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Spiritual tourism has emerged as a unique and growing area of interest for tourism research. This paper presents a systematic literature review of academic literature related to spiritual tourism to identify key trends, influential authors, and major research themes. We identified 2076 papers published after 2019 using a systematic manual search method and selected 22 articles for an in-depth review that matched the predefined criteria for inclusion. The extracted data were based on spiritual tourism, medicine, healing, destination, experience, well-being, and healing. The results of a systematic literature review confirmed that research on spiritual tourism in relation to destination selection, experience, healing, and well-being is still in its infancy. Most articles focus on medical recovery from chronic illness, anxiety, and loneliness rather than health improvement and healing. By applying systematic literature review methods, this study elucidates the renewed focus and development of holistic health, encompassing facets of medicine and healing, within the context of post-pandemic recovery. This could potentially pave the way for individuals, particularly tourists, who visit specific destinations for emotional, physical, and spiritual rejuvenation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the last twenty years, tourism has faced many terrorist attacks or similar crises, so we can ask the question of what is the connection between terrorism and tourism, how does all this affect global tourism. The targets of terrorist attacks in a certain tourist destination can vary, starting from small objects to complex tourist infrastructure, and the basis of the attacks can be political, economic, religious, or other reasons. This research has special theoretical and practical importance for the development of tourism in Kosovo, but from the aspect of the impact of terrorism on tourism, with special reference to the Republic of Kosovo as a tourist destination. Research related to the impact of terrorism on tourism in the Republic of Kosovo will help us to understand, in essence, the negative effects that terrorism can have on the development of tourism in this country. From this research, we are expected to get to know the most important aspects of terrorism and tourism in modern conditions, but also with the legislation in this field and how it can help prevent terrorist acts in tourist facilities in Kosovo. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Authenticity, a prominent discourse topic in tourism studies, is closely connected with event management. This review of authenticity studies in Event Management journal identifies three key research trends: object-based authenticity; authenticity, cocreation, and codestruction; and a sustainability focus towards authenticity. Specifically, object-based authenticity has still been predominant in event experiences, while cocreation and codestruction are increasingly considered pathways for (de)construction of authenticity, with both positive and negative impacts on events and their host communities, which paves the way to a stronger focus on sustainability of events, extending to destination management and local communities. Building on these key themes, this article suggests potential directions for future research and provides imperatives for a sustainable future in event management research and practice. Recommendations include embracing a multistakeholder approach to authenticity to generate benefits to host destinations and communities and engaging with various notions of authenticity to fully capture the event experiences' intricacy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Peja has a great history with cultural sights and natural beauty, and it is a place that always offers warm hospitality and attractive social tourism innovations. Peja has all the right potential for a tourist destination, such as natural beauties, cultural heritage, and hospitality. Tourism is a very profitable sector for our country because it is directly related to the well-being and economic growth of the local community. Tourism is a sector that can guarantee sustainable economic development, providing employment, promotion of businesses, more income and more well-being for the citizens of the country and the community. This study was carried out through the design and implementation of 195 (one hundred and fifty-five) questionnaires. The study uses ethnographic design based on case studies. The promotion of tourism for our country will serve as an orientation opportunity for all local and foreign tourists who intend to visit these natural beauties and beautiful scenery in Kosovo. Precisely because tourism plays an important role, and the role plays in the well-being of the local community, the government of our country should continuously pay attention to promoting sustainable tourism in Kosovo. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Choice of trade route and destination by cross border traders is an important decision in today's increasingly cross border trade of products including fish. The current study examined the geographical factors influencing choice of informal trade route and destination by fish traders. Both qualitative and quantitative approaches were adopted for the study. These included semi-structured questionnaires through personal interviews and key informant interviews with fish border inspectors. Data was analyzed through various techniques for trader's choice and destination. Specifically, principal component analysis and spearman correlation, and Huff's gravity model were used to identify significant factors influencing choice of trade route and destination, and market attractiveness, respectively. Fish traders bypass official border posts using informal routes connecting the main route before and after the border post. Despite attempts and awareness about formal trade, stringent regulations forced fish traders to use informal trade routes. However, investigations into choice of trade routes and destination found that route distance, presence of alternative destination, mode of transport, demand of the fish product, and personal safety and risks were the factors influencing choice of both trade route and destination by informal fish traders. This geographic analysis provides a basis for addressing challenges in informal cross border trade in Malawi. It is recommended that strategic efforts and investments should be made in the development of transportation infrastructure, such as roads and railways to improve connectivity between secondary routes and one stop border post. The government should also intensify awareness initiatives on COMESA simplified trade regime (STR) to encourage informal traders to transition to the formal sector through use of formal routes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose – Despite the widespread use and application of resilience, much uncertainty about the conceptualization and operationalization in the context of tourism destinations still exists. The purpose of this paper is to provide a conceptual elaboration on destination resilience and to introduce a model for an improved understanding of the concept. Design/methodology/approach – Taking a conceptual research approach, this paper seeks to untangle the fuzziness surrounding the destination and resilience concept by providing a new interpretation that synthesizes theories and concepts from various academic disciplines. It analyses the current debate to derive theoretic baselines and conceptual elements that subsequently inform the development of a new “Destination Resilience Model”. Findings – The contribution advances the debate by proposing three key themes for future resilience conceptualizations: (1) the value of an actor-centered and agency-based resilience perspective; (2) the importance of the dynamic nature of resilience and the (mis)use of measurement approaches; (3) the adoption of a dualistic resilience perspective distinguishing specified and general resilience. Building on these propositions, we introduce a conceptual model that innovatively links elements central to the concepts of destination and risk and combines different narratives of resilience. Originality/value – The contribution advances the debate surrounding destination resilience by critically examining the conceptualization and operationalization of destination resilience within previous research and by subsequently proposing a “Destination Resilience Model” that picks up central element of the three new frontiers identified in the conceptually driven review. The innovative integration strengthens the comprehension of the resilience concept at destination level and supports building future capacities to manage immediate adverse impacts as well as novel and systemic risks.

