Journal of Tourism & Development

Methods of assessing carrying capacity in hiking trails

2025-05-26T11:58:57+01:00

The sustainability of the tourism system has become a growing concern, especially in recent decades. The impact of tourist activity on ecosystems, the overuse of some tourist infrastructure and facilities, and in many cases the lack of monitoring of these flows and their impacts, have highlighted the need for better planning and management of resources. Defining the carrying capacity of trails is an essential tool for the sustainable management of tourist flows, particularly in sensitive areas and ecosystems. The aim of this study is therefore to identify and evaluate the main methods used to assess the carrying capacity of hiking trails, to identify the correction factors used and the main areas of application of the proposed methods. The search carried out in four scientific repositories and the application of the PRISMA methodology allowed the identification of 39 scientific articles to be included in the review process. The majority of the studies identified use the Cifuentes (1992) methodology, which assesses the carrying capacity of hiking trails located in classified and/or protected areas, mainly on the American continent, with a focus on those published in the last four years.

Tourism Extractivism in Tourist Corridors in the Triple Border (Misiones Province, Argentina)

2025-05-26T11:58:53+01:00

Large-scale tourism appears as an unavoidable event in the Iguazu area growing permanently. Tourism is an activity that is promoted as being allied with the preservation of natural resources and a provider of employment opportunities which have a significant impact on territorial organization. In this case, the structuring resource of the tourism proposal is the Iguazu Falls. In this paper, we aim to analyze the various paradoxes of promoting "green tourism" in the Iguazu area from a perspective focused on the role of indigenous communities in the area

We are particularly interested in the debates about green tourism promoted in regarding areas of traditional indigenous occupation. Methodologically we rely on ethnographic records stemming from fieldwork and workshops with key tourism actors in the region, as well as sources produced for tourism promotion generated in the last three years in the town of Puerto Iguazu (Misiones, Argentina).

From city to tourist destination... A literature review on the networking model

2025-05-26T11:58:58+01:00

Through the analysis and discussion of the literature, this article highlights the set of challenges inherent in adopting a networking management model in urban tourist destinations.

In a globally competitive and unstable context, it is important to achieve economies of scale and the complementarities resulting from the involvement of different actors working in a given territory. With this in mind, the aim is to raise awareness among destination managers, particularly in urban destinations, and other actors working in these areas, of all the motivations associated with interacting with each other and the factors that promote their consolidation. The potential for innovation arising from the learning that results from mobilizing external skills is highlighted. Given the scarcity of research into dimensions that can dilute the psychosociological resistance inherent in adopting the networking model and enhance it, the research carried out fills an information gap in that it provides access to good practices and examples of successful cases, thus acting as a facilitating tool in terms of speeding up the predisposition generated among potential stakeholders.

Wine and Olive Oil in Symbiosis

2025-05-26T11:59:01+01:00

“Since vineyards and olive groves share geographical areas, pairing wine tourism programs with olive tourism programs might result in synergy in a local economy. So, olive oil tourism and wine tourism managers may need to work closely together.”

(Hwang & Quadri-Felitti, 2021, p.13).

This study aims to understand how wine tourism estates in Douro region, promote wine and olive oil Food Heritage (FH) symbiosis inside eno-olivotourism, an emergent SIT (Special Interest tourism). Conceptually, a Pyo (2015) and Kotler et al. 2006) integrative approach was followed. For Pyo (2025), “Integrating functions of tourist market segmentation, targeting and positioning (STP) can be beneficial to destination marketing. Integration of these functions could be possible by establishing an integrative linkage between destination attributes (as wine & olive oil) and tourist needs and wants, and by recognizing the systematic contribution of each function, while considering the interrelationships between them” (Pyo, 2015, p.253-254). In Kotler et al. (2006) opinion, STP should be based on integrated information, because it can generate a great insight in a more efficient way, than considering them as independent tasks (Natter et al. 2008). So, the integration of wine and olive oil (as territorial endogenous resources and unique gastronomic experiences) with tourism, can ensure destination competitiveness, visitors attractiveness and experience differentiation.

In order to promote online products, services, experiences and territories, a communication strategy must be developed (Meroño & Arcas, 2006; Jurado et al., 2018). In this context, the Internet has become a source of top-quality tourism information, with increasing numbers of tourists consulting the range of products and services offered (Cristóbal-Fransi, et al., 2013). From a supply optic, Chung & Buhalis (2008) believe in websites and social networks as important information, communication and marketing tools, as reputation builders and consumption influencers. Zhang & Dran, (2002) e Chen & Macredie (2005) consider the websites as the first reference that customers have to form an impression of the company.

