Turyzm/Tourism is an interdisciplinary scientific journal. It is one of the few publications in Poland intended for researchers representing a variety of disciplines and dealing with tourism issues, first of all for geographers, economists, sociologists and representatives of social sciences. The journal mostly presents the findings of the latest empirical studies on contemporary phenomena regarding a wide range of tourism, hospitality industry and recreation issues, including their local specificity and local context. The journal presents only texts which have not been published anywhere before: theoretical, research, review papers and scientific notes, containing partial findings of original empirical research, as well as reviews, reports and contributions to debates.
Factors affecting visitors’ memorable wine tourism experiences at the Urla Vineyard Route (Türkiye – Aegean coast)
This paper aims to identify the key factors that contribute to a memorable wine tourism experience for visitors to the Urla Vineyard Route (UVR). This route the second most important wine tourism route in Türkiye after the Thrace Vineyard Route, was created by seven vineyard owners in 2015. In the research 378 comments of visitors posted on TripAdvisor between 2016 and 2023 were collected and the data was analyzed using MAXQDA Analytics Pro 2020 software. This research employed the netnographic research process. Results show that six factors affect visitors’ wine tourism experiences: the scenery and atmosphere of the vineyard and winery, winery staff, grape variety, food taste, wine tasting and price. Scenery is the most influential factor, while the price is the least in visitors’ wine tourism experiences.
Copyright (c) 2025 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
The role of emotional intelligence in shaping entrepreneurial intentions among Tunisian women in sustainable tourism
Entrepreneurship is an essential component of economic progress, and women entrepreneurs are key actors. However, various factors, including entrepreneurial motivation, emotional intelligence, and their perception of governance and anti-corruption efforts, have influenced their engagement in specific sectors like sustainable tourism. The study used a quantitative research methodology, gathering information from 220 Tunisian women entrepreneurs using a structured questionnaire. To evaluate the proposed associations, the investigation used partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM), correlation analysis and descriptive statistics. The findings indicate that their inclination to start firms in this industry is significantly influenced by entrepreneurial motivation and emotional intelligence. Moreover, perception of anti-corruption efforts plays a moderating role, reinforcing their positive effects.
Memorable sustainable tourism experiences (MSTE): A mixed-method study
This study investigates and validates the concept of memorable sustainable tourism experiences (MSTE) and examines their influence on tourists’ revisit intentions through an exploratory sequential mixed-method design. In the qualitative phase, in-depth interviews with eight tourism operators in Langkawi Island, Malaysia, were conducted to identify key dimensions of MSTE, which include hedonism, local culture, refreshment, knowledge, meaningfulness, novelty, involvement, responsible practices, and the role of local guides. These components were subsequently tested in the quantitative phase through a survey of 233 tourists who had participated in sustainable tourism experiences on the island. Data were analysed using partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM), which revealed significant positive relationships between hedonism, local culture, refreshment, responsible practices and revisit intention. The study advances the theoretical understanding of MSTE by introducing novel dimensions such as responsible practices and the involvement of local guides. By integrating the perspectives of both tourism operators and tourists as well as employing a mixed-methods approach, this research addresses existing methodological and conceptual gaps in the literature. It contributes meaningfully to the growing body of knowledge on sustainable tourism and tourism experience. Furthermore, the findings offer practical implications for destination managers and tourism stakeholders aiming to strengthen tourist loyalty through the design of meaningful, memorable and sustainability-oriented experiences.
exploratory sequential mixed-method study
memorable sustainable tourism experience
sustainable tourism experience and revisit intention
Do they return for food? Exploring the role of memorable food experiences and destination image
The study investigates the intricate relationships among local food experiences, memorable tourism experience, destination image and tourists’ revisit intentions. The research employed a quantitative research design. Data collection was conducted between January and March 2024 and analysed with structural equation modelling. Results indicate that while local food may not directly impact revisit intentions, it significantly shapes memorable tourism experiences and destination image. Memorable experiences, in turn, strongly predict revisit intentions. Local food serves a crucial role in enhancing destination image, contributing to overall attractiveness. However, the direct influence of destination image on revisit intentions could have been more conclusive, warranting further investigation into mediating factors and contextual influences. The study emphasizes the importance of integrating local food into destination branding and management strategies to enhance tourists’ perceptions and increase revisit intentions. Future research should explore additional factors influencing revisit intentions and clarify the complex relationships between local food, memorable experiences, destination image and tourist behaviour.
