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A política nacional de turismo no Brasil pelas lentes do Serviço Nacional de Informações - 1970-1979
Get PDFA pesquisa recorreu à história do regime militar no Brasil para compreender um dos traços marcantes dos regimes de exceção: a vigilância, aqui entendida como investigação e espionagem. O trabalho se deteve na vigilância exercida pelo Serviço Nacional de Informações (SNI) sobre os meios governamental e empresarial do turismo no país. A justificativa repousa na necessidade de conhecer se e em que medida a formulação, implantação e condução da política nacional de turismo no Brasil foi objeto das instâncias de investigação e espionagem formalizadas no Governo Federal durante o período da ditadura milita
The Nexus Between Human Development and Tourism: A Panel Estimation Approach
Get PDFThis study analyses how tourism affects human development (HD) in ten countries during a twenty-four-year period from 1996 to 2019 using a panel estimation approach. The Human Development Index (HDI) that represents health, knowledge and standard of living was adopted as a dependent variable. Apart from tourist arrivals, the study includes relevant variables such as jobs, government effectiveness and political stability. Findings reveal that tourist arrivals have a weak relationship with jobs, political stability and HDI. Tourism has only a slight impact on HD. Interestingly, political stability has a significant and positive relationship to HD. This suggests that a peaceful and stable political environment improves HD
Post-crisis communication: towards destination’s image repair or destination’s resilience creation?
Get PDFObjectives and background | This study aims at discovering the impacts of crisis communication on destination’s image in the most recent crisis or disasters (from 2017 to 2021, both years included). In these years, several studies analysed diverse crises or disasters that negatively impacted the tourism sector, such as natural disasters- tsunami in Indonesia in 2004, Gurkha earthquake in Nepal in 2015, Hokkaido Eastern Iburi (2018) and Kumamoto (2016) earthquakes in Japan or the eruption of Mount Merapi volcano in Indonesia in 2010-, financial crisis as the Greek economic recession (2005-2015), political-related crisis, like the refugees crisis in 2016, terrorism attacks such as the ones in Barcelona and Cambrils (Spain) in 2017, or the most global recent global health crisis: the COVID-19 pandemic. Those events can have negative effects on destinations’ image or reputation (Schroeder et al., 2018) and influence tourists’ travel intention (Zenker et al., 2019). Therefore, Destination Marketing Organizations must implement crisis communication strategies focused on diminishing tourists’ risk perception-that may affect destination image and reputation- to lessen the impacts of these events on the tourism activity (Yeh, 2021) . This research provides the ‘research fronts’, the most updated themes in a scientific field (Price, 1965), which are useful to obtain a general overview of the crisis communication strategies of the most recent events. This overview is complemented with the emerging themes of future research that result from the analysis. Those topics constitute a research agenda for scholars and a guide for DMOs in their future crisis communication strategies.
Methodology | The study was mainly conducted with a bibliometric methodology, to identify the new issues in a scientific field and their behaviour over time (Fernandez-Alles & Ramos-Rodriguez, 2009). Particularly for this research, a bibliographic coupling was used, since it is considered the best bibliometric technique to obtain emerging themes of future investigation (Zupic & Cater, 2015). The bibliometric analysis was carried out with 129 academic papers extracted from Web of Science database focused on crisis communication for destinations and dated from 2017-2021 (both years included). The bibliographic coupling was complemented with a h-Classic classification, to detect the most relevant academic literature in this field, following the guides of Martinez et al., (2014), and a thematic analysis. According to Braun & Clarke, (2006) this qualitative methodology contributes to the study of the organization and relationship between the most common themes in a certain field.
Main Results and Contributions | The bibliographic coupling provides 4 clusters in which the ‘research fronts’ (clusters 1 and 2) and the emerging themes of research (clusters 3 and 4) are identified. The results shows that the identified ‘research fronts’ refer to how crisis communication strategies are based on the concept of ‘safety’ for destinations’ image repair after the outbreak of any kind of crisis or disaster, and how the collaboration among the tourism stakeholders is beneficial in those situations to create destinations’ resilience. The emerging themes of research are related to the DMOs’ post-crisis communication strategies, and how those models aim at reducing tourists’ risk perception and, thus, encouraging travel intention. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first bibliometric study specifically focused on crisis communication for destinations’ image. It offers insights about crisis communication models developed in the most recent crises and disasters and practical guides for DMOs’ strategies in upcoming events or post-crisis scenarios.
