Effective data protection is a fundamental challenge in information security. This study evaluates the effectiveness of three widely used hashing methods—SHA-256, SHA-3-256, and bcrypt—for securing sensitive data. Their theoretical foundations are described, and experiments are presented to measure computation time and collision resistance. The results show that SHA-256 and SHA-3-256 offer high performance and strong cryptographic robustness. Bcrypt, although slower, provides greater security for password storage due to its use of random salt and its resistance to brute-force attacks. The entropy of the generated hashes and the absence of collisions under intensive testing are also analyzed. The findings reinforce the importance of selecting the appropriate algorithm based on context: SHA for general data integrity and bcrypt for credentials.
From the perspective of employees, this research aims to understand which strategies are most suitable for retaining talent in the hotel sector. To this end, we sought to answer the following research question: ‘What retention factors are most valued by employees in the hotel sector?’. Specifically, the aim is to identify, from the perspective of employees in the hotel sector (1) the talent retention practices adopted; (2) the benefits of using talent retention practices and (3) the challenges associated with the retention strategies adopted. A quantitative approach was favoured, with a questionnaire survey used as the primary information-gathering technique. A total of 86 respondents linked to the hotel sector took part in this study. The results suggest that the respondents partially agree with the remuneration, work-life balance practices, culture and organisational climate of their companies, recognition, career progression, training and leadership style, but recommend improving these practices. The main challenges to retention are competition with other companies, the benefits package and working conditions. The final part of the article presents some limitations and points to avenues for future research.
This paper presents a hybrid approach combining queueing theory and discrete event simulation (DES) to enhance the performance of a cooperative financial institution’s call center. Based on empirical data and Pareto analysis, four staffing scenarios were evaluated using simulation. Scenario 2 prioritizing vital calls through targeted agent allocation achieved the best results, reducing abandonment rates from 34
This is a conceptual paper that explores tourist loyalty within the context of hiking tourism, with a specific focus on hiking festivals and trails as key tourism products. By addressing an identified research gap, this study aims to deepen the understanding of loyalty dynamics when related to specific predictive factors, motivations, and attributes of hikers and visitors in natural protected areas. Employing a semi-systematic literature review methodology, the research synthesises existing knowledge on loyalty antecedents, including motivation, satisfaction, involvement, perceived value, experience quality, and customer delight. The study proposes a comprehensive conceptual framework for understanding loyalty in hiking tourism, highlighting the complex interplay of these determinants. This contribution advances theoretical understanding and provides practical guidance for destination managers seeking to foster sustainable hiking tourism. The findings call for future empirical validation and highlight the unique role of festivals in cultivating emotional bonds and community-based loyalty.
This study analyses the impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI) on tourism experiences in Cape Verde, aiming to understand tourists’ perceptions, perceived benefits, and challenges related to the use of AI technologies. Using a mixed-methods approach and a questionnaire applied to 262 respondents, the study reveals that although AI tools such as chatbots, automated translators, and recommendation systems are not yet widely adopted, they are recognized as enhancing travel experiences. Most participants reported positive effects, including increased personalization, time efficiency, and improved communication. However, significant barriers remain, particularly the lack of digital information about the destination, limited connectivity, and concerns about data privacy. Findings highlight the need for targeted investment in digital infrastructure, inclusive policies, and local capacity building to support sustainable and ethical AI integration in tourism. This research contributes to the debate on smart tourism futures in insular contexts and calls for balanced technological development that aligns innovation with social and environmental responsibility.
A data breach can happen through multiple channels, and measures or actions can be taken to minimize its likelihood, employees have access to sensitive data and information assets that must be protected. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of various data loss prevention techniques in a business environment, analyzing their ability to detect and prevent the exfiltration of sensitive data. Among the results, a DLP tool was evaluated, three profiles were created that were executed correctly, the first profile found three ID numbers, the second profile found 23 occurrences of sensitive words, and the third profile found 72 occurrences of card numbers, and the characteristics and techniques used by the profiles were compared. It was concluded that maintaining a DLP helps in visibility and exceptionality by gaining granular insights into employee behavior in a company..
