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A systematic review of consumers’ pro-circularity behaviours under the lens of tourism research
Get PDFObjectives | As the concepts of circular economy and its applications in tourism gain momentum, there is a growing interest among consumers in embracing practices that align with these trends. Nonetheless, most research in these domains tends to adopt an industry-centric point of view. Furthermore, few studies approach the topic of pro-circular consumer behaviours in a holistic way. In the context of tourism, visitors\u27 daily habits often mirror their conduct at their chosen destinations. This study embarks on a systematic review of existing literature to explore consumers\u27 adoption of circular economy behaviours in their everyday lives. The main goal is to develop a comprehensive framework for examining demand-driven pro-circular actions, which can be applied to services, including those within the realm of tourism.
Methodology | A search for articles in English regarding pro-circularity consumer behaviours was made in the Scopus database, using the keywords referring to circular economy and consumer behaviour. This platform was chosen based on its multidisciplinary and scientifically trustworthy content. This query on Scopus 368 records. The selection criteria followed the PRISMA approach (Page et al., 2020), including only the indexed articles in English that study consumers’ behaviours in the circular economy. This refined approach led to the inclusion of 138 papers, which were subjected to thorough content analysis.
Main Results and Contributions | Several studies have explored specific pro-circularity behaviours. However, the content analysis has unveiled a lack of literature that summarizes the most relevant behaviours in a circular economy, particularly those that apply to services and the tourism industry. While there already exists a framework of consumer pro-circularity behaviours (Shevchenko et al., 2023), most studies refer to the Potting’s 10R work (2017), therefore existing a lack of a holistic framework that can be adapted to the tourism reality. The findings from this systematic review have facilitated the development of such framework. In literature, several authors highlight the relevance of engaging consumers as agents that can help “close the loop” (Sørensen & Bærenholdt, 2020), yet most studies have a sub-sector approach to consumer behaviours (i.e. willingness to pay for second-hand fashion products). This study not only contributes to the field by shedding light on the evolving landscape of consumer pro-circularity behaviours, pinpointing key trends, and highlighting the need for further investigation into this expanding area, but also allowed for the identification of the main research groups and provided geographical and temporal context into the behavioural studies within circular economy.
From a practical standpoint, our research can inform businesses and policymakers aiming to promote pro-circular behaviours among consumers. Understanding the motivations and actions that drive circular economy engagement can assist in developing targeted strategies and policies that encourage sustainable practices in both product consumption and tourism activities.
On a theoretical level, our study enriches the academic discourse by providing a comprehensive overview of the state of research in consumer pro-circularity behaviours. It highlights the importance of recognizing the interconnectedness of consumer behaviours and the circular economy, offering a framework for future investigations. Additionally, our identification of environmentally conscious purchasing, strategies to extend product lifecycles, and effective waste and food surplus management as central themes contributes to the theoretical foundation of the pro-circular economy field, providing a basis for further exploration and theory development.
Limitations | Considering the relatively recent emergence of the field within the realm of social sciences and particularly tourism research, the limited number of studies dedicated to consumers\u27 circular economy behaviours poses a limitation for this study. This constraint may have implications for the scope and depth of our research findings.
Conclusions | In conclusion, this study does a comprehensive examination of consumer pro-circularity behaviours, particularly within the context of the emerging circular economy and circular tourism movements. While numerous studies have explored various components of these behaviours, our analysis has revealed a significant gap in the literature — specifically, the need for a deeper understanding of the most prevalent actions and motivations driving demand-driven pro-circular behaviours. This gap becomes more apparent when considering the relative scarcity of research within the scope of tourism. Our review not only addresses this crucial gap but also contributes substantially to the field. By synthesizing existing literature and developing a conceptual framework, our research provides valuable insights for businesses, policymakers, and researchers alike.