Green tourism intentions driven by social media: The influence of electronic word-of-mouth and environmental awareness
The study aims to examine the influence of information sharing on social media on the green tourism intentions of the young. It examines the mediating roles of electronic word-of-mouth and environmental awareness in the relationship between social media information sharing (SMIS) and green tourism intentions (GTIs). Data were collected online from 412 respondents from South India aged between 18 to 35 Findings portrayed that social media information sharing positively impacts green tourism intentions both directly and indirectly via electronic word-of-mouth (e-WOM) and environmental awareness. Electronic word-of-mouth demonstrated a stronger mediating effect than environmental awareness (EA), underlining its significance in shaping sustainable tourism behaviour. Results provide valuable insights for tourism organizations to optimize green tourism marketing strategies by leveraging social media platforms. The study fills a critical research gap by exploring how digital interactions foster sustainable tourism goals among young social media users.
Travel hurdles and dark tourism destinations: Unraveling Malaysian tourists’ visit intentions
Dark tourism is associated with death and tragedy, and these sites attract visitors for education, leisure and historical interest with motivations including media portrayals and amusement. The research explores visitor motivations and emotional experiences in Malaysia, aiming to understand travel constraints and enhance awareness and interest, addressing gaps in local literature and practical strategies. Dark tourism in Malaysia needs more marketing and higher awareness. Despite its potential, it fails to attract tourists due to inadequate promotion and the need for more attention from authorities, industry growth is hindered. A quantitative study using a self-administered survey targeting visitors and non-visitors to dark tourism sites in Malaysia, employed non-probability and purposive sampling. One hundred and fifty data sets were collected from Google Forms distributed through WhatsApp and Twitter for one month. Though the theory of reasoned action confirmed the structural model, the results show that all three hypotheses are rejected. This indicates that the underlying reasons based on the results need further investigation.
Artificial intelligence in higher education and research: A sample of tourism academic opinions
The rise and swift advance of artificial intelligence technologies has led to substantial modifications in educational procedures, encompassing learning, teaching and the research process. Although possessing impactful and enabling characteristics, it is obvious that these technologies are the focal point of significant debates. This research aims to explore the opinions of tourism academics regarding the incorporation of artificial intelligence (AI) within educational and research frameworks, while also recognizing the potential benefits and obstacles associated with them. The data obtained from 15 semi-structured interviews was scrutinized using descriptive and content analysis methodologies. The analyses were carried out with the assistance of MAXQDA software. It was observed that the primary strength of AI tools lies in their rapidity, while their main weakness is the dissemination of inaccurate data. Despite the perspective that AI is incapable of substituting human contributions because it does not possess emotions, its value for reliability has gained considerable attention.
Virtual tourism for cultural heritage: Transforming Generation Z’s engagement and visit intentions
Applying the stimulus-organism-response (S-O-R) framework, this study’s main aim is to analyze the psychological mechanisms through which virtual reality (VR) experiences encourage Generation Z’s physical visit intentions to cultural heritage sites. Specifically, the research investigates how key VR features (stimulus: interactivity and telepresence) influence internal states (organism: place satisfaction, perceived authenticity and mental image), and how these states subsequently drive visit intentions (response). The study addresses a critical gap by focusing on these emotional and cognitive pathways. Data from 415 Indonesian Gen Z respondents who experienced Borobudur Temple via VR were analyzed using PLS-SEM. Results reveal that interactivity and telepresence significantly enhance place satisfaction, authenticity and mental imagery. Furthermore, perceived authenticity and a strong mental image are powerful predictors of visit intention, while place satisfaction shows no significant direct effect. These findings highlight the importance of emotional and cognitive factors in engaging Gen Z with cultural heritage tourism (CHT). The study offers valuable theoretical and practical insights, while the findings encourage cultural managers and policymakers to adopt VR technologies.
