Throughout human evolution, cultures and societies form and transform with time. In some cases, societies change their unique cultural representations and develop into something quite different. In other cases, entire social structures disappear and are replaced by new ones that subsequently often repopulate an area. Some societies or cultures ended abruptly, the reasons for their disappearance in many cases remain either unknown, obscured and/or debatable, like the Classic Maya period in Meso America. In Ecuador, such questions have been formulated regarding the end of the Valdivia culture in coastal Ecuador. Valdivia was one of the earliest and most complex ceramic cultures of the Americas, dating back to the Early Formative period of preHispanic Ecuador, where it inhabited between 3800-1450 BC. The circumstances that contextualize the end of the Valdivia tradition have long been an issue of debate. New discoveries at the Papayita geosite near the city of Portoviejo, have yielded specifically a domestic activity area of the Valdivia Phase 8 culture (ca. 1700 BC). Such new data may contribute to adding some information about the socioenvironmental dynamics that probably contributed to the end of the Valdivia tradition in this region. Besides late Valdivia ceramics, we encountered burials inside the approximately 85 cm thick greyish-beige colored ash layer. This context suggests that the internment took place shortly after the pyroclastic material fell and thus bear a direct chronological relation to the phenomenon. The excavation results and the stratigraphic units studied clearly indicate that after the ashfall, the place remained uninhabited or abandoned and never resettled until modern times. The following geochemical, geochronological and provenance studies of the ashes identified a previously documented volcanic event in northern Manabi, but revealed its true extent as an enormous volcanic eruption of the Pichincha Volcanic complex, some 3,500 years ago. Additionally, we speculate that there is further evidence that the volcanic event might have been triggered by a very strong marine earthquake, which also generated a mega-tsunami on the nearby shoreline. Such revelations are new and may allow the most adequate reconstruction of the abrupt ending of the Valdivia culture in significant areas of coastal Ecuador, converting the Papayita area into an extraordinary geosite of high geological and historic importance.
Karst areas have complex hydrogeological systems resulting from the dissolution of carbonate rocks, fracture networks, and the presence of underground rivers. Lo Cave and Bangi Cave, in South Malang, are located in the Wonosari Formation and are known as active underground river sites with potential for the development of karst geotourism, speleology, and water resources. However, to date, no study has combined geophysical and hydrochemical methods to provide information on underground river connectivity, karstification levels, and groundwater vulnerability at these sites. This study aims to understand the subsurface structure, flow patterns, and geochemical processes as a basis for geotourism development. This study was conducted in Kedungsalam Village, South Malang, Indonesia. This study used Self-Potential (SP), Induced Polarization (IP), and Hydrochemical analyses. SP data showed negative anomalies consistent with underground flow paths connecting the two caves. IP data identified loading zones at Lines 4, 6, and 7, which are suspected to be active cavities and water-filled channels. Hydrochemistry analysis showed that all samples had low mineralization (TDS 31-63 mg/L), neutral to slightly alkaline pH, and were dominated by Ca²⁺–Mg²⁺–HCO₃⁻ ions. Similar hydrochemical facies confirm that all water sources originate from a single, interconnected karst aquifer system. Integration of geophysical and hydrochemical methods reveals that Lo Cave and Bangi Cave form a hydrogeological system, with active channels and flow controlled by carbonate dissolution.
There is an increasing body of academic research on how artificial intelligence (AI) will disrupt tourism, but there is a gap in studying tourism guidance students’ career anxiety—who are perhaps most likely to experience job displacement from AI—and in testing educational conditions that act as moderators of their anxiety. This study fills that gap by examining AIrelated career anxiety, perceptions of threat, and coping profiles among 312 students enrolled in undergraduate and graduatelevel tourism guidance courses at three Egyptian universities. Based on the Career Transition Theory, we found five dimensions of anxiety: fear of being displaced by information supersession; economic insecurity; professional identity humiliation; emotional role redundancy; and self-doubt related to adaptability. All five anxiety dimensions were identified as being of great concern. However, Students whose curriculum included a component related to the direct application of AI were found to have a 0.63 standard deviation reduction in anxiety. The study produced three distinct coping profiles - Active Adapters, Uncertain Pragmatists, and Anxious Resisters - all of which demonstrated starkly different trajectories regarding commitment to their careers. The results have implications for how universities reform their curricula, for how career counselling is provided, and for how national tourism workforces are assembled.