So, to understand the eno-olivotourism information maturity, we developed a Website Evaluation Model (WEM) inspired in the eMICA (Extended Model of Internet Commerce Adoption) methodology (Burgess & Cooper, 1998, 2000, 2002; Ting, 2013), taking eight domains in account (instead of the original 4): organizational, informational, Promotional, Relational, Transactional, Interactivity, Multimedia & Design and social media. To get information, a qualitative methodology was adopted, collecting website content data from 290 wine companies where 146 had online presence, but only 35 produce wine and olive oil. So, the focus was on the 35 eno-olive oil producers.

The results call for greater attention to the quality of information communicated and interaction strategies with stakeholders. As for the synergies associated with wine and olive oil, there is a significant gap in the areas of integrated communication and marketing. The limitations of this study are its confinement to a specific wine region (Douro) and a unique approach from the supply angle.

Regarding business contributions, we recommend that managers pay more attention to the website role, as this will improve consumer attitude, and a good online presence will have a positive impact on the organization’s image and financial benefits (Dedrick, Gurbaxini & Kraemer, 2003 and Can & Alatas, 2017). In order to do this, a series of guidelines should be followed when designing the eno-olivotourism corporate website, and this should include a group of basic features connected to the eight proposed dimensions. An effective Internet presence will mean better results, whether in the number of visits, or the number of bookings made.

The Tourism Image of the Island Destinations of Greece

2025-05-26T11:59:00+01:00

The images that people form regarding the various tourism destinations, when estimated, evaluated and combined with other factors, result in a travel decision. It is argued that the images that people form are a way of organizing the various stimuli they receive daily. The purpose of this article is to investigate all the factors that affect resilience in the 60 main island tourism destinations of Greece and shape their tourism image. Given the factors that shape the image and its separation into Basic and Specific, a process of quantitative assessment of the image of island destinations based on objective measurements was developed. The methodological framework was based on the combination of the characteristics of each island destination with statistical methods and numerical data. The resulting quantitative estimates lead to value crises and further allow the formation of an appropriate tourism policy framework for the island destinations of Greece that enrich their tourism product and diversify their tourism image.

Research on factors affecting brand awareness of natural heritage tourism destinations and tourists' intention to choose Trang An scenic landscape complex

2025-05-26T11:58:54+01:00

This study explores the factors influencing brand recognition and the intention to choose the destination of the Trang An Scenic Landscape Complex, a UNESCO World Heritage site in Vietnam. Using a structured survey method, data were collected from 385 domestic tourists visiting Trang An. The study employs a combination of exploratory factor analysis and multiple regression analysis to identify the key determinants. The findings indicate that brand recognition significantly impacts tourists' intention to choose Trang An as their destination. The main factors contributing to brand recognition include historical value, natural beauty, communications, and visitor experience. Visitor experience emerges as the most influential factor, highlighting the importance of ensuring quality experiences from transportation services, accommodation, dining, and tour guides at the destination. Effective communication efforts, particularly those leveraging social media and digital platforms, enhance brand recognition by reaching a broader audience and providing more engaging content. Natural beauty also plays a crucial role, indicating that scenic landscapes are a major attraction for tourists. Practical implications suggest that enhancing the destination's communication capabilities and the appeal of Trang An through targeted marketing campaigns, preserving its historical and natural attributes, and improving the quality of tourist experiences can promote heritage destination brand recognition and attract more tourists.

Regional tourism sustainability index

2025-06-06T11:40:52+01:00

This study presents the application of the Tourism Sustainability Synthetic Index (IS-SIS) in the North of Portugal, focusing on the Cávado and Ave Regions. It aims to assess the sustainability status of these destinations amidst the significant increase in tourist activity since 2013. Utilising a robust population sampling survey with over 1.200 responses and expert interviews, the research validates the IS-SIS, a nationally and internationally recognized tool. By involving local society and experts, the study promotes dialogue among stakeholders, offering a fresh perspective often absent or overlooked in conventional methodologies. Through this approach, the research evaluates the sustainability levels of the analysed regions, identifying critical social, economic, political, and environmental dimensions in need of review. By examining individual and collective indicators, the study identifies areas for improvement and offers insights for regional administrations. This inclusive methodology not only assesses the current state of sustainability but also facilitates informed decision-making for the future development of these tourist destinations. Ultimately, the research contributes to advancing the understanding of tourism sustainability and the importance of community engagement through participatory approaches to achieve responsible tourism.

