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Use of Natural and Cultural Resources through Tourism Activity for...
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Use of Natural and Cultural Resources through Tourism Activity for Regional Development

A special issue of Land (ISSN 2073-445X). This special issue belongs to the section "Land Socio-Economic and Political Issues".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 June 2022) | Viewed by 72303

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. María de la Cruz del Río-Rama

E-Mail Website1 Website2
Guest Editor
Business Management and Marketing Department, Faculty of Business Sciences and Tourism, University of Vigo, 32004 Ourense, Spain
Interests: business; finance and tourism, resource and service management, natural resource, sustainable rural development, water resources management, financial economics; accounting and management; sustainability; entrepreneurship; innovation; quality and environmental management systems
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Prof. Dr. José Álvarez-García

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Financial Economy and Accounting Department, Faculty of Business, Finance and Tourism, University of Extremadura, 10071 Cáceres, Spain
Interests: business; finance and tourism; resource and service management, natural resource, sustainable rural development, water resources management, financial economics; accounting and management; sustainability; entrepreneurship; innovation; quality and environmental management systems.
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Amador Durán-Sánchez

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Financial Economy and Accounting Department, Faculty of Business, Finance and Tourism, University of Extremadura, 10071 Cáceres, Spain
Interests: business; finance and tourism; resource and service management; natural resource; sustainable rural development; water resources management; financial economics; accounting and management; sustainability; entrepreneurship; innovation; quality and environmental management systems
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Prof. Dr. Pedro Cuesta-Valiño

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Economics and Business, University of Alcalá, 28802 Alcalá de Henares, Spain
Interests: business and tourism; resource and service management; sustainable rural development; marketing management; consumer behaviour; corporate social responsibility
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Resources/natural heritage, together with resources/cultural heritage, must be protected, preserved, restored, and passed on to future generations as part of the cultural and natural heritage of humanity. For this purpose, institutions such as UNESCO arise, which together with the European Union and the Council of Europe are responsible for ensuring the protection of natural–cultural heritage at the international level.

One of the ways to achieve this objective is by using and enhancing these resources through tourist activity. Natural resources such as biosphere reserves, natural monuments, national reserves, and parks and nature sanctuaries, and cultural resources made up of the assets of the values prevailing in each society at a given moment are established to be protected and preserved as a legacy of the past for future generations (tangible and intangible resources). In this regard, there are several benefits to be obtained when focusing on natural and cultural wealth as attractions of tourist interest: the recovery or conservation of heritage, regional or local economic growth focused on the commercialization of resources, social benefit for communities by improving living conditions, etc. Therefore, natural and cultural heritage becomes an element capable of generating socioeconomic benefits of great relevance for the development of societies through its use by tourism.

The scope of this Special Issue is broad, and manuscripts presenting conceptual and/or empirical work from all areas of knowledge on the use of natural and cultural resources by tourism are welcome. We welcome original research articles offering interesting empirical insights and novel theoretical contributions, as well as review articles.

Specifically, the following topics are welcome:

  • Sustainable use of natural and cultural resources for tourist activity;
  • Conservation, preservation, and safeguarding of natural and cultural resources as a consequence of their use through tourist activity;
  • Deterioration of natural and cultural resources as a consequence of tourism;
  • Regional and local development through the use of natural and cultural resources for tourist activity;
  • Benefits to be obtained from the combination of natural and cultural resources with tourism;
  • Other topics related to the subject.

Papers on the topics listed above can focus on any type of tourism, for example, community tourism, rural tourism, urban tourism, cultural tourism, geoparks and protected natural areas, ecotourism, agritourism, island ecosystems, coastal tourism, nautical and cruise tourism, tourism in lake areas, and snow tourism, among others.

Prof. Dr. María de la Cruz del Río-Rama
Prof. Dr. José Álvarez-García
Prof. Amador Durán-Sánchez
Prof. Dr. Pedro Cuesta-Valiño
Guest Editors

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. Land is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly 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 2600 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

  • natural and cultural resources
  • cultural and natural heritage
  • conservation, preservation and safeguarding of resources
  • sustainable tourism
  • sustainability
  • sustainable development
  • sustainable management
  • regional and local development
  • rural development
  • socioeconomic benefits
  • sustainable development goals (SDGs)

Published Papers (21 papers)

