Destination Design: A heuristic case study approach to sustainability-oriented innovation

The landscape of research outputs in tourism planning is fragmented and multi-disciplinary. Design as a meta-discipline has the power to integrate sectoral thought and inject creativity, non-linear thought and transdisciplinarity into planning processes, particularly when tackling sustainability challenges. This paper defines Destination Design as a novel framework capable of evolving the concepts of spatial and participatory planning using the design thinking cognitive style to address sustainability paradoxes. The features of are explored through the unique case study of sustainability-oriented innovation in the Dolomites UNESCO World Heritage Site. Results show that design thinking can be invaluable for pioneering pro-sustainability initiatives. Further, creative forms of engagement might encourage the acceptance and support of local transformations, but are difficult to implement

Health region development from the perspective of system theory - An empirical cross-regional case study

Governments are increasingly establishing health regions to deal with current challenges of public health service. These regions are seen as instruments to balance public and private stakeholders, and offer health care to regional citizens as well as to medical/health tourists. However, it is still unclear how the development of such health regions as well as their governance may be conceptualized. We apply Luhmann's system theory approach in the context of a cross-regional case study that compares health region developments in the Autonomous Province of Bolzano-South Tyrol (Italy) with particular regard to the Eastern Dolomites and in the province of Zeeland (the Netherlands). We suggest that Luhmann's system theory provides a useful set of criteria to evaluate and judge health region development. Fully developed health regions can be understood as auto-poietic systems. By emphasizing programs, personnel, and communication channels, these case studies illustrate the suitability of the system theory toolset to analyze the governance and spatial embeddedness of health regions. Additionally, the study contributes to literature by indicating that health regions are closely related to identity issues and to decision making in regions

Extended Gravity Theories and the Einstein-Hilbert Action

I discuss the relation between arbitrarily high-order theories of gravity and scalar-tensor gravity at the level of the field equations and the action. I show that $(2n+4)$-order gravity is dynamically equivalent to Brans-Dicke gravity with an interaction potential for the Brans-Dicke field and $n$ further scalar fields. This scalar-tensor action is then conformally equivalent to the Einstein-Hilbert action with $n+1$ scalar fields. This clarifies the nature and extent of the conformal equivalence between extended gravity theories and general relativity with many scalar fields.Comment: 12 pages, Plain Latex, SUSSEX-AST-93/7-

75 years of Tourism Review: survival by transformation: a perspective article

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to reconstruct and analyze the long history of Tourism Review and try to outline the future of this journal. Design/methodology/approach: The authors show that Tourism Review has been a good example of multiple life cycles over time and of survival by adaption. Findings: The authors illustrate also how this journal has seen decline, as well as revival, and stagnation, as well as innovation. Originality/value: It is also a proxy of the state and issues of tourism research and publication over 75 years

Hospitality entrepreneurs managing quality of life and business growth

The hospitality industry is dominated by small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).They are often led by entrepreneurs who face the challenge of simultaneously managing business decisions and their own wellbeing. The competitiveness of tourism destinations often depends on these entrepreneurs and therefore understanding their motivations and work patterns is critical. Research on individual wellbeing increasingly builds on the concept of quality of life (QoL). Hospitality and tourism literature so far predominantly focused on investigating QoL for tourists and residents, rather than for entrepreneurs’ QoL, even though being key stakeholders in the hospitality industry. Therefore, this study explores the factors influencing hospitality entrepreneurs’ quality of life (“HE-QoL”) and how these relate to business growth. Results of a 380 hospitality entrepreneurs’ survey identify six distinct factors of HE-QoL. Two groups of HE-QoL are identified with significant differences in fitness level activity, entrepreneurial competencies and business growth. Findings lead to recommendations to reduce stress to improve HE-QoL, and to develop entrepreneurial competencies, which help to cope with entrepreneurial challenges. Tourism destinations and politics can support hospitality entrepreneurs in these actions by creating conditions that foster social exchange in regional communities and trust in political and economic stability