Navigating the Online Travel Landscape

2025-05-26T11:58:56+01:00

The purpose this study is to identify factors influencing tourists’ choice of online travel agencies (OTAs) in Delhi and NCR, India, within the era of digital technologies. This study employed a non-probabilistic research approach with purposive sampling to analyse data from 552 primary respondents who had used OTA platforms in the past twelve months. SPSS was used to conduct exploratory factor analysis, enabling the identification of underlying patterns in the data. This study illuminates the crucial factors that motivate travellers to utilise OTA platforms for their needs. This study investigated six key factors influencing the use of online travel platforms: ease of use and information accessibility, motivation for obtaining detailed travel information, personalisation and customisation options, reviews and social proof from fellow travellers, availability of discount deals, and the desire for the best tour packages. The study's insights contribute with valuable knowledge to the existing literature on the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology and social influence theory. This study also offers practical guidance to OTA managers with actionable strategies to refine their services in alignment with user expectations. Furthermore, the findings of this study emphasise the role of social factors in technology adoption and provide valuable insights that can guide future research in the field of consumer behaviour.

Regional economic diversification through tourism development

2025-05-26T11:58:55+01:00

This study examines the potential of tourism development as a strategy for economic diversification in Kazakhstan’s regions, which have traditionally been heavily reliant on single industries like mineral extraction. The objective is to assess how domestic and international tourism contribute to economic growth in different regional economies. Using correlation analysis and an econometric approach, the study analyzes three different groups of regions, based on their level of economic growth: high, moderate and low over the period from 2003 to 2019. The findings indicate that while tourism’s impact on economic growth varies, domestic tourism in regions with moderate economic growth shows a positive contribution beyond traditional economic indicators. This suggests that tourism can play a significant role in diversifying regional economies, particularly in areas with existing moderate growth. We then develop a strategy for diversifying the region’s economy through the development of the tourism industry.

Smart Destination in Latin America: a research agenda

2025-05-26T11:58:50+01:00

Globalization and urbanization are interconnected, reshaping the landscape worldwide, from cities to smart destinations. The aim of this article is to analyze the intelligence and tourism approaches being implemented in Latin American countries. The methodology employed was a systematic and integrative review of the scientific literature concerning tourism and intelligence approaches in various cities and regions across Latin American countries (n=40). The primary findings indicate that most studies focus on technology, with the conceptual basis of the smart city prevailing. However, studies grounded in the theoretical framework of smart tourist destinations adopt the model of the Spanish State Trading Company for the Management of Innovation and Tourism Technologies. This study contributes to advancements in understanding the diffusion of tourism policies in Latin America. It highlights the influence of the Covid-19 context on the rise of research connecting tourism to intelligence, the predominance of urban planning over tourism, and the adaptation of the smart tourism destination model to address the specificities of Latin American countries.

31 years of perceived value in tourism and related areas

2025-06-06T11:40:51+01:00

Despite the importance of perceived value for tourism, to the best of our knowledge, there are no bibliometric or revisionary articles that sought to understand the theoretical-thematic roots of perceived value and the current paths of the construct in relation to its borders. In this sense, aiming to address this gap, we carried out a bibliometric study with co-citation and bibliographic coupling analyses. The objective, therefore, was to analyze the conceptual bases that support research on perceived value and the frontiers of current knowledge on the topic. We followed SPAR-4-SLR as a methodological protocol, a reference in revisional and bibliometric studies. Data collection was carried out on the Web of Science, restricting it to scientific articles published until 2022. Our final sample was 257 articles. We present descriptive results and graphic mappings. Our descriptive results included evolution of works per year, publications per author and publications per journal. Our graphical mappings were divided into a co-citation analysis map and a bibliographic coupling map. Among our main results, we identified 6 clusters of theoretical bases (co-citation) and 5 clusters of theoretical boundaries (bibliographic coupling). The contribution of the article lies in the organization, synthesis and analysis of the stock of knowledge of perceived value in tourism.

