Turistica - Italian Journal of Tourism

Geotourism Potential in Southern Calabria: Insights from the First Thematic Map of the Southernmost Part of the Italian Peninsula

Nicola Mari, Alessandro Luppino — Thu, 08 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0200

Purpose - Southern Calabria represents one of the most geologically complex and diverse regions of the Mediterranean. Despite this exceptional geological richness, its geoheritage remains only partially documented and poorly integrated into structured geotourism strategies. In many Mediterranean regions, geotourism has proven to be an effective tool for sustainable territorial development, environmental education, and heritage protection, yet Southern Calabria still lacks a comprehensive and systematic geotouristic framework. The purpose of this study is to address this gap by presenting the first integrated geotouristic assessment of the southernmost part of the Italian Peninsula.

Design/methodology/approach - The study is based on more than 10 years of extensive field surveys combined with the construction of a GIS-based geodatabase designed to systematically store, organize, and analyze geotouristic information. Nearly 200 geosites were identified and classified according to their geological setting, typology, accessibility, and relationship with human activities. The geodatabase was used to produce a digital geotouristic map and four thematic maps focusing on site density, distribution per municipality, geological environment, and accessibility. Spatial and geostatistical analyses were applied to evaluate clustering patterns, spatial connectivity, and relationships between geosites and major geological domains.

Originality/value - This work represents the first thematic geotouristic map of Southern Calabria and one of the most comprehensive geoheritage assessments conducted in Southern Italy. The integration of long-term fieldwork, GIS-based analysis, and geoethical principles provides a transferable methodological model for geotourism studies in geologically complex regions. The results offer a solid foundation for future research, including the expansion of the geosite inventory and the development of multi-scalar geotourism networks.

Practical implications - The results highlight a strongly heterogeneous spatial distribution of geosites, with high densities and easy accessibility along the Tyrrhenian coast, and fewer but more specialized sites in inland and mountainous areas. This configuration supports diversified geotourism strategies, ranging from inclusive coastal itineraries to experiential inland routes. The thematic maps provide practical tools for sustainable geotourism planning, risk awareness, and inter-municipality cooperation, contributing to the responsible valorization and long-term protection of Calabria’s geoheritage.

The Descent into the Underworld and Lake Pergusa: Myth, Sinkhole and the Touristic Construction of Landscape

Roberto Franco — Thu, 08 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0200

Purpose – This paper examines Lake Pergusa as an emblematic case of interaction between classical myth, geomorphological processes and the touristic construction of landscape. Drawing on the theoretical framework of literary tourism and imaginative geographies, the article argues that the narrative sedimentation of the abduction of Proserpina – notably codified by Ovid in the Metamorphoses – has contributed to transforming a sinkhole lake in inland Sicily into a ‘mythical gateway’. The aim is twofold: first, to reconstruct the cultural genealogy of the katabasis and the territorialisation of the myth in Sicily; secondly, to demonstrate how this symbolic stratification may represent a resource for cultural tourism and geotourism, particularly within the framework of the Rocca di Cerere UNESCO Global Geopark.

Design/methodology/approach – The study adopts an interdisciplinary approach combining literary analysis, historical-cartographic interpretation and geomorphological assessment. It first reconstructs the motif of the katabasis in the Western tradition (from Homer and Virgil to Dante), highlighting the progressive association between physical locations and symbolic thresholds of the underworld. It then investigates the territorialisation of the Proserpina myth in the Enna area through literary, iconographic and cartographic sources that attest to the identification of the lake as the site of the abduction. Finally, it analyses the geological features of the basin, interpreted as a piping sinkhole developed in sedimentary cover deposits over evaporitic bedrock, together with its hydro-biological dynamics (including the episodic reddening of the waters), in order to connect mythical narrative and scientific explanation within a sustainable tourism perspective.

Originality/value – The originality of the paper lies in proposing Lake Pergusa as a geomythological landscape in which myth, literature and geology jointly shape territorial identity. It contributes to the still limited debate on literary tourism in the Italian context and advances an integrated interpretation that overcomes the conventional divide between tangible and intangible heritage, framing the sinkhole as both a natural phenomenon and a narrative device.

Practical implications – From an applied perspective, the study suggests enhancement strategies grounded in the integration of scientific interpretation and mythic narrative, supporting the design of geotourism and environmental education initiatives. Such an integrated reading may strengthen the local cultural offer, promote informed and sustainable visitation, and raise awareness of geological risk. In this respect, Pergusa may serve as a replicable model for other symbolically dense landscapes.

Implementing BPM for Management Economics in Hybrid Organizations. A Qualitative Study of Italian TAEs between Rimini and Riccione

Stefano de Nichilo, Verzhak Olha — Thu, 08 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0200

Purpose: In today’s rapidly evolving Tourism-Tech landscape, tourism sustainable destination has to prepare their digital transformation journey. For the EU, digital transformation presents an opportunity to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of Touristic Accommodation Establishments (TAEs).

Design/methodology/approach: Of the various approaches, one that promises a rapid digital transformation is the concept of Business Process Management (BPM) introduced by Hammer in the 1990s. The study aims to recognise the Daily Room Rate (DRR) a significant KPI, through a historical accountability methodology: the Main Courante. With this method, it is aimed to prevent losses, check and balance data flow towards internal control system. This research work aims to bridge the gap concerning the introduction of BPM in “Smart Hotel” by combining historical accountability method (the Main Courante) with digital transformation and the reengineering of hotel processes in TAEs. This paper shows empirical evidence for Italian TAEs between Rimini and Riccione.

