Loading...
11 results
Search Results
Now showing 1 - 10 of 11
- A global and comparative assessment of the level of economic circularity in the EUPublication . Martínez Moreno, María Magdalena; Buitrago, Eva M.; Yñiguez, Rocío; Puig-Cabrera, MiguelThe European Union (EU) stands as one of the pioneering areas worldwide in the planning of the Circular Economy (CE), despite the fact that practical advances in this area are currently ahead of the related research. Significant gaps remain to be filled, particularly with regard to the measurement of circularity. This work is based on the need for global tools to measure the circular transition which, in turn, can be useful in evaluating the implementation of the action plans under development by the EU. A composite index of economic circularity (CECI) has been built for the EU and its Member States with which to approximate the progress after completion of the first Action Plan for the Circular Economy (APCE): 2014-2020. This index is based on recycling and downcycling, which is the main strategy developed by APCE. In contrast to previous indicators, CECI globally and rigorously summarises the transition towards the circular economy throughout the period of validity of the plan, by using a simple and easy-to-interpret calculation methodology known as Principal Component Analysis. Likewise, the results of the CECI make it possible to establish a ranking of the EU Member States based on their CE performances for each year under consideration. The results of the CECI show that the EU as a whole has advanced in economic circularity by 17.9%, which is almost 3% on average per year. The situation is very uneven across the various Member States and, although differences have narrowed during the APCE period, in recent years this rapprochement has deaccelerated. The countries that continue to lead the circular transition of the EU are the Netherlands, Belgium, and Germany, while trailing behind are Romania, Malta, and Cyprus. In light of the results of the CECI and with the aim of achieving greater convergence in the transition to economic circularity in the EU, it would be advisable to intensify actions in those Member States whose starting situation is comparatively worse.
- Psychometrics of emotional intelligence in hospitality: A cross-sectional study on human capital and quality of servicePublication . Sanz-García, Alberto; Ros-Martínez, Almudena; López-Navas, Ana; Puig-Cabrera, MiguelLittle research has been conducted specifically on emotional intelligence (EI) and perceived quality of service in the hospitality industry. The main goal of this research consists of providing empirical evidence related to EI regarding its importance in quality of hospitality service (QHS). To do so, a hypothetical and conceptual model was tested by Partial Least Square-Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) techniques based on a sample of 408 employees in the hospitality sector in the region of Murcia (Spain). The findings of this work reveal the incidence that EI has on the QHS of human capital, despite a scenario that is characterized by a high rate of talent shortage worldwide and an increasing digitalization that could reduce human interaction. Also, implications are given so that EI could be more deeply analyzed for EI strategy-building within organizational behavior and human resource management areas from a practical approach, increasing engagement and preventing the so-called quality service sabotage.
- Smart management of tourist coastal areas in a reborn tourism era: transitioning from safe to sustainable beaches within the spanish sun and sand modelPublication . Martínez del Vas, Ginesa; Puig-Cabrera, Miguel; Cádiz-Gómez, Maricruz; Diego, Asier Amilibia deThe aim of this work is the reconceptualisation of beaches as internal objects of smart tourist destinations and to offer a means to capitalize pandemic distintictives such as the Safe Tourism Certification (STC) on the physical pressure of the coastal tourist space to contribute to the natural recovery of these settings. The methodology of this work consisted of analyzing the spatial management of tourist coastal areas according to their congestion level before and after the implementation of the STC. The research technique used for data collection was an online survey with a sample of 64 certified Spanish beaches. One of the main findings of this work is that despite Spanish beaches holding several quality distinctives based on international standards, none of these distinctives guaranteed their decongestion with a minimum surface of 5 m2 per user in the sample, as literature suggests. Thus, the STC implementation and the efforts related to managing physical pressure on coastal resources show the main existing bottlenecks in the sun and sand destinations to transit from safe to physically and ecologically sustainable tourist coastal areas. Also, practical implications to Destination Management Organisations are shared regarding the transition from traditional to smart sun and sand destinations.
- Beyond the real world: metaverse adoption patterns in tourism among Gen Z and MillennialsPublication . Calderón-Fajardo, Víctor; Puig-Cabrera, Miguel; Rodríguez-Rodríguez, IgnacioThe Metaverse opens a digital realm that offers transformative possibilities for the sector, promising to reshape the way tourists explore, experience, and interact with destinations. The objective of this research is to measure the acceptance of Metaverse technology within the tourism industry, with a particular focus on the adoption patterns among Gen Z and Millennials from a given high education institution. The methodology consisted of a PLS-SEM analysis based on a sample of 218 users, based on the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT-2 model), which is identified as a robust model for analysing the gap in Metaverse usage. The results of this work reveal that the tested model has a high predictability power according to the behavioural intention of use of Metaverse in tourism. Specifically, the facilitating conditions, the price value, the social influence, and the intention to visit a destination become significant factors. Also, these findings prove that the Metaverse evolution could be analysed with this model to also test the changes in acceptance patterns concerning the other constructs.
