ABSTRACT
Until recent decades, labour-intensive subsistence farming was a way of life and livelihood in the hill communities of Uttarakhand, India. However, the nature of agriculture falls far short of the expectations of the main labour force, the rural youth, leading to their mass migration to non-agricultural occupations. The large-scale youth migration has left many hill farming landscapes depopulated and farmlands abandoned. As youth have special stakes in food systems, they must be included in the sustainable transformation of food systems. By doing so, the migration-prone hill region may be transformed into a place where rural youth have more options for work and income. Therefore, the agriculture sector needs to change and develop into a more engaging and youthful workplace. There are opportunities to explore and barriers to be removed. Besides identifying priority research areas on local food systems, in this exploratory research, we investigate opportunities to involve rural young people in the transformation of the food system. We document information by conducting focus group discussion (FGD) meetings in about 100 villages in the Uttarakhand hills, representing all major farming landscapes. This study mainly focuses on improving the production and consumption aspects of local food, which not only benefits the health and wellbeing of local communities but also has many positive economic, social, and environmental effects. In addition, we explore opportunities for reviving mountain agriculture through agri-ecotourism, which is a symbiotic relationship between tourism and agriculture. Making home- or farm stays in agri-ecotourism a subsistence strategy for local youth will contribute to a more prosperous rural economy. Recognising Uttarakhand's rich culture and heritage while exploring the culinary travel opportunities in homestays will provide opportunities to focus more on traditional food systems, exposing various tangible and intangible aspects of the host region's food culture to tourists. The findings of this study will aid in identifying specific policy issues for consideration by planners and policymakers at the local and state levels. Additionally, this exploratory study will assist young, motivated researchers in conducting follow-up, in-depth investigations and producing empirical data in their specialised fields.
ABSTRACT
The cruise shipping industry has existed for centuries. However, sustainability is a relatively new trend that could make a big difference and someday impact the industry. A growing body of research on sustainable cruise tourism includes studying changes among industry stakeholders, internal and external processes, and more. However, until now, there have been no comprehensive and systematic reviews of the academic literature on this topic and proposals for future research areas. The sample for our research consists of 56 articles structured into the following themes and subthemes: (1) corporate social responsibility (public interaction and emissions management);(2) territory management (collaboration with stakeholders and infrastructure development);(3) training in sustainable behavior (passengers, ship personnel, and other stakeholders). These themes fully explore the various use cases for sustainable cruises, forming a conceptual framework for understanding trends for the industry's sustainable development. We direct the attention of other researchers to the following areas for further research: GHG emissions of cruising;biodiversity impacts;quantitative understanding of the target audience and their participation in sustainability financing;in-depth understanding of the reasons for cooperation between stakeholders;identifying the true motivation for participation in sustainable development;the long-term trends;and how the shipping industry is adapting to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.
ABSTRACT
Travel & Tourism being the largest service provider industry (value worth US billion $234) have been increasingly contributing third highest Foreign Exchange Earnings with a double digit growth (17.1% in Mar, 2018). It has been in limelight since past few years with the Ministry of Tourism taking few remarkably significant steps to increase the value and volume of foreign tourists arrivals (FTAs) with phenomenally customized tourist attractions like e-visa, subsidized packages to religious places, golden circuit, royal trains like Palace on wheels and participating in tourist marts within and outside the country exhibiting the destinations, food & cultural diversity. As per the reports of The World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) India grossed about 9.2% of total GDP value in 2018 with revenues exceeding $240billion along with financially supporting direct/indirect employment opportunities (42.67 million jobs or 8.1% labour force).The recent health and financial emergency of Pandemic COVID-19 which has affected every sector of economy with world over lockdowns shutting down the growth engines of modern economy for quarter nearly i.e. have risked employment of millions across. The sluggish economic growth and declining consumer purchasing power with loss in positive sentiment / behaviour due to economic fallout, unprecedented unemployment statistics going above the earlier recession will eventually be a debacle for the Hospitality and Tourism industry with an expected loss of more than $ 125 billion. The research study aims to create an in-depth understanding of challenges faced by the Tourism industry in the current pandemic situation and consumer sentiment. The findings prove a declining consumer sentiment with tourism associated activities. However an increasing awareness on environmental and sustainable development will prove to be a game changer for Wildlife and ecotourism destinations within the country apart from countryside travel to hometown rather than expensive and riskier foreign travel. The inferences drawn are in confirmation to governments "Dekho Apna Desh” and Incredible India program. ©Copyright IJHTS.
