PROA-UA (Univ. de Aveiro)
Not a member yet
8537 research outputs found
Sort by
O modo conjuntivo em português e em húngaro com base em As Intermitências da Morte de José Saramago
Get PDFThis paper aims to analyse the use of the subjunctive mood in Portuguese and Hungarian, looking closely at the origins and morphology of this mood in Hungarian based on Varga\u27s Rendhagyó nyelvtörténet. The frequency and use of the subjunctive are analysed based on José Saramago’s Death with Interruptions and the corresponding Hungarian translation by Pál Ferenc. It can be concluded that Portuguese resorts to the subjunctive much more often than Hungarian does – 897 forms have been found in the Portuguese text, 490 having been found in the Hungarian equivalent – although, in some contexts, Hungarian must use the subjunctive where Portuguese chooses the infinitive. Nevertheless, numerous examples of common use have also been found in both languages, among which the use of the subjunctive in clauses of purpose predominates.O trabalho tem como objetivo analisar o emprego do modo Conjuntivo em português e húngaro, olhando de perto para as origens e para a morfologia desse modo em húngaro com base em Rendhagyó nyelvtörténet de Varga. A frequência e o emprego do Conjuntivo são analisados com base em As Intermitências da Morte de José Saramago e na respetiva tradução húngara de Pál Ferenc. Constata-se que o português recorre ao Conjuntivo com uma frequência muito maior do que o húngaro – foram encontradas 897 formas no texto português e 490 no equivalente húngaro – embora, em certos contextos, o húngaro seja forçado a usar o Conjuntivo, onde o português opta pelo infinitivo. No entanto, também foram encontrados numerosos usos comuns, dos quais prevalece o emprego do Conjuntivo nas orações adverbiais finais em ambas as línguas
O papel das TIC na sustentabilidade sociocultural percecionado por artesãos de turismo criativo
Get PDFObjetivo | Analisar o papel das TIC percecionado pelos artesãos para a promoção da sustentabilidade sociocultural de destinos turísticos criativos.
Metodologia | Realização de 30 entrevistas a artesãos de Barcelos e de Óbidos efetuadas durante os meses de abril e de maio de 2023. A análise das entrevistas foi realizada a partir da técnica de análise de conteúdo com suporte do software webQDA. Também é feito um estudo comparativo entre as localidades de Barcelos e de Óbidos em termos de perceções dos artesãos relativamente ao papel das TIC nos construtos da sustentabilidade sociocultural – aprendizagem, divulgação do património, envolvimento da comunidade local, igualdade e inclusão, inovação, preservação do património, resiliência, satisfação, segurança no destino e vitalidade.
Principais resultados e contributos | Como principais resultados destaca-se a existência de diferenças significativas entre as localidades da investigação, tanto no número de artesãos como nas suas perceções e comportamentos quanto às TIC. A análise de conteúdo efetuada totalizou 26 subcategorias configuradas nas seguintes categorias: Categoria 1 - Atividade dos artesãos; Categoria 2 - Caraterização dos clientes; Categoria 3 - Papel da comunidade local na atividade dos artesãos; Categoria 4 - Redes de colaboração formal e informal; Categoria 5 - TIC promotoras de preservação do património local; Categoria 6 - TIC promotoras de segurança do destino e Categoria 7 - Utilização das TIC.
Como principais contributos sobressai a análise integrada realizada ao nível das perceções dos artesãos entrevistados relativamente aos construtos da sustentabilidade sociocultural percecionados nas respetivas localidades (aprendizagem, divulgação do património, envolvimento da comunidade local, igualdade e inclusão, inovação, preservação do património, resiliência, satisfação, segurança no destino e vitalidade), sendo que da revisão da literatura efetuada resultaram 11 pressupostos, dos quais empiricamente foram confirmados oito e rejeitados os pressupostos que definiam três dos construtos da sustentabilidade sociocultural – envolvimento da comunidade local, inovação e satisfação.
Limitações | As limitações existentes deste estudo são assentes na realização das entrevistas por telefone porque esta opção condicionou o diálogo existente entre os artesãos e os investigadores. Além disso, vários contactos telefónicos encontrados nos websites das câmaras municipais de Barcelos e de Óbidos estavam desativados ou fora de serviço, assim como, nem todos os telefonemas não atendidos foram retornados. O número de entrevistados poderia ter sido superior caso alguns dos artesãos contactados tivessem aceitado realizar a entrevista.
