Atna Journal of Tourism Studies

Self-Help Groups as Catalysts for Sustainable Community-Based Tourism Development in Jammu & Kashmir: A Structural Equation Modeling Perspective

Shailendra Kumar Bharal, Irfan Shafi Baba — Fri, 19 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000

This study explores the transformative role of self-help groups (SHGs) in fostering sustainable community-based tourism development in Jammu & Kashmir, employing a structural equation modeling (SEM) approach. Drawing on a stratified random sample of 150 SHGs across seven districts (Budgam, Srinagar, Pulwama, Kupwara, Baramulla, Samba, and Jammu), the research examines the mediating mechanisms through which community empowerment, financial inclusion, skill development, and social capital facilitate tourism engagement and generate sustainable livelihood outcomes. The proposed integrated model demonstrates that SHG-led tourism development operates through a hierarchical structure of first-order constructs (community empowerment, β = 0.78; financial inclusion, β = 0.72; skill development, β = 0.65; social capital, β = 0.81) converging into a second-order latent construct of SHG Tourism Development, which subsequently predicts income generation (β = 0.69), women empowerment (β = 0.73), and sustainable development outcomes (β = 0.68). The structural model demonstrates adequate fit (χ² = 245.32, p > 0.05; CFI = 0.94; RMSEA = 0.058) and explains 54% of variance in sustainability outcomes. Findings underscore that SHGs function as critical institutional mechanisms for democratizing tourism benefits, empowering marginalized rural women, and ensuring inclusive development aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals. The research contributes theoretically by advancing understanding of community-based tourism governance and practically by informing policy interventions for leveraging SHGs in tourism-led rural development within mountain destinations.

Click, Order, Eat: A Critical Assessment of Online Food Aggregators’ Mobile Apps in the Indian Dining Landscape

Tarun Sharma, Ashish Dahiya, Anoop Kumar — Mon, 29 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000

The rapid growth of online food delivery (OFD) applications has revolutionised consumer food consumption patterns, making mobile applications a key driver in modern food ordering experiences. The current study focuses on identifying the dimensions that influence consumers’ attitudes towards using OFD applications in the Delhi–NCR region of India. A structured questionnaire was used for quantitative research with 310 OFD users, collected through convenience sampling. The three factors – Ease of Use and App Utility (54.46% of the total variance), Social Influence and Perceived Support (44.38% of the total variance), and Delivery and Service Effectiveness (5.63% of the total variance)- were identified in an exploratory factor analysis using principal component analysis with varimax rotation. The results indicate that the factors influencing the consumers’ usage behaviour are convenience, social interaction and service efficiency. The findings of the study enrich the current literature on food delivery application services and recommend practical suggestions for food aggregators and app developers to enhance application usability, social engagement, and service effectiveness.

Exploring Expectation-Perception Dynamics in Pilgrimage Service Quality: The Role of Demographic Moderators

Vaishali Singh — Mon, 29 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000

This study investigates the service quality perceptions at the holy Jyotirlingas in India which in turn represents the overall experience of the pilgrims using PILQUAL (Singh and Bhuyan 2025). To overcome the poly-dimensionality of pilgrimage experiences, the Expectation Disconfirmation Theory (EDT) has been adapted in relation to service quality models like SERVQUAL. The data collected from 1,047 domestic pilgrims at seven Jyotirlingas was analysed by using EFA, CFA and hierarchical regression to test both direct and moderating effects of demographic variables. Results indicate a low level of support for EDT, which means that the expectation–perception mechanism might be influenced by pilgrim expectations and the spiritual motivations for pilgrimage. The study contributes to the field of religious tourism, and pilgrimage management with theoretical, methodological and practical inputs for enhancing pilgrim experiences.

Sustainable and Inclusive Development through Heritage Tourism: An Empirical Study of Nalgonda and Warangal Districts, Telangana State

Kosanoju Ravichandra, Sridevi Koutha — Mon, 29 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000

This research article is based on the study conducted to understand the importance of heritage tourism in endorsing sustainable growth in the tourism destinations (Lopes & Estêvão, 2024) in the districts of Nalgonda and Warangal in Telangana State. Primary data were collected from 400 stakeholder respondents to understand the relationship among heritage tourism, sustainability, and inclusive development. The respondent's perceptions were analysed using SEM (Structural Equation Modelling). The results from the data analysis show that heritage tourism substantially improves sustainability and has a significant impact on inclusive growth. Sustainability moderately shows the relationship between tourism and social inclusion. The research findings indicate that economic, environmental, and socio-cultural sustainability play an important role in improving the quality of life of stakeholders and the social outcomes of living in the destination areas. However, further improvements in infrastructure facilities and governance are needed to enhance support for heritage tourism. Overall, this research study concludes that the heritage tourism sector can contribute to adequate regional development and provides important insights for decision-makers to make sound decisions towards sustainable tourism strategies.

