The Montado Great Route Sustainable tourism: treats and opportunities

Montado landscape is a highly valuated agro-forestry-pastoral system protected by law and integrated in the Portuguese Nacional List for Cultural Landscape World Heritage of UNESCO. It provides important environmental and cultural functions and services. These types of multifunctional landscapes are very attractive for sustainable tourism, like walking,birdwatching and other leisure activities. Alentejo Central is covered by montado landscapes (cork oak and holm oaktrees) in about 50% of its area. In 2016, the Comunidade Intermunicipal do Alentejo Central (CIMAC), decided tu implement a walking path network that connect the main villages and rural landscape and their cultural and natural heritage. lhe Montado Great Route (GRM), is planned for more than 1.000 km and connects natural, scenic, architectural and cultural values that everyone can enjoy walking through the landscape. These paths connect also with the contiguous regions namely to Alto and Baixo Alentejo, Vicentina Coast and Spain

Rural tourism experiences. Land, sense and experience-scapes in quest of new tourist spaces and sustainable community development

Editoria

Rural tourism, hospitality and cultural tourism experiences: rural tourism business: case studies in Baixo Alentejo (Portugal)

Rural tourism meets the needs of a growing group of urban consumers who seek to break away from everyday life and gain a reinvigorating, rural and authentic experience that integrates traditions, customs and local identity. Through its peculiar characteristics such as hospitality and its symbolic materials, rural tourism company owners have an opportunity to diversify their activities here. The offer of interactive and dynamic experiences refers to the singularity of places and the personalization of experiences, which are decisive factors in the affirmation of destinations with rural characteristics and for the differentiation of rural tourism establishments. The present research presents the first phases of an investigation using a set of semistructured interviews with the owners of rural settlements (rural tourism), with selection based on their location in the county, their size and the experiential activities they promote and that are disseminated through communication channels. The aspects considered in the collection of data are related to the need to deduce the symbols of hospitality, characterized by history, local culture, gastronomy and tradition, along with other aspects that influence good service. From the analysis of the results, it was possible to conclude that rural tourism establishments, know well what tourists are looking for in rural space and develop several activities (individual or in partnership) to attend their needs. The managers also reveal distinguished behaviour to give a personalized and high-quality customer service

Tactile Tourism: Tourist Attractions to Touch

The present article explores tourist attractions that include touch as a significant component of the tourist’s place-related experience. We have chosen to label this phenomenon “tactile tourism”. The tradition of touching attractions is not new but has been a central part of the experience of specific place-related interests for a long time. However, despite its frequent and often significant presence in tourist destinations, few studies in tourism research study the phenomenon. The article is based on a theoretical line of reasoning which starts from a few concrete examples of different places in Europe where we have identified tactile features relevant to tourism. The empirical material for our discussion has been collected partly through e-mail correspondence with tourist organizations in the places selected for the study and partly through articles in social media and other relevant secondary data. This tactile experience contributes a substantial share of the primary enticement of the attraction and simultaneously invests the place with meaning, which in turn attracts tourists

Understanding memorable enogastronomic experiences: A qualitative approach

The objectives of this chapter are to: - Introduce those factors that make a memorable enogastronomic experience for tourists visiting a destination; - Present qualitative findings that reveal that gastronomy and wines play a major role in the way that visitors experience a destination and indicate that some travellers would return to the same destination to savour its unique gastronomy.info:eu-repo/semantics/acceptedVersio

Cocriação de Valor no Turismo: Validação e Replicação de Escala em Relação à Intenção de Recomendação Boca-a-Boca

