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Viagens de um património alimentar português: O Arroz-doce
Get PDFThe recognition, valorisation and promotion of food heritage enables the recovery of flavours, knowledge and know-how, pillars of a people\u27s culture and identity, promoting their transmission to future generations, which is essential for safeguarding intangible cultural heritage. The tourist experience is increasingly a sensory experience, and most tourists can understand the local culture through its gastronomy. Therefore, including food heritage in the gastronomic tourism offer is a pillar for developing the tourist experience, contributing to local development and territorial branding.
Rice pudding has marked its presence in Portuguese confectionery since medieval times and is still present on everyday tables today, and is a must at festivities, particularly at Christmas.
The aim of this study is to analyse the changes in Rice pudding over the centuries, in terms of ingredients, quantities and units of measurement, preparation and presentation of the recipe. Although food heritage is not static, reflecting historical and social changes, the analysis allows us to conclude that Rice pudding recipe is almost unchanged, thus justifying its prominent place in traditional Portuguese confectionery and gastronomic tourism and its classification as Portuguese food heritage.
O reconhecimento, valorização e divulgação dos patrimónios alimentares permitem a recuperação dos sabores, saberes e saberes-fazer, pilares da cultura e da identidade de um povo, promovendo a sua transmissão às gerações vindouras, indispensável na salvaguarda do património cultural imaterial.
A experiência turística é, cada vez mais, uma experiência sensorial e a maioria dos turistas consegue entender a cultura local através da sua gastronomia. A inclusão dos patrimónios alimentares na oferta turística gastronómica constitui-se, pois, como um pilar de desenvolvimento da experiência turística, contribuindo para o desenvolvimento local e para o branding territorial.
O Arroz-doce marcou a sua presença na doçaria portuguesa desde os tempos medievos e ainda hoje está presente nas mesas do quotidiano, sendo um prato obrigatório nas festividades, nomeadamente nas mesas natalícias.
Pretende-se com este estudo analisar as alterações do Arroz-doce ao longo dos séculos, no que diz respeito aos ingredientes, quantidades e unidades de medida utilizadas, preparação e modo de apresentação da receita. Sendo certo que os patrimónios alimentares não são estáticos, refletindo alterações históricas e sociais, a análise efetuada permite concluir, contudo, pela quase inalterabilidade da receita do Arroz-Doce, justificando também por esse motivo o seu lugar de destaque na doçaria tradicional portuguesa e na oferta turística gastronómica e a sua classificação como património alimentar português.
 
Discourses of the Past, Discourses of the Present: Heritage Tourism in Latin America
Get PDFObjectives Heritage tourism—engaging with sites, material culture, or intangible culture deemed repositories of the history of societies—is one of the fastest-growing segments of the worldwide tourism industry. But “heritage” is not an unproblematic term or a social construction situated exclusively in the past. It is often based on discourses of the present, constructed with categories that serve interests rooted in today’s unequal power dynamics.
This paper explores heritage tourism embedded in past and present discourses using the example of the South American country of Ecuador. I study former Ecuadorian President Rafael Correa Delgado’s (2007-2017) heritage tourism policies during his self-proclaimed Citizen’s Revolution (Revolución Ciudadana). I focus on one of Correa’s emblematic tourism projects: the reconstruction and restoration of the Ecuadorian railway system between 2008 and 2013. I study how this regime used the railway system reconstruction project to build a unified national identity around their Citizen’s Revolution and the concept of Buen Vivir, an approach to socialism that embraces the ancestral and communitarian knowledge of the Quichua indigenous peoples. I propose that, just as the original railroad system had been built to unify the country in the early 20th century, its reconstruction 100 years later as a tourism attraction had similar political and cultural objectives under the banner of “21st-century socialism.”
Methodology This paper is based on ethnographic research between 2014 and 2023. I conducted participant observation on board the Tren Crucero between September 30 and October 4, 2014, and on four of the five main thematic routes available between 2014 and 2018. In 2023, I visited some of the unused stations once the project had been closed for tourism. I also conducted open-ended, semi-structured interviews with key officials of the railway system, tour guides, and domestic and international tourists between 2014 and 2023.
Main Results and Contributions The Ecuadorian railway is unlike any other railroad system in Latin America because of Ecuador’s rugged topography and the degree of national integration that it generated in a previously fragmented nation. Four of the five largest cities in the country were connected for the first time by the railroad. Congressional authorization for building the railway system was obtained by conservative president Gabriel García Moreno in 1861. However, by the time of Moreno’s assassination in 1875, only 45km of track had been laid. There was little additional progress until the late 1890s when José Eloy Alfaro Delgado, the leader of the Liberal Revolution, took up the project. The Liberal Revolution (1895 to 1925) gave rise to one of Ecuador\u27s most important political, economic, and cultural transformations. In just fifteen years, the Revolution secularized and guaranteed public education, declared freedom of religion, promulgated civil marriage and divorce laws, established the civil registry of births, marriages, and deaths, secularized cemeteries, and nationalized the properties of religious orders. The railroad (inaugurated on Alfaro’s birthday on June 25, 1908) exemplifies the Liberal Revolution’s economic and social achievements.
In the latter part of the 20th century, Ecuador changed in ways that diminished the railroad’s value. The country’s economy up to the 1970s had been based primarily on exporting bananas, coffee, and cacao. But when oil production and exportation became Ecuador’s central economic engine, the state turned its attention to constructing roads—particularly to and from the Amazonian region—to facilitate oil transportation, enhance commerce, and accommodate population growth. This transformation resulted in neglecting the railway system, which was left to deteriorate under challenging climate conditions.