From Place Distinctiveness to Tourism Support: The Role of Protecting and Supporting Behaviours of Meghalaya's Living Root Bridges Communities

Adelbert Majaw, R. Chitra Sivasubramanian — Fri, 19 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000

One of the core factors that drives tourism is the uniqueness of the destination’s attractions. Residents’ supporting behaviour plays a critical role in sustaining tourism development, as it is heavily influenced by the distinct characteristics of their environment. Consequently, the Community’s Behaviour influences their support for tourism developments, and this behaviour is shaped by how distinct the attraction is. The Living Root Bridges (LRBs) communities of Meghalaya provide an ideal context to explore these relationships. 152 samples were collected from Nongriat and Tyrna village using a structured questionnaire, and the data were analysed through correlation and multiple regression analyses. The findings indicate that place distinctiveness significantly and positively influences both protecting and supporting behaviors, which subsequently enhance overall tourism support. This implies that when residents perceive their community as unique, they exhibit voluntary behaviours that foster tourism activities, thereby enhancing their economic and social wellbeing, while preserving their natural and cultural heritage. Therefore, this study contributes to the tourism literature by positioning Place Distinctiveness as a primary driver of Community Citizenship Behaviour toward support for tourism in an indigenous and rural destination.

Problems Faced by Local Vendors From Tourism in Selected Tourist Destinations of Hooghly District in West Bengal

Sankar Paul — Mon, 29 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000

The present study highlights the problems faced by local vendors as a result of tourism in selected tourist destinations of Hooghly district in West Bengal. Principal component factor analysis which resulted in three factors has been applied. Ten major problems have been identified: permanent shops/stalls, financial support from Government, proper sanitation facilities, bargaining of the tourists, small quantity of goods, interference of middlemen, slack season, online payment system, scarcity of suppliers and providing schemes. After factor reduction, three major dimensions identified are: economic problem of the local vendors, infrastructure problem to local vendors and administrative problem of the local vendors. Cronbach’s Alpha test has been conducted to assess the consistency and reliability of the variables included in the study. Kaiser Meyer Olkin Measure of Sampling Adequacy has been employed to evaluate the validity of the sample data for the factor analysis. A Correlation analysis has been conducted to examine the relationship among the problems affecting the local employment at selected tourist destinations in Hooghly. This study has found that permanent shops/stalls have significant positive relation with provision of schemes to tourists. Financial support has positive significant relation with the bargaining behavior of the tourists. Small quantities of goods have a negative relation with providing schemes. Similarly, interference from middlemen has a negative relationship with the availability of small quantities of goods, while the provision of schemes has a significant positive relationship with the presence of permanent shops/stalls. The State Government should extend greater support to local vendors by providing adequate financial assistance so that they can expand their business activities during tourist seasons. The MSME sector in West Bengal is currently experiencing significant growth and development. Therefore, private companies should collaborate with the government through the PPP model to strengthen local employment opportunities. In addition, commercial banks should consider reducing interest rates for local vendors to facilitate easier access to credit, enabling them to obtain loans and repay them within the stipulated time period.

Assessment and Feedback Fairness Gaps Predicting Student Advocacy Intentions in Hotel Management Programmes in India

Vinay Namjoshi, Maheshkumar K. Patel — Mon, 29 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000

This study examined assessment and feedback fairness among undergraduates in government hotel management programmes in India by comparing students’ expectations and experiences. It tested how the fairness gap predicted advocacy intention. A descriptive single cross-sectional research design was used. The sample comprised 303 undergraduate hotel management students from government colleges across India. Paired-samples t test results showed that expected fairness was significantly higher than experienced fairness, indicating a significant expectation–experience shortfall. Item-level gaps were larger for respectful evaluator conduct and perceived fairness of practical evaluation. Regression analysis revealed that the fairness gap negatively predicted advocacy intention. A robustness model showed experienced fairness as the dominant predictor of advocacy. Findings highlight assessment and feedback fairness as a salient quality dimension in hotel management education and show that fairness shortfalls are associated with weaker intentions to advocate among hotel management students.

