Academic literature on the topic 'Tourist experience'

This article investigates the tourism experiences reflected on the photographs according to the tourist gaze theory. Tourists’ experiences are critically examined using the concept of the “romantic gaze” and “collective gaze.” Through qualitative, in-depth photo elicitation interviews (PEIs) guided by their own 185 photographs covering various tourist attractions in Kaleici (Antalya), results indicate similar and dissimilar tourism experiences between romantic and collective gaze. The experiences of tourists are categorized as tangible cultural heritage, intangible cultural heritage, natural heritage, atmosphere, contrast, living species, authenticity, emotion, sensory perception, interest, similarity, and touristic activities. While the feeling of curiosity, difference and interest, a sense of self-awareness, authenticity, and nostalgia are prominent in romantic gaze; tourists with a collective gaze reflect their group, friends, family, similarities and hedonistic feelings (entertainment, consumption, rest and interaction) to the photographs. The tourist gaze, which changes according to the society, social group, and historical period, is built on these differences. There is simply no universal experience that is always available to all tourists. In view of the results of this research, which aims to develop the theory about questioning the tourism experience, which is one of the most important issues for today's tourism marketers in practice through the tourist gaze, theoretical and policy implications are also discussed.

Purpose This study aims to analyze the visual aspects of transport tourists’ experience of mobility focusing on British cruise and coach tourists’ international travel experiences. Design/methodology/approach The qualitative data was collected using semi-structured in-depth interviews with coach and cruise tourists and analyzed using thematic analysis. Findings The visual experience of mobility (demonstrated in the paper by the example of cruises and coach tours) is critical in the formation of transport tourism experiences. The mobile tourist landscapes emerge from the interplay of the subjective experiences of particular modes of mobility (vehicle or vessel) and routes, whereby the two key visual elements are the changing scenery and views of everyday local life as experienced whilst traveling. Research limitations/implications The present study focuses particularly on the visual elements of passive transport tourism experiences. It does not account for other tourist activities nor does it study the experiences associated with active transport tourism. Future research could perform a holistic analysis of tourists’ experiences of transport in all its forms. Practical implications The findings point to the centrality of the experience of mobility in transport tourism experience. The following two key aspects of the experience emerged: the importance of variation of the scenery that the tourist consumes during their tour and a desire to observe mundane, everyday life elements of the destination, which should be taken into account by the tour operators and service providers in the route design and marketing. Originality/value Coach and cruise tourism are rarely analyzed together; this study demonstrates considerable parallels between the two in considering them as transport tourism, a mode of recreational activity where mobility is the central part of the tourist experience and should, therefore, be considered a tourist attraction in and of itself.

The research on the Analysis of Tourist Satisfaction of Lake Sarangan Magetan Based on Tourism Experience takes the object of tourists visiting the Sarangan Magetan Lake. This study aims to analyze tourist satisfaction after visiting Sarangan lake tourism objects based on tourism experience and knowing what attributes need to be improved to increase tourist satisfaction. Respondents in this study were tourists who visited the Telaga Sarangan tourist attraction, amounting to 70 people. While the data analysis technique in this study uses the Importance Performance Analysis. The research findings show that (1) Priority factors that need to be improved are novelty indicators with question items. I get new experiences after traveling in Sarangan Lake and (2) Factors that need to be maintained and improved such as comfortable traveling in Sarangan Magetan Lake, tourists feel comfortable and happy when visiting, get an unforgettable experience after visiting, get an unforgettable experience and get new experiences, the beautiful Sarangan Lake Magetan tourist attractions, feel amazed at its beauty. Keywords—: tourist satisfaction; tourism experience.

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to review the past literature of the tourist experience and propose a new model of behavior. Design/methodology/approach It is proposed that understanding of the visitors experience from a development standpoint may be useful in understanding how tourism destinations or indeed products may be experienced so differently. Therefore, a tourist experience life cycle has been put forth as a model. Findings This model may help to outline how tourists, like destinations, also go through a life cycle. The implications may help destinations better understand the different motivations of their visitors. Originality/value While the literature has discussed the tourism experience and how the customer experience has changed, there has been little focus on the longitudinal development of how the actual tourist experiences a destination.

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.

From a postmodernist perspective, tourist experience is a subjective construct related to numerous aspects. Tourists can generate either positive or negative emotions from their experiences, and negative experiences are not exclusive to satisfied tourists. This study analyzes the negative experiences of tourists with different satisfaction levels. Lijiang Old Town was chosen to conduct the case study. A computer-assisted content analysis method was used to identify and analyze the negative experience themes. The attitudes of tourists with different satisfaction levels towards these themes are discussed. The results indicate that people understand the meaning and value of a destination uniquely. The main negative experience themes of Lijiang Old Town include touristy aspects, commercialization, lack of authenticity, and the ease of getting lost. Tourists with different satisfaction levels share these negative comments, while their perceptions and attitudes of each theme are quite different. Tourists have a similar perception of “commercialization” and “lack of authenticity” in Lijiang. Tourists with low satisfaction complain about the experience brought by “touristy” and “easy to get lost”, while highly satisfied tourists appreciate the similar experiences. “One man’s trash is another man’s treasure” is a common phenomenon in the tourism context. This study enhances the personalization attribute of tourist experience. The negative feedbacks of tourists should be dealt with according to the specific situation.

This paper explores the tourism trends emerging in post COVID- world. This pandemic was conscientious for an abrupt transformation in the way world travelled. This impulsive impediment in the tourism and hospitality industry was not only unconstructive to the growth of the industry but the imminent influences on future tourism are also looking dim and muted. Virtual Reality has emerged as a new innovative approach to attract viewers though providing them a virtual experience of tourism a tour destination with enhanced technological version. Virtual reality is the new normal in the digital world. People are slowly gaining access to digital tourism experiences through Virtual Reality tourism concept. The increase in virtual reality tourism trend is most welcome thing globally. This trend capitalizes on the use of technology to make viewers experience a touring destination. It includes Virtual Reality tours through which a tourist or viewer can experience a tourist destination, hotel interiors, restaurant interiors, outdoor tourist attractions, shopping sites, archaeological inputs, museums, etc sitting in home. This viewer is made to experience complete visit of the destination through VR head gears and comply with his aspirations of touring. Without being physically present on the tourist site a viewer can become a tourist and see all sites as naturally as a tourister. But this usage of technology driven virtual reality tools are challenged by several factors.

