Theme Editor Atilla Akbaba shares his reflections on the significance and outcomes of the theme issue with Managing Editors Hale Özgit and Ali Öztüren.
Overview
This themed issue focuses on the critical intersection of sustainability and smart tourism destinations, exploring how evolving visitor preferences can shape the future of tourism. One of the most pressing questions addressed here is: How can tourism destinations effectively integrate sustainability principles while adapting to the rapidly changing demands of modern tourists? Achieving this requires a strategic shift toward smart solutions, leveraging technology to enhance destination sustainability and resilience. Tourism destinations must preserve their natural and cultural resources and respond proactively to emerging trends such as shifting visitor behavior, increased environmental challenges and global disruptions. This issue provides insights into how destinations can align with sustainability goals while catering to evolving visitor preferences. Further details and analysis of this research are available in the accompanying articles.
Why, in your view, is your theme issue strategic question important?
The shift in the population structure of the world also changes the customer portfolio of all sectors. This change makes itself felt strongly, especially in the field of tourism. In addition to the change in the customer portfolio of tourism products, a great change is observed in the demands and needs of the customers. Many factors, such as global warming, epidemic diseases, increase in environmental awareness, generational differences, and developments in information technologies, shape customer needs, wishes, and expectations. In such an environment where competition is much tougher, the stakeholders that make up the tourism industry have to understand their customers very well and satisfy their demands in order to survive. Sustainability is a major goal of tourism destinations which they seek to achieve while pursuing profit from the tourism industry (Maguire, 2020; Weaver, 2006).
Thinking about your theme issue plan and approach, what worked well?
The infrastructure and templates created by the journal were beneficial. In addition, the journal editors quickly provided the necessary assistance at every stage. In this respect, I would especially like to thank Ali Öztüren and Hale Özgit.
How did you engage with stakeholders (e.g. practitioners, policymakers)?
To reach relevant stakeholder groups, I used tools such as personal connections, social media, professional networks, etc. The most effective tool here is personal networks and the trust built over many years.
What went well and why? What did not go well and why? What would you do differently and why?
Since I had previous experience as a journal editor, I paid attention to planning the peer review process and took precautions against unexpected situations that may occur during the evaluation process. Timing, healthy communication, feedback, and optional planning helped the evaluation process run smoothly.
What are the most significant outcomes of your theme issue regarding the contributions to knowledge and professional practice?
Arising from the analysis and synthesis of recommendations, the following themes were proposed as critical concentration points for rapidly evolving visitor preferences within the context of sustainability and smart tourism destinations. As in all areas of life, sustainability will continue to be a prominent concept in the tourism sector. Smart solutions and the use of technology have also been identified as determining factors in creating sustainable destinations. On the other hand, changing and evolving tourist preferences are emerging as a driving force for smart destinations and sustainability. Tourism destinations must take steps toward sustainability by considering the changing visitor structure, evolving demands, and needs. Some articles in this special issue also analyze tourist demands and sustainability efforts of destinations in specific destinations and provide invaluable insights.
What are the implications for management action and applied research from your theme issue outcomes?
As it is essential for all stakeholders of the tourism industry to achieve competitiveness while securing sustainability, this particular article suggests ways for the industry as a whole, its players, destination administrations, local and/or national policymakers and other major stakeholders of the tourism industry to address some issues faced by the industry. Factors such as changing customer structure, use of technology and increasing environmental awareness make it necessary for destination management and all players individually to take vital measures. This paper and the collection of articles in this thematic issue offer crucial insights for academics, professionals and decision-makers in creating a complete framework to assess, connect and regularly track changing visitor preferences. The papers include recommendations for creating robust tourism locations that effectively tackle challenges, promote inclusion and prepare for future advancements. This is achieved by examining the convergence of sustainability, smart tourism and changing tourist tastes.
Having served as a WHATT theme editor, what did you enjoy about the experience?
Serving as a WHATT theme editor has been a fulfilling experience. The ability to curate and manage the creation of themed articles provides a new and enlightening view of how various pieces of research and industry insights might be linked together to build a cohesive story. The process was well-organized, and it was incredibly encouraging to see the high level of collaboration between academics and industry personnel, which resulted in reliable and valid outcomes. Prior to this experience, we had many informal interactions with practitioners, but this systematic method allowed us to build deeper, more impactful relationships with industry stakeholders.
