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Heritage, Cultural Tourism and Sustainability: Meaningful Travel for a Green Planet

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A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050). This special issue belongs to the section "Tourism, Culture, and Heritage".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 December 2024 | Viewed by 18107

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Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Marek Nowacki

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Guest Editor

Institute of Applied Sciences, WSB University, 61-895 Poznań, Poland
Interests: cultural tourism; heritage interpretation; destination management; new technology
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Dr. Yash Chawla

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Guest Editor

Department of Operations Research and Business Intelligence, Faculty of Computer Science and Management, Wrocław University of Science and Technology, 50-370 Wrocław, Poland
Interests: sustainability, emerging technologies, marketing, innovation management
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Recently, tourism has been experiencing unprecedented perturbations. First, the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdowns, and now the energy crisis related to Russia's aggression against Ukraine, as well as increasingly noticeable climate change impacts, have led to the need to redefine the directions of tourism development. Additionally, the effects of tourism itself—gentrification of historic town centres, and environmental issues related to cruisers and flying—force us to reflect on its future.

Various concepts are formulated, which, according to the authors' assumption, can be a panacea for the above-mentioned threats. More ethical, responsible, sustainable and environmentally friendly tourism, less energy-intensive, and implemented over shorter distances travel, is a necessity (Oh, Assaf and Baloglu, 2014). An important concept is slow tourism (Calzati and de Salvo, 2018), which focuses on individual tourist experience (slowness and responsible consumerism), sustainability and the quality of life (as opposed to simply development as economic growth, “degrowth” and “a- growth”), individualized well-being and quality of life paradigm. Slow tourism values a slowness of pace, enjoying the journey itself, and making connections with local practices and cultures (Clancy (2014).

Contemporary, post-COVID-19 tourism should be characterized by shorter distances, with less energy expenditure and less pollution; a new type of small-scale tourism, for more meaningful experiences, which F. Diaz (2020) calls 3 x S (Slow, Smart and Small). It is characterized by the search for meaning, for more authentic, genuine experiences, relaxed sociability, creative activities and the manifestation of spirituality. Vertical travel writers speak in a similar vein (Forsdick, Zoë Kinsley and Walchester, 2022). It is a temporary dwelling in a location for a time where the traveller begins to travel down into the particulars of place either in space (botany, exhaustive exploration of local landscape) or in time (local history, folklore) (Cronin, 2000).

The scope of this Special Issue is a collection of contemporary texts on research and experience in the field of innovative, cultural and heritage tourism carried out ethically and sustainably. The goal is a reflection on the post-COVID-19 recovery of the tourism economy implemented in a more energy-efficient, authentic and creative way.

The focus of this Special Issue is on the ethical and sustainable use of natural and cultural heritage resources, the use of contemporary, creative, innovative forms of heritage interpretation and the presentation of tourist attractions and destinations.

Prof. Dr. Marek Nowacki
Dr. Yash Chawla
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. Sustainability is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly 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 2400 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

heritage tourism
cultural tourism
slow tourism
ethical tourism
heritage interpretation
green destinations

Published Papers (10 papers)

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Research

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17 pages, 909 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Empirical Analysis on Influence of Authenticity Perception on Tourist Loyalty in Historical Blocks in China

by Liangwei Luo, Jiao Chen, Yuqin Cheng and Kexin Cai

Sustainability 2024, 16(7), 2799; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16072799 - 27 Mar 2024

Viewed by 503

Abstract

Tourist loyalty is the key to the sustainable development of tourism in urban historical blocks. This article focuses on exploring the relationship between authenticity perception and tourist loyalty in this context. With this aim, we introduce the mediating variable of tourist engagement and construct a theoretical model of authenticity perception, tourist engagement, and tourist loyalty. Hierarchical regression analysis and bootstrapping were performed on questionnaire data of 287 West Street tourists in Dujiangyan, China. The results of this study demonstrate that both object-related authenticity perception and existential authenticity perception have a significant positive impact on tourist loyalty behavior, with similar degrees of influence. Additionally, the study reveals that tourist engagement plays a mediating role in the relationship among object-related authenticity, existential authenticity, and tourist loyalty. From the perspective of tourist engagement, this article reveals the impact mechanism of authenticity perception on tourist loyalty in the context of historical block tourism, enriches the research on tourism authenticity, and deepens the understanding of tourist loyalty behavior. Furthermore, the results of this study also provide reference for the formulation of sustainable development policies related to tourism in historical blocks. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Heritage, Cultural Tourism and Sustainability: Meaningful Travel for a Green Planet)