Prioritizing Factors Influencing Travelers' Sharing of Travel Experiences on Social Media

2025-06-06T11:40:50+01:00

Social media platform is one of the most used platforms for travelers worldwide to share their travel experiences. Recently, Oman has also started gaining attention as a tourism destination when people started sharing their travel experiences through photos, videos, blogs on social media platform. This presents an opportunity to harness the potential of social media for promoting Oman's tourism industry. To leverage this opportunity, it is important to delve into the key factors that motivate and inhibit travelers from sharing their travel experiences on social media platforms. Therefore, this study takes a comprehensive approach to identify and prioritize the key motivating and inhibiting factors using the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) technique. The insights gained from this research can provide valuable insights to tourism stakeholders and policymakers, enabling them to refine their strategies for promoting Oman as an attractive and competitive tourist destination aligning with the goals outlined in the National Tourism Strategy 2040.

Transition to a Sustainable Economy

2025-06-06T11:40:49+01:00

The economic sustainability of destinations has become an evolving topic, specifically in the gastronomic tourism sector where new strategies are being called to make the sector more competitive and sustainable through the proposal of models for transitioning to a sustainable economy, supported by eco-friendly production and consumption. Despite the increasing interest in the topic, there is a scarcity of synthesis studies mapping research in sustainable gastronomy tourism, particularly regarding conceptualization, construct denominations, and fundamental factors for transitioning to a sustainable economy. The objective of this study is to map the literature on sustainable gastronomic tourism and to identify the factors of gastronomic tourism that may condition the transition to a sustainable economy. This is achieved through a scoping review of the literature, supplemented with a bibliometric study. Gastronomic tourism stands out as a crucial sector for transitioning to more sustainable economies by promoting low impact consumption and production and contributing to the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals. The analysis undertaken allowed to conclude that the topic is increasingly capturing the interest of academia, although the current state of the literature is characterized by a reduced heterogeneity in research methods and that studies are predominantly focused on food production, accommodation and food and wine tourism, with a lack of studies involving other typologies of tourism. Avenues for future research are identified as well as the limitations of the current study.

What Motivates Tourists to Take Wildlife Selfies?

2025-06-06T11:40:45+01:00

The main objective of this research is to study the motivation behind clicking selfies with animals at wildlife tourist attractions (WTAs) in India. This study adopted a qualitative approach, and in-depth, face-to-face, one-on-one interviews were conducted with 16 respondents. The findings of the present study indicate the diverse range of motivational and influencing factors (e.g., ethical and animal welfare concerns, conservation advocacy, cultural and heritage connections, thrill and novelty, affordability, adventure and excitement, safety and ethical standards, personal growth and exploration, creation of travel memories, societal trends and peer influence, capture memories and souvenirs, environmental and conservation concerns, educational motivations, aesthetic value, escape from everyday life) that shape tourists' decisions to take selfies with animals. The findings of this research illustrate several motivational factors for taking selfies of animals at wildlife tourist attractions (WTA) in India, which can be used in creating public awareness about the negative impacts of selfies on wildlife. This research also offers new insights into the ongoing discussion on ethical wildlife tourism and the conservation of natural ecosystems in this age of social media.

From Food to Memories

2025-06-06T11:40:44+01:00

Despite the extensive body of research on the experience economy within the food industry, there remains a noticeable gap in understanding the customer experience, especially in the context of theme restaurants. The theme restaurant industry attracts customers as it offers a truly exceptional dining theme-related experience. Integrating experience economy realms into theme restaurants enhances the overall customer experience, creating a lasting impression in their memory and increasing the likelihood of repeat patronage. However, there is scarcity of studies on the role of the experience economy in theme restaurants, which might give profound implications to business owners and tourism boards. Thus, this study aims to assess essential realms theme restaurants should incorporate. This narrative review provides an extensive understanding by analysing 26 articles from academic search engines. The elements discovered were divided into five distinct categories: (1) education, (2) entertainment, (3) escapism, (4) aesthetics, and (5) sweet spot. Incorporating these domains into a theme restaurant is crucial as it offers delectable food and memorable dining experience for customers. This understanding and utilization of experience economy concepts may serve as a strategic guide for owners seeking to create extraordinary theme restaurants that align seamlessly with the demands and desires of discerning consumers.

What will I share? An evaluation of electronic word-of-mouth on service quality and the tourist experience

2025-06-06T11:40:46+01:00

A destination's competitiveness and sustainability depend mainly on its ability to provide enriching experiences for visitors while at the same time guaranteeing excellence in service provision (Zibarzani et al., 2022). This research sought to carry out a case study in the city of Bento Gonçalves, located in Rio Grande do Sul, with the Wine Train ride as the object of study, using content generated by users via the Tripadvisor website to analyse the experience of tourists and their perceptions of the quality of services during their train ride. To do this, we used a theoretical review of experience, quality of service, customer satisfaction, user-generated content, and evaluation of tourist services. The methodological approach included the characterisation of the research, the data collection and analysis procedures adopted. The results showed the complexity of analysing quality in tourism, which involves various facets, including the main attraction, secondary services and the parties involved.