Abstract Choice of trade route and destination by cross border traders is an important decision in today’s increasingly cross border trade of products including fish. The current study examined the geographical factors influencing choice of informal trade route and destination by fish traders. Both qualitative and quantitative approaches were adopted for the study. These included semi-structured questionnaires through personal interviews and key informant interviews with fish border inspectors. Data was analyzed through various techniques for trader’s choice and destination. Specifically, principal component analysis and spearman correlation, and Huff’s gravity model were used to identify significant factors influencing choice of trade route and destination, and market attractiveness, respectively. Fish traders bypass official border posts using informal routes connecting the main route before and after the border post. Despite attempts and awareness about formal trade, stringent regulations forced fish traders to use informal trade routes. However, investigations into choice of trade routes and destination found that route distance, presence of alternative destination, mode of transport, demand of the fish product, and personal safety and risks were the factors influencing choice of both trade route and destination by informal fish traders. This geographic analysis provides a basis for addressing challenges in informal cross border trade in Malawi. It is recommended that strategic efforts and investments should be made in the development of transportation infrastructure, such as roads and railways to improve connectivity between secondary routes and one stop border post. The government should also intensify awareness initiatives on COMESA simplified trade regime (STR) to encourage informal traders to transition to the formal sector through use of formal routes.

AbstractNon-traditional sport event has received much attention in recent years. The purpose of this study was to investigate the role of sport event image and attitudes toward event in predicting satisfaction with event and behavioral intentions. A sample of 182 obstacle course runners in Spain was surveyed to test the research model using structural equation modeling. The results showed that event characteristics, which is one of the dimensions of sport event image, and participants’ attitudes toward event positively influenced satisfaction, which in turn, together with attitudes, positively influenced behavioral intentions for repeat visits and recommendations. However, the destination characteristics dimension of sport event image had no impact on attitudes and satisfaction. Finally, satisfaction had a mediating effect on the relationships between event characteristics and behavioral intentions, and attitudes and behavioral intentions. The theoretical and practical implications of these results are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Local people (athletes, coaches, referees, spectators, citizens) are considered as one of the important stakeholders in sports tourism destinations. This research was conducted to determine the perceptions of local people living in Kocaeli province towards the development of sports tourism and to examine them in terms of various variables. Quantitative research method was used in the research. A total of 410 participants from Kocaeli local people participated in the research voluntarily. Research data was collected between January 1, 2023 and April 30, 2023, and SPSS 22 package program was used in the analysis of the data. When the research findings were examined in terms of variables such as gender, education level, age, employment status and type of participation in sports tourism, it was determined that there were significant differences. No difference was detected in terms of the place of birth variable. According to the perception of the local people, it has been determined that there are significant relationships between the studies on the development of sports tourism and its contribution to the city, the availability of suitable areas, the identification of areas and the impact sub-factors. According to local people, there are suitable areas for the development of sports tourism in Kocaeli, but it has been concluded that the features that these areas should have (suitable venues, accessibility and security) are not sufficient. It has been suggested that infrastructure works should be carried out for the development of sports tourism. As a result of the research, it was determined that the perception of Kocaeli local people towards the development of sports tourism is at a high level. However, the research also identified the need to inform local people about sports tourism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mascots, which have been used in certain areas since ancient times, are now being developed to serve the marketing and promotional purposes of brands today. In particular, they contribute to branding strategies by playing an important role in shaping the identity and image of destinations. In Turkey, it is seen that the use of mascots by destinations is quite low. The main purpose of the study is to point out how mascots should be designed in order to play an effective role in destination branding. In the research, details that may be visually important, especially when developing a mascot for a destination, are examined through the example of Kuşadası. In this context, the potential role of the mascot is also discussed by measuring how Kuşadası uses the pigeon introduced by Kuşadası Chamber of Commerce in 2016 as a mascot in destination branding. For this purpose, in the study, interviews were held with the officials of the Kuşadası Chamber of Commerce, who developed the mascot, and a semiotic analysis of the pigeon mascot was also carried out. In the analysis, the semiotic model developed by Griggs et al. (2012) for the mascots used in the 2012 London Olympic and Paralympic Games was used. The pigeon mascot has been tried to be explained by evaluating the criteria such as the area where the pigeon mascot is depicted, the emotion and message it gives, its appearance, color and graphic design. As a result of the analysis, it is thought that depicting the pigeon as a tourist, using it in graphics in a way that does not prevent the natural beauties of Kuşadası, animating and talking in a peaceful and pleasant way will allow the mascot to make positive contributions in the branding process. However, it may be possible to use the mascot more effectively in the branding of the destination by using it in situations that will reflect Kuşadası's touristic potential more broadly, such as health tourism and cultural tourism other than sea tourism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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