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23 pages, 5197 KiB  
Article
Stimulating Poverty Alleviation by Developing Tourism in Marginalised Roma Communities: A Case Study of the Central Spiš Region (Slovakia)
by Kvetoslava Matlovičová, Jana Kolesárová, Michaela Demková, Katarína Kostilníková, Peter Mocák, Piotr Pachura and Mark Payne
Land 2022, 11(10), 1689; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/land11101689 - 29 Sep 2022
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1558
Abstract
The main objective of this study is to demonstrate that opportunities to support the poor marginalised Roma communities (MRCs) by creating opportunities for their active participation in tourism development have been under-ultilised to date. In particular, the application of a pro-poor tourism (PPT) [...] Read more.
The main objective of this study is to demonstrate that opportunities to support the poor marginalised Roma communities (MRCs) by creating opportunities for their active participation in tourism development have been under-ultilised to date. In particular, the application of a pro-poor tourism (PPT) approach is an advantage that allows the cultural specificities of the MRCs to be exploited for their own development. A risk factor for successful implementation is the considerable differentiation within Roma communities. This study analyses the approaches of 65 municipalities of the Central Spiš region to the development of PPT as an option for poverty reduction in the MRCs in Slovakia. Based on the analysis of the local preconditions for tourism development, the specific potential for the development of Roma culture and the traditional economic activities, human resources, and the degree of segregation, we show that there is no universal solution that would be applicable in all communities. The limited possibilities to obtain relevant data determined the analysis options we used. Therefore, we used a mixed-method approach, in which we subjected the quantitative data to qualitative analysis based on interviews with the mayors of the communities being studied. Four assumptions were verified in the aforementioned way: (1) the MRCs in villages in the immediate vicinity of developed tourist centres show a higher level of activity in relation to their own development; (2) Roma who are active in small-scale farming will also be more active in maintaining other traditional craft activities, typical for Roma communities in Slovakia, forming the basis for the development of their own PPT product; (3) the activity of NGO’s focusing on the development of the local MRC’s is not a guarantee for the development of PPT activities in the villages; and finally that (4) the high level of segregation of marginalised Roma communities is a major obstacle for the implementation of PPT. This paper concludes with a typology of municipalities in relation to the preconditions for the development of PPT, which can be considered as a contribution to the discussion on the possibilities of a differentiated approach to PPT development strategies at the level of municipalities with the numerous MRC’s. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Use of Natural and Cultural Resources through Tourism Activity for Regional Development)
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12 pages, 1735 KiB  
Article
Crowding Perception at the Archaeological Site of Tulum, Mexico: A Key Indicator for Sustainable Cultural Tourism
by Fernando Enseñat-Soberanis and Rocío Blanco-Gregory
Land 2022, 11(10), 1651; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/land11101651 - 25 Sep 2022
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1936
Abstract
Just before the lockdown caused by the SARS-CoV-2/COVID-19, the archeological sites close to the Mexican Caribbean were having an exponential number of visitors. The restrictions on traveling due to the pandemic resulted in a decrease in the number of visitors; however, the visitor [...] Read more.
Just before the lockdown caused by the SARS-CoV-2/COVID-19, the archeological sites close to the Mexican Caribbean were having an exponential number of visitors. The restrictions on traveling due to the pandemic resulted in a decrease in the number of visitors; however, the visitor flow is rising again. This scenario provides a historical opportunity to carry out strategies towards the visitor’s management as well as to awake consciousness of the damage caused by the excess of visitors in cultural heritage sites. Establishing limits on the number of visitors is a well-recognized strategy to achieve sustainability in a cultural heritage site. An excess of visitors has an impact on two elements: the cultural resource and the quality of the visitor experience. Crowding perception has been demonstrated to be an effective indicator to evaluate the visitor experience and to determine standards of quality in cultural and natural sites. The place of origin of visitors is among the sociodemographic factors that can affect crowding standards. This study used a quantitative questionnaire based on normative theory and a visual method to identify the crowding standards of national and international visitors at the Mayan archaeological site of Tulum located in the vicinity of the Mexican Caribbean resort of Cancun. The results show that general visitor acceptability decreases as the number of people increase. International visitors are less tolerant to crowding than national visitors as they show the most restrictive acceptable level of people at the same time at the archaeological site. Findings are discussed in terms of their management implications for the development of a tourism-carrying capacity framework for cultural sites, thereby contributing to the achievement of more sustainable cultural tourism. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Use of Natural and Cultural Resources through Tourism Activity for Regional Development)
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27 pages, 6757 KiB  
Article
The Endogenous Development Mechanism of the Baiyankeng Geocultural Village in China
by Wenqi Zhao and Takehiro Morimoto
Land 2022, 11(9), 1472; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/land11091472 - 03 Sep 2022
Viewed by 1649
Abstract
This study aims to clarify a new endogenous model of geocultural villages by examining land use change, industrial transformation, and their impacts on rural society and the economy of Baiyankeng village, Zhejiang Province, China. This empirical study focuses on the actions of residents [...] Read more.
This study aims to clarify a new endogenous model of geocultural villages by examining land use change, industrial transformation, and their impacts on rural society and the economy of Baiyankeng village, Zhejiang Province, China. This empirical study focuses on the actions of residents and their effects after Baiyankeng was registered as the pilot geocultural village in China. To address the dual configuration of urban/rural areas and three-dimensional rural issues, the Chinese government released a set of policies for rural vitalization in the early 2000s, which included the establishment and promotion of geocultural villages in 2013. This study found that the local leadership—the township government and the village committee—played a significant role in leveraging the unique geological resources of the village. They aggressively pitched for Baiyankeng village to be recognized as the first-ever geocultural village, and successfully established an effective model of self-governance that empowered villagers to actively and enthusiastically participate in the process. By doing so, they successfully created a booming tourism industry while boosting local production of Chinese Torreya nuts and green tea. From the perspective of the land system in China, the mechanism of geocultural villages (henceforth known as rural geoparks) in this study shows new endogeneities of rural vitalization in China. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Use of Natural and Cultural Resources through Tourism Activity for Regional Development)