Crisis Leadership in Tourism and Hospitality

2025-05-26T11:58:45+01:00

The volatile nature of the 21st century has underscored the urgent and critical need for immediate and effective crisis leadership in the tourism sector. Given tourism's susceptibility to crises, from terrorism, and natural disasters to geopolitical conflicts, this topic is paramount for ensuring resilience, growth, and sustainability.

The primary objectives of this study are to identify prevailing themes, authors, trends, and gaps in the current body of knowledge. It aims to significantly contribute to a better understanding of crisis leadership and crisis management differences and to offer valuable insights into future research in this field.

A research question was formulated, “What are the prevailing themes, challenges, and future directions in tourism crisis leadership?”. The study delves into a science mapping analysis utilising the PRISMA protocol to systematically review and map the existing literature on tourism crisis leadership. A bibliometric analysis employing R Studio and Bibliometrix software facilitates a rigorous assessment of publication trends, networks, clusters and evolution, ensuring a reliable research process.

Findings reveal a scarce literature landscape and a notable gap in the body of knowledge of tourism crisis leadership despite the significant attention given to crisis management. This study underscores the need for crisis leadership in the complementarity of crisis management and highlights the increasing severity, frequency, and global effects of crises. It also strongly advocates future research focusing on several players and exploring differences in crisis leadership efficacy. Despite limitations, the study offers valuable insights for academia and the sector, inspiring further exploration and discovery.

The mobile app frontier in the hotel sector

2025-06-06T11:40:41+01:00

This study aims to investigate the benefits, challenges, opportunities, and risks of mobile app technology in the hotel sector. Data was collected from 12 managers of 5-star hotels operating in Turkey through interview. The collected data was analysed to explore the benefits, challenges, opportunities, and potential risks associated with mobile app technology. In this study, a kappa analysis was performed by two experts in the field who coded the interview data. The resulting value was 0.77, indicating a high level of agreement among the findings. The study revealed various opportunities such as personalized customer experiences, improved efficiency, and enhanced communication through mobile apps in hotels. However, it also identified challenges like technical issues, concerns about data security, obstacles to adoption, and staff adaptation. Furthermore, potential risks such as reduced traditional interactions and technological glitches underscore the need for careful consideration. This research delves into the complex landscape of mobile application technology within the hotel sector, uncovering its potential for transformation, navigating challenges, and highlighting key opportunities while addressing associated risks meticulously.

Going beyond the multidimensional customer engagement - Does communicating CSR influence hotel cruises performance?

2025-05-26T11:58:51+01:00

Corporate social responsibility (CSR) is a valuable communicative resource. Although previous studies have highlighted CSR attributes in the hospitality industry, few studies have examined the combined effect of multidimensional cruise passengers' engagement to boost cruise performance. Therefore, the current study examines the effect of initiated and communicated (CSR) on cruise customers’ cognitive, affective, and conative engagement. Data were collected from 337 reliable questionnaires which were analyzed using the partial least squares–-structural equation modeling PLS-SEM4.0 to gain insights into the various relationships and effects. The results suggest that CSR practices significantly impact consumer cognitive and affective engagement and, ultimately, their willingness to higher conative engagement with cruise operations. Additionally, findings reveal that digital communication is likely to mediate the impact of unidimensional CSR practices on multidimensional consumer engagement. However, the evidence-based study supports the potential of larger sharing, a high growth profile, and greater cross-buying engagement with cruise lines.

Changes in Seasonal Patterns and Resilience of Domestic Tourist's Demand During the Pandemic

2025-06-06T11:40:48+01:00

This study aims to illustrate the changes in seasonal patterns and models the resilience of domestic tourists through the quantitative method. This study produced several findings. First, the pandemic impacted the number of trips as well as the travel patterns of domestic tourists. The seasonality index has succeeded in identifying a reduction in the peak season numbers during the pandemic period. A higher Gini coefficient during the pandemic showed an uneven distribution of the number of the monthly trip. Second, the response of domestic tourists to social movement restrictions was instant, and it took 18 months to recover.

