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AbstractArctic destinations are continually reshaping their global identities to manage external expectations about the region. Existing portrayals of Greenland often stereotype the area as untouched wilderness or oversimplify its social, economic, and cultural realities. Our study combines visual analysis of cultural landscape and cultural ecosystem services (CES) to unveil a novel narrative in Greenland’s sustainable tourism branding we termed ‘landscape as homeland’. Empirically this research is based on the photographic database of Greenland’s national destination marketing organization. We explore Greenland’s destination branding as a strategic tool to define local meanings of sustainable tourism, homeland, and “Arcticness” in a branding that distinctively positions itself amidst Arctic destinations. Using pictured landscape as a dwelling place discerns locally valued CES, and realigns tourist engagements toward a culturally and ecologically integrated relationship. Applications of these findings extend to other rapidly changing regions seeking to expand economic opportunities, harnessing the synergy between destination branding and sustainable tourism. We reflect on the efficacy of our integrated CES and cultural landscape research to reveal local framings of the tourism-sustainability tension. We highlight the role of destination marketing organizations to bridge the gap between local identity, visitor expectations, and sustainable tourism development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Safari holidays are now a major part of the African tourist industry and food has become an essential aspect of the adventure. In the late nineteenth century, rugged imperialist explorers shot and consumed many of the large African animals, while after the First World War, luxury safaris for the rich became the norm. First as gentlemen explorers, and then as guides on hunting safaris, 'Great White Hunters' and their pervasive ideology of muscular Christianity prevailed. The period from the late nineteenth through the first part of the twentieth century is looked back upon as the golden age of the safari. Today, many safari tourists are provided with 'fine cuisine', but with accompanying 'nods' to the food of this golden age. At the same time, some safari guides provide reenactments of cooking on an open fire in the bush. Safari lodges and camps have had to cater to an increasing diversity of tourists and to manage the disruption caused by the Covid pandemic. Online advertisements for Safari companies depict carefully organized meals with views across the African savannah where dangerous encounters with wild animals may be envisaged. The companies often promote subtle and nostalgic invocations of the past providing the tourists with a 'back in time tourism'. In preparing this article, books on safari cuisine, accounts by safari guides and some individual tourists, and many safari company online websites were studied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The advent of the Metaverse, a convergence of virtual and physical realities, presents unprecedented opportunities for promoting cultural tourism along the historic Silk Roads within the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) framework. However, this emerging technology's potential remains largely unexplored in the context of cultural heritage preservation and its promotion. The aim of this study is to address this gap by empirically examining how the Metaverse can be harnessed to improve tourists' experiences, support sustainable tourism development, and promote cultural exchange along the Silk Roads. In this study, we employed a mixed-methods approach grounded in attribution theory, using both surveys and semi-structured interviews with Silk Road tourists who had been exposed to Metaverse applications. To investigate the relationships between Metaverse features, tourists' attributions, satisfaction, and behavioral intentions, we used structural equation modeling and thematic analysis. The findings revealed that perceived immersion, avatar identification, and cultural authenticity significantly influenced tourists' internal, stable, and controllable attributions. Interviews further highlighted the Metaverse's potential to promote accessibility, interpretation, and engagement with Silk Road heritage, while also raising sociocultural and ethical considerations. This paper also showcases the development of Metaverse digital twin prototypes for several iconic Silk Road cities to demonstrate the potential for participatory virtual environments to promote cultural heritage preservation, accessibility, and sustainable tourism. The study's findings contribute to the theoretical understanding of Metaverse tourism and the application of attribution theory, offering practical insight for the responsible and effective harnessing of this transformative technology. This research provides actionable recommendations for policymakers, destination managers, and technology providers to optimize the Metaverse's potential for cultural tourism along the Silk Roads. This has great potential in promoting the BRI's connectivity and cooperation objectives. This paper lays the foundation for future research and responsible innovation at the intersection of emerging technologies, cultural heritage, and sustainable tourism development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Provisions on spatial planning regulations and building regulations regarding the regulation of the development of local architectural potentials and characteristics. Traditional Balinese architecture is one of the many contributions of Indonesian architecture to the building sector. Bali has a diversity of forms and varieties of traditional architecture. Likewise, East Bali can display Balinese architecture and further enrich traditional architecture in Indonesia. An architectural work consists of various aspects such as mass composition, shape, proportion, scale, ornamentation, and other elements. Ornaments, better known as decoration, are one of the components of architectural work and are commonly used in traditional Balinese architecture. East Bali, part of the Karangasem kingdom (now Karangasem Regency) during the Central Bali era, has preserved several unique architectural masterpieces. The uniqueness of this ancient building in Karangasem is an essential component in developing world tourism and cultural tourism. By conducting field studies and identifying the uniqueness of historical buildings in Karangasem, this paper attempts to identify the unique characteristics of Karangasem architecture. In the future, this uniqueness will become one of the components of tourism attraction. Therefore, it is essential to learn more about the potential and quality of buildings, especially those related to their decoration, so that they can be used as a guide for creating new buildings in the East Bali region, especially Karangasem, as well as as a component of tourism development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Arid Land Geography is the property of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology & Geography 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.)