By the 1990s, the railway system served the transportation and commerce needs of just a few rural areas. Although it had once been an essential component of Ecuador’s commercial infrastructure, the railroad was sinking into irrelevance, and its roadbeds and equipment were succumbing to decay. President Correa gave it a new lease on life through his vision of marketing it as a heritage tourism attraction. This massive undertaking required the reconstruction of 507 km of railway. The project was carried out using a three-pronged approach: rehabilitation of ways and stations, restructuring of the public corporation, and development of community-based tourism products, requiring an investment of USD 340 million between 2008 and 2013 when the vast enterprise was concluded.
The system’s schedule included five one-day thematic routes of 4 to 6 hours each through the Andean and coastal provinces and one multi-day excursion. At its peak in 2015, the railway system had more than 30 stations, 23 cafés, 14 handicraft markets, and 13 local museums, providing more than 5,000 direct and 15,000 indirect jobs and involving 180 micro-enterprises. Though the revenue from the railway system was small, it is estimated that 200,000 domestic and international tourists traversed the Andes aboard the renovated trains.
Conclusions Even if it is heritage-, community- or conservation-based, tourism growth risks being co-opted by the state when it becomes its major champion. President Correa’s railroad restoration project was used to boost a particular political ideology and contribute to the construction of the nation-state.
The reconstruction of the railway system for tourism and heritage purposes was an iconic component of Ecuador’s Buen Vivir nation branding. Tourism policies aimed to link this branding with the more extensive public policies being put in place. One of President Correa’s most visible actions was to grant rights to nature under its constitution while fostering an extractivist economic approach. Paradoxically, the revenues of the oil production boom of the early 2000s allowed the railway system to be reconstructed and subsidized. However, as important as the economics of tourism were to the government, social and political considerations provided a more significant incentive for promoting its growth. Tourism became a means to cement the government’s political platform, thus establishing a memorable branding for the nation.
The Ecuadorian railway became a highly contentious political project; it remained so under successive administrations (Lenin Moreno, 2017-2021, and Guillermo Lasso, 2021-present), which let the project slowly die. While economic reasons, such as the fall of oil prices between 2014 and 2021 and the global COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and 2021, played a role in the demise of the railway system, the intentional neglect to which it was subjected after Correa left power in 2017 speaks to how this project was seen as representative of his administration. The system’s vulnerability was profoundly tied to its emblematic nature for this regime
Decisões de escolha de Spas Termais em Portugal: Um estudo sobre determinantes sociodemográficos, motivações pull-push e sustentabilidade
No full textGoals | Health and wellness tourism has gained popularity due to changing attitudes and behaviours towards health. In this context, thermal spaces are positioned as attractive to a market eager not only for therapeutic solutions but also for leisure/leisure proposals with the added value provided by the properties of natural mineral waters. Both needs shape tourist demand, the first being more focused on Health Tourism and the second more on Wellbeing Tourism. The latter, Thermal Spa Tourism or Wellness Thermalism, is proving to be a promising market. However, there is still little investigation into the identity of tourists and how current trends, such as the sustainability attribute, may influence the selection of these spaces. This attribute becomes crucial in light of consumers\u27 growing concern with socio-environmental issues (Euromonitor Internacional, 2022). Therefore, it is essential to consider whether visitors to thermal spas are influenced by this concern when making decisions. Given the increasing importance of sustainability in the tourism industry and the lack of knowledge about the unique qualities of the thermal market (Vaz, Alves, Ferreira, Costa, Rodrigues, Fernandes & Nunes, 2022), this investigation seeks: i. identify the specific tourists\u27 motivations (push factors) for practising thermal spa tourism; ii. The primary services and treatments used; iii. The dimensions and attributes considered most relevant for the selection of thermal spas (pull factors), including iv. Factors related to sustainability given the importance of this topic for tourism and society in general. Finally, the aim is to understand the relationship between sociodemographic characteristics – gender, age and income – and push factors.
Methodology |An initial survey was conducted on tourists aged 18 to 65 who visited spas for well-being. After the pretest, the questionnaire was revised into six parts: screening questions, push motivation, pull and sustainability attributes, services/treatments used in the thermal space spa, travel characteristics, and sociodemographic characteristics. Data was collected through an online survey distributed via Google and shared on social media by Termas de Portugal and the Escola de Turismo de Portugal in Porto. To date, a total of 67 valid surveys have been collected. The data were processed using descriptive statistics with the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) program (version 20.0).
Main results and contributions | Based on this preliminary study, regarding push motivation, the data shows that relaxation is the most important motivator for this group, followed by the pursuit of holistic well-being. The most sought-after treatments/services are mainly associated with natural mineral waters, namely Sauna and Turkish bath (65.7%), Dynamic thermal pool (64.2%), Vichy shower (52.2%) and Hydrotherapy services (49.3%). Regarding the pull attributes, the study results indicate that therapists are the most influential factor in decision-making. Factors such as hygiene, courtesy, and knowledge of products and services are crucial. Additionally, the environment plays a significant role in decision-making, including temperature, ventilation, privacy, and tranquillity. Finally, pricing also plays a vital role in decision-making. Sustainability is often not a top priority, but it should be considered. This is especially true for younger people and those between the ages of 46 and 55, as well as women and those with higher incomes.