Factors determining the economic performance of businesses in the accommodation, catering and hospitality sector in the Czech Republic during the COVID-19 pandemic
The article is focused on the economic performance of Czech companies in the accommodation, catering and hospitality sector during the COVID-19 pandemic. The aim is to verify the influence of selected factors on their level and development using data from the Albertina database for the period 2018–2021 was used for the analysis. Return on assets (ROA) was selected as the main performance indicator and the indicators monitored included indebtedness, liquidity, size, age of enterprise and the sub-sector to which the enterprise belonged. The results showed that larger businesses and those operating in the hospitality and catering sub-sector managed the difficult situation caused by the pandemic better than those operating in the accommodation sub-sector. The factors of company size and sector therefore had the greatest influence on the value of the ROA economic performance indicator.
Cost leadership strategies in low-cost airlines: A deep learning-based comparative analysis of Ryanair and Pegasus
Air transportation plays a crucial role in the development of the global tourism industry, facilitating the movement of travellers across different regions and enhancing accessibility to tourism destinations. Airline companies generally operate under traditional, low-cost, non-scheduled, or regional business models. This study focuses on low-cost carriers (LCCs) that implement a cost leadership strategy to maintain competitiveness in the industry. It investigates whether these airlines effectively apply this strategy, identifies their similarities and differences, and evaluates the impact of their cost leadership approach on social media perceptions. A mixed-methods approach was employed, incorporating two key methodologies: (a) document analysis of airline financial reports to assess cost leadership practices and (b) sentiment analysis of customer perceptions using deep learning algorithms, including recurrent neural networks (RNNs), long short-term memory (LSTM), bidirectional LSTM (Bi-LSTM), and gated recurrent units (GRUs). This AI-driven analysis ensured a high degree of classification accuracy in sentiment evaluation. The results indicate that Ryanair strictly adheres to its cost leadership strategy, yet it experiences lower customer satisfaction levels on social media. Conversely, Pegasus Airlines receives higher customer satisfaction ratings, but its cost leadership implementation is less effective. These results highlight the trade-off between operational cost efficiency and the overall tourism experience, offering valuable insights for airline executives, tourism policymakers and industry researchers.
Have we been wrong? Generation Z’s tourism students’ complex relationship with work-related preferences
The article investigates the work preferences of Generation Z tourism students, emphasising their distinct expectations towards work-related preferences. Generation Z, born between 1995 and 2012, has now extensively entered the labour market and is currently marked as a generation with a strong demand for flexibility, digitalisation and teamwork. A survey involving 142 Generation Z tourism students from three European faculties explored their preferences regarding working time flexibility, remote work and value orientation. The findings reveal that Generation Z tourism students prefer a combination of fixed and flexible working hours and favour on-site over remote work. Interestingly, despite being open to dynamic challenges, they enjoy routine tasks specific to the tourism industry and, moreover, they are highly teamwork-oriented and seek meaningful work beyond just financial goals. This article provides valuable insights into the needs of Generation Z tourism students and highlights the gap between employers’ expectations and the actual desires of these future workers regarding employment in tourism. Adapting job roles to align with these preferences could significantly attract more members of Generation Z to the tourism sector.
