The tourism and economic growth enigma: Examining an ambiguous relationship through multiple prisms

This paper revisits the ambiguous relationship between tourism and economic growth, providing a comprehensive study of destinations across the globe which takes into account the key dynamics that influence tourism and economic performance. We focus on 113 countries over the period 1995-2014, clustered, for the first time, around six criteria that reflect their economic, political and tourism dimensions. A Panel Vector Autoregressive model is employed which, in contrast to previous studies, allows the data to reveal any tourism-economy interdependencies across these clusters, without imposing a priori the direction of causality. Overall, the economic-driven tourism growth hypothesis seems to prevail in countries which are developing, non-democratic, highly bureaucratic and have low tourism specialization. Conversely, bidirectional relationships are established for economies which are stronger, democratic and with higher levels of government effectiveness. Thus, depending on the economic, political and tourism status of a destination, different policy implications apply

A Lefebvrian analysis of Airbnb space

This paper draws from Lefebvre's spatial triad theory in examining Airbnb space, contributing to knowledge on how space discourses are constructed and in turn internalised in host and guest practices. The study identifies tensions in host-guest-platform relations, illustrating attempts to professionalise and standardise hospitality practices. We conceptualise Airbnb as a space of multiple meanings that reflects the transitionary nature of contemporary hospitality wherein notions, roles and practices are redefined. Conclusively, this paper advocates further research on hospitality's spatial dimensions to uncover the perplexed relations, inherent inequalities and potential opportunities characterising postmodern tourism

Host and Guest Encounters in Peer-to-Peer Accommodation: Insights from Airbnb Hosts

Peer-to-peer (P2P) accommodation has grown exponentially in recent years, transforming the accommodation sector. The rapid growth of Airbnb, the market leader of P2P accommodation networks, exemplifies their phenomenal boom. Considering the numerous benefits P2P accommodation offers to both hosts and guests, its growth is not surprising. On the one hand, P2P accommodation allows owners of properties to gain additional income by renting out unused rooms, apartments and/or houses (Fang et al, 2016), thus improving their standard of living. On the other hand, it extends the range of accommodation options for travellers (Dolnicar, 2017), offering convenience and efficiency (McNichol, 2015) and the opportunity for personal relationship development between hosts and guests (Belarmino, et al, 2017; Tussyadiah and Zach, 2017). Correspondingly, research on peer-to-peer accommodation has begun to proliferate. Nonetheless, little attention has been paid to host-guest encounters within P2P accommodation. An examination of host-guest encounters imparts insights on how value is co-created by the sharing practice in P2P accommodation. This study qualitatively examines host-guest encounters within P2P accommodation by drawing from 25 Airbnb host experiences. Findings reveal a heterogeneity in host-guest encounters, as the sharing practice is conditioned by the motive predisposing hosts to engage in P2P accommodation and the degree of interaction with guests. We make explicit a typology of host-guest encounters, which reflects the changing nature of P2P accommodation

The world of agritourists: A psychological perspective

An ethnographic study conducted in order to investigate agritourist satisfaction in the Mediterranean Island of Cyprus brings to the surface novel information in regards to motivation; the formation of expectations; satisfaction achievement; and behavioural intentions, of agritourists. The findings of the study contribute to the existing body of knowledge in the field of tourism by divulging further details regarding the relatively unexplored niche market of agritourists. Further to this and perhaps more importantly, the fieldwork findings assist destinations and practitioners alike to achieve guest satisfaction and foster the positive future behavioural intentions of their guests.

Travel selfies on social networks, narcissism and the “attraction-shading effect”

This paper aims to trigger researchers' intuitiveness on the somewhat overlooked construct of narcissism from a tourism perspective. The study investigates whether tourists’ self-presentation at destinations excludes sites from the picture, thus underpinning a manifestation of narcissism. Anchored in 52 interviews conducted with tourists, the findings show that there is a tendency to capture oneself (or mostly oneself) in a travel selfie while excluding destination attributes or shifting them to the side of the photograph. This action causes an “attraction-shading effect”, with destinations facing the challenge of having their sites illustrated in travel photographs shared on social networks. The paper invites scholars to use the tourism context to delve deeper into the notion of narcissism and its impacts at a destination and societal level

European Capitals of Culture: Residents’ Perceptions

This study centres its focus on the esteemed concept of the European Capital of Culture (ECoC), acknowledged as a catalyst for sustainability due to its economic and socio-cultural contribution to host city destinations. Particularly, it examines residents’ perceptions on this foremost cultural event since these are credited with an event’s success. Through a qualitative approach targeting residents of Pafos, a coastal city in Cyprus which served as ECoC in 2017, four categories of residents are identified based on the key dimensions of residents’ perceptions and involvement in tourism. These categories in turn exhibit varying levels of support towards the ECoC, with resident support being primarily shaped by the socio-political context in which cultural events take place as well as residents’ knowledge of the tourism environment. Findings are insightful to tourism stakeholders and contribute to their effort in improving the sustainable management of cultural events

Tourism development and the sense of place

Destinations may follow a development process from birth to decline, or alternatively other paths (Hovinen, 2002; Butler, 2009), such as an “s-shaped” route (Moore & Whitehall, 2005). Nonetheless, they may go through a phase in which they may encounter certain (e.g. environmental) impacts (Plog, 2001; Zhong et al., 2011). The purpose of this study is to explore whether, and the extent of which, tourism development affects the “sense of a place”; The latter, offers a way to understand the relationship between individuals and the places they inhabit, recreate and manage (Mullendore et al., 2015). Understanding the deeper meanings of sense of place and its correlation with tourism activity, may equip destinations with the necessary knowledge in order to protect the identity, appeal and sense of their place. The study makes use of auto-ethnographic findings (Komppula & Gartner, 2013) in a specific region of Cyprus, which experienced intense tourism development. Particularly, it focuses on the physical aspect of the particular place, by examining the landscape changes within the region, as a result of touristic activity. The analysis of visual documentation (Scarles, 2010; Li et al., 2016) in the form of photographs derived from the setting, in comparison with archaic photographic evidence, assist in addressing the study’s aim. Preliminary findings indicate that tourism developmental processes, do affect the sense of a place. Though, rather unforeseen fieldwork findings reveal that specific sites within the destination have kept their “sense” untouched and unaffected throughout the centuries. Destination stakeholders are urged to refer to these sites to comprehend which precise elements and factors contributed to their preserved character and sense

The world of agritourists: A psychological perspective

An ethnographic study conducted in order to investigate agritourist satisfaction in the Mediterranean Island of Cyprus brings to the surface novel information in regards to motivation; the formation of expectations; satisfaction achievement; and behavioural intentions, of agritourists. The findings of the study contribute to the existing body of knowledge in the field of tourism by divulging further details regarding the relatively unexplored niche market of agritourists. Further to this and perhaps more importantly, the fieldwork findings assist destinations and practitioners alike to achieve guest satisfaction and foster the positive future behavioural intentions of their guests.