Regarding theoretical contributions, we aim to bridge the gap in understanding what motivates tourists to seek spas specifically for well-being. This theoretical body also aims to deepen understanding of how emerging consumer trends, such as sustainability, may influence the preferences and decision-making of tourism actors. This data is crucial to understanding people\u27s decision-making when choosing this spa type (Kucukusta, Pang, & Chui, 2013). Since offering tourism products that provide valuable experiences is crucial (Singh, Manhas, Mir, & Quintela, 2022), this information is vital for optimizing the effectiveness and efficiency of marketing activities (Brandão, Liberato, Teixeira, & Liberato, 2021). Doing so will better satisfy the target markets (Kucukusta et al., 2013). Therefore, this data plays a crucial role in enabling spa managers to redefine their priorities, segment their services more effectively, and redirect their offers to meet the needs and expectations of their clients.
Limitations | Caution should be exercised when interpreting the data presented in the empirical study due to the small sample size. This fact made it impossible to study specific inferential analysis tests, making it impossible to extrapolate to the target population. As such, the conclusions of this analysis only apply to the specific population being studied.
Conclusion |The study is a significant step towards comprehending the characteristics of wellness tourists who opt for thermal spa. The aim is to begin an investigation that details the pull-push motivations, the most appreciated services and treatments, and the relationship between sustainability and decision-making when choosing a thermal spa. Despite having to be read carefully, the data highlights the significant impact of sociodemographic factors on decision-making in this particular population. For example, women, young people and those with a higher income level are more likely to give greater importance to sustainability. The most desired services and treatments are typically related to natural mineral waters. According to preliminary data, the primary reason for utilizing these services is relaxation (push motivations), as noted in other studies. The relevance of the excellent characteristics of human resources in thermal spas is considered at the level of pull attributes. This fact may reveal the spa industry\u27s potential to benefit from investment in training to improve the quality of human resources. However, all this data will be explored further by analysing a more relevant sample to understand better the market for one of the increasingly popular tourist products - Thermal Spa Tourism.
Referências bibliográficas
Brandão, F., Liberato, D., Teixeira, A.S. & Liberato, P., (2021). Motivations to the Practice of Thermal Tourism: The case of north and centre of Portugal. Sustainability, 3, No. 12688. Doi: 10.20944/preprints202107.0001.v1.
Euromonitor Internacional (2022). 10 Principais tendências globais de consumo 2022. Acedido em 22 de maio de 2022 em https://go.euromonitor.com/white-paper-EC-2022-Top-10-Global-Consumer-Trends-PG.html
Kucukusta, D., Pang, L. & Chui, S. (2013). Inbound travelers’ selection criteria for hotel spas in Hong Kong. Journal of Travel and Tourism Marketing, 30 (6), 557-576.
Singh, R., Manhas, P. S., Mir, M. A., & Quintela, J. A. (2022). Investigating the relationship between experience, well-being, and loyalty: A study of wellness tourists. Administrative Sciences, 12(3), 1-20. https://doi.org/10.3390/ admsci12030098
Vaz, M., Alves, M. J., Ferreira, F., Costa, V., Rodrigues, C., Fernandes, P. O., & Nunes, A. (2022, May). User\u27s Profile of a Portuguese Thermal Establishment: Empirical Study. In International Conference on Tourism Research 15 (1), 449-458.
 
The critical success factors for tourism route development: An examination of route typologies
Get PDFObjectives | Tourism routes are initiatives that involve stakeholder’s partnerships, including public and/or private members, led by associations to facilitate collective decision-making (UNWTO (World Tourism Organization) & ETC (European Travel Commission), 2017).These initiatives have the potential to boost tourism destinations and products, as well as promote cooperation and knowledge exchange among stakeholders (Brás et al., 2010; Cloutier et al., 2016; Del Chiappa et al., 2019), among other benefits. However, there is limited research on factors influencing their overall success, namely, the critical success factors (CSFs) (Del Chiappa et al., 2019; Marais et al., 2017). Accordingly, the aim of this research is to identify CSFs by assessing their differences through a comparison of route typologies. The route typologies were developed based on the thematic group (UNWTO & ETC, 2017), the territory (UNWTO & ETC, 2017) the structure (UNWTO, 2015), the members sectors, and defined goals. To achieve that, we conducted five case studies, which included the European Route of Industrial Heritage, the Traditional Salt-Making: the Atlantic Route, the European Federation of the Way of Saint James, the Asociación de Municipios del Camino de Santiago (Spain), and the Rota da Bairrada (Portugal).
Methodology | Data collection involved semi-structured interviews with current and former members of these tourism routes. The participants comprised technicians or representatives from public institutions; members of academia; and technicians, managers, or proprietors of private companies in the tourism and wine sectors. The interviews, conducted between May 2022 and December 2022, primarily engaged potential interviewees through email communication facilitated by the technical secretariats of their respective entities. The CSFs, outlined in an interview script, were categorized into four phases: Networking, Operational Activities, Resources, and Performance Measurements. This categorization drew from Bornhorst et al. (2010), encompassing determinants of success for destination management organizations and tourism destinations, further enriched by extant research on governance, critical success factors, and wine tourism management. Additionally, official documents, websites, and promotional materials from the selected case studies underwent analysis. Subsequently, the data underwent content analysis employing the WebQDA software.
Main Results and Contributions | The main findings highlight that these organizations primarily focus on tourist promotion and creating a network of stakeholders as their main objectives. However, there is underperformance in monitoring the attainment of defined objectives. Commitment and collaboration among all members are among the most emphasized CSFs, forming the cornerstone of networking activities. Funding-related factors are pervasive, with public entities playing a predominant role in funding these initiatives. Concerning human resources, the availability of time, staff, and working capacity is deemed essential for establishing these initiatives. Nevertheless, some differences between typologies were identified. In territorial-based tourism routes, greater challenges are encountered in terms of cooperation compared to linear-based routes. In these instances, increased efforts in internal marketing are required to establish and cultivate connections between producers and tourism agents. When the goal is tourist promotion, there is a greater concern with the number of visitors, whereas in cases where the main goal is territorial development, the perception of its members is defined by the quality of the presented projects. Moreover, this research contributes theoretically by highlighting variations and commonalities among various route typologies in terms of CSFs for tourism route development. By considering a diverse range of case studies, this research provides a comprehensive overview that was previously lacking in the literature. It also offers practical recommendations for establishing and enhancing tourism routes.