Factors influencing visitor satisfaction at selected caves in Slovakia
This study aims to identify and evaluate the factors influencing visitor satisfaction in selected caves in Slovakia, with a particular focus on their relative importance and impact on overall satisfaction. A survey was conducted with 400 respondents – visitors to six caves managed by the Slovak Caves Administration. The analysis employed the importance-performance analysis (IPA) method alongside importance and satisfaction indices to assess objective satisfaction factors. These factors were ranked using the Friedman and Wilcoxon test, while relationships between subjective factors and satisfaction were examined through non-parametric methods, including Spearman’s correlation coefficient, the Mann-Whitney U test and the Kruskal-Wallis test. Ordinal logistic regression was used to determine the combined influence of objective and subjective factors on overall visitor satisfaction. The results indicate that several objective factors significantly affect satisfaction: group size during a tour, the tour route itself, cleanliness of exterior and entrance areas, cave location and accessibility, souvenir shop services, quality of the guide’s commentary and parking facilities. Among subjective factors, only the organization of the visit showed a statistically significant effect on overall satisfaction. These findings offer valuable insights for the strategic management and development of speleological tourism in Slovakia and may support efforts to enhance the competitiveness of Slovak caves on both domestic and international tourism markets.
Educational challenges for tour leader candidates in tourism and recreation studies: The case of Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań
The article examines the practical aspects and challenges in preparing students of tourism and recreation at the Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań for the profession of tour leader. The findings are based on an analysis of the literature on the subject, documentation concerning the organisation of field exercises, experiences of the staff conducting these classes, and information from the economic environment. Additionally, spatial analysis of exercise routes from the years 2011–2024 was carried out. Key conclusions highlight the need to adapt educational programs to technological advancements, such as generative AI and modern navigation systems, while addressing associated risks. The study emphasizes the importance of developing narrative skills and adaptability to tourism industry changes, including deregulation and geopolitical shifts. The importance of a comprehensive approach was emphasized, combining theoretical knowledge with field practice while preparing students for the expectations of the tourism market. The authors recommend continuously improving training programs by integrating innovative teaching tools alongside traditional methods to enhance graduates’ competitiveness.
Why (don’t) we travel sustainably? Generation Z and the theory of planned behaviour
Generation Z, the cohort born approximately between 1995 and 2010, represents a generation shaped by digital technology, social connectivity and global awareness, who exhibit distinct attitudes, behaviours and values that differentiate them from previous generations. These differences are also reflected in travel behaviour. The main purpose of this study is to investigate the determinants of sustainable travel behaviour among university students, using the theory of planned behaviour (TPB), augmented by knowledge, as a predictor, and based on survey data and regression analysis. Using a structured questionnaire and a sample of 217 students, this research measures five key constructs: attitudes, subjective norms, perceived behavioural control, behavioural intention and actual behaviour. Data were analysed using Spearman’s correlation and regression analysis. Results indicate that all core TPB components, individually, significantly predict sustainable travel behaviour, with behavioural intention emerging as the strongest predictor. The findings confirm the presence of an intention–behaviour gap, highlighting the importance of strengthening social support and perceived behavioural control. Knowledge, however, did not emerge as a significant predictor of behaviour. This study contributes to the sustainable tourism literature by integrating cognitive and social aspects of decision-making, while also addressing the often-overlooked economic and social dimensions of sustainability. Additionally, it offers rare empirical insight into the sustainable travel behaviour of young Serbian tourists.
Copyright (c) 2026 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0
From views to visits: The role of YouTube influencers in shaping travel destination choices in Japan
Social media play a key role in how people choose where to travel with influencers shaping many of these choices. This study investigates how YouTube influencers shape travel destination related interest in Japan by analyzing viewer comments on two highly popular itinerary travel videos. Viewer comments were collected using Python scripts and prepared for analysis through standard data-cleaning procedures. The analysis combines transformer-based language models and aspect-based sentiment analysis to examine sentiment, emotions, key destinations and itinerary-related themes in viewer comments. The findings show that itinerary-focused influencer content generates mainly positive sentiment and emotional engagement, along with planning-related viewer responses such as itinerary consideration, destination-specific questions, and reflections on past or intended future travel. The study offers practical insights for the tourism industry, policymakers and destination management organizations (DMOs) by showing how influencers’ content supports destination visibility and interest formation, with implications for promoting lesser-known destinations and managing overtourism.