Tourism, FDI, Renewable Energy, And Growth

2025-05-26T11:58:49+01:00

The aim of this study is to investigate how each variable affects the economic growth of ASEAN countries between 2000 and 2020. The impacts of variables on economic growth were analyzed using a panel ARDL approach. The foundation of this model rests on three estimators, specifically Mean Group (MG), Pooled MG (PMG) and Dynamic Fixed Effect (DFE). Studies prove that DEF estimator is superior in consistency and effectiveness. The statistical significance of the negative adjustment coefficient (error correction parameter) confirms the existence of a long-term relationship. While the short-term effect of tourism development on economic growth is negative, the long-term effect is not significant. FDI has a significant positive impact on Economic Growth in the short and long term, despite differing opinions. It lacks significance in both short and long terms. CRE does not significantly impact Economic Growth.

Tourism e-Storytelling in creative territories: proposal of a model for a digital multiplatform of e-Storytelling in creative territories

2025-06-06T11:40:42+01:00

The research purpose of this paper is to develop a proposal for a model for a digital multiplatform of e-Storytelling in creative territories. For that a literature review was undertaken, to elucidate the current state of the art concerning the main concepts: creative tourism development models, creative territories, and e-Storytelling. Following a list of creative manifestations, creative territories and localized creative networks in continental Portugal were compiled and a comprehensive examination of creative territories' attributes was conducted, enhancing the understanding of the multifaceted dimensions that shape these dynamic spaces. This information provides a solid and inspiring foundation for the design of an innovative multiplatform e-Storytelling model for creative territories. The model promotes community engagement, facilitating user interaction for a dynamic narrative network in creative territories. It ensures cultural preservation through meticulous curation, safeguarding unique historical and cultural essence. The research's implications extend to tourism management, marketing, and digital technology, offering valuable insights into the dynamic interplay between creativity, tourism, and digital media. The proposed model serves as a practical guide for practitioners and policymakers aiming to enhance tourism storytelling in creative territories.

Investigating the attitudes of local residents towards tourism live stream in the context of rural poverty alleviation in Jinzhai, China

2025-05-26T11:58:47+01:00

With the rapid development of online streaming technologies, Tourism Live Stream has emerged as a crucial tool for promoting tourist destinations and facilitating sale of tourism products, gradually becoming a new trend in the tourism industry. Particularly for rural areas reliant on the tourism sector for poverty alleviation, Tourism Live Stream breaks through spatial constraints and fosters local sustainable development. This study aims to investigate how the tourism perceptions influences rural residents’ attitudes toward Tourism Live Stream. Researcher developed a structural model consisting of 26 items to characterize the tourism perceptions of rural residents in Jinzhai County, China. The study findings indicate that the economy and social culture benefit/cost perceptions of rural residents significantly influence their attitudes toward Tourism Live Stream, whereas the environment benefit/cost perception is not statistically significant. Notably, economy benefit perception emerges as the most critical factor affecting residents' support for the development of Tourism Live Stream.

Sweetening tourist experiences

2025-06-06T11:40:26+01:00

While the relationships between food and tourism are largely analysed, the study of the role of sweets in food tourism is limited. This research presents a study of rural producers of sweets, alfajores and jams in the Campos, Ríos y Lagunas region of the Province of Buenos Aires, Argentina, with the objective to analyze the challenges and opportunities of the elaboration of sweets as an agricultural activity, and the contribution it makes to local communities through the process of awarding tourism value to local products. Based on interviews with twelve local producers, results show the difficulties for the protection and promotion of the local product, and discuss the role of the producers in sweet-based food tourism. This research addresses a gap in food tourism based on the role of sweets in the planning and development of rural tourism. While this activity generates synergies that contribute to regional economic development, future collaboration and cooperation among public and private stakeholders will increase the relevance of sweet products in tourism.

Design Thinking as an alternative for developing tourism solutions

2025-05-26T11:58:48+01:00

Innovation has become an essential element of organizational strategy, especially since industrial development and the resulting increase in competition. An organization that understands innovation as a critical success factor must constantly seek management methods and tools to guide innovation. Design thinking is one such tool that has proved effective in searching for innovative processes. Management in the tourism sector involves planning, coordinating and supervising various operations and services to meet travellers' needs and ensure positive travel experiences. This research aimed to analyze the concept and application of design thinking in tourism. The methodology used was exploratory with a qualitative approach, using a bibliographical study and a systematic literature analysis. Design thinking is a recent tool, especially in tourism, which can be applied in various ways and multiple sectors. By placing the user at the centre of the process, design thinking can create more meaningful, innovative and sustainable tourism experiences, making it possible to add value to the proposals to be implemented, as they are thought out and structured in a participatory way.