This study aimed to validate for the Brazilian context a value co-creation scale directed towards tourism (Busser & Shulga, 2018) and also to measure its effects in relation to the intention of word-of-mouth recommendation. The methodological procedures adopted included translation of the original scale, face validation, adaptations to the research object and data analysis through structural equation modeling (SEM). The sample comprised 210 tourists who have experienced tourism experiences in the last 02 years. The data collection instrument was made using the Google Forms platform and submitted to respondents in the second half of 2018. Among the results: a) All 5 dimensions of the original scale were supported in this research (significance, collaboration, contribution, recognition and affective response) and b) the scale presented an R² of 0.614, explaining 61% of the intention of mouth-to-mouth recommendation.Esta investigación tuvo como objetivo validar para el contexto brasileño una escala de co-creación de valor dirigida al turismo (Busser & Shulga, 2018) y también medir sus efectos en relación con la intención de recomendación de boca en boca. Los procedimientos metodológicos adoptados incluyeron la traducción de la escala original, validación facial, adaptaciones al objeto de investigación y análisis de datos a través del modelado de ecuaciones estructurales (SEM). La muestra incluyó a 210 turistas que han experimentado experiencias turísticas en los últimos 02 años. El instrumento de recopilación de datos se realizó utilizando la plataforma Google Forms y se presentó a los encuestados en la segunda mitad de 2018. Entre los resultados: a) Las 5 dimensiones de la escala original fueron respaldadas en esta investigación (importancia, colaboración, contribución, reconocimiento y respuesta afectiva) yb) la escala presentó un R² de 0.614, lo que explica el 61% de la intención de la recomendación boca a boca.Este estudo teve como objetivo validar para o contexto brasileiro uma escala de cocriação de valor direcionada para o turismo (Busser & Shulga, 2018) e também mensurar os seus efeitos em relação à intenção de recomendação boca-a-boca (WoM). Os procedimentos metodológicos adotados incluíram tradução da escala original, validação de face, adaptações ao objeto de pesquisa e análise de dados por meio de modelagem de equações estruturais (MEE). A amostra compreendeu 210 turistas que vivenciaram experiências de turismo nos últimos 02 anos. O instrumento de coleta de dados foi feito pela plataforma Google Forms e submetido aos respondentes no segundo semestre de 2018. Entre os resultados: a) Todas as 5 dimensões da escala original foram suportadas nesta pesquisa (significância, colaboração, contribuição, reconhecimento e resposta afetiva) e b) a escala apresentou um R² de 0,611, explicando 61% da intenção de recomendação boca-a-boca

Fighting depopulation in Portugal: local and central government policies in times of crisis

During one of the worst economic crisis that Portugal has faced in the last decades, with a considerable debt to deal with, emigration, population loss, ageing and unemployment afflicted our economy and society, particularly in rural territories. The aim of this article is to access the main local and central government policies to fight depopulation and territorial inequalities, and their attempts at sustainable development. What remains in the Portuguese inland regions and how is it being addressed by the few who still believe in life outside the cities? What is the role of local government in the sustainable development of the territory? All over the country, and particularly in rural areas, there is an urgent need to attract people and investment (Almeida 2017a). What are the main issues addressed by the central government to deal with this problem? For this research, a database was built with the political programmes of the 308 mayors elected in 2013, which were subject to a thorough analysis, and the new socialist government recently approved National Programme for Territorial Cohesion, aimed at promoting a more balanced territorial planning. This article describes the demographic situation and compares the municipalities’ economic strategies. The results are yet to be observed, but these new local and central policies at least reflect a change of paradigm from the social-democrat coalition government (2011–15) and introduce a discourse of hope for inland regions, even if the political time of each government (four-year terms) is never enough to solve such complex issues.info:eu-repo/semantics/acceptedVersio

Designing Accessible Tourism Experiences: Slow, Sensory And Smart Framework

Slow tourism is an emergent research area focused on slowing the pace of life during vacations. A comprehensive multi-sensory approach can contribute to designing enhanced slow tourism experiences deemed accessible, both in situ and remotely. There is a research gap in considering multi-sensory stimuli in the design of accessible tourism experiences using technology. As such, this research intends to propose a theoretical framework focused on the development of slow tourism through sensory cues and smart technologies. In so doing, a critical approach to literature was carried out by intersecting three areas of literature following the rationale of the Stimuli-Organism-Response model: slow tourism, multi-sensory tourism experiences design, and smart destinations. The significance of this framework is threefold: it strengthens local identities and aids sustainable tourism by involving the community; it promotes experiences deemed authentic considering multiple stakeholders’ perspectives; and it addresses the visitor experience before, during and after the visit to the destination in an accessible manner using smart technologies. A framework with six steps is offered based on participatory methods