes. The holistic evaluation of cross-cutting concerns faced at the diverse yet interrelated sites advanced the theoretical knowledge on cooperative governance models and competencies necessary for integrative heritage management. The recommendations center on collaborative stakeholder partnerships to reform commercial practices through licensing and enforcement, upgrading aging infrastructure to support sustainable tourism volumes, and implementing zoning and carrying capacity policies tailored to local community contexts. The proposed solutions aim to safeguard Egypt’s irreplaceable cultural treasures by addressing recurrent problems that undermine environmental, economic and socio-cultural sustainability if left unresolved, positioning its archaeological wonders for appreciation and study by present and future generations.

While sustainability is widely recognized as necessary for managing heritage sites, balancing preservation demands with tourism development pressures presents significant challenges. A critical gap in the existing research relates to understanding the recurring issues that undermine the long-term sustainability of prominent archaeological destinations in Egypt and visitor well-being. Specifically, more research is needed to identify the specific sustainability and visitor experience problems that persist across Egypt's major archaeological sites despite ongoing management efforts. Addressing this knowledge gap could help inform strategies for these destinations to balance conservation priorities with tourism in a more sustainable manner that enhances visitors' cultural exploration. This study contributes a novel multisite content analysis of over 4423 online reviews from TripAdvisor pertaining to three of Egypt's premier archaeological destinations—Giza Pyramids, Al Mu'izz Street, and Saqqara. Using established text mining methodologies and algorithms within Voyant Tools, critical challenges were identified through word frequency, concept network, and trend analyses. Recurring issues documented included uncontrolled commercialization undermining the ambiance of historic locales, environmental degradation from inadequate waste management and tourism overflows, and overcrowding compromising visitor comfort, health and safety. Deficiencies in signage, transportation, and other tourist services were also prominent themes. The holistic evaluation of cross-cutting concerns faced at the diverse yet interrelated sites advanced the theoretical knowledge on cooperative governance models and competencies necessary for integrative heritage management. The recommendations center on collaborative stakeholder partnerships to reform commercial practices through licensing and enforcement, upgrading aging infrastructure to support sustainable tourism volumes, and implementing zoning and carrying capacity policies tailored to local community contexts. The proposed solutions aim to safeguard Egypt's irreplaceable cultural treasures by addressing recurrent problems that undermine environmental, economic and socio-cultural sustainability if left unresolved, positioning its archaeological wonders for appreciation and study by present and future generations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study presents a comprehensive examination of the integration of Geographic Information Systems (GIS), Augmented Reality (AR) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) in tourism promotion in Tanzania. The literature review underscores the significance of these technologies in enhancing visitor experiences, destination management, and marketing strategies. The proposed integrated system design combines GIS's spatial mapping capabilities, AI's personalised recommendations, and AR's immersive content delivery to optimise tourist satisfaction and engagement. Key components include the GIS module for spatial data management, the AI recommendation engine for personalised suggestions, and the AR interface for immersive content overlay. Discussions highlight how the proposed system, by addressing critical challenges in the tourism sector, aligns with existing research findings and reassures its effectiveness. Ultimately, the study emphasises the potential of GIS, AR and AI technologies to revolutionise tourism promotion in Tanzania, fostering sustainable growth and cultural appreciation while enhancing visitor experiences.

This study advances the measurement of sustainable development in communities and destinations examining socio-ecological, environmental, cultural, and economic dimensions. By integrating qualitive insights within established indicator systems such as the European Tourism Indicator System, it addresses the limitations of traditional, solely quantitative approaches. Carrying out over 400 resident surveys in Co. Clare, Ireland, the research established sustainable indicators and assessed the destination's sustainability through resident-based metrics. For instance, 87% of residents believed that tourism benefits their community, yet only 23% of residents were satisfied with their involvement in planning. Thematic analysis of the open-ended responses provided crucial themes for sustainable destination management, highlighting resident concerns on transport, planning, management, and community involvement and benefits. The study concluded that relying solely on quantitative indicators, limits Destination Management Organizations (DMOs) and planners to Likert scale results, failing to capture nuanced impacts observed by destinations. The study highlights the insufficiency of solely using quantitative indicators, which risk oversimplifying community inputs and misinterpreting resident dissatisfaction, signally a need for diverse solutions to address varied concerns. The study also identified survey fatigue as a governance challenge, potentially hindering future sustainable development efforts. Aligning with the socio-ecological indicators of the community-environment-development nexus call for papers, this interdisciplinary research demonstrates the value of advanced indicator systems in promoting meaningful community engagement and supporting policy formulation for sustainable destination development. It offers a comprehensive framework for integrating resident perspectives and thematic insights into destination management, contributing to a more inclusive and community-based approach to tourism development.