References
Page, M. J., McKenzie, J. E., Bossuyt, P. M., Boutron, I., Hoffmann, T. C., Mulrow, C. D., Shamseer, L., Tetzlaff, J. M., Akl, E. A., Brennan, S. E., Chou, R., Glanville, J., Grimshaw, J. M., Hróbjartsson, A., Lalu, M. M., Li, T., Loder, E. W., Mayo-Wilson, E., McDonald, S., … Moher, D. (2021). The PRISMA 2020 statement: an updated guideline for reporting systematic reviews. Systematic Reviews, 10(1), 89. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13643-021-01626-4
Potting, J., Hekkert, M., Worrell, E., & Hanemaaijer, A. (2017). Findings. In PBL Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency (Ed.), Circular economy: Measuring innovation in the product chain (1st ed., Vol. 1, pp. 4–8). PBL Publishers.
Shevchenko, T., Saidani, M., Ranjbari, M., Kronenberg, J., Danko, Y., & Laitala, K. (2023). Consumer behavior in the circular economy: Developing a product-centric framework. Journal of Cleaner Production, 384. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2022.135568
Sørensen, F., & Bærenholdt, J. O. (2020). Tourist practices in the circular economy. Annals of Tourism Research, 85. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.annals.2020.10302
“Não existe património sem nós”: O papel dos povos e comunidades tradicionais no Primeiro Sítio Misto Mundial do Brasil
Get PDFRecognition as a World Heritage site can be a significant milestone for the traditional communities in the region. This designation creates opportunities for empowerment, promotes the preservation of culture and ancestral knowledge, encourages sustainable nature management practices, and fosters inclusion and participation in decisions related to territories and tourism on a global scale. This designation positions these groups as key actors in the conservation of heritage and the sustainable development of their areas.O reconhecimento como Patrimônio Mundial pode ser um marco importante para as comunidades tradicionais da região. Isso cria oportunidades de empoderamento, promove a preservação da cultura e do conhecimento ancestral, estimula práticas sustentáveis de gestão da natureza e incentiva a inclusão e participação nas decisões relacionadas aos territórios e ao turismo em um contexto global. Essa designação posiciona esses grupos como atores fundamentais na conservação do patrimônio e no desenvolvimento sustentável de suas áreas
Lake tourism in Alqueva: a timeline from 2002 till 2023
Get PDFObjectives
A number of well-known tourism destinations around the world are based on lakes as their main attraction. Although is still difficult to determine the economic significance of lakes, lake tourism has been recognized as a relevant subfield of tourism studies. It is important to note that lakes are open water bodies, dams or reservoirs which might represent a valuable resource for a variety of human activities. In addition, lakes might also become an important resource for tourism development, based on their landscape features, flora, fauna and cultural attractions. Lakes offer a naturally defined core resource for tourism development (Hall and Härkönen, 2006). This is in fact a term that tends to be categorized by the location of the lake. Therefore, some authors prefer the term ‘water-based tourism’ since it relates to any activity or experience undertaken in or in relation to water (Jennings, 2011). For that reason, lake tourism is also grounded in creating unique experiences, strongly based on sensations, emotions and feelings that help to create memories associated with the lake itself (Rodrigues, 2015; Rodrigues, Correia & Kozak, 2017; Rodrigues, 2023). The site of this study work is the Alqueva man-made lake as an emerging destination in the Alentejo region in the south of Portugal with 250 km2 (also partly in Spain). This work aims to: (i) discuss the concept and main characteristics of lake- destination areas applied to a particular lake in Portugal, Alqueva Lake; (ii) to establish a timeline
for the evolution of tourism development at Alqueva Lake; (iii) to present and describe some examples of well-organized tourism products related to several types of tourism, such as wine tourism, nature tourism, astrotourism, cultural tourism or nautical tourism that are being developed around Alqueva Lake, adding value to the lake tourism experience; and finally (iii) based on a literature review of lake tourism, to introduce and briefly discuss important issues concerning Alqueva Lake as a future lake-destination area.
Methodology
In order to reach the proposed goals a multistage methodology will be applied: (i) a linear timeline with the important historical events related to the management of the lake which have occurred from 2002 till 2023 will be undertaken in order to have a clear picture about the chronological arrangement of important events related to management of Alqueva Lake. The goal is to contribute more effectively to a better understanding of the Alqueva Lake present days; (ii) an observation grid will be conducted to support the analysis of typologies of tourism, types of tourism products and companies that offer well organized tourism products at the Alqueva Lake, based on the analysis of websites; and (iii) analysis of some examples of tourism experiences surrounding the Alqueva Lake will be undertaken, in order to extract important elements of tourism product engineering.
