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Publications

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Tooth crown tissue proportions and enamel thickness in Early Pleistocene Homo antecessor molars (Atapuerca, Spain)

Archaeological Site of Atapuerca — 2018 — WHE5487241A2A

A groundbreaking analysis of Homo antecessor molars from the Early Pleistocene Gran Dolina-TD6 site (Atapuerca, Spain) reveals that while these teeth exhibit thick enamel typical of most hominins, their dentine distribution and enamel thickness patterns more closely resemble those of Neanderthals than other fossil or modern humans. This suggests an early emergence of Neanderthal-like dental traits in this species, predating the Middle Pleistocene by over 800,000 years. Researchers used high-resolution imaging to characterize the inner structural organization of 17 H. antecessor molars, comparing them with a vast comparative sample (n=355) from African, Asian, and European hominin populations. The findings indicate that while total crown dentine percentages align with modern humans, lateral crown dentine proportions are higher, mirroring the Neanderthal signal. Enamel distribution maps further support this similarity, with thicker enamel spread more peripherally in H. antecessor molars, unlike other hominins and modern humans where cuspal enamel tends to be thicker.

Touring and Publicizing England’s Country Houses in the Long Eighteenth Century

Blenheim Palace — 2018 — WHE2097D94782

England's grand country houses, including Blenheim Palace, transitioned from elite retreats to celebrated tourist attractions during the 18th century. This shift was driven by their architectural significance, extensive art collections, and landscaped gardens, which were extensively documented in travel books, guidebooks, and tourists' accounts. The study reveals that these sites became symbols of national culture, with tourism practices established then influencing British culture today. By analyzing historical texts and tourist diaries, the research examines how country-house tourism emerged as a critical cultural practice during a period of societal change.

Tourism and energy use in lodges and camps in the Okavango Delta, Botswana

Okavango Delta — 2018 — WHEF37D49C694

Lodges and camps in the Okavango Delta, Botswana, predominantly rely on fossil fuels—such as diesel, petrol, and paraffin—for energy, with minimal use of renewable sources like solar. This dependency undermines the potential for sustainable tourism in the region. The study analyzed secondary data from management plans and policy documents while gathering primary insights through stakeholder interviews. Findings highlight a critical gap in energy policy, emphasizing the urgent need to integrate environmentally friendly renewable energy solutions—particularly solar—to align with sustainable tourism goals.

Tourism Attraction and Tourist Satisfaction with World Heritage: A Case Study of Mount Wuyi

Mount Wuyi — 2018 — WHE72BBAA2A6F

A UNESCO World Heritage Site's brand significantly boosts its tourism attractiveness. At Mount Wuyi, natural landscapes, tea culture, ecological conditions, accommodation, transportation, ticket pricing, staff service quality, and the world heritage brand all positively influence tourist satisfaction. Cultural relics, security, and individual characteristics did not show significant impacts. The study used questionnaires and factor analysis to assess tourism attraction while employing an ologit model for regression analysis of satisfaction.

Tourism Destination Marketing: A Case Study of Lumbini Nepal

Lumbini, the Birthplace of the Lord Buddha — 2018 — WHEC5FB54778F

Lumbini, Nepal, recognized as the birthplace of Lord Buddha and a significant Buddhist pilgrimage site, faces challenges in maintaining its attractiveness as a tourism destination. A study analyzing data from 184 visitors reveals that while Lumbini holds strong religious significance, its marketing strategies require refinement to enhance visitor satisfaction and sustainability. The research employs field surveys and statistical analysis to assess the destination's positioning and attractiveness, identifying key prospects and policy recommendations for future development. This case study provides actionable insights for balancing religious heritage preservation with tourism growth in UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Tourism Destinations, Facilities, Challenges And Opportunities In Zimbabwe

Great Zimbabwe National Monument — 2018 — WHE35DE9101AF

Zimbabwe boasts a diverse range of tourist attractions, including natural wonders like the Victoria Falls—one of the world's largest waterfalls—and cultural and historical sites such as Great Zimbabwe Monuments. The study provides a comprehensive database of local tourism destinations, addressing a gap in existing literature on the subject. Data was collected in March 2018 through document interrogation or literature surveys, offering insights into tourist arrivals, facility occupancy, challenges, and opportunities. The research highlights the significance of Zimbabwe's tourism sector, emphasizing its potential for growth and development.

Tourism development at World Heritage Sites.

Old Town of Lijiang — 2018 — WHE37B4423036

A balanced approach to tourism development at World Heritage Sites (WHSs) is critical for sustaining economic growth, sociocultural integrity, and environmental preservation. Research highlights that the Old Town of Lijiang, a cultural WHS in China, serves as a case study demonstrating how tourism can be managed to benefit all three pillars of sustainability—economic, sociocultural, and environmental. The study emphasizes the importance of considering both host (local community) and guest (visitor) perspectives in tourism planning. By analyzing these dimensions, the research provides insights into effective strategies for WHSs worldwide to achieve long-term conservation while maximizing tourism benefits.

