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This study aims to identify whether halal tourism, as advocated by Mastercard-Crescent Rating guidelines on halal tourism can be considered as supporting sustainable tourism.

Three Mastercard-CrescentRating 2019 Reports which are Global Muslim Travel Index, Indonesia Muslim Travel Index and Halal Travel Frontier were evaluated using a qualitative method supports by NVivo software to analyze text and images. Eight indicators (number of tourists, main motivations, main values, interaction with the community, interaction with the environment, most possible destinations, infrastructure and visitor monitorings) are used to classify halal tourism items into mass tourism (traditional, experiential and sensational) and non-mass (alternative) tourism. The qualitative analysis is supported by correlation analysis of GMTI scores with environmental performance index and the global sustainable competitiveness index scores.

The results showed that halal tourism has unique characters compared with mass and non-mass tourism types. However, halal tourism advocated by CrescentRating unlikely shows similarity with non-mass tourism. It tends to be traditional mass tourism, especially on the perspective of the type of activity, interactions with the environment and local communities, as well as the main values.

Previous research suggested the needs of halal tourism and its relations to sustainability. This research fills the gap by showing the halal tourism, in the perspective of Mastercard-CrescentRating is not prioritized toward sustainable tourism by qualitative and quantitative evidences. This study contributes to the knowledge of sustainability from Islamic perspectives and practices and provides a way to the theory of Islamic sustainable tourism. It also suggests improvements to halal tourism guidelines such as the transparency and guarantees that the profit will be used for social welfare, promotion of sustainability using Qur’anic verses and promotion on environmental and social empowerment activities.

This paper aims to examine rural tourism preferences as an alternative niche market to mass tourism destinations. The analysis discusses the differences in perceptions and willingness to pay (WTP) for various packages of rural tourism activities in Gran Canaria Island among residents and non-residents.

The analysis is based on a convenience sample of potential young customers who are familiar with outdoor recreational activities in nature. This study considers a discrete choice experiment that includes the type of accommodation as well as four types of rural tourism activities: active, passive, cultural and aquatic. The degree of preference for the considered attributes is obtained from the estimation of different discrete choice models.

Results reveal that the inclusion of the investigated attributes in holiday packages increases tourists’ utility, which motivates the promotion of rural tourism for young residents and non-residents. The most significant differences in perceptions of attributes between residents and non-residents were found in the activities of diving/snorkelling and stargazing, as well as the type of accommodation and package price.

This study will contribute to a better understanding of an alternative tourism market which will help key stakeholders in the tourism sector to better serve this important segment of the industry and to encourage more sustainable tourism in the future.

To the best of the authors' knowledge, this is the first study evaluating the WTP for rural tourism packages as a more sustainable alternative in mass tourism destinations and taking into account resident vs non-resident perceptions.

本文将乡村旅游偏好视为大众旅游目的地的替代利基市场。该分析讨论了居民和非居民对大加那利岛各种乡村旅游活动的看法和支付意愿的差异。

该分析基于熟悉户外休闲活动的潜在年轻客户的便利样本。该研究考虑了一个离散选择实验, 包括住宿类型以及四种类型的乡村旅游活动：积极、消极、文化和水上活动。所考虑属性的偏好程度是从不同离散选择模型的估计中获得的。

结果表明, 度假套餐中包含调查的属性增加了游客的效用, 从而促进了年轻居民和非居民的乡村旅游。在潜水/浮潜和观星活动, 以及住宿类型和套餐价格方面, 居民和非居民对属性的认知差异最显着。

据作者所知, 这是第一项评估农村旅游套餐的支付意愿作为大众旅游目的地更可持续的替代方案的研究, 并考虑了居民与非居民的看法。

该研究将有助于更好地了解替代旅游市场, 这将有助于旅游业的主要利益相关者更好地服务于该行业的这一重要部分, 并鼓励未来更可持续的旅游业。

Este trabajo examina las preferencias del turismo rural como nicho de mercado alternativo a los destinos turísticos de masas. El análisis discute las diferencias en las percepciones y la disposición a pagar por varios paquetes de actividades de turismo rural en la isla de Gran Canaria entre residentes y no residentes.