Discussion | The results in this study showed the relevance of crisis communication strategies for the creation of the image of ‘safe destinations’, both during a crisis or a disaster or in the post-crisis scenario, coinciding with previous research, such as the one by Mair et al., (2016). In the current post-digital era, those messages of ‘safety’ should be conveyed using a combination of channels: traditional media and digital environment (Bhati et al., 2021). Beyond repairing destinations’ image or reputation, the last global crisis, the COVID-19 pandemic, highlighted the relevance of collaboration between all the stakeholders in tourism sector to create destination’s resilience (Zenker & Kock, 2020). In the post-COVID-19 era, the creation of a conceptual and integrative model of destination resilience is considered the most adequate response to ensure destinations’ sustainable development (Traskevich & Fontanari, 2021). The emerging themes of research obtained in this study refer to the post-crisis communication strategies, opening new paths of investigation, to discover if those models should include the message of ‘safety’ to reduce risk perception and boost travel intention, if they should return to ‘business as usual’ pre-crisis strategies, or if they should potentiate new sustainable tourism practices that contribute to create resilient destinations (Hall et al., 2020).
Conclusions |
The last global crisis, the COVID-19 pandemic, was unprecedented compared to the most recent crises or disasters, due to its specific characteristics (eg. globalization, lockdowns, duration, and development in the post-digital era), and that was reflected on DMOs’ crisis and post-pandemic crisis communication strategies. The models focused on the concept of ‘safety’ to diminish tourists’ risk perception and to repair a damaged destination image used in past events resulted useless for this crisis, as the global spread of the disease did not damage destinations’ images (Geysi & Yalçinkaya, 2023). With a lack of tourists’ risk perception and negative effects on destinations’ images, in the post-pandemic scenario the crisis communication strategies were more focused on recovering tourism activity, encouraging tourists to travel again, with a “business as usual” focus (Hall et al., 2020), more than based on creating destinations’ resilience.
Limitations | The main limitations of this study are related to the inherent ones of the used methodology to identify ‘research fronts’, and the analysed period of time (from 2017 to 2021, both years included). The conclusions are based on the most recent global crises and disasters, so they lack the findings in this field from the research conducted prior to 2017.
References
Bhati, A. S., Mohammadi, Z., Agarwal, M., Kamble, Z., & Donough-Tan, G. (2021). Motivating or manipulating: the influence of health-protective behaviour and media engagement on post-COVID-19 travel. Current Issues in Tourism, 24(15), 2088–2092. https://doi.org/10.1080/13683500.2020.1819970
Braun, V., & Clarke, V. (2006). Using thematic analysis in psychology. Qualitative Research in Psychology, 3(2), 77–101. https://doi.org/10.1191/1478088706qp063oa
Fernandez-Alles, M., & Ramos-Rodriguez, A. (2009). Intellectual Structure of Human Resources Management Research: A Bibliometric Analysis of the Journal Human Resource Management, 1985-2005. Journal of the American Society for Information Science and Technology, 60(1), 161–175. https://doi.org/10.1002/asi.20947
Geysi, N., & Yalçinkaya, Ü. L. (2023). City Branding in #stayhome Era: Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Official Tourism Instagram Account Uses of New York City and London. Abant Sosyal Bilimler Dergisi, 23(2), 1211–1229. https://doi.org/10.11616/asbi.1270613
Hall, C. M., Scott, D., & Gossling, S. (2020). Pandemics, transformations and tourism: be careful what you wish for. Tourism Geographies, 22(3, SI), 577–598. https://doi.org/10.1080/14616688.2020.1759131
Mair, J., Ritchie, B. W., & Walters, G. (2016). Towards a research agenda for post-disaster and post-crisis recovery strategies for tourist destinations: a narrative review. Current Issues in Tourism, 19(1), 1–26. https://doi.org/10.1080/13683500.2014.932758
Martinez, M. A., Herrera, M., Lopez-Gijon, J., & Herrera-Viedma, E. (2014). H-Classics: characterizing the concept of citation classics through H-index. Scientometrics, 98(3), 1971–1983. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11192-013-1155-9
Price, D. J. D. (1965). Networks of scientific papers. Science, 149(3683), 510-.