Comprehending the concept of ‘tourism environment’ within the geographical continuum
The article introduces the concepts of geographical, natural, living, and tourism environments, examined from a geographical perspective and based on a holistic approach considering their terminological and structural factors, which, in their causal spatial relationships, contribute to a cohesive geographical ‘integrity’ of identifiable tourism landscapes. Qualitative research in philosophical geography is based on an extensive compilation of contemporary literature from multiple fields, such as geography, (geo)ecology, tourism, and physics, along with the author’s personal insights. The article highlights the cohesion of geography, tourism and environmental protection, indicating the role of geographical resources in tourism planning and environmental protection, including heritage preservation. The findings underscore their geographical nature, highlighting that they are essential elements of geographical space and, consequently, geographical subjects. This research advocates the involvement of geographers in their exploration of tourism and environmental conservation. Geography holds a fundamental role in both (geo)ecological and tourism research, as tourism and environmental conservation are inherently spatial, rendering them indispensable within the field of geography.
Mental well-being and psychological distress in the workplace: A pilot study of Greek hotel employees
Mental well-being in the workplace has emerged as a critical area of concern, particularly in the hospitality sector, where employees face demanding schedules, emotional labour and heightened customer expectations. This article investigates the mental well-being and the psychological distress of Greek hotel employees through a case study based on 139 survey responses. The research examines demographic profiles, daily work pressures and the impact of the post-COVID era on psychological well-being, while also documenting coping strategies and policy recommendations. Results reveal high levels of stress, extended working hours, moderate satisfaction with working conditions, and significant challenges in maintaining a work-life balance. Post-pandemic, employees reported a decline in self-assessed mental well-being, with anxiety, emotional exhaustion and sleep disturbances being prevalent. Despite these challenges, few employees sought professional support, reflecting stigma and low organizational attention to mental well-being. Suggestions provided by employees centered on reducing working hours, improving communication with management, and introducing structured mental well-being programs. The study highlights the urgent need for organizational, sectoral and governmental policies to safeguard employee well-being, enhance resilience and promote sustainable employment practices in the Greek hotel industry.
Tourist assessment of nightlife in Zagreb through TripAdvisor reviews
The night-time economy (NTE) refers to urban activities occurring between 6:00 PM and 6:00 AM, mainly focusing on activities related to nightlife venues (bars, clubs and coffee shops), creative industries (concerts and other musical events, theaters, festivals, cinema screenings, museums and galleries) and supporting activities such as hospitality, health services, transportation, delivery services, telecommunications, etc. It is very powerful in the context of tourism development, but precise statistics on the night-time economy are not readily available due to methodological challenges in its assessment. Still, its contribution to urban development is undoubted. Nightlife is an important aspect of the broader concept of the NTE and may have an important impact on the destination image. It is not easy to examine how tourists perceive nightlife experiences, but TripAdvisor offers significant insights into it, however, not many studies have analyzed tourists’ TripAdvisor reviews on nightlife experiences. Croatia has a prominent tourist industry and its capital, Zagreb, is the national center of creative industries. The aim of this study is to analyze how tourists evaluate their nightlife experiences there. So far its nightlife has not been systematically researched so this study has the goal of understanding which environment-related factors influence such experiences, and which nightlife images tourists assign to this city. Based on this, recommendations for policy makers and NTE professionals can be drawn. The methodology applied was aspect-based sentiment analysis (ABSA) of TripAdvisor reviews of the city’s clubs and bars in the three-year period (2022–2024), which was conducted in Python. Findings are classified into the following categories: social, sensory, cultural, safety and economic and the results show that the aspects of Zagreb nightlife mentioned most often are social- and sensory-related, being the factors that most strongly influence it. Safety-related reviews are not often considered while the economic-related dimension recorded the highest share of positive sentiment. Overall, the image that tourists assign to Zagreb’s nightlife is related to friendliness, affordability and vibrancy. The contribution of the study is seen in findings which may be used for the improvement of Zagreb nightlife and NTE as well as in tourism policy making.