El análisis se basa en una muestra de conveniencia de potenciales clientes jóvenes que están familiarizados con las actividades recreativas al aire libre en la naturaleza. El estudio considera un experimento de elección discreta que incluye el tipo de alojamiento, así como cuatro tipos de actividades de turismo rural: activo, pasivo, cultural y acuático. El grado de preferencia por los atributos considerados se obtiene a partir de la estimación de diferentes modelos de elección discreta.

Los resultados revelan que la inclusión de los atributos investigados en los paquetes vacacionales aumenta la utilidad de los turistas, lo que motiva la promoción del turismo rural para jóvenes residentes y no residentes. Las diferencias más significativas en las percepciones de los atributos entre residentes y no residentes se encontraron en las actividades de buceo/snorkel y observación de estrellas, así como en el tipo de alojamiento y el precio del paquete.

Hasta donde los autores saben, este es el primer estudio que evalúa la disposición a pagar por paquetes de turismo rural como una alternativa más sostenible en destinos de turismo masivo y que tiene en cuenta las percepciones de los residentes frente a los no residentes.

El estudio contribuirá a una mejor comprensión de un mercado turístico alternativo que ayudará a los principales agentes del sector turístico a atender mejor este importante segmento de la industria y a fomentar un turismo más sostenible en el futuro.

This study aims to uncover socio-demographic, psychographic and behavioral characteristics of sustainable consumers as a means to advance the demand for sustainability practices by the tourism and hospitality industry. Socio-demographic and psychographic variables were tested for their influence on an individual’s self-assessment as a sustainable consumer, which was then tested for its influence on behavioral outcomes in the form of environmental and social sustainability concerns, objects of sustainability concerns, subjects considered responsible for sustainability and tourism choice vis-à-vis mass vs alternative forms of tourism.

Because of the paucity of a well-established and robust theory on the characteristics of sustainable consumers, both content analysis of the literature and quantitative analysis of survey data were used to identify the socio-demographic, psychographic and behavioral characteristics of consumers. Plausible variables identified in the literature were filtered through principal component analysis and ordinary least squares regression analysis to fine-tune the variables a priori to develop a suitable model, which was subjected to partial least squares-structural equation modeling to further trim variables a posteriori by testing their reliability and validity.

Understanding who sustainable consumers are and what they are likely to believe and do is imperative for increasing sustainable practices by the industry. The study shows that people who consider themselves to be sustainable consumers are likely to have higher levels of ethical views, be more feminine and more liberal in personality, demonstrate concern with environmental and social sustainability issues, consider all pertinent parties responsible for sustainability and chose alternative forms of tourism over mass tourism. The study implies that general American consumers have the potential to buy into sustainability practices.

Despite researchers’ sporadic attempts to describe different characteristics of sustainable consumers and sustainable tourism consumers, past research has not substantiated a comprehensive description of who is a sustainable consumer in terms of socio-demographics, psychographics and behavioral characteristics. The literature on sustainable consumer characteristics is scarce and atheoretical; thus, the current study sets the stage for the development of this area of work across all sectors of the global tourism and hospitality industry. The model test results provide a clear profile of sustainable tourism consumers in socio-demographic, psychographic and behavioral domains for the industry to respond to.

可持续旅游消费者：社会人口学, 心理变数, 以及行为的特征

本研究旨在揭示可持续消费者的社会人口学, 心理变数, 以及行为的特征, 并以此作为推动旅游业和款待业对可持续发展实践需求的一种手段。本研究首先测试了两个变量：社会人口学特征和心理变数特征对个人作为可持续消费者的自我评估的影响; 然后测试了其对消费者行为性后果的影响, 包括对环境和社会可持续性问题的关注, 关注的主题, 对可持续性问题责任性的关注, 以及针对大众和其他旅游形式选择的比较。