Schroeder, A., Pennington-Gray, L., Kim, H., & Liu-Lastres, B. (2018). Using the media’s tweets to broaden previous conceptualizations of political travel risks. Tourism Management Perspectives, 26, 107–117. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tmp.2018.03.001
Traskevich, A., & Fontanari, M. (2021). Tourism Potentials in Post-COVID19: The Concept of Destination Resilience for Advanced Sustainable Management in Tourism. Tourism Planning & Development, 1–25. https://doi.org/10.1080/21568316.2021.1894599
Yeh, S.-S. (2021). Tourism recovery strategy against COVID-19 pandemic. Tourism Recreation Research, 46(2), 188–194. https://doi.org/10.1080/02508281.2020.1805933
Zenker, S., von Wallpach, S., Braun, E., & Vallaster, C. (2019). How the refugee crisis impacts the decision structure of tourists: A cross-country scenario study. Tourism Management, 71, 197–212. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tourman.2018.10.015
Zenker, S., & Kock, F. (2020). The coronavirus pandemic - A critical discussion of a tourism research agenda. Tourism Management, 81. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tourman.2020.104164
Zupic, I., & Cater, T. (2015). Bibliometric Methods in Management and Organization. Organizational Research Methods, 18(3), 429–472. https://doi.org/10.1177/1094428114562629
 
Basic Social Etiquette and Intercultural Awareness Before Departure as a Way to Minimize Tourism-Phobia using World Civility Index: A Decade-Long Social Experiment by NGO IITTI
Get PDFThe project involves addressing issues of vandalism and unruly behavior through a set of common social etiquette lessons suitable for various international situation for the would-be tourists before traveling. Participants earn "points" via a common measurement called \u27World Civility Index\u27 in order to be admitted into certain tourist attraction locations
Feira Internacional de Gastronomia: potencialidades da aprendizagem baseada em projetos “mãos na massa”
Get PDFThe International Gastronomy Fair was an innovative project that gave first-year students on the Restaurant and Catering Management course a practical, interdisciplinary learning experience. The aim was to develop essential skills for the job market, such as teamwork, communication, problem-solving, research and organisation.
Using the project-based learning methodology, the students worked in groups to organise the fair, from researching and selecting international dishes to preparing, presenting and tasting them. The fair was a success, with the participation of all the students and a great reception from the academic community.
The results of the questionnaire applied to the students indicated that the experience was enriching and useful for their professional development. Most of the students agreed that project-based learning is an effective methodology and that it prepared them better for the labour market.
The project had some limitations, such as the limited budget, the lack of kitchen equipment and time constraints. However, the students overcame these difficulties with creativity and teamwork.
The International Gastronomy Fair was a valuable learning experience for the students, and the project demonstrated that project-based learning is an effective methodology that allows students to develop essential skills for the labour market, as well as promoting interest and commitment in their teaching-learning process.A Feira Internacional de Gastronomia foi um projeto inovador que proporcionou aos alunos do primeiro ano do curso de Gestão da Restauração e Catering uma experiência de aprendizagem prática e interdisciplinar. O objetivo era desenvolver competências essenciais para o mercado de trabalho, como trabalho em equipa, comunicação, resolução de problemas, pesquisa e organização.
Utilizando a metodologia de aprendizagem baseada em projetos, os alunos trabalharam em grupo para organizar a feira desde a pesquisa e seleção de pratos internacionais até a sua confeção, apresentação e degustação. A feira foi um sucesso, com a participação de todos os alunos e uma grande recetividade da comunidade académica.
Os resultados do questionário aplicado aos alunos indicaram que a experiência foi enriquecedora e útil para o seu desenvolvimento profissional. A maioria dos alunos concordou que a aprendizagem baseada em projetos é uma metodologia eficaz e que os preparou melhor para o mercado de trabalho.
O projeto teve algumas limitações, como o orçamento limitado, a falta de equipamentos de cozinha e as restrições de tempo. No entanto, os alunos superaram essas dificuldades com criatividade e trabalho em equipa.