The island of Príncipe exhibits distinctive characteristics that position it as a particularly relevant case study for tourism development in Small Island Developing States (SIDS). Given its fragile economy, limited territorial size, and pronounced isolation, the island has increasingly relied on tourism as a strategic driver of development. Drawing on a review of the literature and a series of interviews, the study highlights the importance of leveraging Príncipe’s rich natural heritage and authenticity to foster small-scale tourism centered on meaningful, distinctive experiences. In parallel, extensive fieldwork and collaboration with domain experts supported the development of a comprehensive inventory of tourism resources, and the identification and evaluation of potential tourism products and experiences. The findings underscore the importance of expanding the tourism offer to attract discerning travelers seeking responsible travel and high-value experiences that integrate nature, coastal landscapes, and cultural heritage.
This study examines risk perception in cruise tourism, with particular emphasis on the changes triggered by the Covid-19 pandemic. It aims to understand how this perception influences tourists’ decision-making processes, especially in terms of trust in the health and safety measures implemented by cruise operators. A quantitative research design was adopted, based on the application of structured questionnaires to a sample of cruise consumers. Statistical analysis indicates that, despite the initial impact of the pandemic, most respondents did not report significant changes in perceived risk, and a relevant proportion now considers cruises to be less risky than before. The study’s main limitations include the short duration of data collection and the non-representative nature of the sample in terms of sociodemographic diversity. Nonetheless, the findings contribute to a better understanding of consumer behaviour in the post-pandemic context and offer valuable insights for the development of targeted marketing and communication strategies within the cruise industry.
This study evaluates the impact of malware detection methods on the performance of wearable devices using the Wear OS emulator operating system, a version of Google’s Android operating system designed for smartwatches and other wearables. Three detection methods were used: baseline and threshold-based detection, system behavior monitoring, and passive power and sensor analysis. Through controlled tests on the emulator, CPU, RAM, battery, threads, and sensor usage were determined under a baseline and when running a maliciously behaving application. The findings show that, despite the limitations of wearables, malware can manifest itself in small changes to the normal system behavior. Recommendations include adopting a hybrid detection model that combines signature-based detection for known threats with anomaly- or behavior-based detection.
In recent years, slow tourism has gained traction as a valuable sustainable alternative to mass tourism, promoting meaningful, immersive experiences rooted in local culture, authenticity, and well-being. Despite growing interest, the academic literature on slow tourism remains fragmented across disciplines and methodological approaches. This study aims to bridge that gap by mapping the structure of recent scientific production on slow tourism experiences through a bibliometric analysis of 144 peer-reviewed articles indexed in the Web of Science database. Using VOSviewer and Excel, the study identified dominant trends, key contributors, thematic clusters, and publication outlets. Findings reveal a notable increase in scholarly output and citations post-2015, particularly after 2020, indicating growing academic attention in the post-pandemic context. The analysis highlighted five interconnected thematic clusters: authenticity and local embeddedness; sustainable mobility and climate change; tourist motivation and behavioural intention; well-being and personal meaning; and heritage and identity. The co-authorship network pointed to strong international collaboration. Journals such as Sustainability emerged as primary publication venues, highlighting links between the slow tourism and sustainability dimensions. This study contributes to the theoretical consolidation of slow tourism as an interdisciplinary field, offering practical insights for destination management, policy, and sustainable consumption.
The Fourth Industrial Revolution has accelerated the digitalisation and automation of production systems, bringing transformative changes across all sectors. In Europe and Portugal, this transition—referred to as Industry 4.0—has been supported by public policies that align technological innovation with sustainability goals, while also acknowledging existing territorial and sectoral asymmetries. Within this context, digital transformation represents a strategic opportunity for key sectors in the Autonomous Region of the Azores—namely Agriculture, the Agri-food Industry, and the Sea and Blue Growth economy—prioritised under the RIS3-Azores strategy. The primary objective of this study is to examine how organisational factors—such as awareness, readiness, and strategic leadership—shape the digital transformation process and its integration with sustainability. A quantitative survey was conducted among professionals in relevant sectors, and the proposed model was tested using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM). This statistical technique enabled the evaluation of eleven research hypotheses, encompassing both direct and mediating effects among key constructs. The results confirm the central role of awareness and perceptions of digital transformation as key explanatory variables of digital maturity. The findings demonstrate that a strategic perception of digitalisation acts as a driver of organisational readiness and alignment, thereby reinforcing innovation capacity. Moreover, leadership emerges as a critical enabler in integrating sustainability and social responsibility practices, underscoring its mediating role in fostering digital awareness and mobilising organisations towards sustainable innovation.
