Bringing order to Petra's tourism economy

The popularity of Petra, Jordan, as a tourist destination has surged among international visitors since the 1980s. This has led to the tourism sector's emergence as a major source of income for indigenous communities living adjacent to the ancient city's ruins. Rapidly expanding visitor numbers and business activity-both licensed and unlicensed-exposed the need for government to play an active role in organizing Petra's tourism industry. Drawing upon a thematic analysis of interviews I conducted in three tourism-reliant, tribal communities in Petra's vicinity in 2022, this case study examines relations between the Petra Development and Tourism Region Authority (PDTRA) and indigenous stakeholders in the local economy. Focusing on the period extending from 2019-just before the COVID-19 pandemic's onset-to 2022, I explore local perspectives towards PDTRA policies impacting indigenous work in the tourism sector. I find that legality, size, and internal organization of stakeholder groups affect their capacity to influence political decisions that impact their lives and livelihoods.

The Effects of COVID-19 Pandemic on Spanish Protected Areas: the Case of Picos de Europa National Park

Protected areas are complex social-ecological systems;thus, they were unavoidably impacted by COVID-19. Spain is one of the most diverse countries in terms of biodiversity in the European Union and the second most visited country in 2019 and third touristic destination worldwide. Understanding the effects of the pandemic in Spanish protected areas is very important to discuss new possibilities on how to drive sustainable development on these conserved spaces and how to manage them in the event of external shocks and uncertain scenarios. Therefore, the aim of this study is to have a better understanding of the effects and opportunities of the pandemic on Spanish protected areas. To address this concern, a qualitative analysis is conducted based on an assessment of secondary literature and relevant interviews. Picos de Europa national park was chosen as case study because of its unique features. This study shows the drawbacks of the pandemic in Picos de Europa in terms of management operations, drastic fluctuation of visitors, loss of tourism revenues, vulnerability of neighboring communities, missed opportunities in conservation and education and pressure on nature. On the other hand, it poses opportunities in terms of technology, innovation, fundings, lessons learned, rise in educational and conservation activities and more awareness on the environment and rural surroundings. This study suggests that is difficult to find a win-win solution that includes the targets of nature conservation, viability of local economies and tourism activities in Picos de Europa. Ideas for management options that focus on dealing with the negative outcomes of the pandemic are suggested. © 2022, Pontificia Universidad Catolica del Peru. All rights reserved.

Does the absence of zoo visitors during the COVID-19 pandemic impact Gorilla behavior?

Whether or not primates are behaviorally affected by the presence of visitors in a zoo setting is a question of great relevance to zoo animal well-being. The situation imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic provided an unusual opportunity to examine how the absence of visitors impacts behavior. We took advantage of this opportunity to study the behavior of a gorilla troop during periods of no-visitors compared to our long-term database on gorilla behavior during normal zoo operations. While there were notable individual differences in response to visitors, we found no significant relationship between presence of visitors and behavior. These results suggest that the presence of visitors does not have a significant impact on behavior and well-being of zoo-housed gorillas.

Reflections on ecotourism in the municipality of Rancharia (SP, Brazil): possibilities and challenges

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.

Emergency Department Visits and Deaths from Cardiovascular Diseases at a Referral Center for Cardiology During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract Background The COVID-19 pandemic has imposed measures of social distancing and, during this time, there has been an elevation in cardiovascular mortality rates and a decrease in the number of emergency visits. Objectives To assess and compare in-hospital mortality for cardiovascular diseases and emergency department visits during the COVID-19 pandemic and the same period in 2019. Methods Retrospective, single-center study that evaluated emergency visits and in-hospital deaths between March 16, 2020 and June 16, 2020, when the steepest fall in the number of emergency admissions for COVID-19 was registered. These data were compared with the emergency visits and in-hospital deaths between March 16 and June 16, 2019. We analyzed the total number of deaths, and cardiovascular deaths. The level of significance was set at p < 0.05. Results There was a 35% decrease in the number of emergency visits and an increase in the ratio of the number of deaths to the number of emergency visits in 2020. The increase in the ratio of the number of all-cause deaths to the number of emergency visits was 45.6% and the increase in the ratio of the number of cardiovascular deaths to the number of emergency visits was 62.1%. None of the patients who died in the study period in 2020 tested positive for COVID-19. Conclusion In-hospital mortality for cardiovascular diseases increased proportionally to the number of emergency visits during the COVID-19-imposed social distancing compared with the same period in 2019. (Int J Cardiovasc Sci. 2020; [online].ahead print, PP.0-0)

Postnatal quietness - the dilemma of visiting hours. A qualitative interview study with maternity care staff.