This study aims to examine the impact of artificial intelligence (AI), organizational intelligence (OI), and the agile Scrum methodology on operational management in the housekeeping departments of luxury hotels located in Lima, Panama City, Bogotá, and Mexico City, with a particular focus on operational efficiency, employee satisfaction, and guest service perception. A quantitative correlational–explanatory research design was adopted. Data were analyzed using structural equation modeling (SEM) to evaluate the direct and mediating effects of AI, Scrum, and organizational intelligence on key operational and human performance outcomes within luxury hotel housekeeping operations. The results reveal significant positive effects of the Scrum methodology on operational efficiency (β = 0.65) and job satisfaction (β = 0.58), as well as a strong positive effect of AI on operational efficiency (β = 0.61). Organizational intelligence emerged as a key mediating variable, exerting significant positive influences on operational efficiency (β = 0.68) and employee satisfaction (β = 0.55). The SEM model demonstrated acceptable overall goodness-of-fit indices (χ²/df = 2.34; CFI = 0.94; TLI = 0.92; RMSEA = 0.056; SRMR = 0.045), supporting the proposed theoretical framework. This study contributes original empirical evidence by integrating AI, agile management practices, and organizational intelligence within a unified model applied to housekeeping operations in luxury hotels across major Latin American cities. It advances the literature by highlighting the mediating role of organizational intelligence in digital transformation and operational professionalization within hospitality service environments.
Tourism in Sub-Saharan African nations holds significant potential to drive economic growth. However, unstable economic growth, inadequate infrastructure, environmental degradation, and exchange rate volatility hinder the trajectory of tourism growth. Moreover, the digital economy’s role in transforming tourism dynamics is an emerging destination in the SSA. Therefore, to gain a focused understanding of how these macroeconomic factors, i.e., economic growth (EG), infrastructure (INF), environment (ENV), digital economy (DGE), and exchange rate (ER) affect tourism in the top 5 tourist SSA nations is vital for crafting sustainable and inclusive growth tourism strategies. We employed the novel Method of Moments Quantile Regression (MMQR) to estimate heterogeneous effects at short-, medium-, and long-run quantiles for the period from 1995 to 2023. Additionally, we utilized the Dumitrescu and Hurlin panel causality test to assess causality. The MMQR estimates evidenced that economic growth and the digital economy have a favorable impact on tourism at all quantiles. The favorable effect across short-, medium-, and long-term quantiles can be attributed to higher disposable incomes and better access to digital platforms that facilitate travel planning, information dissemination, and service delivery. However, the rise in environmental degradation and higher exchange rates has a detrimental effect on the tourism industry. Environmental degradation reduces the aesthetic and ecological value of tourist destinations. Higher exchange rates make travel more expensive, reduce purchasing power, and discourage international travel. The practical implications include prioritizing economic development, allocating resources to digital transformation, and adopting thoughtful tactics for environmental sustainability. Policymakers should consider the complexities of exchange rate swings, which may create inflationary pressures from currency depreciation.
Sustainable tourism evaluates those destinations that balance economic growth with social well-being and environmental protection, rather than focusing solely on short-term economic gain. As a result, the management of natural resources and the preservation of social cohesion are becoming increasingly important in destination development. This study, using a combination of exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and hybrid multi-criteria decision-making methods, aims to identify and assess the factors influencing foreign tourists' selection of Albania as a tourist destination. Two hundred and seventy foreign tourists were surveyed to assess thirteen items that influence decision-making. EFA identified four main factors: destination sustainability practices, cultural attractions and facilities, perceived cost and value, and destination safety. Twelve tourism experts pair-wise compared criteria and sub-criteria obtained from the EFA on a scale of 1 to 9. The relative importance of the criteria and sub-criteria was determined using the Best–Worst Method (BWM). The Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) method was used to rank the four destination alternatives considered based on these weights. The results showed that ‘cultural attractions and facilities’ was the most influential criterion, followed by criteria related to cost and safety considerations, while sustainable practices had the lowest relative importance. The TOPSIS ranking showed that the Heritage and Culture Destination is the most preferred, as a result of its high performance in tourism services and cultural values, despite its moderate results in sustainability. The Riviera and Coastal Destination ran ked second most preferred, reinforcing Albania's dual attractiveness as both a cultural and a coastal destination. The findings provide important insights for managing and prioritizing tourism development in a rapidly growing and highly competitive market, while protecting long-term sustainability and natural resources.