The regeneration capacity of the flatworm Macrostomum lignano—on repeated regeneration, rejuvenation, and the minimal size needed for regeneration

The lion’s share of studies on regeneration in Plathelminthes (flatworms) has been so far carried out on a derived taxon of rhabditophorans, the freshwater planarians (Tricladida), and has shown this group’s outstanding regeneration capabilities in detail. Sharing a likely totipotent stem cell system, many other flatworm taxa are capable of regeneration as well. In this paper, we present the regeneration capacity of Macrostomum lignano, a representative of the Macrostomorpha, the basal-most taxon of rhabditophoran flatworms and one of the most basal extant bilaterian protostomes. Amputated or incised transversally, obliquely, and longitudinally at various cutting levels, M. lignano is able to regenerate the anterior-most body part (the rostrum) and any part posterior of the pharynx, but cannot regenerate a head. Repeated regeneration was observed for 29 successive amputations over a period of almost 12 months. Besides adults, also first-day hatchlings and older juveniles were shown to regenerate after transversal cutting. The minimum number of cells required for regeneration in adults (with a total of 25,000 cells) is 4,000, including 160 neoblasts. In hatchlings only 1,500 cells, including 50 neoblasts, are needed for regeneration. The life span of untreated M. lignano was determined to be about 10 months

A model of collaborative innovation between local government and tourism operators

