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1 – 10 of over 4000Michael Scoullos, Vicky Malotidi, Paula Lindroos and Sinikka Suomalainen
The purpose of the paper is to present and compare collective efforts of higher education institutions working through regional networks in introducing and promoting education for…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of the paper is to present and compare collective efforts of higher education institutions working through regional networks in introducing and promoting education for sustainable development (ESD) and environmental education (EE) in two most significant EU boarder regions. Efforts to support EE/ESD in higher education are usually undertaken at individual universities and, in some cases, at national level, still remaining very fragmented; therefore, the examples of University networks in the Baltic and the Mediterranean regions are of particular interest and importance. Both regions have regional conventions, protocols and strategies for the relevant seas, bringing EU and neighbouring countries of the regions together for the protection of the environment and the promotion of sustainable development (SD) within which EE and ESD are embedded.
Design/methodology/approach
This paper presents the driving forces for the establishment, evolution and design of relevant activities of these two networks, making also a few inter-comparisons and recommendations for further improvements.
Findings
Both regions, the Baltic and the Mediterranean, have multiple needs and high potential for more efficient linking of SD with higher education. Early enough it was realised that regional networking could stimulate countries and universities towards this task. Two networks were set up: the Baltic University Programme (starting already in 1991) and the Mediterranean Universities Network for SD focusing on ESD (starting in 2007). The paper reviews main activities of the networks together with lessons learned and gives directions for their future operations.
Originality/value
This paper is one of the rare case studies related to higher education networking on ESD and demonstrates how networking on ESD, apart from enhancing professional development, supports also SD and promotes cooperation and peace in regions that have a history of frequently turbulent relationships.
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The paper aims to review the perceived benefits of the Mediterranean diet alongside traditional or regional foodstuffs, and to examine the extent to which food producers and…
Abstract
Purpose
The paper aims to review the perceived benefits of the Mediterranean diet alongside traditional or regional foodstuffs, and to examine the extent to which food producers and retailers make use of these labels in order to enhance the perceived value of their products.
Design/methodology/approach
The paper draws on marketing literature relating to origin cues within the food industry. It first analyses criteria used by the EU for food labelling, following this with a review of the perceived value of authenticity in foodstuffs, offering an evaluation of Mediterranean‐labelled products available from a leading UK supermarket chain.
Findings
The paper involves an exploration into the descriptors used by food producers, suggesting they are designed to respond to consumers’ subjective criteria in food choices with only tenuous links to the promoted origins and corresponding quality designations. It is concluded that regional and Mediterranean labels do not display common dietary or preparation features but are convenient marketing labels designed to enhance food product attributes.
Originality/value
It appears that regional links or the term “Mediterranean”, when linked to foodstuffs, suggest a level of authenticity that is not always borne out in product ingredients and preparation methods. Origin and authenticity are widely held to enhance the perceived attributes of food products but this paper highlights certain mismatches between regional quality marks and food marketing practices. Greater awareness of the practices employed to satisfy “subjective criteria” when making food choices is of benefit to consumers.
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Amir Moslemi, Olli-Pekka Hilmola and Jyri Vilko
This study aims to explore and analyzes the risk factors in container shipping and logistics services using a dual perspective. The authors gather data not only from logistics…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to explore and analyzes the risk factors in container shipping and logistics services using a dual perspective. The authors gather data not only from logistics service companies but also from their most important customers.
Design/methodology/approach
In this research, the authors used case study methodology (interviews and surveys) to examine risk factors that are related to one another within the interaction between logistics service companies and their customers in the emerging markets of the Mediterranean region (Turkey, Algeria, Tunisia and Libya).
Findings
The findings show the most important risk factors and compare them using a dual perspective. Customers identify additional risks and estimate their consequences as wider. Interestingly, oil price change plays a dual role because a price increase could be beneficial to the region; at the same time, however, the competitiveness of shipping would decrease. In both response groups, risk likelihood and risk consequence have a positive and statistically significant correlation.
Research limitations/implications
The findings of the study are limited to one shipping/logistics service company. On a global scale, the company is medium-sized; however, in terms of Northern Europe, it is an important player. Extending its service portfolio to the Mediterranean region is an important step.
Practical implications
In emerging markets, risks go hand in hand with profitability, and companies need to apply extensive risk analysis and mitigation strategies to survive.
Social implications
The southern Mediterranean region is showing some signs of economy recovery. Efficient, robust supply chains are in demand to support sustainable growth.
Originality/value
Using a case study approach in supply chain risk management in shipping is rather rare; this work is ground-breaking in that it uses dual perspective in the analysis.
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Abdeltif El Ouahrani, Joaquin Molero Mesa and Abderrahmane Merzouki
This paper aims to highlight the drivers and trends of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from fossil fuels of 21 Mediterranean countries, and suggest some policy recommendations to…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to highlight the drivers and trends of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from fossil fuels of 21 Mediterranean countries, and suggest some policy recommendations to help mitigate them and fostering energy partnership within the studied area.
