Ecotourism-related products and activities, and the economic sustainability of small and medium island chalets

Environment-related products and activities in the tourism industry are popular among visitors to Malaysia. Such is the case off the coast of East Peninsular Malaysia, where several coral islands offer various ecotourism activities. The present study examines the products and activities offered in the four islands and related issues on the economic sustainability of small and medium island chalets (SMICs). Through the multi-method approach, results show that island hopping and combination tours are the most popular products. Meanwhile, snorkeling, round-island trips, and diving are the most highlighted activities. These ecotourism-related activities are mainly due to the attractiveness of the environment, which has drawn large numbers of tourists to the chalets on these islands. SMICs established their businesses in the late 1990s on the back of growing confidence in the tourism industry in the 1980s. Visitors include almost equal numbers of both local and international tourists. SMICs’ product and activity development are highly correlated with environmental attractions, thus positively contributing to the economic sustainability of SMICs. The present study proposes that the most appropriate business model for SMICs would be that of a small local business community operating in the island. This model would help maintain the sustainability of the island-tourism sector.     

Politics and sustainable tourism development – Can they co-exist? Voices from North Cyprus

This paper investigates ways in which political obstacles inhibit the formulation and implementation of sustainable tourism development in small-island developing states through the example of North Cyprus. The methodology draws on in-depth interviews and participant observation of significant actors in the tourism sector. The research findings suggest that understanding the intricate political system and power structure in a society is the key to understanding sustainable tourism policy development, planning and implementation. In the case of North Cyprus, policy development was found to be a product of political influence (referred to as ego-driven politics in the text), specifically the use of public resources as an instrument for political power, retention and that the politicisation of the public sector is the underlying cause of the weakened progress in sustainable tourism development. It is therefore essential to have a clear understanding of political issues, key political actors’ interests and how to mitigate personal interests to facilitate and maintain sustainable tourism development in such small states.     

论旅游学术期刊与旅游人才培养及教学科研的关系——以《旅游学刊》为例

学术期刊对科研工作和人才培养起着重要的导向作用。本文通过分析《旅游学刊》的相关文献数字 ,以及对其办刊方针和审稿制度的解析 ,阐述了期刊文献对旅游研究选题、研究水准、研究方法的导向作用 ;对研究型人才的发掘培养与催化作用 ,以及对教学的补充作用。     

Measuring empowerment: Developing and validating the Resident Empowerment through Tourism Scale (RETS)

Despite empowerment playing a crucial role in sustainable tourism development, there have yet to be scales developed to measure whether residents perceive themselves as being psychologically, socially, or politically empowered from tourism. To address this gap, the Resident Empowerment through Tourism Scale (RETS) was developed following Churchill's (1979) criteria for scale development. The RETS was purified through a pilot and pretest study before being tested in a three county region of western Virginia, USA. The data were initially analyzed using multiple exploratory factor analyses before being validated through confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). Results of the CFA demonstrated that the RETS displayed construct validity with standardized factor loadings ranging from 0.65 to 0.92 for the three subscales and construct reliability scores ranging from 0.85 to 0.92. The RETS is presented as a scale ready for use to measure the extent to which residents perceive themselves as being empowered or disempowered by tourism.     

Tourism,information technologies and sustainability: an exploratory review

ABSTRACT

Considerable attention has been paid in recent years to the fundamental changes in the global tourism system related to the emergence of information technologies (IT), and, specifically, the rise of social media. Opportunities to search travel-related information, to reserve and book, evaluate and judge; to receive travel advice and to communicate one's mobility patterns have all profoundly changed the practices of performing tourism, with concomitant repercussions for the management and marketing of businesses and destinations. This paper provides a discussion of the implications of these changes for the sustainability of the global tourism system. Based on an exploratory research design, key changes in the tourism system are identified and discussed with regard to their environmental, socio-cultural and psychological, as well as economic significance. The paper concludes that IT affects the tourism system in numerous and complex ways, with mixed outcomes for sustainability: while most changes would currently appear to be ambivalent – and some outright negative – there is considerable potential for IT to support more sustainable tourism. Yet, this would require considerable changes in the tourism system on global, national and individual business' levels, and require tourism academics to probe many new issues.     

