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Sustainable Tourism Development and Innovation: Recent Advances and Challenges

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A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050). This special issue belongs to the section "Tourism, Culture, and Heritage".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (25 November 2022) | Viewed by 76086

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Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Vasiliki Vrana

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Department of Business Administration, Business School, International Hellenic University, 62124 Serres, Greece
Interests: social media; ICT in tourism; digital marketing
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Tourism and traveling have become a necessity today, having a profound impact on the society. Tourism contributes to the social and economic well-being of tourist destinations but also creates problems as the nature wasting, excessive energy consumption and climatic change. Tourist destinations may suffer from high tourist flows and the life quality of the local people may be affected. The negative effects may be exacerbated in times of crisis and disaster. The recent crisis of COVID 19 pandemic had an upside effect, touching negatively communities who rely on tourism for survival, forced many travel companies to closure and a positive environment impact.

Sustainability in tourism is a central issue for the tourism planning and development; and even though it has been adopted on the strategic level, it is poorly implemented. Sustainable development of tourism is a multifaceted and dynamic process that is constantly experiencing new challenges as there are advances of innovation. Innovation in tourism can take many forms from incremental changes that enhance provision and simplifying processes, to more revolutionary like ordering apps in restaurants, use of phone-as-key-cards, mobile booking and self-check-in, electronic luggage tags, bring your own device and wearable devices. Service and product development and innovation create additional value for customers and sustainable growth for entrepreneurs.

The aim of this Special Issue is to provide a forum to discuss and identify new trends and developments to the economy, society and environment that influence sustainable tourism; and to disseminate the latest research findings on recent advances and challenges. Complex multi-disciplinary research papers exploring major holistic issues and opportunities for sustainable tourism are also welcomed.

In this framework, Special Issue topics of interest include, but are not limited to:

The Role of technology in sustainable tourism.
Smart tourism
Wearables
Service innovations
Travel sustainability as a lifestyle
Impact of COVID-19 on sustainable tourism development
Marketing for sustainable tourism development
Impact of sustainable tourism on environment
Impact of sustainable tourism on economy
Impact of sustainable tourism on economy
Uncontrolled development and overtourism
Sustainable construction and architecture in tourism
Internet of Things for sustainable tourism development
Governance, planning, and ethical consumption
Green tourism
Experiential tourism
Circular economy and sustainable resource management

Prof. Dr. Vasiliki Vrana
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Sustainability is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

technology
robots
smart technologies
Internet of Things
service innovation
overtourism
climate change
authentic experiences
green energy
green transportation
green buildings
green infrastructure
green economy
tourism governance

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Published Papers (9 papers)

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Editorial

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5 pages, 171 KiB

Open AccessEditorial

Sustainable Tourism Development and Innovation: Recent Advances and Challenges

by Vasiliki Vrana

Sustainability 2023, 15(9), 7224; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15097224 - 26 Apr 2023

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 6473

Abstract

Traveling and tourism are now an essential part of people’s life and have a big influence on society [...] Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Tourism Development and Innovation: Recent Advances and Challenges)

Research

Jump to: Editorial, Review

18 pages, 358 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Social Media and Influencer Marketing for Promoting Sustainable Tourism Destinations: The Instagram Case

by Eleni Kilipiri, Eugenia Papaioannou and Iordanis Kotzaivazoglou

Sustainability 2023, 15(8), 6374; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15086374 - 7 Apr 2023

Cited by 21 | Viewed by 26069

Abstract

Instagram is a critical tool for the selection of tourism destinations. Instagram travel influencers seem to play a significant role in this process, often using geo-location data to make their posts even more impactful. However, there is no evidence of them performing such a role in sustainable destinations, although these destinations are increasing and to a large extent are the future in tourism. This paper aspires to shed light in this area focusing on sustainable destinations. Specifically, the purpose of this paper is to examine (a) the role of Instagram travel influencers in shaping users’ opinions of a sustainable destination and (b) the importance of geo-location data used by influencers to the users’ selection of such a destination. Thirty sustainable tourism destinations, as posted between 2017 and 2019, were selected for examination by using 10 Instagram travel macro-influencers’ power derived from their followers’ interactions on posts. The study used a mixed method approach combining cross-sectional and quantitative data analysis. Panel data and a multiple hierarchical analysis using SPSS Statistics were implemented to test the hypotheses. Finally, a regression model was used to try to identify the relationship between geo-location data and the selection of sustainable tourism destinations. The findings show that Instagram travel influencers, as social media communicators, are positively related to the selection of a sustainable destination. However, the use of geo-location data by Instagram travel influencers does not enhance travelers’ intention for such a choice. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Tourism Development and Innovation: Recent Advances and Challenges)

24 pages, 2594 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Blockchain Technology to Enhance Integrated Blue Economy: A Case Study in Strengthening Sustainable Tourism on Smart Islands

by Diaz Pranita, Sri Sarjana, Budiman Mahmud Musthofa, Hadining Kusumastuti and Mohamad Sattar Rasul

Sustainability 2023, 15(6), 5342; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15065342 - 17 Mar 2023