Limitations | One of the main limitations relies on the fact that there may be a risk of bias in participant selection, as participants who take part in this research may potentially be more deeply involved members in route activities. Furthermore, this study employs an exploratory approach limited to specific case studies, and, as a result, the findings should not be generalized. Therefore, it could also be beneficial to assess the importance of these CSFs through confirmatory research.
Conclusions | Regarding the importance of Networking factors, these results are in line with the conclusions drawn from previous works on the management of other tourism routes, which gave a central role to these factors (Cloutier et al., 2016; Del Chiappa et al., 2019). Furthermore, in addition to the importance of public institutions in funding these initiatives and facilitating collaboration among private agents, success also depends on the leadership and capabilities of specific individuals. This research suggests certain hypotheses for confirmatory approaches in future research
Mission Impossible: An autoethnographic account of tourist visa application experience
Get PDFMission Impossible: An autoethnographic account of tourist visa application experience
Keywords | visa application, autoethnography, affordance, orientalism
Objectives | For many, visa requirement is a key factor when deciding to visit a destination (Juma & Douglas, 2023). Given its significance, it is surprising to find that the research on tourist visas is very limited. Although the freedom to travel should be considered as a normal condition of human life (Hasselberg, 2012), the visa-free privilege is mostly reserved for tourists from wealthy democratic states (Whyte, 2008), while the rest of the world faces various levels of visa-related constraints. This, to some level, has been reflected in tourism knowledge creation, where scholars from developed countries, in many cases, have visa-free access to most countries in the world, control the narratives and hold the authoritative power in knowledge production. As a result, the important voices of visa and border crossing in tourism are neglected in the literature (Zare & Ye, 2023).
The existing literature on tourist visas mainly focuses on how visa regulations influence inbound tourism flow. Strong evidence has supported that a more friendly visa policy has an active role in facilitating positive destination images (Çakar et al., 2018), significantly increased tourist numbers (Bangwayo-Skeete & Skeete, 2017) and stronger visiting intentions (Juma & Douglas, 2023). On the one hand, seeing the great economic benefits of visa liberalisation, interest groups actively lobby the government to encourage travel-friendly policies; on the other hand, governments use tourist visas as a management tool to regulate the tourism flows and mitigate the negative impacts in the destination, such as overtourism (Cheung & Li, 2019). Although studies have mentioned challenges of obtaining a visa, such as high cost, long queues, and extended waiting time (Whyte, 2008), no studies have explored the embodied experiences of obtaining a tourist visa. This study, thus, aims to fill the research gap by providing an autoethnographic account of first-hand experiences in applying for a Schengen visa in the UK.
Orientalism (Said, 1978) and affordance theory (Gibson, 1977) serve as the theoretical lens of this study. Orientalism offers perspectives to critique and investigate the visa application process, particularly the power imbalance, economic disparities, cultural hegemony, and security concerns stemming from the notion of the ‘Oriental Other’. The affordance theory, on the other hand, shifts away from a human-centric focus, and help to identify not only the constraints that the visa application online system and application centre impose on me but also how Chinese netizens actualise social media and other technologies to negotiate these challenges.
Methodology | An autoethnography was conducted between February and April 2023. I, as a researcher, recorded my visa application experience. Data including screenshots, voice memos, detailed reflection diaries and photographs. The autoethnographic approach enables me to provide a contextually detailed description by drawing from my own experiences, personal narratives, and emotions to provide a nuanced understanding of the visa application experiences.
Main Results and Contributions | The findings reveals the strict and illogical tourist visa requirement, and its negative impact on tourists’ experience. For instance, confirmed accommodation and return ticket bookings are the compulsory documents for visa application. In addition, the online platform for visa appointments made it technically impossible to book an appointment slot (after trying for 2 months) and ask to register a new account every 20 days. Furthermore, the servicescape in the visa application centre is very hostile and intimidating. This uneven power relations and hostile treatment of the tourist visa application process reflect on today’s visa policies in the West, predominantly for the reason of border security and controlling illegal migration (Bianchi, 2006), without considering this process plays an essential part in visitors’ pre-trip experience.
Interestingly, this study also uncovers when facing these challenges, Chinese netizens living in the UK collectively started an online community to support each other. For instance, chat groups were created, and each member was assigned a designated slot to refresh the screen and check slot availabilities. When there are slots available, they will share in the group chat. The support also extends to developing sophisticated add-ins to the browser to make available slots more visible and refresh the screen automatically. All of these were shared within the community. In addition, they provide strong support through encouraging each other, sharing tips, and complaining about the system.
Conclusions | Although Chinese netizens developed the negotiating mechanism for these challenges, and some did manage to get the visa eventually, this study still aims to challenge and question the unfair and hostile tourist visa application system, and how such system damage all the efforts of DMOs and local communities put in to develop tourism in the local economy. Through the theoretical lens of orientalism and affordance theory, this study contributes to the limited yet important studies on visa and immobilities in the tourism context, and revealed power and geopolitical issues in tourism through embodied experiences. I urge policymakers and governments to revisit the visa requirement policies and the experience design of visa application, and develop a more humane, hospitable approach for the future visa application process.