ABSTRACT
This study aims to make an investigation on the relationship between ecotourism motivation (EM), satisfaction (SA), place attachment (PA), and environmentally responsible behavior intention (ER) based on the analysis of camping tourism andstudy the mediating roles of SA and PA in the relationship between EM and ER. A questionnaire-based survey was conducted on 400 camping tourists who visited the Yunnan Province of China within the last year. The distribution of survey questionnaires range from 12 February 2023–24 February 2023. The results reveal that EM positively influences SA, PA, and ER, whereas, although SA positively impacts PA, it does not significantly affect ER. In contrast, PA positively affects ER. Furthermore, PA has a positive mediating impact on the relationship between EM and ER, whereas, SA does not significantly mediate this relationship. Finally, SA and PA act as chain mediators between EM and ER. The findings contribute to the tourism literature by shedding light on the complex relationships between EM, SA, PA, and ER in the context of camping tourism, thereby, enhancing tourist satisfaction and promoting environmentally responsible behavior, thus, contributing to the growth of a sustainable camping industry.
ABSTRACT
The COVID-19 pandemic required changes in habits. Tourism was one of the most affected sectors. The objective of the article was to analyze the negative impacts resulting from the pandemic on conservation projects, with emphasis on the Hyacinth Macaw Institute (Instituto Arara Azul - ITA). The research was developed through a literature review and documents from the ITA. In the years 2018 and 2019 the Hyacinth Macaw Institute received an average of 299 tourists per year, in 2020 this average dropped by 60%. With the restrictions imposed by the pandemic, people stopped traveling and visiting the projects, with this, the collection structure was affected. However, ecotourism was one of the first activities to be resumed, after a prolonged period of isolation, people look for activities that provide physical and mental well-being.
ABSTRACT
The economic turmoil and restrictions on human movement precipitated by the COVID-19 pandemic severely impacted conservation efforts. Many conservation actors rapidly implemented various adaptive measures in response to the cessation of the nature-based tourism industry, the primary revenue source for much of conservation in sub-Saharan Africa. This timely preliminary study examined the innovative use of virtual safaris, a form of virtual nature-based tourism, as an adaptive response to the crisis. Eight in-depth semi-structured interviews and two written responses from a range of ‘conservation operators' provided insight into motivations, benefits, and challenges associated with using virtual safaris. This novel study found three mechanisms through which virtual safaris helped to alleviate the effects of COVID-19 with the potential to develop conservation resilience: 1) as a stopgap measure, 2) for revenue diversification, and 3) as a means of scaling ecosystem services. Virtual safaris provided a critical lifeline for conservation operators, created a new tool to connect with distant audiences, and strengthened relationships with donors. However, this research highlighted a need to re-evaluate the role of sustainable tourism within conservation, with transformative changes essential to enhance future conservation resilience.