Conclusões | Como principais conclusões, este estudo confirma as potencialidades das TIC na promoção da sustentabilidade sociocultural de destinos turísticos criativos sendo que é recomendado aos artesãos e aos criativos detentores ou não de empresas criativas a tirarem melhor proveito das potencialidades das TIC particularmente ao nível dos construtos não confirmados com o estudo empírico, portanto, ao nível do envolvimento da comunidade local, da inovação e da satisfação de visitantes
MICE Events: Challenges and Opportunities to the Tourism Sector
No full textObjetives | Business and professional travel is one of the oldest forms of travel. Business tourism has grown exponentially in recent years and is seen as a huge opportunity for the sector. Specifically, MICE refer to Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions that can be held to perform business tourism (Smagina, 2017).
The Meetings refers to a number of events such as: daily meetings, annual meetings, or weekly meetings, which intended to add value through communication, celebrations or training activities, among others. Meetings can also vary in size. Meeting venues differ depending on participation and meeting style, ranging from formative meetings, lectures, seminars, workshops or panel discussions, presentations, or product launches (Swarbrooke & Horner, 2012). Meetings allow the ideals of organizations to be put into practice as well as communication processes between employees, customers, and other stakeholders (Davidson & Cope, 2003).
Incentive trips are considered an important tool by organizations and have served as an introduction to human resource management theories, recognizing the work of employees, not in a monetary way, but in a tangible way (Swarbrooke & Horner, 2012). These trips have been used to motivate, recognize employees for their work and/or increase commitment between the organization and the employee (Pizam, 2005). Incentive trips, or corporate hospitality, have a more direct link with leisure tourism due to the strong recreational nature associated with them, in the sense of rewarding employees (Everard, 2010).
The incentive market is made up of two sub-sectors: individual or group incentives. Group trips encourage team spirit and a sense of belonging with a large number of people, while individual trips focus essentially on the same objectives, but with a smaller number of people, usually up to 20 (Witt et al., 1992). These trips usually consist of an itinerary of accommodation, transportation, special events or other options that offer the participant a highly rewarding experience (Swarbrooke & Horner, 2012).
As far as conferences are concerned, they comprise a wide range of professional events on a particular theme and organized with a formal structure. Conferences can be academic, commercial, or business or for another purpose, and can vary in terms of size and duration. The purpose of a conference is to address themes or issues which are then discussed, solutions identified, or advice given. A conference is an assembly that may involve discussion to establish facts and/or solve problems. Conferences have no connotation in terms of their periodicity and are usually held on a smaller scale than congresses (Sylla et al., 2015).
This study aims to understand the future of MICE events in Hospitality and to comprehend what are the main challenges and opportunities to the sector with these events.
Methodology | To conduct this study a qualitative methodology was performed using a semi-structured interview to answer our research objectives. Our participants were 10 hotel directors in Portugal. The interviews were conducted online, taped, and verbatim transcript. Data were analyzed with thematic analysis procedures.
Main Results and Contributions | Our results suggested that, as expected, during the COVID-19 period, the drop in the number of events held in the MICE segment is, on average, 69%. MICE events are an extremely important segment for Portuguese hotels since, as well as mitigating seasonality, they create dynamism and promote cross-selling, contributing to their economic security. The data also highlights several strategies for adapting the operation to this kind of event, based on making event conditions more flexible, following up on customers\u27 needs, and campaigns on digital platforms and social networks. For the future, our participants consider that there are several opportunities for the development of the segment, based on exploring potential markets such as the United States, Brazil, or Russia, and in business areas that will recover more quickly, such as health, banking, publishing and sport. Moreover, the participants consider that the pandemic has accelerated the use of technology due to the need for online and hybrid events and this will be a trend for the future of the sector. Other trends point to significant changes in how far in advance events are booked, fewer participants and shorter durations.
Limitations | Our main limitations are related to the use of a qualitative study with a few numbers of participants making difficult the results\u27 generalization. Additionally, our participants were the hotel directors who could be more influenced by social desirability. In future studies, it would be interesting to have other participants such as intermediate leaders and the customers.