References
Bangwayo-Skeete, P. F., & Skeete, R. W. (2017). Who Travels Visa-Free? Insights into Tourist Hassle-Free Travel. Journal of Travel Research, 56(3), 407–418. Scopus. https://doi.org/10.1177/0047287516643410
Bianchi, R. (2006). Tourism and the Globalisation of Fear: Analysing the Politics of Risk and (in)Security in Global Travel. Tourism and Hospitality Research, 7(1), 64–74. https://doi.org/10.1057/palgrave.thr.6050028
Çakar, K., Kalbaska, N., Inanir, A., & Şahin Ören, T. (2018). eVisa’s impacts on travel and tourism: The case of Turkey. Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Technology, 9(1), 13–31. Scopus. https://doi.org/10.1108/JHTT-02-2017-0019
Cheung, K. S., & Li, L.-H. (2019). Understanding visitor–resident relations in overtourism: Developing resilience for sustainable tourism. Journal of Sustainable Tourism, 27(8), 1197–1216. Scopus. https://doi.org/10.1080/09669582.2019.1606815
Gibson, J. (1977). The theory of affordances. In Perceiving, acting and knowing. Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.
Hasselberg, I. (2012). The Deportation Regime: Sovereignty, Space, and the Freedom of Movement. Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies, 38(7), 1186–1187. https://doi.org/10.1080/1369183X.2011.646467
Juma, C., & Douglas, A. (2023). Visa requirements and visit intention: Applying the theory of planned behavior. Journal of Policy Research in Tourism, Leisure and Events. Scopus. https://doi.org/10.1080/19407963.2023.2249911
Said, E. (1978). Orientalism: Western concepts of the Orient. New York: Pantheon.
Whyte, B. (2008). Visa-free travel privileges: An exploratory geographical analysis. Tourism Geographies, 10(2), 127–149. Scopus. https://doi.org/10.1080/14616680801999984
Zare, S., & Ye, I. Q. (2023). Contested tourists’ border-crossing experiences. Annals of Tourism Research, 100, 103571. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.annals.2023.103571
MINOR CONCERNS
I am grateful for the opportunity to read this Extended Abstract (EA) and make the following constructive suggestions.
In general terms, the EA is quite interesting and covers an important point in the autoethnographic account of first-hand experiences in applying for a Schengen visa in the UK Airport. From a methodological perspective, the article is well done and well integrated with the literature.
Scientific journals indexed in international databases are used for all bibliographic references.
The abstract is well-written and informative. However, I have a few suggestions that could enhance the abstract’s quality:
-The objectives could be strengthened by providing more context about the significance of visa requirements in tourism and highlighting the research gap that this study aims to fill.
-The section on existing literature could be condensed to provide a more concise overview of the main findings and limitations of previous studies.
-The description of the autoethnographic approach could be clarified by explaining the specific techniques used to collect and analyse data.
-Also the discussion of Orientalism could be expanded to explore how the concept of the "Oriental Other" is explicitly or implicitly reflected in the visa application process.
-The autoethnographic account could be enhanced by providing more concrete examples of the challenges and strategies experienced by the researcher in obtaining a Schengen visa in the UK.
-The analysis of the autoethnographic data could be strengthened by drawing connections between the researcher\u27s personal experiences and broader theoretical concepts.
-The findings are vague. The author should clarify.
 
Práticas de Conservação de Água em Empresas de Enoturismo em Portugal: Análise e Determinantes
Get PDFObjetivos | Reconhecido pela forte tradição vitivinícola e pela beleza das suas paisagens vinícolas (Guedes & Rebelo, 2019), Portugal tem apostado no enoturismo como forma de dinamizar os destinos vinícolas. Esta aposta tem permitido atrair um número crescente de turistas ávidos por experiências vinícolas únicas, sendo o enoturismo uma atividade em franco crescimento no país (Maduro, Guerreiro, & de Oliveira, 2015). No entanto, a sustentabilidade destes destinos e deste setor depende, em grande parte, da conservação de um recurso natural essencial: a água. Este recurso desempenha um papel central tanto no processo vitivinícola, como na promoção de experiências turísticas (Alonso, Bressan, Kok, & O’Brien, 2021). Neste contexto, a conservação da água numa perspetiva de sustentabilidade tem dois grandes benefícios. Em primeiro lugar, assegura a viabilidade a longo prazo da indústria vinícola e dos serviços turísticos associados. Em segundo, ajuda a preservar os ecossistemas aquáticos locais e a qualidade de vida das comunidades residentes nestes destinos que dependem deste recurso. É pois imperativo compreender e valorizar a importância da conservação da água a nível do enoturismo em Portugal. Neste sentido, há necessidade de refletir sobre as práticas sustentáveis atuais de gestão da água pelo enoturismo em Portugal. Além disso, para uma visão mais profunda sobre esta temática, é essencial também investigar os determinantes que podem influenciar as decisões sobre a adoção destas práticas por parte dos decisores destas empresas. Para tal, este estudo tem como objetivos principais: i. Investigar o estado das práticas de conservação da água atualmente em vigor nas empresas de enoturismo em Portugal: identificar os principais serviços/atividades oferecidas e refletir sobre os seus gastos de água, bem como analisar as medidas e tecnologias utilizadas para reduzir o consumo e o desperdício deste recurso; ii. Identificar e analisar os principais determinantes na adoção dessas práticas por parte dos empresários e decisores: fatores que impulsionam (motivadores) ou dificultam (barreiras) a adoção de práticas de conservação de água por parte dos empresários e decisores das empresas de enoturismo, bem como os benefícios associados à implementação das mesmas.