Visitor attitude is fundamental to destination selection in the tourism literature. Yet, there remains a notable dearth of critical reviews to assess the current status of knowledge on the topic. This study, therefore, seeks to map and critically evaluate the state of visitor attitudinal research to set the agenda for future scholarly enquiry. A review of journal articles on the topic in four leading tourism journals was undertaken. To critically explore the literature and identify research trends, a paradigm funnel approach was used. The findings demonstrate that most studies on the topic are based on empirical research and specific theories, most notably the contact model and theory of planned behaviour. However, few publications apply analytical methods and innovative ontological and epistemological approaches. This paper provides recommendations for future studies to advance visitor attitudinal research, advocating for the use of innovative methods and theoretical approaches in parent sub-disciplines, particularly psychology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study is aimed at analyzing the development of ecological tourism in the natural territories of the East Kazakhstan Region (EKR) through a systemic approach to the implementation of the national concept of sustainable economic development in the Republic of Kazakhstan. The objective of the study is to conduct a comprehensive analysis and develop a strategy for the advancement of ecological tourism in this region. The research is based on the interrelation and influence of factors such as natural territories and tourist infrastructure. To achieve this objective, various research methods were employed, including the search for scientific materials across different platforms and a literature review on the research topic. The search for materials was conducted over three months, from January to May 2024. The research also incorporated both domestic and international experiences in sustainable tourism development. Additionally, the study involved a comparative analysis, SWOT analysis, and correlation-regression analysis of the impact of various tourism industry indicators on the region's GDP. The research findings emphasize the importance of preserving the natural and cultural heritage, as well as biodiversity, during the development of ecotourism, highlighting the significance of sustainable resource use, adherence to environmental standards, and principles of environmental responsibility. The study also underscores the critical role of local tour operators and the population in the development of ecotourism to preserve cultural heritage and ensure the sustainable development of ecological tourism in the East Kazakhstan Region, within the framework of the implementation of the sustainable economic development concept of the Republic of Kazakhstan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study conducted to examine the influence of sports events on tourists' destination choice behaviour in China. The questionnaire was distributed both online and offline in the area surrounding City-A. The author through personal networks, including family and friends, as well as via WeChat group emails primarily disseminated online questionnaires. The findings reveal that 57.8% of respondents expressed a greater likelihood of attending large sports events, while 59.9% indicated an increased intention to travel to City-A in the future. The occurrence of large-scale sports events has played a significant role in establishing City As brand and has contributed to fostering a sports-oriented cultural environment, which is appealing to tourists. The study also highlights that the decision-making process regarding tourists' destination choices influenced by the presence of large-scale sports events, affecting tourists' behavioural patterns in selecting destinations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Croatia's allure as a cultural, natural, and historical destination in the global tourism landscape has garnered increasing interest from international travelers, including Hungarian tourists. This study addresses the research gap in demographic segmentation and destination preference among Hungarian adults aged 18-34, a crucial yet understudied market segment within Croatian tourism. Our analysis integrates descriptive statistics and ordinal regression to assess how tourism preferences influence satisfaction. A two-step clustering method identifies demographic clusters, further analyzed to determine their visitation patterns to 11 Croatian cities, revealing significant travel behaviour insights. The findings reveal distinctive clusters with varied travel behaviours and preferences, indicating that tailored marketing strategies could significantly enhance the tourism experience. The travel patterns suggest a move towards personalized travel experiences and an inclination towards autonomy and comfort in accommodation choices. The study enriches the discourse in tourism segmentation and destination analysis, suggesting that understanding the intricate preferences of demographic segments can lead to more effective marketing approaches. Practically, it offers actionable insights for tourism operators, marketers, and policymakers to fine-tune their strategies to cater to this demographic, potentially leading to increased visitation and deeper engagement with Croatian tourism offerings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tourism development is one of today's popular tools for mitigating regional inequalities, thus many regions see tourism as an opportunity to break out. This is no different in the case of border regions, where development in this direction is also supported by cross-border, EU-financed or (co-)financed programs. The aim of the paper is to investigate whether there is a real possibility of connecting the areas along the national borders for tourism purposes and creating sustainable tourism in these regions. The study examines the possibility of creating cross-border tourist destinations in three pre-selected areas in the Hungarian-Croatian, Hungarian-Slovenian and North-Western Hungarian-Slovakian border regions during the last two, already closed programming periods. Results of the research show, that cooperation between border countries for real tourism purposes is still possible today, and it only really aimed at creating uniform reception areas that ignore borders in a few cases. After the implementation of the programs, cross-border destinations as sellable tourist products were not created. The study shows that, in the case of two regions, the potential is given and the initiatives aimed at creating cross-border destinations are promising. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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

