Towards Healthy and Sustainable Human Settlement: Understanding How Local Communities Perceive and Engage with Spa Tourism Development Initiatives in Rural Areas

This study investigated the intersection of healthy and sustainable human settlement, and land use for spa tourism in rural areas. Recognizing the crucial role of youth in shaping the future of tourism, this research aimed to provide an insight into the young local rural community representatives’ p...

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Main Authors: Maja Mijatov Ladičorbić, Aleksandra S. Dragin, Tamara Surla, Aleksandra Tešin, Juan Manuel Amezcua-Ogáyar, Alberto Calahorro-López, Vladimir Stojanović, Zrinka Zadel, Kristina Košić, Olja Munitlak Ivanović, Anđelija Ivkov Džigurski, Miroslav D. Vujičić, Milena Nedeljković Knežević, Ljubica Ivanović Bibić, Slavica Tomić, Željko Anđelković
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-11-01
Series:Land
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/13/11/1817
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author Maja Mijatov Ladičorbić
Aleksandra S. Dragin
Tamara Surla
Aleksandra Tešin
Juan Manuel Amezcua-Ogáyar
Alberto Calahorro-López
Vladimir Stojanović
Zrinka Zadel
Kristina Košić
Olja Munitlak Ivanović
Anđelija Ivkov Džigurski
Miroslav D. Vujičić
Milena Nedeljković Knežević
Ljubica Ivanović Bibić
Slavica Tomić
Željko Anđelković
author_facet Maja Mijatov Ladičorbić
Aleksandra S. Dragin
Tamara Surla
Aleksandra Tešin
Juan Manuel Amezcua-Ogáyar
Alberto Calahorro-López
Vladimir Stojanović
Zrinka Zadel
Kristina Košić
Olja Munitlak Ivanović
Anđelija Ivkov Džigurski
Miroslav D. Vujičić
Milena Nedeljković Knežević
Ljubica Ivanović Bibić
Slavica Tomić
Željko Anđelković
author_sort Maja Mijatov Ladičorbić
collection DOAJ
description This study investigated the intersection of healthy and sustainable human settlement, and land use for spa tourism in rural areas. Recognizing the crucial role of youth in shaping the future of tourism, this research aimed to provide an insight into the young local rural community representatives’ perception of sustainable spa tourism development and to identify whether these attitudes are shaped by their socio-demographic characteristics. The applied methodology was the Sustainable Tourism Attitude Scale (SUS-TAS). A total of 254 respondents took part in this research. Using SPSS 30.0.0, the gathered data were subjected to additional analyses based on factor analysis, descriptive statistics, and the general linear model. The results showed a general positive attitude of local community members towards the further development of spa tourism in their communities. The especially important factors were the following: long-term planning of development, environmental protection, negative attitudes towards spa tourism development, economic benefits, as well as community participation. By providing an empirical analysis based on the use of robust tools for measuring youth attitudes, this research offers valuable insights for policymakers, planners, and community leaders into how they can design and implement tourism strategies that align with sustainability principles while fostering local economic development and environmental stewardship. The ultimate goal is to contribute to the broader discussion on developing healthy, sustainable human settlements that balance economic benefits with ecological and social well-being. Synergy/harmony between communities and their natural surroundings is essential for the social, economic, and environmental sustainability of rural human settlements. Mineral springs and spas facilitate sensory experiences for individuals (both tourists and residents) through the utilization of natural resources and the environment.