This research aims to analyze the development of quality tourism and the resulting impacts in order to provide social and economic justice in the tourist village.This research provides a critical perspective on the development of quality tourism and its associated impacts linked to sustainable development goals. This study adopts a qualitative research paradigm with a phenomenological approach. Data analysis techniques employed include: observation, in-depth interviews, and literature review.This research found that the impact generated from the development of quality tourism is still minimal. When researchers connect it with sustainable development goals, it can be understood that every aspect, including social, economic, environmental, and cultural, needs improvement. The local community has not yet massively benefited from tourism to improve their standard of living.

This article presents a narrative perspective review of the state-of-the-art of destination marketing and management. The past 15 years of developments, stretching from technological advances enabling methodological progress and new consumer behavior to climate, health, and financial crises, require a reassessment of previous academic contributions and current practices. Referring back to the social origins of destinations, this article conceptualizes destinations as a heterogeneous space of flows and proposes future research linked to tourist demand and tourism supply, sustainability and resilience, technological shifts, and institutions. Finally, six broader streams of conversations suggest how to advance the marketing and management of destinations related to a destination ontology grounded in flows, with a focus on processes and action, stewardship and collaboration, resilient destinations, transient and permanent residents, as well as new instrumental technologies and augmented experiences.

The process of coming out of the COVID-19 pandemic is an opportunity to create various scenarios for returning to the path of tourism development. The search for suitable and effective solutions was at the heart of the Tourism Friendly Cities project, in which eight European cities participated. The aim is to define the challenges and tools related to the sustainability of urban tourism. The empirical research was based on the opinions of experts from eight cities involved, and concerned four thematic areas: the quality of life and tourism in the city before and during/after COVID-19, tourism dysfunctions, the sources of conflicts between local stakeholders, and the tools for the sustainable reconstruction of tourism. The results confirmed the existence of a wide range of declared tools for the development of sustainable tourism after the pandemic. The conducted research indicates key areas of conflict in the field of tourism activity. The authors also come to the conclusion that tools for regulating tourist traffic should not be universal, but should meet the individual needs of the city.

In this study, information will be explored that will contribute to increasing tourism income in destinations with low tourist expenditure per person. For this purpose, the souvenir expenditure of tourists in Turkey is examined. Souvenir stores in Sultanahmet and the Grand Bazaar in Istanbul were investigated using a qualitative case study research design. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 11 souvenir sellers and 778 online comments of tourists shopping in souvenir stores were analyzed by netnography. As a result of the research, it has been determined that the efforts made to transform products based on the natural, historical and cultural richness of Turkey into brands, and thus increase local product diversity, play a critical role in increasing souvenir expenditure. On the other hand, the importance of the selection of high spending tourists as the target market and increasing the employment of qualified workers in the tourism sector has emerged.

The purpose of the article is to evaluate the possibilities of evaluating sustainable tourism in Polish tourist regions, in particular, through the use of ETIS indicators and to assess for the availability of data for their calculation in the nationwide statistical system. Qualitative research methodology was used to study the availability of ETIS indicators. A diagnostic type research procedure was adopted and the desk research method was used. In a situation where the data necessary for calculating a given indicator was not found in the available sources, primary research in the form of direct interviews with representatives of branches of Statistical Offices was used. In order to quantify the availability of ETIS indicators, a system for their evaluation was adopted and aggregate indicators were proposed for the evaluation of sections and individual criteria in the section, which is the author’s attempt to develop a unified system for evaluating sustainable tourism indicators. The results of the study showed that the availability of data for calculating ETIS indicators in Poland is not satisfactory. The lowest rating was given to the availability of indicators that facilitate the management of the resort, including the tourists’ satisfaction survey (section A). Also rated very low was the availability of indicators of the environmental impact of tourism in a resort (section D). The results obtained confirm the results of studies by other authors dealing with the issue of the real use of ETIS in tourist regions of other countries.