Mains results and contributions
There seems to be no doubt that Alqueva is at the very beginning of the life-cycle as a lake-destination area. This is an ongoing study and does not have concrete results to present. However, some reflections can be presented at this moment. Firstly, an integrated lake management approach should be implemented since lakes are complex destination systems (Cooper, 2006). Coordination is essential in all types of destinations, but even more with lakes as open systems. The vulnerability of lakes, which represent fragile eco-systems, the multiple uses of lakes, and the level of complexity of coordinating all the different stakeholders involved in the destination, demands a holistic view of the lake. Given the difficulty of managing Alqueva Lake as a single entity due to the fact that this reservoir did not exist until 2002 and now a new situation has arisen, crossing different territorial boundaries; in the near future it will be useful to implement a specific authority consisting of representatives from the different public sector agents involved in the management of the lake. Additionally, a partnership task force could emerge with public, and private sector and the community that could provide strategic advice and recommendations in the creation, monitoring and review of policies for developing and managing Alqueva Lake and any issues related to its future. In addition, tourism at lakes takes place in the surrounding area of the lake and not exclusively on the lake itself (Hall and Härkönen, 2006). Naturally, linked to the definition of lake tourism is the idea that there is a geographical entity with particular environmental characteristics. This feature is, probably more evident at natural lakes which have always existed in a particular place than artificially created lakes. Given the background of Alqueva as a new lake that has existed only since 2002, one of the central discussions is the need for a clear delimitation of the territorial boundaries of Alqueva as a lake-destination area.
In terms of product development, the idea of the gateway approach first proposed by Gunn (1979) which Gartner (1993) explored applied to lake areas, could be implemented in Alqueva Lake in terms of product development, promotion and distribution. Gateways are seen as consumption centres, which offer products from different service providers in a central location. However, gateways are not only applied in terms of location in a physical space, but nowadays they can be understood in terms of new technologies in tourism. In the case of lake destinations this idea of gateways is of great importance due to the complex destination system as mentioned before. Presently, the concept of gateways applied to lakes involves the existence of a website as a promotion and distribution tool, providing information from the multiple services providers (e.g. accommodation, activities, events, restaurants) at the lake in an integrated and coordinated model. In the future Alqueva Lake should develop a website, since from a customer point of view destinations are viewed like any other product.
Limitations This is an ongoing work that includes several stages in terms of methodology. At this stage, a review of the state of the art about the development of tourism at Alqueva Lake will be undertaken. There are no limitations to consider for now.
Conclusions
It can be concluded that: (i) the lake tourism concept is holistic and embraces not only touristic experiences at the lake, but also in the surrounding region; (ii) after 20 years of existence it is possible to have several proposals of tourism experiences based on several tourism products organized around the lake (nature, gastronomy, pedestrian, cultural or astrotourism), meaning that at the present moment, there can be an organized supply based on a multiproduct strategy.  
Study of motivations for thermal spa tourism
Get PDFObjectives | Thermal spa, integrated into Health and Well-being Tourism, has tourism potential in terms of well-being, due to the current trend of searching for relaxation experiences and health prevention (Carneiro et al., 2021), due to the concern increasing with the achievement of well-being (Gonçalves & Guerra, 2019), and for a better physical shape and better quality of life (Ramos, 2008; Gonçalves & Guerra, 2019). According to Teixeira (2020), the main motivations that lead to the practice of thermal therapy have to do with health issues, namely respiratory, digestive, circulatory, rheumatic and musculoskeletal and skin problems and leisure and relaxation issues, particularly with a view to escaping from daily stress and spending time with family.
There are several factors that motivate the practice of thermal spa, with emphasis on the search for improving the population\u27s quality of life (Pereira, 2022) but also “the increasing enjoyment of leisure time and practices, through the search for low-density spaces, for closer contact with natural resources and also for a growing appreciation of the body and care for it” (Mota, 2022, p.3).