ABSTRACT
Tourists' preference for ecological attractions was boosted in the post-Covid-19 period and reinforced the importance of ecotourism around the world, with the appreciation of domestic trips to destinations marketed as sustainable. Therefore, the general objective of this article is to reflect on potentialities and challenges for ecotourism in the municipality of Rancharia (SP, Brazil). It should be noted that Rancharia is part of the "Sol do Oeste" and "Oeste Rios" Circuits, so there is a regional articulation focused on a tourism policy. The research methodology consisted of a theoretical review on the topic of ecotourism, tourism planning and tourism sustainability, highlighting study concepts and perspectives. Documents provided by the municipal government were consulted, such as the Master Plan, the Master Plan for Tourism Development and the Urbanistic and Environmental Master Plan. To complement the analyses, an interview was conducted with the Director of the Municipal Department of Tourism, the main activity management sector on a local scale. The results show that Rancharia has the potential to perpetuate ecotourism practices, especially when it is verified the presence of expressive natural resources in its territory and the title of Municipality of Tourist Interest (MIT) conquered in 2007, when it started to receive funds for investments in infrastructure tourism, as well as resources from the Improvement Fund for Tourist Municipalities to benefit the activity. On the other hand, the challenges are related to the opening of private properties to public visitation, as they have natural attractions that already motivate flows of people, however, they also lack investments in infrastructure for access and permanence of visitors. Likewise, it is necessary to sensitize the community to the value of ecotourism as an alternative to socioeconomic development. From this, it would be possible to structure an ecotourism itinerary with an emphasis on practices and leisure activities in contact with nature, attracting more tourist flows to the municipality.
ABSTRACT
Citizen science in coastal ecosystems often involve (eco-)tourists that actively monitor reefs, species and pollution. Data collected by tourists, passively, was used to gain insight into landings of the largest fish, the whale shark (Rhincodon typus), in Pangandaran Bay, Indonesia. Monitoring of illegal fishing was halted due to COVID-19 travel restrictions and lockdowns. With two million, mainly Indonesian, tourists visiting Pangandaran Bay in 2020 (30% less than in 2019) enough tourists were present to record landings of whale sharks. Monitoring social media revealed reports of 10 whale shark landings between August 2020 and August 2022. Seven were in July-August of immatures 6-7 m in length. The information passively provided by tourists since COVID-19 have given insights into the biology of whale sharks, landing risks and how communities interact with sharks. Feeding back this information to tourists is challenging, yet vital, to cement a sense of belonging, purpose and attachment to their holiday location.
ABSTRACT
Is observed a structure of five factors: representations, habitus, fields, capital, capabilities and enterprise that explained 54% of the total variance explained, although the research design limited findings local scenario, suggesting the inclusion of variables that the literature identifies Sociodemographic and socioeconomic variables to establish entrepreneurial profiles according to risk events;landslides, fires, droughts, floods, frosts or earthquakes. If a representation links coffee farming with other personal or community needs, then it supposes provisions that facilitate the objectification or anchoring of information related to sowing, harvesting, weather, pests, prices and prices. Faced with the environmental problems of droughts or floods, social capital networks in Xilitla respond with organization of the crop in diversified stages but confined to the achievement of goals that guarantee the productive cycle. The representations are discursive innovations from which scientific knowledge is disseminated in common sense and social thought, although this is exclusive of not only science, art or culture in general since the symbols to discover or invent are also prone to its transformation into interpretations of reality and more primarily discursive senses.
ABSTRACT
This study explores the reasons for the failure to sustain the rehabilitation of Al-Khabra as a heritage village for tourism. Despite the rehabilitation activities since 2007 and the comprehensive plans for the development, protection, and operation of the village, tourism activities are limited due to the restricted availability of qualified buildings, infrastructure, and services. This has made the investment in the village economically unviable. This study aims to propose sustainability strategies for heritage villages by investing in eco-tourism. This study used a qualitative descriptive approach by analyzing the rehabilitation experience through available reports and studies, field observations, and interviews. A holistic and environmental approach was proposed based on the integration of cultural and environmental elements to promote eco-tourism in the village. This study recommends the development of national policies that regulate the preservation of local resources and biodiversity within an integrated framework that enhances the unique environmental advantages of the village and encourages investment in it.
