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1 – 6 of 6Montserrat Crespi-Vallbona and Oscar Mascarilla-Miró
The purpose of this paper is to explore the intrinsic components of wine tourism products that satisfy the consumers and analyze the economic development of wine regions, away…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to explore the intrinsic components of wine tourism products that satisfy the consumers and analyze the economic development of wine regions, away from consolidated tourist destinations.
Design/methodology/approach
The objective of the study is fulfilled by reviewing the literature on culture and gastronomy as tourism-driving forces of hinterland development and the needs of wine lovers in their tourism experiences and then using it to design appropriate research tools to collect empirical data through a survey within the context of a single case study. Thus, the specific case of wine origin certification, denomination of origin (DO) in the Catalan regional area of Pla de Bages (Barcelona) is the successful case analyzed, through 210 valid questionnaires.
Findings
Wine tourism has a long history, although it may appear to be quite recent and innovative. Today’s visitors are well travelled and seek new experiences, authentic contexts and particular or exceptional activities. The findings show that the intrinsic components of wine tourism products that satisfy these consumers are critical to develop wine regions, focusing on the design of activities with significant dose of local identity and wine and gastronomic pairing. Definitely, participation, hedonism, significance, knowledge, nostalgia, tasting, novelty and local culture are the basic ingredients of a memorable and satisfying wine tourism experience.
Research limitations/implications
The present study has several limitations that need to be mentioned. First, this research is a single case study; the Pla de Bages DO serves as the case, focusing on one cultural heritage experience, the large wine vats walking visits. This fact can put the study’s validity in question. Another limitation is that this study is not a longitudinal one, the latter could lead to more accurate findings. It would be interesting to ad in-depth interviews to advance the understanding about how to enhance visits according to the analyzed components.
Practical implications
Sustainable governance of destinations implies the cooperation of private businesses, the public government and the support of the population of the territory, to develop creative and successful tourist products. Economic, social and cultural networks are necessary to create collaboration and innovation, following its mutual interests. The new governance approach based on networks that combines creative, sensorial and locally specific experiences is essential and offers many business opportunities and entrepreneurial options in hinterland regions, located near consolidated tourist destinations. Destination management organizations and private businesses should take into account the structure of the eight aforementioned components when they design oenological tourism activities.
Originality/value
The originality of the paper lies in the knowledge of the crucial components of memorable wine tourism experiences to satisfy visitor expectations. They have to include participation, hedonism, significance, knowledge, local culture, novelty, tasting and nostalgia.
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Montserrat Crespi-Vallbona, Ester Noguer-Juncà, Nuria Louzao and Lluís Coromina
Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) 5 and 8, respectively, indicate that decent work and gender equality are challenges that business organizations must face in order to achieve…
Abstract
Purpose
Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) 5 and 8, respectively, indicate that decent work and gender equality are challenges that business organizations must face in order to achieve the social well-being and sustainable development of communities. Considering these goals, the present article aims to define the concept of fair work and examine the current degree of knowledge among staff in the hotel sector in Barcelona about the indicators of the Fair Labor Responsible Hotels (HJLR) certification.
Design/methodology/approach
A mixed methodology is used to analyze the primary data. A survey of 248 employees is complemented by nine semi-structured interviews with experts, general managers and heads of department of independently owned hotels and national and international chains.
Findings
The results show that this certification is necessary for the economic and social sustainability of the hospitality sector and to raise awareness that fair work is an urgent need. However, these currently tend to be little more than artificial actions.
Originality/value
The paper aims to emphasize the perspective of real actors in hotel industry about the actors' considerations of fair work to enhance the actors' job involvement and satisfaction.
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Montserrat Crespi-Vallbona, Francesc Fusté-Forné and Ester Noguer-Juncà
While gastronomy has become a major tourist attraction for rural territories, its study in protected areas remains underexplored. These places use their cultural and natural…
Abstract
Purpose
While gastronomy has become a major tourist attraction for rural territories, its study in protected areas remains underexplored. These places use their cultural and natural heritage and landscape, as well as their local identity, to charm visitors. Gastronomy plays a key role in this, and restaurants do their best to promote local food products. The aim of this article is to use a qualitative and case study approach to analyze the marketing and touristic impact of Prades potatoes (“Patata de Prades”), which are certified with a Protected Geographical Indication.
Design/methodology/approach
A total of 16 semi-structured interviews with restaurateurs (11) and producers (4) and the manager of the local cooperative (1) are the basis for examining the importance of this potato as a form of tourist attraction, its commercialization processes and the role it plays in the development of this protected rural region of Catalonia, in the north-east of Spain.