Local wisdom-based tourism is increasingly seen as a strategic approach to achieving sustainable, inclusive, and competitive destination development, particularly in areas with rich cultural heritage and vibrant traditional social systems. Bireuen Regency, Aceh, boasts tourism potential stemming from relatively well-preserved natural resources and deeply embedded sociocultural values within its communities. This study explores the development of local wisdom based tourism products in Bireuen Regency, using the something to see, something to do, and something to buy framework integrated with sustainable tourism strategies. This research method uses an exploratory qualitative approach. Data were collected through indepth interviews with key informants, including tourism site managers and members of indigenous communities, selected using snowball sampling. Additional data were obtained through observation and documentation. Data analysis involved systematic stages of data reduction, data display, interpretation, and conclusion drawing. Results of the reseach reveal that Bireuen Regency possesses diverse local wisdom-based tourism potentials encompassing natural landscapes, tangible and intangible cultural heritage, and traditional social systems. Cultural traditions such as Meugang, Khanduri Laôt, and Khanduri Blang emerge as authentic cultural tourism attractions. Local knowledge and community social practices support the development of experiential and educational tourism. Furthermore, local crafts and culinary products including plik u, purun weaving, crafts from coconut powder, sate matang, kuah beulangong, and Acehnese noodles contribute significantly to community-based economic empowerment. A SWOT analysis positions tourism development in Quadrant I, indicating strong internal strengths and external opportunities, thereby supporting an aggressive development strategy centered on cultural preservation and digital promotion.
Religious tourism has emerged as a significant sector within global tourism, influencing visitor behavior, destination development, and spiritual experiences. Jordan, which is home to several Christian holy sites recognized by the Vatican in 2000, is quite important in terms of pilgrimage, but from a practical perspective, it has still not been fully studied. Understanding the factors that affect visitors' satisfaction and their intention to revisit is crucial for the maintenance of religious tourism sites. This study aims to analyze the behavior of visitors within the scope of religious tourism at five Christian holy sites in Jordan recognized by the Vatican. Specifically, it examines the relationships between travel motivati on, religious tourism experience, religious tourism potential, perceived challenges, overall satisfaction, and re-tourism intention. Data were collected from 500 visitors using a convenience sampling technique. The study employed Smart PLS 4 software to analyze the data through partial least squares–structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM). The proposed hypotheses were tested to assess direct, mediating, and moderating relationships among the study variables. The findings reveal significant relationships among the examined constructs. Visit motivation has a strong positive influence on re-tourism intention. Religious tourism experience and overall satisfaction act as significant mediators in this relationship. Furthermore, religious tourism potential and perceived challenges moderate the effect of visit motivation on re-tourism intention. The study advances religious tourism theory by integrating motivational, experiential, and contextual factors within a single framework. Practically, the findings provide valuable insights for Jordanian tourism authorities and destination stakeholders to enhance visitor experiences, address challenges, and strengthen the sustainability of religious tourism in the region.