ABSTRACT
Chilika, the largest brackish water lagoon in Asia, is a habitat of the Irrawaddy Dolphin (IRD) and a popular tourist destination for dolphin watching. However, this dolphin-based tourism has turned unsustainable due to the adverse impacts of tourism on IRD. This study uses SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, threats) to analyze various internal and external factors that control IRD-based tourism in Chilika. Content analysis and sentiment analysis are also used to know the tourists' views regarding dolphin tourism in Chilika lagoon, and telephonic interviews with boat owners to determine the impact of tourism on local communities before and after the COVID-19 pandemic. SWOT analysis highlights existing opportunities and strengths of IRD tourism in Chilika, such as prevalent ‘positive' perception (48%) among the tourists and stable IRD population. 38% of tourists' perceptions were ‘negative,' corroborating inherent weaknesses and threats of IRD tourism, such as faulty marketing strategy, excessive tourist pressure, and the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Interviews with boat operators reveal that the pandemic lockdown laid the financial situation of local tourist boat operators down. This study suggests multipronged solution approaches, for example ensuring the integrity of IRD habitat, optimal resource utilization, high service quality, and necessary infrastructure development to facilitate a sustainable ecotourism model in the lagoon. © 2023 Elsevier B.V.
ABSTRACT
The worldwide pandemic caused by SARS-CoV-2 challenged conservation organizations. The lack of tourism has benefited or negatively affected wildlife organizations in various ways, with several primate sanctuaries struggling to cope with the COVID-19 crisis and to keep providing for their inhabitants. In addition, the genetic similarity between great apes and humans puts them at higher risk than any other species for the transmission of COVID-19. PASA is a non-profit organization comprising 23 sanctuaries, and cares for many species of primate, including African great apes. In light of the pandemic, we aimed to understand the direct effects of COVID-19 on PASA management throughout three time periods: before (2018-2019), at the start of (2019-2020), and during (2020-2021) the pandemic. We collected data via annual surveys for PASA members and ran Generalized Linear Mixed Models to highlight any significant differences in their management that could be linked to COVID-19. Our findings demonstrated no particular impact on the number of primates rescued, employees, or expenses. However, revenues have been decreasing post-COVID-19 due to the lack of income from tourism and volunteer programs. Nonetheless, our results reveal a form of resilience regarding the sanctuaries and the strategy applied to maintain their management. Consequently, we emphasize the specific impacts of the COVID-19 outbreak and its repercussions for conservation work. We discuss the difficulties that sanctuaries have faced throughout the crisis and present the best measures to prevent future outbreaks and protect biodiversity.
ABSTRACT
This study, based on the analysis of the existing bibliography, as well as the result of the appreciation of a low-density and remote case studies located in the Azores Archipelago, seeks to identify a theoretical nexus regarding rural and creative tourism and regional sustainable development in the post-COVID-19 scenario. In this regard, the authors applied analytical descriptive and inductive deductive methods. Contextually, the study aims not only to understand the subject in more prominent detail but also to clarify new tendencies, approaches, and potential guidelines that allow the actors implicated to design and drive sustainable regional development in the long term. The remote and low-density territories are the most appealing destination for this new tourism dynamics. Also, the paper shows that it is possible to establish that in this ultra-peripheral territory, the tourism sector was already presuming relevance in 2019, benefiting from a large sample of entrepreneurs and actors in the tourism sector in the Portuguese Autonomous Region of the Azores. Some potential implications may include the following: (i) Increased economic benefits: Creative tourism can bring in additional revenue for local businesses and organizations and individual artists and craftspeople;(ii) Preservation of cultural heritage: Creative tourism can help to support and preserve traditional cultural practices and crafts, which can be an essential aspect of island communities' identity;(iii) Job creation: Creative tourism can create new job opportunities for locals, such as tour guides, workshop instructors, and artists.
