This paper presents a preliminary geosite physical assessment model which has the potential to assist in the sustainable planning and management of natural heritage locations and their transformation into tourism destination. The methodology is based on several existing models and presented through two groups of values – main and additional, which are further divided into indicators and subindicators respectively. The resultant model is a graph that consists of nine fields, into which geosites can be classified as fitting into nine general areas of suitability for tourism in terms of their main (scientific/educational, aesthetic/scenic and protection as market appeal and conservation) and additional values (functional and tourism use as current stage of development). This could prove to be of great help to natural heritage protection and tourism managers, as they could assess the current state of a geosite and thence propose a future path for it.

Purpose: The technology readiness and acceptance model were mostly employed as theoretical bases to analyze tourist behaviors of adoption of innovative technologies that are part of the smart tourism offer. This study attention now turns to the field of smart tourism human resource management and tries to establish a model to explain the relationship between general dimensions of personality with systematic specific dimensions toward ICT acceptance.Design/methodology/approach: The authors adopted the TRAM model as a way to better understand and evaluate the causal relationships between the personality dimensions, factors of perception, attitudes and behavior of users regarding the acceptance and use of innovative technologies. Based on the empirical data of 478 employees operating in tourist organizations, travel agencies and hotels, the authors employed regression analysis as the basic method for examining the research hypotheses and causal relationships between variables in the presented model.Findings: The analysis revealed that employees in the tourism sector are inclined to adopt new technology, and that technological readiness has an impact on attitudes and intentions toward the use of technologies. Moreover, the results show that the path between the dimensions of technological readiness and intention to use technologies is to a certain extent mediated through perceived ease of use and perceived usefulness.Originality/value: This research is among the first empirical studies that examine technology readiness and adoption in the context of smart tourism development. Besides the findings extend the literature on the mediating effect of perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use between technology readiness index and technology acceptance behavior.

Emerging tourism destinations repeatedly face many managerial challenges, often leading to common pitfalls and rookie mistakes. The current study aims to analyze relationships between destination attractiveness factors (Destination Amenities, Tourism Infrastructure and Accessibility, Active Family Destination, Hospitality and Services, and Social–Safety–Economic Values), satisfaction, destination image, and revisit intentions to test a mediating role of satisfaction between destination attractiveness factors and both destination image and revisit choices within so-called rookie destinations. For this purpose, a quantitative study was carried out using a questionnaire as an instrument for data collection. Data were collected from a sample of 2030 visitors to Serbia. Structural equation modeling (SEM) in R was applied to analyze the data. The results revealed the positive direct effects of destination attractiveness factors on satisfaction, destination image, and revisit intentions. Moreover, the research confirmed the mediating role of satisfaction in the relationship between destination attractiveness and destination image, and revisit intentions. The results are further discussed from the perspective of emerging tourism destinations to make their management more sustainable for the future and mitigate the repetition of rookie mistakes.

Understanding activity preferences and their antecedents is essential for creating personalized tourism offers and effective destination marketing, vital components of a sustainable tourism destination. Previous studies have provided insights into tourist behavior and activity choices, but without research on activity preferences and their relationship with perceptions of destinations. The literature still lacks an integrative model exploring the antecedents of activity preferences, including tourist characteristics, destination personality, and destination image, and explaining the nature of the relationships between them. This research proposes and tests a structural model of individual characteristics, destination image, destination personality, and activity preferences. A survey was conducted on a sample of 502 visitors to The Trail of Roman Emperors in Serbia. The results confirmed the influence of personality (extraversion, agreeableness, conscientiousness, and openness) and destination personality (sincerity and ruggedness) on activity preferences. Additionally, the model revealed the significant influence of individual characteristics on perceptions of destination personality and image. Managerial implications were given in light of the importance of this research for destination branding that will support long-term destination sustainability.

Loess–palaeosol sequences preserve the most significant continental record of climatic and environmental changes during the Quaternary available for scientific study. The Eurasian loess belt in particular could be regarded as one of the most important Quaternary terrestrial records of climatic and environmental changes on a global scale. The Preliminary stratigraphical correlation has determined that loess sections in south-east Europe and China have, perhaps surprisingly, shown many similarities. Unfortunately, these sites, due to their economic (e.g. agriculture and brickyards) and functional (e.g. remote sections as waste disposal sites) values, share the same (both human-induced and natural) threats and are constantly endangered by numerous causes and could be naturally degraded or permanently exploited as a georesource.Conversely, this valuable segment of Earth's geodiversity has gained much attention within the nature conservation community. There are certain individual attempts to protect and promote loess to the general public, which is the case in China (National Geoparks with protected loess, e.g. Luochuan, Huoshi Chai, Kungdongshan, Jingtai, Yellow River), and also in Serbia and Poland. These could serve as good platform for establishing common strategies towards national and international recognition of important loess sections. Thus, the aim of this study is to provide a preliminary and universal strategy concerning conservation, interpretation and promotion (geotourism) of significant Eurasian loess–palaeosol sequences. Once implemented and tested, they could serve for all similar soft-rock exposures and soils

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to introduce e-mindfulness as a tourism trend. Mindfulness meditation is becoming increasingly mainstream, which is reflected in a rapidly growing number of related technology applications. Such technology-assisted mindfulness is typically referred to as e-mindfulness. The e-mindfulness trend creates opportunities for the tourism industry but also implies changed consumer perspectives on tourist experiences. Design/methodology/approach: The paper is based on a general review of academic literature, news reports and online resources regarding the offerings of related technologies. Findings: Implications of e-mindfulness for consumers, tourism service providers and designers of future tourism experiences are outlined. Originality/value: This is the first paper to conceptualize e-mindfulness as a tourism trend.