Conclusions | In conclusion, MICE events seem to be an important strategy for business tourism contributing to the decrease of seasonality. Although it is important to develop the specific skills required in this sector
Storytelling and its psychological influence on tourism experiences: A scoping review
Get PDFObjectives
Sustainability has become one of the biggest goals for “policy-makers, developers and place-makers” (Tan, 2023, p.3673). At the same time, tourists today seek more than a simple product when visiting a destination (Garcês, et al, 2108). They are becoming consumers of experiences, but also of stories within the destinations, and stories can become drivers for sustainable development (Tan, 2023). Storytelling is, a powerful tool that can lead to the development of memorable experiences bringing value to the destination (Pereira, et al., 2020). It is also a creative “escape” that can be seen in creative tourism, by bringing imagination and creativity to the forefront of the tourism experiences (Pereira, et al., 2020). Storytelling with its different elements can be a differentiator element of tourism products (Gonçalves, et al, 2018) and can bring positive psychological outcomes for the tourism experience as a whole. The aim of this research is to look into the published literature on what has been done regarding storytelling and its impact on tourism experiences, with a particular focus on psychological variables and thus discover advances and/or gaps to further advance this field.
Methodology
As a methodology, a scoping review was performed, following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews PRISMA-ScR (Tricco, et al., 2018). This methodology allows to analyze outcomes from a body of knowledge and identifies gaps that may allow for future in-depth research (Tricco, et al., 2018). As the search database, the Online Knowledge Library (b-on) was used. This Portuguese library comprises a wide range of publishers and scientific publications, including major ones such as SCOPUS. Due to the aim of this research “storytelling” and “tourism experiences” were the two search keywords used. Boolean operator AND was used to ensure the presence of both search keywords, and truncation symbol * was used to address words within the same family. These terms were searched on the paper\u27s keywords, being one of the inclusion criteria. Other inclusion criteria included: a) papers in English; b) peer-review papers; c) journal articles; and d) integral texts available. Beyond these, the scope of the papers must have had the search variables as a focus of the research or part of it. The first search found 77 results. After the application of inclusion criteria, only 20 papers remained.
Main Results and Contributions
In a preliminary analysis, it is possible to see that the relationship between storytelling and tourism experience in scientific publications is recent (2008 onwards). This shows that the interest in applying storytelling to tourism experiences is current. This is aligned with the development of an experiential economy that is translated to the new tourists\u27 needs for more personal and in-depth experiences (Garcês, et al., 2018). Simultaneously, stories can be important products to show authenticity to tourists and the essence of the destination, which is also a growing interest by tourists when seeking new destinations/experiences. The results also show that the majority of the studies are of a qualitative nature. Thus allowing a better understanding of the experience, but lacking robust data to allow generalizations. While different destinations have their unique stories and experiences, research may be a key element to understand which common (and different) elements exist and its impact on sustainable and creative practices. Overall, storytelling in the tourism experience looks intrinsically linked with the tourists\u27: emotions, engagement, positive responses towards the destinations, and memorability and it also seems interconnected by co-creation processes between tourist and place. A small portion of the sample focuses on the study of the impact of storytelling on the tourism workers who take on these tasks. The results acknowledged that workers\u27 emotions, personal interests, and involvement play a key role in their performance. The idea of authenticity also indicates that storytelling can be important in promoting a perception of the genuineness of the experience to the tourists.
Limitations
As limitations for this study, while b-on is a widespread resource for scientific studies additional research on specific databases such as Scopus or Web of Science could have allowed for more findings. Also, it would have been important to advance this topic by developing empirical research. In fact, this comes as a suggestion for a future study to understand the actual psychological factors that are linked and can influence the tourism experience through storytelling. By doing this, destinations could identify and develop new strategies that consider storytelling as a product, and at the same time as a technique to promote emotions, engagement and authenticity to their experiences.
Conclusions
This study allows a better understanding of storytelling in tourism experiences but from a psychological perspective. Emotions and engagement/involvement are recurring positive psychological factors that have emerged as a link between storytelling and tourism experiences. This focus on a psychology forefront allows us to better understand the influence of storytelling in tourism from a not-so-common perspective and may open doors for new sustainable and creative practices that can have a positive psychological impact on the tourism stakeholders, and the experience as a whole.