Findings
The results show that despite the great success of restaurants and food-based tourism with regard to Prades potatoes, the sustainability and future of this starchy vegetable are not guaranteed due to the scarcity of production, as it is a seasonal commodity and there is a lack of generational replacement in farming.
Originality/value
Food tourism that relies on local produce represents a “green” model for community development, but a specific public program is required to support the agricultural sector in the isolated areas to prevent the disappearance of this economic sector.
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Montserrat Crespi-Vallbona and Darko Dimitrovski
Focusing on food markets popularity among tourists, the purpose of this paper is to differentiate clusters of tourists based on their behaviour during their visit of these food…
Abstract
Purpose
Focusing on food markets popularity among tourists, the purpose of this paper is to differentiate clusters of tourists based on their behaviour during their visit of these food halls.
Design/methodology/approach
Factor-cluster analysis is the segmentation method used to identify food markets groupings related to their motivations, while ANOVA was performed to determine differences between clusters when it comes to perceived authenticity, satisfaction and revisit intention. La Boqueria in Barcelona (Spain) is the paradigmatic food market used to conduct 196 survey respondents based on factor importance.
Findings
Two homogenous clusters were identified and labelled as apathetic-market visitors and food-market lovers.
Practical implications
Segmentation proposal provides insights to be taken into account for future Destination Management Organisation’s policies, related to promotional activities and destination branding development. They could create effective tailor-made promotional campaigns and adequate business strategies to further attract more food lovers markets, without removing apathetic-market visitors.
Originality/value
Fill the gap in the existing knowledge on the tourism interest of local markets in destinations and identify through factor-cluster analysis.
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Nimit Soonsan, Sarayute Thongmun and Panuwat Phakdee-auksorn
The purpose of this study is to identify and understand distinct tourist segments in Phuket, focusing on their characteristics, attitudes and perceptions as visitors to a creative…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study is to identify and understand distinct tourist segments in Phuket, focusing on their characteristics, attitudes and perceptions as visitors to a creative gastronomic destination.
Design/methodology/approach
In this study, cluster analysis is used to identify tourist segments in Phuket, a well-known United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) gastronomic city. The analysis is based on data collected from 525 domestic Thai tourists.
Findings
Cluster analysis revealed three distinct tourist segments: gastronomy enthusiasts, taste discoverers and gourmet wanderers. These segments exhibit significant differences in their characteristics and perceptions of Phuket’s gastronomic offerings.
Research limitations/implications
This study is limited to domestic Thai tourists in Phuket and does not include international visitors. In addition, the findings are specific to the context of Phuket and may not be entirely generalizable to other gastronomic destinations.
Practical implications
The identified tourist segments provide valuable guidance for tourism professionals to tailor their marketing efforts, develop targeted products and meet the preferences of different gastronomically oriented tourists, contributing to the successful management of a gastronomic city.
Originality/value
This study contributes to the fields of destination management and gastronomy tourism by providing valuable insights for practitioners seeking to enhance their offerings and consider the preferences of different gastronomically oriented tourist segments. Identifying these segments enriches the understanding of visitor behavior in creative gastronomy cities.
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This paper aims to expose the evolution in the use of the so-called reception tools and tourist information that are present at the time of consumption of a trip towards an…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to expose the evolution in the use of the so-called reception tools and tourist information that are present at the time of consumption of a trip towards an interest in and a willingness to link local residents and tourists in a friendly, inclusive and conciliatory way. This is the case of territorial signage designed for pedestrians, a growing protagonist of the urban landscape of many cities, which has found in its formulation the appropriate response to unify the messages and criteria that are addressed to all audiences and people with all types of sensitivities.
Design/methodology/approach
Based on an extensive fieldwork study conducted in 2013 and 2017 in the 62 most populated cities of Catalonia, different variables related to the shape of the signage and the content presented in them were analysed. To this end, a specific pattern of ad-hoc observation and structured interviews were applied to determine the social transition of the content and approaches used in the signage.
Findings
While signage is initially considered to be a basic solution with purely informative content, poor in qualitative aspects and often neglected by those responsible for its management, over time it has emerged as a tool that serves to unify the interests of the citizens who share the same space for mutual interaction. It is characterised by providing open and transversal information for all citizens without focussing on or thematising tourism in an exclusive and segregated way, separating it from the rest of the aspects that make up the nature of the urban landscape.
Originality/value
This paper confirms that these tangible instruments of support for tourists, beyond seeking a harmonic fit in the urban planning of today's cities, are also complicit in seeking social cohesion in the present-day paradigm of the conflicts created by urban tourism.
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