Tourism governance in protected areas: investigating the application of the adaptive co-management approach

Sundarbans National Park — 2018 — WHE36D74B8D30

Adaptive co-management (ACM) significantly enhances governance in protected areas, particularly through its adaptive elements that foster iterative learning among stakeholders. A study on Bangladesh's Lawachara National Park and Sundarbans East Wildlife Sanctuary found that ACM improved key governance principles such as participation, accountability, transparency, power dynamics, rule of law, and social learning. The approach successfully broadened stakeholder engagement and collaboration, with the adaptive component proving most impactful by enabling behavior change and attitude shifts toward conservation. This research provides empirical evidence for developing countries on how ACM can sustainably improve governance in nature-based tourism destinations.

Tourism in Iran: an introduction

Lut Desert — 2018 — WHE9915FF6649

Iran's tourism sector, particularly in the UNESCO World Heritage Site Lut Desert, faces significant challenges due to geopolitical tensions and sanctions. The chapter highlights the growth of tourism since the 1930s, marked by the establishment of early facilities and promotional efforts. It identifies key issues impacting tourism development, including regional rivalry between Sunni and Shia countries and the lifting of sanctions. The research approach combines historical analysis with contemporary geopolitical context to provide a comprehensive overview. This study underscores the complex interplay between tourism potential and external pressures in Iran.

Tourism Potential of Imereti

Gelati Monastery — 2018 — WHE01A4CDB387

Georgia's Imereti region, home to UNESCO World Heritage Sites like the Bagrati Cathedral and Gelati Monastery, presents significant tourism potential due to its rich cultural heritage, diverse landscapes, and strategic location. The study highlights Georgia's unique blend of ancient history, architecture, and natural beauty, including mountains, seaside resorts, and health spas, all concentrated within a small territory. Recent government efforts to restore Kutaisi, the regional capital, have further enhanced its appeal as a cultural and historical destination. The research emphasizes the region's potential for sustainable tourism development, leveraging its heritage assets while ensuring preservation and safety.

Tourism–Agriculture Nexuses: practices, challenges and opportunities in the case of Bale Mountains National Park, Southeastern Ethiopia

Bale Mountains National Park — 2018 — WHE3670D982B3

Agriculture and tourism sectors in the Bale Mountains National Park, Ethiopia, are not effectively linked for sustainable economic development. The study found that agriculture dominates local economies but lacks profitable synergy with tourism, hindered by non-commercial agricultural practices, a small tourism market, and over-reliance on wildlife. Despite challenges, increasing tourist numbers and government attention present opportunities to strengthen this linkage. The research employed a community-based cross-sectional design, combining quantitative (372 households) and qualitative methods (FGDs, key informant interviews), using statistical analysis and thematic coding. Stakeholders are urged to foster market-based interactions between tourism and agriculture for long-term economic benefits in the region.

Tourist behaviour through consumption in Melaka World Heritage Site

Melaka and George Town, Historic Cities of the Straits of Malacca — 2018 — WHE5680899D43

International tourists at Melaka World Heritage Site prioritize historical attractions over other elements, consuming more space and time there while spending significantly on secondary aspects like food and shopping. This behavior, revealed through a study of 384 Free Independent Tourists using questionnaires, trip diaries, and tracking devices, offers critical insights for managing tourist impact. Authorities can leverage these findings to develop more effective visitor management plans that balance preservation with tourism sustainability, ensuring the site's Outstanding Universal Value remains intact.

Tourist experience measurement in Quito city

City of Quito — 2018 — WHE9647D5C557

Tourist satisfaction in Quito is highly influenced by 20 key aspects, with tourists' expectations balanced in dimensions such as uniqueness, multisensory experience, rational quality, and personal enrichment. However, performance in relational development and responsibility falls short of expectations. This study validates a theoretical model using Likert-type scales to measure tourist experience holistically, employing multivariate analysis and importance-performance analysis matrix for graphic presentation. The research identifies influential factors on tourist satisfaction, providing insights into improving the tourist experience in Quito.

Tourists' intention to visit heritage hotels at George Town World Heritage Site

Melaka and George Town, Historic Cities of the Straits of Malacca — 2018 — WHE0FBB7DCDEE

Tourists' intention to visit heritage hotels at George Town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site (WHS), is significantly influenced by multiple factors including perceived price, experience quality, prior knowledge, perceived authenticity, and social influence. These factors positively impact tourists' perceptions of value, which in turn mediates their intention to visit these heritage hotels. The study highlights the importance of adaptive reuse of heritage buildings into hotels as a strategy for enhancing tourist engagement while preserving cultural heritage. This research provides actionable insights for hotel owners and operators to refine their service designs and promotional strategies, ensuring sustainable tourism growth at WHS.