Thus, the literature review led to the definition of the objectives of the present study. Therefore, the objective of this study is to provide an analysis of the motivational factors that lead tourists to practice thermal baths. Thus, the aim is to understand more specifically the holiday habits of the Portuguese, analyze the motivations of those who go to thermal spas in Portugal and understand the image that tourists have of thermal spas in Portugal.
Methodology | The methodology used was based on a literature review on destination image, health and well-being tourism and motivations for health and well-being thermal spa. Based on a quantitative methodology, primary data research was carried out, using an online survey applied through social networks to a convenience sample. The analysis of the data collected was carried out using the SPSS program, and was the subject of a descriptive statistical analysis.
Main Results and Contributions | The sample for this study consisted of 118 respondents, with 70.3% of respondents being female and 28% being male. The majority of respondents are between 18 and 24 years old (50.8%), 21.2% are between 42 and 56 years old, 13.6% of respondents are between 57 and 75 years old, 12 .7% are between 25 and 41 years old and 1.7% of respondents are over 75 years old. The vast majority of respondents, 66.9%, have higher education and 28% have education up to and including the 12th year.
We sought to find out, with regard to the use of the thermal service, which factors motivate the choice of health and well-being tourism and the image that respondents have of thermal resorts in Portugal. The analysis of the data collected allows us to understand that only 33.9% of respondents, 40 respondents, have already used the thermal services. Of these individuals, 25 responded that they are motivated to practice thermal therapy for the sake of well-being, 14 said it is to undergo treatments and 2 respondents practice thermal therapy to prevent diseases. Regarding the question about what led people to practice thermal therapy, respondents responded that they consider relaxation, the search for improving quality of life, the fact that it is a natural treatment, and concern for health to be most important. Respondents do not consider medical recommendations, the improvement of family relationships, the fact that spas are a tradition, and the fact that thermal spas are considered a healthier way of spending holidays as important.
Regarding the reasons that lead people not to practice thermal spas, the data shows that the main reason given by 50% of respondents is that they prefer another type of tourism, 32% understand that they do not have much knowledge of thermal spas, 14,1% mention the fact that thermal spas are very expensive, 12.8% do not practice thermal spas because they have no information about the spas and around 6% say that the reason is that they do not have company.
Regarding the image that tourists have of spa resorts in Portugal, they were asked about a set of 15 items, on a 5-point Likert scale (1 - I do not agree to 5 - I completely agree). The data indicates that respondents consider the fact that “The spas allow you to enjoy great relaxation” with an average of 4.18 to be very important, followed by “Helps to improve health” (4.13), “Escape from the everyday environment” (3.89) and “Allows you to enjoy nature” (3.63). The items with the lowest rating were “The entertainment activities are diverse” (2.88) and “They allow you to practice various sporting activities” (2.97).
Limitations | The results of this study have some limitations. The study sample is relatively small, so it is suggested to carry out the same study with a larger sample. The sample was carried out only online and given the target audience of the spas, an in-person study is suggested.
Conclusions | This study aimed to identify the factors that motivate the practice of thermal spas and the image that tourists have of spas. The data collected confirms that these are related to the search for well-being, the need for relaxation, concern for health, disease prevention, with a view to a better quality of life. In this way, these results are in line with the results of Teixeira (2020) who concluded that the main motivations for practicing thermal therapy are related to health issues, leisure and relaxation issues, to escape daily stress.
The results of this investigation show that similar to what the authors refer to regarding the tendency to search for relaxation and health prevention experiences (Carneiro et al., 2021; Medeiros & Cavaco, 2008, p. 16). The results of this study also show that respondents are motivated to practice thermal therapy due to the need for relaxation, the search for improved quality of life, the fact that it is a natural treatment, and concern for their health.
The results of the present study bring contributions to academia, as well as significant practical implications, as it provides a set of guiding clues for the management and marketing of more attractive and competitive thermal equipment.
References
Carneiro, M., Barbosa, M., Sobral, A. & Dias, R. (2021). Wellness and preventive health: a comparative analysis between the thermal spas of Monchique (Portugal) and vila de Vals (Switzerland). Journal of Education, Technologies, and Health, 8e, 158-158.