旅游文化与文化旅游:理论与实践的若干问题

“旅游文化”与“文化旅游”是两个容易被混淆的概念,也是两个应该引起重视的研究领域。本文从对比这两个概念在国内外的研究状况入手,辨析了这两个概念的含义及其研究范畴,指出目前研究的局限和应有的研究框架,并分析其相应的实践应用方向。     

Active engagement with nature: outdoor adventure tourism,sustainability and wellbeing

Abstract

This article draws on the conflicting arguments surrounding outdoor adventure tourism activities to determine if such activities might usefully be considered beneficial for humans and nature, and how they might offer avenues for sustainable tourism practice. Research in the field has often examined outdoor adventure activities through a lens that either highlights their negative environmental impacts or has sought to conceptualise motivations and/or experiences. In this article, we argue that through practices that are often seen as destructive, there is the possibility to think differently about human-nature relationships and pro-environmentalism. To explore these issues, we draw on data collected from a series of semi-structured interviews with outdoor adventure tourists. Our analysis highlights how outdoor adventure tourism facilitates reconnections to nature, offering potential wellbeing impacts and pro-environmental attitudes and behaviours. We conclude that outdoor adventure activities as a form of sustainable tourism have potential implications for our understanding of, and engagement with, sustainability, mental health and wellbeing.     

Tourism,tourist learning and sustainability: an exploratory discussion of complexities,problems and opportunities

Learning is often a central element of tourism. Tourists can learn actively, i.e. with a specific purpose, as well as passively through the comparison of values, norms and customs. It has been argued that travel supports active learning that has positive outcomes for sustainability, for instance, in the context of conservation. Yet, the complexity of active and passive learning processes and their outcomes for environmental sustainability and sustainable lifestyles remain insufficiently understood. Against this background, the paper discusses selected learning outcomes for transportation (air travel), accommodation (hotels) and activities (theme park visits). Findings suggest that “desirable” learning (defined as pro-sustainable development learning) in tourism may be very limited, while in particular, passive learning processes which redefine social norms frequently have outcomes that are largely detrimental to sustainable lifestyles. They include forms of moral licensing, the diffusion of responsibilities as well as the attenuation of the negative consequences of travel. Given the economic, social and cultural importance of tourism vís-a-vís its global implications for environmental sustainability, learning outcomes in tourism deserve to be studied in greater detail, while strategies need to be devised to enhance sustainable learning effects.     

Enterprising Women,Tourism, and Development: The Case of Bali

Bali, the home of Indonesia’s Hindu minority, is experiencing a rapid growth in tourism and hospitality. The resulting opportunities for small scale, locally owned businesses has greatly benefited women. Using in depth interviews and other supplemental evidence, this trend is examined in order to explore how women are influenced by the circumstances faced, as well as by their culture and heritage. Doing so provides an empirical evidence regarding how women can contribute to the hospitality industry in places such as Bali.     

Exploring Cruise Experiences,Satisfaction, and Loyalty: The Case of Aruba as a Small-Island Tourism Economy

In light of increasing global competition amongst international cruise destinations; growing demand for cruise tourism; and the lack of empirical studies on the “real” destination experience, satisfaction, and intentions to return and recommend (i.e., cruise destination loyalty), the current study investigates cruise visitor satisfaction, cruise destination experience, and the resulting behavioral intention as it relates to the cruise destination of Aruba, Dutch Caribbean. Because of increased reliance of small island economies on cruise tourism receipts and visitor expenditures, cruise ports throughout the Caribbean are seeking ways to improve the quality of destination services and experiences. Results indicate that cruise visitors are satisfied with their visit to Aruba and that overall destination experience in addition to satisfaction, were found to be significant predictors of cruise visitor loyalty.     

文化和旅游融合:多层次关系内涵、挑战与践行路径

文化和旅游部的组建使"文旅融合"成为热词,对文化和旅游关系的历时性反思却比较缺乏,进而影响了对文化和旅游关系的完整理解。文章基于对文化和旅游关系演变的历时性梳理,分析了文化和旅游关系的起源、发展与提升及其相应阶段可能面临的挑战。研究认为:文化的身份意义和旅游者追求身份认同使文化具有吸引物属性,建构文化的身份认同与集体记忆增强其吸引物属性并使之成为旅游资源,是践行文旅融合的第一层次路径,但也可能会面临关于文化工具性的批判。通过文化的可参观性生产提升文化的展示水平,是增强旅游者文化旅游体验的重要方式,也是践行文旅融合的第二层次路径,但因此而引起的文化商品化往往被批判为旅游导致文化衰落。文化旅游产品的进一步商业化与产业链延伸是践行文旅融合的第三层次路径,但也可能导致过度商业化与文化体验失真的批判。     

Tourism transition in peripheral rural areas: Theories,issues and strategies

This article examines the relationship between “rural peripherality” and “tourism transition” to describe the ongoing transformations within the tourist supply in rural areas, highlighting the importance these concepts are acquiring in both the theoretical debate and the formation of policies. Based on the classification of peripheral areas provided by the Italian Strategy for Inner Areas, the authors have undertaken a detailed statistical analysis at the municipality level, considering tourism as an important driver of socio-economical change. A model of governance based on “transition management” is put forward as a practical tool to guide these processes. A case study conducted through participatory action-research offered the opportunity to overcome existing governance practices and experiment with more adaptive methods to manage the transition.     

