Giovanna Bertella

Knowledge in food tourism: the case of Lofoten and Maremma Toscana

The aim of this paper is to contribute towards a better understanding of knowledge in food tourism in agricultural and/or fishery areas. The presence and role of different types of knowledge are investigated adopting a multiple case study strategy in the regions of Lofoten (Norway) and Maremma Toscana (Italy). The following types of knowledge are investigated: local and scientific food knowledge, tourism knowledge, local and global managerial and political knowledge. The results from the case study indicate that scientific food knowledge and global managerial and political knowledge are particularly important in Lofoten. These types of knowledge are identified as the strengths on which a form of gourmet food tourism could develop. In Maremma Toscana, local food knowledge and local managerial and political knowledge are identified as the basis of the development of a generic form of food tourism. It is concluded that food tourism development requires different types of knowledge and their role is strictly dependent on the specific context. Any policy regarding food tourism should be based on the peculiarities of the specific terroir. Further research is required to investigate the tacit dimension of knowledge and those factors that can favour the establishment of global knowledge-based networks.

The co-creation of animal-based tourism experience.

The purpose of this research note is to present some reflections on the role of animals in animal-based tourism experiences. It is inspired by those tourism studies concerning the conceptualization of animals and human-animal relationships (e.g., Curtin 2005, 2009, 2010; Woods 2000; Cohen 2012). Some of these studies qualify the domain in which encounters between the tourists and the animals occur as the place where humanity and animality meet. Thus, these encounters are viewed as particularly complex and meaningful. Although these studies concern wildlife tourism, it can reasonably be assumed that similar considerations are valid for any form of tourism that includes animals. This study focuses on the case of domesticated animals. People who live in close contact with domesticated animals tend to view them from the perspective of both their animality and also their individual subjectivity (Fox 2006). This observation can be relevant to those tourism activities that involve domesticated animals (e.g., dog sledding, equine tourism). Although the studies mentioned at the beginning of this section can be viewed as a sign of recognition by some tourism scholars of animals as important elements of the tourism experience, the dominant position in the literature seems to be characterized by a view of animals as rather passive elements. This study proposes a conceptualization of human-animal encounters focused on the central and active role played by the animals. Moreover, it is proposed that tourism experiences in which the tourists can interact closely with one or more animals can be viewed as encounters among subjects. The point of departure is the co-creation approach to the tourism experience.

Wildlife Tourism and Natural Sciences Knowledge: Challenges and Critical Factors

Abstract This paper investigates the challenges and critical factors for the development and management of a form of wildlife tourism that is based on an active and practice‐near role of natural sciences knowledge, and that, ultimately, can contribute to sustainability. Based on the study of a specific firm located in northern Norway which has developed a scientific form of wildlife tourism, the main challenges are identified in the limited access to competent and dedicated human capital and the difficulties related to networking, especially in the local area. The case study suggests that the factors that contribute positively to the attractiveness of wildlife tourism are also the ones that tend to affect its development negatively. The peripheral location makes the tourist product exotic, but at the same time it makes the recruitment of qualified co‐workers particularly challenging. Similarly, the peculiarities of the individual firm contribute to the uniqueness of the tourist product, but they can isolate the individual firm from the other actors of the local context. Based on the findings, policy implications and directions for further research are identified.

Ethical Content of Pictures of Animals in Tourism Promotion

Abstract Based on the animal ethics approaches of utilitarianism, animal rights and eco-feminism, this study reflects on the inclusion of animals in the tourism experience, more specifically, the use of promotional pictures of animals. The aim is to identify how the conceptualization of animals can be understood in relation to various animal ethics approaches and the local culture. An empirical case-study from northern Norway is investigated. The results show that the inclusion of animals in the tourism experience is based on different conceptualizations of animals. Some pictures show little or no concern for the animals, whereas other pictures indicate conceptualizations that are in line with one or more of the approaches to animal ethics. The results suggest that animal-based tourism may have limits in terms of offering a tourism experience that can be qualified as authentic in relation to the local culture. The results also suggest other limits of animal-based tourism, as regards education for critical thinking and ethical treatment of animals.

