European Journal of Tourism Research

Seyitoğlu, Faruk;Flores, Rogelio Jr;Costa, Carlos;Breda, Zelia

doi: 10.54055/ejtr.v41i.4254pmid: N/A

This study systematically reviews coastal tourism research within the tourism and hospitality field to synthesise current knowledge, research themes, sub-themes, and topics and propose a future research agenda based on thematic analysis and key findings. Building on prior discussions and through an in-depth literature review, this paper provides a comprehensive overview of the field. A systematic search was carried out in the Web of Science database, following the PRISMA guidelines. Out of 676 records found, 224 studies were found eligible for thematic analysis. The analysis revealed six main themes: tourist motivations, experiences and behaviours; responsible and sustainable tourism development; coastal destination marketing, image and attractiveness; coastal tourism destination management; coastal tourism planning and development; and tourism impact. Each theme is further examined through sub-themes, research topics, and key findings. The thematic analysis provides a valuable contribution to the field by synthesising existing knowledge and, based on identified gaps, presenting a research agenda to guide future research related to coastal tourism.

Schwartz, Zvi;Webb, Timothy;Liu, Xuan

doi: 10.54055/ejtr.v41i.3880pmid: N/A

Sellout projections are critical to revenue management decisions, particularly in the context of multi-channel distribution. This research investigates the unexpectedly complex relationship between the likelihood of a sellout and the correlation in demand across distribution channels. Using a detailed numerical simulation implemented in VBA, the Study reveals that these dynamics are both intricate and counterintuitive. A follow-up empirical investigation, conducted through a scenario-based survey, assessed participants’ intuitive judgments when faced with this cognitively demanding computational task. The results show that intuition often fails, overconfidence bias is present - especially among experts - and there is no evidence of framing bias. The primary contribution of this Study is theoretical: it uncovers the complex and unintuitive mathematical relationship between channel demand correlation and the probability of reaching or exceeding capacity. These insights have practical implications for improving revenue management forecasting and for designing interventions such as targeted training or bias-aware decision support systems.

Velaoras, Konstantinos;MENEGAKI, ANGELIKI;Polyzos, Serafeim;Kotzamani, Katerina

doi: 10.54055/ejtr.v41i.3897pmid: N/A

Our study explores consumer attitudes toward environmental and ethical practices in the hospitality industry, focusing on their willingness to pay (WTP) for sustainability certifications within the context of a localized sample. Drawing on survey data collected from 100 hotel consumers in Athens, Greece, our paper examines how demographic factors, travel preferences and environmental beliefs affect WTP for various sustainability initiatives. Key findings indicate that younger, more educated consumers with higher incomes are generally more willing to pay a premium for hotels demonstrating a commitment to sustainability and ethical practices. The study emphasizes the potential for market differentiation through sustainable practices, particularly in urban European contexts, offering actionable insights for hotel operators, marketers and policymakers. Despite the limited geographic and demographic scope, these insights contribute to a deeper understanding of consumer motivations in supporting environmental and ethical initiative.

Atari, Jonathan;Dias, Álvaro

doi: 10.54055/ejtr.v41i.3922pmid: N/A

The study explores the factors that influence the design of transformative tourism experiences and the co-creation of value, from the perspective of tourism entrepreneurs. The research proposes a conceptual model that integrates various resources and triggers that contribute to the design of transformative experiences and the co-creation of value, ultimately leading to customer self-change. The model highlights the importance of considering both transformative experience design and value co-creation as distinct yet overlapping concepts, each requiring specific resources and attention. The study emphasizes the role of entrepreneurs in facilitating transformative experiences through activities, sensory design, human capital, social capital, and marketing capabilities. The findings offer valuable insights for tourism entrepreneurs and policymakers seeking to develop and promote transformative tourism experiences that foster meaningful and lasting change in travellers.

Marangon, Francesco ;Troiano, Stefania;Bertossi, Alberto

doi: 10.54055/ejtr.v41i.3924pmid: N/A

Sporting events can positively impact sustainable development of local socioeconomic systems. This study examined the role of sports events in enhancing sustainability, with a particular focus on the agri-food sector. An exploratory survey was conducted in Austria, Italy and Slovenia (1,511 respondents), and a choice experiment was used to analyse potential tourists’ preferences for vacations in places where winter sports events are held (e.g., the European Winter Youth Olympic Festival). Respondents pointed out the importance of an accommodation being environmentally sustainable. From our findings, heterogeneity in respondents’ preferences emerged, and opportunities to strengthen local food systems were identified. These results can be a starting point for the creation of appropriate tourism offers for the benefit of tourism operators and local stakeholders in agri-food systems.