Many of the recent research studies in tourist behavior pointed to the fact that contemporary tourists, particularly millennials, are very prone to innovative experiences and enjoy co-creating the tourist experience. Technological advancements drive changes in the way tourists experience their vacation and have transferred power to the tourists in terms of decision-making. Scattered hotels bring back life into empty and abandoned homes in the old parts of the city. They boost the trickle-down effect on the local economy, contribute to the revival of villages and old parts of the town, preservation of the local culture and identity of the place, and minimization of negative social and ecological impacts of over-tourism. With the implementation of innovative technological solutions, customized to such particular accommodation establishments and the ecosystem of the tourist destination, this product would be able to modify the complete nature of the tourism experience. In this paper, the authors aim to explore how technology reinvigorates creativity and boosts destinations’ innovativeness and competitiveness by enriching the overall customer experience and by creating ecosystems in which tourism contributes to sustainable development. Technological advancements that can unlock innovation potential in scattered hotels are presented, as well as perceptions of tourism suppliers on personalized experiences, boosted with technological innovations. Factors hampering innovation are identified, as well as other important obstacles in delivering such services (financing, cooperation with other stakeholders, uncertain demand, etc.). From a possible functional angle, this study presents significant implications for small entrepreneurs – experience providers in horizontally developed accommodation structures, as well as destination managers and all levels of government.

On the basis of the bottom-up spillover theory, this study explores the influence of the wellness tourism experience on tourists’ well-being. Considering wellness tourists as the research participants, tourist satisfaction, gender, and age were selected as the mediating and moderating variables, respectively, to study the mechanism between the wellness tourism experience and tourist well-being. A questionnaire survey was sent to 445 participants who engaged in wellness tourism in China, and an empirical analysis was conducted using the structural equation model. The results showed that the entertainment, esthetic, and escape experience of wellness tourism can significantly affect tourists’ hedonic and eudaimonic well-being. Tourist satisfaction, as a mediating variable, can enhance the positive impact of the wellness tourism experience on tourist well-being. Moreover, gender and age have a significant moderating effect on the relationship among wellness tourism experience, tourist satisfaction, and tourist well-being. This study enriches the current scholarship in the fields of the wellness tourism experience and tourist well-being and provides a theoretical basis and scientific decision-making reference for wellness tourism enterprises and tourism management departments.

This paper examines infrastructure considerations and the significance of co-creation and co-branding within the Culinary Transnational Gastronomic Tourism Industry. Gastronomic Tourists crave hands-on immersion into regional food cultures. For the gastro-tourist, where experiencing-the-experience is paramount - the easier it is to find and access safe, memorable food-related activities - the quicker tourism on-the-whole will benefit. The industry has recognized the growing potential for this market niche, yet what’s currently available through traditional tourist venues seems lacking. This paper discusses impact factors for both tourists and hosts during three stages of touring – Communication & Planning; Logistics; The Experience. It concludes by proposing that only when the Tourist Industry emulates early culinary tourist innovators; co-creates, co-brands, and logistically supports rich, authentic, memorable gastro-experiences on a wider scale; and embraces transnational practices, will the true economic and social impact of this target market of lucrative spenders begin to be realized across the globe.

Owing to the nature of tourism services, in most cases tourists experience a tourism service in the presence of service personnel and fellow tourists. Scholars and practitioners have been interrogating the role of co-creation in providing tourists with a superior experience and increased tourist satisfaction. Within a group package tour (GPT), tourists appear to be active co-creators of their experience through tourist-to-tour guide interactions (TGIs) and tourist-to-tourist interactions (TTIs). TGIs and TTIs also seemingly play an important role in determining tourist satisfaction through tourist experience. However, very little research has examined the influence of TGIs and TTIs on tourist experience and tourist satisfaction. The overall purpose of this study is to examine the influence of TGIs and TTIs on tourist experience and tourist satisfaction in GPTs. To do this, this study aims to (1) identify specific forms of TGIs and TTIs in GPTs and explore factors influencing TGIs and TTIs, (2) investigate the importance and performance of forms of TGIs and TTIs, and (3) examine how TGIs and TTIs influence tourist experience and tourist satisfaction in GPTs. The characteristics of GPTs in Vietnam provided an ideal research context for addressing these research objectives. A sequential mixed-method approach consisting of two research stages was adopted in the research design. The qualitative study involved participant observations in three GPTs and thirty-three qualitative in-depth interviews were conducted to achieve the first research objective and thus help develop the questionnaire used in the quantitative study. The quantitative study employed a questionaire survey as the main method of data collection and examined the influence of TGIs and TTIs on tourist experience and tourist satisfaction. The qualitative study found that ten forms of TGIs and eight forms of TTIs commonly occurred in the GPTs in Vietnam. Most of the TGI forms were service-oriented interactions while most of the TTI forms were social-oriented interactions. These forms of TGIs and TTIs were allocated to the four quadrants of an importance-performance analysis matrix through an importance-performance analysis using the quantitative data, which identified managerial implications for tour operators, tour businesses and tour guides. The quantitative study found that the quality of TGIs positively influenced the four dimensions of tourist experience (i.e., learning, enjoyment, escape, aesthetics), but that the quantity of TGIs negatively influenced the four dimensions of tourist experience; both the quantity and quality of TTIs positively influenced the four dimensions of tourist experience. The quantity and quality of TGIs as well as the quantity and quality of TGIs significantly determined tourist satisfaction through the four dimensions of tourist experience. This study (1) contributes to the literature on social interactions in tourism services by identifying forms of TGIs and TTIs and the factors influencing TGIs and TTIs in GPTs; (2) enriches and advances the literature on co-creation of tourist experience from the tourist perspective by examining the role of tourists in co-creating their experience through TGIs and TTIs and by investigating the role of social interactions in making tourist experience; and (3) provides a broader understanding of tourist satisfaction in the context of GPTs through its attempts to investigate the role of TGIs and TTIs in determining tourist satisfaction through tourist experience. The study results offer invaluable practical insights and directions for tour operators, tour guides and other tour businesses to improve relevant tourism management practices.