由于缺乏关于可持续消费者特征的公认理论, 本研究采用了对相关文献内容的定性分析和对调查数据的定量分析来识别消费者的社会人口学, 心理变数, 以及行为特征。在建立合适的模型之前, 研究通过采用主成分分析（PCA）和普通最小二乘法（OLS）回归分析, 首先对文献中已识别的合理变量进行过滤和调整。继而基于偏最小二乘-结构方程建模（PLS- SEM）对可靠性和有效性的测试, 来进一步确定后验变量。

了解可持续消费者的界定, 以及他们的信念和行为对于行业增加可持续性实践至关重要。该研究表明, 当人们认为自己是可持续消费者时, 他们便可能具有更高水平的道德观念, 具有更加女性化和自由的个性, 表现出对环境和社会可持续性问题的关注, 对可持续发展责任性的考虑更全面, 以及对其他旅游形式选择的偏爱。本篇研究的结果显示出普通美国消费者具有实践可持续性行为的潜力。

尽管以往的研究曾零星地尝试描述可持续消费者和可持续旅游消费者的不同特征, 但并未从社会人口学, 心理变数, 以及行为特征这几个方面去全面地界定和证明可持续消费者。文献中依然缺乏关于对可持续消费者特征更加理论性地讨论。因此, 本研究旨在为全球旅游业和款待业的各个领域对于可持续旅游的讨论和发展奠定基础。模型测试的结果也为行业提供了一个关于可持续旅游消费者的社会人口学, 心理变数, 以及行为特征的理论框架, 以供行业响应。

El consumidor de turismo sostenible: Características sociodemográficas, psicográficas, y de comportamiento

Este estudio busca revelar las características sociodemográficas, psicográficas, y de comportamiento de los consumidores responsables para promover la demanda de prácticas de sostenibilidad en la industria del turismo y la hospitalidad. Se evaluaron variables sociodemográficas y psicográficas para determinar su influencia sobre la autoevaluación de un individuo como consumidor responsable, que después se evaluó para determinar su influencia en resultados conductuales, específicamente preocupaciones de sostenibilidad medioambiental y social, objectos de preocupaciones de sostenibilidad, sujetos considerados responsables de la sostenibilidad, y la elección de turismo de masas versus turismo alternativo.

Debido a la falta de teoría robusta y bien establecida sobre las características de los consumidores responsables, un análisis de contenidos de la literatura y un análisis cuantitativo de datos obtenidos a través de una encuesta se utilizaron para identificar las características sociodemográficas, psicográficas, y de comportamiento de los consumidores. Las variables plausibles identificadas en la literatura fueron filtradas a través de un análisis de componentes principales (ACP) y un análisis de regresión por mínimos cuadrados ordinarios (MCO) para afinar a priori las variables para el desarrollo de un modelo adecuado, el cual fue evaluado utilizando un modelo de ecuaciones estructurales por el método de mínimos cuadrados parciales (PLS-SEM por sus siglas en inglés) que permitió seguir afinando las variables a posteriori por medio de la evaluación de su confiabilidad y validez.

Entender quiénes son los consumidores responsables y qué son propensos a creer y hacer es imperativo para aumentar las prácticas sostenibles en la industria. El estudio demuestra que las personas que se consideran consumidores responsables son más propensas a tener niveles más altos de opiniones éticas, a tener personalidades más femeninas y liberales, a demostrar preocupación por los problemas de sostenibilidad medioambiental y social, a considerar a todas las partes pertinentes como responsables de la sostenibilidad, y a escoger formas alternativas de turismo en vez de turismo de masas. El estudio sugiere que los consumidores americanos en general tienen el potencial de apoyar prácticas sostenibles.

A pesar de los intentos esporádicos de otros investigadores para describir las diferentes características del consumidor responsable y de los consumidores de turismo sostenible, las investigaciones anteriores no han generado una descripción completa de quién es un consumidor responsable en términos de sus características sociodemográficas, psicográficas, y de comportamiento. La literatura sobre las características del consumidor responsable es escasa y sin bases teóricas; por lo tanto, este estudio sienta las bases para el desarrollo de esta área de investigación en todos los sectores de la industria global del turismo y la hospitalidad. Los resultados de la evaluación del modelo proporcionan un perfil claro de los consumidores de turismo sostenible en los ámbitos sociodemográficos, psicográficos, y de comportamiento para que la industria responda.

