Examinando por Autor "Alzua Sorzabal, Aurkene"

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    Analizando la adaptación al cambio climático de los destinos turísticos urbanos españoles a través de sus planes
    (Asociación Española de Geografía, 2026-04-27) Femenia Serra, Francisco; Pousa Unanue, Aitziber ; Alzua Sorzabal, Aurkene
    Climate change is one of the biggest threats for tourism destinations. Tourism territories need to reduce their contribution to global warming by cutting down their carbon emissions, and at the same time they must adapt to more frequent extreme weather events, higher temperatures and growing sea levels. In this context, this research looks at how the three main urban destinations of Spain (Madrid, Barcelona and València) are fighting against and adapting to climate change through planning. We examine the three main planning instruments available to Spanish cities (climate action plan, tourism sustainability plan and tourism strategic plan) in order to better comprehend how these urban destinations are coping with the challenges posed by global warming. The results show a low level of coordination between the different plans and a lack of ambition in many of the measures to be implemented. However, there are differences across the cities, with the city of Barcelona showing a higher degree of sophistication in its planning, while Madrid lacks specific actions that can be observed and measured. Valencia lies in an intermediate level, with notable changes in recent times in its approach to the relationship between tourism and climate change action. While these destinations are making efforts in the reduction of emissions, there is room for improvement in the adaptation to the ramifications of climate change, and in the type and ambition of actions undertaken.
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    Calculating the carbon footprint of urban tourism destinations: a methodological approach based on tourists’ spatiotemporal behaviour
    (Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (MDPI), 2025-03) Pousa Unanue, Aitziber; Alzua Sorzabal, Aurkene; Álvarez Fernández, Roberto; Delgado Jiménez, Alexandra; Femenia Serra, Francisco
    This study investigates the influence of urban tourists’ behaviour on the environmental performance of a destination, particularly in terms of carbon emissions. Tourist-related emissions are shaped by their choices and behaviours, impacting the overall carbon footprint of the locations they visit. To assess this impact, we introduce a methodology for quantifying greenhouse gas emissions linked to tourists’ energy consumption. This approach considers key tourism components—activities, accommodation, and transportation—analysing their roles in emissions across a trip’s temporal and spatial dimensions. By integrating tourists’ spatiotemporal behaviour with emissions data, our framework offers insights that can support local climate-responsive urban and tourism policies. We empirically apply the proposed model to the destination of Donostia/San Sebastián (Spain), where the primary travel sequences of visitors are analysed. We utilise cartographic techniques to map the environmental footprints of different tourist profiles, such as cultural and nature tourists. The findings indicate that visitors primarily motivated by nature and outdoor recreation constitute the segment with the highest greenhouse gas emissions (with a minimum footprint of 30.69 kg CO2-equivalent per trip), followed by cultural tourists, and finally, other categories of visitors. The results highlight the practical applications of the proposed model for sustainable tourism management, providing valuable guidance for urban planners and policymakers in mitigating the environmental impacts of tourism
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    Connections between a tourist destination, the digital ecosystem, and ICT actors
    (Springer Nature, 2024) Alzua Sorzabal, Aurkene; Herasimovich, Volha; Guereño-Omil, Basagaitz; Thiel-Ellul, Daniela
    The tourism sector and tourist destinations are undergoing a digital transition in order to improve their resilience and competitiveness. The way in which tourist destinations address this digital transition differs, as some incorporate more technology in their ecosystem than others, giving rise to the emergence of different types of digital tourism networks. This study seeks to determine the different ways in which a tourist destination connects with a digital ecosystem, specifically focusing on the connections with ICT actors. It is based on the theoretical framework of tourism as an ecosystem. Using web crawling, network data have been compiled on 670 tourism actors and more than 36,000 websites to which they are connected through hyperlinks. The most frequently linked entities of the discovered digital ecosystem have been identified and classified (n = 447), distinguishing between 13 types of ICT actors. The results show how the online destination network has been incorporated into the digital ecosystem. The study reveals that the configuration of the digital ecosystem surrounding a tourist destination is characterised by the different levels of importance for the network of destination actors in which the ICT actors play a central role.