The notion of creating unique and memorable experiences for consumers has become of primary importance for tourism research and practice. The way contemporary tourist experiences are created has however undergone a fundamental change. Experiences are transforming as consumers are increasingly empowered to co-create their own experiences. Information and communication technologies (ICTs) have represented a catalyst of change that has opened unprecedented possibilities for tourist experience creation and enhancement. While the literature has recognised these paradigm shifts within the service-dominant logic and the services marketing and management discipline, a holistic understanding of this phenomenon is still missing to date. This doctoral study therefore aims to explore how the tourist experience can be enhanced by ICTs through company-consumer experience co-creation, throughout all stages of the travel process, i.e. pre/during/post travel. This thesis integrates the three theoretical streams of tourist experience, co-creation and ICTs to explore, conceptualise and develop the Technology Enhanced Tourist Experience concept. A comprehensive qualitative mixed methods strategy comprising three main research phases was adopted, consisting of a) a qualitative content analysis, b) a multiple case study and c) semi-structured consumer in-depth interviews to triangulate the findings and allow for a holistic knowledge development. The most significant findings contribute to knowledge by offering a) a comprehensive understanding of the granular elements of the tourist experience, b) both a company and consumer actor perspective on experience co-creation, c) a detailed enhancement process of the tourist experience through ICTs and d) a holistic model depicting the twelve distinct factors of the Technology Enhanced Tourist Experience. This study makes an original contribution to the services marketing and management discipline on a wider level and the three theoretical streams in specific. This thesis is significant and original in that it is the first study to explore the Technology Enhanced Tourist Experience and to create a theoretical foundation of this concept. The strength of this work thus lies in developing several conceptualisations and models that advance the service-dominant logic and provide critical strategic implications for services marketing and management practice. This knowledge has also wider implications and makes an impact on a global business, societal, technological and policy level beyond.

Social identity is part of an individual’s self-concept. A sense of social identity helps meet the demand of people for seeking social identification, alleviate ontological insecurity amongst general public and bring about positive attitudinal and behavioural changes in favour of the corresponding social group. Dark tourism, defined as activities of traveling to places associated with death and tragedy, is a burgeoning and fertile ground to ponder social identities. However, a comprehensive and systemic analysis of how social identities permeate tourist experience is missing. Moreover, empirical research with appropriate theoretical foundations to identify factors contributing to salient social identities is yet to be explored. Drawing upon Multifaceted model of the visitor experience and Self-categorization theory, the current research adopts a socio-psychological approach and aims to address those gaps. This thesis employs three studies reported in three chapters to address three main research questions. In Study 1, the thesis addresses the first research question, i.e., Does social identity exist in the tourist experience at post natural disaster sites? and examines the existence of different social identities in post natural disaster dark tourism context. Study 2 of this thesis approaches the second research question, i.e., How are social identities manifested in the tourist experience at post natural disaster sites? and unpacks visitors’ multi-layered experiences at post natural disaster sites, thereby laying a foundation for exploring the manifestation of social identities. Study 3 expands our understanding of what factors underpin the salience of social identities, answering the third research question, i.e., What triggers the salience of social identities at post natural disaster sites? Data were obtained from four post-disaster sites and semi-structured interviews were conducted in situ, with approximately 200 visitors (n=42 participants in the Beichuan Earthquake Ruins of Sichuan Province, China, n=69 participants in the Quake City (museum) of Christchurch, New Zealand, n=44 participants in Pompeii Excavations of Naples, Italy and n=41 participants in Tangshan Earthquake Memorial Park of Tangshan, China). Thematic and network analysis were performed using NVivo 12 and Gephi 0.9.2 software to depict the category, interaction and direction of themes. This thesis has four major contributions. First, this research verified the existence of social identity and a full spectrum of salient social identity in post natural disaster dark tourism context, moving from a personal, to an intermediate and a superordinate level of social identity. Second, this research outlined social identities, including human identity, national identity and family identity, interweaving with cognitive, emotional, introspective, sensory and relational experience aspects. Third, this research identified various triggers of multilevel social identity, with cognition of identity attributes and external stimuli as fundamental triggers shared by all three social identities. Finally, a framework, synthesizing all above findings, has been proposed for understanding salient multi-levelled social identities in the post natural disaster dark tourism context. This thesis therefore offers an empirical, timely and pragmatic guideline that can be applied by academics and/or practitioners to further deepen our understanding of social identity phenomenon and enhance the meaning-making work at post natural disaster dark tourism settings.
Thesis (PhD Doctorate)
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Dept Tourism, Sport & Hot Mgmt
Griffith Business School
Full Text

Online User Experiences (UXs) act as persuasive technology that can nudge users toward making behaviour change. This makes online UX integral to marketing. The tourism industry relies on UX to attract potential customers. Made up of 80% SMEs, the competition is high, hence the SMEs must deliver robust UXs that capture, persuade and convert users into customers. Tourism, despite being an early adopter of technology lags behind in terms of delivering UXs that meet users’ expectations. Furthermore, scholarly works exploring online UX as a persuasive technology within the tourism SMEs, specifically the day-attraction SMEs segment, are lacking. Using the theoretical framework of the Persuasive Systems Design (PSD) model, this research evaluates day attraction SMEs’ online UXs as persuasive technology. The research uses three mixed-methods to present the service providers’ and the users’ perspectives. The first method is a website content analysis that reviews the persuasive architecture of 102-day attraction websites. The second method uses questionnaires to get insights on tourists’ online usage, motivations, opinions and perceptions of online UX delivered by a single day attraction SME (case study). The third method, an eye tracking experiment is an extension to the questionnaires. The outcomes show that the SMEs’ incorporate persuasive UX elements corresponding to usability, visual aesthetics and credibility, but fail at incorporating strategies to support dialogue. The tourists’ suggest that usability, visual aesthetics and credibility UX elements affect their decision to buy, however, certain strategies that enhance dialogue, such as ability to win rewards, are likely to nudge them toward behaviour change. Furthermore, there appears to be a link between visual aesthetics and perceived usability, and their combined effect on persuasiveness. A final outcome establishes tourist’s website reading patterns, emphasising the placement of call-to-actions within an F-shape region. This research contributes through a customised version of the PSD model applicable for tourism SMEs, delivers empirical evidence suggesting additions to the model and, adds to the overall body of knowledge on tourism online UXs and persuasive technology.