BACKGROUND: As part of the Person and Family Centred Care, involvement of relatives is a key concept. This means that an unrestricted visiting policy in hospitals wards is widely accepted and implemented. In maternity care, benefits and drawbacks of unrestricted visiting is still discussed, while it is acknowledged that a quiet environment is important for both new parents and newborns to enhance breastfeeding. The COVID-19 lockdown provided an opportunity to study how the restrictions for visitors influenced the work of maternity care staff in Denmark. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to explore the experience of maternity care staff on how visitation restrictions for visitors influenced the care of new families in a maternity ward. METHODS: Individual interviews (n = 10) were performed between 20 November 2020 and 25 February 2021. A qualitative descriptive study was performed using thematic analysis. RESULTS: One overarching theme was identified: "Framing time to the experience of becoming a parent". Further, five sub-themes were identified and illuminated in the analysis: "Increasing confidentiality and presence", "Changing availability and space for guidance", "Welcoming peacefulness", "Being gatekeepers", and "Structuring time is caring". CONCLUSION: Restrictions for visitors influenced the care of new families because it encourages the space and place of becoming a parent. The hospital environment was shaped in a calm way, which increased the staffs' bedside time. The experience of an increased confidentiality with new parents led to in-depth conversations, making it easier to identify new parents' needs, focus on the initiation of breastfeeding, and individual guidance.

Quiet and blessed: rural tourism experience and visitor satisfaction in the shadow of COVID-19 and beyond

Rural tourism has an increasing share of the country's tourism income and significantly contributes to the rural economy. Intensive research has been conducted on how Covid-19 affects the tourism industry and the challenges and opportunities the sector face. Although the rise of rural tourism is frequently highlighted post-Covid-19, research examining the satisfaction levels of visitors involved in rural tourism is almost nonexistent. The study's main aim is to determine customers' satisfaction levels from rural activities in and around the Iznik District of Bursa province and to recommend improvement. We obtained data from a structured survey conducted with 408 people who visited Iznik at least once. SPSS 23 program was also used to analyze the data obtained. Results show that visitors' satisfaction with nature and the environment is above average, and their satisfaction with the services provided is below average. The most critical dissatisfaction was the increasing environmental pollution, the loss of natural beauty, the local government's inability to do the necessary cleaning and maintenance work, and the lack of introductory information in places with historical and natural characteristics. Participants wanted to stay in caravans and tents rather than hotels and suggested expanding and improving those facilities. They suggested that local textures are preserved, and more local food and beverages are offered. The suggestion shows that visitors demand integrating more with nature, local life and historical texture.

Trends in rural tourism development in Lviv region based on forecasting

The rural tourism is a promising type of tourism in rural areas that increases the socio-economic level and wellbeing of the population. The entrepreneurial activity in villages provides an opportunity to expand employment, increase investment attractiveness and contribute to the improvement of rural infrastructure. Based on the analysis of data for the period 2012-2020, the forecast trends in the number of rural tourism farmsteads and their visitors in Lviv region are presented using trend analysis and the FORECAST. ETS. STAT function for the period 2021-2025. The Russian military aggression against Ukraine and the COVID-19 pandemic significantly affect the activities and prospects for the development of rural tourism in the country. Having built logarithmic, linear, exponential, power and polynomial trend models, the probable indicators for the specified period were forecasted. The current state and trends of rural tourism development during the COVID-19 pandemic and in the context of Russia's military aggression in Eastern Ukraine are considered. The formation and sale of quality products and services in the field of rural tourism involve providing a favorable environment and improving the quality of functioning of rural tourism estates. The development of rural tourism depends on the desires and demands of tourists, which form the demand in this area, which in turn creates supply in the market of tourist services and further development of business activities in the field of services in rural areas.