To make Bosnia and Herzegovina a desirable destination even more attractive for tourists, it is necessary to take concrete actions that primarily include destination management and such organizations. In all of this, information and communication technology plays a special role. This paper deals precisely with the association between information and communication technology and destination management organizations, and which obstacles can be. Such a conceptual model, such as this research model, has not yet been used. When trying to understand the obstacles of destination management organizations to use information and communication technology, this research can become interesting for destination management organizations and their managers. And not just for them, but for other stakeholders, for example, marketing and sales partners, experts involved, politics, services providers, etc. The sample of this study was 200 randomly selected staff of travel boards in Bosnia and Herzegovina over 3 months. Given that in this research the focus is only on tourist boards as representatives of such organizations, this may be a limitation, but also a recommendation to include other destination management organizations in future research. Both of the hypotheses in this research have been confirmed, H1 - there are differences in multimedia and attitudes towards information and communication technology that affect external destination marketing and internal development role in destination management organization, and H2- There is a correlation between the state and obstacles of information and communication technology and destination management organization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article presents a narrative perspective review of the state-of-the-art of destination marketing and management. The past 15 years of developments, stretching from technological advances enabling methodological progress and new consumer behavior to climate, health, and financial crises, require a reassessment of previous academic contributions and current practices. Referring back to the social origins of destinations, this article conceptualizes destinations as a heterogeneous space of flows and proposes future research linked to tourist demand and tourism supply, sustainability and resilience, technological shifts, and institutions. Finally, six broader streams of conversations suggest how to advance the marketing and management of destinations related to a destination ontology grounded in flows, with a focus on processes and action, stewardship and collaboration, resilient destinations, transient and permanent residents, as well as new instrumental technologies and augmented experiences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Local Authorities have significant tourism planning responsibilities and can benefit from evidence-based approaches. Qualitative interviews with 28 Local Authorities identified impediments to adopting indicators. Key barriers included more knowledge of indicator systems, training in using systems, and understanding sustainability value and governance issues. However, transitioning to sustainable tourism through monitoring requires efficient resourcing of Local Authorities. Statutory adoption of indicators may be needed to enable evidence-based planning and policy making. More informed planning approaches can help destinations respond to tourism issues and sustainability threats. Findings have implications for facilitating indicator implementation and evidence-based planning in other tourism destinations internationally. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tourism is a dynamic and highly competitive industry, with destinations worldwide vying for the attention of travelers. Central to tourists' decisionmaking processes are their perceptions of a destination, often encapsulated in the concept of "destination image." This study seeks to unravel the intricate relationship between destination image and tourists' behavioral intentions, specifically examining how tourists' perceptions of a destination influence their intentions to visit, revisit, and recommend it to others. To achieve this, a comprehensive review of the literature on destination image and its impact on tourists' behavior was conducted. Empirical research findings from various destinations and cultural contexts were analyzed to provide insights into the multi-faceted nature of destination image and its effects on tourists' behavioral intentions. The study explores the dimensions that contribute to the formation of destination image, including cultural, natural, social, and marketing factors. The research reveals that tourists' perceptions of a destination significantly affect their intentions. A positive destination image often leads to a higher likelihood of initial visitation, repeat visitation, and word-of-mouth recommendations to others. Conversely, negative perceptions may deter potential tourists and discourage repeat visits or advocacy. Furthermore, the study discusses the role of destination marketing and management in shaping and enhancing destination image. Strategies such as effective communication, experiential marketing, and sustainable development are identified as critical elements in managing and improving destination image. The findings of this study provide valuable insights for destination marketers, policymakers, and industry stakeholders. Understanding the dynamics of destination image and its impact on behavioral intentions can inform the development of more targeted and effective marketing campaigns, as well as sustainable destination management practices. Ultimately, a positive destination image can not only attract more tourists but also foster a loyal and enthusiastic visitor base, contributing to the long-term success and sustainability of tourism destinations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urban tourism imagery is an essential factor affecting the competitiveness of cities. However, most existing studies use small data methods such as interviews and questionnaires to explore tourists' perceptions of cities without combining big data for analysis. In addition, there is relatively little research on the tourism imagery of coastal cities. Therefore, this study analyzes the data from 523 travelogues from a three-dimensional perspective of identity, structure, and meaning, using methods such as BERTopic, aiming to explore the tourism imagery of coastal cities perceived by tourists. The results show the following: (1) In terms of identity, Sanya's urban tourism imagery has the attribute of "external explicit-internal implicit", which satisfies tourists' visual and spiritual experiences. (2) Regarding structure, Sanya has a clear regional division of imagery and a core–edge diffusion distribution among regions. (3) Regarding meaning, tourists' attitudes toward Sanya are polarized. Positive emotions predominate in the overall perception of meaning, but 25% of the negative emotions require urgent attention. This study provides a reference for the sustainable development of tourism cities and the marketing management of destinations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Overtourism has become a critical problem in many popular destinations around the world, leading to negative impacts on the environment, local communities, and the quality of the visitor experience. This article explores the potential of the metaverse, a virtual world that combines elements of augmented reality and virtual reality, and other new digital technologies for addressing the challenges of overtourism. Drawing on a systematic literature review of recent studies, the currently available technologies are listed, and their potential implications for the tourism industry and local communities are portrayed. It was found that while there is some evidence to suggest that the metaverse and its associated digital technologies such as the extended realities/XR (virtual reality/VR, augmented reality/AR, mixed reality/MR), can help mitigate overtourism, further research is necessary to investigate their effectiveness in reducing overtourism and their potential unintended consequences. This article makes an original contribution to overtourism research and adds to existing knowledge by providing a practical list of currently available technologies that could help DMOs and tourism professionals mitigate the negative effects of overtourism. The article concludes with suggestions for future research and practice in the field, highlighting the importance of continued exploration and innovation in this area.