This research aims to study the factors influencing post-visit attitudes towards ecotourism destinations. A quantitative research approach was employed, involving the distribution of structured questionnaires to a sample of 401 tourists and visitors at a designated ecotourism site. The sample was selected using systematic sampling to ensure representativeness. The questionnaire was carefully designed and pre-tested, achieving a high-reliability score with a Cronbach’s alpha coefficient of 0.85, indicating internal consistency. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, including frequencies, percentages, means, and standard deviations. Furthermore, path analysis was employed for hypothesis testing to determine the relationships between key variables. This comprehensive analysis identified spatial (X1) and participation factors (X4) as the primary influencers of post-visit attitudes at the ecotourism destination.

AbstractThe purpose of this study was to assess the extent to which agricultural farms meet the requirements for sustainable agritourism in Zimbabwe. This study was motivated by the realisation that despite that the country is agro-based and has great potential to become an agritourism destination, the country is still lagging in agritourism development. The conceptual framework for understanding agritourism and the Triple Bottom Line (TBL) approach was applied. In-depth interviews were conducted with thirty-four (34) farmers who were purposively selected from the Manicaland and Mashonaland provinces of Zimbabwe. Data collection was conducted from October 2020 to June 2021. Thematic content analysis aided by Nvivo 12 software was used to analyse the data. The results revealed that the sampled farms meet at least one of the requirements for sustainable agritourism. However, there is a lack of diversity in both core and peripheral agritourism activities on the farms. The farmers are recommended to increase agritourism activities through sustainable utilization of the existing farm resources. The study provides the relevant stakeholders with information on areas of improvement for agritourism growth in the country and a baseline for future investigations into the prospects of agritourism in Zimbabwe. The main limitation of this study was the use of a framework for understanding agritourism that was developed in a developed world context. Development of a framework for understanding agritourism in a developing world context is recommended for future research.

Underling the key motivational factors of tourists are very significant in tourism destination marketing. The current study aimed to introduce a new insight in destination management through exploring the main motivational factors behind foreign tourists to visit Saudi. Self administrative questionnaire was distributed among a random sample of tourists visited Saudi. Structural Equation Modeling (SEM-PLS) was applied to analysis the data. The results indicated that five motivational factors influence on behavior intention to visit Saudi. However, the model applied in the study has the potential to be used in similar studies conducted in various destinations worldwide.