Orea-Giner, Alicia;Huertas-Valdivia, Irene

doi: 10.54055/ejtr.v41i.3954pmid: N/A

Over the last few decades, dark tourism has emerged as a significant phenomenon within the travel and tourism industry, driven by travelers seeking unique and immersive experiences that connect them with history and provide new perspectives on the world. By analysing user-generated content (UGC) on Instagram, this study investigates the role of Instagram posts in the co-creation of dark tourism meanings, narratives, and collective understandings. The findings reveal that Instagram content significantly contributes to the co-creation of dark tourism meanings by allowing users to share their personal experiences, emotions, and reflections, thereby actively participating in the discourse surrounding dark tourism. Through qualitative content analysis and basic frequency analysis of hashtags and locations, the study demonstrates that Instagram users document and narrate their visits to dark tourism sites, expressing personal impressions and engaging in broader meaning-making processes. Specific terms and themes identified in the content, such as cemeteries and abandoned places, highlight the diverse interests and framings expressed by Instagram users, contributing to the collective meaning-making around dark tourism. This research contributes to the body of knowledge on dark tourism by illustrating how UGC shared via Instagram contributes to the co-creation of dark tourism experiences, enhancing the design and delivery of more engaging and memorable dark tourism offerings.

Silva, Francisco;Vieira, José;Rodrigues, José;Câmara, Gualter F. M.

doi: 10.54055/ejtr.v41i.3982pmid: N/A

Most likely tourism and waste generation go hand in hand, particularly in economies dominated by tourism-related activities. This paper examines whether a sustained relationship exists between tourism measures such as the number of guests or total overnight stays, and waste generation on São Miguel Island (Azores, Portugal), using a seasonal cointegration method. This empirical approach is suitable given the high seasonality of tourism in many destinations. The results reveal a sustained link between tourism activity and municipal solid waste (MSW) production, as well as between tourism and glass waste. While cointegration is a widely used method in econometrics, we found few applications in literature that address cointegration in the presence of seasonality. Nevertheless, when working with seasonal data there is a risk of obtaining statistically significant results due to spurious relationships if such a feature is not properly addressed. The findings reveal that seasonal cointegration offers a reliable method for capturing the dynamics between tourism and waste generation and can thus serve as a useful tool for planners and policymakers seeking to optimize waste management in touristic destinations.

Cardoso, Lucília;Archi, Youssef El;Moutinho, Luiz;Almeida, Paulo;Benbba, Brahim

doi: 10.54055/ejtr.v41i.4008pmid: N/A

This study employs a novel approach, integrating scoping review and mind mapping with a theory-based perspective approach to comprehensively explore the dynamics of tourism destination choice theories. Through a holistic examination of 177 papers, thematic connections within the literature were identified, shedding light on diverse research topics and emphasizing the role of theories in understanding human behaviour and social dynamics in destination choice. Key findings indicate the evolution and contribution of theoretical underpinnings in destination choice literature, offering valuable insights for scholars and practitioners. The constructed framework visually represents cognitive pathways and decision nodes in destination choice processes.

Strålman, Sanja Obradović;Stojanović, Vladimir;Pantelić, Milana;Marković, Vladimir

doi: 10.54055/ejtr.v41i.4024pmid: N/A

This study investigates the role of community empowerment in promoting sustainable tourism development and resource conservation within the Golija Studenica Biosphere Reserve, a site renowned for its unique biodiversity and socio-economic challenges. Drawing on survey data from 361 respondents, the research examines pathways through which empowerment fosters sustainable tourism practices, increased tourism involvement, community- led initiatives, and resource conservation. A structured resident survey was analysed with structural-equation modelling (SEM) to trace the causal pathways from empowerment to behavioural outcomes. Two key results stand out: (i) psychological and economic empowerment jointly explain more than half of the variance in residents’ willingness to engage in sustainable tourism; (ii) political empowerment, in contrast, exerts a small but significant negative effect on conservation support, pointing to governance frictions. The findings highlight the critical role of local communities in preserving biodiversity and advancing socio-economic development in biosphere reserves. Key implications are provided for policymakers, conservationists, and stakeholders to support empowerment strategies that enhance sustainable tourism and conservation outcomes.

González, Oswaldo Ledesma;Quintana, Serafín Corral;García-Cruz, Juan Israel;Hernández, Jesús Hernández

doi: 10.54055/ejtr.v41i.4031pmid: N/A

This study examines the impact of renovation plans on mature tourist destinations through the utilisation of multi- criteria methodologies and participatory approaches, with a specific focus on Puerto de la Cruz in the Canary Islands. The tourism sector, characterised by instances of governmental intervention stemming from market inefficiencies and external factors, strikes a delicate equilibrium between individual economic interests and public regulations. This study highlights principal obstacles encountered in developed destinations, such as physical and operational outdating, underscoring the significance of adaptable, context-specific rejuvenation protocols. By employing the NAIADE multi-criteria evaluation technique, this research amalgamates both quantitative and qualitative information, comprising surveys, discussions, and geospatial data, to evaluate the efficacy of renovation efforts. The results underscore the advantages of integrating multi-criteria decision-making with participatory methodologies to analyse the results of the revitalization of tourist destinations. This methodology facilitates the inclusion of a variety of stakeholder viewpoints, thereby enriching the significance of the proposed methodology. The results from Puerto de la Cruz provide insights into how systematic and inclusive assessment frameworks can support the successful modernization of ageing tourist areas.