Social Sciences

Abstract: This study examines the role of entrepreneurship education quality in shaping students’ tourism development orientation through cognitive and capability-based mechanisms. In the context of developing countries such as Indonesia and Timor-Leste, strengthening entrepreneurial capacity is essential to support sustainable tourism growth. Using a quantitative cross-sectional design, data were collected from 348 university students enrolled in entrepreneurship-related programs across the two countries. The study employs Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM), multi-group analysis (PLS-MGA), and fuzzy-set Qualitative Comparative Analysis (fsQCA) to test direct, mediating, and moderating relationships. The findings reveal that entrepreneurship education quality significantly enhances entrepreneurial self-efficacy, which in turn strengthens innovation capability, leading to higher entrepreneurial intention and ultimately tourism development orientation. However, no direct effect of education quality on entrepreneurial intention or tourism orientation was found, indicating full mediation. Entrepreneurship course experience positively moderates the relationship between education quality and self-efficacy, while prior entrepreneurial experience shows no significant moderating effect. Cross-national analysis indicates that the link between entrepreneurial intention and tourism orientation is stronger in Indonesia than in Timor-Leste. Overall, the study highlights the importance of fostering self-efficacy and innovation capability as key pathways through which entrepreneurship education contributes to tourism development.

Abstract: This study examines whether and how the perceived effectiveness of GenAI-assisted itinerary recommendations influences tourists’ environmentally responsible behavior in heritage tourism. Drawing on the Stimulus–Organism–Response framework, the study conceptualizes the perceived effectiveness of GenAI-assisted itinerary recommendations as the stimulus, cultural identity as the organism, and tourists’ environmentally responsible behavior as the response. Data were collected from 479 Chinese domestic tourists who had used GenAI tools for itinerary planning when visiting three UNESCO World Heritage sites in Henan Province, China. The data were analyzed using partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM). The results show that the perceived effectiveness of GenAI-assisted itinerary recommendations significantly enhances cultural identity, and cultural identity, in turn, significantly promotes tourists’ environmentally responsible behavior. The indirect effect is also significant, confirming the mediating role of cultural identity. These findings suggest that the importance of GenAI-assisted itinerary recommendations in heritage tourism lies not only in improving trip planning, but also in shaping how tourists engage with the cultural meaning of the destination. This study extends GenAI tourism research beyond adoption-related outcomes, identifies cultural identity as a heritage-specific explanatory mechanism, and refines the application of the Stimulus–Organism–Response framework in AI-enabled heritage tourism contexts.

Abstract: IIce hockey represents a sport with predominantly anaerobic efforts best reflected by repeated sprint ability (RSA) testing (5x5 seconds with 10 seconds recovery). A controversy persists about the usefulness of V̇O2 max laboratory testing for the assessment of ice hockey players. The purpose of the study was to evaluate the relationship between laboratory measured V̇O2 max and RSA simulated on a supine ergometer and tested on ice. Elite male hockey players (n = 64) were tested in the laboratory (V̇O2 max and RSA). RSA was performed by modified Wingate test (5 x 5-seconds sprints with 10 seconds recovery). In 28 athletes RSA were assessed during an on-ice testing (5 maximal skating sprints between the goal and the blue line). The decrease in performance was assessed by fatigue indices. In the laboratory settings the V̇O2 max correlated significantly with maximum workloads of the 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th bout with increasing correlation strength (r= 0.26, p=0.02; r=0.48, p< 0.001; r=0.57, p< 0.001; and r=0.60, p< 0.001) and with fatigue indices - % workload decrement index (r = 0.44, p< 0.001) and % maximum average workload decrement (%) (r=0.38, p=0.002). In addition, V̇O2 max correlated with lactate levels after 10 minutes of recovery (r=0.31, p=0.01). There was no correlation between V̇O2 max and on-ice testing results. Moreover, the results of RSA measured in laboratory and on ice did not show any correlation. The lack of relationship between laboratory and on-ice testing is further challenging the usefulness of bicycle ergometry laboratory testing in ice hockey.