[EN] This research proposes a framework for collaborative innovation in a public private partnership by applying techniques that combine quantitative data collection and qualitative depth. It proposes a collaborative model that looks to provide competitive advantage by improving tourist services from two perspectives: from the core of public administration, and from the private tourist sector perspective.Pons Morera, C.; Canós Darós, L.; Gil Pechuán, I. (2017). A model of collaborative innovation between local government and tourism operators. SERVICE BUSINESS. AN INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL. 1-26. doi:10.1007/s11628-017-0341-xS126Anderberg MR (1973) Cluster analysis for applications. Academic Press, New YorkAugustyn K (2000) Performance of tourism partnerships: a focus on York. Tour Manag 2:341–351Aziri B, Nedelea A (2013) Business strategies in tourism. Ecoforum 2(1):9Baglieri D, Consoli R (2009) Collaborative innovation in tourism: managing virtual communities. TQM J 21(4):353–364Barbero MI (2009) Métodos de elaboración de escalas. UNED, MadridBeaumont N, Dredge D (2010) Local tourism governance: a comparison of three network approaches. J Sustain Tourism 18(1):7–28Beritelli P, Bieger T, Laesser C (2007) Destination governance: Using corporate governance theories as a foundation for effective destination management. J Travel Res 46:96–107Bigné JE, Aldás J, Küster I, Vila N (2002) Estableciendo los determinantes de la fidelidad del cliente: Un estudio basado en técnicas cualitativas. Investigación y Mark 77:58–62Bruntland GH (1987) Our common future. http://www.un-documents.net/our-common-future.pdf . Consulted in 2016Buch EB, Cabaleiro R (2011) Hacia la determinación de la condición financiera de la administración publica local. Aplicación a los municipios de la comunidad autónoma de Galicia. Academia, Revista latinoamericana de administración, No. 47, pp. 43–60Burke JG, O’Campo P, Peak GL, Gielen AC, McDonnell KA, Trochim WM (2005) An introduction to concept mapping as a participatory public health research method. Qual Health Res 15(10):1392–1410Bustelo C, García-Morales E (2008) Administración electrónica y gestión documental. Consideraciones a la luz de la ley para el acceso electrónico de los ciudadanos a los servicios públicos. El profesional de la información. Enero-febrero 17(1):106–111Caffyn A, Jobbins G (2003) Governance capacity and stakeholder interactions in the development and management of coastal tourism: examples from Morocco and Tunisia. J Sustain Tourism 11(2):224–245Carlisle S, Kunc M, Jones E, Tiffin S (2013) Supporting innovation for tourism development through multi-stakeholder approaches: experiences from Africa. Tour Manag 35:59–69Clavero J, Codina M, Pérez A, Serrat-Brustenga M (2009) Estudio de caso de servicio de préstamo de libros electrónicos. El profesional de la información. Marzo-abril 18(2):237–241Czernek K (2013) Determinants of cooperation in a tourist region. Ann Tourism Res 40:83–104Dinica V (2009) Governance for sustainable tourism: a comparison of international and dutch visions. Journal of Sustainable Tourism. 17(5):583–603Dredge D, Whitford M (2011) Event tourism governance and the public sphere. J Sustain Tourism 19(4-5):479–499European Directive 2006/7/EC. Bathing Water. http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=OJ:L:2006:064:0037:0051:EN:PDF . Consulted in 2016Everitt B (1980) Cluster analysis. New York, NY, Halsted Press, a Division of John Wiley and SonsFernández O (1991) El análisis de Cluster: Aplicación, interpretación y validación. Papers 37:65–76Foundation for Environmental Quality of the European Union. http://www.blueflag.org/menu/awarded-sites/2014/northern-hemisphere/spain-2/List/Beaches . Consulted in 2016Freeman RE, McVea J (1984) A stakeholder approach to strategic management. Pitman, BostonGil-Lafuente AM, Kyun-Oh Y (2012) Incidencia de las inversiones de la administración pública sobre el desarrollo turístico de una ciudad. Revista Venezolana de Gestión Pública. Enero-Diciembre 3(3):81–109Gil-Pechuán I, Conesa-García M, Navarro-García A (2014) Concept mapping to improve higher education. Innovation and Teaching Technologies. ISBN: 978-3-319-04824-6. pp. 61–73Granovetter M (1985) Economic action and social structure: the problem of embeddedness. Am J Sociol 91(3):481Greenwood J (1993) Business interest groups in tourism governance. Tourism Manag 14:335–348Gulati R (1995) Social structure and alliance formation patterns: a longitudinal analysis. Adm Sci Q 40:619–653Henao-Betancur PA, Echeverri-Farley OM, Zartha-Sossa JW (2013) Metodología web para la formulación e implementación de estrategias de innovación en empresas. Rev Gestión de las Personas y Tecnol 16:6Hodge GA, Greve C (2017) On public-private partnership performance: a contemporary review. Public Works Manag Policy 22(1):55–78Hultman J, Hall CM (2012) Tourism place-Making governance of locality in Sweden. Ann Tourism Res 39(2):547–570Khattri N, Miles MB (1994) Cognitive mapping: a review and working guide. Center Policy Res, SparkhillKlodiana G, Dorina K, Engjellushe Z (2012) The role of local government in sustainable development. AUDOE. 