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]

Tourism is one of the emerging branches of the economy, playing an important role in the development of specific economies within local communities. In this context, the perspectives of exploiting historical monuments, seen as raw material in the tourism industry, represent a desirable goal worth considering at the locality and territorial administrative unit level. The purpose of this study is to highlight the relationship between historical monuments, viewed as factors generating tourist motivation and tourism. This was made possible by conducting a spatial analysis (at the level of territorial administrative units and localities) of the defining criteria for historical monuments and tourism in Bihor County, Romania. The research methodology involved the use of multicriteria analysis to identify and establish the types of relationships between historical monuments and tourism, at a spatial level. The results of the study aimed to present an image of the spatial distribution of the characteristics of historical monuments and tourism, as well as to establish and depict spatial relationships between them, thus partially confirming the working hypothesis that the number and importance of historical monuments influence and determine tourist activity within a given area. Thus, although the studied area has 455 historical monuments, they are not exploited from a tourist point of view, with there being no strong relationships, except at the level of 19 territorial administrative units (18.8%), respectively, in 15 localities (3.3%). Among them, the obtained values stand out for the territorial administrative units of Oradea and Biharia, respectively, in the localities of Oradea and Beiuș. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista Electrónica Interuniversitaria De Formación del Profesorado is the property of Asociacion Universitaria de Formacion del Profesorado (AUFOP) 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 article explores public and tourist perceptions regarding the development of marine tourism in the Anambas Islands Regency, highlighting its potential to enhance regional income, economy, and community welfare. Topics discussed include key tourist attractions, the role of local community involvement, and strategies for sustainable tourism development.

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]

Virtual reality (VR) is a topic of growing interest. While many researchers have identified factors that influence satisfaction with VR, additional important factors remain uninvestigated. In our research model, system quality, presence, and authenticity influence two mediating variables of enjoyment and usefulness of information. Enjoyment (a hedonic aspect of the VR experience) and usefulness of information (a utilitarian aspect), in turn, influence satisfaction, with familiarity moderating both of these relationships. PLS analysis of survey data collected in a heritage tourism context finds relationships that have not been previously identified. While system quality and authenticity are associated with enjoyment and usefulness of information, presence is positively associated only with enjoyment. Familiarity negatively moderates the relationship between enjoyment and satisfaction with VR. This study thus extends prior research on a key metaverse technology, VR, by identifying and explicating the roles of authenticity and familiarity—and also extends prior research by focusing on the hedonic and utilitarian dimensions of the VR experience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

—The relentless growth of the tourism sector is fostering an increasingly pronounced demand for the translation of tourism websites. Nevertheless, the translation quality of tourism websites has garnered criticism attributed to inaccuracies in translating cultural references, leading to potential cultural losses in conveying cultural references. Despite the growing demand for accurate translation, a lack of research exists to address cultural losses and in the translation of Chinese cultural references into English. This study investigates the categories of cultural losses in the cultural references’ translation on tourism websites; specifically, Trip.com was selected as the case. Moreover, this study examines how the overall translation method, at a macro-level, is influenced by the specific translation strategies identified at a micro-level and how this, in turn, impacts cultural nuances and potential losses. The current study adopted a qualitative approach and unveiled five distinct categories of cultural losses encompassing historical background, rhetorical devices, local customs, religion, and aesthetic images. The findings revealed that foreignization emerged as the prevailing macro-level translation method, significantly influencing the incurred cultural losses within the context of cultural references. This study’s findings emphasized the necessity of addressing cultural losses in cultural references’ translation on tourism websites. The identified cultural losses and the dominance of foreignization highlight the imperative for nuanced translation strategies. This study shed light on the equilibrium between cultural preservation and effective communication. By striking this equilibrium, the tourism industry can effectively accomplish its objective of nurturing profound cross-cultural interactions that resonate with a diverse global audience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study sought to examine the influence of cultural heritage values and gastronomy tourism on cultural identity in Phuket Old Town, Thailand. The sample was 400 tourists chosen through accidental sampling; a questionnaire was distributed to them to collect the data. The results were analyzed through a statistical computer program that consists of factor analysis, exploratory factor analysis, confirmation factor analysis, and structural equation modeling. Research results in structural equation modeling show that there are two factors: cultural heritage value and gastronomy components, which will influence the cultural identities in Phuket Old Town, Thailand. The findings suggest that the final model can analyze to key activities four D's of Design to be sustainability for the cultural heritage values and gastronomy tourism in Phuket Old Town. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite the growing investment in Hallyu tourism and the rising importance of cultural tourism, a theoretically integrated model of consumer engagement has not been developed. Thus, this study established a framework based on the uses and gratifications theory to understand social media engagement's effect on the purchase intention of the Hallyu tourism package. The uses and gratifications of this study included entertainment and information seeking of Hallyu content on YouTube. An online survey was conducted to collect quantitative data to test the research hypotheses. Additionally, the cultural background of Asian and Western respondents was adopted as a moderator on all the paths. The results did not support the direct and indirect effect of passive engagement on purchase intention. The moderator effect showed the difference between the uses and gratifications and passive engagement. Consequently, theoretical implications and practical recommendations related to policy reform were suggested to promote Hallyu tourism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Pasos: Revista de Turismo y Patrimonio Cultural is the property of Universidad de La Laguna, Instituto Universitario de Ciencias Politicas y Sociales and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This publication presents a prototype of a mobile application for cultural tourism. Its main goal is to provide information about tourist sites in a city with a rich historical past and deeprooted traditions, catering to the needs and preferences of contemporary users in terms of functionality and user-friendliness. The paper analyzes contemporary Bulgarian and foreign mobile applications for cultural tourism, emphasizing their advantages over similar applications that were active in the recent past. These advantages include availability, interactivity, and an enhanced user experience. The purpose of the paper is to develop and promote a mobile application that will meet the needs of tourists. The methodology for designing the prototype includes a review and comparative analysis of mobile applications that existed a decade ago, as well as current applications in this field in 2023. Both local applications for Bulgaria and international applications for the Czech Republic, Greece, Italy, Hungary, and Spain were studied. The study focused on usability and other key characteristics that are similar to the functionality of the developed application. Weaknesses of some of the analyzed applications and problems avoided in the proposed prototype are indicated. The paper also presents the primary features of the developed application, such as its user-friendliness, speed of operation, intuitive design, and easy access to tourist and cultural sites. In the future, with the introduction of various mobile applications in this field, it is expected that users will be greatly facilitated in their search for up-to-date information on cultural and historical sites around the world. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This review constitutes a comprehensive systematic review analyzing cultural routes, with a particular focus on the concept of the cultural route as a tourist–cultural product. Within this framework, the paper offers an overview of contemporary technological challenges, concerns, and limitations. It thoroughly explores cutting-edge technologies pertaining to the promotion of cultural heritage, both in general and in the specific context of realizing the concept of the cultural route, a tourist–cultural service enriched by the utilization of new media. Additionally, it extensively references the latest techniques and models for enhancing the user experience of digital cultural tourism products. Moreover, the paper showcases existing digital platforms and tools that encapsulate and emphasize the notion of cultural tourism. It assesses the respective methodologies, technologies, and techniques employed in each case, accompanied by illustrative instances of their applications. Finally, an empirical evaluation was conducted focusing on user needs and expectations during a cultural route. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cultural heritage tourism is a multidimensional tourist activity because, apart from the advantages associated with practicing tourist activity, it is particularly associated with cognitive motives when it comes to practicing it, and even with discovering cultural identity. Such an activity has a specific value in relation to the adopted perspective. Researchers often attempt to determine the value that a tourism-related product has for the customer (tourist). Sometimes, it is defined as the value captured by the entity providing the tourism product. However, it is extremely rare for research to assess the social value of tourism. The aim of this work is to identify issues that can be used in measuring the social value resulting from cultural heritage made available in the form of a tourist product. The authors review the literature on cultural heritage and cultural identity, and then use a particular methodology to develop a tool for assessing social value. To develop their own research tool, the authors use the results of research conducted in 2021/2022 among managers of 70 cultural heritage tourism facilities in Europe. As a result, a tool was created that includes six statements that can contribute to the assessment of the social value resulting from the provision of material cultural heritage in the form of a tourist product. The reliability of the tool was estimated at 0.69 and its standardized rating at 0.71. The social value of cultural heritage, in the opinion of experts, achieved an average rating of 4.06 (on a scale from 1 to 5), with the 6-item version of the tool attaining an average rating of 4.10. Taking into account the usefulness of the proposed solutions, remember that the paper reflects only the European vision, which is one of many possible views. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Indonesia has many traditional's arts. However, not all Indonesian people treat them to protect sacred objects since art is considered as a finished cultural product. Considering that the performing arts have not been well communicated for providing and empowering the community's benefits except for home entertainment and stage performances, this research aims to create a model of performing arts communication through empowering cultural art-based tourism. The research method used is a qualitative approach and creative artwork using the R&D method by analyzing various performing arts in West Java, by collaborating on art's packaged in the form of tourist performance, field tests are carried out through performances in tourist areas, performances through art's festivals. This research resulted in a workflow for developing cultural art to create art products and cultural art-based tourism spaces to arrive at a model of performing art's communication. An important contribution from the perspective of performing arts communication is the understanding of value relations between actors and their public. Social, cultural, economic, political, educational, environmental, and tourism's values become meaningful references in creating art and tourism spaces for the community's sustainable development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

UNESCO-designated geoparks, intended for conservation, seek to drive economic development via geological heritage education and tourism. Since 2018, within the framework of the European project Atlantic Geoparks (Interreg Atlantic area program), the Valleys of Cantabria project has been promoted to declare a UNESCO Global Geopark (UGGp) in the Cantabria region (northern Spain). The Valles de Cantabria proposal, aligning with UNESCO objectives, evaluates the region's geopark potential, emphasizing sustainable development and societal education. Covering 600 km2 in eastern Cantabria, the territory involves 19 municipalities and has a population of 60,600. The geological context, ranging from the Triassic to the Quaternary periods, reflects the complex evolution of this territory, which has been influenced by tectonic forces, geomorphological processes, and sea-level changes. Detailed reviews and fieldwork performed by experts, including university researchers, have identified 66 sites of geological interest (SGI). The geosites, which have different geological–geomorphological significances, have been assessed according to their scientific value (including educational importance), potential of use (mainly geotouristic use), and vulnerability or risk of degradation. The geological heritage is directly related to the high biodiversity of the area. The challenges of this territory, such as depopulation and the low income of the inhabitants, can be improved with the declaration of a geopark, which would help to create new job opportunities related to geotourism and sustainable development. UNESCO recognition could catalyse scientific research, address socioeconomic challenges, and foster rural revitalization, strengthening the symbiotic relationship between geoconservation and local economic growth. Collaboration with other Atlantic geoparks has enabled the exchange of experiences that will hopefully deepen in the future. Consequently, the aim of this work is to explore the potential of this territory in terms of high-quality geological features and biological and cultural heritage, as well as to evaluate the socioeconomic context that makes the territory potentially suitable for promoting a UGGp. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Via Francigena stands as a European Cultural Route recognized by the Council of Europe, serving as a link between Northern and Southern Europe, extending from Canterbury through France and Switzerland to Rome in Italy. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights underscores the right of all individuals to partake in the cultural life of their communities, which entails ensuring that heritage sites remain accessible to everyone, regardless of their physical, cognitive or sensory abilities. To achieve this, the 'rurAllure' project has been initiated to promote and disseminate the cultural and natural heritage along this pilgrimage route in an inclusive manner. This paper reviews the existing resources regarding accessibility in the Italian segment of the Via Francigena, comparing them to initiatives undertaken on other European Cultural Routes. This serves as an initial step to comprehend the measures required to guarantee that everyone can fully engage with and comprehend these cultural experiences. The analysis revealed that most of the limited accessibility efforts along this route have primarily focused on physical accessibility. Regrettably, cognitive and sensory accessibility has received considerably less attention. In this context, this paper proposes the thermal heritage located along the Val d'Orcia section in Tuscany, Italy, as particularly promising for the development of accessible experiences due to its tactile characteristics. The future efforts to enhance accessibility along this route should consider approaches like Universal Design for Learning and the geography of perception to create resources and new experiences that cater to a wide range of individuals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aims to understand the perceptions of tourism-related business owners/managers regarding the use of digital technologies for the provision, dynamization, and communication of cultural experiences targeting families. To achieve this aim, a qualitative approach was adopted by conducting ten semi-structured interviews with business owners/managers operating in the District of Viana do Castelo, in Northwest Portugal. Participants were selected through a convenience sampling method after being initially identified as licensed by Turismo de Portugal at the National Register of Tourism leisure-related Agents, offering cultural experiences and online presence. The interviews were transcribed and analysed manually, based on a systematic analysis matrix. The research shows that digital technologies are not used very often by companies and that the ones they use are mostly related to promotional activities (Social Media and Websites). Nevertheless, disadvantages and barriers to its use are also acknowledged. Finally, practical and theoretical implications are highlighted, along with suggestions for further