Anna Farmaki

Regional network governance and sustainable tourism

Effective governance has been identified as one of the most important factors in sustainable tourism implementation. As governance structures are increasingly becoming network-based, attention needs to be diverted to the effectiveness of partnerships in achieving sustainability in tourism. Evaluating the effectiveness of regional tourism governance in Cyprus by considering regional tourism organisations’ (RTOs) public–private network involved exploratory research whereby semi-structured interviews with key tourism stakeholders were performed. Findings reveal that network governance-related challenges interact with region-specific characteristics, inhibiting the effectiveness of regional tourism governance in implementing sustainable tourism. Specifically, RTOs represent a weak form of governance and their effectiveness in implementing sustainable tourism is limited by the continuing dependence on foreign tour operators, a system of mutual favours which complexifies the nature of tourism planning and a growing emphasis on economic interests further fuelled by recent austerity measures imposed in Cyprus. The paper concludes that network governance cannot be considered separately from the socio-cultural, economic and environmental factors of the context in which it is studied and proposes that further research reflects the horizontal relations across regional, national and global networks.

Responsible tourism in Cyprus: the rhetoric and the reality

Purpose – This paper aims to provide an overview of the approaches that industry stakeholders follow towards responsible tourism in Cyprus and to address the challenges that responsible tourism management faces in a mass tourism destination. Design/methodology/approach – In doing so, the paper discusses the concept of responsible tourism and its application in the hospitality and tourism industry. A qualitative research approach was followed whereby roundtable discussions between industry leaders and hospitality educators were initiated in order to identify key challenges. In addition, secondary research was performed with relevant data presented in the paper being previously collected by the CSTI (Cyprus Sustainable Tourism Initiative). Findings – Findings reveal that responsible tourism adoption in Cyprus is minimal. Several challenges have been identified as barriers to adoption and successful implementation including poor understanding of the concept, lack of awareness, limited budget, lack of coordin...

A supply-side evaluation of coastal tourism diversification: the case of Cyprus.

Although several coastal resorts have attempted diversification of their “sea and sun” tourism products, the concept of tourism product diversification has received limited attention. As diversification has become a marketing trend for coastal destinations the degree of success of the strategy in increasing tourism revenue and repositioning destinations has varied. The purpose of this research study is to address this gap in literature and to offer insights on the success level of coastal mass tourism diversification. Qualitative research, in the form of interviews, was performed with the supply-sector of the Cyprus tourism industry in order to explore the attitudes of tourism professionals to a variety of issues related to diversification such as the context in which the strategy was adopted, its success degree and the factors affecting its success. The research findings support the economic data that reveal the failure of the diversification strategy of the Cyprus coastal tourism product. The research further discusses the factors that prohibited the successful implementation of diversification in Cyprus and the related implications. It concludes by identifying the success factors of diversification of other coastal destinations, which are used to provide a framework of success criteria for coastal tourism diversification.

Stakeholder Perceptions of the Role of Low-cost Carriers in Insular Tourism Destinations: The Case of Cyprus

Abstract Low-cost carriers (LCCs) may yield several benefits to destinations including increased tourist arrivals, improved destination competitiveness and enrichment of regional economies. Governments in several destinations, particularly insular tourism destinations, have acted as proponents towards LCCs offering attractive subsidisation schemes. Nonetheless, the degree to which LCCs contribute to tourism development remains questionable. Using semi-structured interviews with industry stakeholders, the aim of this paper is to explore the supply-side perceptions of the impacts of LCCs on the tourism industry of Cyprus. Findings reveal concerns over the influence of LCCs on the development of the islands tourism industry. Whilst air transport inherently impacts tourism development, this study concludes that demand-related issues and government policies interact to shape the environment in which LCCs operate, and consequently, affect tourism development. This paper concludes by highlighting the narrowing gap between different airline types and proposes that further research on the changing environment in aviation is conducted.