Energy reduction technologies as catalysts for digital transformation and sustainable operations: Evidence from the hotel industry
The hospitality sector is facing growing scrutiny over its energy consumption and carbon emissions, placing hotels under pressure to pursue net-zero greenhouse gas (GHG) targets while maintaining high service quality. This study investigates the adoption of energy reduction technologies in the Irish hotel industry and their link to sustainable hotel operations through digital transformation, specifically via the adoption of robotics, AI and service automation (RAISA). Survey responses were collected from various star category hotels within Ireland. Valid survey responses were included in the data analysis which involved linear regression and bootstrapping. The theoretical underpinning of the study was diffusion of innovations theory. Results indicated an uneven adoption, with energy software and automation systems being more prevalent among innovators and early adopters, while technologies such as smart thermostats are more common among the late majority. Energy software strongly correlates with overall RAISA adoption, highlighting its role as a digital enabler. The study indicates that the adoption of sustainability-driven energy reduction technologies can bolster broader digital adoption. By demonstrating how sustainability-driven energy reduction technologies can catalyse broader digital transformation, the study provides actionable insights for hotel managers seeking to enhance operational efficiency and sustainability, as well as for policymakers aiming to design targeted interventions that accelerate technology adoption across the sector. The research also contributes theoretically by linking energy management to RAISA adoption within the framework of the diffusion of innovations, offering a model for understanding technology adoption pathways in the hospitality sector.
Challenge and hindrance appraisals of smart technology, artificial intelligence, robotics and algorithms (STARA) awareness and job performance: The moderating role of work-life balance
This study examines hotel employees’ perceptions of smart technology, artificial intelligence, robotics and algorithms (STARA) awareness regarding challenges and hindrances as well as analyzing how these perceptions influence their job performance. It also investigates the role of work-life balance as a moderating factor in the relationship between STARA awareness as a stressor with job performance. A quantitative research approach was employed, with data collected online and from face-to-face questionnaires. The study targeted employees from 5-star hotels in Jakarta who have had at least two years of experience working with technology and hold permanent or contract positions (excluding daily or part-time workers). A total of 400 respondents participated. The findings indicate that viewing STARA awareness as a challenge positively influences job performance, while perceiving it as a hindrance has no significant effect. Moreover, work-life balance was found to impact job performance. Future research could extend these findings by comparing international and local hotels and incorporating additional variables such as technological competence, organizational support and work involvement.
Visitor typologies in Sufi religious tourism: Insights from hosts at the El Sayed Ahmed El-Badawy Shrine
This study addresses the under-researched area of Sufism within religious tourism, specifically examining how Sufi hosts perceive Muslim and non-Muslim visitors at the El Sayed Ahmed El-Badawy mosque and tomb in Egypt. Utilizing qualitative methods, the research identifies five distinct visitor types based on their behaviors and interactions. Notably, Sufi hosts perceive the concept of the “pious pilgrim” differently from Western literature, emphasizing a broader understanding that includes those who engage meaningfully with Sufi practices and teachings. The findings contribute to tourism marketing strategies by highlighting the diverse demands of different visitor groups, thus enabling better management and interpretation of Sufi sites. This research not only enriches the academic discourse on religious tourism but also offers practical insights for enhancing visitor experiences and sustaining the sanctity of Sufi sites.
Designing and delivering inclusive heritage tours: Good practices for engaging socially excluded audiences
People who experience social exclusion often face barriers to participation in recreation and tourism and tend to have limited engagement with culture and heritage. Yet, both sets of activities have been linked to a range of positive outcomes. This study focuses on heritage tours, a tourism product at the crossroads of culture, tourism and recreation. It examines how heritage tours can be designed and delivered in a way that promotes inclusion: removing barriers, creating a judgement-free environment, fostering inclusive oral communication, and providing an equitable experience for all participants. Addressing a gap in the tourism literature, the paper draws on audience development strategies that have been used in culture and the arts, including product-led and marketled approaches. It analyzes a case study initiative in Edinburgh, Scotland, to explore the effectiveness of its approach and evaluate whether it offers any good practices that can be replicated in other destinations or contexts.
