Improving the Poverty-Alleviating Effects of Bed and Breakfast Tourism Using Z-DEMATEL

Bed and breakfast (B&B) tourism stimulates the economic development of underdeveloped areas. However, although Taitung is a renowned B&B hotspot, it is the poorest area in Taiwan. This phenomenon has prompted studies on the contribution of B&B tourism to counties. Previous literature related to B&B tourism has the lack of non-economic measures typically results in contradictory phenomena. In addition, most studies have been empirical and have incorporated expert opinions, which are susceptible to human semantical uncertainty and incomplete expression. To overcome these limitations, a framework based on human-land interactions focused on cultural landscape, locality, and regional revitalization was constructed in present study. An advanced decision method, Z-DEMATEL, in which Z-numbers and decision-making trial and evaluation laboratory (DEMATEL) are combined, was applied. The expression confidence and consistency were evaluated through information integration using exclusive sematic, confidence, and perception scales. Subsequently, the DEMATEL was used to analyze the internetwork relations between Dimensions/Criteria. In the overall dimensions, the locality was a nexus of interrelations, while the cultural landscape was a cause. In each dimension, such nexus and cause-starter were identified using specific criteria. The findings were synthesized as improvement plans for easy indexing. Therefore, the results can improve poverty alleviation through B&B tourism.