This paper aims to provide an overview of the approaches that industry stakeholders follow towards responsible tourism in Cyprus and to address the challenges that responsible tourism management faces in a mass tourism destination.

In doing so, the paper discusses the concept of responsible tourism and its application in the hospitality and tourism industry. A qualitative research approach was followed whereby roundtable discussions between industry leaders and hospitality educators were initiated in order to identify key challenges. In addition, secondary research was performed with relevant data presented in the paper being previously collected by the CSTI (Cyprus Sustainable Tourism Initiative).

Findings reveal that responsible tourism adoption in Cyprus is minimal. Several challenges have been identified as barriers to adoption and successful implementation including poor understanding of the concept, lack of awareness, limited budget, lack of coordination of activities and the absence of an integrated system to ensure cooperation and of a monitoring mechanism.

The paper will be of immense value to industry practitioners as it represents a holistic understanding of the challenges facing hospitality and tourism industry stakeholders in terms of the implementation of responsible tourism practice. Propositions are made regarding the maximisation of the benefits of responsible tourism.

The paper draws on sustainability issues in an attempt to shed light on the role of responsible tourism in the hospitality and tourism industry in Cyprus and consequently advances knowledge on responsible tourism management offering value to academics practitioners and students alike.

Local government has a significant role to play in securing sustainable destination development. This paper aims to identify the strengths, weaknesses and challenges of municipalities in North Cyprus as they aspire to become sustainable Cittaslow tourism destinations.

A qualitative research approach was used to observe the perceptions of municipalities as they transition to become sustainable Cittaslow tourism destinations. The data have been obtained through in-depth interviews with the mayors of the municipalities that are members of the international Cittaslow network.

The results of the study show how alternative forms of tourism could help to improve the local economy. Also, the reasons for challenges and weaknesses are explained by the limited economic conditions of countries, high demand for mass tourism and lack of awareness about the importance of being a Cittaslow member.

This study reflects on the critical points in relation to the destination’s management at the local level. It also provides empirical indicators for achieving sustainable tourism development in North Cyprus.

This study contributes to the tourism literature by addressing municipalities' roles in the sustainability of tourism destinations in developing countries, more specifically in North Cyprus. A review of the literature reveals that there are very few prior studies of the role of municipalities in sustainable Cittaslow tourism.

This paper argues that tourism development in Belize should avoid going the traditional mass tourism route of most Caribbean destinations. Instead, it suggests that Belize is at the appropriate stage in its development to forge an alternative model, which draws and builds on its geographical location, history, culture and ecology. In making this case, the paper identifies a number of limiting and facilitating factors to tourism development. These facilitating factors recommend the alternative model. Specifically, the alternative model includes nature, education and community tourism; and a type of cruise tourism that is linked to education and culture. For this effort to succeed, the paper recommends that government and civil society work together to develop the country’s human resources and to structure a strategy to achieve the goals.

The purpose of this paper is to identify the tourism potential of natural and cultural heritage in historical irrigation canals by promoting social learning and providing digital tools to local and visitors.

This research is based on the EUWATHER project (JPI – Cultural Heritage, HERITAGE PLUS Joint Call 2015), through which new opportunities for eco-tourism and outdoor recreation as a driver for sustainable development of historical irrigation canals are provided. A case study from North-Eastern Spain, the Lower Ter area (in the Costa Brava), is analyzed. Heritage inventories and digital itineraries including the tangible and intangible cultural history of waterscape heritage have been co-designed with local communities and key stakeholders. Online data sets and Spatial Data Infrastructure (webpage and mobile app) are provided.

The project provides a manual for developing digital waterways heritage tours. For the case study, up to 118 heritage objects have been selected from 8 natural and cultural heritage categories according to their tourism potential. Three itineraries have been proposed to promote the tourism potential existing in the hinterland of the Costa Brava region.

The methods section and the main results obtained for the case study will be useful for professionals working in heritage institutions, rural development and sustainable tourism agencies.