Tourists’ travel time values using discrete choice models: the recreational value of the Teide National Park

Teide National Park — 2018 — WHE665BF4DAA7

Research reveals that the recreational value of Teide National Park, when calculated using discrete choice models independent of labor market factors, significantly differs from traditional wage-based approaches. By analyzing trade-offs between time and money in transport mode choices among 801 visitors, the study estimates distinct travel time values for different stages of the trip and transport modes. This novel method, combining Mixed Logit models with Zonal Travel Cost Method, challenges conventional practices by focusing on the opportunity cost of leisure rather than work time, offering a more accurate assessment of recreational value.

Towards Comprehensive Policy Integration for the Sustainability of Small Islands: A Landscape-Scale Planning Approach for the Galápagos Islands

Galápagos Islands — 2018 — WHEA715A8CDDC

Recent policy reforms in the Galápagos Islands have strengthened provincial governance and introduced landscape-scale planning, but significant gaps remain. The study reveals that while institutional arrangements now better address socio-ecological and land-sea management challenges, fragmented conservation-development approaches between local and provincial governments persist, alongside policy inconsistencies. These limitations hinder comprehensive policy integration—critical for achieving sustainable development in insular ecosystems. The research analyzed legal and planning documents to assess their support for integrated governance, highlighting the need for more cohesive, multi-level coordination to address pressing socio-ecological issues effectively.

Towards Preserving Transylvanian Fortified Churches in Virtual Reality

Villages with Fortified Churches in Transylvania — 2018 — WHEDEB909AB35

Research demonstrates that virtual reality (VR) significantly enhances public interest and engagement with Transylvanian fortified churches, particularly those in the 'Țara Bârsei' region. The study leverages photogrammetry to create 3D models of these medieval structures, which are then integrated into a holographic stand accessible via a mobile application. This approach combines high-profile and low-profile visualizations side by side, aiming to attract tourists and foster awareness about these historically significant but often overlooked monuments. User feedback, assessed using a modified HARUS questionnaire, confirmed increased interest directly attributable to the visualization technology. The findings underscore VR's potential as an effective tool for cultural heritage preservation and promotion.

Towards the incorporation of a raised walkway at the Royal Alcázar of Seville: status and execution of the works

Cathedral, Alcázar and Archivo de Indias in Seville — 2018 — WHE90CD97651D

A recent restoration project at the Royal Alcázar of Seville successfully revived the 16th-century design by architect Vermondo Resta, transforming a medieval wall into a double-storey gallery with panoramic views over the palace gardens. The 'Galería del Grutesco,' or Grotto Gallery, had lost its defensive function but was reimagined as an elevated walkway. The study highlights the technical challenges and solutions employed in this 21st-century restoration, ensuring historical accuracy while addressing modern conservation needs.

Towards the studying of Kodorian Svan speech

Upper Svaneti — 2018 — WHE82885FFCA4

This study highlights the significant morphonological and lexicological inter-merging of Upper Svan dialects within the Kodorian dialect, providing new insights into the complex linguistic landscape of late-populated mountainous regions. The research, conducted by the Arnold Chikobava Institution of Linguistics with support from the Rustaveli Foundation, employs both linguistic and cartographic methods to analyze dialectal differentiation, particularly in the context of Kodorian and Cholurian Svan dialects. The study addresses a critical gap in ethnolinguistic research, exacerbated by political conflicts that displaced local populations, forcing researchers to rely on refugee communities for data. By synthesizing fragmentary previous works, this research offers a comprehensive framework for understanding dialectal interferences and the unique linguistic features of Kodorian Svan speech.

Trace metals from historical mining sites and past metallurgical activity remain bioavailable to wildlife today

The Causses and the Cévennes, Mediterranean agro-pastoral Cultural Landscape — 2018 — WHE8713E68D05

Historical mining and metallurgical activity in France's UNESCO-listed Causses and Cévennes region continue to impact wildlife, with trace metals like cadmium, copper, lead, and zinc remaining bioavailable to free-ranging mammals such as wood mice. Researchers found that soil metal concentrations near ancient mining sites were one or two orders of magnitude higher than typical European levels, and these elevated levels correlated with increased kidney lead (and, to a lesser extent, cadmium) in the animals. Unlike copper and zinc, which did not show strong correlations, lead's persistence suggests long-term environmental effects on wildlife health, as evidenced by a negative relationship between kidney lead concentration and body condition. This study highlights the lingering ecological risks posed by historical mining, offering insights into the long-term fate of trace metals and their potential threats to both ecosystems and human health.