Abstract: While much of the current research on early specialization focuses on physical outcomes, training models, and policy implications, little is known about how athletes themselves make sense of their developmental experiences. This study aimed to examine how ice-hockey players perceive and experience early specialization, with the goal of gaining a nuanced understanding of the athlete perspective. In this study, a qualitative study design was used where eight current and former ice-hockey players with experience of early specialization participated. Data were collected using semi-structured interviews and analysed using qualitative conventional content analysis. Three overarching themes emerged, highlighting experiences of loneliness, pressure, and elevated expectations within elite sport environments, alongside the vital importance of support networks and team community: ‘Thrown into adulthood with premature expectations’, ‘Balancing Support and Pressure in Athlete Development’, and ‘The Struggle Between Dream and Reality’. Players described feeling pressured, isolated, and prematurely professionalized, often at the expense of personal development. The findings highlight the psychological and structural challenges of early specialization in elite ice-hockey. While support systems played a crucial role, they also contributed to performance anxiety and external expectations. These insights underscore the need for youth sport systems that prioritize long-term athlete well-being over short-term success.

Abstract: By integrating the Norm Activation Model (NAM) with cognitive and behavioral variables, the study reveals mechanisms that translate into increased waste reduction intention. Data from 382 domestic tourists in Vientiane, Laos were analyzed using ordinary least squares regression. The results reveal that ascription of responsibility (AR) is the strongest predictor of intention, followed by personal norms (PN) and actual waste management behavior. Environmental knowledge and awareness of consequences show no significant influence. The findings confirm that fostering internalized moral sentiments, such as AR and PN, is more crucial in enhancing tourists’ waste reduction intention than mere cogni-tive awareness. Environmental campaigns and education to increase knowledge and heighten awareness of the negative impacts caused by poorly managed waste at popular destinations cannot guarantee an increase in tourists’ waste reduction intention.

Abstract: Multicultural human resources have become increasingly visible in tourism and hospitality in many destinations. However, limited attention has been paid to how residents perceive the growing multicultural workforce in these sectors. Although previous research has examined tourism impacts, workplace diversity, and multicultural attitudes from related perspectives, an instrument specifically designed to assess residents’ perceptions of multicultural human resources in tourism and hospitality is lacking. This study introduces the Residents’ Perceptions of Multicultural Human Resources in Tourism and Hospitality Scale and presents an initial psychometric assessment based on a preliminary sample of 108 valid responses collected in the Algarve, Portugal. The findings showed acceptable item variability, favourable internal consistency across the proposed dimensions, and adequate conditions for exploratory factor analysis. However, the exploratory solution did not reproduce the original seven-dimensional framework in full, instead pointing to a more condensed four-factor structure. Overall, the results suggest that the instrument provides a promising basis for future research while also indicating the need for further refinement and confirmatory testing in larger and more diverse samples.

Abstract: Golf tourism has gone hand in hand with the growth of the sport in recent years, reaching more than 1.4 million golf tourists in Spain, making it the second leading tourist desti-nation worldwide and surpassing 108 million players globally (National Golf Foundation, 2025; Real Federación Española de Golf, 2024b; Royal and Ancient, 2025). The present study seeks to answer the question: why do golf tourists travel? by analyzing the mo-tivations of golf tourists in Spain. For this purpose, an exploratory factor analysis was conducted to define the factors that drive golf tourists; subsequently, the suitability of these factors was tested through a confirmatory factor analysis, and finally, a cluster analysis was used to group the different typologies of golf tourists in Spain. A total of five clusters were identified, referred to as experiential golfers, wellness-oriented golfers, multifunctional golfers, low-involvement golfers, and learning-oriented golfers. The results of this research may serve golf course managers as well as public administrations in the development of marketing plans tailored to each customer segment.

Abstract: Interpreting doping prevalence estimates generated through indirect estimation models (IEM) remains challenging for sport policy and governance due to wide variation in reported rates and methodological complexity. Building on Sagoe et al. (2024), we combined a critical narrative review of methodological and epistemic developments with a bibliometric analysis of publication trends, citation patterns, and collaboration networks, using a convergent parallel mixed‑methods design. Across 52 records published between 2002-2026, this study maps the scientific landscape of IEM‑based doping prevalence research. Findings show that IEM‑based prevalence research is methodologically sophisticated yet institutionally dispersed and largely Eurocentric, reflecting a field still consolidating its standards and disciplinary identity. Over time, the focus has shifted from reporting prevalence rates to methodological critique and reanalysis of existing datasets Reported prevalence estimates, ranging from 0 to 57.1%, are highly sensitive to modelling assumptions about athlete behaviour in complex sur-vey environments. While this trend strengthens rigor, it also complicates evidence synthesis for policy actors and risks undermining trust in IEM‑based estimates if poorly communicated. Anti‑doping organizations and researchers should treat IEM‑derived prevalence as bounded indicators rather than definitive rates and integrate prevalence evidence with contextual data for transparent policy and public communication.