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16 pages, 3838 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Estimating the Social Value of Digital Signage Landmarks as Sustainable Tourist Attractions

by Lihua Quan, Insu Hong, Taejun Lee and Changsok Yoo

Sustainability 2024, 16(4), 1695; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16041695 - 19 Feb 2024

Viewed by 658

Abstract

As urban tourism increases, digital signage landmarks are frequently utilized to develop and enhance the attractiveness of cities for tourism. However, the benefits of this development for local residents have not been fully explored from a sustainability perspective. Thus, this study aims to quantitatively analyze local residents’ perceptions of digital signage landmarks in urban areas using one of the prominent icons, the Samseong-dong free display zone in Seoul, Korea. To measure the overall value of the landmarks, this study used a double-bounded dichotomous choice contingent valuation method and spike model. Based on the surveys of 600 respondents in Korea, the results show that a household’s willingness to pay to support the landmark annually is KRW 5401 (USD 4) on average in the form of income tax. The perceived annual value for the landmark is about KRW 790 million (USD 60 million), surpassing that of typical tourism attractions in Korea. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Heritage, Cultural Tourism and Sustainability: Meaningful Travel for a Green Planet)

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18 pages, 1762 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Accessibility of Cultural Heritage Sites for People with Disabilities: A Case Study on Krakow Museums

by Zygmunt Kruczek, Katarzyna Gmyrek, Danuta Ziżka, Karolina Korbiel and Karolina Nowak

Sustainability 2024, 16(1), 318; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16010318 - 29 Dec 2023

Viewed by 1204

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to assess the accessibility of flagship cultural attractions—that is, museums located in Krakow, a city with a rich historical heritage included in the UNESCO World Cultural and Natural Heritage List and distinguished by being a recipient of the Access City Award—for people with disabilities. This research shows the degree to which these museums have been adapted to receive visitors with disabilities. Assessments were also conducted with regard to access to the museums’ websites and the possibility for virtual tours of their collections. Out of a total of 50 museums, 31 were selected for this study, both leading museums in terms of attendance, such as Wawel Royal Castle, the National Museum, the Museum of Krakow, and the Wieliczka Salt Mine, and smaller ones such as the Aviation Museum. The research results indicate that Krakow museums are well-prepared for receiving people with physical disabilities and seniors but are less well adapted to receiving visually impaired and blind people and hearing-impaired and deaf people. Analysis of the museums’ websites showed that they are well-prepared in terms of compatibility and comprehensibility but that they received worse assessment scores with regard to their perceivability and functionality. Visitors to the museums are principally adults, adolescents, and seniors. People with disabilities make up 10% of all visitors. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Heritage, Cultural Tourism and Sustainability: Meaningful Travel for a Green Planet)

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19 pages, 3862 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Sensory Ecofeminism for Heritage, Tourism, and Sustainability in Mauritius

by Rosabelle Boswell

Sustainability 2023, 15(13), 10426; https://doi.org/10.3390/su151310426 - 02 Jul 2023

Viewed by 1277

Abstract

Worldwide, UNESCO provides a global and authorized set of protocols for the conservation of heritage. The organization has long framed the discourse and practice of cultural heritage management. At the Hangzhou International Congress in 2013, UNESCO declared culture as key to development, thereby confirming the role of culture and cultural heritage in sustainable development. In this article, attention is given to emerging sensory ecofeminism and its links to heritage and tourism in Mauritius, specifically in “unauthorized” heritage management locales and hotel settings. The research problem engaged in this study is that globally, heritage conservation is perceived as being of primary interest to UNESCO, the prerogative of authorized professionals and nominated heritage sites. The goal of the research is to understand the manifestation of cultural heritage and its management in coastal locales and how coastal sites and “unauthorized” heritage managers, hitherto not included in national heritage discourse and practice, may advance inclusive heritage management. Using the anthropological research methods of semi-structured interviews and participant observation to produce ethnographic data in 2022, this study finds that a selection of luxury hotels in Mauritius advances a gender-influenced and ecofeminist discourse that supports heritage, tourism, and sustainability in Mauritius. The conclusion of this study is that “unauthorized” heritage management processes and practices in luxury hotels and tourism establishments can be gender and community inclusive, sensitive to various social hierarchies, and required to achieve environmental sustainability. It is recommended that national heritage institutions and practitioners give more attention to the diverse, often unexpected locales for heritage conservation and inclusion. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Heritage, Cultural Tourism and Sustainability: Meaningful Travel for a Green Planet)