ABSTRACT
Tourism industry is susceptible to significant shocks like the COVID-19 pandemic. Many researchers have highlighted the need to conduct comprehensive studies of COVID-19 and its economic and social consequences. As a result, tackling sustainable tourism is very important because dealing with the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic is part of tackling sustainability. This study aims to analyze the potential and sustainability of tourism on Sibandang Island. This study used qualitative research methods. The research subjects in this study were elements of the local community: North Tapanuli Regency Tourism Office, Village Officials, Tourism Awareness Groups (Pokdarwis) and local communities. Overall, the tourism potential on Sibandang Island is excellent. However, stakeholders need to manage the island so that it is feasible and able to provide a quality travel experience for tourists. Furthermore, to maintain Sibandang Island, it is necessary to apply the concept of sustainable tourism so that tourism can still positively impact the community's economy, protect the environment around Sibandang Island, and preserve the existing culture. Thus, tourism on Sibandang Island can still be enjoyed by the next generation and still exists. © 2023 WITPress. All rights reserved.
ABSTRACT
The COVID-19 outbreak has drastically altered the behavior of tourists, posing a significant challenge to countries that heavily rely on the tourism industry to develop sustainable policies. This study utilizes structural equation modeling (SEM) techniques to analyze the effects of four variable groups on travel decisions during the pandemic. These groups include tourism potential, tourism logistics efficiency, the impact of COVID-19 on tourism potential, and the impact of COVID-19 on logistics efficiency. We collected data from a sample group of 943 foreign tourists visiting Thailand through online and on-site questionnaires. Our findings reveal that accommodation and information flow were the most significant factors affecting travel decisions during the pandemic, while the mode of transport had minimal impact. Based on our results, we recommend that post-COVID-19 tourism policies focus on improving accommodation quality and hygiene standards and building networks that offer comprehensive and up-to-date information about the pandemic. Our proposed approach is more efficient and cost-effective than mobilizing resources across all tourism industry sectors. It promotes sustainable tourism recovery planning while minimizing adverse effects on the community. These results are particularly relevant to stakeholders and policymakers who have been heavily affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and need to develop effective tourism policies. © 2023 by the authors.
ABSTRACT
Penang Hill, one of Malaysia's most well-known natural and cultural tourist sites, is a popular destination for both domestic and foreign visitors. The study's objective was to explore the perspectives of key stakeholders regarding ecotourism sustainability and stakeholder management. In-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted with three key stakeholders, and content analysis was done to explore the key findings. It was observed that PHC engages stakeholders through meetings, workshops, and seminars and tries to understand their interests for better management. Keen interests of stakeholders were observed towards activities that generate monetary rewards. It was also noted that all stakeholders showed great interest in the environmental conservation of the destination. The study concludes by stating that even though Penang Hill management is on the right path and trying hard to achieve ecotourism sustainability, stakeholders still need more support from the management authority to work towards the destination's sustainability, especially in this Covid-19 pandemic. The findings have ramifications for stakeholder management to implement long-term ecotourism in the destination © 2022, e-Review of Tourism Research.All Rights Reserved.
ABSTRACT
The current need for territories and societies to grow is based on the Sustainable Development Models as well as the United Nations (UN) Agenda for 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In that case, such new forms of tourism development imply creating and upgrading critical infrastructures, facilities, equipment, or differentiated activities to bring clients who align with the desired Sustainable Development Models and SDGs. In this regard, the thematic literature provides evidence that some tourism typologies (nature-based, rural, culturally-based creative tourism) play a critical role in attaining sustainable regional development. Therefore, this paper aims to unfold what can be learned from the pilot projects implemented in the Azores region aimed toward the so-desired regional sustainability. Contextually, the obtained results ask for the regional leaders to consider encouraging entrepreneurship associated with small and medium-sized firms;fostering the diversity of touristic offerings;designing guidelines that follow sustainable development models and the SDGs;or creating meaningful investments in the conservation and protection of cultural heritage, as well as the Azorean endogenous resources.
