Latin American Journal of Tourismology

TOURISM IN COASTAL GEOPARKS IN THE AMERICAS: AN ANALYSIS OF ACTIVITIES IN NATURAL AREAS

Tatiane Ferrari do Vale — 2025-12-04

The Geoparks are areas with significant geological, educational, and touristic features, which have expanded globally over the last two decades due to the rising appreciation of the geopark concept. Coastal environments have adopted strategies aligned with geopark principles, emphasizing tourism as an essential economic, environmental, and social activity. The blue economy, which focuses on the sustainable use of maritime resources, supports community well-being and ecosystem health, enhances job and income opportunities, and advances geopark goals. This study examined tourism types in American geoparks recognized by the Global Geoparks Network, including Brazil's Southern Canyons Pathways and Canada's Discovery, Cliffs of Fundy, Percé, and Stonehammer. Using a qualitative approach, with bibliographic and documentary analysis and data triangulation, it found that unique geological features enhance tourist appeal. These formations, linked to ancient geological events and fossils, create distinctive tourist experiences, integrating geology and tourism to improve scientific understanding and appreciation of coastal areas. The study highlights that coastal geoparks, by integrating sustainable tourism activities such as geotourism, adventure sports, interpretive trails, and scientific tourism, promote local development and the appreciation of geological heritage. However, caution is required to avoid predatory practices that could compromise biodiversity and geodiversity.

ANALYSIS OF TOURIST SATISFACTION AND PERCEPTION - A PATHWAY TO SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITY-BASED RURAL TOURISM DEVELOPMENT IN SHIVARAPATTANA, KARNATAKA

Mukunda B. G — 2025-12-04

The growth of sustainable rural tourism is contingent upon the happiness of rural tourists. Community-Based Rural Tourism (CBRT) has great promise for revitalizing traditional tourist concepts and attitudes and facilitating a substantial transition towards a new path for the long-term sustainability of rural communities. Rural areas have seen significant economic and social transformation in recent years; population issues and the abandonment of conventional economic pursuits have affected these regions. Rural tourism has been viewed as a potential avenue for financial success, community revitalization, and a healthy social environment. Only if rural tourism is planned sustainably might this be the case. Such sustainable development seeks to reduce environmental and cultural resource damage, improve visitor satisfaction, and foster future economic growth. The Shivarapattana village in the Kolar district has a long and illustrious history dating back to the Chalukyan empire in the production of architectural sculptures for temples. This article attempts to evaluate and quantify tourists’ satisfaction and perceptions of the village's infrastructure facilities from several angles. The sample size of 668 is selected, and Simple Random Sampling is used to collect the Primary data. The study revealed that stone idols are the most popular, and tourists are delighted with the variety and styles of sculptural pieces.

UNPACKING THE DRIVERS OF HOTEL CHOICE: AN IN-DEPTH EXPLORATION OF PERSONAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL INFLUENCES ON CONSUMER BEHAVIOR IN HOTEL SELECTION”

Sanjeev Kumar Saxena — 2025-12-04

Consumer buying behaviour plays a pivotal role in achieving organizational goals. Understanding this behaviour is a crucial aspect of marketing, as it sheds light on consumers' purchasing patterns. To effectively target specific markets, marketers need to grasp the various factors and characteristics that influence consumer behaviour. These factors include cultural, social, personal, and psychological elements. This research study focuses on exploring the impact of personal and psychological factors on consumer behaviour. Through an open-ended questionnaire distributed via Google Form, 130 respondents participated in the study. The data collected from the questionnaire was evaluated using Likert scale ratings for each question. Subsequently, the aggregate ratings for each question group were analysed using IBM SPSS-21 software using descriptive statistics. The objective was to gain insights into the significant factors influencing consumer behaviour concerning personal and psychological aspects when choosing a hotel. The study reveals that both personal & psychological factors exert a considerable influence on consumers when choosing a hotel for their stay