Gonçalves, E., & Guerra, R. (2019). O turismo de saúde e bem-estar como fator de desenvolvimento local: Uma análise à oferta termal portuguesa. PASOS. Revista de Turismo y Patrimonio Cultural, 17(2), 453-472.
Medeiros, C. L., & Cavaco, C. (2008). Turismo de saúde e bem-estar: termas, spas termais e talassoterapia. Universidade Católica Portuguesa.
Mota, A. (2022). O Turismo de Saúde e Bem-Estar na economia e desenvolvimento regionais: uma análise ao território do Estrela Geopark Mundial da UNESCO (Master\u27s thesis).
Pereira, A. (2022). Fatores determinantes na escolha dos serviços termais. Dissertação de Mestrado. ISCET.
Ramos, A. (2008). O novo paradigma dos destinos turísticos termais. Gestión turística, (9), 9-36.
Teixeira, A. (2020). O Papel do Turismo de Saúde e Bem-estar nas Motivações dos Termalistas da Região Norte e Centro de Portugal. Dissertação de mestrado. Instituto Politécnico do Porto
Mapping digital tools for assessing circular economy practices in restaurants: – An exploratory review
Get PDFIn the last decades there has been an increasing concern with environmental issues which are particularly relevant to the tourism and hospitality industries. At the same time, theoretical and conceptual structures and systems have emerged to guide people, companies, public and private institutions towards a more sustainable and environmentally responsible future. These include the concept of the circular economy (CE), which can be seen as an alternative economic system that replaces the ‘end-of-life’ concept with the reduction, alternative reuse, recycling, recovery of materials in production, distribution, and consumption processes, while simultaneously seeking to guarantee environmental quality, economic prosperity and social equity, for the benefit of current and future generations (Kirchherr et al. 2017). It is also important to note that, in addition to guiding principles, stakeholders need operational tools to facilitate the adoption of these principles which can help them reducing costs (Rosendo, 2018). However, there is a lack of studies that focuses on these type of tools (Lindgreen, et al., 2020), particularly in the context of self-assessment processes. Based on these premises, the aim of this article is to identify and analyse existing self-assessment tools in the field of CE and Sustainability. This mapping will then allow the selection of the indicators and good practices considered most relevant and its eventual adaptation within the scope of the Project CEGaS: Circular Economy for a Sustainable Gastronomy – Diagnosis and Adoption of Good Practices in Restaurants
How to determine the tourism carrying capacity in a Thermal SPA?
No full textThermalism (Spring SPA Industry), framed within health and well-being tourism, can contribute to the regeneration of certain tourist destinations and to reducing regional asymmetries in less developed locations. However, growth above a certain level can lead to a deterioration of available resources and a decrease in the quality of the visitor\u27s experience.
To help control the disproportionate growth of villages and to contribute to sustainability of tourism activity, the determination of tourist carrying capacity is used. However, most published studies analyse this topic in theoretical terms and few studies present and apply methodologies to calculate this indicator (Neves & Eusébio, 2021). Carrying capacity for the World Tourism Organization (UNTWO, 2018) represents the largest number of individuals who can visit a given tourist destination, simultaneously, without causing physical, sociocultural and/or economic damage, without decreasing, to the point of becomes unacceptable, the quality of visitor satisfaction in relation to the experience. Tourist carrying capacity is also the capacity that a certain environment can support without losing the characteristics of its originality or having its integrity threatened (Pires, 2005), which points in the same direction. If this level is exceeded, deterioration of resources, less visitor satisfaction and adverse impacts on local society, culture and economy may occur (Ceballos-Lascurain, 1996).