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25 pages, 2673 KiB  
Article
Heritage Education as a Basis for Sustainable Development. The Case of Trujillo, Monfragüe National Park and Villuercas-Ibores-Jara Geopark (Extremadura, Spain)
by Rebeca Guillén-Peñafiel, Ana María Hernández-Carretero and José-Manuel Sánchez-Martín
Land 2022, 11(8), 1183; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/land11081183 - 28 Jul 2022
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2416
Abstract
Tourist activity offers numerous possibilities for socioeconomic growth while promoting the dissemination, recognition, and appreciation of heritage. Nevertheless, tourism based on a mercantilist approach, oriented mainly towards the maximization of economic benefits and the massive attraction of visitors, can pose a threat to [...] Read more.
Tourist activity offers numerous possibilities for socioeconomic growth while promoting the dissemination, recognition, and appreciation of heritage. Nevertheless, tourism based on a mercantilist approach, oriented mainly towards the maximization of economic benefits and the massive attraction of visitors, can pose a threat to the conservation and integrity of heritage assets. In this panorama of vulnerability, heritage education stands as a primary strategy to resolve the tensions between heritage and tourism. Based on this premise, research aimed at stimulating tourism activity committed to education and sustainability is presented. Said study is framed in three counties of the region of Extremadura, selected for being great centers of tourist attraction: the Monfragüe National Park, the Villuercas-Ibores-Jara Geopark, and the monumental city of Trujillo. The results reveal that introducing educational principles is decisive in improving the value and competitiveness of tourist destinations and contributing to regional development. Despite this, the approaches of heritage education are not yet sufficiently integrated into tourism plans, which distances the territories from sustainability. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Use of Natural and Cultural Resources through Tourism Activity for Regional Development)
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18 pages, 4156 KiB  
Article
Use of Natural and Cultural Resources by Tourism as a Strategy for Regional Development: Bibliometric Analysis
by Claudia Patricia Maldonado-Erazo, María de la Cruz del Río-Rama, José Álvarez-García and Ana Carola Flores-Mancheno
Land 2022, 11(8), 1162; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/land11081162 - 27 Jul 2022
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2527
Abstract
Territories throughout different continents have a wide variety of natural and cultural resources, defined by the dynamics of spatiality, temporality, and functionality that have been generated by the human groups settled in these spaces. These resources have become an object of study of [...] Read more.
Territories throughout different continents have a wide variety of natural and cultural resources, defined by the dynamics of spatiality, temporality, and functionality that have been generated by the human groups settled in these spaces. These resources have become an object of study of great interest since they constitute the initial sources for the definition of the tourism potential of destinations, as well as contributing to the generation of new tourism activities and modalities for those already consolidated. Although these resources were initially used as objects of exploitation, with the passage of time the dynamics have changed to the use of these resources, focusing on the foundation of the pillars of sustainability, a condition that implies practices of environmental valuation in situ, the recognition of the cultural heritage of the territories and the valuation of the interaction between culture–nature–human beings. The objective of this research is to identify the existing scientific production in which the relationship between the tourist exploitation of natural and cultural resources and regional development is explored. Bibliometric analysis based on the guidelines of the PRISMA method was used. The international databases considered were Web of Science and Scopus. The analysis was complemented with an overlap analysis to establish the relationship of information between the WoS and Scopus databases. A total of 507 documents on the subject were identified, which provided a preliminary X-ray that will allow future research work to be focused on this line of re-search. The results allowed us to observe that there is little literature on the relationship between the use of natural and cultural resources for tourism and the regional development of the territory, both from an economic and social point of view. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Use of Natural and Cultural Resources through Tourism Activity for Regional Development)
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25 pages, 2852 KiB  
Article
Stakeholders’ Attitudes toward Protected Areas: The Case of Tara National Park (Serbia)
by Jovana Brankov, Jasna Micić, Jelena Ćalić, Jelena Kovačević-Majkić, Ranko Milanović and Tamás Telbisz
Land 2022, 11(4), 468; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/land11040468 - 25 Mar 2022
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2733
Abstract
This paper represents a case study examining attitudes of various stakeholders about Tara National Park (NP) (Serbia), identifying also the factors that shape these attitudes. The survey method was applied to a sample of 405 respondents (197 community members and 208 visitors). In [...] Read more.
This paper represents a case study examining attitudes of various stakeholders about Tara National Park (NP) (Serbia), identifying also the factors that shape these attitudes. The survey method was applied to a sample of 405 respondents (197 community members and 208 visitors). In addition, 15 interviews with specific key actors (NP executives and local key persons) were performed. The research confirmed the presence of different types of conflicts among stakeholders, mostly between the NP and the local population (primarily farmers) associated with land use in agriculture and the ban on the construction of facilities. The community recognizes tourism as the highest priority, unlike the NP leaders and visitors, who emphasize protection and conservation (especially biodiversity) as the primary goals of future NP development. The opinions of the local population are divided concerning support for the existence of the NP and the importance of it as a part of the national heritage. Most of them do not recognize the economic benefits resulting from the proclamation of the NP and do not see themselves as participants in the decision-making process. The findings also reveal that visitors strongly support tourism development and activities following the principles of nature protection. This category of respondents is only partly affected by the fact that this area has been declared a NP. The analysis shows that certain socioeconomic factors considerably influence the opinions of both community and visitors. Results suggest that future actions should be aimed at improving the coordination of various stakeholders, especially the NP and the community, through different social mobilization activities. Stimulating small businesses and providing incentives for agriculture and nature tourism development could be a useful step forward. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Use of Natural and Cultural Resources through Tourism Activity for Regional Development)
