Vol. 13 No. 4 (2025): Journal of Tourism, Sustainability and Well-being | Special Issue - Short-term Rentals: Impacts on Tourism and Communities

This special issue examines how short-term rentals are reshaping tourism dynamics, market behaviour, and community development in an increasingly digital and competitive environment. The first article focuses on digital trust and corporate reputation as crucial factors influencing risk perception and consumer decisions, demonstrating that confidence in platforms significantly affects travellers’ willingness to book. The second article explores immersive advertising in shared accommodations, showing that virtual reality and 360-degree media strengthen trust, increase booking intentions, and enhance perceived transparency, offering a competitive advantage in the expanding short-term rental sector. The third article highlights the relevance of proximity-based planning in tourist cities, demonstrating how the spatial distribution of short-term rentals near attractions can enhance walkability, healthy tourism, and accessibility for diverse visitor profiles. The fourth article analyses digital nomadism, revealing how remote workers rely on flexible accommodation options that influence destination attractiveness, local identity, and socio-economic structures. The final article examines homestays in a heritage village, emphasising their contributions to cultural preservation, community well-being, and revenue diversification, while also identifying sustainability challenges that require coordinated governance. Collectively, these studies illustrate the profound implications of short-term rentals for tourism competitiveness, destination planning, and community resilience.