A Feira Internacional de Gastronomia foi uma experiência de aprendizagem valiosa para os alunos, tendo o projeto demonstrado que a aprendizagem baseada em projetos é uma metodologia eficaz que permite aos alunos desenvolver competências essenciais para o mercado de trabalho, além de promover o interesse e o empenho no seu processo de ensino- aprendizagem
The development of rural tourism through the NRDP funds in Romania: a spatial perspective
Get PDFObjectives | Tourism development, at local, regional, and national levels, is dependent on efficient strategies and policies implemented by the responsible authorities. An important instrument in ensuring the efficiency of such strategies and policies is represented by the European Union Funds, which are aimed at, among many directions, contributing to the development of local or regional tourism economy (Panasiuk, 2013). The financial support granted through European funds is in many areas considered the main driver of tourism (Ballesteros & Hernandez, 2017) and a factor for overall economic development especially for less-favoured regions (Hjalager, 1996; Bull, 1999). This is because European funding and tourism largely contribute to the diversification of the rural economy (McAreavey & McDonagh, 2011).
In light of the previously stated facts, this paper aims to provide a spatial perspective on the role that European Union funds had on tourism development through NRDP 2007-2013 and NRDP 2014-2020. As such, three main objectives have been formulated:
Identifying the NRDP projects with a tourism focus;
Assessing the relationship between the tourism potential of beneficiary rural areas and NRDP funds absorbed for tourism-related projects;
Analysing the contribution brought by the tourism-focused NRDP projects in the evolution of tourism indicators.
Methodology | The methodology is based on statistical and spatial analysis tools (i.e. Cluster analysis, Grouping analysis etc.) and capitalizes on the database provided by AFIR on projects, financed through NRDP funds. Our focus was on identifying the tourism-related projects from the total number of projects supported at the national level through the NRDP funds (160.000 projects). We analysed the number of tourism projects supported at the LAU2 level (2.861 communities), their typology, and the number of funds absorbed for each of the 2 funding periods that have taken place so far. This data was used for identifying the spatial patterns and appreciating the evolution of beneficiary communities from one funding period to the other when it comes to the number of projects implemented and the amount of funds absorbed. Also, tourism data related to tourism resources, tourism demand, and tourism infrastructure has been employed to analyse the relationships between the destinations’ characteristics and their predisposition for accessing EU funds.
Main Results and Contributions | The main result consists of the identification of two operational typologies of LAU2 in Romania that used the NRDP in the development of tourism projects. are based on the outcomes of each of the 2 funding periods and the study highlights the differences from one funding period to the other in the behaviour of the beneficiary communities. A total of 5 types of communities were built for each of the 2 funding periods, as follows: declining communities (low absorbtion capacity and no. of projects), stagnant type I communities (constant absorbtion capacity and no. of projects), fast growing communities (growing absorbtion capacity and no. of projects), stagnant type II (slowly declining absorbtion capacity and no. of projects) and slow growing communities (slowly growing absorbtion capacity and no. of projects). The typologies, as well as the concrete examples extracted from them, allow an integrated diagnosis of how the Romanian communities capitalized on the NRDP for tourism development, with implications and recommendations specific to each type of rural territory for the next funding period.
Limitations | At present, the lack of a thorough analysis of local tourism projects obtained through a more qualitative approach, respectively through discussions with residents and project beneficiaries, is the main limitation of the study and implicitly an important direction for further research. Such an approach could better highlight the qualitative contribution of these projects in the beneficiary rural communities and could provide more insights to explain the differences observed between the territories.