The project provides two geo-based technologies: a digital platform (www.waterwaysexplorer.com) and a mobile app (Izi.travel) in which external users are able to collect relevant data and construct tourism itineraries from minor waterways with consolidated natural and cultural heritage. A Tool Box is provided for practitioners in order to help local communities and tourist organizations to create their own itineraries along minor waterways.

Accessibility is critical in tourism planning for protected islands, especially when balancing tourism and conservation interests. This study aims to explore the dimensions of accessibility that impact tourists’ decisions to visit protected islands and encourage tourism. The accessibility dimension is essential in designing sustainable tourism management of protected islands.

This study was conceptualized by integrating the concept of accessibility in the context of transport accessibility, accessible tourism, protected areas and protected islands. In a sample of 487 surveys, factor analysis and structural equation model-partial least squares were used to examine the physical and nonphysical accessibility dimensions.

The primary objective of this study is to build a conceptual framework for the tourism accessibility of protected islands. This study confirms that accessibility is perceived in three dimensions: destination accessibility, individual accessibility and protected island accessibility. It is also found that all three accessibility dimensions have a significant influence on the decision to visit, with protected island accessibility as the lowering factor. This study demonstrates that, theoretically, tourism accessibility in protected islands should be treated as a convenience and restriction to balance the function of protected areas and tourism.

The findings of this study can be generalized because the notion of accessibility dimensions is derived from a theoretical investigation of several contexts (transport accessibility, accessible tourism, protected areas and island characteristics) to identify more particular aspects. In addition, the results of the theoretical investigation were tested using quantitative methods with high statistical power (80%). However, saturation has not been reached, because thorough research on tourism accessibility on this protected island is still scarce. Within the same framework, application and duplicate research are required to increase the generalizability of the proposed concept. Therefore, the authors recommend further studies to validate the protected islands’ accessibility concept in a broader context by replicating the study in a more diversified timeline, sample and destination setting.

This study concludes that all dimensions of accessibility in protected islands must be considered from two perspectives: convenience and constraints. Conveniences can be constructed through tourists’ perceptions of accessibility. Destination accessibility should be designed with a “back to nature” mindset, excluding hedonistic elements. Individual accessibility is achieved by applying high safety, hygiene and health standards as well as environmental ethics standards that are consistent with the natural characteristics of the environment. This balance between constraint and convenience demonstrates that, while tourism accessibility must be made as comfortable as possible for all individuals, there are particular areas whose accessibility must be controlled to preserve them. The convenience of accessibility for universal access should not be allowed to lead to mass tourism that affects the ecosystem in protected areas.

The novelty of this study lies in the finding that the tourism accessibility of protected islands can be divided into three types: destination accessibility, individual accessibility and protected island accessibility. This study also demonstrates the significant influence of accessibility on tourists’ decisions to visit. Accordingly, the protected island accessibility dimension can create a perception of difficult accessibility and lower tourists’ decisions to visit. This study concludes that all elements influencing the perception of tourism accessibility on a protected island must be considered to sustainably manage convenience and restrictions to avoid mass tourism. Therefore, it is recommended that these three dimensions be considered in visitor management programs.

这项研究的概念是通过将交通可达性、可达性旅游、保护区和受保护岛屿的背景下的可达性概念结合起来。在 487 次调查的样本量中, 因子分析和 偏最小二乘结构方程模型法采用于检查物理和非物理可访问性维度。

可访问性在受保护岛屿的旅游规划中至关重要, 尤其是在平衡旅游和保护利益时。 本研究探讨了影响游客决定访问受保护岛屿并最终鼓励旅游业的可达性维度。 因此, 探索受保护岛屿的旅游可达性维度是设计可持续旅游管理的基础。

这项研究的主要目的是为受保护岛屿的旅游可达性建立一个概念框架。 本研究证实, 可达性被认为是三个维度, 即目的地可达性、个人可达性和受保护岛屿的可达性。 研究还发现, 所有三个可达性维度对访问决定都有显着影响, 受保护岛屿的可达性是降低因素。 从理论上讲, 本研究表明, 保护岛屿的旅游可达性应被视为便利和限制, 以平衡保护区和旅游的功能。