The role of city parks in creating ‘wellbeing societies’: A case study of Piłsudski Park in Łódź, Poland
This article examines the role of urban green spaces (UGSs) and city parks in fostering wellbeing among urban residents. UGSs are increasingly being recognized for their contribution to public health, mental wellbeing and social cohesion, and this research fills a gap in the understanding of these benefits in the context of Central and Eastern European cities. The current study presents research on the motivations, patterns of use, chosen activities and wellbeing benefits of visiting the largest city park in Łódź: Marshal Józef Piłsudski Park. The research utilizes a questionnaire-based survey of 238 park users to explore patterns of park use, motivations for visiting and perceived wellbeing benefits. Findings reveal that physical activities, such as walking, are the primary motivation for park visits, while mental benefits like relaxation and stress reduction are highly valued outcomes. Although social interactions are rated lower overall, they are particularly significant for younger and older users, as well as marginalized groups such as unemployed individuals. The study also highlights the role of proximity and the frequency of visits in amplifying wellbeing benefits. Despite the park’s evolving infrastructure, aligning with modern trends, passive recreational activities dominate usage patterns. The research underscores the potential of urban parks to address health and social challenges, advocating inclusive and participatory urban planning. These findings contribute to the broader discourse on sustainable urban development and the creation of ‘wellbeing societies’ through urban green spaces.
Determinants of tourist attitudes toward local food and intentions to visit a destination: A case study from Iran
This study examines the predictors of tourist attitudes towards local food along with intentions to visit a destination. This study is of great interest to research tourism in Iran. Specifically, it is the first to examine the impact of belief and familiarity as psychological factors on tourist attitudes towards local food and intentions to visit a destination. The sample consisted of 200 Iranian tourists visiting the city of Lahijan. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and structural equation modelling and the findings recognized familiarity as the most influential factor affecting attitudes toward local food, followed by epistemic, emotional, health and prestige value as well as food neophobia. However, interaction value, price and taste are not associated with attitudes towards local food. The article offers practical marketing strategies for tourism marketeers regarding the important determinants of intentions to visit a destination. This research can help authorities in charge of business promotion as to what is more likely to attract tourists and their use of tourism resources.
Social media and mountain visits – is this ‘friendship’ sustainable?
The role of social media in tourism has already been acknowledged in the academic literature but still little is known about its specific influence on mountain tourism in the context of the growing popularity of outdoor activities that threaten to harm fragile areas. The aim of this article is to find out the effect of social media on such visits, to outline patterns of tourist behaviour, as well as to reveal social media–induced effects, both negative and positive, regarding the sustainability of mountain tourism. Using an online survey among the members of a Bulgarian mountaineering Facebook group, we found out that it was information of practical use that was mostly searched for by its members, and which in turn can be easily converted into real visits to the area, and as such mainly attracting novice mountaineers. The study uncovered purely pragmatic perceptions in terms of sharing information and pictures about places in the mountains, with limited awareness about the possible negative environmental effects from the overpopularisation of these areas. This could be classified as a consumerist attitude towards the mountains that is nurtured by social media. On the positive side, such unawareness can be tackled by social media due to its mass informative power.
The historical legacy of Norwegian mountain destinations: Current challenges and opportunities for development
This study explores the historical legacy of mountain destinations in the southeastern region of Norway to understand the challenges they face and their opportunities for development. It identifies exogenic (external) and endogenic (internal) factors that have influenced the destinations’ development from historical accounts in order to understand the different levels of success among them. The literature study and the emerging discussion are based on locally-sourced documents in order to bridge the gap between academic literature and little known or less available sources of destination history and development. The findings are that exogenic factors such as transportation, climate change and commodifiable slopes, which may primarily affect all destinations for alpine skiing but are not sufficient to determine the variation in success between them. Endogenic drivers such as ownership, management and leadership qualities strongly explain the different levels of success in a destination’s development. This study demonstrates those with favourable exogenic conditions struggle without effective endogenic drivers. Conversely, some destinations have overcome challenges from historical development and these are largely influenced by endogenic drivers. This research contributes a historical perspective of development that uncovers a range of underlying drivers, providing a framework for understanding how exogenic and endogenic factors shape mountain destinations’ success, sustainability and capacity to innovate.