References
Garcês, S., Pocinho, M., & Jesus, S. (2018). Review of optimism, creativity and spirituality in tourism research. Tourism and Hospitality Management, 24 (1), 107-117.
Gonçalves, J. C., Seabra, C., & Silva, c. (2018). Histórias de cultura. o poder do storytelling em destinos de turismo cultural. Cadernos de Geografia, 37, 1113-120. https://doi.org/10.14195/087-1623_37_9
Pereira, A., Silva, C., & Seabra, C. (). Creative tourism and storytelling withing heritage destinations. In S. Cabeça, A., Gonçalves, J. Marques, & M. Tavares (Eds), Creative tourism dynamics: Connecting travellers, communities, cultures and places (pp.105-117). Grácio Editor.
Sion-Kian, T, & Siow-Hooi, T. (2023). A creative place-making framework for a sustainable development. Sustainable development, 31, 3673-3691. DOI: 10.1002/sd.2619
Tricco, A. C., Lillie, E., Zarin, W., O\u27Brien, K.K., Colquhoun, H., Levac, D., Moher, D., Peters, M.D., Horsley, T., Weeks, L., Hempel, S., Akl, E., Chang, C., McGowan, J., Stewart, L., Hartling, L., Aldcroft, A., Wilson, M., Garritty, C., Lewin, S., Godfrey, C., Macdonald, M., …, Straus, S. (2018). PRISMA extension for scoping reviews (PRISMA-ScR): Checklist and explanation. Ann Intern Med, 69 (7), 467-473. doi:10.7326/M18-0850
Turismo e Inclusão: O Hotel Sesc Nogueira enquanto Espaço de Lazer para Pessoas com Deficiência Intelectual: The Sesc Nogueira Hotel as a Leisure Space for People with Intellectual Disabilities
Get PDFThe objective of this article is to analyze the leisure experience of People with Intellectual Disabilities (PwID) during a trip to the Hotel Sesc Nogueira, focusing on research aspects related to socialization and integration, acquisition of knowledge, escape from routine, contact with nature , personal image and self-esteem of the public understood. The study sought to provide an in-depth view of how the leisure opportunity in question contributed to the well-being of the public involved in the activity. Furthermore, we seek to highlight the implications for the development of inclusive programs and activities in leisure and tourism environments.
O objetivo deste artigo é analisar a experiência no lazer de Pessoas com Deficiência Intelectual (PcDI) durante um passeio ao Hotel Sesc Nogueira, tendo como foco de pesquisa aspectos relacionados à socialização e integração, aquisição de conhecimentos, fuga da rotina, contato com a natureza, imagem pessoal e autoestima do público entendido. O estudo buscou fornecer uma visão aprofundada sobre a maneira como a oportunidade de lazer em questão trouxe contribuições para o bem-estar do público contemplado para a atividade. Ademais, buscamos destacar as implicações para o desenvolvimento de programas e atividades inclusivas em ambientes de lazer e turismo
The ageing effect on European tourism demand: a short/medium term impacts scenarios
Get PDFThis paper reflects about the impacts on short/medium term of aging effect on European tourism demand and provides a contribution to a recent McKercher (2023) call for adopting a more critical lens when examining differences among generations. Population aging challenges and constraints have been discussed mainly due to their impacts at the political, social, cultural and economic level. As reported by European Commission [EC] (2023), “ageing of the population is a long-term trend, which began several decades ago in Europe” (p.10). As underlined by EC on 1 January 2021, those aged 65+ represented 20.8% of the EU population but expected to attain 30,6% in 2050. Countries as Portugal, Spain and Italy are expected to present higher values than the European average. Nevertheless, the aging impact is not only registered in South Europe, and most relevant international tourism markets to Portugal, such as France will face this effect (European Commission, 2023). Considering recent research gaps on these aging effects on tourism, it is important to:
relate the population structure of the most important European tourism markets in Portugal;
suggest tourism demand scenarios supported by demographic projections;
explore the attitudes of European tourists to go on holidays based on the Age-period-cohort theory
Demand Trends on European Thermalism
