Distribution Channels for Travel and Tourism: The Case of Crete

The tourism distribution channels network is extremely complex. In particular, the emergence of technologies; the development of online social networks, online review sites as well as mobile location-based services has added additional channels of distribution. The awareness of new opportunities within the tourism distribution channels is essential for tourism professional in order to remain competitive and successful. Therefore, this study aims to update the tourism distribution channels model within the context of Crete, Greece. Twenty managers from hotels and tour operators were interviewed and the data were analysed using content analysis. Interviewees identified an increased importance of social media and mobile for today’s distribution market and the future decreased importance of incoming agents. Instead, the tourism industry has to start focus on Extranet/XML

Tourism Distribution Channels in European Island Destinations

Purpose Advances in information communication technologies (ICTs) have changed the tourism distribution channels model as traditional players continue to disappear or change their business model as new players and channels emerge due to technological developments. Therefore, the present study aims to propose a tourism distribution channels model for European Island destinations. Design/methodology/approach Using an exploratory approach, interviews with 34 tourism stakeholders were conducted at ITB Berlin and WTM London in March 2014 and March/November 2016, and analyzed using thematic analysis. Findings The findings revealed that a number of changes have taken place within the distribution channels market over the past six years. The disappearance of incoming travel agents has increased, while new forms of online communication and distribution have appeared. In particular, social media, online review sites, and mobile channels play an increasingly important role for hoteliers. Practical implications ICTs change the online landscape for tourist distribution in Island destinations and practitioners should make use of new online channels and be aware of disappearing tourism players to remain competitive. Originality/value First, this paper provides indications for the increased disintermediation in regard to incoming travel agents within the Cretan hospitality and tourism industry. Second, it investigates the issue of tourism distribution channels using a broad range of key tourism and hospitality players in order to provide a tourism distribution channels model for future reference. Finally, this study offers implications for the development of distribution strategies for tourism businesses and hoteliers in Crete

The Key Factors of Relationship Quality between Tour Operators and SME Hotels

The importance of relationship quality for successful future business co-operations is well established; however research on factors of relationship quality within tourism and hospitality is scarce. This study therefore aims to identify factors of relationship quality between tour operators and hoteliers within the Cretan context using qualitative semi-structured interviews. Twenty-six tour operators and hoteliers were interviewed and the data were analysed using thematic analysis. Eight key factors of relationship quality were identified including trust, price, service quality, commitment, communication, mutual goals, customer satisfaction and information quality to influence the future cooperation of tour operators and hoteliers within the Cretan tourism sector. The study provides practitioners with a guideline of factors as to how to successfully co-operate. For academic, it identifies key factors of relationship qualify for the development of the relationship quality model in a hospitality setting

Fishmeal, plant protein, and fish oil substitution with single-cell ingredients in organic feeds for European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax)

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Factors affecting British revisit intention to Crete, Greece: high vs. low spending tourists

Determinants (i.e., destination image, tourist motivation, and perceived quality), satisfaction, perceived value, complaints are related to the intention to revisit a tourist destination. These three determinants also relate to tourist satisfaction through the moderating role of tourist expenditure (TE) for future re-visitation. The sampling targets to test these assumptions were British tourists on holiday in Crete, Greece. We used a component-based approach using the partial least squares method to analyze the data. The results of this study show that destination image, tourist motivation, and perceived quality have a significant effect on satisfaction, which subsequently affects tourists' perceived value on a destination, which, in turn, influences the level of complaints and the decision to revisit a tourist destination in the context of British tourists to Crete. Therefore, the results urge tourist destination managers to anticipate tourist satisfaction, perceived value, and complaint when determining revisit for tourist destinations through destination image, tourist motivation, and perceived quality. Furthermore, this study examines the differences between low-TE and high-TE groups on relationships between three determinants and tourist satisfaction, revealing that the relationships between destination image and satisfaction, between tourist motivation and satisfaction, and between perceived quality and satisfaction are significantly different according to the low-TE and high-TE groups. Thus, tourist destination marketers should consider TE as a key factor in market segmentation

Replacement of Marine Fish Oil with de novo Omega-3 Oils from Transgenic Camelina sativa in Feeds for Gilthead Sea Bream (Sparus aurata L.)

Omega-3 (n-3) long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC-PUFA) are essential components of the diet of all vertebrates and. The major dietary source of n-3 LC-PUFA for humans has been fish and seafood but, paradoxically, farmed fish are also reliant on marine fisheries for fish meal and fish oil (FO), traditionally major ingredients of aquafeeds. Currently, the only sustainable alternatives to FO are vegetable oils, which are rich in C18 PUFA, but devoid of the eicosapentaenoic (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acids (DHA) abundant in FO. Two new n-3 LC-PUFA sources obtained from genetically modified (GM) Camelina sativa containing either EPA alone (ECO) or EPA and DHA (DCO) were compared to FO and wild-type camelina oil (WCO) in juvenile sea bream. Neither ECO nor DCO had any detrimental effects on fish performance, although final weight of ECO-fed fish (117 g) was slightly lower than that of FO- and DCO-fed fish (130 and 127 g, respectively). Inclusion of the GM-derived oils enhanced the n-3 LC-PUFA content in fish tissues compared to WCO, although limited biosynthesis was observed indicating accumulation of dietary fatty acids. The expression of genes involved in several lipid metabolic processes, as well as fish health and immune response, in both liver and anterior intestine were altered in fish fed the GM-derived oils. This showed a similar pattern to that observed in WCO-fed fish reflecting the hybrid fatty acid profile of the new oils. Overall the data indicated that the GM-derived oils could be suitable alternatives to dietary FO in sea bream

Exploring the Influence of Touch Points on Tourist Experiences at Crisis Impacted Destinations

Customer journeys in tourism are becoming more complex, often including multiple touch points that can influence expectations, experiences, and travel behaviors. The management of these different interactions is further complicated if tourist destinations face natural or man-made crises (e.g., financial crises, COVID-19). The current research takes a comprehensive look at how negative word-of-mouth (WOM) shapes pre-consumption expectations that drive actual tourist experiences and subsequent satisfaction behaviors. Using partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM), findings from 188 tourists confirm the influence of uncontrollable, negative WOM on destination image. Yet an actual, positive experience negates these negative pre-trip influences. Tourism managers are rewarded with satisfied and loyal tourists in response to creating positive experiences even at crisis impacted destinations