With the growth of social media, TikTok stands out as an innovative platform that transforms the way users discover and plan trips. Through short and engaging videos, TikTok has become a significant platform for promoting tourist destinations, directly influencing users’ travel intentions. The immersive experience provided by attractive visual content and digital influencers, combined with the personalization of the algorithm and the potential for virality, awakens the desire to explore new places. This study examines the impact of travel content on TikTok on the travel intentions of Portuguese consumers. Employing a quantitative methodology, a questionnaire was administered to 143 Portuguese users of the platform who consume this type of content. Factors such as the presence of influencers, trust in the content, visual quality, understanding of the message, and the pleasure derived from the videos were analyzed. The results reveal that digital influencers, trust in the content, and the pleasure generated by the videos have a significant impact on the intention to travel. In contrast, visual quality and content understanding were not decisive. This study contributes to the understanding of TikTok's role in influencing consumer behavior within the tourism sector. It reinforces the importance of social media in the digital marketing of tourist destinations.
Community-Based Rural Tourism (CBRT) has been recognized across Latin America as a strategy for sustainable development, social inclusion, and cultural preservation. In Colombia, numerous initiatives self-identify as “community-based” without fully adhering to CBRT principles, resulting in conceptual and operational ambiguities. This article presents the design of a qualitative tool aimed at assessing CBRT experiences in the country. The tool was developed through a comprehensive literature review and a comparative analysis of existing frameworks in Latin America. It is structured around seven key dimensions: governance, community control, equitable distribution of benefits, environmental sustainability, cultural heritage, organizational strengthening, and territorial linkages. Conceived as a participatory checklist with qualitative indicators, the instrument is intended for diagnostic, planning, and certification processes. It is designed to adapt to Colombia’s socio-territorial contexts, with a particular emphasis on regions such as the Northeastern Corridor of Gran Santander. This proposal addresses the lack of validated tools in the national context and contributes to strengthening both the authenticity and scalability of CBRT through participatory, context-sensitive evaluation.
Sustainability constitutes an increasingly important factor of competitiveness for tourist destinations; however, the implementation of truly sustainable governance requires comprehensive monitoring across the economic, social, and environmental dimensions. Grounded in the conceptual framework of the Triple Bottom Line, this study examines the extent to which Portugal’s Tourism Strategy 2027 (ET27) has achieved the defined sustainability performance targets for the sector. A mixed-method approach was adopted, combining document analysis and secondary data, within a longitudinal perspective covering the period from 2018 to 2024. Official data from the TravelBI platform were analysed alongside complementary sources. The findings reveal significant tourism growth during the period, particularly in economic indicators, such as the 19
This study investigates how Generation Z experiences flow states in the context of mountain tourism, with a particular focus on digital influences and activity preferences. Using a quantitative, survey-based approach, data were collected from 219 Romanian respondents aged 18–30. The results indicate that immersive experiences, particularly moderate hiking and wildlife observation, are strongly associated with high levels of engagement and positive emotional states. Inspiring landscapes, a peaceful atmosphere, and well-balanced challenges were key facilitators of flow, while overcrowding, poor trail signage, and environmental disturbances emerged as primary barriers. The findings also highlight the supportive role of technology, such as mobile guides and GPS tools, in enhancing engagement. This research underscores the importance of tailoring sustainable tourism strategies to the expectations and values of Generation Z and offers implications for both tourism development and future cross-cultural studies.
This paper presents a systematic literature review of machine learning (ML) applications in cybersecurity. It explores supervised, unsupervised, and reinforcement learning paradigms for tasks such as intrusion detection, malware classification, phishing prevention, and privacy protection. The study synthesizes over a decade of research and identifies key benefits, including adaptive threat detection and real-time response. However, it also highlights limitations such as data scarcity, adversarial vulnerabilities, and integration barriers. Emphasis is placed on emerging directions like explainable AI, privacy-preserving models, and multi-agent systems. The findings underscore that ML is not only a technological enhancement but a paradigm shift in cyber defense, demanding interdisciplinary collaboration to ensure ethical, scalable, and robust implementation.