本研究的成果易于概括, 因为可达性维度的概念源自对几种背景（交通可达性、可达性旅游、保护区和岛屿特征）的理论研究, 以确定更具体的方面。 此外, 理论研究的成果已经采用定量方法进行了检验, 具有很高的统计功效（80%）。 然而, 由于对这个受保护岛屿的旅游可达性的深入研究仍然很少, 因此尚未达到饱和。 在同一框架下, 需要应用和重复研究来增加所提出概念的普遍性。 因此, 作者建议进一步研究, 通过在更多样化的时间线、样本和目的地设置中复制研究, 在更广泛的背景下验证受保护岛屿的可达性概念。

本文章的结尾是, 必须从两个角度考虑保护岛屿的所有方面的可达性：便利性和约束性。 便利性可以通过游客对可达性的感知来构建。 目的地可达性应以“回归自然”的心态进行设计, 不包括享乐主义元素。 通过应用高安全、卫生和健康标准以及与环境自然特征相一致的环境伦理标准来实现个人无障碍。 约束和便利之间的这种平衡表明, 虽然必须使所有个人的旅游可达性尽可能舒适, 但必须控制某些特定区域的可达性以保护它们。 不要让普遍访问的便利性导致影响保护区生态系统的大众旅游。

本文章的新颖之处在于发现保护岛屿的旅游可达性分为三种类型：目的地可达性、个人可达性和保护岛可达性。 本研究还证明了可达性对游客访问决策的显着影响。 因此, 受保护岛屿的可达性维度可以产生一种难以进入的感觉, 并降低游客的访问决定。 本研究的理论反思得出结尾, 必须考虑影响受保护岛屿旅游可达性感知的所有因素, 以可持续地管理便利和限制, 以避免大众旅游。 因此, 建议在访客管理程序中考虑上述三个维度。

Este estudio se conceptualizó integrando el concepto de accesibilidad en el contexto de la accesibilidad del transporte, el turismo accesible, las áreas protegidas y las islas protegidas. En una muestra de 487 encuestas, se utilizó el análisis factorial y el PLS-SEM para examinar las dimensiones de accesibilidad física y no física.

La accesibilidad es fundamental en la planificación turística de las islas protegidas, especialmente cuando se trata de equilibrar los intereses del turismo y la conservación. Este artículo explora las dimensiones de la accesibilidad que influyen en la decisión de los turistas de visitar las islas protegidas y fomentar el turismo. Por lo tanto, la dimensión de la accesibilidad es esencial para diseñar una gestión turística sostenible de las islas protegidas.

El objetivo principal de esta investigación es construir un marco conceptual para la accesibilidad turística de las islas protegidas. Este estudio confirma que la accesibilidad se percibe en tres dimensiones: la accesibilidad del destino, la accesibilidad individual y la accesibilidad de la isla protegida. También se constata que las tres dimensiones de la accesibilidad influyen significativamente en la decisión de visitar `la isla, siendo la accesibilidad de la isla protegida el factor que más influye. Este estudio demuestra que, teóricamente, la accesibilidad turística en las islas protegidas debe ser tratada como una conveniencia y restricción para equilibrar la función de las áreas protegidas y el turismo.

Los resultados de este estudio pueden generalizarse porque la noción de dimensiones de accesibilidad se deriva de una investigación teórica de varios contextos (accesibilidad del transporte, turismo accesible, áreas protegidas y características de las islas) para identificar aspectos más particulares. Además, los resultados de la investigación teórica se comprobaron mediante métodos cuantitativos con una elevada potencia estadística (80%). Sin embargo, no se ha alcanzado la saturación, ya que la investigación exhaustiva sobre la accesibilidad turística en esta isla protegida sigue siendo escasa. Dentro del mismo marco, se requiere una aplicación y una duplicación de la investigación para aumentar la generalizabilidad del concepto propuesto. Por lo tanto, los autores recomiendan la realización de nuevos estudios para validar el concepto de accesibilidad de las islas protegidas en un contexto más amplio, replicando el estudio en un marco temporal, una muestra y un destino más diversificados.