Mountains are perceived as places of biodiversity, as attractive places with breathtaking aesthetic views and epitomized by their unique landscape features. As mountains are the second most demanded outdoor destination category at a global level after beaches and islands, the steady growth of tourism places high pressure on sensitive mountain ecosystems. As can be observed from tourism practice in mountain environments, the distribution of tourism activities is highly uneven. In the Alps, one of the best-known regions with relentless tourism growth, a substantial concentration of tourism intensity can be traced to specific locations and valleys, whereas other parts have to cope with trends of marginalization. In this situation, many concerned stakeholders have long advocated for more balanced economic and tourism development. The initiative of “Mountaineering Villages” promoted by the Alpine Convention is one of a few respective actions to shift perspectives and persuade tourists to engage in sustainable tourism activities. The paper explores how these activities are linked to the balanced use of cultural landscapes and the narratives that are exposed as convincing development models in these regions.

AbstractThe destination’s tourism managers strategically invest in meeting infrastructure, aiming to host congresses and leverage the economic and social benefits of tourism to foster sustainable economic growth, inclusive employment and the realization of Sustainable Development Goal targets. Their efforts contribute to promoting a thriving economy, equitable job opportunities, and a sustainable future for all, as a Sustainable Development Goal (SDG). However, the mere fact of having basic facilities is not enough for the destination to be competitive in this segment. The aim of this paper is to identify those core factors that increase the competitiveness of the tourist destination in the congress segment. To identify the strengths and weaknesses of the congress tourism segment in the region of Extremadura, a study based on IPA (Importance-Performance Analysis) has been carried out on 21 determining factors selected from interviews with experts in the sector and after a thorough literature review. The diagram resulting from the IPA analysis has allowed us to obtain the strategic factors and theoretical and practical implications for both publics and private stakeholders. The result of this paper confirms the fundamental role of the public administration in improving the competitiveness of the congress tourism destination and key factors that directly affect the good development of congress tourism in a territory, such as the good relationship between public and private agents involved in the sector, tourism promotion and transport.