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    Context management platform for tourism applications
    (MDPI AG, 2013) Buján Carballal, David; Martín, David; Torices, Ortzi; López de Ipiña González de Artaza, Diego; Lamsfus Franco, Carlos; Abaitua, Joseba; Alzua Sorzabal, Aurkene
    The notion of context has been widely studied and there are several authors that have proposed different definitions of context. However, context has not been widely studied in the framework of human mobility and the notion of context has been imported directly from other computing fields without specifically addressing the tourism domain requirements. In order to store and manage context information a context data model and a context management platform are needed. Ontologies have been widely used in context modelling, but many of them are designed to be applied in general ubiquitous computing environments, do not contain specific concepts related to the tourism domain or some approaches do not contain enough concepts to represent context information related to the visitor on the move. That is why we propose a new approach to provide a better solution to model context data in tourism environments, adding more value to our solution reusing data about tourist resources from an Open Data repository and publishing it as Linked Data. We also propose the architecture for a context information management platform based on this context data model
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    Context-based tourism information filtering with a semantic rule engine
    (MDPI, 2012-04-26) Lamsfus Franco, Carlos; Martín del Canto, David; Alzua Sorzabal, Aurkene; López de Ipiña González de Artaza, Diego; Torres Manzanera, Emilio
    This paper presents the CONCERT framework, a push/filter information consumption paradigm, based on a rule-based semantic contextual information system for tourism. CONCERT suggests a specific insight of the notion of context from a human mobility perspective. It focuses on the particular characteristics and requirements of travellers and addresses the drawbacks found in other approaches. Additionally, CONCERT suggests the use of digital broadcasting as push communication technology, whereby tourism information is disseminated to mobile devices. This information is then automatically filtered by a network of ontologies and offered to tourists on the screen. The results obtained in the experiments carried out show evidence that the information disseminated through digital broadcasting can be manipulated by the network of ontologies, providing contextualized information that produces user satisfaction.
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    Del conocimiento a la acción: integrando la huella de carbono en la gestión estratégica de destinos urbanos
    (Asociación Española de Geografía, 2026-04-27) Pousa Unanue, Aitziber; Alzua Sorzabal, Aurkene; Femenia Serra, Francisco
    Between 2009 and 2019, carbon emissions from global tourism increased by 3.5% annually, doubling the growth rate of the world economy. In 2019, tourism was responsible for 8.8% of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Reducing tourism-related emissions requires local understanding and tools tailored to specific destination contexts. Past studies reveal that while tourism professionals recognize climate change as a threat, concrete actions remain limited. DMOs are key players in climate action but often lack specific responsibilities, training, and resources. Tools like carbon calculators can support awareness and action, but their effectiveness is still under-researched. This study investigates the willingness of destination management organisations (DMOs) in five Spanish destinations to adopt a carbon footprint calculator tailored to local needs through participatory workshops. It explores their knowledge of tourists’ environmental behaviour, perceptions of the calculation tool, and how such tool can be integrated into destination management dashboards. Participants emphasized the need to segment tourist profiles by motivation and travel behaviour to better understand environmental responsibility. They also suggested improvements in the calculator’s design and dissemination, including mobile access and better integration with tour operators. Ultimately, the study shows that locally adapted tools can support sustainable tourism strategies, help shape public policy and foster behavioural change among visitors and tourism stakeholders alike.
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    Extended destination ecosystems in smart tourism: networking behaviours and leadership
    (Emerald group publishing LTD, 2025-12-15) Alzua Sorzabal, Aurkene ; Herasimovich, Volha ; Guereño-Omil, Basagaitz ; Thiel-Ellul, Daniela
    Purpose – This study aims to advance the understanding of tourism destination ecosystems amid smart tourism transformations by exploring an extended destination ecosystem. It focuses on its structure, integration patterns of tourism and non-tourism actors, networking behaviours, mediation engagement and ecosystem leadership. Design/methodology/approach – This study employs the digital network to examine the ecosystem’s structure and behaviours. Using databases and web crawling, it identifies 36,813 entities and analyses relationships among 1,117 key actors. Findings – Strong integration with tourism actors makes ICTactors and various institutional and socioeconomic non-tourism (ISEN) actors indispensable ecosystem components. ICT actors, mostly foreign, play a central role, with general ICT outperforming travel tech. However, prioritising ICT ties alone is insufficient for ecosystem leadership or deeper integration for tourism actors. Links to ISEN actors, alongside ICTactors, high connectivity and diverse ties are essential for leadership. Connections to other tourism actors are relevant for greater integration and mediation. Networking behaviours of destination management organisations and public bodies differed from those observed across other sectors. Practical implications – Tourism governance and management should engage actors beyond core tourism sectors to foster resilient ecosystems, while businesses aiming for greater leadership should diversify networks beyond ICT actors. Actionable recommendations are provided. Originality/value – This research introduces a novel methodological approach and expands smart tourism frameworks with empirical evidence on diverse actor integration in the extended destination ecosystem. It highlights relationships between actors’ networking behaviours, integration levels, mediation engagement and ecosystem leadership.
