sustainability-logo

Journal Browser

Journal Browser

Product Development for Sustainable Tourism

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (15 September 2021) | Viewed by 24159

Special Issue Editors

Department of Tourism, University of Otago, Dunedin 9016, New Zealand
Interests: sustainability in tourism; tourism management; visitor management; nature-based tourism; destination management
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Division for Management in Health and Sport Tourism, UMIT – Private University for Health Sciences, Medical Informatics and Technology, Hall in Tirol 6060, Austria
Interests: destination management; nature-based tourism
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Tourism research and literature tend to address and discuss sustainability at the macro and destination levels. Comparatively little attention is paid to the business and product levels. It is worrying that despite receiving much attention in academia, politics (though not policy), and the media, little real progress in sustainability has been reported from within destinations and industries with relevance to tourism. Indeed, businesses appear indifferent and unresponsive, attitudes that will likely be amplified as businesses struggle to adapt to a (post)-COVID-19 world.

This Special Issue seeks to address this shortcoming by specifically calling for contributions that focus on tourism products for sustainability and sustainable destinations. As the tourism value proposition and the destination offer are essentially the conglomerate of individual (business) offers within, and outside of the destination, attention on sustainable tourism product development is long overdue.

We welcome contributions in the form of systematic literature reviews, case studies, research articles, and research notes. Their focus should be on tourism products or product types; product development processes for sustainable tourism; related governance, planning, and/ or (strategic) management; relevant stakeholder interactions; legal settings; types of tourism products; and destination settings. Additional possible topics outside of but related to tourism include but are not limited to sports, nature-oriented activities, health-promoting and rehabilitating offers, and regionality.

Papers selected for this Special Issue are subject to a rigorous peer review procedure with the aim of rapid and wide dissemination of research results and applications.

Dr. Julia N. Albrecht
Dr. Marco Haid
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

  • tourism product development
  • tourism business
  • destination development

Published Papers (5 papers)

Order results
Result details
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

Jump to: Review

16 pages, 1753 KiB  
Article
Mapping Tourists’ Destination (Dis)Satisfaction Attributes with User-Generated Content
by Woohyuk Kim, Sung-Bum Kim and Eunhye Park
Sustainability 2021, 13(22), 12650; https://doi.org/10.3390/su132212650 - 16 Nov 2021
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2293
Abstract
Although the tourism industry has increasingly used social media, there has been little empirical research in terms of the attributes of tourist satisfaction and dissatisfaction with user-generated contents. The purpose of this study is to explore the attributes of tourist satisfaction and dissatisfaction [...] Read more.
Although the tourism industry has increasingly used social media, there has been little empirical research in terms of the attributes of tourist satisfaction and dissatisfaction with user-generated contents. The purpose of this study is to explore the attributes of tourist satisfaction and dissatisfaction through user-generated contents. We collected data from online review platforms. Our data include historical online reviews, names of reviewers, ratings, location, helpful votes, date of visits, and contributions. In terms of results, the study found 30 key topics related to tourist satisfaction and dissatisfaction. Additionally, we found three clusters (i.e., holiday experience, attractions and facilities, and food experience). Lastly, we that suggested rating levels are different based on the type of tourists (i.e., domestic and international). This study provides discussions and implications for tourism research and industry practices. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Product Development for Sustainable Tourism)
Show Figures

Figure 1

13 pages, 535 KiB  
Article
Sustainable Product Development for Accessible Tourism: Case Studies Demonstrating the Need for Stakeholder Collaboration
by Joachim Josef Nigg and Sarah Eichelberger
Sustainability 2021, 13(20), 11142; https://doi.org/10.3390/su132011142 - 09 Oct 2021
Cited by 10 | Viewed by 3209
Abstract
Sustainable tourism builds on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), involving the consideration of people with disabilities, which necessitates their corresponding integration within tourism development. The noteworthy potential of accessible tourism is demonstrated in several studies. Hence, efforts have already been made to develop [...] Read more.
Sustainable tourism builds on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), involving the consideration of people with disabilities, which necessitates their corresponding integration within tourism development. The noteworthy potential of accessible tourism is demonstrated in several studies. Hence, efforts have already been made to develop and adapt products in this regard. However, there are still challenges related to the inclusion of people with disabilities in tourism. Therefore, this study examines product development for accessible tourism through four case studies that have developed and implemented products for people with disabilities in the past. Data is gathered by means of qualitative interviews with managers of these product developments, and data is also triangulated with secondary information. The results show that product development for people with disabilities strongly depends on the immediate collaboration of all stakeholder groups and the inclusion of people with disabilities, building on the underlying values of the destination. Furthermore, the study indicates that in accordance with the Triple Bottom Line (TBL), sustainable product developments for accessible tourism are based on the sustainable tourism principles. Thus, both theoretical and practical implications for tourism facilities as well as for destination management organizations can be derived. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Product Development for Sustainable Tourism)
Show Figures