Samui Island is a world-class marine tourism destination and a key economic driver for Thailand. Over the past several decades, Samui Island has experienced rapid spatial transformation. Development to support the tourism industry has led to rapid land use changes. The objective of this research is to analyze changes in land use patterns around Samui Island, Thailand, between 2006 and 2024 using Geo-information Technology (Geo-IT). Land use classification was performed from Landsat satellite images at each time period using the Random Forest classification method to detect and track changes in each type of land use. Future land use patterns in 2042 were then modelled using the CA-Markov model. Research results showed that in 2006, the majority of Samui Island's land area was covered by coconut, accounting for over 58.03% of the total area (137.28 km2 ). This area is located on the steep slopes of the central part of Samui Island. After 18 years, the area under coconut cultivation decreased, and the area was transformed into durian plantations and villages. The overall accuracy of land use classification was 84.1%, 81.7%, and 75.3% in 2024, 2014, and 2006, respectively. A CA-Markov model simulation of land use patterns for the year 2042 shows that over the next 18 years, land use patterns for City, Town, Commercial (U1), and Institutional (U3) land use categories will increase by 1044.05% and 1050.27%, respectively. Urban expansion in the northeastern part of Samui Island, in the Bo Phut area, has seen grass land transformed into villages. In the southern part of Samui Island, around Na Mueang, Paddy Field has been transformed into a village, the same as the western part of Samui Island, around Taling Ngam. The results highlight the predicted spatial and temporal dynamics of land use changes in Samui Island, revealing land use changes resulting from urban expansion and agricultural expansion, particularly coconut and durian, which are local cash crops. Therefore, it is imperative to monitor the areas that are sensitive to the changes occurring in the plain landscape around the island, especially the areas of Paddy field, Grass land, Forest land, Orchards, and Perenni al crops that are often converted into urban areas and villages. However, this research provides spatially-based land use data that will be useful for effective land use development planning in coastal tourism cities. This data will support decision -making in preparing for sustainable tourism development in the future.
This study provides a comprehensive examination of the mechanisms through which rural cultural landscape identity and active community participation contribute to sustainable cultural transmission. By viewing these dynamics through the lens of geosite tourism, the research examines three distinct traditional villages in Central Shandong, China. To ensure a holistic analysis, the study adopted a rigorous mixed-methods design. This methodological approach integrated quantitative data obtained from a survey of local residents (n=286) with qualitative depth derived from semi-structured interviews (n=20). Advanced data analysis using Structural Equation Modelling (ADANCO) was employed to test the hypothesized relationships. The empirical results indicate that a strong sense of landscape identity significantly strengthens community participation. Furthermore, this participation, when integrated with geosite tourism development activities, acts as a crucial mediator that indirectly supports the long-term transmission of cultural heritage. A key finding of the research is the role of policy support; the study demonstrates that government backing amplifies this positive pathway, acting as a vital moderating variable. These findings offer important implications for heritage management. They suggest that geosite-based tourism is a viable strategy for sustaining living heritage, provided that it is implemented correctly. Specifically, the model shows that sustainable outcomes are most likely achieved when community roles are clearly defined and when explicit governance support is present to guide the development process.
The rapid integration of large language models (LLMs) in higher education has transformed students' learning practices, particularly in applied disciplines such as tourism and hospitality education. Yet, limited empirical research explains the factors driving their adoption. Drawing on the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) and the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT), this study examines tourism and hospitality students' behavioural intention to use LLM-based learning tools by incorporating content reliability, learner motivation, and social influence as extended antecedents. Data were collected from 365 university students enrolled in tourism, hospitality and management courses in addition to the students enrolled in other allied programs having tourism as an elective course in India and analysed using partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) and Necessary Condition Analysis (NCA). The findings indicate that perceived usefulness remains central to adoption, while learner motivation and social influence play critical enabling roles. NCA further reveals that perceived usefulness, learner motivation, and social influence constitute necessary conditions for achieving high adoption intention. By integrating net-effect and necessity-based approaches, the study advances technology acceptance theory in AI-enabled education in tourism and hospitality. It offers practical insights for the responsible integration of LLMs in professional learning contexts.