In this sense, the objective of this study is to achieve the tourist load capacity of a thermal resort, in an unprecedented approach and cantered on an active thermal resort
Social status in virtual worlds: An experience economy versus luxury consumption debate
Get PDFThere have been markers of social status available in societies since the dawn of sociability. Since the popularization and standardization of social networking sites in the last decade, social status has shifted to resemble more experiences instead of consumer goods. That is, people, especially younger digital natives who grew up socializing online, have been found to be more likely to seek out experiences that will provide photographic opportunities to post onto their social networking profiles. This has been called the “Experience Economy”. Now, as virtual worlds and communities become more common destinations for socialization and community building, this study sets out to explore how social status will be conveyed within these new domains. Can experiences still be expected to remain significant markers of social status in virtual worlds as they have in physical worlds? Or can we expect a reversal back to conspicuous consumer goods as status markers in virtual worlds? This study will aim to conduct an in-depth analysis to investigate the behavioral nuances of what will likely be in between the two extremes; advancing our nascent understanding of how, why, and in what contexts virtual societies translate markers of social status. In turn, findings are expected to provide significant insights with far-reaching implications for industries ranging from virtual environment designers to advertisers and marketers aiming to bridge corporeal and virtual economies.
 
Creative transformation of a power plant: The Inota Festival case study in Hungary
Get PDFKeywords: creative, transformation, power, plant, Inota, festival
Objectives: Creative tourism has recently been applied in industrial contexts, with creative experiences offered in former industrial buildings and factories (Scherf, 2021, Panyik, 2014; Rozentale & Tomsons, 2014). This trend has gained momentum with the decline of manufacturing and various industry branches due to technological advancements from the 1980s onwards worldwide. Examples include metallurgic factories such as the Oliva Creative Factory in São João da Madeira, Portugal and industrial parks such as the 798 Art District in Beijing, the Red Brickyard Cultural and Creative Industry Park in Guangzhou and the Overseas Chinese Town in Shenzhen, China. The old factory complexes have been transformed into cultural districts by linking the creative and cultural industries with Arts.
However, there is a lack of studies examining the creative transformation of former power plants. The present study aims at discussing the case of the first Inota Festival in Hungary, organised between 31 Aug - 3 Sep 2023 in a former power plant in Inota village. The carbon-based thermal power plant, formerly known as November 7 was established during the Socialist era in 1951 and was permanently closed in 2001. Since then it has not really been used for anything other than filming, as the abandoned industrial zone with its huge buildings, halls, broken windows, machinery from the last century, bushes growing from the roof and its massive industrial and socialist aesthetics, provide an ideal location and excellent visuals for post-apocalyptic scenes. The power plant\u27s three gigantic cooling towers still dominate the neighborhood\u27s skyline today, and the massive plant complex’s future remains uncertain.
During the past two decades, the Inota Festival was the first initiative to leverage the plant’s potential other than filming by offering a new, more inclusive and long-term cultural use for the plant and stimulating community involvement in discussing its future. The festival featured electronic music sets, light installations and light shows, contemporary visual arts and a community conference about opportunities to harness innovation-based cultural and regional values to drive development. A local travel agency specialised in hiking tours in the region (Túrajó) offered walking tours to show landmarks from the socialist past of the plant as well as the recent filming locations such as the furnace house where Ryan Gosling walked around in Blade Runner 2049, and the command room, where the launch of the rocket in the movie Lajko – Gypsy in Space was filmed. The event was supported by the Veszprém-Balaton European Capital of Culture 2023 programme and the patron of the conference was Márta Campanari-Talabér, mayor of Várpalota.
Methodology: This is an ongoing qualitative case study research using the resources, analytical techniques and the principles of data collection as described by Yin (2014). In-depth, semi-structured key-informant interviews have been conducted with the organisers and analysed using NVIVO data analysis software in order to gain insights into organisational aspects of the event.
Main results and contributions: The main contribution of this research is the example of good practice in creative transformation of former power plants. The study addresses the different challenges that power plants face, as compared to factories, due to their size and specific characteristics. The creative methods, co-creation techniques, forms of collaboration and community involvement will be discussed.
Research limitations: This is a qualitative and descriptive case study with an organisational point of view that does not reflect the perspective of the local community nor the participants of the festival. Future research could be developed I order to explore community and visitor perceptions and attitudes in relation to the Inota Festival.