Brands use marketing and advertising to convey pro-environmental messages and promote a sustainable image, often through elements like green product seals. Greenwashing is a practice in which companies falsely promote environmental responsibility by exaggerating benefits, concealing negative impacts, omitting key issues, or providing incomplete information to increase sales. Companies adopt these strategies because implementing genuine environmental change is expensive and complex. This study analyzes the phenomenon of greenwashing through the “Let's Close the Cycle” campaign of the fashion brand H M, an advertising strategy used by some organizations to communicate a pro-environmental message to the public when, in fact, they are doing the opposite. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 20 women belonging to Generation Y who shop at Mega Plaza and/or Plaza Norte shopping malls. In conclusion, Generation Y views greenwashing as a deceptive and harmful practice employed by companies to obtain favorable results. The interviewees did not visualize elements or aspects in favor of environmental care in the stores that relate to the digital messages communicated by H M.
As the tourism industry faces growing pressure to align with environmental and demographic imperatives, Spain emerges as a case study for how sustainable travel can evolve through digital innovation and inclusion. This paper explores the intersection of sustainable tourism, ageing populations, and emerging technologies—particularly artificial Intelligence and blockchain—through a qualitative analysis of Spain’s tourism strategy and stakeholder interviews. Findings reveal that destinations investing in eco-friendly practices and digital accessibility not only improve environmental outcomes but also appeal to senior travelers, a rapidly expanding and influential demographic. Spain’s policy initiatives, including the Sustainable Tourism Strategy 2030 and platforms like España Accesible, reveal how digital tools can empower older adults, enabling safer, more meaningful, and environmentally responsible travel. By reframing older tourists as active co-creators of sustainable value, the study extends Stakeholder Theory and contributes to the literature on the silver economy and responsible tourism. The results offer both theoretical insights and practical recommendations for building tourism systems that are ethically grounded, technologically advanced, and demographically inclusive.
The concept of accessible tourism has emerged as a pivotal domain for the promotion of inclusivity within the tourism sector, particularly with respect to individuals living with disabilities and those exhibiting diverse requirements. Nevertheless, the digital management of accessible tourism, encompassing booking platforms and planning tools, is influenced by a multitude of intrinsic and extrinsic factors. The latter comprise socio-cultural, economic, and tourism-related factors that have the capacity to engender substantial variations between regions. While certain nations are endeavouring to incorporate accessible technologies into their tourism systems, others encounter structural impediments that impede their progress. This paper explores the manner in which socio-cultural and economic contexts, including norms, attitudes and education, as well as investment, public policies and technological development, have the potential to condition the implementation of accessible tourism solutions. The study employs a global comparative approach, utilising an analysis of official tourism websites as a primary research method. The results unequivocally demonstrate substantial regional differences and identify three primary geographical groupings, each exhibiting a distinct level of development in terms of accessibility and tourism.
The podcast has emerged as a dynamic and flexible digital medium that enables the distribution of audio and video content through online platforms. Its accessibility via mobile devices and its on-demand nature make it especially appealing to younger audiences accustomed to digital environments. This article explores the evolution of podcasting from its origins in internet radio to its current status as a personalized and democratized communication tool. It examines the typologies of podcasts based on episode structure, audience, format, and institutional affiliation, highlighting their versatility as both entertainment and educational tools. Furthermore, the study addresses the role of youth in driving podcast trends through social media interaction, content sharing, and emotional identification with specific themes. It also reflects on gender-based preferences in podcast consumption and the growing integration of podcasts in educational settings as complementary learning resources. Although podcast adoption remains limited in certain contexts, such as Ecuador, emerging youth segments demonstrate proactive attitudes toward this medium, positioning it as a vehicle for autonomous learning and cultural participation. These findings contribute to understanding podcasting as a complex cultural phenomenon that intertwines identity, digital literacy, and media convergence.
