Celeste Eusébio

Host–guest relationships in rural tourism: evidence from two Portuguese villages

Rural tourism is receiving increasing interest, but not all areas have the same tourism potential, whereas evidence also reveals negative impacts on tourism. It is therefore important to analyse the tourism phenomenon at the local scale and understand a most important dimension of the rural tourism experience – social interaction. This is sought and appreciated, for distinct reasons, by both tourists and local communities, but little is still known about concrete interactions taking place, how these are interpreted, and may become more satisfactory for all involved. These questions are discussed based on results of an in-depth, qualitative approach on rural tourism in two Portuguese villages, comparing perspectives of hosts and guests, as well as of two distinct destination realities.

Contributions of tourism to social inclusion of persons with disability

Tourism, although a relevant part of the modern lifestyle in economically more developed countries, is even in these countries not accessible to all, with particular barriers existing for persons with disabilities. These barriers are not only physical, but also internal, cultural and social. Tourism and leisure have revealed many benefits for individuals with a disability, enhancing personal development, quality of life, recovery and contribution to social inclusion. This article discusses the potential of tourism for people with disability and presents the results of an exploratory study undertaken in Portugal aiming at a better understanding of this market and its profile, desires and constraints experienced when participating in holidays and leisure activities. This information should contribute to the debate on the potential contributions of tourism to improving social inclusion of persons with disability, while simultaneously permitting tourism providers to better integrate this group in their clientele.

Determinants of Tourist–Host Interactions: An Analysis of the University Student Market

This study identifies the determinants related to university student tourists that influence the tourist–host interaction. A stratified sample of university students was surveyed and 436 completed questionnaires were obtained. Several linear regression models were used to identify determinants of tourist–host interaction in various contexts of interaction. The results suggest that the socio-demographic profile, motivations, cultural familiarity and similarity, travel behavior and tourist perceptions of tourism impacts influence the tourist–host interaction. Motivations and perceptions of tourism impacts are the most important determinants of this interaction. Theoretical and managerial implications of these findings are also discussed.

Studying factors influencing repeat visitation of cultural tourists.

This study identifies factors determining repeat visitation of cultural tourists, a market particularly motivated by novelty and thus theoretically less loyal to positively experienced destinations. After a conceptual discussion of the potential role of repeat visitation in the cultural tourism context, binary regression analysis, applied to the data collected in a European research project, identifies factors explaining repeat visitation. Differences between domestic and international tourists are also discussed. Results should contribute to a better understanding of the cultural tourist market and to the development of differentiated marketing strategies enhancing repeat visitation within this market.

Social tourism programmes for the senior market: a benefit segmentation analysis

The senior market has gained increasing interest from the tourism industry, mainly because of its considerable size and time flexibility. However, seniors are also a group facing many constraints to participating in tourism, which has led some countries to promote social tourism programmes for this market. However, little is known about the success of these programmes, while research showing the benefits derived by participants would be useful to continuously improve these initiatives. This paper presents a segmentation analysis of senior participants in a Portuguese social tourism programme, based on benefits derived. A questionnaire-based survey was undertaken, yielding a total of 848 valid responses, which were subjected to a hierarchical cluster analysis. Three clusters emerged: the least benefitted, the most benefitted and active and the highly benefitted and locally socializing seniors. The clusters were compared regarding socio-demographic profile, travel behaviour, satisfaction and loyalty. Several statistically significant differences among the clusters were observable, providing relevant inputs for managing social tourism programmes for this market.

Diverse socializing patterns in rural tourist experiences – a segmentation analysis

Tourism is a social phenomenon and host–guest interaction has been identified as particularly relevant in the rural tourism experience. This paper extends previous research on social interaction, rural tourism and experience marketing, by analysing, via visitor survey (N = 819), the contacts that visitors of three Portuguese villages establish with (a) residents and (b) other visitors during their stay. A cluster analysis based on interaction patterns identifies three distinct visitor groups: those showing little interest in interaction with others, those mainly interacting with other visitors and those intensely interacting with residents. Significant differences between segments reveal distinctly lived rural tourism experiences and a positive impact of socializing on these experiences. Destination management and marketing implications as well as suggestions for future research are also presented.

Accessibility as Competitive Advantage of a Tourism Destination: The Case of Lousã

Tourism destinations are facing intense and increasing competition worldwide, while consumers are ever more demanding, requiring not only service quality but also socially responsible and sustainable destinations. In this context, developing accessible tourism at a destination may help gain competitiveness in an underserved, typically most loyal market. Developing accessible tourism may also create a culture of social responsibility. This would enhance a shared, human and involving vision of the destination amongst stakeholders, including tourists who increasingly value socially responsible positions of economic actors in the tourism industry. The development of this approach is shown for Lousa, a small tourism destination focusing on accessible tourism as a core of its development strategy, a strategy developed through a stakeholder participatory approach. In this chapter, we present a study that helped develop the strategic positioning of Lousa, combining qualitative and quantitative methods and integrating visions of several relevant stakeholders.

Determinants of tourism impact on tourists' quality of life

Despite the growing importance of the quality of life (QOL), research on QOL in the area of tourism is very limited. Additionally, the majority of this research focuses on the impact of tourism on QOL of destinations? hosts. This paper analyses the impact of tourism on several dimensions of tourists? QOL (physical health, psychological features, social relationships and environment). Additionally, a model of determinants of the tourism impact on QOL is proposed and tested. Multivariate regression analyses are undertaken to identify the factors that influence the impact of tourism on tourist?s QOL. Travel motivations, the travel group, type of destinations and activities are the factors with more influence on tourism impacts on QOL. However, results highlight that the influence of each factor on the tourism impact on QOL varies according to the dimension of the QOL. Important implications for improving the tourism impact on tourists? QOL are discussed.

Purchase of local products within the rural tourist experience context

Rural tourism is frequently considered a development tool for rural areas. In particular, demand for local products may stimulate local economy and is simultaneously an important part of the tourist experience. Little is known, however, of the role of local product purchase within and as a result of the rural tourist experience. The present article addresses this gap by analysing the impact of the tourist experience on (a) the decision to purchase local products and (b) the amount of respective expenditures made, based on survey data on rural tourists in Portugal. Results reveal a positive impact of the knowledge, sensorial and interaction dimensions of the tourist experience in both models, and length of stay, age, place attachment and nationality also play a role.

The Economic Impact of Health Tourism Programmes

The increasing awareness of the benefits that tourism brings to visitors and to destinations, and of the existence of groups with constraints to participate in tourism, has contributed to a rise of social tourism programmes worldwide. Since long, health is one of main issues of social concern. Additionally, the increase of life expectancy and population ageing is a marking feature of modern societies. Taking into consideration that seniors tend to suffer several constraints to participate in tourism, some related to health problems, the development of social health tourism programmes for this segment is crucial. The development of this kind of programmes also results in important economic benefits to tourism destinations. This chapter presents a methodology to quantify the total economic benefits – direct, indirect and induced – of a social tourism programme. This methodology was used to quantify the total economic benefits of a Portuguese social tourism programme focused on health tourism for the senior market in 2007. The empirical study shows that this social tourism programme has high multiplier effects, and originates considerable economic impacts for the national economy in terms of output, employment, household income and value added. The results provide useful inputs for the development of social tourism programmes aiming at maximizing the economic benefits of these programmes.