Ghardaia, a prominent tourist destination in Algeria, attracts numerous visitors annually, contributing significantly to the region’s economy. Known for its rich historical, cultural, and natural heritage, the region’s urban landmarksearned UNESCO World Heritage status in 1982. One of its most important traditional industries is the handmade carpet "Zarbia" sector, which has been part of the region's heritage for thousands of years. Despite the challenges posed by modern industries, this eco-friendly craft remains highly valued, providing a source of livelihood for local women and accommodating workers of all ages, from young people to the elderly. However, in recent years, the industry has faced a decline, posing a risk to its survival. The study aims to identify strategies for sustaining the handmade carpet "Zarbia" weaving as a viable income source, while enhancing tourism in Ghardaia and Algeria. This paper explores the relationship between Zarbia production and tourism in Ghardaia, Algeria, using both qualitative and quantitative approaches. The study analyzes survey data, tourism flow statistics, and artisans 'distribution to identify key trends, challenges, and opportunities. The findings suggest that Zarbia production plays a significant role in cultural tourism, but challenges, such as high costs and limited marketing, hinder its full potential. Data analysis utilized SPSS and Excel. The paper concludes with recommendations for integrating Zarbia into the tourism sector and making predictions for future growth.
Given the growing urgency of sustainable development worldwide, tourism is emerging as a strategic sector to drive the global ecological transition. The main objective of this research was to determine the relationship between sustainable tourism and the green economy in the Peruvian context, comprehensively analyzing its environmental, sociocultural, and economic dimensions. A quantitative approach was adopted, with a correlational scope and a non - experimental, cross-sectional design. The sample consisted of 153 participants in the tourism sector, selected through nonprobability sampling based on predefined inclusion criteria. A structured survey of 32 items per variable, using a five -point Likert scale, was used. This survey was validated by expert judgment and demonstrated high reliability (Cronbach's alpha >0.8). Statistical analysis included normality tests (Kolmogorov-Smirnov) and Spearman's rank correlation coefficients. The results revealed a significant moderate positive correlation between the main variables (Rho = 0.501, p = 0.001). Specifically, the sociocultural dimension showed the strongest association (0.560), followed by the economic (0.337) and environmental (0.181) dimensions. The findings indicate that incorporating sustainable practices into tourism aligns with the core principles of the green economy: social equity, environmental protection, and economic growth. It was determined that, in Peru, the transition to a green economic model is facilitated by the promotion of responsible management, resource preservation, and active community involvement. This provides data for the design of empirically grounded public policies and business strategies that promote inclusive, balanced, and resilient development in the country.
This research aims to examine the influence of integrated causal factors affecting the future success of sustainable tourism management in Thailand amid changes in social and cultural dimensions, the Bio-Circular-Green (BCG) economy, and the pro-environmental sector. The study adopts a mixed-methods research approach and applies a Multinomial Logistic Model based on Path Analysis, referred to as the Logit-PA model, which was identified as the best-fitting model for examining the relationships among the relevant factors. The findings indicate that stakeholder participation is the most critical factor influencing the success of sustainable tourism. When this factor was incorporated into the Logit-PA model as a new policy scenario, the true direct effects of the causal factors became more evident. The inclusion of stakeholder participation also contributed to a continuous long-term reduction in greenhouse gas emissions generated by tourism activities. Furthermore, the study identifies several strategic approaches to achieving sustainable tourism development goals. These include enhancing the capacity of tourism service providers to manage resources efficiently, emphasizing social and cultural dimensions in tourism development, and promoting the consumption of tourism products and services that are consistent with the principles of the BCG economy. In addition, supporting factors should be developed to improve the efficiency of environmental resource management and ensure the long-term sustainability of tourism practices. This research provides substantial practical value for policy planning and implementation by guiding Thailand’s national development toward long-term sustainability goals. The findings may also be adapted and applied to other sectors in future studies under changing future conditions.
This review study aims to analyze how a small island destination, exemplified by Samal in the Davao Gulf (Philippines), can achieve rapid tourism growth and transition into a competitive regional destination. It seeks to identify key drivers and strategies behind its successful development. The research examines the pathways by which a small island destination can transform into a “rising star” in the contemporary tourism market. The research employed a review-based approach combining secondary tourism data from 2015 to 2024 with a detailed case study analysis of Samal Island. The study employed a destination development framework to evaluate the impact of institutional, environmental, and socio-economic factors on growth. The findings indicate that Samal’s tourism growth is driven by interconnected elements, including sustainable practices, the utilization of cultural and natural resources, and collaborative governance. These factors collectively enhanced the island’s visibility and competitiveness in Southeast Asia’s tourism landscape. The study concludes that even small, resource-limited destinations can reposition themselves successfully in regional tourism hierarchies through sustainable management, effective cooperation among stakeholders, and strategic leveraging of local assets. The contribution of this research lies in providing review evidence from the emerging island context of Southeast Asia, illustrating that even modestly resource-endowed destinations can successfully reposition themselves in regional tourism hierarchies when attractive resources and inclusive governance come together.