- Circular economy and agriculture: mapping circular practices, drivers, and barriers for traditional table-olive grovesPublication . Martinez Moreno, Maria Magdalena; Buitrago Esquinas, Eva María; Yñiguez, Rocío; Puig-Cabrera, MiguelThe Circular Economy (CE) has notable potential for the economic, environmental, and social sustainability of agriculture. However, the literature on the CE has focused on the industrial sector, leaving significant gaps in the analysis of sustainable circular models in agriculture. In the case of traditional table-olive cultivation, which suffers from serious competitiveness problems, the possibilities of the CE are particularly relevant. Given the lack of previous research for the sector, this work aims to map the circular practices carried out in traditional tableolive groves and identify their drivers and barriers. To this end, an exploratory methodology of mixed approaches is proposed that combines desk research, observational fieldwork, focus groups with stakeholders and experts, and farmers’ in-depth interviews. This methodology can be generalised to other crops. The results obtained have enabled up to 59 practices to be brought to light throughout all stages of the life cycle of olive cultivation, which cover all the principles and strategies of the CE. Plant covers, the use of eco-efficient techniques, the repair and sharing of machinery and tools, and the management of organic outputs stand out. The collaborative economy and institutional support were identified as the main drivers, while technical-economic barriers and regulatory limitations constitute the main obstacles detected. Based on these results, three groups of recommendations are proposed as a guide to future policies for which certain CE practices are highlighted: increase financial incentives, create a stable legislative framework, and reinforce incentives for the collaborative economy.
- Deciphering tourism’s role in antarctica’s geosocial concerns through data mining techniquesPublication . Calderón-Fajardo, Víctor; Puig-Cabrera, Miguel; Rodríguez-Rodríguez, IgnacioThis study explores the changing dynamics of tourism in Antarctica, focusing on the impact of digitalisation and User-Generated Content on platforms like Tripadvisor. It aims to understand how online reviews influence perceptions and decisions to visit Antarctica, a region known for its pristine environment and status as 'the last frontier'. Utilising Environmental Perception and Behaviour Geography (EPBG) principles, this research conducts a quantitative analysis of reviews from potential and current travellers. Through text mining, topic modelling, sentiment analysis, and Natural Language Processing (NLP), it investigates the emotional and perceptual discourse surrounding Antarctic tourism and its alignment with Agenda 2030 and Sustainable Development Goals. The findings reveal a detailed narrative of sustainability challenges and the emotional geography related to tourism in Antarctica, highlighting emotions such as happiness, anger, surprise, fear, disgust, and sadness among visitors. This study uncovers differences in perception based on visitors' backgrounds, noting that individuals from nature-focused cities display strong environmental concerns, whereas those from advanced urban centres show a more positive attitude. This research contributes to the understanding of EPBG, text mining, and NLP, offering insights into sustainable tourism practices in Antarctica.
- Artificial Intelligence and sustainable tourism planning: a hetero-intelligence methodology proposalPublication . Buitrago-Esquinas, Eva Maria; Yñiguez-Ovando, Rocío; Puig-Cabrera, Miguel; Custódio Santos, Margarida; Santos, José António C.This study explores the growing significance of Large Language Models (LLMs) in tourism, for their current and potential applications. It aims to achieve two primary objectives: first, to develop a novel heterointelligence framework merging human and artificial intelligence (AI) to address contemporary sustainability challenges in tourism; second, to validate this framework by applying it to sustainable tourism planning, assessing LLMs' capabilities and limitations. The research employs a hetero-intelligence performance test, contrasting human intelligence and AI contributions in sustainable tourism planning with overtourism as a proxy challenge. Results showed that hetero-intelligence could effectively address sustainability issues in tourism, provided human and AI strengths and weaknesses are understood. LLMs proved useful in diagnosing and proposing solutions for sustainability-related issues. However, a rigorous methodological framework is essential to ensure unbiased outcomes. The research offers practical guidelines for applying this approach and significantly contributes to epistemological and empirical dimensions, providing valuable insights for researchers and tourism planners. The study calls for more empirical research to validate the methodology and explore ethical and legal dimensions, extending hetero-intelligence applications to broader sustainability challenges in tourism.