Conclusions: The present study aims to provide insights into the creative use of former power plants, by discussing the opportunities and challenges of their creative transformation as well as the techniques and methods of creative tourism applied.
Bibliography
Panyik, E. (2014). Transformation through the revival of industrial heritage. The Zsolnay quarter, Pécs, Hungary. In: Marques, L., Richards, G. (eds.). Creative districts around the world. Breda: NHTV. ISBN/EAN: 978-90-819011-3-0.
Rozentale, I., Tomsons, T. (2014). A Post-Socialist transformation: From a factory to a creative quarter. In: Marques, L., Richards, G. (eds.). Creative districts around the world. Breda: NHTV. ISBN/EAN: 978-90-819011-3-0.
Scherf, K. (Ed.). (2021). Creative tourism in smaller communities: Place, culture, and local representation. University of Calgary Press. http://hdl.handle.net/1880/113280.
Yin, K. R. (2014). Case Study Research Design and Methods (5th ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sag
In_Spire: Fostering Pedagogical Innovation in Tourism Education
Get PDFThis paper aims to establish a didactical framework that can scaffold the adoption of experiential approaches in Tourism and Hospitality Higher Education (THHE). Having been developed in the context of the collaborative project In_Spire – Sharing Best Practices in Tourism Education – it draws on a systematic literature review, putting forward a model that supports the creation of a toolkit for tourism educators and the sharing of innovative pedagogical practices. In addition to reflecting on the affordances of experiential learning, this review will set the foundations for the toolkit, whose main goals include the dissemination of good practices, the enhancement of teacher training and the development of a dynamic repository of annotated resources for THHE, paving the way for future work, leveraging pedagogical innovation within this scope.
 
Transforming the tourism supply network through digitalisation: The case of Tourism MSMEs in South Africa
Get PDFObjectives | Fragmented coordination hinders the effectiveness and efficiency of delivering travel experiences in the tourism supply chain network. Inefficient use of resources within the supply chain causes delays, higher expenses, and a worsened visitor experience (García-Gómez. Demir, Díez-Esteban & Popesko, 2023). Moreover, a digital skills gap in the digital labour market in South Africa (DCDT, 2020) hinders progress for the MSMEs in the tourism value chain. The objective of this study is to utilise transformative transdisciplinary approach to evaluate the effect of digitalisation in the tourism supply chain network (TSC) and to co-design and co-produce digitalised SMMEs\u27 transformative knowledge from a praxis (Afrocentric) approach in South Africa.
Methodology | Collaborative and participatory research seeks to change practice. A transformative transdisciplinary approach was adopted in KwaZulu Natal and Gauteng Province in South Africa among 122 MSMEs, where an embedded experimental research design was adopted to actively engage with the tourism supply chain network to test and apply transformation strategies in real-world scenarios.
Main Results and Contributions | About 40 businesses received professional training focusing on creating social media content and 5 received websites, all were advised on the use of big data, chatGPT, cybersecurity, legal matters, social media platforms using WhatsApp for business and reels, Linkedin, Instagram, and Facebook.
Limitations |The limited number of tourism MSMEs that were willing to participate in the study affected the representativeness of the findings and he research design in general. Transformative Transdisciplinary research as captured by (Lawrence, Williams, Nanz, and Renn 2022: 47) considers the inclusion of multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary academic research that involves (non-academic) societal actors as process participants. This study focused on real-world problems to proactively support action or intervention through collaborating with researchers, students, and SMMEs through the associations. Another limitation was observed through a response and selection bias; there were only two associations were selected, 1 in Gauteng with 137 members and 1 in KwaZulu Natal with stakeholders at the national, provincial, and local levels. Hey were responsible for the invitations of the participants. The participants may provide responses that they believe are socially desirable or that they think associations want to hear, potentially leading to response bias. Hence, this research may not capture the experiences and challenges of those tourism MSMEs that have not embraced digitalization, potentially leading to selection bias
Conclusions | Stakeholder engagement, coordination, and participation across the value chain are encouraged for inclusive growth, and sustainability and to have a competitive advantage. Such collaboration is paramount in the tourism industry because it is one of the commercial sectors that is easily affected by digital disruption.