About the Theme Editor:
Atilla Akbaba is a professor at the Faculty of Tourism at İzmir Katip Çelebi University (İzmir, Türkiye). He received his M.Sc. from Florida International University and his PhD degree from Dokuz Eylul University with a major in Tourism Management. He teaches hospitality and tourism-related courses. His areas of specialization include service quality, organizational culture and management of tourism businesses. He has published widely in his areas of specialization at national and international levels.
Worldwide Hospitality and Tourism Themes (WHATT) aims to make a practical and theoretical contribution to hospitality and tourism development, and we seek to do this by using a key question to focus attention on an industry issue. If you would like to contribute to our work by serving as a WHATT theme editor, please contact the managing editors, Hale Özgit and Ali Öztüren, via the Emerald website.
Appendix Theme issue contents (WHATT v16 n6 2024)
Smart tourism destinations and sustainability: evidence from the tourism industry
Emrah Ozkul, Sarp Tahsin Kumlu, Emre Samancioglu
The article reviews the role of sustainability in tourism through smart technologies, exploring the relationship between smart tourism and sustainability. The study highlights how smart destinations can implement sustainable practices and offers recommendations for policymakers, practitioners and researchers. It emphasizes the importance of cooperation among all stakeholders to address challenges and develop standards for future activities.
Exploring the future of tourism: a qualitative study on the integration of robotics in North Cyprus hospitality and destination development
Foad Irani
The article examines the acceptance and adoption of robot-assisted services in hotels in North Cyprus, identifying five core themes: insufficient awareness, inadequate knowledge, limited budget, adherence to traditional management approaches and absence of incentives from tourism authorities. Using a qualitative research approach, the study provides a foundation for future research and strategic initiatives. It aims to enhance the readiness of the hotel industry in North Cyprus for AI-driven technologies.
Psychological factors influencing online booking intentions among resort tourism service users
Erdem Baydeniz
The article explores the psychological factors influencing visitors’ booking behaviors on resort hotel websites using the UTAUT model. It identifies performance expectancy, effort expectancy and facilitating conditions as significant drivers of online purchase intentions, while social influence has a limited impact. The findings suggest that hotel managers and marketers should emphasize performance, effort expectations and facilitating conditions to enhance customer perceptions and booking intentions.
The effect of tourists' local food consumption motivations on behavioral intention and the mediating role of destination image
Hacı Ahmet Çakır, Egem Zağralı Çakır
The article investigates the motivations of domestic tourists visiting Muğla, Türkiye, and their impact on behavioral intentions related to local food consumption. It finds that sensory motivation significantly affects behavioral intention, while other motivations (excitement, cultural, interaction and health) do not. The study also reveals a partial mediation effect of destination image on the relationship between sensory motivation and behavioral intention. Recommendations include promoting gastronomy activities, incorporating local dishes in menus, and creating a gastronomy route in Muğla to enhance local food consumption.
A natural observation study to determine the behaviors of customers purchasing A’la Carte menu service in a hotel chain during Covid 19 pandemic
Gülşah Keskin, Vedat Acar
The article examines customers' food and beverage purchasing behaviors at a chain hotel in İstanbul after the COVID-19 pandemic. Using naturalistic observation, the study reveals that many customers did not make reservations, most dined with family and many preferred local food and left tips. A notable portion of customers left food on their plates, while very few lodged complaints. The findings provide insights into various aspects of the service process, including reservations, food preferences and post-service behavior.
Sensescapes of the hospitality industry and their impact on tourist satisfaction, decision-making and re-visit intention
Özgür Sarıbaş, Cengiz Demir
The article examines how hotel sensory elements (Colorscape, Visualscape, Soundscape, Smellscape and Tastescape) impact tourists’ satisfaction, decision-making and revisit intentions. Through interviews with hotel managers and content analysis, the study explores the influence of these sensory dimensions on customer experiences. It suggests that while sensory characteristics are crucial for tourists, hotels may not fully recognize their importance. The findings can provide a competitive advantage to accommodation businesses and help address the sensory experience gap in tourism research.