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spelling doaj-art-961909c392d9453eb42b87feb5dc90d12025-08-20T02:05:03ZengMDPI AGLand2073-445X2024-11-011311181710.3390/land13111817Towards Healthy and Sustainable Human Settlement: Understanding How Local Communities Perceive and Engage with Spa Tourism Development Initiatives in Rural AreasMaja Mijatov Ladičorbić0Aleksandra S. Dragin1Tamara Surla2Aleksandra Tešin3Juan Manuel Amezcua-Ogáyar4Alberto Calahorro-López5Vladimir Stojanović6Zrinka Zadel7Kristina Košić8Olja Munitlak Ivanović9Anđelija Ivkov Džigurski10Miroslav D. Vujičić11Milena Nedeljković Knežević12Ljubica Ivanović Bibić13Slavica Tomić14Željko Anđelković15Faculty of Sciences, Department of Geography, Tourism and Hotel Management, University of Novi Sad, 21000 Novi Sad, SerbiaFaculty of Sciences, Department of Geography, Tourism and Hotel Management, University of Novi Sad, 21000 Novi Sad, SerbiaFaculty of Sciences, Department of Geography, Tourism and Hotel Management, University of Novi Sad, 21000 Novi Sad, SerbiaFaculty of Sciences, Department of Geography, Tourism and Hotel Management, University of Novi Sad, 21000 Novi Sad, SerbiaFaculty of Social Sciences and Law, Department of Business Organization, Marketing and Sociology, University of Jaén, Campus Las Lagunillas, 23071 Jaén, SpainFaculty of Social Sciences and Law, Department of Business Organization, Marketing and Sociology, University of Jaén, Campus Las Lagunillas, 23071 Jaén, SpainFaculty of Sciences, Department of Geography, Tourism and Hotel Management, University of Novi Sad, 21000 Novi Sad, SerbiaFaculty of Tourism and Hospitality Management, University of Rijeka, 51410 Opatija, CroatiaFaculty of Sciences, Department of Geography, Tourism and Hotel Management, University of Novi Sad, 21000 Novi Sad, SerbiaFaculty of Sciences, Department of Geography, Tourism and Hotel Management, University of Novi Sad, 21000 Novi Sad, SerbiaFaculty of Sciences, Department of Geography, Tourism and Hotel Management, University of Novi Sad, 21000 Novi Sad, SerbiaFaculty of Sciences, Department of Geography, Tourism and Hotel Management, University of Novi Sad, 21000 Novi Sad, SerbiaFaculty of Sciences, Department of Geography, Tourism and Hotel Management, University of Novi Sad, 21000 Novi Sad, SerbiaFaculty of Sciences, Department of Geography, Tourism and Hotel Management, University of Novi Sad, 21000 Novi Sad, SerbiaFaculty of Economics in Subotica, University of Novi Sad, 24000 Subotica, SerbiaFaculty of Sciences and Mathematics, Department of Geography, 18000 Niš, SerbiaThis study investigated the intersection of healthy and sustainable human settlement, and land use for spa tourism in rural areas. Recognizing the crucial role of youth in shaping the future of tourism, this research aimed to provide an insight into the young local rural community representatives’ perception of sustainable spa tourism development and to identify whether these attitudes are shaped by their socio-demographic characteristics. The applied methodology was the Sustainable Tourism Attitude Scale (SUS-TAS). A total of 254 respondents took part in this research. Using SPSS 30.0.0, the gathered data were subjected to additional analyses based on factor analysis, descriptive statistics, and the general linear model. The results showed a general positive attitude of local community members towards the further development of spa tourism in their communities. The especially important factors were the following: long-term planning of development, environmental protection, negative attitudes towards spa tourism development, economic benefits, as well as community participation. By providing an empirical analysis based on the use of robust tools for measuring youth attitudes, this research offers valuable insights for policymakers, planners, and community leaders into how they can design and implement tourism strategies that align with sustainability principles while fostering local economic development and environmental stewardship. The ultimate goal is to contribute to the broader discussion on developing healthy, sustainable human settlements that balance economic benefits with ecological and social well-being. Synergy/harmony between communities and their natural surroundings is essential for the social, economic, and environmental sustainability of rural human settlements. Mineral springs and spas facilitate sensory experiences for individuals (both tourists and residents) through the utilization of natural resources and the environment.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/13/11/1817community engagementhealthSUS-TAS scalesustainable tourism developmentyoung local community perceptionrural development
spellingShingle Maja Mijatov Ladičorbić
Aleksandra S. Dragin
Tamara Surla
Aleksandra Tešin
Juan Manuel Amezcua-Ogáyar
Alberto Calahorro-López
Vladimir Stojanović
Zrinka Zadel
Kristina Košić
Olja Munitlak Ivanović
Anđelija Ivkov Džigurski
Miroslav D. Vujičić
Milena Nedeljković Knežević
Ljubica Ivanović Bibić
Slavica Tomić
Željko Anđelković
Towards Healthy and Sustainable Human Settlement: Understanding How Local Communities Perceive and Engage with Spa Tourism Development Initiatives in Rural Areas
Land
community engagement
health
SUS-TAS scale
sustainable tourism development
young local community perception
rural development
title Towards Healthy and Sustainable Human Settlement: Understanding How Local Communities Perceive and Engage with Spa Tourism Development Initiatives in Rural Areas
title_full Towards Healthy and Sustainable Human Settlement: Understanding How Local Communities Perceive and Engage with Spa Tourism Development Initiatives in Rural Areas
title_fullStr Towards Healthy and Sustainable Human Settlement: Understanding How Local Communities Perceive and Engage with Spa Tourism Development Initiatives in Rural Areas
title_full_unstemmed Towards Healthy and Sustainable Human Settlement: Understanding How Local Communities Perceive and Engage with Spa Tourism Development Initiatives in Rural Areas
title_short Towards Healthy and Sustainable Human Settlement: Understanding How Local Communities Perceive and Engage with Spa Tourism Development Initiatives in Rural Areas
title_sort towards healthy and sustainable human settlement understanding how local communities perceive and engage with spa tourism development initiatives in rural areas
topic community engagement
health
SUS-TAS scale
sustainable tourism development
young local community perception
rural development
url https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/13/11/1817
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