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16 pages, 1804 KiB  
Article
Role of Cultural Tendency and Involvement in Heritage Tourism Experience: Developing a Cultural Tourism Tendency–Involvement–Experience (TIE) Model
by Li Xu, Jie Zhang and Zhenghu Nie
Land 2022, 11(3), 370; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/land11030370 - 02 Mar 2022
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 5924
Abstract
Tourists’ attitudes, especially when searching with a cultural tendency, can influence the tourism experience in cultural heritage tourism. Based on the cultural contact theory and tourist involvement theory, we try to reveal the tie or the relationship between local culture and tourism. Here, [...] Read more.
Tourists’ attitudes, especially when searching with a cultural tendency, can influence the tourism experience in cultural heritage tourism. Based on the cultural contact theory and tourist involvement theory, we try to reveal the tie or the relationship between local culture and tourism. Here, we define cultural tendency as the extent to which tourists positively intend to learn about the culture of the destination. Then, we examined the roles of cultural tendency, involvement, tourist experience, and satisfaction in heritage tourism and proposed a tendency–involvement–experience (TIE) model. Using a questionnaire with tourists in Mogao Caves, a world heritage site, we found that cultural tendency through involvement enhanced tourism experience and satisfaction. Moreover, the tendency of different cultures had various effects on tourists’ experiences. Prior knowledge did not play a moderating role on the relationship among cultural tendency and involvement. The findings underscore the importance of cultural tendency in creating experiences, and heritage tourism must address tourists’ preferences for a better experience. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Use of Natural and Cultural Resources through Tourism Activity for Regional Development)
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14 pages, 4071 KiB  
Article
Cultural Tourism Weakens Seasonality: Empirical Analysis of Chinese Tourism Cities
by Jing Zhang, Zhonglei Yu, Changhong Miao, Yuting Li and Shuai Qiao
Land 2022, 11(2), 308; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/land11020308 - 18 Feb 2022
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2858
Abstract
Cultural tourism is less seasonal than nature tourism. However, previous studies have mainly compared the tourist flow of scenic spots, and it is still unclear how cultural tourism affects regional tourism seasonality. This study investigated the seasonal patterns by analyzing the monthly inbound [...] Read more.
Cultural tourism is less seasonal than nature tourism. However, previous studies have mainly compared the tourist flow of scenic spots, and it is still unclear how cultural tourism affects regional tourism seasonality. This study investigated the seasonal patterns by analyzing the monthly inbound tourist flow of the 28 typical Chinese tourist cities from 2001 to 2012, and examined the effect of cultural tourism on weakening seasonality by using the random-response panel Tobit model. It was found that the seasonal patterns of inbound tourists present non-peak, one-peak, two-double, and three-peak regular fluctuations, and also have irregular fluctuations affected by emergencies and festivals. Cultural tourism can weaken the seasonality of regional tourism, while nature tourism products enhance tourism seasonality. Suitable travel times throughout the year and destination reception industry levels, locations, and external connections have a significant impact on the regional tourism seasonality, but climate comfort, foreign direct investment, and simply the number of hotels and international travel agencies are not significant for tourism seasonality. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Use of Natural and Cultural Resources through Tourism Activity for Regional Development)
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18 pages, 971 KiB  
Article
Tourists’ Preferences for Stargazing Land Resources
by Carlos Fernández-Hernández, Jorge E. Araña, Javier de León and Carmelo J. León
Land 2022, 11(2), 198; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/land11020198 - 27 Jan 2022
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2940
Abstract
Stargazing tourism is an expanding market niche that requires the development of territorial resources for its implementation and attraction. This paper’s objective is to investigate the preferences and willingness to pay of tourists for the development of strategic land resources for stargazing tourism [...] Read more.
Stargazing tourism is an expanding market niche that requires the development of territorial resources for its implementation and attraction. This paper’s objective is to investigate the preferences and willingness to pay of tourists for the development of strategic land resources for stargazing tourism activities. The field work was conducted on the island of La Palma (Canary Islands), which is promoting the territorial development of infrastructures for stargazing tourism. A random sample of 734 tourists were interviewed in person on-site in December 2019 following the methodology discrete choice experiments that enabled an estimation of tourists’ preferences and willingness to pay for the implementation of key land resources for stargazing. The data are modeled using a latent class model that allows for the consideration of heterogeneous preferences. The results show that there are three groups of tourists with different preferences for land resources of stargazing observation. These segments are respectively related to the interests in culture, active, and astronomic tourism. Those tourists in the active stargazing segment share the largest proportion of the market and favor the implementation of facilities that allow the combination of active tourism with stargazing. The results are useful for land product development and territorial strategies aimed at positioning destinations in the identified demand niches of stargazing tourism. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Use of Natural and Cultural Resources through Tourism Activity for Regional Development)
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14 pages, 324 KiB  
Article
Tourism Business in Spanish National Parks: A Multidimensional Perspective of Sustainable Tourism
by Esteban Pérez-Calderón, Vanessa Miguel-Barrado and Francisco Sánchez-Cubo
Land 2022, 11(2), 190; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/land11020190 - 25 Jan 2022
Cited by 10 | Viewed by 3268 | Correction
Abstract