Metodologia | A metodologia de investigação utilizada no presente trabalho adota a triangulação inter-métodos. Neste sentido, optou-se por dois tipos de recolha de dados primários (Fase I e Fase II), onde foi utilizado o método misto de investigação de natureza distinta: qualitativa (Fase I – inquérito por entrevista em profundidade semiestruturada) e quantitativa (Fase II – inquérito por questionário). A amostra, em ambas as fases, é composta por está direcionada aos proprietários/gestores ou decisores das empresas vitivinícolas com serviços e atividades de enoturismo. Na fase I, um total de representantes de 10 empresas mostraram-se disponíveis para participar no estudo. Após a codificação das empresas (E1 – E10), utilizou-se a organização dos dados das entrevistas e posteriormente análise de conteúdo através do Software MaxQDA (22). Na fase II, foram recolhidos até ao momento um total de 78 questionários completos válidos. O programa Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) (versão 29.0) está a ser utilizado no tratamento de dados desta fase.
Principais resultados e contributos | Relativamente ao objetivo I deste trabalho os principais serviços/atividades oferecidas são as provas de vinhos, as visitas às adegas/vinhas e loja de compra. A oferta de experiências gastronómicas, programas de vindimas ou piqueniques são também referidas por uma parte das empresas. Os gastos e desperdícios de água estão associados principalmente com a lavagem de utensílios utilizados nas provas, bem como na limpeza e utilização das infraestruturas de apoio. As práticas de conservação da água são sobretudo de baixo custo e estão centradas principalmente na mitigação do desperdício e redução do seu consumo.
Para o objetivo II deste estudo, os resultados do estudo qualitativo destacam que as principais motivações para a adoção de práticas de gestão dos recursos hídricos são de natureza interna – pressão interna individual. Esta pressão está relacionada com a necessidade de preservar o património agrícola da família e a preocupação de que essa questão possa afetar o futuro da empresa e da sociedade em geral. Essas conclusões são consistentes com os dados preliminares quantitativos que indicam os fatores individuais como os principais motores da adoção destas práticas. Ambos os resultados referem que o principal benefício esperado está vinculado à redução de custos. Os entrevistados identificaram principalmente uma barreira interna organizacional como o principal obstáculo à adoção dessas práticas. Essa barreira está relacionada com as questões financeiras, especificamente o "custo de implementação das práticas". Ao examinarmos os dados quantitativos, os resultados evidenciam principalmente obstáculos externos (instituições), em particular a "falta de apoio financeiro institucional", "falta de uniformidade de normas", bem como “incentivos ambientais muito burocráticos”.
A nível de contributos, este artigo pretende dar início à reflexão sobre as estratégias de gestão hídrica no setor do enoturismo em Portugal, assim como identificar os determinantes que moldam as decisões dos empresários nessas estratégias. Trata-se de um trabalho pioneiro dado que adota uma abordagem multidisciplinar, incorporando quatro subdisciplinas, nomeadamente na área da sustentabilidade, marketing, psicologia e turismo. Estas contribuições têm o potencial de serem aplicadas em políticas públicas ambientais, orientar práticas empresariais, contribuir para campanhas de marketing social mais eficazes e inspirar pesquisas futuras no campo da sustentabilidade.
Limitações | Este estudo apresenta algumas restrições que requerem consideração na interpretação dos resultados. A nível do estudo qualitativo, é importante notar que as empresas analisadas estão situadas exclusivamente em duas das catorze regiões vitivinícolas de Portugal. Mais precisamente, a região predominante neste estudo é a dos Vinhos Verdes. Esta região é caracterizada por uma elevada pluviosidade e uma abundância de recursos hídricos, o que a diferencia das regiões de Portugal que enfrentam problemas significativos de escassez de água. É plausível argumentar que essas condições climáticas favoráveis podem influenciar atitudes e comportamentos pró-ambientais, possivelmente atuando como uma barreira à adoção de práticas de conservação de recursos hídricos. No que concerne ao estudo quantitativo, é pertinente observar que, devido à recolha de dados estar ainda em progresso, o tamanho da amostra atual é relativamente limitado. Esta circunstância impõe a necessidade de abordar os resultados com moderação e de ponderar cuidadosamente as conclusões.
Conclusões | Os objetivos deste estudo foram formulados com base nas lacunas identificadas na revisão da literatura sobre enoturismo sustentável, com foco na gestão hídrica. Apesar de vários estudos abordarem a sustentabilidade de maneira geral, poucos investigaram de forma abrangente as práticas de conservação da água no contexto do enoturismo em Portugal. Assim, no âmbito do estudo empírico, devido à limitada disponibilidade de informações, foi necessária uma recolha de dados exploratórios para aprofundar o conhecimento. As informações fornecidas constituíram a base para a segunda fase do estudo empírico. Os resultados aqui apresentados são preliminares e necessitam de um maior aprofundamento ao nível da análise estatística, e de um aumento na dimensão da amostra. As informações apontam a preocupação ambiental e a preservação do património agrícola como motores importantes na tomada de decisões das empresas. No entanto, também há barreiras significativas que limitam a implementação dessas práticas. Estes dados devem ser trabalhos para aprimorar o desempenho das empresas, considerando a vital importância da preservação da água no contexto do enoturismo em Portugal. Isso não apenas promove a sustentabilidade do setor, mas também protege os recursos hídricos e o bem-estar das comunidades.