Human vs robot baristas during the COVID-19 pandemic: effects of masks and vaccines on perceived safety and visit intention

Purpose: This study aims to compare the effect of barista type (human vs robot) on perceived safety and examine the role of two moderators (mask-wearing and coronavirus vaccination) on the effects of barista type on perceived safety and visit intention. Design/methodology/approach: The research design consists of three studies. Three experiments were sequentially designed and conducted to address research questions. Findings: Study 1 found that perceived safety mediates the effect of barista type on customers' visit intention. Study 2 revealed that the mask-wearing of human and robot baristas differently influences perceived safety. Study 3 showed that customers, especially where robot baristas are used, perceive the effect of mask-wearing differently depending on their coronavirus vaccination status. Research limitations/implications: Given that the levels of restrictions vary worldwide, together with the extent of countries' vaccination rollouts, caution is required when generalising the research findings. Practical implications: The findings have practical implications for the hospitality industry, where the roles of face masks and coronavirus vaccines in shaping consumer psychology and behaviour have been underexplored. Originality/value: Coronavirus vaccination is considered one of the most important driving forces for the recovery of hospitality businesses. As a heuristic-systematic model postulated, this study identified that vaccination status (fully vaccinated vs not vaccinated) changes the level of involvement when customers assess the level of risk in service environments. By pinpointing the function of service robots in safeguarding customers from the potential spread of the disease, this study broadens the scope of human-robot interaction research in hospitality.

PREDICTING PILGRIM AND VISITOR SATISFACTION THROUGH USING SMARTPHONE APPLICATIONS AT HOLY SITES DURING COVID-19

This study aims to investigate the promotion of digital transformation in Umrah and Visitation through the management of smartphone applications (such as Tawakkalna and Nusuk) in light of COVID-19. The research measures the impact of digital transformation on visits during COVID-19, in light of the Kingdom's Vision 2030 statement, in terms of pilgrims' and visitors' satisfaction with the services provided in Madinah. The study relied on the descriptive analytical approach to collect and analyse primary and secondary data as the basis for research findings. An electronic questionnaire was designed and distributed to pilgrims and visitors in Madinah. The study found a positive significant impact of digital transformation on visits during COVID-19 in light of the Kingdom's Vision 2030 statement and pilgrims' and visitors' satisfaction with the services provided to them. The study recommends that decisionmakers and employers emphasize the need to use Smartphone applications in Hajj and Umrah visits even after the end of the Corona crisis. Applications were found to be critically important in limiting the spread of the virus. There is a need for continuous improvements in digital transformation in Hajj, Umrah and visits. © Author(s) 2022.

Social carrying capacity and emotion dynamics in urban national parks during the COVID-19 pandemic. (Special Issue: Covid-19 and outdoor recreation.)

The COVID-19 pandemic has changed the mobility, accessibility, and behaviors of visitors dramatically. Under the impact of COVID-19, the social carrying capacity and emotion dynamics in parks and recreation areas are expected to change due to the uncertainty of health risks associated with visitors' behaviors. This study conducted an on-site visitor survey at Leiqiong Global Geological Park, a national park located in urban-proximate areas in Haikou, China. This study aims to examine factors impacting visitors' perceived crowding and emotions under varying levels of visitor use in urban national parks in the context of COVID-19. Study results suggest that visitors have the highest level of motivation for scenery and culture viewing and are generally satisfied with the environmental quality and design and COVID-19 prevention strategies and implementation efforts within the park. Moreover, this study suggests that the level of crowding and COVID-19 prevention strategies and implementation can affect visitors' emotions in urban natioanl parks significantly. These findings highlight the importance of enforcing the social carrying capacity limits and COVID-19 prevention strategies for urban parks and protected areas to mitigate physical and mental health risks during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Reprint of: COVID-19 messaging in U.S. state parks: extensions of the outdoor recreation strategies and practices framework unmasked by the pandemic. (Special Issue: Covid-19 and outdoor recreation.)

U.S. state parks are a considerable part of the nation's recreation landscape. Understanding their management concerns, including impacts from pandemics, is imperative for sustainably achieving park objectives. Our study aimed to (1) examine park managers' responses to a novel stressor (COVID-19);(2) aid managers in communicating these strategies to visitors in their pre-visit phase;and (3) test a park management framework's ability to adapt to this novel stressor in this pre-visit phase. Manning and colleagues' outdoor recreation strategies and practices framework provides parks with up to 24 response options to an issue: four strategies intersecting with six practices. This framework has been limited to common in-park concerns and visitors. We examined how park systems communicate with potential visitors about COVID-19, to advance the framework toward broader concerns and scales. We analyzed the 50 U.S. state park systems' official COVID-19 communications at the traditional start of the peak use season (summer 2020). We qualitatively coded these for reference to the framework's components and mentions of scale. This highlighted that while "limit use" and "reduce impact of use" were the only strategies used, different practices and recognitions of beyond-park and beyond-visit scales were acknowledged (e.g., "please recreate close to home"). We suggest the data reveal a seventh practice in use and for framework inclusion: "influence pre-visit decisions". The pandemic provided an opportunity for parks to communicate their managerial responses with consistency and creativity, as well as an opportunity for researchers and managers to advance the strategies and practices framework.