Exploring the Factors Facilitating the Advancement of Sustainable Tourism in Odisha: Evidence from Tribal Areas

Abhiraj Malia, Biswajit Das, Bhubaneswari Bisoyi, Prajnya Paramita Pradhan — Mon, 29 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000

The Indian tourism sector is expanding and has great potential to attract significant foreign capital and create employment, thereby supporting the region's overall social and economic development. Tourists are always drawn to the indigenous culture and diverse society of the indigenous Indians. Sustainable tourism strives to create jobs, generate money, and preserve indigenous ecosystems while having a minimum impact on the surroundings and regional traditions. The multifaceted nature of tourism interconnects the economic, social, and environmental facets of sustainability. Support from the local community is crucial for the sustainable tourism sector to succeed across all regions, especially in remote areas. This research primarily identifies the attributes that influence support for sustainable tourism development among Odisha's tribal communities, as well as how rural residents perceive the effects of tourism development. The data were collected through semi-structured interviews, and the tribes' responses were analyzed using statistical tools and techniques, including SEM. The study enhanced understanding of the various variables that facilitate the growth of tribal tourism. This study indicated a robust connection between sustainable indicators—such as sustainable behavioral aspects, environmental sustainability, socio-cultural sustainability, and sustainable economic benefits—and the development of sustainable tribal tourism. It also emphasized the importance of recognizing the local community as a key player in industry growth, particularly in areas seeking to strengthen their economies through a sustainable tourism approach.

Art Integration in Tourism: Exploring Its Role in Learning Skills Enhancement and Tourism Development

Chinmay Kumar Sharma, Kinjal Bohare, Ashutosh, Dinesh Chahal — Fri, 19 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000

This bibliometric review of the study of Art Meets Tourism: A Study on Art Integration, Learning Skills, and Tourism Development synthesizes an extensive and varied research area, comprising 1,686 publications from 945 sources and exhibiting an Mean annual growth rate of 18.42. The research corpus is relatively new, with a mean age of 4.69 years, and achieves high citation rates, averaging 12.65 citations per paper. Research topics vary broadly, spanning cultural tourism, education, sustainability, and heritage conservation. In terms of authorship, there is considerable co-authorship: 21.23% of this work is an international cooperation, with a diverse geographical base headed by the USA, China, Australia, and the UK. Research journals like Sustainability (Switzerland), Geoheritage, and the Journal of Sustainable Tourism point to a solid link with sustainability concerns, while more educationally oriented journals indicate that there is a rising importance on learning skills within field of tourism. The analysis of keywords centers on tourism, a topic inextricably linked to art, cultural heritage, and geotourism and the sector's shift toward creative, competency-building, and socially conscious types of tourism. Strong evidence also demonstrates that the integration of art enhances the cultural capital of destinations, strengthens sustainable branding, and provides for experiential learning, making this an important confluence of cultural policy, learning, and tourism innovation.

Tourism Education and Entrepreneurship Readiness: A Comparative Content Analysis of Syllabi in Kerala and Karnataka

Sindhu Joseph, Sanuja K V, Viswas P P, Shobha K B, Denny P. John — Fri, 19 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000

The increasing demands for entrepreneurial competencies in tourism are leading to calls for the transformation of the curriculum within higher education. This research assesses the degree to which tourism higher education programs in Kerala and Karnataka incorporate both competency-based learning and entrepreneurship readiness through examining the presence of digital competences, experiential learning, skill development and entrepreneurial orientation. Eight university curricula – four from Kerala and four from Karnataka – have been examined using a directed qualitative content analysis approach to identify regional disparities and examine conformity to UNWTO competency standards and NEP 2020 directives. Results suggest that the Universities of Karnataka have shown greater levels of incorporation of skills-based learning and structured practical elements when compared to the Programs in Universities of Kerala where the majority of programs were found to be theoretical with minimal operationalization of entrepreneurial elements. Although most of the programs included soft skills, significant gaps were identified in terms of digital training, innovative practices, and experiential entrepreneurship education. This study has demonstrated that there is a requirement for curriculum reform aligned to UNWTO competency standards and NEP 2020. This research also contributes to tourism education literature through providing a comparative framework and action-oriented suggestions for enhancing entrepreneurial preparedness.