Evolving visitors’/tourists’ demands, preference, and future expectations related to 7PS sustainability during and after the pandemic
Hamid Doost Mohammadian, Omid Alijani, Mohammad Rahimi Moghaddam, Behnam Ameri
The article examines evolving tourist preferences post-COVID-19, highlighting the increasing demand for sustainable tourism. Using the 5th Wave/Tomorrow Age Theory and the seven pillars of sustainability (7PS) model, it identifies transformative trends and analyzes behaviors and preferences through surveys and interviews. The study concludes that tourism is shifting towards sustainable practices, emphasizing cultural differences, environmental stewardship, social engagement, economic resilience, technological infrastructure, educational methods and political support. It underscores the importance of responsible tourism aligned with evolving tourist expectations.
Smart tourism transformation of Şile district: strategic aspects with SWOT analysis
Merve Aksoy, Dr Volkan Altıntaş, Cemre Tokatlı
The article evaluates the smart tourism potential of Şile, Türkiye, by conducting a SWOT analysis to identify its strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats. The study highlights Şile’s significant potential due to its proximity to Istanbul and its natural attractions while also noting infrastructure limitations as a critical challenge. The findings offer strategic recommendations tailored to Şile’s unique context to help it develop into a smart tourism destination.
Sustainable culinary culture: gastronomic practices of locals’ transitional periods in Menteşe in the context of intangible cultural heritage
Egem Zağralı Çakır
The article examines the gastronomic practices of the Menteşe region during transitional periods, focusing on the transfer of culinary culture across generations. The study explores past and present practices using ethnographic methods, revealing special day meals, rituals and traditions. It highlights the importance of these practices for cultural sustainability and notes that traditions are more vibrant in rural areas than in city centers. The findings contribute to the literature on intangible cultural heritage and emphasize the need to record and promote these cultural practices.
Unveiling business environment and digital entrepreneurial activity in the European tourism industry
Mohammed El Amine Abdelli, Adriana Perez-Encinas, Ernesto Rodríguez Crespo, Jean Moussavou, Myriam Ertz, Ana Pinto Borges, Thierry Levy-Tadjine, Dipra Jha
The article examines how internal and external business environments impact digital entrepreneurial activity (DEA) in the European tourism industry, emphasizing the growing importance of sustainability and smart tourism destinations. It highlights the role of entrepreneurship ecosystems, information systems and artificial intelligence in this context. The study finds that losses due to theft, vandalism, liquidity and labor costs significantly influence DEA. These insights offer valuable implications for entrepreneurs and academics in the tourism sector, aiding decision-making.
The role of tourism entrepreneurial ecosystems to support sales growth of European countries
Mohammed El Amine Abdelli, Jean Moussavou, Adriana Perez-Encinas, Ernesto Rodríguez Crespo, Ana Pinto Borges, Atilla Akbaba, Thierry Levy-Tadjine, Didier Chabaud
The article investigates the impact of tourism entrepreneurial ecosystems (TEE) on sales growth in European countries, focusing on 109 entrepreneurs in Germany and France. The study highlights the importance of human capital, technology, customs regulations, labor markets and financial and institutional determinants using quantitative methods. Key findings indicate that financing, networks, technology, and international trade positively affect sales growth, while an uneducated workforce and legal and political aspects do not. This research provides valuable insights into the integration of sustainable TEE.
A systematic literature review of online communication and promotion for sustainable tourism
Valentina Marchi, Silvia Fissi, Elena Gori
This article explores how sustainability is communicated online in the tourism sector. The study emphasizes the diverse roles of tourism stakeholders in promoting sustainable practices and the need to understand their interactions within a complex ecosystem. It suggests that analyzing digital communication can help differentiate and personalize tourism products and services, supporting long-term decision-making and promoting responsible practices.
Concluding article
Atilla Akbaba
The concluding article emphasizes integrating sustainability principles in tourism and monitoring evolving tourist preferences within the framework of smart tourism destinations. It addresses the strategic question of how to interpret and monitor these preferences in the context of sustainability. Key themes include the ongoing importance of sustainability, the role of smart solutions and technology and the influence of changing tourist preferences on sustainable destinations. The article highlights the need for tourism destinations to adapt to evolving visitor demands and provides insights from various studies on tourist demands and sustainability efforts.