The aim of this research is to investigate the effect of eco-brand image and green satisfaction on consumer trust and brand equity, with the moderating role of environmental knowledge. The study also examines the effect of consumer trust and brand equity on customer loyalty. For this purpose, data were collected from 301 hotel guests who had stayed at Green Star certified hotels in Antalya within the last six months. The data were analysed using the Partial Least Squares (PLS) method within the Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) framework, implemented via SmartPLS software. The findings indicate that ecobrand image and green satisfaction have a positive and significant effect on consumer trust and brand equity. In addition, consumer trust and brand equity were found to have a positive and significant effect on customer loyalty. Regarding the moderating role of environmental knowledge, the results indicate that this variable significantly moderates only the relationships between eco-brand image and green satisfaction, as well as between eco-brand image and brand equity. In contrast, the moderating effect of environmental knowledge was not supported for the relationship between eco-brand image and customer trust, nor for the relationship between green satisfaction and customer trust. These findings suggest that while environmental knowledge enhances certain positive outcomes of eco-brand image, its moderating influence does not extend to relationships involving customer trust. These findings suggest that while environmental knowledge enhances certain positive outcomes of ecobrand image, its moderating influence does not extend to customer trust-related relationships. While previous research has examined environmental initiatives in various tourism sectors, studies focusing specifically on the hotel sector remain limited. Therefore, this research contributes to the literature by partially addressing this gap and reveals an emerging trend among Turkish consumers who increasingly expect hotels to adopt environmentally friendly practices.
In 2023, the UNESCO Global Geopark Network (GGN) issued new regulations regarding the internationally significant value of geosites. These guidelines are referenced from the IUGS document (Document code: SC/EES/2023/UGGp/4), so all aspiring UNESCO Global Geoparks (aUGGp) must comply with these guidelines. To become a UNESCO Global Geopark, each UNESCO Global Geopark candidate must possess a geological heritage of international value. The Kebumen Geopark, which was proposed as an aUGGp, must prepare this document. This study was conducted according to IUGS standards through dossier reviews, field studies, expert team reviews, and assessments. Based on the assessment of 42 geosites, 13 geosites in the Kebumen area have international value. Ten Geosites in the northern part include G1, G3, and G5, as paleontology of geological interest, exotic blocks of bedded radiolarian chert and calcareous red claystone. The history of Geoscience interests are G4 and G5; the geological interest of Igneous petrology is G7. Geological structure and tectonic interest include G10 and G14. The geological interests of nummulite paleontology are G11 and G16. The international significance geosites in the southern part with geohydrological interest are geosites G27 (Jatijajar cave complex), G28 (Barat Cave), and G30 (Petruk Cave). This paper aims to apply the IUGS assessment guidelines to the Kebumen aUGGp proposed in November 2023. Hopefully, this paper can serve as an example for other geopark candidates seeking UNESCO Global Geoparks (UGGp) designation.