Design/methodology/approach
Simplified Kaya identity was used to analyse the drivers and trends of CO2 emission from fossil fuels. Data used were retrieved from the US Energy Information Administration and Carbon Dioxide Information Analysis Centre. The analysis considers Northern rim countries and Southern‐Eastern rim countries (SERCs) as separate groups, as well as all together.
Findings
The total fossil fuel emissions between 1980 and 2005, the emissions growth rate in 1980s, 1990s, and 2000‐2006 were assessed. The findings put emphasis on the drivers and trends of fuel emissions considering per capita emission, gross domestic product and carbon intensity.
Originality/value
Despite their low contribution to global anthropogenic CO2 emissions (∼7 percent), the growing energy demands in the Mediterranean countries – especially in the SERCs – shows that there is an urgent and tremendous effort that needs to be addressed at national and regional levels in order to slow down the increasing emissions without impacting the development growth. This paper puts special emphasis on the importance of regional energy and climate‐related frameworks as a systematic approach to endure the impacts of climate change through sustainable ways.
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Andrea Macchiavelli and Carlo Vaghi
The paper analyses the tourism supply in Southern Italy with the aim to verify the role played by air transport in promoting tourism in Southern Italy among major European sales…
Abstract
The paper analyses the tourism supply in Southern Italy with the aim to verify the role played by air transport in promoting tourism in Southern Italy among major European sales market. Thus the following items are taken into account: a. The level of competitiveness and main characteristics of tourism supply in Southern Italy, compared with those of the other countries in the Mediterranean Basin, according to holiday offers presented in several catalogues collected among tour operators placed in some major European capitals; b. The level of air accessibility of Southern Italy, provided by its commercial airports, through a deep analysis of airports schedules of Southern Italian airports and their competitors; c. The evolution of the air accessibility in the last three years, and the causal link with major trends verified in the airborne transport market during the recent years. The results of the study show that new trends in the air transport are favouring the development of tourism in South‐Eastern Mediterranean Basin, but airlines tend to centre flights towards areas already providing a well‐developed tourism supply, and where it is more integrated in European sales markets. Countries such as Italy, where the tourism supply is more fragmented are more damaged; whereas Italy, on the one hand, has difficulty in reaching a sufficient level of demand for specific tourist areas, on the other hand, there is a lack of commercial policies coordinated among operators to penetrate the “richest” foreign markets. The main problem for Southern Italian tourism operators is therefore to develop policies strongly integrated among different areas and regions, both on supply organization and in the field of marketing, with the aim to generate the traffic volumes necessary to attract airlines. The increasing in competitiveness faced at the present time by the air transport market, and the increased easiness for the individual customer to choose and book air flights must stimulate those policies.
Sustainable architecture is a well-known and studied subject for severeal decades. The environmental awareness of professionals has put sustainability in the center of the…
Abstract
Sustainable architecture is a well-known and studied subject for severeal decades. The environmental awareness of professionals has put sustainability in the center of the profession of architecture and has resulted in introducing and implementing ecological designs both in the scale of buildings and cities. This article presents sustainable architecture criteria, reckons regional aspects, interprets vernacular architecture and, proposes sustainable housing unit models for Mediterranean region, specifically Cyprus. The article intends to study existing researches regarding the subject, reveals and updates key aspects on sustainable housing by focusing on the passive solar systems through proposals. The article contains proposals of an experimental and conceptual approach of a group of graduate studio course students who are architects and interior designers. The conceptual approaches of design proposals are sustainable through the usage of local materials, orientation, usage of passive solar systems, natural ventilation and lighting, hence these proposals are intended to create a diversity. In that sense, this article presents possibilities of ideal plan layouts and facades for sustainable architectural housing units in Mediterranean region, Cyprus, based on the revealed key aspects on sustainability. The originality of the article is on the design proposals that take inspiration from the characteristics of vernacular architecture, but show a contemporary approach of design.
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Oğulcan Kemal Sagun and Hülya Sayğı
Demand for fishery products rich in protein, vitamins, minerals and omega fatty acids has been increasing daily to meet the world population's increasing nutritional request…
Abstract
Purpose
Demand for fishery products rich in protein, vitamins, minerals and omega fatty acids has been increasing daily to meet the world population's increasing nutritional request, estimated to be 7.6 billion. Despite aquatic products' positive effects on human health, their consumption in Turkey has decreased over time and is currently lower than most countries with 6.3 kg per capita. The reason why fish consumption in Turkey is less than in other countries is the more preference for terrestrial production. Therefore, it was aimed to determine the consumption habits of consumers in Turkey's coastal region.
Design/methodology/approach
This study was carried out between Feb–March 2018 to determine the consumption habits of aquatic products; 28 areas in the coastal regions of Turkey random were selected, 650 volunteer consumers were randomly selected to answer a set of 25 questions. The survey results were evaluated by Chi-square analysis.