Cited by 24 | Viewed by 4268

Abstract

Smart destinations require a management system that provides convenient real-time use of digital technology in creating, communicating, and delivering value to visitors. Research related to smart island destinations is still limited, let alone those that utilize blockchain technology to create the smartness of the destination. This research is an empirical study that captures the perceptions of stakeholders in the blue economy on smart islands and the use of blockchain technology in order to build smart islands, a destination that consists of many islands that lack connectedness, such as the Seribu Islands in Jakarta, Indonesia. Data were collected using qualitative and quantitative approaches (mixed methods). Qualitative data were collected from scientific journal publications and followed up with VOS viewer analysis, and quantitative data with the questionnaire survey responses from 150 blue economy industry players in the Seribu Islands and structural equation modeling showed that good digital literacy and blue economy management have significant influence on blockchain technology and impact smart islands. This study indicates that, for islands that have challenges in accessibility and connectivity, the presence of blockchain and smart technology is needed to integrate various resources from each stakeholder so that the blue economy in the islands can be developed more effectively and efficiently, while at the same time ensuring the achievement of sustainability. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Tourism Development and Innovation: Recent Advances and Challenges)

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12 pages, 1222 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Opportunities and Directions of Development of Agritourism: Evidence from Samarkand Region

by Elbek Togaymurodov, Michał Roman and Piotr Prus

Sustainability 2023, 15(2), 981; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15020981 - 5 Jan 2023

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 5494

Abstract

Agritourism can enhance rural development and is a useful alternative activity to increase farm incomes. It has attracted the attention of agricultural experts and researchers around the world in recent years. As a result of rapid growth worldwide, agritourism has become one of the most significant supplementary income sources for farmers. The main purpose of this study is to identify factors influencing participation of fermer in agritourism in the Samarkand region of Uzbekistan, using scientific studies and statistical data, which indicate that there are great opportunities for agritourism activities. Increasing the economic potential of the rural areas by introducing innovative activities on the Samarkand region’s medium-sized farms (fermers) and ensuring sustainable development are essential. In Samarkand, there are a lot of conditions for the development of tourism, especially agritourism. The study examined all 10 agritourism fermers and 100 randomly selected fermers in Samarkand that do not carry out agritourism activities. Based on this data collection and analysis using a logistic regression model, the results showed several factors influencing the participation of fermers in the Samarkand region in agritourism activities, which was analyzed using the logistic regression model. According to the results of this model, each fermer’s income, employment, fermer’s education, and distance from the city had a significantly positive effect on the fermer’s initiation of agritourism. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Tourism Development and Innovation: Recent Advances and Challenges)

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28 pages, 11952 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Climate Change and Tourism Sustainability in Jeju Island Landscape

by Wonseob Song

Sustainability 2023, 15(1), 88; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15010088 - 21 Dec 2022

Cited by 11 | Viewed by 10923

Abstract

The transformation of tourism as a reaction to climate change involves the adoption of a low-carbon route, which comprises policy and institution reforms, behavior changes, and climate change action as major components. Using Jeju Island in the Republic of Korea as a case study, this research highlights the potential of an organic relationship between climate change reaction and the development of sustainable tourism. The situation on Jeju Island, which is detailed in this study, highlights the link between low-carbon tourism and initiatives for mitigating climate change. This article outlines how climate action congruent with climate change and sustainable tourism may be implemented on Jeju Island. In addition, the link between climate change and sustainable tourism is studied in depth by evaluating the likelihood of the failure of a number of climate change-response programs. This approach emphasizes how the example of Jeju Island might be a small step toward addressing climate change and sustainable tourism issues in developing countries. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Tourism Development and Innovation: Recent Advances and Challenges)

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20 pages, 1326 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Designing the Tourist Journey for the Advancement of Sustainable Tourist Practices

by Garyfallos Fragidis, Kyriakos Riskos and Iordanis Kotzaivazoglou

Sustainability 2022, 14(15), 9778; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14159778 - 8 Aug 2022

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 3510

Abstract

Sustainable tourism has become a key priority in the strategic plans for tourism development in order to attain sociocultural development and environmental preservation. This paper examines opportunities for the advancement of sustainable tourism by encouraging tourists to consider sustainability and to include sustainable options in their tourist practices. The paper adopts a practice-based approach for the understanding of tourist behavior as a series of practices tourists perform for the development of valuable experiences, usually with the support of services offered by tourist organizations and service providers. Sustainability is an option for tourists that needs to be offered, promoted, and supported when they decide on their practices and the way they will perform them. Hence, sustainability is an option that needs to be designed so that tourists are enabled and motivated to adopt sustainable tourist practices. The paper proposes the sustainable tourist journey as an approach for the analysis and design of sustainable tourist practices that is based on the holistic scope of the consumer journey. The paper contributes to the advancement of sustainable tourism by introducing and improving the understanding of sustainability concerns in tourist practices. The paper discusses also how digital technologies can support the design of sustainable tourist practices. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Tourism Development and Innovation: Recent Advances and Challenges)