Conclusions | The This highlights the success of the programme in diversifying rural economic activities, which is a step towards sustainable development of rural areas. However, the financial support offered to rural tourism projects is quite small and cannot generate a noticeable change in Romanian rural tourism, as shown by the evolution of the main tourism indicators
Some perceptions of local actors towards the development of wine tourism in Vrancea County (Romania)
Get PDFThis study aims to comprehensively investigate the impact of wine tourism development in Vrancea county, focusing on the perceptions of local actors. Specifically, it delves into how wine tourism influences various facets of the tourism sector, including visitor experiences, attraction development, and marketing strategies. Moreover, it explores how these tourism developments intersect with and contribute to broader socio-economic dimensions of sustainable development, such as community well-being, economic growth, and environmental stewardship. The research objectives entail an in-depth analysis of the socio-economic characteristics of local communities and their intricate connections with the evolution of wine tourism. Additionally, the study seeks to assess the level of involvement of local residents in tourism activities and to discern the correlation between their engagement and the overall progress of wine tourism in the region. It\u27s crucial to note that this research adopts a dual focus, examining both positive perceptions that support the benefits of wine tourism and negative perspectives that may signal concerns or risks associated with its development. By clarifying these objectives, the study aims to shed light on the reciprocal relationship between wine tourism development and socio-economic dynamics within local communities. This approach ensures coherence and precision in the research focus, avoiding redundancy and potential confusion about its scope and purpose
Sustainable regional growth through astrotourism
Get PDFObjectives | Astrotourism is a form of tourism that focuses on the observation and appreciation of the night sky and astronomical phenomena. It involves travelling to places with low light pollution where these can be seen with great clarity and detail. This type of tourism is particularly popular among astronomy enthusiasts. It also attracts people seeking unique experiences in contact with nature and the cosmos. Astrotourism is a segment of nature tourism that allows visitors a direct connection with nature, the promotion of ecological awareness and the minimization of light pollution and its negative effects (Falchi et al., 2011; Fayos-Solá et al., 2014). It is sought by tourists interested in observing and appreciating naturally occurring celestial phenomena (Weaver, 2011), with knowledge and expertise of the celestial part of nature and the unique characteristics of the destination (Eagle, 2014). The most attractive activities are stargazing and star counting, observation of the sky and cloud formations, and vibrant sunsets (Jacobs et al., 2020).The main objectives of this research are to characterize the impact of astrotourism on the development of regional sustainable tourism and to understand the feasibility of implementing an astrotourism product in the Arouca region, which has valuable endogenous resources, great geological wealth, and places with low light pollution, thereby facilitating the development of an astrotourism product and enhancing the attractiveness of the destination.Methodology | The use of the qualitative case study method, combined with direct and participatory observation, allowed the analysis of relevant documents, the comparison of successful practices in similar destinations, and direct collaboration with the AGA entity.Results and contributions | This study highlighted the crucial role that astrotourism can play in environmental education and the preservation of the night sky. The Arouca Geopark can serve as an important center for raising awareness about light pollution and associated negative impacts, promoting sustainable lighting practices in the region. Thus, the results of this study provide a solid basis for the successful introduction of astrotourism in Arouca, culminating in the elaboration of a project proposal to be implemented. By taking advantage of the potential of the region\u27s night sky and promoting sustainable practices, Arouca Geopark can stand out as a recognized astrotourism destination.Limitations | The successful implementation of astrotourism will require significant investment and collaboration, despite the detailed research and documentary analysis that has been carried out. In this case, it will be necessary to establish partnerships with astronomy experts to obtain more knowledge and better measurements concerning light pollution, as well as to develop astronomical stories and explanations to enrich the astrotourism offered in the Arouca Geopark. For future studies, it is recommended to carry out more comprehensive research on the economic impact of implementing this astrotourism project in the Arouca Geopark. This should consider variables such as the creation of local jobs, the increase in tourism revenues and the influence on the region\u27s trade and services. Furthermore, it is crucial to develop detailed marketing strategies considering market segmentation, effective communication channels and strategic partnerships to attract visitors from different regions and markets, consolidating Arouca Geopark\u27s positioning as an astrotourism destination of excellence.Conclusions | By exploring the basic concepts of tourism, it was possible to understand its role in regional development, particularly the positive impacts of tourism in the Arouca region, highlighting its ability to boost the local economy, create new jobs and promote the conservation of cultural and natural heritage (Folinas & Metaxas, 2020; Smith et al., 2010; UNWTO, 2008). There is a growing understanding of astrotourism, an emerging sector of the tourism industry that involves travelling to places where astronomical phenomena can be observed with specialized equipment. It provides an opportunity to escape urban areas and enjoy the freedom associated with the night sky (Ibbotson, 2021). By studying the characteristics of astrotourism and the factors that motivate visitors to seek out this experience, it has been possible to identify emerging trends and patterns of behavior among astrotourists. This knowledge is crucial in defining strategies for the development of astrotourism in the Arouca region.Carrying out this case study was necessary to gain an in-depth perspective on the subject, to draw conclusions with potential applicability to the context of the Arouca Geopark, and gather data and