Enhancing museums' attractiveness through digitization: An investigation of Italian medium and large-sized museums and cultural institutions

The Covid-19 pandemic put the museums' viability under stress, with national and supranational policies imposing closures and restricting the number of admitted visitors. Digitization enables cultural institutions to overcome such constraints, prompting innovative service delivery models. However, evidence on digitization's implications on organizational attractiveness (OA) is scant. Taking a retrospective approach, the article proposes a parallel mediation analysis to shed some light on the effects of digitization on museums' attractiveness. Findings suggest that digitization enhances OA directly and indirectly, via the delivery of digital services to physical visitors. Furthermore, digitization allows museums to meet the virtual visitors' expectations, enriching the cultural service offering. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved)

Collections from the Asylum: Past Lives, Present Tense

Social history museums strive to present exhibitions that will connect to their local audience and provoke conversation as well as provide information. The aim of this article is to describe an exhibition about a decommissioned former mental hospital that is still significant for many in the local community. The exhibition consisted of various "collections” of objects and artworks assembled by the researchers in collaboration with museum staff, along with stories collected during our research into the asylum. Some "collections” included historical images and stories from the past alongside others of creative work and technology responding to the present. Community members were keenly interested in the exhibition, but the COVID-19 pandemic and consequent border closures in Australia meant that visitors needed to attend online presentations and virtual tours rather than see the exhibits in person. The use of digital presentations along with physical artefacts brought about a new way of thinking about presenting social history to future audiences.

Breastfeeding Success and Newborn Health before and during the COVID-19 Pandemic:A Single-Centre Comparative Study.

INTRODUCTION: Due to the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, adjustments in patient and visitor traffic were made in hospitals to limit viral exposure. The primary objective of our study was to compare the breastfeeding success of healthy newborns in a maternity ward during the 2020 lockdown period compared with the same period in the previous year. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Single-center comparative study based on prospectively collected data. All neonates born alive, from a single pregnancy, and with a gestational age greater than 36 weeks were considered for this study. RESULTS: 309 infants born in 2020 and 330 born in 2019 were included. Among women who desired to exclusively breastfeed, the rate of exclusive breastfeeding at discharge from the maternity ward was higher in 2020 than in 2019 (85 vs. 79%; p = 0.078). After logistic regression analysis adjusted for potential confounders (i.e., maternal BMI, parity, mode of delivery, gestational age, and size at birth), study period remained significantly and independently associated with exclusive breastfeeding at discharge (OR [95% CI] = 1.645 [1.005; 2.694]; p = 0.046). Newborns born in 2020 were less likely to have weight loss ≥10% than those born in 2019 (OR [95% CI] = 2.596 [1.148; 5.872]; p = 0.017) but had similar need for phototherapy (p = 0.41). CONCLUSION: The success of exclusive breastfeeding during the 2020 lockdown period was increased compared with the same period in 2019.

Comparative analysis of the service quality in homestay accommodation

Purpose - The paper focuses on guest satisfaction and service process improvement, considering the importance of quality elements as an important factor for differentiation in the market. The purpose of this article is to identify the differences in the attitudes of domestic and foreign guests who have stayed in homestay accommodation. As part of the research, an importance-performance analysis was conducted to compare the importance of and satisfaction with quality elements among domestic and foreign guests. Design - Primary research was conducted in September 2020 in 10 counties of the Republic of Croatia. A total of 168 valid questionnaires were collected. The sample consists of guests from 17 countries who were accommodated in homestay accommodation. Methodology - For this article, importance-performance analysis (IPA) was performed and the importance of, and satisfaction with, each quality element was presented in an IPA matrix. By analysing the position of the quality elements in the matrix, it is possible to identify future strategies and improvements that need to be implemented to meet the needs of guests. Approach - The study analyses 20 quality elements in two IPA matrices, one for domestic guests, and one for foreign guests. Each matrix has four quadrants: "Concentrate here", "Keep up the good work", "Low priority" ", and "Possible overkill". Findings - The results show that there are differences between domestic and foreign guests in their perceptions of satisfaction with and importance of quality elements. The results of the conducted IPA provide guidelines for improving certain areas in the service delivery process in accordance with guest preferences. The research has several limitations, mainly the sample size and the fact that the study was conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic. Originality of the research - The results show the peculiarities of guests staying in homestay accommodation and highlight the differences in perception depending on the origin of the guests. The findings provide clear guidance for practitioners by identifying elements of service quality that are important to domestic and international guests. This provides the basis for creating services tailored to guests' needs and expectations.