Figure 1

16 pages, 924 KiB  
Article
Sustainable Tourism Product Development: An Application of Product Design Concepts
by Marco Haid and Julia N. Albrecht
Sustainability 2021, 13(14), 7957; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13147957 - 16 Jul 2021
Cited by 19 | Viewed by 9117
Abstract
This study examines sustainable tourism products in tourism destinations. Based on concepts of sustainable product design, our study proposes a framework for sustainable tourism products by adapting an existing Design for Sustainability Framework to consider and analyze the characteristics and themes of sustainable [...] Read more.
This study examines sustainable tourism products in tourism destinations. Based on concepts of sustainable product design, our study proposes a framework for sustainable tourism products by adapting an existing Design for Sustainability Framework to consider and analyze the characteristics and themes of sustainable (tourism) products as well as their impact and scope. Using a pragmatic qualitative approach, 15 semi-structured interviews with destination managers from the German-speaking Alpine region formed the empirical basis of the study. The results emphasize key themes and multiple characteristics associated with sustainable tourism products in tourist destinations, addressing all sustainability components and design innovation levels. This study is the first to apply existing sustainable product design concepts to destination contexts and discuss their applicability for sustainable tourism products. For practitioners, this study provides support for the development of sustainable tourism products and contributes to a better understanding of the effects and levels of these products as well as sustainability marketing. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Product Development for Sustainable Tourism)
Show Figures

Figure 1

22 pages, 8159 KiB  
Article
Grounding Sustainable Tourism in Science—A Geographic Approach
by Fabien Bourlon, Trace Gale, Andrés Adiego, Valentina Álvarez-Barra and Alexandra Salazar
Sustainability 2021, 13(13), 7455; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13137455 - 03 Jul 2021
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2820
Abstract
This paper presents empirical research that supports territorial approaches to tourism product development that ground tourism in science, as a mechanism to support sustainable tourism heritage conservation goals. Scientific Tourism (ST), in this context, builds on the scientific heritage of a geography, matching [...] Read more.
This paper presents empirical research that supports territorial approaches to tourism product development that ground tourism in science, as a mechanism to support sustainable tourism heritage conservation goals. Scientific Tourism (ST), in this context, builds on the scientific heritage of a geography, matching researchers with local actors and tourists, through a five-stage iterative process that leads to new scientific knowledge, advancing theory and building relevance for communities through socio-cultural and economic development. This article focuses on the initial stage of the ST product development process, documenting empirical research conducted within the geographies surrounding the Palena River watershed in the Aysén Region of Chilean Patagonia. Both geo-structured literature review methods and results are presented and discussed to illustrate how the outcomes, including a series of maps, can inform and ground actors’ processes of heritage resource identification, justification, conservation, and exhibition, through the development of pilot ST initiatives within the territory. Similar research approaches may prove valuable for other low-density and peripheral geographies that share an interest in grounding tourism on the science taking place within their geography. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Product Development for Sustainable Tourism)
Show Figures

Figure 1

Review

Jump to: Research

21 pages, 4503 KiB  
Review
Traces of Honeybees, Api-Tourism and Beekeeping: From Past to Present
by Erkan Topal, Leonora Adamchuk, Ilaria Negri, Mustafa Kösoğlu, Giulia Papa, Maria Sorina Dârjan, Mihaiela Cornea-Cipcigan and Rodica Mărgăoan
Sustainability 2021, 13(21), 11659; https://doi.org/10.3390/su132111659 - 21 Oct 2021
Cited by 10 | Viewed by 5316
Abstract
Throughout history, honey has been used for many different purposes and due to its medicinal properties, has been one of the products marketed by traders. The figure of the bee first appeared in drawings on rock with the history of humanity, then on [...] Read more.
Throughout history, honey has been used for many different purposes and due to its medicinal properties, has been one of the products marketed by traders. The figure of the bee first appeared in drawings on rock with the history of humanity, then on statues, as a logo, on money or stamps, and also in movies. Beekeeping museums, which present the historical process of beekeeping, also reflect an important culture with their ancient hives, documents, beekeeping materials, and historical antiquities. The contribution of bees to the sustainability of natural life is very important and has a history of 100 million years. The importance of bees and their by-products is increasing day by day, and the demand for the beekeeping industry as alternative income determines the emergence of new products and activities. Based on its health properties, apitherapy is the basis of activities such as api-air and api-diet. In natural regions (i.e., mountainous areas, forests) where beekeeping is carried out, people’s tradition, food culture, and healthy lifestyle attract society’s attention. In this context, api-tourist activity appears as a new phenomenon. In this article, the existing literature was scanned to create a resource about these new fields triggered by the beekeeping sector. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Product Development for Sustainable Tourism)
Show Figures

Figure 1

Back to TopTop