El presente trabajo identifica los factores principales de la variable tourism experience en un contexto local y se mide en relación a la satisfacción por parte de turistas que hayan usado algún alojamiento compartido en un viaje de ocio.
This work identifies the main factors of the variable tourism experience in a local context and is measured in relation to the satisfaction of tourists who have used some shared accommodation on a leisure trip.
Trabajo de investigación

Motivation theories and studies play a vital role in understanding why tourists travel and the kind of activities they engage in whilst away from home. By reviewing the literature, it is apparent that previous tourism studies pay scant attention to the issue of why people travel to geosites and this important issue is still an undeveloped area of study. Therefore, investigating the motivations of tourists undertaking a geotourism (geology and tourism) experience reflects an urgent need to bridge the gap in the geotourism literature. The purpose of this study is to explore the different motivations behind tourists engaging in a geotourism experience and to investigate the behavioural intention of tourists to revisit a geosite. Guided by Self-Determination Theory (Deci & Ryan, 1985, 2000), this research seeks to investigate what are different types of motivation (intrinsic motivation, extrinsic motivation and amotivation) behind the tourists undertaking a geotourism experience and the potential relationship between those motivations and the desire for repeat visitations to the same geosite. Quantitative methodology was employed, consisting of a self-administered questionnaire that involved inviting a convenience sample of 600 tourists visiting Crystal Cave in Yanchep National Park and The Pinnacles in Australia, as well as Wadi Rum and the Dead Sea in Jordan between 2010 - 2011. The current study applied validated and reliable scales which have been broadly used in different domains of life to measure the motivations and behavioural intention. The results of this study revealed that the main intrinsic motivation for the respondents in Jordan and Australia were ‘to escape from the hustle and bustle of the daily life routine’, ‘relaxation’, ‘enjoyment’, ‘a sense of wonder’, and ‘gaining knowledge’. In addition, it showed that the main extrinsic motivation was the identified regulations. Correlation analysis and a series of multiple regressions were conducted to explore the relationship between tourists’ motivation and their behavioural intention to visit geosites repeatedly. The results revealed that the intrinsic motivation and identification of extrinsic motivation were significant predictors of the behavioural intention (loyalty) to re-visit geosites. There is a weak and negative relationship between intrinsic motivation and identified extrinsic motivation with the propensity to switch. In addition, there was a significantly positive relationship between amotivation and propensity to switch, internal and external responses to problems.

Using consumerism as a lens, this qualitative study examines volunteering vacations with ‘poor’ children in Siem Reap, Cambodia by considering just what is being consumed in these popular tourist choices alongside those factors in contemporary ‘First World’ society that allow and encourage their consumption. Through the use of caring mantras such as ‘change lives forever’ and ‘make a world of difference’, vacation providers of what are considered to be a mass-niche product in the competitive global tourism marketplace, offer Siem Reap to potential consumers as one choice from an increasing range of ‘Third World’ destinations. However, using the concepts of commodification and objectification, I argue that it is the bodies of children that have become the commodities in these vacations, their lives and circumstances objectified as needy and available, in part to fulfil the vacation fantasies of holidaymakers who choose to use consumerism as both a vehicle for the enactment of their compassion, as well as the means by which to satisfy their own search for pleasure and reward. Furthermore, I also argue that privilege - often justified and taken-for-granted as a tool in the good-deed vacation tool-kit - works to obscure significant issues such as race, colonial continuities, global injustice and potential abuse. Through critically engaging volunteer tourism as commodity and consumption I have reframed the often asked questions around these vacations in order to offer a different commentary and perspective to these experiences. The research takes a longitudinal view of volunteer tourism in Siem Reap through the use of semi-structured interviews with potential and past consumers as well as interviews with and observations of vacationers in situ ‘doing volunteering’. An exploration of the grey literature from both the commercial and not-for-profit sectors, as well as photographs, add to the arguments presented here.

Today, the tourism industry has grown rapidly and many destinations have been recognised as tourist niches in a bid to stay competitive in the industry. Island tourism is one of the most popular tourism niches. Island tourism in Malaysia has lured tourists from all over the world to come to Malaysia, offering tourist a unique and unforgettable tourism experience. It has become one of the most famous types of activities tourists. Moreover, tourists are showing an increasing interest in local foods at the destination and dining has become a special experience while on vacation. Dining itself is a pleasurable sensory experience that is a key part of the holiday experience, which influences a tourists’ experience and makes it memorable and this in turn influences the tourist’s intention to revisit the destination, especially an island destination. However, the recent COVID-19 pandemic, the subsequent Movement Control Order (MCO) and COVID-19 Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) enforced to control the spread of the pandemic have significantly influenced tourists dining behaviours and perceptions particularly with regard to dine-in options at any food establishment/outlets.

Liminality is important in the tourism field to measure the tourist experience from their satisfaction, whether the actual reality experienced meets their expectations. Conceptual research method using secondary data are used in this study. This paper reviews some selected theories and models to comprehend more on the concept of liminality with tourism. For that, the theories and models that would be examined are Five Phases Tourism Model (1966), SERVQUAL Model (1988), Liminality Tourism Structure Model (2019) and Classical and Post-modern Liminality Comparative Theory (2016). The Five Phases Tourism Model is a model used to describe the experience in various phases: expectation, away trip, tourist destination, return trip, and memories, while a SERVQUAL Model is used to measure the quality of service. The Liminality Tourism Structure Model describes the tourist experience from various elements such as physical, social, and emotional. Finally, the Classical and Post-modern Liminality Comparative Theory compares the classical liminal experience of society in ancient times and the liminal experience of post-modern society. The literature review results show that the theories and models aid in explaining tourist experience using five phases and was influenced by several aspects. Thus, the combination of all these existing models related to liminality will help to understand tourists more deeply and measure the level of tourist satisfaction that are seen from their experience, expectation, and the actual reality being experienced by them.