Abstract: Tourism is a complex economic activity shaped by distinct local resources: culture, nature, industrial heritage, urban ambiance, place-based uniqueness, and geographical accessibility. The simultaneous governance and management of economic growth motives, preservation of the cultural heritage base, and respect for nature and ecological quality calls for an evidence-based and multi-faceted policy analysis that seeks to achieve a sustainable development among conflicting policy objectives. The present paper seeks to explore the feasibility of a sustainable balance for various heterogeneous cultural heritage areas in Europe (‘urban pilot regions’), with particular attention for sustainable local development characterized by circular economic objectives and an ecological balance strategy based on the principle of stakeholders’ co-creation. To that end, an extensive survey experiment was administered in the urban regions concerned, in which a wide range of management issues/questions related to environmental preferences and perceptions were posed to stakeholders and visitors. The data were analyzed by means of a novel respondent-oriented multivariate statistical tool, viz. Generalized Q-Analysis, which is suitable for handling big databases with many respondents. The paper shows that the application of the Generalized Q-Analysis to common survey data enriches the results from the application of the usual Q-Analysis. Furthermore, the study also highlights that, based on the views of the surveyed visitors, the tourist areas concerned are quite different from each other in attracting specific types of visitors. Functional specialization seems to be, therefore, an important anchor point for effective governance of urban tourism.

Abstract: This study investigates how YouTube food travel vloggers semiotically construct destination images and function as informal gastrodiplomacy agents, using Uzbekistan as a case study of emerging tourism markets. Although digital content creators are increasingly recognised as shaping tourism flows, systematic understanding of the multimodal semiotic mechanisms through which food travel vlogs construct destination meanings remains limited. Using multimodal discourse analysis, this study examines six YouTube food travel videos on Uzbekistan (over 28 million combined views) from two prominent creators, Mark Wiens and Best Ever Food Review Show. The analysis integrates Kress and van Leeuwen’s visual grammar, Halliday’s systemic functional linguistics, van Leeuwen’s sound semiotics, and Norris’s multimodal interaction analysis to code a 60-segment corpus. Independent samples t-tests reveal 25 statistically significant differences between the two creators, identifying two distinct semiotic pro-files. Mark Wiens primarily follows a parasocial intimacy model marked by direct gaze (89.2%), frequent second-person address (78.4%), and comparatively minimal editing. In contrast, Best Ever Food Review Show adopts a cinematic documentary model characterised by first-person narration (56.5%), constructed visuals (60.9%), and gastronomic heritage narratives (34.8%). Despite these divergences, shared conventions—centred food composition, upbeat music, positive evaluation, and sharing gestures—indicate a stable semiotic grammar of food travel vlogging. The findings provide evidence that digital content creators may function as informal culinary ambassadors through gastrodiplomacy mechanisms, constructing destination awareness and cultural meaning for international audiences. The study contributes to theory on multi-modal destination image construction and offers implications for how emerging tour-ism destinations can leverage multi-creator strategies to build culturally grounded destination brands.

Abstract: Living history tourism is traditionally framed through heritage preservation and edu-cational interpretation, yet the motivational mechanisms translating visitor engage-ment into behavioral commitment remain insufficiently theorized. This study develops and tests an integrated structural model conceptualizing living history environments as experiential systems operating under conditions of late-modern acceleration. Data were collected from 1,066 visitors at Skansen (Sweden) and analyzed using structural equation modeling. The findings indicate that detachment-oriented motives signifi-cantly activate experiential immersion, which emerges as the central psychological mechanism within the model. Immersion strengthens perceptions of historical authen-ticity and constitutes the dominant predictor of behavioral intention, whereas educa-tional motives exert a comparatively weaker effect. Mediation analysis demonstrates that the influence of escape on behavioral commitment operates indirectly through immersion, confirming a fully mediated experiential pathway. These results suggest that living history destinations function not primarily as didactic heritage platforms but as structured experiential environments enabling temporary disengagement from routine pressures. By integrating immersion, authenticity construction, and behavioral intention within a unified framework, the study repositions living history tourism as an experiential counter-space embedded in accelerated modernity.