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29 pages, 1656 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Effect of Perceptions on Tourism: An Econometric Analysis of the Impacts and Opportunities for Economic and Financial Development in Albania and Kosovo

by Mirela Tase and Enkeleda Lulaj

Sustainability 2022, 14(13), 7659; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14137659 - 23 Jun 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 3065

Abstract

Today, tourism plays an important role in the economic and financial development of countries, and its impact is greater than ever. Therefore, for sustainable economic and financial growth and well-planned development, public and private investments should be directed to areas of priority tourism development. Research on the effect of perceptions on the behavior of tourists in these two countries has not been carried out before, thus, the purpose of this research is to determine whether the effects of the perception of tourists has an impact on economic and financial development based on factors (F1 (f.1.1 and f.1.2) and F2 (f.2.1 and f. 2.2)). For this study, the data were provided by respondents from several cities in Albania and Kosovo. A total of 1002 questionnaires divided into three sessions were analyzed using factor analysis, data reliability analysis, and multiple regression analysis. All analyses were performed using SPSS version 23.0 for Windows. In this case, 23 variables were tested and divided into two factors and five sub-factors. The results showed that special attention should be paid to the following factors: (a) awareness of tourists of facilities in tourist destinations where they would like to visit; (b) greater knowledge of foreign languages for residents of both countries, which could facilitate communication with tourists during purchases or other requests; (c) attracting new investors and the creation by the government bodies of conditions and security for both investors and tourists; (d) supporting the marketing and sale of local products for tourists; (e) the need for infrastructure support from government bodies in both countries in order to increase economic and financial well-being through tourism; (f) the need to implement strategies focusing on the sustainable development of both countries through tourism should be strengthened; (g) in terms of sustainable development and regional competitiveness, Kosovo and Albania should follow development trends and be competitive with other countries in the region. The implications of this paper relate only to certain studied variables, and only in certain cities of Albania and Kosovo. In case of future analysis by different researchers, other variables can be analyzed for different locales by making comparisons with the presented data. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Tourism Development and Innovation: Recent Advances and Challenges)

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14 pages, 504 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Innovative Sustainable Tourism Development and Entrepreneurship through Sports Events

by Georgios Tsekouropoulos, Ourania Gkouna, Dimitrios Theocharis and Athanasios Gounas

Sustainability 2022, 14(8), 4379; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14084379 - 7 Apr 2022

Cited by 20 | Viewed by 5271

Abstract

Innovation and the development of new services are important strategic features to ensure the growth and sustainable wealth for industries where customers have many choices, as is the case in tourism sector. In this context, the present research comes to connect the local sustainable tourism development with the sporting events, and to come up with relevant proposals for the reference area, but also for their generalization in the whole tourist areas. Based on the research purpose, a quantitative research was conducted on a sample of 448 residents, randomly selected from a sampling frame. Several scales from previous studies were used to collect primary data, and they were adapted according to the research purpose. Research findings indicate that the acceptance of sustainable tourism development through sports can be predicted by several variables, such as the economic impact (b = 0.343), residents’ attitude towards sports events (b = 0.287), and citizens’ tendency to entrepreneurship (b = 0.113). Additionally, sports events affect the tendency of citizens towards entrepreneurship (r = 0.519, p < 0.01). In conclusion, the impact of sports events is multiple, and it affects many aspects of a tourism destination, and the effect of sports events on the destination is connected with the tendency of citizens towards entrepreneurship related to sports events. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Tourism Development and Innovation: Recent Advances and Challenges)

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Review

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18 pages, 519 KiB

Open AccessReview

Cycling Tourism: A Literature Review to Assess Implications, Multiple Impacts, Vulnerabilities, and Future Perspectives

by Ovidiu R. Ciascai, Ștefan Dezsi and Karina A. Rus

Sustainability 2022, 14(15), 8983; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14158983 - 22 Jul 2022

Cited by 20 | Viewed by 8219

Abstract

Cycle tourists are increasingly prominent in the profile of world tourism and, in the light of the literature, it is essential, among other things, to examine more closely who they are, what their concerns and motivations are that generate the choice of a cycle tourism product, and, as a priority, the level of economic, social, and environmental impact they cause at destination. In this context, this literature review aims at identifying authors’ and publishers’ interest in cycle tourism, the positive and negative effects of this form of tourism on the economic environment (direct and indirect), as well as effects on the social environment (benefits and potential drawbacks for local communities, along with health benefits for practitioners) and, last but not least, the degree of vulnerability to economic crises generated by travel restrictions. The conclusions reported in this article, as they have been drawn from analyses and examples of best practice, based on natural and anthropogenic geographical conditions, will be prioritised as future research directions. The usefulness of this approach lies in the information with significant applied and novelty aspects, addressed to local, regional, and national authorities, cycling and cycle-tourism associations, and various private interested enterprises, with a view to promoting cycling for recreational purposes and implementing cycling/cycle-tourism infrastructure as a sustainable way of developing small towns and rural areas with tourism potential. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Tourism Development and Innovation: Recent Advances and Challenges)

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