Get PDFThermalism is a popular form of therapy that involves the use of the healing properties of mineral waters for health and wellness purposes. In Europe, thermalism has a long history and is widely practised in many countries across the continent (Rawlinson & Heap, 2017). In recent decades, health and wellness have become important motives for consumption, attracting the interest of researchers from different disciplines. However, one of the current challenges in academic research and in the wellness tourism industry is the conceptual development related to the key term wellness. In recent years, classical thermalism, focused essentially on the \u27cure\u27 dimension, has been replaced by modern thermalism, which is particularly based on the \u27wellness\u27 dimension, and the offer is more focused on preventive therapeutic motivations, combined with recreational and tourism aspects. Following this trend, spas are starting to regain some dynamism in betting on a diversified offer, which not only considers therapeutic assumptions but also a holistic perspective, which simultaneously includes the assumptions of health and wellness. This research aims to analyze the main European thermal destinations in order to trace the demand profile. In order to meet this objective, a qualitative approach methodology was used, using semi-structured interviews. In the main conclusions, it is possible to highlight a change in the consumer profile in Europe, which is moving towards a younger demand, with more specialized services focused on physical and psychological well-being, beyond the so-called "classic" ones.O termalismo é uma forma popular de terapia que envolve a utilização das propriedades curativas das águas minerais para fins de saúde e bem-estar. Na Europa, o termalismo tem uma longa história e é amplamente praticado em muitos países do continente (Rawlinson & Heap, 2017). Nas últimas décadas, a saúde e o bem-estar tornaram-se importantes motivos de consumo, atraindo o interesse de investigadores de diferentes disciplinas. No entanto, um dos desafios actuais na investigação académica e na indústria do turismo de bem-estar é o desenvolvimento concetual relacionado com o termo-chave bem-estar. Nos últimos anos, o termalismo clássico, centrado essencialmente na dimensão "cura", foi substituído pelo termalismo moderno, que se baseia particularmente na dimensão "bem-estar", e a oferta está mais centrada em motivações terapêuticas preventivas, combinadas com aspectos recreativos e turísticos. Seguindo esta tendência, as termas começam a recuperar algum dinamismo na aposta numa oferta diversificada, que considera não só os pressupostos terapêuticos mas também uma perspetiva holística, que inclui simultaneamente os pressupostos de saúde e bem-estar. Esta investigação tem como objetivo analisar os principais destinos termais europeus, de forma a traçar o perfil da procura. Para cumprir este objetivo, foi utilizada uma metodologia de abordagem qualitativa, com recurso a entrevistas semi-estruturadas. Nas principais conclusões, é possível destacar uma mudança no perfil do consumidor na Europa, que caminha para uma procura mais jovem, com serviços mais especializados e focados no bem-estar físico e psicológico, para além dos ditos "clássicos"
Turismo e transportes: Uma revisão de literatura no contexto brasileiro
No full textOs transportes são um componente indissociável do turismo, fazendo inclusive parte da definição deste. Sem a infraestrutura e os modais de transporte, o turismo simplesmente não aconteceria (Page, 2009). O objetivo principal deste trabalho é revisar a literatura científica brasileira em turismo que verse sobre as relações entre turismo e transportes. Pretendeu-se identificar as principais abordagens teóricas e metodológicas, bem como os principais resultados obtidos em pesquisas empíricas. Verificou-se que ainda existem poucos estudos sobre as relações entre turismo e transportes no país, especialmente em comparação com outros campos de estudo, como planejamento turístico, marketing e patrimônio, e também considerando as dimensões continentais do Brasil. Há temáticas nas relações entre turismo e transporte emergentes em termos internacionais (impactos ambientais dos transportes, mobilidade suave, tecnologias da comunicação e da informação) cuja presença na amostra analisada é quase nula
O papel da eco-civilização na procura de turismo na China: A sua influência no perfil do turista emissor chinês
Get PDFA sustentabilidade em turismo é um pilar fundamental para o crescimento do sector do turismo. Na China, o novo modelo de eco-civilização influencia a procura de turismo. É fundamental perceber em que medida é que este novo conceito de eco-civilização pode influenciar o perfil do turista chinês, as suas características e motivações. A identificação de diferentes segmentos e as novas tendências neste novo modelo de desenvolvimento da China são essenciais para cada país poder adaptar a sua oferta à procura. Tendo em conta esta realidade, o presente trabalho tem dois objetivos: (i) analisar o conceito de eco-civilização na China e a sua influência no turismo chinês, segundo (ii) analisar em que medida é que este novo conceito de eco-civilização pode influenciar os perfis do turista emissor chinê