The process of coming out of the COVID-19 pandemic is an opportunity to create various scenarios for returning to the path of tourism development. The search for suitable and effective solutions was at the heart of the Tourism Friendly Cities project, in which eight European cities participated. The aim is to define the challenges and tools related to the sustainability of urban tourism. The empirical research was based on the opinions of experts from eight cities involved, and concerned four thematic areas: the quality of life and tourism in the city before and during/after COVID-19, tourism dysfunctions, the sources of conflicts between local stakeholders, and the tools for the sustainable reconstruction of tourism. The results confirmed the existence of a wide range of declared tools for the development of sustainable tourism after the pandemic. The conducted research indicates key areas of conflict in the field of tourism activity. The authors also come to the conclusion that tools for regulating tourist traffic should not be universal, but should meet the individual needs of the city. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mountains are perceived as places of biodiversity, as attractive places with breathtaking aesthetic views and epitomized by their unique landscape features. As mountains are the second most demanded outdoor destination category at a global level after beaches and islands, the steady growth of tourism places high pressure on sensitive mountain ecosystems. As can be observed from tourism practice in mountain environments, the distribution of tourism activities is highly uneven. In the Alps, one of the best-known regions with relentless tourism growth, a substantial concentration of tourism intensity can be traced to specific locations and valleys, whereas other parts have to cope with trends of marginalization. In this situation, many concerned stakeholders have long advocated for more balanced economic and tourism development. The initiative of "Mountaineering Villages" promoted by the Alpine Convention is one of a few respective actions to shift perspectives and persuade tourists to engage in sustainable tourism activities. The paper explores how these activities are linked to the balanced use of cultural landscapes and the narratives that are exposed as convincing development models in these regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study reveals the influence of word of mouth on destination reputation from the perspective of tourists' reputation judgment and explores the differentiating effect of judgment dimensions on the degree of consistency between word of mouth and reputation based on multinomial logistic regression analysis, aiming to advance the theoretical exploration of the complex relationship between word of mouth and reputation. This study finds that (1) tourists weigh word-of-mouth information that is identical or different from their views to make reputation judgments, and destination reputation is a systematic emergent outcome of word-of-mouth information that is recursively weighed and judged by tourists in the process of dissemination. (2) Tourists judge the reputation of a destination based on different dimensions, including scenic spots, local food, history and culture, natural environment, social atmosphere, activities and events, and facilities and services. (3) Tourists' reputation judgment dimensions have a differentiating effect on the influence of word of mouth on destination reputation; that is, there are interpersonal differences in the influence of word of mouth information on destination reputation by tourists based on different dimensions. This paper provides a new perspective and approach to the study of the relationship between word of mouth and destination reputation, which can contribute to destination reputation management and marketing efforts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The focus of the present study is the sustainability of the settlements in the Lake Velence area, especially Velence and Gardony, which are at the center of pressure by tourism in the area. At the beginning of the study, immediately after the introduction of the concepts of sustainability and tourism destination management and the characterization of Lake Velence and its tourism, a comparative assessment of the Integrated Settlement Development Strategies of the cities of Velence and Gárdony is presented. Gárdony’s strategy focuses on the sustainability of the economy and the urban and natural environment, while Velence has a stronger social aspect. The study determined the strengths and weaknesses, which are in line with the results of the indicator-based research presented in the second part of the study that aimed to establish the sustainability ranking of the region. We considered the direction and extent of changes between 2010 and 2018 and compared it with the absolute data series for 2018. Velence and Gárdony are in the middle category in the sustainability rankings, while Velence is among the best in the latter.

Geographical knowledge of the country can be one of the leading assumptions that allow the tourism development. It enables a more detailed specification of the dominant potential for its further development. Conside ring the current significant need to create a sustainable product, the natural conditions together with destination management can be key elements for the future course of the tourism sphere. The aim of the study was to find out the preferences of visitors to selected geolocations in the Spiš region, specifically within the offered geotourism products. To fulfil the goal, the questionnaire as a key method was used and subsequently tested by the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test, Spearman's Rho test, coefficient of determination R2, F-test with Fisher's criterion. It can be concluded that the potential of the Spiš region is perceived as attractive. Based on results, the uniqueness of the main geoproduct offer is in montanistics.

