Exploring Tourists’ Experiences and Satisfaction with Sustainable Tourism Practices in Local Destinations

Abstract

This qualitative research examined how tourists view sustainable tourism in local places and their satisfaction with it. The author examined how tourists perceive and respond to sustainability programs and initiatives related to environmental, social, cultural, and community issues, and used a qualitative design to better understand tourists' views and needs. The researchers used purposeful sampling to select participants with relevant experience in sustainable tourism (i.e., having visited local destinations with sustainable tourism practices). The researchers collected data through a documentation research method, including analysis of visit-related documents, records, tourism materials, reports, and other information related to sustainable tourism. The results show that tourists generally evaluate sustainable tourism positively and attribute this to a clean environment, effective waste management programs, the preservation of natural resources, the development of local culture, and doing no harm to local communities. Moreover, tourists value initiatives that allow them to engage in responsible tourism and communicate meaningfully with local people. However, limitations such as inadequate sustainable facilities, inconsistent implementation, overcrowding, pollution, traffic, and insufficient sustainability information were also encountered and were found to affect tourists’ experiences and satisfaction. In conclusion, implementing sustainable tourism regulatory practices makes tourism experiences more authentic and worthwhile when they are regularly applied and integrated into destination management practices. Thus, it is essential to improve environmental management, active local participation, cultural preservation, tourist education, and the development of eco-oriented facilities.