In recent years, nature tourism has increased its prominence in the tourism market due to sociocultural change and greater concern for the environment in our society. In this sense, Spanish national parks have become important tourist destinations, increasing the number of visitors significantly [...] Read more.
In recent years, nature tourism has increased its prominence in the tourism market due to sociocultural change and greater concern for the environment in our society. In this sense, Spanish national parks have become important tourist destinations, increasing the number of visitors significantly in the last decade, exceeding 14.81 million in 2019. In addition to their incalculable ecological value, these protected natural spaces are a key factor in achieving the socioeconomic development of their rural area of influence. The main objective of the study is to contrast the development experienced by tourist businesses in the areas of socioeconomic influence of the Spanish national parks. This has been done from a multidimensional perspective: infrastructures, socioeconomic development, and the perception of the residents belonging to the area of influence of the parks. The indicators associated with each dimension have been compiled and a logit model was used to contrast the relationships between the different variables. The results confirmed that perceived economic development and infrastructure have a significant impact on tourism businesses. In conclusion, local socioeconomic development requires greater effective public–private partnerships to achieve business prosperity and a better quality of life as factors for the sustainability of nature tourism in national parks. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Use of Natural and Cultural Resources through Tourism Activity for Regional Development)
20 pages, 802 KiB  
Article
Examining the Relationships between Visitors Profile, Satisfaction and Revisit Intentions: Evidence from Romanian Ecotourism Destinations
by Cristinel Petrișor Constantin, Ana Ispas and Adina Nicoleta Candrea
Land 2022, 11(2), 186; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/land11020186 - 25 Jan 2022
Cited by 11 | Viewed by 4230
Abstract
Monitoring satisfaction levels among visitors presents an important challenge in ecotourism destinations, as it can provide useful information for tourism planning and management. The purposes of this study are (i) to identify the attribute-level satisfaction factors in the context of four ecotourism destinations [...] Read more.
Monitoring satisfaction levels among visitors presents an important challenge in ecotourism destinations, as it can provide useful information for tourism planning and management. The purposes of this study are (i) to identify the attribute-level satisfaction factors in the context of four ecotourism destinations from Romania, (ii) to investigate whether segments with different purposes for visiting reported different levels of satisfaction, (iii) to examine if the analyzed ecotourism destinations recorded different levels of satisfaction, and (iv) to determine if the attribute-level satisfaction factors and visitors’ profiles influence the intention to revisit ecotourism destinations. The research data were collected using a survey among 1157 visitors in the analyzed destinations. An exploratory factor analysis (EFA) was computed and an analysis of variance (ANOVA) was conducted in order to determine whether significant differences in satisfaction existed across segments and across destinations. The research findings indicate three attribute-level satisfaction factors ((i) attractions and information services, (ii) amenities, (iii) conservation of natural and cultural heritage). Subsequent results revealed significant differences across visitor segments for two out of the three attribute-level satisfaction factors and across the four analyzed ecotourism destinations regarding all satisfaction factors. Furthermore, there were significant differences across visitor segments concerning the intention to revisit, however, influence of satisfaction factors on the intention to revisit the ecotourism destinations was found to be poor. The present study provides a contribution to the body of knowledge in ecotourism destination management and marketing by improving the understanding of relationships among visitors’ profile, satisfaction levels, and revisiting intention. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Use of Natural and Cultural Resources through Tourism Activity for Regional Development)
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15 pages, 2268 KiB  
Article
From Counterculture to Intangible Heritage and Tourism Supply: Artistic Expressions in Ibiza, Spain
by José Ramón-Cardona and María Dolores Sánchez-Fernández
Land 2022, 11(1), 98; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/land11010098 - 07 Jan 2022
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2216
Abstract
Until the beginning of the 20th century, Ibiza was rural, developmentally lagging, and separate from the modern world. These characteristics made it attractive as a refuge for European intellectuals and artists as soon as communications with the outside world began to develop. The [...] Read more.
Until the beginning of the 20th century, Ibiza was rural, developmentally lagging, and separate from the modern world. These characteristics made it attractive as a refuge for European intellectuals and artists as soon as communications with the outside world began to develop. The first significant presence of artists occurred in the 1930s, just before the Spanish Civil War. After years of war and isolation, artists returned in a larger volume and variety than before. Other regions also had artistic and countercultural communities, but Ibiza decided to use them as an element of its tourist promotions, making the hippie movement a part of its culture and history and the most internationally known element. The objective of this paper is to expose the importance of art and artists, a direct inheritance of that time, in Ibizan promotion and tourism. The authorities and entrepreneurs of the island realized the media interest they received and the importance of this media impact on developing the tourism sector. The result was that they supported artistic avant-garde and various activities derived from the hippie movement to differentiate Ibiza and make it known in Spain and abroad, creating the myth of Ibiza as an island of freedom, harmony, and nightlife (the current image of the island). Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Use of Natural and Cultural Resources through Tourism Activity for Regional Development)
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25 pages, 4123 KiB  
Article
The Assessment of the Tourism Potential of the Tagus International Nature Reserve Landscapes Using Methods Based on the Opinion of the Demand
by Dora Isabel Rodrigues Ferreira and José-Manuel Sánchez-Martín
Land 2022, 11(1), 68; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/land11010068 - 03 Jan 2022
Cited by 10 | Viewed by 2501
Abstract
There are different methodologies to assess landscape preferences, however there is no consensual methodology that can be replicated to identify their tourism potential. Recent studies have focused on agricultural landscape preferences due to their cultural characteristics. Although agricultural activity conflicts with the management [...] Read more.