The Lower-Ipoly area, located in the north-central region of Hungary, has linear extension. In terms of the specific location and the unfavourable demographics tourism development faces difficulties in this heterogeneous area. The aim of the research is to identify the needs of prospective travellers and decision makers toward future developments in tourism in the indicated region. The paper summarizes the results of a survey, identifying the opinions of organizational and consumer market stakeholders, their similarities and differences in terms of expectations for tourism developments. This study covers the types of tourism and product elements that can potentially be developed sustainably.

Health tourism is defined as a tourism product of strategic importance in Hungary and spa towns are among the most visited destinations in the country. The aims of the present research are to explore the characteristics of the tourism sector in the spa town of Hajdúszoboszló, and to identify the trends having shaped its tourism in the previous decade. Time-series analysis of secondary tourism data as well as a questionnaire survey among visitors were conducted to assess the market position of the spa town. The results imply that both the well-balanced ratio of domestic and international guests and the diversity of international source markets were favourable for the town. In the future, the more efficient diversification of tourism products, the improvement of the MICE sector, and the development of gastronomic, cultural and sport tourism products are recommended.

The purpose of this paper is to provide some important insights about the development of cultural routes in Romania, and, as well, to propose a framework for the evaluation of the quality delivered, taking into consideration ”on the spot” infrastructure and services that should be available, in order to mediate a positive experiences to the tourists. The items compiled in a pilot-assessment questionnaire were tested on the field, for a cross-border cultural route, that was developed some years ago, in cooperation, by the tourism national authorities from Romania and Republic of Moldova: “Stephen the Great” cultural route. The paper presents some relevant insights about the cultural routes and their importance for the promotion of the heritage of different European cultures. The literature review covers mainly the impact of the cultural routes for the promotion of the heritage of the regions that are crossed by, and the growing importance that the routes gained in the last years. The undertaken research brings a critical approach to the development of routes in the incipient stage, especially, and reiterate the challenge to create a coherent and positive tourism experience, by combining different tourism objectives in a thematic trail. The aim was to identify some relevant factors that could be compiled in a quality assessment tool, that could be used for the evaluation of the cultural routes. Similarities with the Index of Destination Attractiveness (IDA) are as well discussed. The paper concludes with recommendations for the tourism stakeholders involved in the process of development the cultural routes. At the same time, the paper opens the field for future research on the quality of the tourism experience on the cultural routes.

Purpose: The paper suggests goal modelling as a method for the strategic analysis in tourism destinations. Destination management is quite complex and challenging and requires deep understanding of the intentions, the roles and the strategies of the various stakeholders. Methods: This paper identifies the challenges and major issues of destination management, evaluates the capacity of goal modelling to address them and demonstrates the use of goal modelling for stakeholder and strategic analysis. Results: The paper provides a holistic, multi-level modelling approach that begins with stakeholder analysis, continues with the analysis of strategic dependencies between stakeholders and ends with the analysis of the strategic alignment of the Destination Management Systems. Goal modelling is used for the analysis of the roles and functions of stakeholders, the analysis of the interdependencies between stakeholders in terms of goals, tasks and resources, the selection between alternative business configurations, and the business model and strategic analysis. Implications: Three important issues of destination management are addressed: stakeholder analysis, strategic dependency analysis, and strategic alignment of information systems. The formalism of goal modelling can provide rigor and visualization in the analysis of the complex relationships in destination management.

Tourism offers a means of promoting a local development strategy capable of harnessing the resources available within a territory. In order to do this, we must know the potential for tourism development in each territory, as well as the factors that would condition it. In this article, a methodology (based on the design of a system of indicators, the construction of composite indexes, and segmentation by means of cluster analysis) is proposed to measure tourism development within an emerging country and segment its different territories. The case study chosen to validate this methodology is Ecuador, a country with interesting tourist potential, where individual cities have very different levels of tourism development. The results highlight the factors that drive or constrain the degree of tourism development presented by the cities analysed, thereby facilitating decision-making for major stakeholders in each of them.