Ecotourism Research Trends in BRICS Nations: A Scientometric Analysis from 2003 to 2023

Reemina Narzary, Rajdeep Deb, Jacob Lalnunthleng Pulamte — Mon, 29 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000

This study examines the Ecotourism research within BRICS nations (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa), between 2003- 2023, using a scientometric approach. A total dataset of 4,359 peer-reviewed scientific articles were accessed from the Scopus database and analysed using RStudio and VOSviewer software. The number of ecotourism research output significantly increased particularly after 2014, with China dominating both productivity and international collaboration. The most prominent journals publishing ecotourism research included Sustainability (Switzerland) followed by Journal of Sustainable Tourism, and African Journal of Hospitality. Frequently occurring keywords showed association with ecotourism, tourism development, conservation, sustainability, and local participation. Spatiotemporal analysis, questionnaire surveys, and geographical analysis are the most commonly employed research methods. The analysis also showed notable disparities in research output and collaboration among BRICS nations exist, with India and Russia lagging behind South Africa and China. This study plays a prominent role in providing comprehensive overview of research on ecotourism within BRICS nations, identifying key themes, leading contributors, and areas that require more attention and addresses the gaps existing in the area. The findings contribute to offer valuable insights for academicians, policymakers, and investors aiming to encourage sustainable tourism practices in the BRICS region and beyond.

The Role of Tourism Education in Promoting Sustainable Tourism Awareness, Attitudes, and Behaviour among Secondary School Students in the Maldives

Johnson L I P — Fri, 19 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000

This study examines the role of tourism education in promoting sustainable tourism awareness, attitude, and behaviour in the islands of the Maldives among secondary students. Education represents a significant rank in nurturing sustainable tourism. Among the other courses, travel and tourism cultivates the majority of concepts about sustainable tourism. This study utilizes a mixed, descriptive, cross-sectional research design. This study contributes to tourism education literature by providing insights from a small island developing state. In addition, purposive sampling techniques are used to collect data from five schools via the tourism teacher. Figures were collected from 46 students in Grades 9 and 10 from schools in the Maldives, utilizing descriptive statistics, particularly mean, correlation, and linear regression. Open ended questions were analysed by thematic analysis. Responses from the 46 participants were carefully reviewed, coded, and grouped into themes. The questionnaire has five components: demographic information (gender, grade, and tourism subject studied), awareness of sustainable tourism (AST), the role of tourism education in sustainability awareness (TESA), attitudes and behaviour toward sustainable tourism (ABST), and an open-ended question about the participant’s opinions. Four components have questions quantified by the likert scale and interpreted. The last component is analysed by the thematic method. This study is to determine the relationship between Tourism Education in Sustainable Awareness (TESA) and Awareness, Attitude, and Behaviour towards sustainable tourism (AST & ABST). The results illustrate a positive correlation, indicating the impacts of TESA on AST & ABST, who adopt travel and tourism courses. This study also proposes that tourism lessons need to increase student awareness about climate change. Hence, tourism education should focus more on climate change and its impacts. School projects require augmenting relations with sustainable tourism, these can be secured by including these findings in the tourism education curriculum. The protection of natural resources should be encouraged in tourism education. Moreover, tourism education has the potential to transform the tourism industry in the Maldives into something more sustainable and responsible, supporting environmental protection and socio economic development. The results from the inductive thematic analysis shows that tourism education not only enhances the awareness among the students but also influences the behaviour pattern, making it a powerful tool for achieving sustainable tourism in the Maldives.

The limitation of this investigation is that this study is specific to four inhabited islands in the Maldives, which can affect the generalisation of the findings. The convenience sampling may introduce systematic distortion. However, Qualitative data provides deep insights that strengthen the findings. This study contributes to recognizing the importance of tourism education in the curriculum to develop a sustainable future. Evidence is limited to only tourism students; the research gap is to carry out further studies on the impacts of sustainable tourism among the secondary students, who can be distinguished as being in tourism courses and non-tourism courses.

Tourism, Waste Management, and Environmental Sustainability: A Bibliometric Review

Md Mainul S K — Fri, 19 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000

The rapid global expansion of tourism has intensified environmental pressures, necessitating an urgent transition toward circular and sustainable waste management. This study presents a rigorous and comprehensive bibliometric synthesis of 703 Scopus-indexed publications (2004–2025), utilizing Bibliometrix (R) and VOSviewer to map the field’s intellectual architecture. Findings reveal an exponential surge in research output after 2015, with the landscape organized into four primary clusters: sustainable tourism governance, waste management systems, circular economy, and marine pollution. The analysis uncovers a definitive paradigm shift from linear models toward regenerative frameworks, increasingly supported by smart technologies like IoT and machine learning. However, a persistent disciplinary divide between policy-oriented scholarship and technical research remains, hindering the development of truly holistic sustainability solutions. This work systematically identifies critical research gaps and proposes a socio-ecological roadmap for integrated governance. Policy recommendations underscore the need for cross-sectoral collaboration, circular strategies, and digital monitoring systems to enhance destination resilience. By effectively bridging the divide between technological innovation and policy formulation, this research provides a strategic foundation for the transition toward more sustainable and resilient global tourism systems.