There are different methodologies to assess landscape preferences, however there is no consensual methodology that can be replicated to identify their tourism potential. Recent studies have focused on agricultural landscape preferences due to their cultural characteristics. Although agricultural activity conflicts with the management models of natural protected areas, traditional models and sustainable practices reveal opportunities to boost tourism in this area, both for their aesthetic value, and for the opportunity to preserve biodiversity and maintain “lively landscapes”. The present study focuses on a double approach to collect data to measure the preferences for landscape typologies to realize outdoor/recreative activities in Tagus International Nature Reserve (TINR), among them, agricultural landscapes, such as the agro-silvopastural system “Dehesa/Montado” or olive grove. The preference of the landscapes were evaluated through photographs with pairwise comparison and without photographs observation, in which 174 respondents were consulted with. The different methodologies applied allowed for the extraction of different results, which led to the assumption that in fact there is no single methodology to assess preferences. However, the application of the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) methodology with photographical pairwise comparison allowed for the extraction of more robust results when considering attractions with tourism typologies, revealing that “Cultural tourism/Rural mixed” and “Agritourism” were the most valued. This information is pertinent to support TINR managers and local tourism promoters to plan and structure products and services based on button-up methodologies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Use of Natural and Cultural Resources through Tourism Activity for Regional Development)
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20 pages, 3718 KiB  
Article
Safeguarding Intangible Cultural Heritage: The Amazonian Kichwa People
by Claudia Patricia Maldonado-Erazo, Nancy P. Tierra-Tierra, María de la Cruz del Río-Rama and José Álvarez-García
Land 2021, 10(12), 1395; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/land10121395 - 17 Dec 2021
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 3226
Abstract
Indigenous communities express their concern about the weakening and low appreciation of their millenary and ancestral manifestations and knowledge, due to society’s accelerated globalization. This fact has caused intergenerational transmission to be minimal, resulting in a gradual cultural erosion and loss of collective [...] Read more.
Indigenous communities express their concern about the weakening and low appreciation of their millenary and ancestral manifestations and knowledge, due to society’s accelerated globalization. This fact has caused intergenerational transmission to be minimal, resulting in a gradual cultural erosion and loss of collective memory of human groups. The purpose of this study is to safeguard of the Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) of the Amazonian Kichwa nationality through identification and records of cultural manifestations. The analysis corresponds to a descriptive process of all the information collected, which was built from the development of multiple processes of cultural revitalization that correspond to in-depth interviews with community leaders and participatory workshops with all members of the community. During the process, an increase in the exchange of knowledge was observed, in addition to constant cultural insurgency in which the peoples maintain themselves in order to safeguard their cultures. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Use of Natural and Cultural Resources through Tourism Activity for Regional Development)
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16 pages, 2283 KiB  
Article
Cross-Cultural Analysis of the Consumer Profile of Hunting Tourism and Trophy Hunting from Tradition to Protected Areas: Study Case on Romania and Spain
by Flavia Dana Oltean and Manuela Rozalia Gabor
Land 2021, 10(11), 1218; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/land10111218 - 10 Nov 2021
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2153
Abstract
Hunting has major importance from many perspectives: As a product of leisure and recreation, as a tool for conservation and wildlife management, as the main economic activity in rural areas, or as a cultural heritage and traditional activity for countries around the world, [...] Read more.
Hunting has major importance from many perspectives: As a product of leisure and recreation, as a tool for conservation and wildlife management, as the main economic activity in rural areas, or as a cultural heritage and traditional activity for countries around the world, especially for countries in Europe and Africa. Therefore, this research fills a gap in the literature and offers a cross-cultural opinion and perceptions of 198 hunters from Romania and Spain. The aim of the paper is to analyze the perceptions and opinions of hunters regarding hunting tourism through an online self-administrated questionnaire by convenience sampling using hunters associations from these countries. Among the values that identify hunting as an activity, hunters highlight the human values (friendship, company, ethics), ecological values (love of nature associated with hunting as a tool to understand and enjoy the natural environment), and social values (resources generated, hobby, effort). The respondents can self-criticize some components and aspects of hunting groups. Hunters believe that the future of this sector is moving towards commercial hunting, associated with purchasing power to ensure results. Regardless of the nationality of the hunters, their values related to this sector are similar. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Use of Natural and Cultural Resources through Tourism Activity for Regional Development)
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18 pages, 1826 KiB  
Article
Sustainable Development and Rural Tourism in Depopulated Areas
by José María López-Sanz, Azucena Penelas-Leguía, Pablo Gutiérrez-Rodríguez and Pedro Cuesta-Valiño
Land 2021, 10(9), 985; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/land10090985 - 17 Sep 2021
Cited by 29 | Viewed by 4429
Abstract
The high degree of depopulation in certain areas of Spain is a serious threat to the country, and is aggravated by the ongoing loss of population from those areas. Rural tourism is one of the activities that can help prevent this depopulation. However, [...] Read more.