Referências bibliográficas
Alonso, A. D., Bressan, A., Kok, S. K., & O’Brien, S. (2021). Filling up the sustainability glass: Wineries’ initiatives towards sustainable wine tourism. Tourism Recreation Research, 0(0), 1–15. DOI: 10.1080/02508281.2021.1885801
Guedes, A., & Rebelo, J. (2019) Merging wine and tourism-related services: evidence from the Douro (Portugal) Wine Region. Journal of Wine Research, 30(4), 259-274. DOI: 10.1080/09571264.2019.1652152
Maduro, A. V., Guerreiro, A., & de Oliveira, A. (2015). The industrial tourism as enhancer of local develo pment case study of Alcobaca Wine Museum in Portugal. Pasos Revista De Turismo Y Patrimonio Cultural, 13(5), 1129–1143. DOI: 10.25145/j.pasos.2015.13.077
 
Padrões de mobilidade turística: Uma análise com Dados de Posicionamento Móvel (MPD)
Get PDFThis study investigates population dynamics and tourist mobility patterns in the Viseu Dão Lafões region using mobile positioning data (MPD). The data were analyzed in conjunction with official statistics and tourism-related variables, aiming to provide a more detailed and up-to-date view of the region. The methodology involved a hybrid approach to data collection, including extraction and transformation of information from multiple sources, followed by Knowledge Discovery in Databases (KDD) application. The results revealed a positive correlation between population density estimates derived from mobile positioning data and Census data, validating the utility of this data as a complementary tool for demographic and tourism analyses. Additionally, patterns of movement among foreign tourists in the region were identified, offering relevant insights for event planning and local tourism promotion. However, limitations related to data availability and complexity are acknowledged, highlighting the importance of careful interpretation of results. In conclusion, this study contributes to a deeper understanding of population dynamics and tourism in Viseu Dão Lafões, emphasizing the need for ongoing analysis and methodological.Este estudo investiga as dinâmicas populacionais e os padrões de mobilidade turística na região de Viseu Dão Lafões, utilizando dados de posicionamento móvel (MPD). Os dados foram analisados em conjunto com estatísticas oficiais e variáveis relacionadas ao turismo, visando fornecer uma visão mais detalhada e atualizada da região. A metodologia adotada envolveu uma abordagem híbrida de coleta de dados, incluindo a extração e transformação de informações de múltiplas fontes, seguida pela aplicação da Descoberta de Conhecimento em Bases de Dados (KDD). Os resultados revelaram uma correlação positiva entre as estimativas de densidade populacional derivadas dos dados de posicionamento móvel e os dados do Censo, validando a utilidade desses dados como uma ferramenta complementar para análises demográficas e turísticas. Além disso, foram identificados padrões de movimentação dos turistas estrangeiros na região, oferecendo insights relevantes para o planejamento de eventos e promoção do turismo local. No entanto, são reconhecidas limitações relacionadas à disponibilidade e complexidade dos dados, destacando a importância de uma abordagem cuidadosa na interpretação dos resultados. Em conclusão, este estudo contribui para uma compreensão mais aprofundada das dinâmicas populacionais e do turismo em Viseu Dão Lafões, ressaltando a necessidade de análises contínuas e aprimoramento metodológico
Generative AI as Sentiment Analysis Tool in Hospitality: GenAI, ChatGPT, research methods, tourism, hospitality
Get PDFObjectives | Customer reviews on social media and dedicated websites are an essential source of information for hospitality companies that allows them to learn what customers think about their services and those of their competitors (Olorunsola et al., 2023; Perez-Aranda et al., 2021; Veloso & Gomez-Suarez, 2023). By analysing online reviews, hospitality managers can get insights into the opinions of customers and what they liked or disliked about the services they used. Moreover, online reviews are a helpful source of information about changing trends in customer perceptions and preferences. The evaluation of customer reviews can be implemented manually or with the help of specialised software (Tetzlaff et al., 2019).
Sentiment analysis is a process of analysing language to interpret subjective evaluations, emotions and points of view (Taboada, 2016). Humans associate their opinions and emotions with specific linguistic structures in daily life. Sentiment analysis, therefore, addresses three tasks, including establishing whether the content represents a fact or a subjective opinion, determining its polarity (i.e. positive vs negative), and analysing the degree of polarity/ intensity of a sentiment (Cambria et al., 2017).
The importance of sentiment analysis for research and practice motivated the proliferation of multiple analytical methods and tools, including the automation of the analysis with AI. The advantage of manual sentiment analysis is its high achievable validity and reliability. However, special linguistic skills, substantial time and cross-validation are required to prevent subjectivity bias (Sotiriadou et al., 2014).
A range of tools that utilise supervised learning are trained for automatic differentiation between negative vs positive vs neutral (if required) emotion. The advantage of supervised learning algorithms is the achievable speed of analysis alongside the relatively high accuracy of the results. The limitation of the machine learning algorithms for sentiment analysis is the dependence of the analysis validity on the context. A new training might be required for a new content source (Taboada, 2016).
Recently, ChatGPT introduced a plugin for sentiment analysis (OpenAI.com, 2023). It uses a class of machine learning, called Natural Language Processing (NLP) that is trained to understand a language autonomously. Due to its cost, speed and intuitive interface, a range of studies has already applied ChatGPT for sentiment analysis of used-generated content (e.g. Adeshola & Adepoju, 2023). The launch of ChatGPT in November 2022 opened a new opportunity for the analysis of texts that do not require significant digital skills necessary to use effectively and efficiently other software packages for textual analysis. However, its performance in comparison to other methods remains largely underexplored (Fatouros et al., 2023).
This ongoing study aims to evaluate GenAI as a tool for sentiment analysis in the context of Tourism & Hospitality. It tests the effectiveness of ChatGPT vs NVivo auto coding vs manual analysis.