future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This collection of texts explores the intersection of wine and culinary tourism, focusing on three research projects. The first project investigates the role of culinary excellence in destination marketing, specifically looking at the presence and perception of culinary artists in international marketing. The second project examines the use of motorhome pitches as an income opportunity for wineries, studying the motivations and expectations of motorhome owners who stay at wineries. The third project explores the potential synergies between hiking tourism and local wine producers, examining how wine producers can benefit from hikers as additional consumers. The texts emphasize the importance of collaboration between the wine and tourism industries, highlight the combination of wine and hiking tourism as a growing trend, and stress the need to understand customer motivations and expectations to create valuable wine tourism experiences. [Extracted from the article]

Among the most common cultural tourism consumption practices is the purchase of products as souvenirs, frequently acquired as symbols of local heritage and extension of memorable tourist experiences, and sometimes as gifts permitting a sharing of those experiences. These items are complex, diverse, and multidimensional in their nature, format, and meanings. This article contributes to the debate of the role of souvenirs within tourism, through a comprehensive literature review highlighting two dominant perspectives: a) the economic and b) the symbolic. Results further reveal as thematic research categories those focusing on a) the object, b) its consumption, and c) the territory of its origin, from both mainly economic and symbolic perspectives. This research provides an analytical framework to help researchers navigate through past research and integrate new contributions into the identified research streams. It shall help identify research gaps, potential new themes, and interesting and relevant approaches to be considered in future souvenirs research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The best allocation of limited resources to activities with the aim of accomplishing the desired goal, such as maximization of profit or minimization of cost, is the focus of linear programming. The relationships between activities in linear programming models satisfy the proportionality and additivity requirements since they are linear interactions. This feature of linear programming is extended to the tourism industry which is one of the major industries in the global economy with respect to invested capital and earnings of foreign currencies. In todays era of design thinking, automation, and met averse, there is a very close margin between solutions to similar real-world problems. This is where the need and demand for fuzzy and imprecise linear programming arises. The membership functions provide the model developer the freedom to grade the imprecision as per his/her preference, thereby enabling a unique solution for each problem. While considering the tourism problem a number of factors like natural resources, people, history, culture, security, accommodation, entertainment, political stability, cost of services, tour operator, tour information, and advertisement play an important role in enhancing the sector to a large extent. Combined and classified they come under the following categories like leisure tourism, therapeutic/spa tourism, conference tourism, political tourism, sports/recreational tourism, cultural tourism, social tourism, conference tourism, recreational tourism, sports tourism, religious tourism, health tourism, etc. Each of these sectors requires careful investment on the part of the Government and other stake holders for development purpose. i.e. only a proper marketing mix will ensure a better return for the state. Taking this aspect into consideration the authors decided to introduce a hypothetical LP maximization model for the tourism industry in North East. Cost and space allocation are the constraints in the model. Among the various categories, three tourism forms (heritage, eco-tourism, and pilgrimage tourism) are considered which are used to optimize the allocation of the States marketing budget in tourism in such a way that the appropriate sector provides the greatest likelihood of producing the strongest return on investment. The maximization of profit has been done using various methods, like Werner's, Verdegay's, and Zimmermans. The authors have concluded the results based on the sensitivity analysis that has been done in the process of maximizing profit along with a maximal satisfaction level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The tourism industry will be shaped by the growth and development of the metaverse in the coming decades. Virtual reality (VR) will enable the creation of virtual worlds, avatars, digital twins, and new social networks. These technologies can be utilized in tourism to enable travelers to preview real-world experiences, to enhance experiences while on-site, to relive experiences after travel, or in some cases to even substitute for travel. Given the metaverse's transformative potential, empirical investigation of VR is clearly warranted. Studies of VR tourism typically choose a single specific VR application and investigate its impact on adoption or user satisfaction. This application-level focus is a significant limitation. We therefore evaluate multiple heritage tourism applications as well as VR hardware in a comprehensive and structured analysis from the user experience (UX) perspective. Our content analysis of user interviews reveals 13 factors that shape users' overall perceptions about VR. These factors are grouped into categories related to presentation of the VR content, the content itself, and the functionality of the hardware and software. Our analysis also reveals three design dilemmas for creators of VR heritage tourism content for the metaverse. Implications and an agenda for future research are included. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Riwayat: Educational Journal of History & Humanities is the property of Riwayat: Educational Journal of History & Humanities 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.)