The high degree of depopulation in certain areas of Spain is a serious threat to the country, and is aggravated by the ongoing loss of population from those areas. Rural tourism is one of the activities that can help prevent this depopulation. However, to successfully promote such tourism, we must consider the elements that have the greatest influence on tourists when they choose one location over another, or one accommodation over another. Extensive data have been collected from 1658 valid surveys of tourists in one of the most depopulated areas of Spain. Several multivariate techniques were then applied to the data, including Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and Multiple Classification Analysis (MCA). Factors were obtained that identified both the different motivations that influence tourists, and the variables that identify the province based on its image. An analysis was then made of how both the variables thus identified the influence of the formation of the image that tourists take away from the visit. Tourists are most strongly motivated by natural landscapes, monuments, or events of cultural interest, i.e., natural and cultural attractions rather than social ones, and the cognitive image has the greatest influence on the formation of the new image. The principal findings of this research are that the future of many of these depopulated areas depends on successfully promoting both their beautiful landscapes and their cultural heritage, as well as developing and improving the areas themselves so that the depopulation is slowed down or even reversed, to the benefit of the local population. This would also benefit the local and regional authorities and the establishments linked to rural tourism in the area, increasing their profits and raising the level of employment in the province. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Use of Natural and Cultural Resources through Tourism Activity for Regional Development)
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20 pages, 778 KiB  
Article
China Viewed by the West before COVID-19: Spaniards’ Perceptions and Knowledge of China as a Tourist Destination
by Pedro Cuesta-Valiño, Antoni Serra-Cantallops, José Ramón-Cardona and Rafael Ravina-Ripoll
Land 2021, 10(9), 950; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/land10090950 - 08 Sep 2021
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2769
Abstract
China is not only becoming a major international tourist destination, and it also has huge potential as an issuing market. Spain, meanwhile, has long ranked among the world’s top tourist destinations, and as an issuing market, it is gradually growing in importance. There [...] Read more.
China is not only becoming a major international tourist destination, and it also has huge potential as an issuing market. Spain, meanwhile, has long ranked among the world’s top tourist destinations, and as an issuing market, it is gradually growing in importance. There is high potential for an increase in tourist flows between Spain and China in both directions. This paper analyses Spaniards’ perceptions of China as a country and as a tourist destination and their familiarity with the reality of this Asiatic country, before the first news about COVID-19. Likewise, it aims to identify possible factors that might inhibit Spaniards from traveling on holiday to China while also offering an initial insight into Spain’s future potential as an issuing market to China. For this purpose, 1063 interviews were conducted and analyzed. The results point to a strong potential intention by Spaniards to visit China, although it also reveals very little familiarity with the reality of China as a tourist destination, except for its two major symbols, Beijing and the Great Wall. The results also seem to indicate the existence of big travel inhibitors among certain segments, mainly related to the travel costs, politics and safety, environmental issues, and a lack of awareness of the quality standards of China’s tourist sector. Future studies should analyze the changes that the pandemic may have produced in China’s image. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Use of Natural and Cultural Resources through Tourism Activity for Regional Development)
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18 pages, 462 KiB  
Article
Drivers for Sustainability Awareness Development in Tourism Curricula: The Case of Spanish Universities
by Libertad Moreno-Luna, Rafael Robina-Ramírez, Marcelo Sánchez-Oro and José Castro Serrano
Land 2021, 10(9), 939; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/land10090939 - 07 Sep 2021
Viewed by 2329
Abstract
Spain is one of the most popular tourism destinations in the world, and one of the top ten countries in terms of tourism contribution to its economy. As tourism is causing a gravely negative impact on the environment, universities play a key role [...] Read more.
Spain is one of the most popular tourism destinations in the world, and one of the top ten countries in terms of tourism contribution to its economy. As tourism is causing a gravely negative impact on the environment, universities play a key role in raising student awareness and reducing the damaging consequences of said tourism. Connections between sustainability and tourism studies have received little attention in higher education. The lecturing staff and student bodies from universities were interviewed with the aim of finding out what motivates academics to develop conductors and indicators that raise environmental awareness within under-graduate Tourism degrees. Results show a different perspective on teaching sustainability within the tourism curricula at public and private universities. According to the participants, motivation and training lecturers have been the two main drivers. Results can be applied to other Tourism degrees in order to overcome the common barriers that these studies have to face to introduce sustainability in the tourism curricula. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Use of Natural and Cultural Resources through Tourism Activity for Regional Development)
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20 pages, 12855 KiB  
Article
A Nature Tourism Route through GIS to Improve the Visibility of the Natural Resources of the Altar Volcano, Sangay National Park, Ecuador
by Alex Vinicio Gavilanes Montoya, José Fernando Esparza Parra, Carlos Renato Chávez Velásquez, Paúl Eduardo Tito Guanuche, Grace Maribel Parra Vintimilla, Carlos Mestanza-Ramón and Danny Daniel Castillo Vizuete
Land 2021, 10(8), 884; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/land10080884 - 23 Aug 2021
Cited by 12 | Viewed by 6435
Abstract
Tourism in natural areas attracts people seeking contact with pristine ecosystems as opposed to a polluted urban habitat and a stressful pace of life. An adequate tourist route and itinerary guarantees a high level of tourist satisfaction. The objective of this study was [...] Read more.
Tourism in natural areas attracts people seeking contact with pristine ecosystems as opposed to a polluted urban habitat and a stressful pace of life. An adequate tourist route and itinerary guarantees a high level of tourist satisfaction. The objective of this study was to focus on the design of a tourist route and itinerary in the Altar Volcano, Sangay National Park, central Ecuador, by integrating tourist attractions and facilities. Within the methodological process, the main tourist attractions of the area were identified and georeferenced; then, a thematic map was elaborated using ArcGIS 10.5® software. Distances were determined by considering the transportation alternatives in relation to the base camps. Finally, the itinerary was structured by considering the possible tourist activities of each place or attraction. As a result, a tourist route was obtained that included 19 attractions and an itinerary that interacts with various activities in the study area. This research will strengthen tourism activities in the Altar Volcano, allowing for an increase in the number of visitors and the development of sustainable tourism thanks to proper planning in the use of a new tourist route. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Use of Natural and Cultural Resources through Tourism Activity for Regional Development)
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Review