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    Innovación en el sector turístico vasco
    (Instituto Geográfico Vasco "Andrés de Urdaneta" (INGEBA), 2006) Alzua Sorzabal, Aurkene; Abad Galzacorta, Marina
    El presente artículo resume el trabajo realizado con el fin de identificar las claves estratégicas del sector turístico vasco con el propósito de incrementar su competitividad y, en definitiva, afrontar con éxito la segunda gran transformación de la socioeconomía vasca. El objetivo principal de este estudio era conocer el estado actual de las organizaciones e instituciones turísticas vascas en lo que a innovación se refiere con el fin de diseñar las áreas y líneas priorizadas que contribuyan al desarrollo de una mayor competitividad del sector en el futuro. Por esta razón, no sólo se ha llevado a cabo un diagnóstico de la Innovación en el sector turístico de Euskadi sino que también se hace especial hincapié en las necesidades destacadas por las instituciones y organizaciones implicadas.
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    Methodological framework of the Spanish Smart Tourism Destinations model
    (Springer Nature, 2024) Alzua Sorzabal, Aurkene
    The Spanish Smart Tourism Destinations model (DTI Model) has established itself as an indisputable benchmark in terms of public tourism policies, providing a strategic management tool that integrates the main challenges facing tourism destinations and offers guidelines for dealing with them. It is a model developed from the smart city concept, shifting its focus from the resident to the visitor, incorporating elements that go beyond the technological application, such as governance, technology, innovation, or accessibility. The chapter includes the work carried out over the years in terms of standardization, within the CTN178 Technical Standardization Committee, led by SEGITTUR, and which has allowed the publication of a good number of standards related to the Spanish Smart Tourism Destinations model. SEGITTUR’s DTI diagnostic methodology consists of 5 pillars (Governance, Innovation, Technology, Sustainability, and Accessibility), which represent the areas on which destinations must work and improve; these pillars are developed throughout 16 areas of action, explicitated into 97 requirements and 261 indicators, which allow the level of performance of the destination to be measured homogeneously and compared with other destinations. Finally, the chapter includes a mention of the relationship between the Spanish Smart Tourism Destinations model and the SDGs and presents the level of implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) at both national and international level.
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    Methodological pathways for measuring tourism carbon footprint: a framework-oriented systematic review
    (MDPI AG, 2026-01-23) Pousa Unanue, Aitziber ; Alzua Sorzabal, Aurkene ; Femenia Serra, Francisco
    Tourism is increasingly acknowledged as a major driver of global greenhouse gas emissions. However, efforts to accurately assess its carbon footprint remain hindered by methodological inconsistencies and a reliance on fragmented case studies. This study undertakes a systematic review of 166 peer-reviewed research papers to critically evaluate prevailing approaches for quantifying tourism-related carbon emissions. Leveraging a structured framework encompassing four analytical dimensions and fourteen parameters, the analysis reveals that energy consumption and emission factors constitute the core elements of prevailing models. Nevertheless, only half of the papers account for indirect emissions, and the majority of studies are confined to national or subnational scales, offering limited insight into destination-specific impacts. This methodological heterogeneity undermines the comparability of results and constrains their utility in formulating coherent, evidence-based climate policies. By synthesising these diverse approaches, this review identifies critical methodological gaps, advocates for the harmonisation of best practices, and delineates a roadmap for more robust and context-sensitive carbon accounting within the tourism industry. The insights gained are practical for researchers and policymakers seeking to align tourism development with climate mitigation objectives, thereby fostering greater transparency and efficacy in carbon governance within the sector. Ultimately, such initiatives aim to fortify the sector’s contribution to global decarbonisation efforts.