Purpose: In order to develop agritourism, agricultural rituals are considered as one of the main potentials. for this purpose, the present study was aimed to identify and analyze the barriers to revitalization and application of agricultural rituals in the development of tourism in Iran. Research Method: This study consists of two main sections. In the first section, the obstacles to the revitalization and application of rituals in the development of tourism have been examined using a qualitative research method. In this section, theoretical saturation was achieved by using the grounded theory and performing interviews with 104 experts. and in the second part, in order to investigate and evaluate the obstacles and challenges identified in the first part, a questionnaire with a Likert spectrum scale in four dimensions (economic, social and cultural, environmental, physical and institutional) was prepared by the research team and given to 130 people. It was selected from the experts and finally after scoring (1 to 5) by them, it was analyzed in SPSS environment with Cronbach's alpha value of 0.982% and using binomial, correlation and Friedman tests. Findings: The results show that 11 core categories (management and planning, research and education, social, cultural, economic, marketing and advertising, tourism, agriculture, services and infrastructure, environment and rules and regulations) are the most important obstacles to the revitalization and application of agricultural rituals in the development of tourism in Iran. Originality/Value: This research has been conducted for the first time in Iran, and until the time of compiling this research, a similar issue was not observed. This research has been compiled using mixed research method and problem solving approach. and for the first time, he brings up the discussion of agricultural rituals as an approach in the development of tourism and on the axis of agricultural tourism, which is unique in its kind. Also, the findings of the project have been provided to an Iranian government institution, which is very important from this point of view. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The policies implemented by the Member States of the Council of Europe have as their main purpose to protect and realise the ideals and principles which are their common heritage and facilitate economic and social development (Statute, 1949). The Council of Europe considers cultural itineraries, including pilgrimage routes, which make a significant contribution to the cultural tourism sector, and a key role in territorial development policies, in economic, social, and cultural terms. The Way of St James (Camino de Santiago), one of the main pilgrimage routes in the world, was the first Cultural Route certified by the Council of Europe in October 1987. Nowadays, the importance and impact of the routes are widely acknowledged, since there are thousands of people, travelling every day towards Santiago, departing from various points of Europe and motivated by different reasons. The present paper aims at highlighting the economic and social impacts of the Way of St James crossing the Alto Minho Region (Camino Central and Camino da Costa), in Portugal. Employment opportunities and the overall economic growth of local communities are perceived by local businesses as examples of direct and indirect benefits, and the routes as an integral part of the territorial tourist development. Data were collected through the collation of secondary data, fieldwork, and questionnaires. Comparisons and analyses of differences and similarities between the different approaches are discussed. Results support the existence of opportunities for small business creation and strengthening; Despite the pandemic situation, and the inherent reduction of pilgrims, particularly during lockdowns, the Way recovered faster than other tourism products, and are perceived as contributing to the development of tourism businesses and related services at a regional level. The increases in jobs and economic gains contribute to the wealth and well-being of local communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The conservation of heritage and heritage-based tourism are interrelated activities in which the development in one can lead to the growth of the other and vice versa. In recent years, people have become increasingly aware of the importance of heritage and the necessity of its conservation. People's knowledge and preservation of their roots and emotional attachments to traditions and places are beneficial for heritage conservation activities. Heritage places are also considered a growth point for the tourism industry that supports small- and medium-scale industries as well as numerous cottage industries. However, with the development of tourism and related industries in heritage areas, the local community may face difficulties in performing their day-to-day activities in the area. In many cases, local communities need to relocate and people must leave their residences due to the demand for tourism development. A case study of Varanasi City was conducted to obtain a detailed understanding of the impact of a recent tourism development programme (the Kashi Vishwanath Corridor Project) and people's perception of it through a review of newspaper articles. It was found that people had mixed reactions regarding the development programme. The immediate residents of the area who were directly affected by the process in terms of emotional, economic and social loss were opposed to the project, while tourists and other residents of the city were pleased with the development activities. This paper attempts to identify the changes that occurred in the area due to the project and to capture people's perspectives regarding the corridor project of Varanasi. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to identify the use of Augmented Reality technology and the trend of using AR in tourism with time limitation from 2013 until 2022. It also aims to determine the valuable contributions of documents, sources, authors, countries, and institutions worldwide in tourism. The qualitative method using bibliometric analysis is suitable for this study because it can provide an overview and classify. Data was collected from the Scopus database and then analyzed using VOSviewer software. The results show that (1) museum, (2) sustainable tourism, and (3) heritage tourism are the keywords most often used in research. The potential research of AR in tourism is directed at the development of underwater tourism, the application of virtual museums, ecotourism, culture heritage tourism, digital heritage and destination image. Sustainability (Switzerland), Current Issues in Tourism, and The International Journal of Human-Computer are the journals with the most publications. Tom Dieck M. C.M.C, Jung T, and Chung N are authors with a high degree of collaboration with other authors. United Kingdom, Spain, and Italy became the countries with the highest publications. Research trends and advances in augmented reality in tourism have been discussed in more detail in this paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Responsible tourism practices promote the idea that responsibility refers to both visitors and local communities, ensuring the protection and conservation of the natural environment and cultural heritage and contributing to a better quality of life. The role of "sustainability" in a tourist development strategy is to protect and reveal what already exists ("reuse, recycle, renovate") rather than consume. In these terms, cultural routes can serve as valuable tourism assets that can attract visitors and generate economic activity, while protecting the environmental and cultural heritage. This study is focused on Symi, a small and remote Greek island better known as a religious tourism destination, examining how cultural routes could be at the core of an economic development and social cohesion strategic plan. Symi served as a case study due to the island's rich cultural and natural heritage, including historic buildings, natural attractions, monuments, and archaeological sites. The revealing of those assets is crucial for the advancement of an integrated local strategy for cultural tourism in terms of responsible tourism. The primary objective of this study is to analyze how the development of a cultural routes network, integrating monuments from diverse historical periods, significant religious sites, and areas of significant architectural and environmental value, can contribute to a responsible tourism approach and further a sustainable development that generates multiple benefits for the local community in an insular region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The introduction of the Internet of Things and other information technologies provides new methods for tourism information innovation. The development of computer technology has changed the traditional tourism mode and made the information-based tourism industry develop. With the improvement and development of embedded systems, embedded systems will develop in the direction of networking, intelligence, standardization and integration. In the process of innovation, the tourism system needs innovation support, support and protection, guidance and response mechanisms. The innovation of tourism system mainly relies on market demand and supply as its most important part, in which market demand is the main driving force for formation. The operation of the system is supported by the tourism support and protection subsystem, with the innovative technology subsystem as the most important content. Based on the traditional theory of tourism industry, this paper sorted out and analyzed the related needs of tourism industry, and combined with the computer industry, according to the embedded real-time network system and the convenience of the Internet of Things industry, on the relevant technology platform to establish a modern tourism industry development system. By using the powerful advantages of computer technology, this paper from the perspective of destination selection, management optimization, industrial development, consumption upgrading, service diversification and other aspects, to promote the development of modern cultural tourism industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is not unusual for a place to wait for years before being inscribed on the World Heritage List, but Sarnath—the place where the Buddha delivered his first sermon—has been on UNESCO's "tentative list" for close to 25 years. As a sacred place for Buddhist pilgrimages, Sarnath continues to attract thousands of visitors annually and yet, remains under-developed, unlike other pilgrim towns or religious tourism destinations. This paper examines the reasons for the stunted growth of Sarnath. The findings are based on fieldwork conducted in Sarnath in 2019. The analysis of stakeholder interviews suggests several reasons for Sarnath not being able to capitalize on its religious and cultural heritage for tourism-led development. It was found that the protection of the site as an archaeological park by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), which has been controlling development surrounding the park as well as prohibiting the performance of any rituals, have been the key endogenous factors that have contributed to the relative under-development of a Buddhist pilgrimage economy in the town. A handful of monasteries are where Buddhist followers stay and perform their pilgrimage rituals, rendering them as enclaves. Private-sector accommodation is also limited to around 15 hotels and guesthouses. Administratively, Sarnath does not have an independent governance structure. It is governed as just one ward (an electoral constituency) by the Municipal Corporation of Varanasi and is, thus, always under the shadow of Varanasi city. Varanasi is one of the most significant Hindu sacred cities and, hence, visitors stay there for much longer durations to soak in cultural offerings, including religious ceremonies around the Ganga River; a visit to Sarnath is secondary and often limited to a half-day tour. Moreover, the archaeological park at Sarnath serves a recreational purpose as a picnic site for domestic visitors. The exogenous factors mean that the interests of Sarnath (as a Buddhist site) are hardly acknowledged by the Hindu city of Varanasi. This paper argues that the multi-layered contestations that exist at the site level, the town–ward level, and between visitors and managers have further contributed to the poor state of heritage and tourism in Sarnath. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Jewish heritage tourism is a relatively new form of niche tourism which appeared in Europe in the 1990s, because of a renewed understanding of cultural and historical values of Jewish heritage. By its inclusion in tourism, Jewish heritage has become a visible component in destinations, which has led to the renovation of synagogues, opening of Jewish museums, organization of festivals, and also to the gentrification of neglected Jewish quarters in many European cities. The goal of this paper is to analyse the most common methods, selection of stakeholders, elements, research locations and spatial scope used in studies of Jewish heritage tourism. The analysis includes 28 scientific papers from databases and focuses on the research methods used in those papers. The results show that the most common methods used in studies of Jewish heritage tourism are content analysis and interviews. These methods have proven to be suitable for determining the state and representation of Jewish heritage in each destination, while for a higher level of integration of Jewish heritage in tourism, other methods are more appropriate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Augmented reality has emerged as a transformative technology, with the potential to revolutionize the tourism industry. Nonetheless, there is a scarcity of studies tracing the progression of AR and its application in tourism, from early exploration to recent advancements. This study aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the evolution, contexts, and design elements of AR in tourism over the period (2002–2022), offering insights for further progress in this domain. Employing a dual-method approach, a bibliometric analysis was conducted on 861 articles collected from the Scopus and Web of Science databases, to investigate the evolution of AR research over time and across countries, and to identify the main contexts of the utilization of AR in tourism. In the second part of our study, a systematic content analysis was conducted, focusing on a subset of 57 selected studies that specifically employed AR systems in various tourism situations. Through this analysis, the most commonly utilized AR design components, such as tracking systems, AR devices, tourism settings, and virtual content were summarized. Furthermore, we explored how these components were integrated to enhance the overall tourism experience. The findings reveal a growing trend in research production, led by Europe and Asia. Key contexts of AR applications in tourism encompass cultural heritage, mobile AR, and smart tourism, with emerging topics such as artificial intelligence (AI), big data, and COVID-19. Frequently used AR design components comprise mobile devices, marker-less tracking systems, outdoor environments, and visual overlays. Future research could involve optimizing AR experiences for users with disabilities, supporting multicultural experiences, integrating AI with big data, fostering sustainability, and remote virtual tourism. This study contributes to the ongoing discourse on the role of AR in shaping the future of tourism in the post COVID-19 era, by providing valuable insights for researchers, practitioners, and policymakers in the tourism industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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

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This research was conducted at one of the cultural tourism sites in Watesumpak Village, Trowulan, Mojokerto, East Java, namely Kuno Kini Nanti. Kuno Kini Nanti provides several tour packages to explore the historical sites of Majapahit Heritage in Trowulan. The management and marketing of Kuno Kini Nanti tourism have yet to run optimally, so an understanding of market segments, determining market targets and positioning is needed. This research used a case study method with a qualitative research approach to explore the marketing strategy of Segmentation, Targeting, and Positioning (STP) in developing Kuno Kini Nanti cultural tourism. The techniques for collecting the data, the researcher used observation, interviews, and documentation. The results of this research show that the types of purposeful culture tourists and serendipitous culture tourists with academic backgrounds and the millennial generation with an age range of 20-40 tears are the targets of Kuno Kini Nanti tourists' because they are considered suitable for the tour packages that provided by Kuno Kini Nanti. Through the concept of "back to the Majapahit era", Kuno Kini Nanti offers tourism activities to enjoy the cultural assets in Trowulan by traveling around using a shuttle bus, VW car or Vespa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Caravanserai refers to the accommodation for travelers to rest and enjoy the services provided there. Initially, it was known as ribat and khanqah. Its construction in Islamic civilisation is linked to tourism, which in turn generates the national economy. Besides that, its construction is made up of specific architecture. Thus, it is useful to promote the uniqueness of the country’s art, culture, and heritage as the main catalyst for the growth of the country’s tourism and cultural sector. The objective of this study was to examine the relationship between caravanserais in Islamic civilisation and the tourism industry, and how it can be used to promote art, cultural, and national heritage tourism in Malaysia. The study presented a qualitative research design using historical study and content analysis approach. The sampling of the study was done in two stages, namely article search based on the use of keywords such as caravanserai, Islamic tourism, art tourism, cultural tourism, and Islamic civilsation, and review of the reference list at the end of the articles that were referred to in the early stages. Meanwhile, data analysis was also conducted in stages, i.e., the analysis of the written content followed by the implied content. The research findings showed that caravanserai has a significant relationship with the tourism industry in Islamic civilisation based on three things. First, its position is on the Silk Road, which was a trade and tourism route at that time. Second, the caravanserai is a tourist attraction because it has historical places and functions as a commercial center. Third, the caravanserai contributes to the economic growth of the country as it successfully attracts many tourists to visit the place. The research findings also indicated that the caravanserai can be used to promote art, cultural, and national heritage tourism in Malaysia based on its construction as a historical monument that displays certain arts and becomes a tourist destination for local history and cultural exploration. This finding is also supported by previous studies which agreed that culture and art can be used to promote tourism. Thus, the concept of caravanserai construction in Islamic civilistion can be utilised towards promoting the tourism industry in Malaysia in line with the National Tourism Policy (NTP) 2030, which, among other things, focuses on the keystones to improve the experience and satisfaction of tourists. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Acta Agriculturae Zhejiangensis is the property of Acta Agriculturae Zhejiangensis Editorial Office 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.)