Exploring the Impact of Seasonality in Northeast India and South Korea: A Study based on Economic and Strategic Prospects

S. Sochipem Zimik, Shin-Won Kang — Fri, 19 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Tourism has proven to be pivotal for economic sustenance in Northeast India and South Korea. Such recognition needs to be translated into informed analysis by examining the seasonal tourist inflow in the region from 2018 to 2024. Statistical approaches such as the Gini index, ARIMA, and SARIMA analysis would redefine the tourist's valuable information for the investor, scholar contribution, and management that accounts for the tourist’s attraction and expectations. This study provides robust and evidence-based insights, validated through statistical methodologies, to inform the strategy, competence, and awareness of policymakers and stakeholders. The seasonality index determination would highlight the best and most authentic information on tourism in the region. The study seeks to portray a significant information gap that has not been examined seriously through various statistical methodologies. One of the main takeaways of the study would be informative suffices, which has never been contributed and direct the tourist to identify the best favorable season to visit, and stakeholder to be conscious and competent with a strategic and efficient work for economic sustenance.

Ecotourism in Goa: An Empirical Investigation of Tourist Perception and Experiences

Odilia Maria Honorina Lopes, Juao Costa — Mon, 29 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Tourism is essential for the economic progression of a nation. Goa, the smallest state in India, is a popular tourist destination attracting numerous domestic and international visitors. Goa is endowed with diverse natural landscapes and also hosts a range of heritage sites. The state is endorsed as a coastline tourism hub that has reached its peak (Kamat, 2013). Consequently, it is essential to develop supplementary tourism sectors. The current research work scrutinizes ecotourism in Goa. Gap analysis was used, which was conducted grounded on Importance Performance Analysis to assess the discrepancy between the existing ecotourism facilities and tourists’ perceptions of their importance before visiting the ecotourism sites and their satisfaction after visiting the sites. The tourists rated twenty-nine variables associated with facilities and services for importance and satisfaction. When plotted on an Importance-Performance Grid, seven variables were placed in Quadrant A, and there is a need to concentrate on these attributes to improve the performance. Whereas, in the modified Importance-Performance Grid, 27 of 29 variables fall in Quadrant A, indicating that significant improvements are required for these facilities. It can be concluded that a significant gap exists between the visitors’ perceptions and experiences after partaking in ecotourism-related activities in Goa. To position Goa as a world-class tourist destination, there is a need to upgrade existing facilities. It is essential for destination planners to introduce sustainable ecotourism facilities in Goa and implement suitable corrective actions to meet international standards.

Mapping Research on Memorable Tourism Experiences and Adventure Tourism A Bibliometric Analysis of Twenty-Two Years

Manoj Kumar, Amrik Singh, Nihal Kapoor, Abhishek Kumar, Rajan Sharma, Uday Bhanu — Mon, 29 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000

This research endeavours to analyse the intellectual structure, scientific productivity, theme development, and current trends concerning Memorable Tourism Experiences (MTEs) and Adventure Tourism research between 2003 and 2025 through a bibliometric approach. Even though there has been considerable academic focus on the concept of memorable tourism experience, very few studies have undertaken a bibliometric analysis incorporating both MTEs and adventure tourism aspects. The study attempts to connect this gap by conceptually analysing 350 English-language research papers indexed on the Scopus database through 108 publications. It is established that there was a steady growth rate of almost 19% every year, which highlights the increasing popularity of this research field. In total, 887 researchers have engaged in MTEs and adventure tourism research, and almost 25% of the published articles had some level of international collaboration involved. Three research questions are addressed in this study, namely: (1) Which countries are most productive in terms of publication and citation? (3) What are the prominent thematic topics and future research directions? Results show that China dominates in research output, followed by Indonesia, Australia, and Portugal. Through citation analysis, two seminal works by Tung and Ritchie (2011) and Kim et al. (2010) have been identified as highly influential, significantly affecting the conceptualization and operationalisation of MTEs. In terms of thematic mapping, the analysis conducted using VOSviewer and Biblioshiny software shows that the major topics are memorable experience, satisfaction, revisit intention, place attachment, and emotion, while the emerging topics are sustainability, well-being, authenticity, and post-pandemic behaviour in tourism.