Este estudio concluye que todas las dimensiones de la accesibilidad en las islas protegidas deben considerarse desde dos perspectivas: la conveniencia y las limitaciones. Las conveniencias pueden construirse a través de las percepciones de los turistas sobre la accesibilidad. La accesibilidad del destino debe diseñarse con una mentalidad de “vuelta a la naturaleza”, excluyendo los elementos hedonistas. La accesibilidad individual se consigue aplicando elevadas normas de seguridad, higiene y salud, así como normas de ética medioambiental que sean coherentes con las características naturales del entorno. Este equilibrio entre restricción y conveniencia demuestra que, si bien la accesibilidad turística debe hacerse lo más cómoda posible para todos los individuos, hay zonas particulares cuya accesibilidad debe controlarse para preservarlas. La conveniencia de la accesibilidad para el acceso universal no debe conducir a un turismo de masas que afecte al ecosistema de las zonas protegidas.

La novedad de este artículo radica en la constatación de que la accesibilidad turística de las islas protegidas puede dividirse en tres tipos: accesibilidad del destino, accesibilidad individual y accesibilidad de la isla protegida. Este estudio también demuestra la importante influencia de la accesibilidad en la decisión de los turistas de visitarlas. Así, la dimensión de la accesibilidad de las islas protegidas puede crear una percepción de difícil accesibilidad y disminuir la decisión de los turistas de visitarlas. La reflexión teórica de este estudio concluye que todos los elementos que influyen en la percepción de la accesibilidad turística en una isla protegida deben ser considerados para gestionar de forma sostenible la conveniencia y las restricciones para evitar el turismo de masas. Por lo tanto, se recomienda tener en cuenta estas tres dimensiones en los programas de gestión de visitantes.

This paper entails a reflection on medical tourism services and guest experiences. The purpose of this paper is to analyze how relationship marketing relates to other relevant variables in consumer’s behavior applied to medical tourism contexts and guest experiences. This study aims at discussing the customer behavior in healthcare management and medical tourism contexts and addresses the predisposition for the destination and the influence of relationship marketing on behavioral intentions.

The paper starts from a conceptual framework based on relationship marketing theory. From this theoretical base, the concepts of trust, commitment and cooperation and behavioral intentions are derived. A theoretical model is developed specifying antecedents of satisfaction and loyalty in healthcare management and medical tourism contexts.

The conceptual model shows that tourist destinations in the context of healthcare and medical tourism can be managed together with the study of the tourist consumer behavior and should focus on aspects that reinforce relationship marketing to the site, as planning services excellence, communication strategies, promotion services, integrated experiences and combating seasonality.

This study has already identified that the global movement of tourism is seemingly showing an increased focus on the niche product or niche service. In this case, the question seems to be whether the further growth in demand for healthcare management and medical tourism – as a niche tourism example – products will continue until they take a form of mass tourism. The new vogue of medical tourism forces to challenge and re-visit the power relationships that exist within contemporary tourism and the host–guest relationship.

This study provides insights on the perceptions of residents in destinations offering different tourism products at different levels of tourism development.

A total of 1,122 valid responses were gathered through surveys from the residents of three unique destinations, with different levels of tourism development. Non-parametric tests were performed since the data was gathered on an ordinal scale and not distributed normally.

The tourism perceptions of the residents formed a five-factor structure, namely “socioecological negative”, “socioeconomic positive”, “socioecological development (wellbeing)”, “negative perceptions of tourism” and “tendency to become visitor”. All dimensions except for “socioeconomic positive” differed significantly by destinations in terms of level of tourism development or type of tourism product offered.

Residents' perceptions of tourism differ based on different tourism products and different levels of tourism development of destinations. The residents of the most mature destinations in terms of tourism development have the most negative perceptions of tourism.

Although there are studies investigating how residents' perceptions differ based on the level of tourism development of destinations, this study, with its holistic approach, aims to provide insights on how residents' perceptions of tourism differ based on the tourism products offered by different destinations. The selected destinations differ from each other in both their level of tourism involvement and products they offer, hence the originality of the current study with its unique contribution to the related body of knowledge.