The role of Wi-Fi networks to understand tourist´s behaviour
Get PDFObjectives |
In recent years we have seen an increasing use of mobile devices as a means of accessing the Internet, allowing individuals access to tourist platforms. Currently, wireless connectivity is increasingly appreciated by tourists, being, according to Anuar & Yulia (2017) service quality of the Wi-Fi the strongest factor influencing tourist experience and satisfaction, and according to Reyes-Menendez et al. (2018) a mean to promote customer loyalty in the restaurant sector. Wi-Fi networks can be a differentiating element in the strategy of tourism organizations and destinations, and should therefore be considered a priority in the strategies and policies defined for the sector. The involvement of European and national organizations has been quite significant in recent years. The European Commission created the WiFi4EU initiative with the aim of providing access to free, high-quality Wi-Fi in public spaces for residents of the European Union and local visitors to a municipality (European Commission, 2020), and, in Portugal, Tourism of Portugal approved, in 2016, the support line for investment in projects to provide high-quality Wi-Fi access in historic centers and public spaces with the highest influx of tourists.
In accordance with Normative Order No. 10/2016, the provision of Wi-Fi networks in the suggested locations will ensure that tourists, and also populations, have access to informative content in a faster and simpler way, and that they will be created the conditions for the emergence of new businesses based on digital and for the intelligent management of tourist destinations. About 90% of Portuguese municipalities, taking advantage of the community funds made available for this purpose, however, only 12 municipalities offer WiFi4EU access (Parreira, 2020). Although the importance and advantages of the Wi-Fi network for both tourists and stakeholders are recognized, very little attention has been paid by researchers and public organizations themselves, in order to understand the use of Wi-Fi networks by the Portuguese, especially in scope of tourism travel. As Rafailova & Hadzhikolev (2020) refer, one of the main conclusions of their study is that there is a need to find if tourists get information in advance or upon arrival for available places with free Wi-Fi.
Methodology | In this study we apply a quantitative methodology, three questionnaires were developed, with the aim of analyzing the use of free municipal WI-FI when carrying out tourist trips, and applied to the Portuguese in recent years (since 2020/2021). The questionnaires do not consist of the same number of questions; however, the main and specific objectives are similar. The sampling technique used was snowballing, which means that it increases with the existing connections between the respondents (Neuman, 2011). In total, 640 questionnaires were collected. This survey was developed through the Google Forms platform and distributed through social networks, namely Facebook and Instagram, annually, between December and January. The data is analyzed using SPSS 27.0 software. As the randomness of the sample was not guaranteed, the survey results were subject to a statistical treatment centered on univariate and bivariate analyzes (contingency tables) with a descriptive scope. A comparative analysis between the data was performed. In addition, we will conduct three semi-structured interviews to municipalities that have implemented wi-fi infrastructures in Portugal to understand there opinion and experience about the use and usefulness of free wi-fi to understand tourist consumer behavior.
Main Results and Contributions |
With this study it is concluded that the Portuguese knows and considers the existence of Wi-Fi networks in municipalities to be important, even indicating that this should cover other less touristy areas. On tourist trips, respondents tend to use free Wi-Fi networks in their visits. To access the wi-fi system, most respondents use a Smartphone, just by the fact that it\u27s more practical and most of the people have access to on. When asked about the place of access, most responded that they access in historic city centers. The use of these networks has increased in recent years, with unusual behavior in 2020, due to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Most respondents use free Wi-Fi networks to browse social networks and consult tourist information. The realization of this study has practical implications for tourism organizations, allowing them to understand the user profile of the Wi-Fi network and its usefulness for the visitor in enjoying tourism at a given destination.