Originality/value: Process reengineering is a “Powerful Approach” with the potentiality of generating exceptional returns. According to the results of the study, it was revealed that in the turbulent conditions of management at “Smart Hotel” between Rimini and Riccione, in order to improve the financial and economic state of business processes, there is a need to use innovative and progressive technologies, one of which is reengineering technology.

Practical implications: This study has important implications for future practitioners and managers interested in RM. The theorical implications suggest the using of the Main Courante (which refers to a sequential record of relevant events or facts) functionally in public policy as a “Radar” to systematically monitor and keep track of decision-making processes, implemented interventions, and the internationalization of SMEs (Small and Medium Enterprises).

From smart cities to smart tourism: GenAI, aerotainment, and the future of tourists experiences

Mariano Melchionda — Thu, 08 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0200

Purpose - The digital transformation of urban systems is reshaping how tourism destinations are planned, managed, and marketed. Within this context, generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) offers emerging opportunities to enhance visitor experiences, operational efficiency, and sustainable destination development. However, existing research on GenAI-enabled aerotainment has primarily focused on airport-centred applications, such as passenger services, airport–visitor interactions, and airport–destination connectivity. This study aims to substantially extend this perspective by reconceptualizing GenAI-enabled aerotainment as a destination-wide governance capability within smart tourism cities. It develops a conceptual framework integrating airports, urban mobility systems, tourism stakeholders, destination management organizations, and public governance structures into adaptive, data-informed tourism ecosystems. The study also introduces the Urban Tourism Destination Pyramid as a conceptual model for analysing different levels of smart tourism maturity.

Design/methodology/approach - The study adopts a conceptual and prospective research design based on an integrative synthesis of literature addressing smart cities, smart tourism destinations, aerotainment, destination governance, digital twins, predictive analytics, and artificial intelligence. Rather than empirically testing causal relationships, the research develops a theoretically grounded framework through the conceptual integration of established knowledge across these fields. The analysis identifies three complementary mechanisms through which GenAI can extend the conventional airport-centred understanding of aerotainment: predictive intelligence, adaptive personalization, and intelligent ecosystem coordination. These mechanisms are used to conceptualize how GenAI may support destination-wide decision-making, stakeholder interoperability, visitor-flow management, and adaptive tourism governance. Málaga is employed as an illustrative case to demonstrate how digital governance initiatives, technological infrastructure, and tourism policies can align with the proposed framework.

Originality/value - The study contributes to the emerging literature on GenAI-enabled aerotainment by substantially expanding its analytical scope from airport-centred applications to destination-wide governance. It integrates smart tourism city theory, systems thinking, and destination management to identify new mechanisms through which GenAI may influence tourism ecosystems. The Urban Tourism Destination Pyramid provides an additional conceptual tool for assessing smart tourism maturity. Future research should empirically validate the proposed relationships and examine their applicability across different tourism destinations and governance contexts.

Practical implications - The framework provides strategic guidance for destination management organizations, airports, tourism businesses, and public authorities seeking to integrate GenAI into smart tourism strategies. AI-supported personalization, predictive visitor-flow management, stakeholder coordination, and data-driven governance may strengthen destination capabilities and improve ecosystem responsiveness. However, effective implementation requires responsible approaches to data governance, interoperability, transparency, privacy protection, and sustainability. The framework therefore encourages stakeholders to view GenAI not simply as a technological tool, but as a potential capability for coordinating and governing increasingly interconnected smart tourism destinations.

Mapping Italy’s Tourism Economy: Integrating a Modified Gravity Model and Social Network Analysis

Luca Giraldi, Luca Rossi, Daniel Torchia — Tue, 08 Sep 2026 00:00:00 +0200

Purpose - This study maps the spatial structure of Italy’s tourism economy across the 20 regional capitals. It identifies central hubs, peripheral nodes and territorial disparities, and considers how the resulting network evidence can inform more coordinated tourism development. Design/methodology/approach - A DP2 composite tourism economic quality index (Q_i) is combined with a modified gravity model based on multimodal time-distance. The resulting directed city-to-city connection matrix is examined through Social Network Analysis, including in-degree, out-degree, degree, closeness, betweenness, density, global efficiency and total connection strength. Findings: Venice records the highest tourism economic quality score (Q_i = 9.42) and total connection strength (T_i = 2,786.65). Florence, Rome, Milan and Naples also occupy prominent positions, whereas Potenza, Bari, Catanzaro and Campobasso remain peripheral on several centrality measures. Global network efficiency is 0.78, but the distribution of strength is highly concentrated: Venice’s T_i is approximately 146 times Campobasso’s. Originality/value: The contribution is primarily contextual and applied. The study transfers an integrated gravity-model and network-analysis framework to a polycentric national tourism system characterised by strong territorial and transport discontinuities, showing how tourism economic quality and multimodal separation jointly shape hub-and-periphery relations. Practical implications: The results support geographically differentiated policies for transport connectivity, interregional destination cooperation, integrated marketing, digital services, workforce development and public-private partnerships, with priority attention to structurally peripheral capitals.