information for the development of a prototype project. The main objectives of the study were to characterize the potential contribution of astrotourism to the development of regional tourism and to understand the feasibility of implementing an area dedicated to astrotourism in the Arouca region, which can be said to have been achieved. We have been able to provide a comprehensive analysis of the feasibility and benefits of implementing this project, as well as a proposal for it, thanks to the literature review, documentary analysis, benchmarking analysis, and valuable collaboration with the AGA. The proposed project outlines the most suitable locations for the installation of astrotourism products. It also outlines the activities and experiences to be developed there. In addition, the project outlines the partnerships to be developed and the promotional plans to be implemented, bearing in mind the profile and motives of tourists visiting the area.Several basic conclusions were drawn from this study: Firstly, the Arouca Geopark has astronomical potential, with areas of low light pollution, points of great geological interest, and a rich cultural heritage. These provide a favorable environment for meaningful astrotourism experiences. In addition, this destination is an ideal setting for combining astronomy and tourism due to its strategic location and the commitment of local stakeholders to sustainable development. There is a positive response from the target audience, which is in search of innovation and novelty, adventure, and a connection with nature. The Arouca Geopark is well placed to meet this demand for authentic and immersive astronomical activities and experiences.For the development of astrotourism in the Arouca Geopark, this study has also made a practical contribution. Unique activities and experiences have been suggested, such as night observations, astronomy workshops, and star stories. These can be implemented to enrich the visitor experience and create a competitive advantage in the astronomy tourism market. The importance of creativity, imagination, and substantial investment in applied research and innovation as pillars of this type of project is also evident from the analysis of the experiences of other astrotourism destinations. Anticipating future trends, establishing strategic partnerships, and programming innovative initiatives should be an ongoing concern. A culture of idea generation should be cultivated, and a high level of involvement between partners and the local community should be maintained. This will ensure that the project is dynamic and adaptable to changes in needs.This work has not only provided valuable insights into the need for environmental awareness and protection of the night sky but has also outlined practical strategies for implementation. The Arouca Geopark is positioning itself as a driving force for change by playing a leading role in educating the public about light pollution and its negative effects. By promoting sustainable lighting practices, it is not only protecting its own natural heritage. It is also setting an exemplary standard for other areas facing similar challenges. This commitment to sustainability not only guides the local community, but also inspires future destinations seeking to balance development and heritage conservation
Sustainability interpretation and impacts of luxury tourism in Douro
Get PDFObjectives | The aim of this research is to identify the main impacts of climate change in the Douro region and how they are likely to affect tourism in the region, particularly luxury tourism. The project ends by highlighting one of the region\u27s traditional products that everyone appreciates - wine. It became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2001. Already feeling the effects of climate change, the Douro is one of the hottest and driest regions in the country. For its landscapes, but also for its history, the Douro is an outstanding region. This work is also aimed at recognizing luxury tourism as an emerging market in the region. Luxury tourists seek unique and personalized experiences. The sustainability of the region is also of increasing interest and concern to them. In this way, luxury and sustainability can complement each other. Companies have increasingly tried to focus on the quality and sustainability of their products, using local suppliers wherever possible. Unfortunately, the sustainability of the vineyards and the landscape continues to be a concern. Climate change is a reality and could wipe out years of production. The overall aim of the research is to understand the importance of sustainability and the impact of luxury tourism in the Douro Demarcated Region. The specific objectives were to: identify threats to sustainability in the Douro; understand the impact of seasonality in the Douro; understand and identify strategies to combat climate change; identify solutions to promote sustainable tourism; analyze the supply of luxury tourism in the region; and understand sustainability in the luxury tourism niche.
Methodology | It was decided to conduct a qualitative study to understand how people in the Demarcated Region of the Douro perceive the issue of sustainability and climate change. According to Sá et al. (2021), the interview survey method, due to its descriptive and detailed nature, is associated with interpretive studies and qualitative research in collecting and analyzing data. The authors then argue that through the main objective of the study and the initial questions, it is possible to identify the target population, the main study variables, and the type of research to be carried out. The final stage is to analyze all the information gathered to provide answers to the research questions and, consequently, suggestions for future research. Respondents are national companies involved in luxury and sustainable wine tourism in the Douro demarcation area. There is also an international company based in Spain and operating in La Rioja.
Organizations involved in wine tourism in the region were included in the sample. Seven organizations involved in wine tourism in the Douro, one organization that teaches and coordinates wine courses, one organization involved in wine tourism in La Rioja, Spain, and one hotel in the study region were interviewed. In addition to national companies with a strong presence in the Portuguese market, it was decided to seek information outside Portugal. As a result, there was an opportunity for an interview with a company frequently active in La Rioja, a Spanish wine region. This was done to compare the best practices of each region, to understand how tourism can be developed in both regions, and, above all, to share knowledge, learning, and ideas that will allow us to develop and grow as a destination.