As a result of the special attention paid by the head of our state to the tourism sector, the tourism potential of our country is growing. New modern hotels and resorts are being built. New tourist routes are being developed and services are being improved. This will be an important factor in expanding the flow of foreign tourists to our country, the development of domestic tourism, the creation of new jobs and increasing the welfare of the population. This article also discusses the level of tourism in Uzbekistan and the role of tourist destinations in it.

Local foods are one of the cravings of travelers wanting to experience the joys of domestic tourism. Some of the other reasons tourists visit a place is to experience the lifestyle, and culture. Besides these motivational factors, tourist visit places based on word -of- mouth and their own past experiences. The state of Kelantan, Malaysia is identified as a vibrant tourist destination as it has beautiful natural environs and has a rich and diverse cultural heritage that is easy to promote to tourists. Kelantan is also well known for its local cuisines that can attract the foodies. The uniqueness of the local cuisine also influences tourists to make other purchases. Using the quantitative research approach, this study aims to identify the relationship between food quality, price, and service quality towards the tourists intention to purchase local cuisine in Kelantan. These three independent variables will have a different role in explaining the factors that influence a tourist’s intent to purchase Kelantanese foodstuff.

Purpose – Understanding how and why people travel, decide and select a specific place, and what they expect from their destination to meet their actual needs is also a highly important topic. The goal of this article is to investigate the elements that influence Serbian visitors' decision to visit Croatia (Cratian coastline) as a destination. The most important characteristics, components, and types of tourism destinations are analysed. The definition of consumer behavior is explained, as well as the idiosyncrasies of the decision-making process. The most important internal and environmental elements that influence tourist decision-making are summarized. An examination of the cultural, societal, and personal psychological aspects that influence decision-making of Serbian tourists to travel to Croatian cost with different attributes like see, cultural and natural attractions, image, price, human resources is done. Methodology – As a result, the decision-making process is extremely difficult, particularly when determining which factors are more significant than others. The Analytical Hierarchical Process (AHP) method, which has a strong mathematical foundation, could be used to find a good solution to this problem. The Analytical-hierarchy process (AHP) is a systematic way to solving complicated problems that leverages hierarchical structures by generating priorities for various options decided by decision makers. AHP can aid tourism decision-making by examining a large number of decision factors (e.g., factors influencing destination choice, motives for visiting a place, hotel site selection, tourist indicators) and measuring the relevance of each component impacting the decision. The questionnaire used for this manuscript was taken from the paper Blešić et al. (2018). The questionnaire consist of five factors that include 22 items. Findings – Destination amenities, tourism infrastructure, cultural attractions, human resources, price, environmental features are the importnant attributes for choosing Croatian coast as tourism destination. Contribution – this study makes a valuable contribution by highlighting tourists’ motives for visiting coastline destinations in Croatia. Finally, understanding the motivations and preferences of tourists is critical to realizing the full potential of tourism. Consumer behavior research is crucial for tourism sector stakeholders because it can provide important insights into who the tourist is and how stakeholders (travel agencies, hotels, restaurants, food producers, cultural organizations, and so on) can target and develop markets successfully. This research will help researchers better understand what inspires Serbian tourists to visit a Croatian coastal location. The findings will indicate the most common travel motivations that lead Serbian travelers to choose Croatia as their vacation location.

In this paper, we present a study which analyzes the experiences of elderly people, when travelling as tourists to specific destinations. With this specific profile we searched results that help us to determine their prospects in tourism. The research is also focused on a specific country, Ireland, although cross-cultural studies are being developed in Spain. The surveys are carried out in three touristic places chosen because of their popularity with our target audience. We conduct a survey in which we elicited the expectations that exist before visiting that destination regarding the perceived reputation of that tourist destination and of the quality of the services offered. These aspects also relate to the degree of hospitality of its inhabitants. This allows us to determine the tourist experience in the destination, focusing on the emotions of the visitor to the destination and of the level of disconnect from everyday life that is achieved. We establish the degree to which their feelings on the destination are discussed in social networks – an important point as this group have not traditionally used social media to a significant degree. We try to establish by means of a quantitative study the tourist profile of these people of advanced age, which is an area of research that has received little attention to date. For this reason, the study reveals knowledge of a new visitor profile in tourist destinations, determined by the experience lived.

Purpose - The topic of the need for re-transformation of Bulgarian museums is of particular importance for Bulgarian tourism. Destination Bulgaria has an inherited potential to match its direct competitors - Greece and Turkey - in the field of cultural tourism, in its varieties of museum and cognitive tourism. At the same time, however, existing museums are lagging behind the good management and modernization practices that can contribute to their competitiveness. Therefore, the purpose of this study is projected in two widespread beliefs that are typical of modern tourism practice. On the one hand, the satisfaction of tourists and stakeholders in destinations is of paramount importance. The management of competitive advantages must be subordinated to the concept of sustainability, while the tourist deserves the best possible memorable experiences. The other aspect concerns the tourist experience and the fact that more and more tourists are creating their own experiences. In this framework, the focus of research is on museums in Bulgaria, in view of their ability to activate their own networks and resources. Some good practices are presented, which could be multiplied to influence satisfaction with the help of the tools of interpretation. Methodology – The chosen research methodology is in accordance with the formulated research goal. Complex in nature, the methodological apparatus deals primarily with quality methods. In particular, it includes a review of specialized publications on the subject, at the same time using methods of observation, expert evaluation and synthesis. However, at the basis are the case study method and the tools of interpretation. Findings – In the process of globalization, limitation, vulnerability and endangerment of tourist resources, as well as increasing tourist and economic pressure on individual tourist destinations, there will be a growing interest in the opportunities provided by the development and application of interpretation techniques in museums. The studied practices and the conclusions made have their limited significance in the scope of the network of museums in Bulgaria. At the same time, however, any good practice presented is an opportunity for “inspiration”, which is also a universal experience. The findings of this study help to promote the transformation of museums in the development of their services in view of tourist experiences and maintaining sustainability in all its aspects. Contribution – The topic is highly relevant for Bulgaria, because there are still no established practices for applying heritage interpretation, especially in the museums in their capacity of tourist sites. It is of significance for tourism and museum practices in general, taking into account the importance of satisfaction for modern tourists and the need for targeted and planned activities in this respect. Therefore, any scientific development on this topic will contribute to its supplementation and further development.