8(2):139–155León JA, Zapico F (2003) Usos prácticos sobre la política electrónica en los servicios públicos: el caso de Extremadura. El profesional de la información. Mayo-junio 12(3):232–236Marinao E, Chasco C (2012) Trust in tourist destinations. the role of local inhabitants and institutions. Academia, Revista latinoamericana de administración 51:27–47Marzo-Roselló R, Peris-Pérez P, Ferris-Oñate, Sánchez-Lacuesta J, Matínez-Gómez L, Olaso-Melis J, Garcés-Pérez L, Primo-Capella VJ (2013) La experiencia turística en la ciudad de Valencia. Rev de Biomec 59:63–66Menon S, Manoj E (2014) Public private partnerships in tourism- a case study of Kerala Travel Mart. Afr J Hosp Tour Leisure 3(2):1–7Miranda-Gumucio L, Gil-Pechuán I, Palacios-Marqués D (2013) An exploratory study of the determinants of switching and loyalty in prepaid cell phone users. An application of concept mapping. Serv Bus 7(4):603–622Miret-Pastor L, Segarra-Oña MV (2011) Estudio del clúster turístico de Benidorm a través de indicadores de aglomeración y especialización. Renovación de destinos turísticos consolidados, pp 69–86Miret-Pastor L, Segarra-Oña MV, Hervás-Oliver JL (2009) Un análisis sobre la concentración espacial en el turismo valenciano. Congreso de la Asociación Española de Ciencia Regional. XXXV Reunión de estudios regionales, ValenciaMoscardo G (2011) Exploring social representations of tourism planning: issues for governance. J Sustain Tour 19(4-5):423–436Muñoz-Cañavate A, Chaín Navarro C (2004) La administración local española en internet: estudio cuantitativo de la evolución de los sistemas de información web de los ayuntamientos (1997–2002). Ciencias de la Inf 35(1):43–55Nabitz U, Severens P, Brink WVD, Jansen P (2007) Improving the EFQM model: an empirical study on model development and theory building using concept mapping. Total Qual Manag 12(1):69–81National and Integral Tourism Plan (2012–2015) http://www.minetur.gob.es/turismo/es-ES/PNIT/Documents/Plan%20Nacional%20e%20Integral%20de%20Turismo%20(PNIT)%202012-2015.pdf . Consulted in 2016Nicholson J, Orr K (2016) Local government partnership working: a space odyssey. Or, journeys through the dilemmas of public and private sector boundary-spanning actors. Policy Politics 44(2):269–287Nordin S, Svensson B (2007) Innovative destination governance: the Swedish ski resort of Åre. Entrepr Innov 8(1):53–66Nunkoo R (2015) Tourism development and trust in local government. Tour Manag 46:623–634Pechlaner H, Tschurtschenthaler P (2003) Tourism policy, tourism organisations and change management in Alpine regions and destinations: a european perspective. Curr Issues Tour 6(6):508–539Pfeffer J, Salancik G (1978) The external control of organizations: a resource-dependence perspective. Harper and Row, New YorkPorter ME (1990) The competitive advantage of nations. Harv Bus Rev 68(2):73–93Prahalad CK, Hamel G (1990) The core competence of the corporation. Harv Bus Rev 68(3):79–91Queiroz F, Rastrollo-Horrillo MA (2015) State of art in tourist destination governance. Tour Manag Stud 11(2):47–55. doi: 10.18089/tms.2015.11206Rodríguez MP, López AM, Ortiz D (2010) Implementing the balanced scorecard in public sector agencies: An experience in municipal sport services. Acad Rev latinoam de adm 45:116–139Rooter report (2010) La innovación en servicios en España. www.rooter.es . Consulted in 2016Rosas SR (2005) Concept mapping as a technique for program theory development: an illustration using family support programs. Am J Eval 26(3):389–401Rosas SR, Camphausen LC (2007) The use of concept mapping for scale development and validation in evaluation. Eval Progr Plann 30:125–135Santos M, Ferreira AM, Costa C (2014) Influential factors in the competitiveness of mature tourism destinations. Tour Manag Stud 10(1):73–81Selin S, Chavez D (1994) Characteristics of successful tourism partnerships: a multiple case study design. J Park Recreat Adm 12(2):51–61Selin S, Chavez D (1995) Developing an evolutionary tourism partnership model. Ann Tour Res 22(4):844–856Simpson B (1994) How do women scientists perceive their own career development? Int J Career Manag 6(1):19–27Soler-López MC (2013) Calidad y Rendimiento de Sitios Web de e-Government. Aplicación a la Administración Local. Doctoral thesis. Murcia UniversitySpanish Tourism Plan Horizon (2020) pp. 24 and 43. http://static.hosteltur.com/web/uploads/2011/10/Plan_de_Turismo_Espaol_Horizonte_2020.pdf . Consulted in 2016Toral SL, Barrero F, Martínez MR, Gallardo S, Cortés FJ (2006) Determinación de las variables de diseño en el desarrollo de una herramienta de e-learning. Pixel-Bit, Rev de medios y edu 27:99–113Torres L, Pina V (2001) Public–private partnership and private finance initiatives in the EU and Spanish local governments. Eur Account Rev 10:601–619Trochim WMK (1989) An introduction to concept mapping for planning and evaluation. Eval Progr Plann 12(1):1–16Trochim WMK, Linton R (1986) Conceptualization for planning and evaluation. Eval Progr Plann 9(4):289–308United Nations World Tourism Organization (2005) Making tourism more sustainable. A guide for policy makers, UNEP and UNWTO, pp 11–12. http://sdt.unwto.org/content/about-us-5United Nations World Tourism Organization (2015) UNWTO tourism highlights, p 6. http://www.e-unwto.org/doi/pdf/10.18111/9789284416899Velasco GM (2007) Gestión de destinos: ¿Gobernabilidad del turismo o gobernanza del destino?. Ministerio de educación y ciencia de España. Plan nacional de I + D + I (2004–2007)Wang Y (2008) Collaborative destination marketing: understanding the dynamic process. J Travel Res 47(2):151–166Wang Y, Fesenmaier RD (2007) Collaborative destination marketing: a case study of Elkhart county, Indiana. Tour Manag 28:863–875Wang C, Honggang X (2014) The role of local government and the private sector in China’s tourism industry. Tour Manag 45:95–105Williamson OE (1975) Markets and hierarchies: analysis and antitrust implications. The Free Press, New YorkWood DJ, Gray B (1991) Towards a comprehensive theory of collaboration. J Appl Behav Sci 27:139–162World Travel & Tourism Council (2016) Economic Impact 2016 Spain, p 3. http://www.wttc.org/-/media/files/reports/economic%20impact%20research/countries%202016/spain2016.pdf . Consulted in 2016Zapata MJ, Hall CM (2012) Public–private collaboration in the tourist sector: balancing legitimacy and effectiveness in local tourism partnerships. The Spanish case. J Policy Res Tour Leisure Events 4(1):61–8