The emergence of Tuscany as a wedding destination: the role of local wedding planners

ABSTRACT This study concerns the development of Tuscany as a destination for wedding tourism. The focus is on local entrepreneurs—specifically local wedding planners—and the aim is to describe and discuss their role as coordinators and innovators. The findings suggest that local wedding planners act as coordinators of teams of local practitioners. Beyond the local level, wedding planners experience difficulties in finding collaborative partners; in relation to this, a recently developed regional project could prove supportive. The wedding planners’ role as potential innovators seems to be limited due to the lack of market orientation by some local authorities, the newness of wedding planning as a form of employment in the Italian context and the related lack of recognized legitimacy, the presence of some improvising wedding service companies and the absence of certified professional associations.

Communities of Practice in Tourism: Working and Learning Together. An Illustrative Case Study from Northern Norway

The purpose of this paper is to discuss the application of Wengers theory of Communities of Practice (CoP) to cooperative groups of small tourism actors. Empirical data about a case study of a group of firms operating in northern Norway are presented in order to illustrate and challenge the discussion. The findings suggest that Wengers theory can be usefully applied to describe the processes and dynamics relative to the development and management of tourism products based on the identity of the local area. The element of Wengers theory that makes it particularly useful is its focus on social processes, knowledge and identity. The findings suggest also that the CoP framework could gain completeness from the integration of the concepts of terroir, lifestyle entrepreneurship and community entrepreneurship. In regard to the adoption of Wengers framework as a practical tool to promote cooperation, the case study shows that the existence of formal programmes directed to cooperative groups that can be qualified as CoP can help to identify them and support the implementation of collective projects.

Celebrating the family abroad: the wedding tourism experience

The research question on which this paper is based is as follows: How is the family celebrated at weddings that take place far from the place of residence of the involved families? This paper utilizes an experiential approach and uses the concepts of authenticity and co-creation to investigate the case of wedding tourism in Tuscany (Italy). The data collection includes primary data in the form of interviews, observations, and a survey, and secondary data that were collected online. The findings confirm the centrality of the emotional bonds that constitute the family, and suggest the coexistence of the participants’ desire for togetherness and individualism. The couples and wedding professionals meticulously plan and stage the weddings, but creativity and spontaneity are not completely excluded. The collaboration between the couples and the wedding professionals has a central role of creating the event as symbolically and existentially authentic.

Reply to ‘Swim encounters with Killer Whales (Orcinus orca) off Northern Norway: interactive behaviours directed towards Human Divers and Snorkellers obtained from opportunistic underwater video recordings’

ABSTRACT This is a reply to the research note ‘Swim Encounters with Killer Whales (Orcinus orca) off Northern Norway: Interactive Behaviours directed towards Human Divers and Snorkellers obtained from Opportunistic Underwater Video Recordings’ by C. Pagel, M. Scheer and M. Lück published on the Journal of Ecotourism in the December 2016 issue. This research note gives us the opportunity to reflect on the following aspects: (1) the concepts of sustainability and ecotourism, (2) the researchers’ position in terms of animal ethics, (3) the relevance of the empirical context where the fieldwork occurs and the related research ethics aspect, (4) the difficulty of evaluating risk of injury. We comment on each of these aspects and discuss them in the attempt to clarify research challenges, propose some reflection points and possible alternative approaches for improving research quality in wildlife tourism.

Whale watching in Norway caught between more traditional hunting canons and the lucrative promise of seismic airguns.

This research note concerns the role of whale-watching tourism providers in the debate over protection of the marine environment. The case reported is about northern Norwegian whale-watching organizations. Based on the analysis of local newspapers and on the direct experience of one member of our research team, this research note concludes that the whale-watching companies, and more in general the wildlife tourism companies, engage only marginally in the debate. This can be explained referring to the companies’ limited availability of resources and experience in the field, and to the existence of different perspectives relative to the way humans can use and impact the marine environment and its inhabitants.

Tourism Initiatives Developed through Collaboration with Foreign Organizations: The Emergence of Responsible Practices in Cuba

ABSTRACT This study concerns tourism initiatives by foreign organizations and their contributions to the emergence of responsible tourism in Cuba. Using the framework of Community Benefit Tourism Initiatives, this study investigates the local actors’ and the foreign organizations’ perspective on responsible tourism, the processes of planning and developing tourism initiatives, their implementation and the effects on the local communities. The empirical part concerns a case study about an initiative originated from a cultural development project by an Italian D-NGO and developed through the collaboration with an Italian tour operator. The findings suggest that, even in the case where such initiatives are not strategically planned and start with a limited participation of local actors, they can lead to important benefits for the local communities. The findings also suggest that these types of initiatives can constitute a solid basis for future developments with an increasing active participation by the local actors.