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20 pages, 4795 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Holistic Strategies Based on Heritage, Environmental, Sensory Analysis and Mapping for Sustainable Coastal Design

by Maria Sinou, Katerina Skalkou, Roumpini Perakaki, Sébastien Jacques and Zoe Kanetaki

Sustainability 2023, 15(13), 9953; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15139953 - 22 Jun 2023

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1358

Abstract

The objectives of this exploratory paper are to propose and implement original urban design strategies, but also to highlight the links between cultural and natural heritage at the city–land–sea interface and, in particular, in coastal areas with historical value. For the moment, the tools for evaluating the social and economic “value” of this heritage are extremely limited. Moreover, design and environmental parameters may also come into play in this context, and it is worth considering the creation of an evaluation toolkit. The proposed methodology includes three phases: a documentary analysis, an on-site analysis consisting of a sensory mapping and an analysis by questionnaires. The main result of this work is to demonstrate that the methodology of sensory mapping techniques allows obtaining a holistic global approach where all human senses are considered in the analytical phase of pre-design of a coastal site, thus integrating this approach in a more sustainable design strategy. This methodology was evaluated in a significant natural and historic area. This case study and the literature review demonstrate that it is possible to provide a scheme toolkit that integrates all the parameters of importance identified in urban analysis, sensory mapping, environmental analysis and natural and cultural heritage analysis. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Heritage, Cultural Tourism and Sustainability: Meaningful Travel for a Green Planet)

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17 pages, 609 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Gen Z’s Attitude towards Green Image Destinations, Green Tourism and Behavioural Intention Regarding Green Holiday Destination Choice: A Study in Poland and India

by Marek Nowacki, Joanna Kowalczyk-Anioł and Yash Chawla

Sustainability 2023, 15(10), 7860; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15107860 - 11 May 2023

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 4089

Abstract

Using PLS-SEM, this article proposes and verifies a model among Gen Z that captures the relationship between attitudes towards the environmental ecosystem and green tourism, personal and social norms regarding pro-environmental behaviour, perceived behavioural control, perceived green image of destinations (PGID), behavioural intentions regarding green holiday destinations (GHD), and willingness to pay (WTP) more for visiting them. The paper also verifies whether intercultural differences exist in the relationships between these variables. The most important results indicate that (1) for Gen Z, the perceived green image of destinations has the strongest impact on intention to travel to green holiday destinations; (2) the proposed variables explain the willingness to visit green holiday destinations to a much greater extent than the WTP a higher price for such trips. This study contributes to the literature concerning generational changes in tourism, pro-environmental (transition) planning, and the growing green economy and marketing. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Heritage, Cultural Tourism and Sustainability: Meaningful Travel for a Green Planet)

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18 pages, 570 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Study on the Effect of Authenticity on Heritage Tourists’ Mindful Tourism Experience: The Case of the Forbidden City

by Thomas Eck, Yiwen Zhang and Soyoung An

Sustainability 2023, 15(10), 7756; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15107756 - 09 May 2023

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2914

Abstract

While heritage tourism has been explored widely in the tourism literature, there remains a need to further understand the antecedent variables that influence tourist experiences in such a context. This study applied mindfulness theory, investigating the effect of authenticity and mindfulness on the tourist experience and how the tourist experience influenced satisfaction and loyalty. A structural model was used with eight proposed hypotheses based on data collected in the spring of 2021 from 363 Chinese visitors to the Forbidden City. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and structural equation modeling (SEM) were employed, enabling variable relations to be tested. Results revealed that authenticity significantly influenced mindfulness, and mindfulness significantly influenced tourists’ experience. Furthermore, two dimensions of tourists’ experience influenced satisfaction and satisfaction influenced loyalty. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Heritage, Cultural Tourism and Sustainability: Meaningful Travel for a Green Planet)

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13 pages, 286 KiB

Open AccessArticle

In Search for Meaning? Modelling Generation Z Spiritual Travel Motivation Scale—The Case of Serbia

by Rastislav Stojsavljević, Miroslav D. Vujičić, Uglješa Stankov, Igor Stamenković, Dejan Masliković, Adam B. Carmer, Darko Polić, Dino Mujkić and Marko Bajić