Results and contributions | In terms of production, Alonso et al. (2022) argue that the companies have a combination of tradition and innovation. Traditional production and maturing methods can still be found, while other innovative measures using new technologies, such as temperature control during fermentation, also help to improve the quality of the final product. However, to combat seasonality, it is necessary to create measures such as attractions for the region - which according to the interviewees include gastronomy, open-air cinema, museums, events, health, and wellness activities - but also public measures to help the region overcome economic crises, seasonality, and other problems. The analysis of the interviews shows that the focus is on the need for the creation of more conditions and attractions in the interior of the country, but also on the need for more cooperation between local authorities. More support for entrepreneurial ideas, sustainable agriculture, but also reviewing the regulation of the wine sector, promoting seasonal tourism with activities for all seasons, compulsory hiring, and more benefits for employees (especially higher salaries), and the need to promote the Douro destination rather than maintaining competition between estates.
In this way, the sustainable development of tourism will be promoted, providing greater social development, economic opportunities, environmental protection, and political stability. The authors address six dimensions that they consider fundamental to the prosperity of the destination: 1. Quality of Life (equity and living conditions, health, satisfaction, education), 2. Social and Cultural Empowerment (knowledge of climate change, availability of resources and recycling, cultural heritage, local identity, and production), 3. Economic Growth (unemployment rates, inflation, happiness, and productivity rates), 4. Environmental Quality (conservation of natural resources, levels of pollution, intensity of use of natural resources), 5. Tourist Satisfaction (quality of destination characteristics, cost, kindness of residents); and 6. Attractiveness (experiences on offer; complementary activities; surrounding landscape and climate). Consideration should be given to managing supply and demand, contributing to a healthy working environment, and managing the impact of tourism on the region to promote sustainable tourism development. The authors also consider that sustainable development is perceived as mitigating social and environmental impacts while providing quality of life for residents.
Interviewees noted that climate change may require greater hydration of the vines and a reduction in the use of chemicals, thus promoting more ecological treatment of vineyards. The interviewees also emphasized the need to preserve the varieties planted in the region, as there is a risk of native varieties being lost, through new planting strategies, particularly at higher altitudes. With the increase in fires due to drought, the importance of controlling invasive species is highlighted, as is the need to clean up woodlands and forests. As already analyzed in the literature review, the responses of the interviewees correspond positively with the perceptions of the authors. Campos (2022) warns that extreme meteorological phenomena, such as extreme rainfall - hail or wind - will tend to increase in frequency and intensity and could destroy years of work and production in minutes. All these effects ultimately affect the grapes, as they can increase sugar concentration and affect flavor, color, and price. In addition to the risks and impacts of climate change, market pressures, new environmental policies, and reduced available inputs, Trigo and Silva (2022) argue that the wine industry is beginning to recognize the benefits of promoting sustainable ideas and realizing its competitive factor. Respondents highlighted their preference for reducing production in terms of quantity but prioritizing quality; adopting water, energy, and carbon efficiency measures; promoting voluntary action and supporting local communities and associations; seeking to regenerate ecosystems by reducing carbon emissions; seeking to use local products and suppliers; and communicating this preference through storytelling.
A wine tourist is not only interested in wine tasting but is also looking for a complete experience that includes tourist activities, exploration of rural and natural landscapes, local hospitality and gastronomy, interaction with the local community, participation in cultural and traditional festivals, and interaction with winemakers to learn more about wine production (Constantoglou et al. 2020). According to the research conducted, Turunen (2018) and Zainurin et al. (2022) define luxury as \u27great comfort, especially when provided by beautiful things\u27. They also argue that it is the\u27state of abundance or of great ease and comfort: a sumptuous environment\u27. It\u27s often seen as something rare. It\u27s often associated with dreaming of something we aspire to or want to have, but don\u27t necessarily need. According to Gupta and Kour (2021), the consumption of luxury experiences is not limited to the physiological needs of an individual. This type of product/service helps tourists position themselves and differentiate themselves from others in terms of social status.
Those interviewed see luxury tourism as seeking something authentic, of high quality, offering privacy and exclusivity. There is also a belief that luxury tourists have a greater financial capacity and are therefore more concerned about paying more for more sustainable attitudes where they can enjoy high quality local products. The presence of trained staff is also valued in this niche. They are prepared to welcome tourists and provide them with all the necessary information. Nevertheless, organizations perceive luxury tourism as sustainable tourism because it reduces waste and consumption of local products.