Refugee migration and service industries: advancing the research agenda

ABSTRACT The recent refugee influx into Europe has attracted considerable academic, political and media attention. Despite the large number of refugees entering Europe, especially following the outbreak of the conflict in Syria, there has been little academic research on the refugee migration-service industries nexus. The minimal attention on the interface between refugee migration and service industries is surprising, considering the impacts of the refugee movement on service sectors and the opportunities for refugee migrants within several service industries. In acknowledging this gap, this paper considers the development of the research on refugee migration within service industries and suggests that future studies distinguish between the terms ‘refugee’ and ‘migrant’, embrace longitudinal studies and consider a macro approach in their investigation to transcend research focus from specific service aspects to service industries as a whole. In drawing conclusions, the paper highlights key research themes and suggests directions for further research.

Politicising dark tourism sites: evidence from Cyprus

Purpose This paper aims to extend understanding on how the tourist experience at dark heritage sites is directed and consequently influences the narratives of cultural heritage. By discussing the way dark heritage sites are projected by suppliers, the paper anticipates to advance knowledge on the nexus between dark tourism and heritage and to offer insights into the management of dissonant heritage sites. Design/methodology/approach The cases of two opposing national museums in the divided island of Cyprus are presented and discussed in an attempt to illustrate how dissonant heritage interpretation in a post-conflict context is often the product of political direction, commemorating the past and to a great extent influencing the future of a society. Findings National struggle museums represent dark heritage sites, which evoke emotions pertinent to ethnic identity reinforcement. Evidently, the management of such sites is in opposition to peace-building efforts taking place in a post-conflict context. The paper concludes that visitation to dark heritage sites is culturally driven rather than death-related and suggests that efforts consolidate to target specific segments of visitors, if the reconciliation potential of dark tourism is to be unleashed. Originality/value Insofar, minimal attention has been paid on the conditions of the supply of dark heritage sites and the role of suppliers in influencing culture-based issues including collective memory and national identity. This paper addresses this gap in literature and advances understanding on the developmental elements defining dark heritage tourism, by identifying and discussing trajectories between dark tourism and politics.

Growth and Impacts of All-Inclusive Holiday Packages: Echoes from the Industry

ABSTRACT All-inclusive (AI) holiday packages have become a popular travel choice, particularly in the sun-soaked destinations of the Mediterranean and the Caribbean. Despite the benefits the AI is assumed to offer to key stakeholders, caution has been urged over the increase in AI offerings due to the negative impacts they impair on destinations. This paper aims to investigate supply-side perceptions of the growth and impacts of the AI on Cyprus’ tourism development. Drawing from semi-structured interviews with industry stakeholders, findings reveal that the AI is determined by an interplay of demand and supply conditions while its growth is moderated by contextual factors pertaining to coastal destinations’ development stage. With a range of negative impacts being identified as detrimental to the tourism development of Mediterranean destinations, the study proposes a conceptual framework outlining the determinants, influencers and outcomes of the AI trend.

Satisfaction with the rural tourism product of Cyprus

Rural tourism is a favourable developmental strategy for several destinations, due to the economic and social benefits it can yield to rural communities. Despite its popularity, the development of rural tourism has not been without problems. The aim of this study is to provide evidence of demand-side perceptions of the rural tourism product of Cyprus. Specifically, tourist satisfaction is measured to gain understanding of the island’s rural tourism product performance. A survey was conducted on rural tourists, measuring tourist satisfaction across a series of attributes and by tourist motivation. Findings reveal that tourist motives and demographic factors influence satisfaction; specifically, rural tourists are not necessarily motivated by the rural setting whereas satisfaction appears to be affected by site-specific attribute evaluations. The findings highlight the importance of segmentation in rural tourism and suggest the adoption of a more refined marketing strategy if rural tourism development is to become successful.

Consumer perceptions towards sustainable supply chain practices in the hospitality industry

ABSTRACT This study investigates the impacts of economic, social and environmental sustainability practices of companies in the hospitality supply chain on consumers’ satisfaction, loyalty and willingness to pay higher prices. Utilizing data collected from 288 tourists visiting south Sardinia, the study indicates that while economic sustainability practices have positive impacts on consumers’ satisfaction, loyalty and willingness to pay a premium, sustainability practices related to environmental and social dimensions have a direct positive impact on satisfaction and an indirect positive impact on consumer loyalty and willingness to pay a premium. Additionally, findings reveal that satisfaction is likely to mediate the impact of environmental and social sustainability practices on the loyalty of consumers. The theoretical and managerial implications of the study are provided.