ABSTRACT
This study analyzed the changes in ecotourism flow in Hunan Province before and after the COVID-19 epidemic by obtaining the ecotourism route data for 2019 and 2020 from online tourism platforms such as wasp nest, poor travel, Ctrip, tuniu and qunar, and determining geographical distribution characteristics, node characteristics and network characteristics with the help of software such as UCINET, Netdraw and ArcGIS. The results re-vealed major changes in spatial distribution, the roles of nodes, and the structure and composition of the flow net-work. (1) COVID-19 has changed the spatial distribution pattern of ecotourism flows in Hunan Province. Under the influence of the epidemic, the spatial geographical concentration trend in Hunan Province decreased from 30.42 in 2019 to 28.94 in 2020, the flow in the North weakened, and the hot spots shifted to the south. In order to promote the development of global tourism in Hunan Province, we should focus on how to correctly handle the differences in tourism resources and the imbalance in tourism development between the Xiangxi region and other tourism regions. (2) The COVID-19 epidemic triggered changes of the roles of some nodes in the ecotourism flow network in Hunan Province. The comprehensive efficiency value of the node decreased from 266 to 222, indicating that crisis events such as the epidemic have caused damage to the ecotourism flow in Hunan Province, and the surrounding low-density ecotourism sites with good natural scenery have become more favored by tourists after the COVID-19 epidemic. (3) The COVID-19 situation has affected the structure and composition of the ecotourism flow network in Hunan Province. The overall network density of ecotourism flow in Hunan Province increased from 0.18 to 0.14, the degree of separation between ecotourism destinations increased, and tourists' demand for health and safety has driven the development of ecotourism flow in Hunan Province towards multinode and multiregional characteristics. © 2023, Editorial office of Journal of Resources and Ecology. All rights reserved.
ABSTRACT
Tea culture tourism is a product of the combination of agricultural tourism and ecotourism. After the COVID-19 period, this product is more and more popular. Tourism performance is an important index for measuring the development level of tourist destinations, and research on the influencing factors of tourism performance is an important way to promote the high-quality development of tea culture tourism. Using the tea tourism town of Wushan as a case study, 452 valid questionnaires were used as research data, and exploratory factor analysis, paired sample t-test and IPA analysis were applied. The results indicate that: (1) tourism performance is mainly divided into 5 dimensions and 22 specific indicators, including service quality, resource environment, tourism transportation, tourism-supporting facilities and tea tourism products;(2) there is a significant difference between the degree of importance and performance of visitors to each indicator, and the overall tourism performance of the case sites at an average level;(3) convenient service, professional service, business management, park traffic, parking conditions, environmental design, shopping environment, tea quality, and tea culture characteristics are potential advantageous factors, and ‘service with a smile', accessibility, trail layout, overall image, air quality, natural scenery, landscape vignettes, network communication, public toilets, sanitation facilities, tourist service centers, tea travel activities, and tourism souvenirs are areas in need of improvement. © 2023 by the authors.
ABSTRACT
Accounting for tourism eco-efficiency is an important prerequisite for promoting ecological environmental protection and sustainable tourism development. Using the life-cycle approach and the single indicator approach, the article conducts horizontal and vertical analyses of the carbon footprint and tourism eco-efficiency of each part of the tourism process to further promote the healthy development of tourism in third- and fourth-tier cities, taking the tourism industry in Jiujiang city from 2013 to 2020 as an example. The study shows that the size of the carbon footprint of tourism in Jiujiang city is ranked as the following order;tourism transportation, tourism catering, tourism accommodation and tourism activities, and the size of tourism efficiency is ranked as the following order;tourism activities, tourism transportation, tourism catering and tourism accommodation. Longitudinally, the carbon footprints of "accommodation" and "transportation" in Jiujiang in the non-epidemic era show a significant convergence, while the carbon footprints of "food" and "tourism" show a significant convergence. The carbon footprints of "food" and "tourism" showed a clear trend of expansion, and the eco-efficiency of "walking" and "housing" increased year by year. The complete opposite is true after the COVID-l9 epidemic. In addition, by comparing the results with those of other regional studies, it was found that the ranking of the efficiency of "food" and "housing" was more prone to change, and the comprehensive analysis of multiple years was more in line with the actual development trend. Finally, based on the results of the analysis, further management insights are proposed in response to practice, with a view to effectively improving the eco-efficiency of tourism in more prefecture-level cities.