Findings
From the survey results, 81.4% of the respondents prefer to consume fish from the natural environment. Additionally, from the consumers, there was no statistical difference between natural (81.4%) and aquaculture (85.4%) fish taste (p = 0.05). It was found that 63% of the participants consumed fish meat once a week, with an average per capita consumption of 17.50 ± 2.34 and 10.50 ± 1.66 kg for fish and other seafood consumption, respectively. As a result, it was estimated that fish products were consumed at the desired level in the provinces examined. Accordingly, individuals need to be more conscious and encouraged to increase the consumption of seafood.
Research limitations/implications
Because Turkey's seafood consumption is still held in coastal regions in this article are the limitations of this article results. In the future, the difference between inland and coastal regions for fish consumption needs to be explored further.
Practical implications
The article says exports of fish / fisheries products have gradually decreased due to the global COVID-19 crisis, but producers / markets will have to target the domestic market more and sales with TL will come to the fore. As a result, it was estimated that fish products were consumed at the desired level in the studied provinces. Accordingly, it has been revealed that individuals should be more conscious and encouraged to increase their consumption of seafood.
Social implications
Through this research, the consumption of fisheries consumption preferences of individuals in Turkey's coastal regions uncovered.
Originality/value
On the other hand, since Turkey's aquaculture and fisheries sector attaches great importance to foreign sales (exports), domestic consumption amounts are low, and the issue of increasing this is an issue that has remained in the background for the producer. However, during the COVID-19 pandemic period, it was well understood that the closing of the customs gates partially and/or completely and the export figures becoming scanty will cause the end of 2020 and 2021 to be more troublesome in this sense. Therefore, producers/markets will have to target the domestic market more, and sales with TL (Turkish Lira) will come to the fore, various campaigns and price reductions will be made during some special hours during the day in order to increase sales in domestic market.
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Metin Kozak, Enrique Bigné and Luisa Andreu
The purpose of this study is to analyze the promotion of the Mediterranean areas over the Internet. To meet this objective, the tourism board of each country is identified and…
Abstract
The purpose of this study is to analyze the promotion of the Mediterranean areas over the Internet. To meet this objective, the tourism board of each country is identified and Website indicators based on the assessment of seven “best practices” (WTO 1999) and e‐business for tourism strategies (WTO 2001) are analyzed. Content analysis reveals differences among countries. Managerial implications are developed.
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Josep‐Francesc Valls and Rafael Sardá
The purpose of this paper is to analyse perceptions among European tourism experts specialising in tourism planning regarding the impact that climate change may have on tourism…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to analyse perceptions among European tourism experts specialising in tourism planning regarding the impact that climate change may have on tourism management.
Design/methodology/approach
The methodology used was the double convergent Delphi Method. A total of 70 European experts in tourism planning were surveyed to determine their opinions. Two focus groups of experts were organised, first to fine‐tune the questionnaire before implementing the Delphi method and, second, to check the results afterwards.
Findings
The most noteworthy findings expressed were: climate change has already begun; life in the forthcoming decades will be subject to constant uncertainty; there is a clear perception of responsibility; there is a reluctance to accept repressive taxation but support for renewable energy incentives; and there is a call for responsible growth based on integrated destination management, public‐private co‐responsibility and the application of mitigation/adaptation measures. Additionally, climate change is already threatening tourist enterprises, and an efficient integrated management system in companies and tourist destinations will be required to cope with its negative effects.
Research limitations/implications
The limits of this research are those inherent in the Delphi method itself, which is highly opinion‐based. To reduce this, the sample was broadened to include 70 interviewees instead of the 30 traditionally used.
Practical implications
The practical implications lie in offering an exploratory vision of climate change from experts' perception; their outlook considerably broadens the field of reflection.
Originality/value
Additionally, the value of the paper is to allow discussion on the perception of experts in tourism planning regarding climate change in the Euro‐Mediterranean region.
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Fabio Mazzola, Pietro Pizzuto and Giovanni Ruggieri
The purpose of this paper is to verifying the economic resilience of islands and, in particular, the role of the tourism sector in the reaction to the most recent economic crisis…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to verifying the economic resilience of islands and, in particular, the role of the tourism sector in the reaction to the most recent economic crisis. The analysis concerns insular contexts, such as the greater island regions in the Mediterranean basin.
Design/methodology/approach
Static and dynamic panel data techniques are used for a sample of 13 island economies over a period of 16 years.
Findings
Results show that the growth factors for regional islands are similar to the ones usually considered for other regions, but the tourism-led growth hypothesis is highly supported. Tourism demand more than supply plays a role together with accessibility. The crisis has reduced the importance of tourism supply, while tourism demand and accessibility have remained crucial for growth together with other traditional engines of growth.
Originality/value
To the best of authors’ knowledge, none of the current works has considered territorial determinants and tourism indicators inside the same framework analyzing growth in island economies by considering the changes occurred during the crisis explicitly.
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