The generl goal of this research study is to rethink the marketing opportunities to manage the customer experience with the tourism brand based on some world-renowned marketing innovations in tourism. The ongoing global pandemic crisis poses challenges to the future successful development of tourism and in particular tourism brands. The revival of the tourist brand is based on the inevitable process of total digitalization of business and market processes on one hand, but on the other hand the living human contact with the brand is becoming more and more demanding. Overcoming travel fears is in alignment with the restoration of the customer trust in the tourist brand. The transformation of tourism brand is still to come and the key to a successful completion is the new way of managing the customer experience.

The concept of smart city is used for development of smart destination with purpose of achieving competitive advantages and enhancing the quality of experience for tourists and quality of life for local citizens. There are wide accepted characteristics of smart tourist destination such as built smart infrastructure, smart technologies application as well as criteria for defining smartness of destination as digitalization, accessibility and mobility. But the main focus of development of smart destination is the creation of smart experience and smart business environment. That stresses the importance of assessment of how tourists and local citizens appreciate their experience. The aim of this paper is to present a model for study and assessment of smart experience of tourists and local citizens in tourist destination. The model is applied in tourist destination Varna. Results of conducted research of tourists and local citizens' view and acceptance, based on their experience, are presented.

In the new socio-economic conditions in the education system, forms of organization of tourist and local history activities are developing, which are based on traditions, experience of extracurricular and extracurricular work, taking into account the changes that have occurred in the country. Life requires that the tasks facing educational institutions are resolved quickly and have not just any solution, but one that optimizes the pedagogical process. At the same time, these requirements come into conflict with the state of the education system, the limited ability of most parents to create conditions for the full development of the child. The tasks facing the education system can be implemented in tourism and local history activities. The main task is to create the necessary conditions for the comprehensive development of the child’s personality, his social adaptation in the process of participation in various types of tourist and local history activities. However, the school teacher is not ready to organize and conduct tourist and local history activities at school, as he is not professionally prepared for this activity. Questions of the organization, forms and methods of teacher training for the organization of tourist and local history activities are practically not reflected in the educational and methodological literature. There are no scientific studies that would allow us to effectively solve the pedagogical tasks of preparing the organizers of tourist and local history activities in the school.

Review question / Objective: P.E.O: Population, exposure, outcome. What privacy and data protection challenges are linked by different stakeholders, to the Big Data's application in the tourism sector: P - stakeholders; E - Big Data in tourism; O - privacy and data protection challenges. Condition being studied: This investigation aims to map the social and ethical controversies associated with the use of Big Data, addressing the “technological optimism” that tends to surround the use of these techniques in the tourism sector, which may compromise sustainable tourism in the long term. Main outcome(s): It allows to develop an awareness of benefits and risks and to involve all stakeholders in the debate. It will increase transparency, and promote more accessible communication while promoting the sharing of experiences and opinions from different interest groups. This type of solution should be implemented at an early stage of the process.

Pivot is a movement of radical ideas for the Caribbean of the future. In 2020, the IDB and its partners (Caribbean Climate Smart-Accelerator (CCSA), Destination Experience (DE), and Singularity University) launched The Pivot Movement and asked the people of the Caribbean to think of big ideas to transform the region. A small group came together at The Pivot Event to design 9 moonshots for electric vehicles, digital transformation and tourism. Pivot: The Future Makers is a comic book produced by the Pivot partners and illustrated by Caribbean artists. In it, the 9 moonshots have been developed into fictional stories as a simple and powerful means of conveying possible, probable futures, to help us visualize the Caribbean in 2040.

Abstract. The article reveals the experience of organizing blended learning for geography students using Google Classroom, and discloses its potential uses in the study of geography. For the last three years, the authors have tested such in-class and distance courses as “Cartography and Basics of Topography”, “Population Geography”, “Information Systems and Technologies in Tourism Industry”, “Regional Economic and Social World Geography (Europe and the CIS)”, “Regional Economic and Social World Geography (Africa, Latin America, Asia, Anglo-America, Australia and Oceania)”, “Socio-Economic Cartography”. The advantages of using the specified interactive tool during the study of geographical disciplines are highlighted out in the article. As it has been established, the organization of the learning process using Google Classroom ensures the unity of in-class and out-of-class learning; it is designed to realize effective interaction of the subjects learning in real time; to monitor the quality of training and control the students’ learning achievements in class as well as out of it, etc. The article outlines the disadvantages that should be taken into account when organizing blended learning using Google Classroom, including the occasional predominance of students’ external motivation in education and their low level of readiness for work in the classroom; insufficient level of material and technical support in some classrooms; need for out-of-class pedagogical support; lack of guidance on the content aspect of Google Classroom pages, etc. Through the test series conducted during 2016-2017, an increase in the number of geography students with a sufficient level of academic achievements and a decrease of those with a low level of it was revealed.