‘Kamikaze’ heritage tourism in Japan: A pathway to peace and understanding?

Reflecting the wider belief that international tourism offers the opportunity to encourage peace and understanding amongst peoples and nations, one objective of Japan’s recent tourism development policy is the enhancement of mutual understanding and the promotion of international peace. The purpose of this paper is to consider the extent to which this objective is achievable, particularly in the context of continuing controversy surrounding the country’s confrontation of its twentieth century military heritage in general and its role in the Pacific War in particular. Based on research at two ‘difficult’ heritage sites, Chiran Peace Museum in Kagoshima Prefecture and Yūshūkan War Museum in Tokyo, it explores specifically how the kamikaze phenomenon is commemorated and interpreted for international visitors, in so doing revealing a significant degree of dissonance at both sites. Not only is a selective narrative of heroic sacrifice presented within a wider revisionist history of the Pacific War but also no attempt is made to acknowledge the prevailing cultural context that might underpin a more nuanced understanding of the kamikaze. Hence, the paper concludes that a meaningful opportunity to enhance international understanding has been missed

Diminishing benefits of urban living for children and adolescents’ growth and development

Optimal growth and development in childhood and adolescence is crucial for lifelong health and well-being1–6. Here we used data from 2,325 population-based studies, with measurements of height and weight from 71 million participants, to report the height and body-mass index (BMI) of children and adolescents aged 5–19 years on the basis of rural and urban place of residence in 200 countries and territories from 1990 to 2020. In 1990, children and adolescents residing in cities were taller than their rural counterparts in all but a few high-income countries. By 2020, the urban height advantage became smaller in most countries, and in many high-income western countries it reversed into a small urban-based disadvantage. The exception was for boys in most countries in sub-Saharan Africa and in some countries in Oceania, south Asia and the region of central Asia, Middle East and north Africa. In these countries, successive cohorts of boys from rural places either did not gain height or possibly became shorter, and hence fell further behind their urban peers. The difference between the age-standardized mean BMI of children in urban and rural areas was <1.1 kg m–2 in the vast majority of countries. Within this small range, BMI increased slightly more in cities than in rural areas, except in south Asia, sub-Saharan Africa and some countries in central and eastern Europe. Our results show that in much of the world, the growth and developmental advantages of living in cities have diminished in the twenty-first century, whereas in much of sub-Saharan Africa they have amplified