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Understanding the Tourists’ Perspective of Sustainability in Cultural Tourist Destinations

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  • Begüm Aydın

    (Institute of Environmental Sciences, Boğaziçi University, Hisar Kampüs, Bebek, 34342 Istanbul, Turkey)

  • Maria D. Alvarez

    (Department of Tourism Administration, Boğaziçi University, Hisar Kampüs, Bebek, 34342 Istanbul, Turkey)

Abstract

Considering the tourists’ viewpoint when creating a sustainable destination is crucial since marketing may be the driving force behind many sustainability initiatives. However, most of the literature has followed a supply-based perspective, ignoring the way that tourists view sustainability attributes. Therefore, this research attempts to address this gap in the literature by analyzing tourists’ perceptions concerning sustainability attributes in tourist destinations. This research aims to determine which of these traits are seen as most important by the tourists and to ascertain their willingness to pay for these aspects. The study is quantitative, based on an online questionnaire administered to Turkish cultural tourists. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses are used to obtain insights into how tourists consider sustainability aspects in tourist destinations. Thus, this research concludes that tourists view sustainability from a more varied perspective than that embraced by the classic definition of the concept, which comprises economic, environmental and socio-cultural dimensions. The findings of the study also determine that tourists favor sustainability attributes that are instrumental in enhancing their own tourist experiences. This information may be useful for destinations, providing guidance about how to market sustainable tourist destinations and encourage responsible tourism choices.

Suggested Citation

  • Begüm Aydın & Maria D. Alvarez, 2020. "Understanding the Tourists’ Perspective of Sustainability in Cultural Tourist Destinations," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(21), pages 1-17, October.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:12:y:2020:i:21:p:8846-:d:434297
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    2. Arthur Filipe de Araújo & Maria Isabel Andrés Marques & Maria Teresa Ribeiro Candeias & Armando Luís Vieira, 2022. "Willingness to Pay for Sustainable Destinations: A Structural Approach," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(5), pages 1-18, February.
    3. Rumin Zheng & Shuo Zhen & Lin Mei & Hongqiang Jiang, 2021. "Ecotourism Practices in Potatso National Park from the Perspective of Tourists: Assessment and Developing Contradictions," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(22), pages 1-14, November.
    4. Yuetao Yang & Gowhar Ahmad Wani & V. Nagaraj & Mohammad Haseeb & Sameer Sultan & Md. Emran Hossain & Mustafa Kamal & Syed Mehmood Raza Shah, 2023. "Progress in Sustainable Tourism Research: An Analysis of the Comprehensive Literature and Future Research Directions," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(3), pages 1-15, February.
    5. Dariusz Jacek Olszewski-Strzyżowski, 2022. "Promotional Activities of Selected National Tourism Organizations (NTOs) in the Light of Sustainable Tourism (Including Sustainable Transport)," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(5), pages 1-18, February.
    6. Anna Adamus-Matuszyńska & Piotr Dzik & Jerzy Michnik & Grzegorz Polok, 2021. "Visual Component of Destination Brands as a Tool for Communicating Sustainable Tourism Offers," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(2), pages 1-17, January.

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