Abstract: This conceptual research note aims to draw the attention of researchers to what the author defines as ‘everydayness’ in tourism. It brings together initial examples of current ‘everydayness’ tourism developments. We posit that leisure travel is no longer necessarily an escape from everyday life but also a way of engaging with it. Unfortunately, this ‘everydayness’ appears to be largely absent from tourism research thus far. Therefore, we aim to encourage a broader, less binary (ordinary/extraordinary), more intertwined tourism perspective where ‘everydayness’ enters leisure and tourism. What is needed is a paradigm shift and an expansion of the tourism concept in the postmodern reality, along with a proposal of methods to research ‘everydayness’.

Abstract: Nature-based tourism (NBT) is increasingly promoted as a means to contribute to conservation efforts. However, there is limited understanding of the relationship between environmental education and awareness, and conservation attitudes and practices in this form of tourism that centers around green spaces. This study, therefore, aimed to explore this relationship using data from tourism operators and local communities in the Mexican Caribbean, and provide useful insights for environmental sustainability in tourism destinations that depend on nature as a critical resource. The study employed a triangulation approach, which involved examination of two sets of data. Firstly, household-level survey information from local communities participating in nature-based tourism. Secondly, data from semi-structured in-depth interviews with tour companies operating within the Mexican Caribbean, as well as focus group discussions with key informants including, academicians, public sector stakeholders and other opinion leaders in the tourism industry. Household surveys determined associations between potential predictor variables (environmental education and awareness, local community involvement, costs and benefits distribution) and conservation perspectives and practices in nature-based tourism. Semi-structured interviews and focus group discussions explored participants' attitudes, experiences and views on environmental education and awareness, nature-based tourism, attitudes and practices towards conservation. Findings demonstrated that direct benefits from nature-based tourism are significant, but do not guarantee positive conservation attitudes and practices among the local communities. Other factors (indirect benefits), such as environmental education and awareness could be more effective in achieving environmental sustainability and quality in nature-based tourism. It was also found that several tourism operators lack formal environmental education and awareness programs. The study recommends that the entire cycle of using natural resources for tourism purposes and tourists’ interaction with nature be anchored on adequate environmental education and awareness. This research contributes to valuable insights into debates, practices and policy developments related to nature-based tourism as a mechanism for environmental sustainability in biosphere reserves and tourism destinations.

Abstract: Research has identified how heritage elicits emotional responses that significantly affect the tourist destination image. In this vein, this study explores how people emotionally re-act to architectural heritage by examining five representative styles in Spain—Gothic, Re-naissance, Baroque, Modernism, and Contemporary. In an experimental design, partici-pants observed visual stimuli depicting seven types of urban infrastructure, such as buildings, streets, bridges, façades, quarters, squares, and churches, and their emotional responses were recorded using automated facial expression recognition. The system clas-sified eight core emotions: neutral, happiness, sadness, surprise, fear, disgust, anger, and contempt. Gender differences were also analyzed to identify possible variations in emo-tional activation. The results show that architectural forms—whether historical or con-temporary—evoke distinct emotional patterns that help explain how people perceive and value historical heritage. By bringing together concepts from heritage tourism, environ-mental psychology, and user experience studies, this research highlights the relevance of emotions as a key element in understanding the relationship between people and the ar-chitectural spaces they inhabit or visit.