Sustainability 2023, 15(6), 5292; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15065292 - 16 Mar 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1900

Abstract

Spiritual travel is increasingly viewed as an asset for the development of sustainable tourism. A great deal of research has been conducted on travel motivation to comprehend spiritually-motivated travel, but less is known about Generation Z’s travel motivation. This subject is relevant since Generation Z will represent the travel market of the future. Therefore, managers of spiritually-themed locations must understand the characteristics of their prospective visitors (Generation Z) in order to create more comprehensive tourism offerings. We use exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis to validate the scale and inferential statistics to analyse the data regarding the main socio-demographic characteristics. Spiritual and Canonical Experiences, Escapism, Ascetic Life, and Social Interactions, Natural and Cultural Values, Religious Events, and Active Participation were identified as the main dimensions in this study. In our conclusion, the ramifications of the findings for destination management and marketing are examined. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Heritage, Cultural Tourism and Sustainability: Meaningful Travel for a Green Planet)

19 pages, 1297 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Influence Mechanism and Measurement of Tourists’ Authenticity Perception on the Sustainable Development of Rural Tourism—A Study Based on the 10 Most Popular Rural Tourism Destinations in China

by Tongtong Zheng, Jinfeng Yu, Qian Cheng and Haiyin Pan

Sustainability 2023, 15(2), 1454; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15021454 - 12 Jan 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2021

Abstract

Short-distance rural tourism has become a major form of tourism in China in recent years, as problems caused by urbanization emerge and because of the strict restrictions on the flow of people during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study takes the ten most popular rural tourism destinations in China from 2011 to 2021 as the research object. First, the grounded theory is used to construct the impact model of tourists’ authenticity perception on the sustainable development of rural tourism. The results show that tourists’ perception of rural tourism authenticity includes four dimensions, namely, visual perception, embodied perception, using perception, and interactive perception. With local attachment as the intermediary, authentic perception has a positive effect on the sustainable development of rural tourism, including economic sustainability, ecological sustainability, and cultural sustainability. In the early stage of tourism development, tourists mainly focus on visual authenticity. As tourists are deeply involved in rural tourism, they will pay more attention to interactive authenticity. Then, based on AHP, the measurement index was constructed and a questionnaire survey was conducted among ten villages to verify the effectiveness and universality of the model. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Heritage, Cultural Tourism and Sustainability: Meaningful Travel for a Green Planet)

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Review

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16 pages, 1931 KiB

Open AccessReview

Film-Induced Tourism, Destination Branding and Game of Thrones: A Review of the Peñíscola de Cine Project

by Pablo Jesús Huerta-Viso, Germán Llorca Abad and Lourdes Canós-Darós

Sustainability 2024, 16(1), 186; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16010186 - 25 Dec 2023

Viewed by 990

Abstract

This paper addresses an alternative perspective on tourism success, emphasising sustainability over traditional quantitative metrics such as arrival numbers. It explores the impact of fiction films and TV series on individuals’ mental representations of destinations featured on screen, as well as the capacity of film discourse to construct a brand aligned with local stakeholders’ interests. Qualitative methods have been employed, conducting a literature review on sustainable film tourism and destination branding. Local news and an interview with the head of the Peñíscola Film Office complemented academic insights. The primary goal is to examine the “Peñíscola de Cine” project as a paradigm of success, initiated by the city council of Peñíscola, Spain. This project positions the municipality as a natural film set through productions like Game of Thrones (2011–2019), illustrating how film can contribute to destination branding and community engagement. The study highlights the positive contribution of film tourism to sustainability by diversifying and de-seasonalising a territory’s offerings. It also attracts a more educated and environmentally conscious audience. However, it cautiously discusses the potential risks, as evidenced by misapplications in Goathland, England, and Skellig Michael, Ireland, following their appearances in Heartbeat (1992–2010) and Star Wars (1977–2019), respectively. The paper concludes by suggesting film-friendly measures for destination management organizations (DMOs), emphasising the pivotal role of film commissions and film offices in crafting effective marketing strategies and capturing the interest of audiovisual production companies. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Heritage, Cultural Tourism and Sustainability: Meaningful Travel for a Green Planet)

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