The satisfaction of tourists plays a crucial role in the success of a tourist destination. This study aims to demonstrate factors influencing the satisfaction of international tourists with ecotourism in the Mekong Delta, Vietnam. The study employs a convenient sampling combined with direct interviews of 256 international tourists who have experienced ecotourism services in the Mekong Delta region of Vietnam. Quantitative analysis methods used in the study include testing the reliability of the scale using Cronbach’s alpha, exploratory factor analysis (EFA), confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), and covariance-based structural equation modeling (CB-SEM). The research results have proven 06 factors influencing the satisfaction of international tourists with ecotourism in the Mekong Delta, including trust, responsiveness, assurance, empathy, tangible facilities, and local characteristics. Among these, the local characteristic factor has the most impact on the satisfaction of international tourists with ecotourism in the Mekong Delta. The research results will provide managerial implications to enhance service quality and improve the satisfaction of international tourists with ecotourism in the Mekong Delta region, Vietnam.

Rural Restaurants (RR) are located in rural areas primarily to serve the owner's business interests. However, they also play a crucial role in providing economic opportunities for rural communities and are regarded as a center for rural economy. Rural areas often face challenges such as depopulation due to limited access to public services, inadequate infrastructure, geographical remoteness, economic hardships, educational barriers, and other factors. Thus, this study aims to investigate the profitability of RRs and owners' motivations for agritourism development, as profitability and business expansion are typically positively correlated. Data from 105 samples collected in rural Nepal in 2022 and 2023 were analyzed using Tobit and Ordered Logit regression models, respectively. The study conceptualizes and confirms various contributors to RR profitability, including factors related to the supply side, demand appeal, and those influenced by pandemic‐related factors. Additionally, we explored how owners' motivations for agritourism are influenced by the restaurant's characteristics, quality‐related factors, and other attributes. Policymakers need to support RR owners in developing agritourism initiatives and contribute to quality control through effective enforcement of consumer laws by a responsible and robust quality control team. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines the importance of pilgrimage tourism to green innovation and assesses the factors that influence pilgrimage tourism efforts and implementation to ensure green innovation. The results of semi-structured, in-depth interviews with religious figures and pilgrims, supplemented by secondary sources, show that linking pilgrimage capabilities and religious organizations is critical to sustaining green innovation rather than focusing on the dispersed state of consciousness. The findings underscore the importance of a practice-based teaching approach and the necessity of spiritual adherence to green innovative behavior. It is argued that the intersection between pilgrims and religious organizations supports the achievement of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals 2030 in less developed nations, such as in Africa. The study is helpful for destination management organizations, policymakers, and tourism stakeholders, to promote green innovation through pilgrimage tourism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Ictimaiyat is the property of Ictimaiyat 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.)

UNESCO Gastronomy Cities are the main gastronomy centers selected by UNESCO as part of The Global Creative Cities Network. This empirical study investigates how COVID-19 impacted a well-known and very well-marketed destination, Gaziantep, Turkiye during the early and acute stages of this pandemic. Semi-structured interviews with key stakeholders in the city were carried out to collect empirical data. Our research has shown that existing strategies, though important, do not serve their purpose in a devastating crisis like a pandemic as they are ineffective and fail to generate sufficient visitor interest. Adapting to prevailing trends or embodying a distinctive culture is not conducive during times of crisis. The research findings emphasize the role and importance of developing new and effective strategies and responses in gastronomy destinations during the early stages of the health crises. Several theoretical and practical implications are provided along with suggestions for future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines how tourist behaviour is conditioned by the COVID-19 pandemic, developing a theoretical framework that considers not only traditional variables such as image, satisfaction, and variety seeking, but also the risks perceived during a pandemic to better explain loyalty towards a tourist destination. Moreover, the paper explores whether the effects of these variables differ in loyalty formation if people who consider visiting a destination in their country again are compared to people who contemplate travelling again to an international destination. Empirical evidence from a survey sample comprising more than 1000 Spanish tourists shows that pandemic-related risks differently influence the tourist loyalty dimensions intention to revisit and recommend both a national destination (441 respondents) and an international destination (600 respondents). Finally, affective image and satisfaction are the main drivers of loyalty in both subsamples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Underling the key motivational factors of tourists are very significant in tourism destination marketing. The current study aimed to introduce a new insight in destination management through exploring the main motivational factors behind foreign tourists to visit Saudi. Self administrative questionnaire was distributed among a random sample of tourists visited Saudi. Structural Equation Modeling (SEM-PLS) was applied to analysis the data. The results indicated that five motivational factors influence on behavior intention to visit Saudi. However, the model applied in the study has the potential to be used in similar studies conducted in various destinations worldwide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Izmir Journal of Economics is the property of Dokuz Eylul University, Faculty of Economics & Administrative Sciences 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.)