As the global tourism industry increasingly adopts digital innovations, cryptocurrencies have emerged as a promising alternative for seamless and borderless financial transactions. While their use offers efficiency and convenience, tourists’ willingness to adopt such technologies depends heavily on psychological factors such as awareness and trust. Understanding these factors is crucial for both industry stakeholders and policymakers seeking to foster adoption. This study aims to examine the relationship between tourists’ awareness of cryptocurrencies and their trust in using them for tourism-related transactions. A particular focus is placed on the mediating role of tourists’ attitudes in this relationship. By clarifying these mechanisms, the study contributes to both theory and practical strategies for digital payment adoption in tourism. A quantitative methodology was employed, using a structured questionnaire distributed to a convenience sample of 387 tourists from diverse nationalities. The study measured three key constructs—awareness, attitude, and trust—using validated scales. Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) was conducted using Warp PLS version 8 to examine the relationships among the study variables. The results indicate that tourists’ awareness of cryptocurrencies clearly contributes to forming positive attitudes toward their use. These attitudes, in turn, play a crucial role in enhancing tourists’ trust in using cryptocurrencies for tourism-related transactions, acting as a psychological bridge that transforms knowledge into confidence. Although awareness has a direct effect on trust, this influence is limited, suggesting that trust is better established when positive attitudes are present. These findings highlight the central role of both awareness and attitudes in building trust, emphasizing that education and information alone may not be sufficient to ensure cryptocurrency adoption without fostering favorable perceptions among users.
UNESCO Global Geoparks (UGGps) play a vital role in linking geoheritage conservation with sustainable tourism development. However, existing studies on geotourism strategy formulation in these settings remain largely descriptive and often lack a robust quantitative basis for prioritization. This study seeks to identify and prioritize sustainable geotourism development strategies for the Lang Son UGGp using a structured, replicable decision-support framework. A mixed-method approach integrating SWOT, AHP, TOWS, and a two-round Delphi technique was employed. The SWOT analysis was first used to identify internal and external factors using triangulated data sources. The relative importance of these factors was then assessed using the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) through pairwise comparisons and consistency testing. Based on the prioritized factors, the TOWS matrix was applied to generate strategic options, which were subsequently evaluated by a fixed panel of 15 experts using the Delphi method. Final strategy rankings were established using a weighted scoring model that combined AHP-derived global weights with Delphi impact scores. The results reveal a clear dominance of SO strategies, indicating a strong alignment between the geopark’s geoheritage strengths and emerging market opportunities. The highest-ranked strategies emphasize interpretation-based geotourism education and integrated geo-eco-cultural experiences designed to enhance visitor engagement and deliver greater community benefits. In addition, geosite protection and risk management were identified as critical enabling conditions for ensuring lo ngterm sustainability and operational resilience. The study demonstrates that integrating SWOT-AHP-TOWS with Delphi enhances both analytical rigour and practical relevance in strategic prioritisation. The proposed framework provides a transparent and adaptable decision-support tool for geoparks and similar destinations facing conservation–development trade-offs.
Buy-now, pay-later (BNPL) services can accelerate consumption, potentially trapping users in debt fueled by materialism. This phenomenon is critical in the tourism sector, where emotional and impulsive purchasing is common. Therefore, this research aims to investigate how materialism can influence BNPL use and impulsive and compulsive buying, focusing specifically on tourism consumption (e.g., spontaneous destination bookings, premium upgrades, and on-site purchases). Additionally, the authors examine if BNPL use and impulsive buying mediate the underlying relationship between materialism and compulsive buying. Utilizing a quantitative research design, this paper analyzes survey data collected from 204 BNPL users. The survey investigates participants' usage of BNPL services and assesses their levels of materialism, compulsive buying, and impulsive buying through validated psychological scales. Preliminary analysis indicates a significant correlation between BNPL usage and heightened levels of materialism, as well as increased tendencies towards compulsive and impulsive buying behaviors. These findings suggest that Fintech solutions like BNPL, by easing the immediate financial pain of high-ticket travel purchases, may encourage consumer behaviors linked to negative financial and psychological outcomes. This research contributes significantly to the limited literature on tourism consumer behavior and Fintech in travel by providing empirical evidence on the relationship between BNPL use and consumer psychographics (materialism) that drives compulsive purchasing. It clarifies the mediating mechanism through which BNPL facilitates irrational and financially risky tourism spending. The study acknowledges limitations, including its reliance on self-reported data and the potential for social desirability bias. The insights are vital for tourism policymakers and destination marketers, highlighting the ethical need for greater consumer protection and financial education regarding BNPL use, especially in spontaneous travel purchasing decisions, to prevent debt traps from compulsive tourism consumption.