Limitations | This study has some limitations related to the fact that the sample is not representative and that the interviews were carried out only in some municipalities, in an exploratory manner. In future investigations, it is suggested to apply the questionnaire and conduct interviews with tourists and local organizations, respectively, that have implemented Wi-Fi infrastructure in the main tourist attractions.
Conclusions |
Wi-Fi networks are very important and necessary infrastructure for destinations to become smart destinations and to improve the tourist experience; as connectivity, speed and free internet access are increasingly valued aspects of tourism trips. In Portugal, municipal organizations are taking significant advantage of financial support and existing European and national initiatives for this purpose, which means that almost all municipalities will be covered with this infrastructure. With access points located in areas with the highest tourism affluence, tracking user data as well as their perception and use of the service, helped organizations to obtain insights into consumer behavior in tourism and become more competitive tourist destinations.
References
Anuar, N. & Yulia, A. (2017) Influence of Wi-Fi service quality towards tourists’ satisfaction
and dissemination of tourism experience. Journal of Tourism, Hospitality & Culinary Arts, 9(2), 383-398.
Despacho normativo n.º 10/2016 de 28 de outubro, Diário da República, 2.ª série — N.º 208 . https://files.diariodarepublica.pt/2s/2016/10/208000000/3231632317.pdf
European Commission (2021). Shaping Europe’s digital future: WiFi4EU | Wi-fi gratuito para todos na Europa. https://bit.ly/3hZgg20 [Accessed the 15 th of December 2020, 11:30]
Neuman, W. L. (2011). Social Research Methods Qualitative and Quantitative Approaches. Pearson Education, Inc.
Parreira, R. (2020). WiFi4EU: 90% dos municípios portugueses já receberam vales para instalação de Wi-Fi gratuito. SapoTek. https://tek.sapo.pt/noticias/internet/artigos/wifi4eu-90-dos-municipios-portugueses-ja-receberam-vales-para-instalacao-de-wi-fi-gratuito.
Rafailova, Genka and Hadzhikolev, Antonio, (2020), Assessment of Smart Experience of Tourists and Local Citizens in Tourist Destination, Anniversary Scientific Conference with International Participation Tourism and Connectivity, 1, 563-569, https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:vra:pr2010:y:2020:i:1:p:563-569.
Reyes-Menendez, A., Palos-Sanchez, P., Saura, J. & Martin-Velicia, F. (2018). Wireless Communications and Mobile Computing. https://doi.org/10.1155/2018/3487398.
Objectives |
In recent years we have seen an increasing use of mobile devices as a means of accessing the Internet, allowing individuals access to tourist platforms. Currently, wireless connectivity is increasingly appreciated by tourists, being, according to Anuar & Yulia (2017) service quality of the Wi-Fi the strongest factor influencing tourist experience and satisfaction, and according to Reyes-Menendez et al. (2018) a mean to promote customer loyalty in the restaurant sector. Wi-Fi networks can be a differentiating element in the strategy of tourism organizations and destinations, and should therefore be considered a priority in the strategies and policies defined for the sector. The involvement of European and national organizations has been quite significant in recent years. The European Commission created the WiFi4EU initiative with the aim of providing access to free, high-quality Wi-Fi in public spaces for residents of the European Union and local visitors to a municipality (European Commission, 2020), and, in Portugal, Tourism of Portugal approved, in 2016, the support line for investment in projects to provide high-quality Wi-Fi access in historic centers and public spaces with the highest influx of tourists.
In accordance with Normative Order No. 10/2016, the provision of Wi-Fi networks in the suggested locations will ensure that tourists, and also populations, have access to informative content in a faster and simpler way, and that they will be created the conditions for the emergence of new businesses based on digital and for the intelligent management of tourist destinations. About 90% of Portuguese municipalities, taking advantage of the community funds made available for this purpose, however, only 12 municipalities offer WiFi4EU access (Parreira, 2020). Although the importance and advantages of the Wi-Fi network for both tourists and stakeholders are recognized, very little attention has been paid by researchers and public organizations themselves, in order to understand the use of Wi-Fi networks by the Portuguese, especially in scope of tourism travel. As Rafailova & Hadzhikolev (2020) refer, one of the main conclusions of their study is that there is a need to find if tourists get information in advance or upon arrival for available places with free Wi-Fi.