Abstract: Compared with international travel, where dominant frameworks emphasize cultural distance, novelty, and difference, domestic tourism in protected natural areas remains under-theorized. This study conceptualizes domestic tourism through cultural proximity and introduces the Applied Cultural Proximity Model (ACPM), which frames the tourist experience as a multidimensional experiential system in which environmental, cultural, managerial, infrastructural, and communicative elements acquire meaning within shared symbolic contexts. A sequential exploratory mixed-methods design was employed. Expert interviews informed construct development, followed by a survey of Ecuadorian domestic tourists visiting Cotopaxi National Park (n = 1,113). Confirmatory factor analysis supported a six-dimensional structure (natural, cultural, accessibility, administrative, complementary, communication), demonstrating strong reliability and convergent validity. Structural equation modelling indicated good model fit (CFI = 0.95; RMSEA = 0.064), supporting the structural adequacy of the integrated experiential system. Natural attributes show the greatest experiential prominence, while cultural and communication dimensions occupy key structural positions in symbolic engagement and meaning construction. The findings suggest a theoretical inversion of cultural distance logic: in culturally familiar settings, familiarity, continuity, and identity resonance underpin experiential coherence. The ACPM provides a validated framework for analyzing domestic tourism in culturally rich protected areas and supports sustainable, identity-sensitive destination management.

Abstract:

In the 20th century, the legacy of two devastating world wars generated an enormous historical heritage linked to conflict, giving rise to the global phenomenon of war tourism. This prominence stems from the presence of countless vestiges such as streets razed by gunfire, landing beaches, trench lines, and bunkers. Battlefield Tourism (BT) has experienced remarkable growth in Europe, establishing itself as a specialized segment with increasing levels of institutionalization, professionalization, and academic interest. Traditionally, some literature has associated these visits with dark tourism (DT) due to the presence of death, suffering, or historical violence at the sites (Stone, 2006). However, more recent and comprehensive analyses demonstrate that this classification is often insufficient or incorrect. This study argues that BT is closer to cultural tourism (CT) than to dark tourism, aligning with heritage and educational studies that emphasize memory, identity, and the cultural landscape rather than the commercialization of morbid fascination (Foley & Lennon, 2000). The research evaluates the viability of BT as a catalyst for rural development in Extremadura (Spain), a region characterized by its pursuit of socioeconomic sustainability through tourism innovation (Cánoves, 2017). The methodology utilizes a prospective exploratory analysis with an integrated qualitative and quantitative paradigm. Primary data were gathered using a structured instrument deployed via Google Forms to municipal leadership across 388 municipalities in 15 tourist areas. A representative sample of 149 valid responses was secured, yielding a statistical margin of error of ±5% at a 95% confidence interval. Advanced statistical techniques, including Pearson’s Chi-square tests and Cronbach’s Alpha, were applied to test research hypotheses concerning the conceptual differentiation between war tourism and dark tourism. The findings indicate that 61.7% of local stakeholders were unfamiliar with the term DT , whereas 70.9% were familiar with WT, largely due to awareness of regional initiatives like battle reenactments. Statistical contrast reveals a significant relationship between prior knowledge of DT and the willingness to exploit sensitive heritage, such as "Slavery Museums" (p<0.001) or "Disaster Museums" (p<0.001). Regarding terminology, 42.6% of respondents prefer "military cultural tourism" and 48.3% favor "historical-cultural tourism," reflecting a clear rejection of the word "war" in Spanish society. The main conclusion is that local councils support the exploitation of war heritage within a cultural framework, viewing it as a strategic opportunity for socioeconomic development in inland rural areas. This approach generates a multiplier effect, diversifying local economies and offering new jobs (Cánoves et al., 2014). By revaluing historical memory (Smith, 2015) and integrating military heritage into sustainable territorial planning, rural regions like Extremadura can enhance their competitive advantages and mitigate depopulation. Ultimately, Military Cultural Tourism (MCT) provides a path to transform historical trauma into a tool for regional advancement and educational enrichment.