Methodology To analyse the effectiveness of GenAI as a tool for a sentiment analysis, the study compares the effectiveness of the sentiment analysis, done by ChatGPT 3.5 vs NVivo 20 vs manual coding. The entire dataset for analysis consists of the 160 reviews posted at Booking.com to ensure that the sentiment is derived from subjective tourist opinions. First, the codes that characterise hotel service robots, were manually extracted to ensure data validity. The sentiment was analysed to determine the polarity of the sentiments and well as its degree. The manual coding, replicated by two trained researchers, was used as a baseline. NVivo auto coding and a prompt “Run a sentiment analysis for each row of the table. The sentiment would range from "very positive", "moderately positive", "neutral", "moderately negative", to "very negative" .” , for ChatGPT, were used to automate the analysis. The number of errors of automated analysis vs manual coding was then calculated.
Main Results and Contributions The preliminary findings demonstrate that ChatGPT performs better than NVivo auto coding but worth than the manual analysis. In comparison to manual coding, ChatGPT provided identical results in determining the polarity of a sentiment (i.e. negative vs neutral vs positive), while 12% of the codes, generated by NVivo, contained a wrongly identified sentiment. Regarding the degree of polarity (i.e. very negative vs moderately negative), ChatGPT generated a total of 24% of erroneous codes. NVivo-generated results were comparable with 28% of wrongly attributed degree of polarity in comparison to the manual coding.
Limitations | The key limitations of the study are the related to the validity of each method and their comparability. Thus, the manual sentiment analysis required cross-validation, the supervised learning models do range in terms of their relevance for the context, and GenAI represents a “black box” with the model being unavailable for researchers’ evaluation. Therefore, more studies in various contexts and with the application of different sentiment analysis methods are required prior to claiming GenAI a reliable tool for the analysis.
Conclusions The preliminary findings indicate that ChatGPT 3.5 performs substantially better than NVivo auto coding. However, manual evaluation of the sentiment still provides more valid results. While research automation can substantially decrease the time and efforts of the researchers, a broader scale of research is required to understand how to ensure the validity and reliability of the GenAI tools
Enhancing Sustainability in Tourism: An Analysis of Sustainable Tourism Packages and Products
Get PDFObjectives: This study ambitiously sets out to redefine the contours of sustainable tourism, aiming to meticulously develop methodologies for constructing tourism packages and products that exemplify sustainable development principles. At its core, the objective is to harmonize the intricate relationship between tourism, environmental stewardship, and socio-economic growth (Berno & Bricker, 2001; Budeanu, 2005). The study strives to forge a future where tourism is not merely an economic activity but a catalyst for sustainable development, preserving ecological integrity and promoting cultural and community resilience.
Methodology: The methodology is a blend of empirical research and theoretical analysis. It includes a detailed mapping of tourism resources, strategic identification of sustainable products, and the innovative design of eco-friendly tourism packages. The study employs tools like the Sustainability Assessment Matrix and Development and Planning Matrix, ensuring sustainability is integrated into all aspects of tourism planning and execution (Graymore et al., 2008; Ko, 2005; Li et al., 2014). A participatory action research approach (McIntyre, 2007) underpins a collaborative and inclusive process, with the Mini-Max matrix used for optimizing environmental, social, and economic impacts (Rodríguez-Carreón et al., 2021).
Main Results and Contributions: This study presents a unique blend of practical application and theoretical analysis in sustainable tourism. The "From Land to Sea" package showcases practical methods for promoting ecosystem conservation within the tourism industry. Similarly, the "Portuguese Discoveries" package is a practical example of integrating cultural heritage sustainably into tourism offerings (Ulrich & Eppinger, 2016). The "Products for Accessible Tourism" initiative demonstrates an empirical approach to inclusivity in tourism, addressing real-world accessibility challenges. "Birdwatching by Ear" exemplifies how sensory experiences can be practically incorporated into nature tourism. These packages, grounded in empirical research and practice, serve as tangible examples of the study\u27s theoretical framework, effectively bridging the gap between theoretical understanding and practical application in the field of sustainable tourism (Ruppert, 2013). They demonstrate the real-world impact and feasibility of sustainable tourism concepts, thereby contributing to both academic research and the practical advancement of sustainable tourism practices.
Research Limitations: Despite its innovative strides, the study navigates challenges such as potential fragmentation in the tourism supply chain and the complexities inherent in aligning diverse stakeholder perspectives, particularly in cross-cultural settings.
Conclusions: This study marks a pivotal step towards reimagining tourism through the lens of sustainable development. It advocates for a paradigm shift in the industry, emphasizing the need for continuous innovation and collaboration. The methodologies and insights provided lay the groundwork for developing tourism experiences that are not only memorable and enriching but also act as pillars of sustainable development, harmonizing environmental protection, cultural preservation, and socio-economic progress
The Effect of Tourist Experience on Environmentally Responsible Behavior: The Mediating Role of Environmental Sensitivity
Get PDFThe aim of this paper is to examine the effects of the tourist experience on environmentally responsible behavior and the mediating role of environmental sensitivity. The study was conducted on tourists visiting Yoroz Urban Forest in Ordu, Turkiye. 279 tourists filled face to face to questionnaire between May and October 2021. The convenience sampling method was used to collect data from the sample group. Tourist experience was tested in the form of two sub-factors: Resource & Environmental Experience and Facility Management Experience. SmartPLS program was used for data analysis. Since the scales are reflective, the covariance-based structural equation model (CBSEM) method was used. According to the result resource & environmental experience, facility management experience, and environmental sensitivity had positively and significantly effect on environmentally responsible behavior. In addition, environmental sensitivity has a positive mediation effect between tourism experience and environmentally responsible behavior. However, the mediation effect of environmental sensitivity is partial