- Neotropical dragonflies (Insecta: Odonata) as key organisms for promoting community-based ecotourism in a Brazilian Amazon conservation areaPublication . Guerrero-Moreno, Mayerly Alexandra; Juen, Leandro; Puig-Cabrera, Miguel; Teodosio, Maria; Oliveira-Junior, José Max BarbosaIncorporating insects into ecotourism activities increases awareness of their importance in ecosystems. However, the inclusion of this group in ecotourism activities is still rare. In this context, we identified the perception of indigenous and non-indigenous leaders and residents about the potential of Odonata (dragonflies and damselflies) as key organisms for promoting community- based ecotourism (CBET) in the Tapajos-Arapiuns Extractive Reserve, Brazilian Amazon. We designed a semi-structured questionnaire and conducted interviews with 415 indigenous and non- indigenous residents (222 women and 193 men) from 73 communities and villages. When shown images of dragonflies (Anisoptera and Zygoptera), 98.55 % of respondents recognized them, predominantly identifying them as "jacinas" (55.11 %). Respondents noted differences between Anisoptera and Zygoptera based on body color and size, identified them as part of the insect group (45.78 %), and associated their habitat with forests and jungles (57.34 %). Most participants (96.38 %) indicated that current ecotourism activities do not include information about invertebrates, emphasizing the need for greater understanding of their biology and ecological significance (44.64 %), and management (29.16 %). They stated that seeing (99.52 %) and observing (99.04 %) dragonflies could attract tourists due to their striking appearance (57.10 %) and beautiful (39.03 %). Most respondents recognized the importance of dragonflies for the environment (99.52 %), culture (63.13 %), and economy (55.66 %), acknowledging their potential to generate income through tourism. Additionally, 89.88 % expressed a desire to participate in the development of ecotourism activities involving Odonata. The results reflect the enormous potential of dragonflies to be included as key organisms in the development of CBET, allowing for environmental awareness, biodiversity conservation, cultural appreciation, and income generation for local communities. Furthermore, the study highlights the need to implement educational and training programs on Odonata, along with the development and funding of public policies to ensure the success and sustainability of such initiatives.
- Developing a hetero-intelligence methodological framework for sustainable policy-making based on the assessment of large language modelsPublication . Buitrago Esquinas, Eva María; Puig-Cabrera, Miguel; Santos, José António C.; Custódio Santos, Margarida; Yñiguez, RocíoThis work delves into the increasing relevance of Large Language Models (LLMs) in the realm of sustainable policy-making, proposing an innovative hetero-intelligence framework that blends human and artificial intelligence (AI) for tackling modern sustainability challenges. The research methodology includes a hetero-intelligence performance test, which juxtaposes human intelligence with AI in the formulation and implementation of sustainable policies. After testing this hetero-intelligence methodology, seven steps are rigorously described so that it can be replicated in any sustainability planning related context. The results underscore the capabilities and limitations of LLMs, underscoring the critical role of human intelligence in enhancing the efficacy of hetero-intelligence systems. This work fulfils the need of a rigorous methodological framework based on empirical steps that can provide unbiased outcomes to be integrated into sustainable planning and decision-making processes.
- Sustainability in business events: How hybrid formats shape attendee decision-makingPublication . Santos, José António C.; Fernández Gámez, Manuel Ángel; Puig-Cabrera, Miguel; Custódio Santos, MargaridaThis study explores how the availability of hybrid business event formats influences attendees' decision-making concerning sustainable practices, addressing a gap in understanding how hybrid formats impact participation choices in the context of sustainability. The research specifically aims to examine how sustainability practices in accommodation, transportation, catering, and venue selection affect the likelihood of on-site attendance and how the option of hybrid participation shifts preferences toward virtual engagement. Data was collected from 533 international business event attendees, and Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM) was used for analysis. The findings reveal that hybrid events, while promoting inclusivity and reducing environmental impacts, often lead to increased online participation, particularly among attendees with strong environmental concerns. Even when sustainable practices are implemented on-site, many participants prefer virtual options to minimise their carbon footprint further. This poses a challenge for event organisers striving to balance sustainability goals with the need to maintain physical attendance to keep the business industry running. The study offers practical recommendations for organising more sustainable and inclusive events, emphasising the importance of integrating green practices while leveraging hybrid formats to meet evolving participant preferences. These insights are crucial for guiding the future of sustainable event planning in the business events industry.