A Methodology for the Identification and Assessment of the Conditions for the Practice of Outdoor and Sport Tourism-Related Activities: The Case of Northern Portugal

Unveiling urban marathon development characteristics and urban growth strategies in China: Insights from time series analysis of Baidu Search Index

The strategic exploration of urban sports tourism resources and the pursuit of novel trajectories for urban growth are pivotal for resource integration and competitive enhancement within cities. This investigation concentrates on Chinese city marathons and compiles daily search index data from Baidu for 38 city marathons across the nation, spanning from January 1st, 2012 to May 3rd, 2022. Employing time series clustering to evaluate the data, and in conjunction with indices related to urban tourism resources and city development, we delve into the characteristics of how Chinese city marathons propel urban growth. The findings illustrate that the search index data for the 38 city marathons can be clustered into three categories, with Xi'an, Fuzhou, and Dalian emerging as the epicenters of clustering. The representative search index data for these three clusters reveal diverse characteristics of change. The search index shifts for three landmark races align generally with the changes observed in their respective cluster center races, however, variations exist among the search index changes for these iconic marathons. The degree of search index and its trending direction in city marathons emanate from the synergistic influence of the city's political, economic, and tourism attributes, in addition to the event's prominence. City marathons also catalyze urban development through economic stimulation, image enhancement, and infrastructure improvement. Future exploration of novel trajectories for urban development could be facilitated through harnessing the economic and tourism attributes of these events, and by orchestrating a unified series of marathons.

Exploring the Climatic Potential of Somo’s Surf Spot for Tourist Destination Management

Surfing is one of the most popular activities in coastal tourism resorts. However, the sport depends strongly on the met-ocean weather conditions, particularly on the surface wind-generated waves that reach the coast. This study provides examples of how users’ needs and user perspectives are considered by climate data specialists to develop needed, highly useful information addressing human and social needs. In this vein, the climate analysis of such data can provide input on the expected length of a surfing season, according to the surfer’s level of expertise. In addition, other water sports, such as SUP Wave and windsurfing, among others, might be indicated when surfing conditions are not optimal. Finally, the safety of surfers and other tourists who venture into the sea is also dependent on those conditions. We collaborated with the surfing community to define a series of indices for quantifying surfing days (SD), surfing days stratified by surfers’ skills (SDS), alternate offers (AOs), and surfers’ and swimmers’ safety (SuS and SwS). These are of general applications but require wind and wave data at a very fine scale as the input. To illustrate the potential of our indices, we applied them to the Somo beach (Cantabria, Spain). We downscaled a global wave hindcast dataset covering a 30-year period to a spatial resolution of 100 m to obtain wave-surfing information at Somo’s surf spot. The results confirmed Somo’s status as a year-round surf spot, with SD values of 229.5 days/year and monthly values between 22 days/month and 16 days/month. SDS showed different seasonal peaks according to the surfers’ skills. Beginners’ conditions occurred more often in the summer (18.1 days/month in July), intermediate surfers’ conditions appeared in the transitional seasons (14.1 days/month in April), and advanced and big-wave riders in the winter (15.1 days/month in January and 0.7 days/month, respectively). The AO index identified the SUP wave values of 216 days/year. Wind water sports presented values of 141.6 days/year; conversely, SUP sports were possible on only 7.4 days/year. SuS and SwS identified different seasonal hazard values, decreasing from the winter, autumn, and spring to minimum values in the summer.

Tourism Development During the Pandemic of Coronavirus (COVID-19): Evidence From Iran

The coronavirus (COVID-19) epidemic has created a great deal of fear and uncertainty about health, economy, and social life. Therefore, the health, social, and economic impacts of COVID-19 are of great importance. In prone rural communities, tourism industry can contribute to the sustainable economy and social development of the villagers, and as a dynamic economic sector, cause economic, social, cultural, and environmental changes. In this regard, the purpose of this inquiry was to develop tourism during the coronavirus pandemic using the social exchange theory (SET). The present study is a descriptive, correlational and causal inquiry that is conducted using survey technique. The statistical population included tourists visiting Sistan region around Hamoun Wetland in eastern Iran (N = 850). In the sampling process, 266 tourists were selected as a sample using random sampling strategy. The study instrument was a researcher-made questionnaire, whose validity was confirmed by a panel of subjectivists and its reliability was approved by a pilot study and Cronbach's alpha coefficients (0.87≥ α ≥ 0.71). Based on SET, the proposed causal model was able to explain about 56% ( R Adj 2 = 0.562) of the variance changes in tourism development during the COVID-19 epidemic.

Residents’ Perception of the Impact of Sports Tourism on Sustainable Social Development

The analysis of the social perception of citizens and evaluations of the impact of sport tourism and their support for tourism development can be of great use in the formulation of policies aimed at social cohesion and local development. These actions favor social participation and inclusion, equal opportunities, and more positive attitudes towards sports tourism and inclusive sport. This study aims to analyze the perception and predisposition towards the support of citizens on the impact of sport tourism from a multidimensional perspective. Specifically, this study evaluates the social perception on four measures: social impact, cultural impact, environmental impact, and local policies. The sample of this study is composed of 607 people living in Gran Canaria. A survey with two scales were used, one on the perception of the social, cultural, environmental, economic, and political–administrative impact and the other was on the predisposition to support the development of sport tourism from the perspective of sustainable and inclusive social development. Using the partial least square methodology, the results show that all the study variables were significant except for social impact. It is concluded that there is a favorable social perception towards sport tourism. The results of this study might have a effect on the planning of the tourism sector in Gran Canaria as well as on the policies and regulations governing this activity.

Planning Tourism in Protected Natural Areas: Safety, Soft Law and Conflict Management between Beach Users. The Case of Surf in Aljezur, Portugal

The intensification of tourism in coastal areas can increase planning problems, with potential conflicts amongst beach users affecting their safety perceptions and, ultimately, their tourist experience. Therefore, this constitutes an important concern for local authorities. The present study was conducted on an environmentally sensitive tourism destination located in a protected natural area in the Algarve, Portugal, with a quite significant level of surf tourism activities-the Aljezur municipality. In total, 245 surfers and 282 bathers were surveyed as these beach user groups have been observed to have a potential for intergroup conflict. Data were collected regarding their perceptions of personal safety, conflicts between beach users, and conflict management strategies. The respondents were also surveyed regarding how local authorities can provide strategies of soft law for a more sustainable management of surfing tourism. The findings revealed a consensus about the safety of Aljezur beaches and existence of perceived low conflict levels amongst beach users. The strategies more valued by respondents to promote surfing tourism development in the territory include the preservation of the natural resources and the developed of local regulation. Overall, these findings can be useful to the sustainable management of the surfing tourism in the territory.