1.1 Macroeconomic summary Economic recovery has consistently outperformed the technical staff’s expectations following a steep decline in activity in the second quarter of 2020. At the same time, total and core inflation rates have fallen and remain at low levels, suggesting that a significant element of the reactivation of Colombia’s economy has been related to recovery in potential GDP. This would support the technical staff’s diagnosis of weak aggregate demand and ample excess capacity. The most recently available data on 2020 growth suggests a contraction in economic activity of 6.8%, lower than estimates from January’s Monetary Policy Report (-7.2%). High-frequency indicators suggest that economic performance was significantly more dynamic than expected in January, despite mobility restrictions and quarantine measures. This has also come amid declines in total and core inflation, the latter of which was below January projections if controlling for certain relative price changes. This suggests that the unexpected strength of recent growth contains elements of demand, and that excess capacity, while significant, could be lower than previously estimated. Nevertheless, uncertainty over the measurement of excess capacity continues to be unusually high and marked both by variations in the way different economic sectors and spending components have been affected by the pandemic, and by uneven price behavior. The size of excess capacity, and in particular the evolution of the pandemic in forthcoming quarters, constitute substantial risks to the macroeconomic forecast presented in this report. Despite the unexpected strength of the recovery, the technical staff continues to project ample excess capacity that is expected to remain on the forecast horizon, alongside core inflation that will likely remain below the target. Domestic demand remains below 2019 levels amid unusually significant uncertainty over the size of excess capacity in the economy. High national unemployment (14.6% for February 2021) reflects a loose labor market, while observed total and core inflation continue to be below 2%. Inflationary pressures from the exchange rate are expected to continue to be low, with relatively little pass-through on inflation. This would be compatible with a negative output gap. Excess productive capacity and the expectation of core inflation below the 3% target on the forecast horizon provide a basis for an expansive monetary policy posture. The technical staff’s assessment of certain shocks and their expected effects on the economy, as well as the presence of several sources of uncertainty and related assumptions about their potential macroeconomic impacts, remain a feature of this report. The coronavirus pandemic, in particular, continues to affect the public health environment, and the reopening of Colombia’s economy remains incomplete. The technical staff’s assessment is that the COVID-19 shock has affected both aggregate demand and supply, but that the impact on demand has been deeper and more persistent. Given this persistence, the central forecast accounts for a gradual tightening of the output gap in the absence of new waves of contagion, and as vaccination campaigns progress. The central forecast continues to include an expected increase of total and core inflation rates in the second quarter of 2021, alongside the lapse of the temporary price relief measures put in place in 2020. Additional COVID-19 outbreaks (of uncertain duration and intensity) represent a significant risk factor that could affect these projections. Additionally, the forecast continues to include an upward trend in sovereign risk premiums, reflected by higher levels of public debt that in the wake of the pandemic are likely to persist on the forecast horizon, even in the context of a fiscal adjustment. At the same time, the projection accounts for the shortterm effects on private domestic demand from a fiscal adjustment along the lines of the one currently being proposed by the national government. This would be compatible with a gradual recovery of private domestic demand in 2022. The size and characteristics of the fiscal adjustment that is ultimately implemented, as well as the corresponding market response, represent another source of forecast uncertainty. Newly available information offers evidence of the potential for significant changes to the macroeconomic scenario, though without altering the general diagnosis described above. The most recent data on inflation, growth, fiscal policy, and international financial conditions suggests a more dynamic economy than previously expected. However, a third wave of the pandemic has delayed the re-opening of Colombia’s economy and brought with it a deceleration in economic activity. Detailed descriptions of these considerations and subsequent changes to the macroeconomic forecast are presented below. The expected annual decline in GDP (-0.3%) in the first quarter of 2021 appears to have been less pronounced than projected in January (-4.8%). Partial closures in January to address a second wave of COVID-19 appear to have had a less significant negative impact on the economy than previously estimated. This is reflected in figures related to mobility, energy demand, industry and retail sales, foreign trade, commercial transactions from selected banks, and the national statistics agency’s (DANE) economic tracking indicator (ISE). Output is now expected to have declined annually in the first quarter by 0.3%. Private consumption likely continued to recover, registering levels somewhat above those from the previous year, while public consumption likely increased significantly. While a recovery in investment in both housing and in other buildings and structures is expected, overall investment levels in this case likely continued to be low, and gross fixed capital formation is expected to continue to show significant annual declines. Imports likely recovered to again outpace exports, though both are expected to register significant annual declines. Economic activity that outpaced projections, an increase in oil prices and other export products, and an expected increase in public spending this year account for the upward revision to the 2021 growth forecast (from 4.6% with a range between 2% and 6% in January, to 6.0% with a range between 3% and 7% in April). As a result, the output gap is expected to be smaller and to tighten more rapidly than projected in the previous report, though it is still expected to remain in negative territory on the forecast horizon. Wide forecast intervals reflect the fact that the future evolution of the COVID-19 pandemic remains a significant source of uncertainty on these projections. The delay in the recovery of economic activity as a result of the resurgence of COVID-19 in the first quarter appears to have been less significant than projected in the January report. The central forecast scenario expects this improved performance to continue in 2021 alongside increased consumer and business confidence. Low real interest rates and an active credit supply would also support this dynamic, and the overall conditions would be expected to spur a recovery in consumption and investment. Increased growth in public spending and public works based on the national government’s spending plan (Plan Financiero del Gobierno) are other factors to consider. Additionally, an expected recovery in global demand and higher projected prices for oil and coffee would further contribute to improved external revenues and would favor investment, in particular in the oil sector. Given the above, the technical staff’s 2021 growth forecast has been revised upward from 4.6% in January (range from 2% to 6%) to 6.0% in April (range from 3% to 7%). These projections account for the potential for the third wave of COVID-19 to have a larger and more persistent effect on the economy than the previous wave, while also supposing that there will not be any additional significant waves of the pandemic and that mobility restrictions will be relaxed as a result. Economic growth in 2022 is expected to be 3%, with a range between 1% and 5%. This figure would be lower than projected in the January report (3.6% with a range between 2% and 6%), due to a higher base of comparison given the upward revision to expected GDP in 2021. This forecast also takes into account the likely effects on private demand of a fiscal adjustment of the size currently being proposed by the national government, and which would come into effect in 2022. Excess in productive capacity is now expected to be lower than estimated in January but continues to be significant and affected by high levels of uncertainty, as reflected in the wide forecast intervals. The possibility of new waves of the virus (of uncertain intensity and duration) represents a significant downward risk to projected GDP growth, and