Abstract: Background/Objectives: The physical and physiological characteristics of padel players are essential for appropriate training load prescription; however, this area remains underexplored. Therefore, this study aimed to analyse physical and physiological differences in male padel players according to playing side and weekly training frequency. Methods: Fourteen high-level male players competing in professional circuits or top-level regional competitions participated in this cross-sectional study. Results: Vertical jump performance differed significantly between the countermovement jump (CMJ) and the Abalakov jump (ABK) (p<0.001), with lower values in the CMJ (40.98 cm) compared with the ABK (46.96 cm). Isometric handgrip strength showed significant inter-limb differences (p<0.001), with greater force in the dominant hand (49.08 kg) than in the non-dominant hand (44.22 kg). Mean completion time in the agility T-test was 10.40 s (95% CI: 10.06–10.74 s). The Yo-Yo Intermittent Recovery Test showed a mean distance of 404.28 m, corresponding to an estimated VO₂max of 50.79 ml·kg⁻¹·min⁻¹. Playing side significantly affected Yo-Yo performance and estimated VO₂max (p=0.036), with higher values in left-side players. Although no significant differences were found in handgrip strength according to playing side, both dominant and non-dominant hands showed large effect sizes (d = −0.93 and −0.88, respectively), with low coefficients of variation, particularly in right-side players. Weekly training frequency did not significantly influence any variable (p>0.05), showing trivial to small effect sizes. Conclusions: These findings help characterise the physical and physiological profile of high-level padel players and provide practical reference values to support training prescription and performance monitoring.

Abstract: Agritourism operations enhance economic viability and sustain the business by open-ing farms to visitors for education, recreation, entertainment, and direct sales of farm products and services. Previous studies in the US show that on-farm direct sales, in general, show a positive association, whereas off-farm direct sales show a negative as-sociation with the profitability of agritourism operations. Farmers consider U-pick, sales through a farm stand/store, and subscription farming or community supported agriculture (CSA) (on-farm pick up) as on-farm, and CSA (off-farm delivery) and sell-ing at a farmers’ market as off-farm direct sales approaches. However, which specific approach attracts more visitors to a farm and generates higher profitability remains underexplored. Multivariate analysis using the recently collected data from a U.S. na-tional survey of operators reveals that on-farm direct sales such as a U-pick and a farm stand/store attracted significantly more visits to an agritourism operation, which ulti-mately yielded higher profitability. In contrast, the selling of produce at farmers’ mar-kets attracted significantly fewer visits to the farm and reportedly reduced profitabil-ity. This evidence has implications to agritourism operators, policymakers, and Exten-sion educators engaged in starting, expanding, and promoting direct sales at agritour-ism operations for their economic viability and sustainability.

Abstract: This study proposes and applies an objective methodology for the evaluation and assignment of the Pueblo Señorial tourist badge in the context of the management of cultural destinations in Sinaloa, Mexico. In the absence of standardized procedures to ensure comparability and transparency in public decision-making, a quantitative approach based on multi-criteria decision analysis was adopted. The research uses the ELECTRE III method to integrate 12 criteria linked to tourism demand and supply, destination management, infrastructure, cultural and natural resources, social impact and economic benefits. The data used come from official secondary sources, mainly from the National Institute of Statistics and Geography, and are applied to four candidate localities for the label. The results allow us to build a composite indicator and establish a ranking of relative performance, identifying Sinaloa de Leyva as the alternative with the best comprehensive evaluation. The application of the model demonstrates its usefulness in reducing institutional discretion, strengthening the technical coherence of the process and supporting evidence-based tourism planning. It is concluded that the methodological proposal constitutes a replicable and adaptable tool for destination management, the design of tourism policies and the evaluation of certificate.

Abstract: Food waste is a major economic and environmental problem and challenge in the hospitality sector in the global market and in developing countries such as the Republic of Serbia. This exploratory expert-based research aims to investigate the management opinions, as well as the practices and challenges faced by them regarding the sustainability of food waste management in hotels in Belgrade. A specially designed questionnaire, created by the author, was administered to general managers of 9 hotels of different sizes and structures. For the methodology of this study, a five-point Likert scale was used to assess sustainability awareness, employee training and operational constraints. In addition to the Likert scale, methods such as Spearman's rank correlation and Mann-Whitney U tests were used to analyze the relationship between the variants. The results from this exploratory expert-based research indicate a high level of management awareness of the importance of food waste monitoring, among which there is a significant lack of employee training systems and established procedures in hotels. Moreover, the results show significant positive correlations between training awareness and sustainability, as well as between operational procedure challenges and perceptions of business profitability. The study contributes significantly to the lack of literature on the sustainability of food waste management in hotels. The contribution of the research work is reflected in the conclusion that daily education, standardized procedures and defined food waste monitoring systems are absolutely necessary for achieving business and environmental efficiency and effectiveness in hotel operations.