国外中国旅游研究进展——《Annals of Tourism Research》、《Tourism Management》和《Journal of Travel Research》研究述评

本文对、和三大权威旅游期刊上发表的有关中国旅游研究的51篇文献进行了综述,确认了现状分析、旅游政策、旅游开发与规划、基础研究、出境旅游以及旅游与政治等六大研究主题,并对每一主题进行了回顾与总结,探讨了未来研究的重点和方向.     

Partnerships in International Travel and Tourism Marketing: A Systems-Oriented Approach Between Australia,New Zealand,Germany and the United Kingdom

Abstract

Little empirical research has been conducted about international partnerships between travel and tourism organisations, airlines and their intermediaries such as wholesalers and travel agents. Nevertheless, these partnerships are important because tourism is becoming more international and most destinations have to compete at a global level. Moreover, both producers and intermediaries are increasingly using information technology to increase their knowledge and relationship with customers. Thus this research set out to develop and empirically confirm a systemic model of these partnerships and four related research objectives. The methodology involved multiple case studies based on in-depth interviews with key players in Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and Germany. The first outcome is a confirmation of the systemic model. In addition, the findings show the reasons for engaging in partnerships and the scope for further partnerships among the industry players. As well, the findings show that while ‘disintermediation’ may occur because of the advancement of communication technology, the linkages between travel and tourism organisations, airlines and intermediaries are still significant. Our framework can assist public and private travel and tourism organisations to mutually develop and manage marketing strategies and tactics for overseas markets.     

乡村文化与旅游产业融合:研究回顾与展望

乡村文化与旅游产业融合在国内外日益兴盛,是实现乡村振兴的重要途径之一。本文基于产业融合背景,厘清了乡村文化与旅游产业融合的相关概念,从文化与旅游产业融合的理论与实践研究入手,对国内外乡村文化与旅游产业的融合机制、融合效应、融合模式、融合路径等方面研究进行系统梳理。研究发现:(1)乡村文旅融合研究具有突出的时代特征,在中西方语境中存在较大差异;(2)乡村文旅融合研究呈现出理论与实证并行的特点;(3)研究方向呈现多元化趋势。本文还提出了乡村文旅融合的研究展望,以期为乡村文旅产业融合的未来研究与发展提供启示。     

结构方程模型之旅游研究近况——理性回顾、审视与反思

基于中国期刊全文数据库(CPFD)和外文期刊数据库Elsevier Science Direct Databases (ESDD)检索到的相关旅游论文,文章分析了学术期刊文献反映出的结构方程模型(SEM)的旅游相关研究与应用概况,对近期(指2008年至今)SEM在国内外旅游中的研究内容与重要发现进行了回顾,对该方面表现出的国内外差异进行了反思,并从方法论的视角对SEM近期在国内外旅游研究应用中显现出的问题进行了理性审视,以期明晰SEM的旅游研究概况,揭示其近期国内外应用现状及异同,为更加科学恰当的应用该方法提供基础的理论参考.     

传统与复建历史文化街区文旅融合特征与路径——基于符号学视角

历史文化街区既是城市文化的重要地标,也是旅游发展的重要资源,由此成为新时期文旅融合的重要实践载体。本研究基于符号学视角,选取黄山市屯溪区毗邻的屯溪老街和黎阳in巷分别作为传统与复建历史文化街区代表,基于扎根理论构建历史文化街区文旅融合的符号学理论框架。实证分析表明：传统与复建两类历史文化街区均形成了主题定位、文旅功能、空间布局、物质载体、业态产品、旅游服务六方面的文化和旅游符号,前者以传统文化符号居多,后者以现代旅游符号居多;两类街区文化和旅游符号融合的独特性、凸显性、融合性和适应性等特征差异明显,前者偏向地域文化的独特性,后者偏向旅游介入的适应性。据此提出传统历史文化街区“旅游趋向”和复建历史文化街区“文化趋向”的文旅融合路径,两类街区在文化传承与旅游发展中应加强文化资源符号化、资源功能多元化、符号空间整合化、文化符号全景化,促进文化产品价值化、旅游服务品质化,以实现历史文化街区可持续发展。