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21 pages, 2661 KiB  
Review
Intangible Cultural Heritage in Tourism: Research Review and Investigation of Future Agenda
by Qihang Qiu, Yifan Zuo and Mu Zhang
Land 2022, 11(1), 139; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/land11010139 - 16 Jan 2022
Cited by 18 | Viewed by 8117
Abstract
Intangible cultural heritage (ICH) can be a valuable tourism resource for both government and local communities. However, the complex definition and the massive and fragmented nature of ICH data make it hard to review and conclude research trends and future directions of ICH [...] Read more.
Intangible cultural heritage (ICH) can be a valuable tourism resource for both government and local communities. However, the complex definition and the massive and fragmented nature of ICH data make it hard to review and conclude research trends and future directions of ICH tourism. In this study, 85 keywords extracted from ICH definitions are input in the Web of Science database before collecting papers indexed in the Social Sciences Citation Index, the Arts and Humanities Citation Index, and the Conference Proceedings Citation Index-Social Science and Humanities. Later, a systematic literature review of 418 ICH tourism studies from 76 countries published between 2000 and 2021 were conducted based on three groups of questions. The findings mainly illustrated that: (1) Currently research in ICH tourism is mainly composed of three themes: resource planning and sustainability, the impact of tourism development, and tourist behavior and destination marketing; (2) topics related to food tourism, sacred knowledge, traditional management systems, traditional management systems, legends, and myths can achieve high impact; (3) in the last five years, scholars have reduced using the official full name of ICH in tourism studies, while the category of “social practices, rituals and festive events” has become a hot topic since 2010; (4) ecotourism, culinary tourism, festival tourism, and religious tourism are the most discussed in ICH tourism research, and they will still be intensive topics in near future; (5) future directions in ICH tourism research are resultant of three vectors: place making, technology, and environment. The results present a comprehensive picture of current popular ICH topics and predict future directions in the field of ICH tourism. The systematic review of literature can help contribute to both theoretical construction, heritage preservation, and tourism practices. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Use of Natural and Cultural Resources through Tourism Activity for Regional Development)
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Other

Jump to: Research, Review

1 pages, 181 KiB  
Correction
Correction: Pérez-Calderon et al. Tourism Business in Spanish National Parks: A Multidimensional Perspective of Sustainable Tourism. Land 2022, 11, 190
by Esteban Pérez-Calderón, Vanessa Miguel-Barrado and Francisco Sánchez-Cubo
Land 2022, 11(9), 1501; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/land11091501 - 07 Sep 2022
Viewed by 697
Abstract
In the original publication [...] Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Use of Natural and Cultural Resources through Tourism Activity for Regional Development)
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