Methodology | In this study we apply a quantitative methodology, three questionnaires were developed, with the aim of analyzing the use of free municipal WI-FI when carrying out tourist trips, and applied to the Portuguese in recent years (since 2020/2021). The questionnaires do not consist of the same number of questions; however, the main and specific objectives are similar. The sampling technique used was snowballing, which means that it increases with the existing connections between the respondents (Neuman, 2011). In total, 640 questionnaires were collected. This survey was developed through the Google Forms platform and distributed through social networks, namely Facebook and Instagram, annually, between December and January. The data is analyzed using SPSS 27.0 software. As the randomness of the sample was not guaranteed, the survey results were subject to a statistical treatment centered on univariate and bivariate analyzes (contingency tables) with a descriptive scope. A comparative analysis between the data was performed. In addition, we will conduct three semi-structured interviews to municipalities that have implemented wi-fi infrastructures in Portugal to understand there opinion and experience about the use and usefulness of free wi-fi to understand tourist consumer behavior.
Main Results and Contributions |
With this study it is concluded that the Portuguese knows and considers the existence of Wi-Fi networks in municipalities to be important, even indicating that this should cover other less touristy areas. On tourist trips, respondents tend to use free Wi-Fi networks in their visits. To access the wi-fi system, most respondents use a Smartphone, just by the fact that it\u27s more practical and most of the people have access to on. When asked about the place of access, most responded that they access in historic city centers. The use of these networks has increased in recent years, with unusual behavior in 2020, due to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Most respondents use free Wi-Fi networks to browse social networks and consult tourist information. The realization of this study has practical implications for tourism organizations, allowing them to understand the user profile of the Wi-Fi network and its usefulness for the visitor in enjoying tourism at a given destination.
Limitations | This study has some limitations related to the fact that the sample is not representative and that the interviews were carried out only in some municipalities, in an exploratory manner. In future investigations, it is suggested to apply the questionnaire and conduct interviews with tourists and local organizations, respectively, that have implemented Wi-Fi infrastructure in the main tourist attractions.
Conclusions |
Wi-Fi networks are very important and necessary infrastructure for destinations to become smart destinations and to improve the tourist experience; as connectivity, speed and free internet access are increasingly valued aspects of tourism trips. In Portugal, municipal organizations are taking significant advantage of financial support and existing European and national initiatives for this purpose, which means that almost all municipalities will be covered with this infrastructure. With access points located in areas with the highest tourism affluence, tracking user data as well as their perception and use of the service, helped organizations to obtain insights into consumer behavior in tourism and become more competitive tourist destinations.
References
Anuar, N. & Yulia, A. (2017) Influence of Wi-Fi service quality towards tourists’ satisfaction
and dissemination of tourism experience. Journal of Tourism, Hospitality & Culinary Arts, 9(2), 383-398.
Despacho normativo n.º 10/2016 de 28 de outubro, Diário da República, 2.ª série — N.º 208 . https://files.diariodarepublica.pt/2s/2016/10/208000000/3231632317.pdf
European Commission (2021). Shaping Europe’s digital future: WiFi4EU | Wi-fi gratuito para todos na Europa. https://bit.ly/3hZgg20 [Accessed the 15 th of December 2020, 11:30]
Neuman, W. L. (2011). Social Research Methods Qualitative and Quantitative Approaches. Pearson Education, Inc.
Parreira, R. (2020). WiFi4EU: 90% dos municípios portugueses já receberam vales para instalação de Wi-Fi gratuito. SapoTek. https://tek.sapo.pt/noticias/internet/artigos/wifi4eu-90-dos-municipios-portugueses-ja-receberam-vales-para-instalacao-de-wi-fi-gratuito.
Rafailova, Genka and Hadzhikolev, Antonio, (2020), Assessment of Smart Experience of Tourists and Local Citizens in Tourist Destination, Anniversary Scientific Conference with International Participation Tourism and Connectivity, 1, 563-569, https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:vra:pr2010:y:2020:i:1:p:563-569.
Reyes-Menendez, A., Palos-Sanchez, P., Saura, J. & Martin-Velicia, F. (2018). Wireless Communications and Mobile Computing. https://doi.org/10.1155/2018/3487398.