Achieving luxury and sustainability certifications can have a positive impact on customer behavior, according to Osburg et al. (2022). Sustainability certifications convey strength, credibility, quality, and good practice where standards of excellence are met. Luxury certifications, on the other hand, convey a perception of quality, reliability, and desirability. Thus, both certifications allow a company to position itself in a positive way, with prestige and credibility in the market. This increases the desire to visit and pay more for a particular product/service. Pai et al. (2022) also argue that sustainable luxury is possible and that it is defined by the ability to enjoy products and services that meet basic needs and improve the quality of life of the individual without negatively impacting the needs of others and future generations. The authors note that the luxury market is growing. At the same time, consumer concern about climate change and other environmental issues is at an all-time high. Luxury has embraced sustainability, as sustainable purchasing motivations relate to sustainable materials, supply chain transparency, and sustainable processes, according to Chang et al. (2022).
Limitations | It focused on a lack of answers from various wine-producing organizations. Initially, the aim was to interview only luxury organizations in Douro. However, due to the lack of responses, it was decided to generalize the search and even compare it with the wine region of La Rioja. La Rioja in Spain was chosen because of its proximity to San Sebastian. This region is famous for its gastronomy. The idea was to make a small comparison between the two regions to understand what they have in common with the Douro, what makes them different, and what makes them special. The difficulties of research in Douro are mainly due to the time of year when the interviews take place. Harvesting is a time of great responsibility for companies. This prevents or limits their availability for participation in the proposed research. It was mainly their visibility and strong presence in the wine tourism market that led to the choice of organizations, namely the large companies. However, it was important to obtain the perspective of smaller organizations to make the study more comprehensive. Nevertheless, despite the difficulties, the practices in question have given us an understanding of the impact of luxury tourism in the Douro and an idea of its degree of sustainability.
Conclusions | According to Bouchard (2020), in the case studied, Porto and the Douro Demarcated Region are characterized not only by their landscapes, but also by their unique products, traditions and tourist activities. Rachão (2020) also points out that products with a specific geographical indication have unique characteristics that guarantee an authentic tourist experience, moving away from a perspective of globalization of the service provided. The Douro is a diamond that needs polishing," said one of the interviewees. It is undoubtedly a unique and special region where you can combine food and wine with the landscape and have an immersive experience in the region. In addition to these points, the organizations also said that for the Douro to be perceived as a luxury destination, it is necessary to promote more handicrafts; have more seasonal offers that attract tourists all year round; customize experiences and make a difference; have trained and welcoming staff that make tourists feel like "one of us". The Douro has very specific characteristics. However, it is a region that is not only sought after for its gastronomy and wine tourism. It\u27s not a region where only the luxury niche is the focus. The Douro is not a holiday destination, it is a complete experience. In this way, it is possible to find a segmentation of practices associated with luxury tourism and experiential tourism. According to the interviewees, the two can coexist. It is possible to offer adventure and nature tourism while promoting health and wellness tourism. It is possible to have budget accommodation and more exclusive and private accommodation in the same space; it is possible to have tourists who value the quality of their accommodation, where architecture, quality, decoration, and comfort are important, as well as tourists who like to take risks and look for quality, not so much in the accommodation, but more in the quality of the experience they are going to have
Game-based Learning in Higher Education: Where Do We Stand?
Get PDFIn the last decade, game-based learning has been increasingly used in higher education (HE) across various disciplines, from language studies to engineering and medical fields. Scholars have examined key success factors, facilitators, and challenges of game-based learning integration (GBL) in higher education. While some literature reviews exist, they primarily address issues like cultural differences or technological impact without offering a comprehensive synthesis. This study addresses this gap through a systematic literature review of articles from the ISI Web of Science Current Contents database, spanning from 1998 to 2020. The study\u27s final sample of 288 articles underwent two levels of analysis: a bibliometric analysis to highlight significant publications and authors, followed by a content analysis to identify primary research questions, methodologies, and suggested future directions for advancing game-based learning research. Our findings provide an integrated overview of game-based learning\u27s role in higher education, offering a framework for future studies to build on existing insights and address ongoing challenges in applying game-based learning effectively in various educational settings