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    A methodology and a web platform for the collaborative development of context-aware systems
    (MDPI (Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute), 2013-05-10) Martín, David; López de Ipiña González de Artaza, Diego ; Alzua Sorzabal, Aurkene ; Lamsfus, Carlos; Torres Manzanera, Emilio
    Information and services personalization is essential for an optimal user experience. Systems have to be able to acquire data about the user's context, process them in order to identify the user's situation and finally, adapt the functionality of the system to that situation, but the development of context-aware systems is complex. Data coming from distributed and heterogeneous sources have to be acquired, processed and managed. Several programming frameworks have been proposed in order to simplify the development of context-aware systems. These frameworks offer high-level application programming interfaces for programmers that complicate the involvement of domain experts in the development life-cycle. The participation of users that do not have programming skills but are experts in the application domain can speed up and improve the development process of these kinds of systems. Apart from that, there is a lack of methodologies to guide the development process. This article presents as main contributions, the implementation and evaluation of a web platform and a methodology to collaboratively develop context-aware systems by programmers and domain experts. © 2013 by the authors; licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.
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    Online networking behaviour of tourism stakeholders in a multi-destination region: a hyperlink network analysis
    (Elsevier Ltd, 2024-03) Herasimovich, Volha; Alzua Sorzabal, Aurkene; Guereño-Omil, Basagaitz
    Inter-organisational networking, essential for enhancing tourist destinations' performance, is often underutilised, resulting in low-density networks. To develop precise strategies for managing connectivity, it is crucial to examine stakeholders' networking behaviours – how they connect to a destination network and contribute to its structural formations within and beyond their sectors and geographic locations. This study looks at online networking forms that are qualitatively different from interpersonal contacts among organisational members. Specifically, it focuses on hyperlink networking, given its significance for the visibility of organisations and the overall destination and the credibility of tourism websites. Using social network analysis, this research identifies diverse online networking behaviours related to involvement in networking activities, link-placing and link-receiving, connections with similar and dissimilar actors, and community formation of tourism stakeholders across different sectors within a multi-destination region. The network is characterised by assembling behaviour, where many actors are connected to the network by other organisations rather than by their own linking activity. The study confirms organisations’ low involvement in networking and significant imbalances in their activities. It highlights how imbalances arise in the conjuncture of various sectors, each having a distinct role in uneven link allocation. Destination management organisations are key connectors and mediators but struggle to establish high-density within-sector connections. Public domain-related sectors are generally more active in networking than private ones. Intersectoral connections, rather than within-sector connections, are the major source of links for sectors. Stakeholders tend to connect more with actors from the same geographic area
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    Recomendaciones turísticas de la IA generativa: variaciones lingüísticas y culturales en las representaciones de destinos turísticos
    (Subdirección General de Conocimiento y Estudios Turísticos, 2025-12-18) Herasimovich, Volha; Pousa Unanue, Aitziber; Alzua Sorzabal, Aurkene; Guereño-Omil, Basagaitz; Liang, Ruipu
    Este estudio analiza las variaciones lingüísticas y culturales en las recomendaciones turísticas generadas por modelos de lenguaje de gran tamaño (LLM), con foco en el comportamiento de ChatGPT ante consultas formuladas en español, euskera, inglés y ruso. Mediante un diseño experimental de métodos mixtos, se evaluaron 210 respuestas generadas a partir de prompts estructurados sobre tres destinos del País Vasco: Zumaia, Zarautz y Donostia / San Sebastián. Los resultados evidencian diferencias significativas en la precisión, la exhaustividad y la estructura de las recomendaciones, dependiendo del idioma de consulta y de la forma toponímica. Se observaron mayores tasas de errores y de respuestas genéricas en lenguas extranjeras, especialmente en ruso, mientras que las lenguas locales ofrecieron recomendaciones más detalladas, aunque con cierto riesgo de inexactitud factual. El reconocimiento de destinos se mostró sensible a la escritura, siendo menor en sistemas no latinos. Los resultados reflejan una disparidad lingüística y cultural en la generación automatizada de contenido turístico, probablemente vinculada a sesgos en los datos de entrenamiento. Se concluye que los sistemas de IA generativa de-ben adaptarse al contexto multilingüe del turismo mediante estrategias colaborativas que integren a desarrolladores, gestores turísticos y expertos culturales, para asegurar representaciones digitales precisas, inclusivas y culturalmente contextualizadas.