In this study, information will be explored that will contribute to increasing tourism income in destinations with low tourist expenditure per person. For this purpose, the souvenir expenditure of tourists in Turkey is examined. Souvenir stores in Sultanahmet and the Grand Bazaar in Istanbul were investigated using a qualitative case study research design. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 11 souvenir sellers and 778 online comments of tourists shopping in souvenir stores were analyzed by netnography. As a result of the research, it has been determined that the efforts made to transform products based on the natural, historical and cultural richness of Turkey into brands, and thus increase local product diversity, play a critical role in increasing souvenir expenditure. On the other hand, the importance of the selection of high spending tourists as the target market and increasing the employment of qualified workers in the tourism sector has emerged. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Overtourism has become a critical problem in many popular destinations around the world, leading to negative impacts on the environment, local communities, and the quality of the visitor experience. This article explores the potential of the metaverse, a virtual world that combines elements of augmented reality and virtual reality, and other new digital technologies for addressing the challenges of overtourism. Drawing on a systematic literature review of recent studies, the currently available technologies are listed, and their potential implications for the tourism industry and local communities are portrayed. It was found that while there is some evidence to suggest that the metaverse and its associated digital technologies such as the extended realities/XR (virtual reality/VR, augmented reality/AR, mixed reality/MR), can help mitigate overtourism, further research is necessary to investigate their effectiveness in reducing overtourism and their potential unintended consequences. This article makes an original contribution to overtourism research and adds to existing knowledge by providing a practical list of currently available technologies that could help DMOs and tourism professionals mitigate the negative effects of overtourism. The article concludes with suggestions for future research and practice in the field, highlighting the importance of continued exploration and innovation in this area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Change processes always go through various stages. Regarding political change projects, there are specific continuative aspects that influence the decision-making behaviour of local politicians. This also applies to specific decisions relating to issues of inter-municipal cooperation. The intended gain in knowledge of this article is to determine how council representatives decide towards inter-municipal destination management organizations as a form of inter-municipal cooperation, to what extent experiences already exist in this field, how open they are towards them, and which possible influencing factors have an impact on this decision behaviour. Mixed-methods research is the chosen research strategy for this study. Semi-structured focus group interviews are followed by constructing the initial research model, and a written survey of council representatives was conducted. Based on this the present study finds that the openness of local politicians on inter-municipal cooperation, using the example of destination management organisations, is significantly dependent on location issues, legal form, and information about weighing up the advantages and disadvantages. Finally, also the origin of a specific destination management initiative, meaning internal or external to the respective local parliamentary group, was found as significant independent variable for political decisions about intermunicipal destination management organizations. As last step of this study and building on these findings and relevant theoretical framework models, a six-phase change management model was constructed as support for the decisionmaking behaviour of local politicians regarding inter-municipal projects. This model includes the phases of initiation (1), persuasion (2), political decision-making (3), implementation (4), evaluation (5), and resolution amendment (6). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study uses the methodological tools of network theory to investigate the spatial movements of tourists in the sample area, which is the South Transdanubian tourism region of Hungary. The basic idea of the study is that tourist movements across settlements in a larger tourist destination make a coherent network. As long as the approach is correct, this network can be measured by properties that are characteristic of networks, such as centrality or degree. A review of the methodology of similar studies previously published on the subject has been used to supplement the method of analysis used below. As a result, the study not only characterised the sample area municipalities in terms of network characteristics, but also classified them into clusters for strategic planning purposes on the basis of the mobility propensity of the tourists staying there.

The presented notes focus partially on two of the basic elements (accessibility and image) of any managed tourism destination from the perspective of basic ETL processes over open and third-party data. The specific case aims to investigate the usability of open government data on occupancy in combination with third-party data on online audiences' engagement for DMOs' potential seasonal geotargeting via utilizing Openrouteservice's APIs. For the pilot case, a Slovak (Central Europe) destination's data on occupancy, and the DMO's website and social media engagement by origin were used to determine potential audiences' accessibility by car. Testing of the pilot results on a sample of foreign markets indicates that by a partial mix of the means of transportation, the vast majority of audiences are within a 4 h long incoming trip. Although the preliminary tests indicate a linear correlation between the destination's occupancy and online audiences' share accessibility by car, for further extrapolation, the list of missing input remains long. The main addition to the field of tourism and destination management may be the partial reusability of developed techniques for data extraction, and transformation for further data overlays, which may save some time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]