Behavioural sciences in the function of tourism management with the aim of sustainable development (BIHEVTUR)

Project details:
In recent decades, behavioural sciences, which deal with human behaviour, have become integral to economic sciences. The application of behavioural sciences in tourism is also increasingly researched. The reason for this is that tourist destinations face several problems related to sustainability, and a large part of these problems are related to human behaviour. It is also important to point out the problem of protected natural and cultural areas and world-famous attractions that attract more and more tourists, which has the consequences of excessive tourism, which leads to overtourism. Previous research has been focused on different areas: hotel management, food waste, excessive tourism and management of tourist flows, and marketing. This project aims to research the possibility of improving tourism management in destinations with the aim of sustainable development. Previous research and findings within the project will be reviewed. Further, in the example of Croatian tourist destinations, the problems concerning the behaviours of tourists and the activities undertaken to solve them will be investigated. Finally, the possibilities of applying 'nudging' to overcome issues related to tourist behaviours will be explored.

Scientific activities:
The following is planned in the project:
- Conduct three primary research
- Publish four papers indexed in WoS and Scopus
- Publish two chapters in books by international publishers
- Participate in four international conferences where the research methodology/results will be presented
- Sign four cooperation agreements with LGUs/tourist communities
- Conduct four tests of the application of 'nudging' in destinations
- Create a guide for the application of 'nudging' in tourist destinations

Project leader:
Ph.D. Snježana Boranić Živoder

Team members:

Ph.D. Renata Tomljenović
Ph.D. Izidora Marković Vukadin
Matea Senkić MA
Ph.D. Matina Gjurašić
Ives Vodanović Lukić MA
Ph.D. Nora Mustać
Diana Baus MA

News

28.10.2024.

The 3rd meeting was held, where proposals for the selection of destinations were presented, as well as the concept of further research (focus groups in which stakeholders from the private and public sectors in tourism will participate). The conclusions of the meeting include the following decisions:

an external collaborator (agency) will be hired to conduct the focus groups,
in-depth interviews will be conducted by team members,
the destinations where the research will be conducted (focus groups and in-depth interviews) are Zadar and Dubrovnik.

14.10.2024.

The 2nd meeting was held in which all members of the Behavioural Sciences in The Function of Tourism Management with The Aim of Sustainable Development.

The direction of further work on the project was determined, as well as the tasks: conducting focus groups and in-depth interviews. Project members gave their proposals related to defining problems, destinations and stakeholders in focus groups, and the task was to prepare proposals and questions by the next meeting

3.10.2024.

A meeting was held with Andrijan Mušura Gabor, Ph.D. regarding potential cooperation in the domain of consumer behavior research in tourism.

23.-26.06.2024.

Participation of Snježana Boranić Živoder and Nora Mustać at the scientific conference in Breda (Netherlands) "Transforming Tourism Through More Sustainable Consumer Behaviour" and presentation of the scientific research paper "Transforming Tourism Through More Sustainable Consumer Behaviour" created within the project.

23.02.2024.

A live meeting and introduction was held with Matea Senkić, an associate on the project who is employed as an assistant and doctoral student at the University of Edinburgh. She presented her area of research and work to the members of the project team. A further work plan and her research contribution within the BIHEVTUR project were agreed upon.

25.01.2024.

A kick-off meeting of the working team on the project 'Behavioural sciences in the function of tourism management with the aim of sustainable development' was held on January 25, 2004. The main idea and goals of the project were discussed at the meeting, as well as the activities planned for the first year. An introductory presentation was held on the connection between behavioural sciences and tourism.