The objective of this work is to examine residents’ perceptions of the urban landscape in the historic city of Porto. It considers two different groups of residents (business owners and other residents) and reflects on how their perceptions could influence local policies. Empirical research has been conducted using a visual attention perspective. This research replicates a project carried out in Spain. For this paper, 600 survey questionnaires were completed. The analysis includes residents’ perception of several dimensions, such as directional signs, outdoor advertising, establishment outdoor furniture, urban furniture and green, state of pedestrian areas, conservation of buildings and monuments, automobile transportation, car traffic, the flow of visitors, and overcrowding sites. The paper provides a useful diagnosis for the debate on the processes of urban landscape monitoring, planning and management for tourism. The study findings inform a set of recommendations on safeguard of the historical urban landscape.

Lake (or lacustrine) water is one of the most sensitive and vulnerable resources for many tourist destinations, whose attractiveness highly depends on the water quality and availability in the lakes. The Shchuchinsk-Burabay resort area, located in the Akmola region of the Northern Kazakhstan, is one of the most popular tourist destinations of the country, known for its attractive natural landscape and for its great number of lakes. However, during the last decades, these lakes have been facing environmental issues due to their overexploitation and increasing level of pollution. Thus, the aim of the current study is to examine the changes in surface area of these lakes during the last 30 years by using GIS technologies, and the influence of tourism industry upon this phenomenon. Accommodation facilities (hotels, sanatoriums and guesthouses), as main tourism-related water consumers, have been targeted within our analysis. Results show that tourism is one of the factors responsible for surface area decline of the main lakes in the region, and its responsibility increases when combined with other factors. This study also formulates recommendations for water management policymakers in order to guarantee the sustainability of lake water as a key resource of the tourism industry in the region.

This paper summarizes the perspectives of health and wellness tourism consumers, to better understand the factors that influence this tourism product. A quantitative approach was adopted to collect primary data through the application of an online survey to effective and potential health and wellness tourism consumers between January and April 2021. Results show that growing number of consumers tend to value health and wellness tourism as a holistic experience, in which not only products specifically related to health and wellness treatments are of particular importance, but also activities related to leisure, recreation and culture. This paper provides a basis of research and analysis for global wellness and tourism industry stakeholders. The aim is to help the industry understand consumer behaviour and preferences in the traveller’s process of choosing a destination for a wellness vacation. This is achieved by predicting wellness tourism trends and developments, by acknowledging the gaps in the research available for understanding wellness tourism and reflecting the experience economy perspective in the sector.

Purpose – The main purpose of the paper is to identify, define and analyze the main variables that determine water consumption in the lodging industry, which usually accounts, on average, between the 6% and 10% of total operational costs. Design/Methodology/Approach – The research is based on a survey questionnaire distributed among lodging managers in summer 2016 in the Shchuchinsk-Burabay resort area (Kazakhstan). The regression model methodology has been used to determine the main drivers of water consumption in the tourism lodging facilities. Findings – The estimations obtained in the regression model reveal that the main determinants of water consumption are the total area of the lodging facility, the pool sizes, the type of accommodation (with a special attention to the sanatoriums sector) and the type of board offered. Our study also concludes that the implementation of water saving initiatives significantly reduces water consumption levels and constitutes an effective tool to minimize lodging water consumption. These results can be useful both for policy makers and accommodation managers to develop water management policies to guarantee water, both in quantity and quality, both for the resident population and for the tourism sector. Originality of research – The study extends the geographical scope of research in tourism-water nexus by focusing on the case of emerging tourist destination, such as Kazakhstan

This research explores the perceptions of tourists regarding the state and sustainable management of tangible cultural heritage in the city of Porto (Portugal), the destination recognised for its historical and cultural heritage. Porto attracts a growing number of tourists due to its rich heritage, encompassing cultural, architectural, and scenic elements. This rising demand necessitates sustainable management practices to protect the city’s heritage and ensure long-term sustainability. With the increase in tourism and the need to preserve cultural and environmental resources, sustainable management becomes essential to balance economic development and heritage conservation. The study’s main objective is to analyse tourists’ perspectives on the sustainable management of the cultural heritage of the city of Porto. It focuses on analysing current tourism management practices and calls for new strategies to promote sustainability. Structured questionnaires were distributed to a random sample of tourists in strategic locations between January and April 2023, obtaining quantitative data. The sample consists of 264 respondents. The results revealed four main factors, showing that most respondents show a high level of awareness and appreciation of sustainability and its relevance for heritage conservation. Regarding tourism, the majority agree that it contributes positively to the conservation and restoration of the city’s heritage.

The north of Portugal and Porto, a city recognised as a World Heritage Site, stand out for their rich historical trajectory, fostering a continuous increase in tourists over the past decade. This distinction has played a crucial role in acknowledging cultural and landscape heritage while promoting a heightened flow of visitors to the region. Portuguese gastronomy is a key factor in the growth of this tourism industry. It is a living tradition passed down through generations, deeply rooted in regional history and practices, where the residents play a vital role as custodians of these customs and traditions. The primary aim of this article is to analyse residents’ perceptions from the North of Portugal regarding the recognition of gastronomy as a cultural heritage and its role as a tool for tourism development. To achieve this aim, structured questionnaires were distributed to residents using an approach in popular urban tourism areas of Porto between May and October 2022, resulting in 262 valid responses. The findings reveal that participants consider it essential to preserve traditional dishes and ensure their transmission across generations. Regarding tourism, most respondents concur that it positively contributes to the preservation of traditional gastronomy, valuing it as an integral part of cultural heritage.