Communicating tourism destinations through travel writing: A case study on travel content research in tourism co-creation
This research explores the intersection of travel writing pedagogy and professional practice through the creation and analysis of a travel writing portfolio. One of the researchers compiled a portfolio of nine travel texts to test the efficacy of the aim, design, assessment (ADA) apparatus – a tool designed for planning and evaluating travel writing. The study utilised close reading techniques, drawing on established literary and semiotic theories, to analyse the portfolio and assess the role of pedagogic knowledge in professionalizing travel writing. The research highlights the importance of structured, reflective practices in producing travel texts that are both engaging and informative. Additionally, the study advances travel writing methodology by incorporating journaling into a Web 2.0 archive, offering new insights into the dialogic process between researchers and stakeholders. While the study’s limitations include a lack of comparative data, it lays the groundwork for further exploration of travel writing’s pedagogic and professional dimensions. The findings underscore the value of integrating pedagogic theory with practical application, providing a framework for future research and professionalisation of the genre.
Tourism eco-efficiency: Progress and prospect
This study aims to analyse relevant literature on tourism eco-efficiency which has arrived since this terminology was proposed almost two decades ago. This study was conducted using bibliometric analysis based on literature findings from the Scopus database, filtered by the ROSES framework, which resulted in a collection of 99 articles between 2005 and 2023, further analysed using the Biblioshiny package in R. We conducted five analyses, including general and source-based – to explore the most relevant and impactful journals, author-based – to highlight the most frequently cited productive researchers, and country-based – to identify those with consistent research networks and an abundant output on related topics. Additionally, there was keyword-based – emphasizing the evolution of tourism eco-efficiency discourse over time. This keyword-based analysis is further divided into factorial – clustered keywords; and thematic – grouping keywords into quadrants offering retrospective insight and identifying unexplored topics for future research. The findings of this study propose valuable insights into the topic of tourism eco-efficiency and propose further research directions, including those on spatial analysis, tourism spillover effects, integration with environmental regulations and interdisciplinary collaborations.
Post-COVID-19 pandemic: Examining the moderating role of event image on visitors’ intention to revisit major events
Grasping the perspectives of consumers is a fundamental focus for those managing events and festivals. This study investigated the impacts of aspects of awareness and event experience, namely perceived value, service quality and event image on satisfaction, along with revisit intentions to major events. The study used a quantitative analysis based on 1265 valid responses collected from a survey conducted during several major events that were held in Sarawak, Malaysia. Via partial least squares-structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM), the findings revealed service quality as a crucial motivator towards the attendees’ satisfaction levels, and this led to their revisit intentions. The event image was found to enhance the association, while the impacts of awareness and perceived value on satisfaction were not significant. The study provides event organizers with valuable insights regarding attendees’ perceived aspects of an event, enabling the effective planning and implementation of future major events post-COVID-19.
Possible impacts of Tren Maya: The residents of Chetumal’s perspective, Quintana Roo, Mexico
The aim is to analyze the possible impacts of the Tren Maya megaproject on the city of Chetumal, Quintana Roo, Mexico, through the perceptions of its residents. The theoretical framework used is that of social representations, as this approach helps understand how people organize, interpret and give meaning to information in their environment. The methodology is qualitative, involving surveys and in-depth interviews with residents of the study area. The analysis of the results is based on trends and excerpts from interviews that illustrate and contrast the impacts perceived by the local community. The main findings indicate that Tren Maya is viewed as an opportunity for economic improvement and will invigorate the production and tourist activities of Chetumal, however negative impacts on the environment are acknowledged. It is concluded that social representations can assist in creating comprehensive strategies to mitigate potential negative impacts and enhance the benefits from the implementation of Tren Maya in Chetumal.