is signaled by the lower limits of the ranges provided in this report. Inflation (1.51%) and inflation excluding food and regulated items (0.94%) declined in March compared to December, continuing below the 3% target. The decline in inflation in this period was below projections, explained in large part by unanticipated increases in the costs of certain foods (3.92%) and regulated items (1.52%). An increase in international food and shipping prices, increased foreign demand for beef, and specific upward pressures on perishable food supplies appear to explain a lower-than-expected deceleration in the consumer price index (CPI) for foods. An unexpected increase in regulated items prices came amid unanticipated increases in international fuel prices, on some utilities rates, and for regulated education prices. The decline in annual inflation excluding food and regulated items between December and March was in line with projections from January, though this included downward pressure from a significant reduction in telecommunications rates due to the imminent entry of a new operator. When controlling for the effects of this relative price change, inflation excluding food and regulated items exceeds levels forecast in the previous report. Within this indicator of core inflation, the CPI for goods (1.05%) accelerated due to a reversion of the effects of the VAT-free day in November, which was largely accounted for in February, and possibly by the transmission of a recent depreciation of the peso on domestic prices for certain items (electric and household appliances). For their part, services prices decelerated and showed the lowest rate of annual growth (0.89%) among the large consumer baskets in the CPI. Within the services basket, the annual change in rental prices continued to decline, while those services that continue to experience the most significant restrictions on returning to normal operations (tourism, cinemas, nightlife, etc.) continued to register significant price declines. As previously mentioned, telephone rates also fell significantly due to increased competition in the market. Total inflation is expected to continue to be affected by ample excesses in productive capacity for the remainder of 2021 and 2022, though less so than projected in January. As a result, convergence to the inflation target is now expected to be somewhat faster than estimated in the previous report, assuming the absence of significant additional outbreaks of COVID-19. The technical staff’s year-end inflation projections for 2021 and 2022 have increased, suggesting figures around 3% due largely to variation in food and regulated items prices. The projection for inflation excluding food and regulated items also increased, but remains below 3%. Price relief measures on indirect taxes implemented in 2020 are expected to lapse in the second quarter of 2021, generating a one-off effect on prices and temporarily affecting inflation excluding food and regulated items. However, indexation to low levels of past inflation, weak demand, and ample excess productive capacity are expected to keep core inflation below the target, near 2.3% at the end of 2021 (previously 2.1%). The reversion in 2021 of the effects of some price relief measures on utility rates from 2020 should lead to an increase in the CPI for regulated items in the second half of this year. Annual price changes are now expected to be higher than estimated in the January report due to an increased expected path for fuel prices and unanticipated increases in regulated education prices. The projection for the CPI for foods has increased compared to the previous report, taking into account certain factors that were not anticipated in January (a less favorable agricultural cycle, increased pressure from international prices, and transport costs). Given the above, year-end annual inflation for 2021 and 2022 is now expected to be 3% and 2.8%, respectively, which would be above projections from January (2.3% and 2,7%). For its part, expected inflation based on analyst surveys suggests year-end inflation in 2021 and 2022 of 2.8% and 3.1%, respectively. There remains significant uncertainty surrounding the inflation forecasts included in this report due to several factors: 1) the evolution of the pandemic; 2) the difficulty in evaluating the size and persistence of excess productive capacity; 3) the timing and manner in which price relief measures will lapse; and 4) the future behavior of food prices. Projected 2021 growth in foreign demand (4.4% to 5.2%) and the supposed average oil price (USD 53 to USD 61 per Brent benchmark barrel) were both revised upward. An increase in long-term international interest rates has been reflected in a depreciation of the peso and could result in relatively tighter external financial conditions for emerging market economies, including Colombia. Average growth among Colombia’s trade partners was greater than expected in the fourth quarter of 2020. This, together with a sizable fiscal stimulus approved in the United States and the onset of a massive global vaccination campaign, largely explains the projected increase in foreign demand growth in 2021. The resilience of the goods market in the face of global crisis and an expected normalization in international trade are additional factors. These considerations and the expected continuation of a gradual reduction of mobility restrictions abroad suggest that Colombia’s trade partners could grow on average by 5.2% in 2021 and around 3.4% in 2022. The improved prospects for global economic growth have led to an increase in current and expected oil prices. Production interruptions due to a heavy winter, reduced inventories, and increased supply restrictions instituted by producing countries have also contributed to the increase. Meanwhile, market forecasts and recent Federal Reserve pronouncements suggest that the benchmark interest rate in the U.S. will remain stable for the next two years. Nevertheless, a significant increase in public spending in the country has fostered expectations for greater growth and inflation, as well as increased uncertainty over the moment in which a normalization of monetary policy might begin. This has been reflected in an increase in long-term interest rates. In this context, emerging market economies in the region, including Colombia, have registered increases in sovereign risk premiums and long-term domestic interest rates, and a depreciation of local currencies against the dollar. Recent outbreaks of COVID-19 in several of these economies; limits on vaccine supply and the slow pace of immunization campaigns in some countries; a significant increase in public debt; and tensions between the United States and China, among other factors, all add to a high level of uncertainty surrounding interest rate spreads, external financing conditions, and the future performance of risk premiums. The impact that this environment could have on the exchange rate and on domestic financing conditions represent risks to the macroeconomic and monetary policy forecasts. Domestic financial conditions continue to favor recovery in economic activity. The transmission of reductions to the policy interest rate on credit rates has been significant. The banking portfolio continues to recover amid circumstances that have affected both the supply and demand for loans, and in which some credit risks have materialized. Preferential and ordinary commercial interest rates have fallen to a similar degree as the benchmark interest rate. As is generally the case, this transmission has come at a slower pace for consumer credit rates, and has been further delayed in the case of mortgage rates. Commercial credit levels stabilized above pre-pandemic levels in March, following an increase resulting from significant liquidity requirements for businesses in the second quarter of 2020. The consumer credit portfolio continued to recover and has now surpassed February 2020 levels, though overall growth in the portfolio remains low. At the same time, portfolio projections and default indicators have increased, and credit establishment earnings have come down. Despite this, credit disbursements continue to recover and solvency indicators remain well above regulatory minimums. 1.2 Monetary policy decision In its meetings in March and April the BDBR left the benchmark interest rate unchanged at 1.75%.

The Pacific is expected to recover with moderate growth of 1.4% in 2021 and 3.8% in 2022, with tourism and widespread vaccination playing key roles. This issue of the Pacific Economic Monitor provides insights on experiences and lessons of Pacific island countries in striking a delicate balance between health and economic concerns. It also outlines ADB’s new development strategy to help the region address the impacts of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).