Meaning of Fun in Hotel Gamified Applications

The hospitality industry faces significant challenges from the acceleration of travelers using mobile technology, especially in the Covid-19 aftermath. Consumer behaviour is changing in the service sector, creating new forms of mobilities and types of tourists. Users are taking advantage of the opportunity to access information easier and faster, anywhere causing new promotional strategies for hospitality businesses. However, it is recognized that the adoption of mobile applications does not guarantee competitive advantage. This research is inspired by the success of mobile games, and the importance of delivering fun. It explores hotel visitors' meaning of ‘fun' when using a mobile hotel gamified application. This is to give mobile gamified application developers an indication on the fun elements that would make such a technology engaging with the users. Visual materials were used applying game mechanics and aesthetics in a hotel application helping participants understand how the fun elements are incorporated so they can focus/target on the elements they find more attractive. © 2023, The Author(s).

Food tourism's moment in the New Zealand sun. (Special Issue: The re-imagination of New Zealand tourism.)

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to consider the potential of food tourism to connect local communities and strengthen the visitor economy through COVID-19 induced international visitor downfalls and reimagine New Zealand tourism. Design/methodology/approach: As a viewpoint paper, this paper is a personal and professional reflection of the relevance of food for New Zealand tourism. Findings: The three themes of community, connection and challenges identify the potential of using local communities as ambassadors to connect both local and international visitors alike with New Zealand culture. Practical implications: Findings of this paper can provide guidance for global communities on how to both mitigate a reduction in visitor arrivals while creating a foundation for future positioning as food destinations. Originality/value: There is a lack of insight into the potential of special interest tourism in reimagining a post-COVID-19 tourism landscape, and this viewpoint paper contributes through its practical and community-based approach.

Capture-Recapture Models with Heterogeneous Temporary Emigration

We propose a novel approach for modeling capture-recapture (CR) data on open populations that exhibit temporary emigration, while also accounting for individual heterogeneity to allow for differences in visit patterns and capture probabilities between individuals. Our modeling approach combines changepoint processes—fitted using an adaptive approach—for inferring individual visits, with Bayesian mixture modeling—fitted using a nonparametric approach—for identifying clusters of individuals with similar visit patterns or capture probabilities. The proposed method is extremely flexible as it can be applied to any CR dataset and is not reliant upon specialized sampling schemes, such as Pollock's robust design. We fit the new model to motivating data on salmon anglers collected annually at the Gaula river in Norway. Our results when analyzing data from the 2017, 2018, and 2019 seasons reveal two clusters of anglers—consistent across years—with substantially different visit patterns. Most anglers are allocated to the "occasional visitors” cluster, making infrequent and shorter visits with mean total length of stay at the river of around seven days, whereas there also exists a small cluster of "super visitors,” with regular and longer visits, with mean total length of stay of around 30 days in a season. Our estimate of the probability of catching salmon whilst at the river is more than three times higher than that obtained when using a model that does not account for temporary emigration, giving us a better understanding of the impact of fishing at the river. Finally, we discuss the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on the angling population by modeling data from the 2020 season. Supplementary materials for this article are available online.

Sustainable neighbourhood gastronomy: Tokyo independent restaurants facing crises. (Special Issue: City building knowledge from neighbourhoods in Asia Pacific.)

Neighbourhood gastronomy, the agglomeration of restaurants and smaller eateries in residential urban areas, contributes to the lives of residents and visitors economically, culturally, and socially. Since winter 2020, neighbourhood gastronomy in Asian cities has been severely disrupted by COVID, compounded by many other long-term stressors. In urban Japan these stresses include gentrification, the aging of proprietors, urban renewal, and corporatisation of gastronomy. Empirically, this paper discusses how independent restaurants in Tokyo contribute to community life by supporting grassroots creative industries, small business opportunities, meaningful artisanal work, convivial social spaces, local cultural heritage, and a human-scale built environment. The study uses intensive single-site urban ethnography to discuss how restaurateurs face immediate and long-term crises at the community level. By using the "neighbourhood as method", a concept of sustainable neighbourhood gastronomy is developed that should be applicable in other urban contexts.