Myriam Jansen-Verbeke

Inner-city tourism: resources, tourists and promoters.

Abstract Inner-city tourism is considered as a complex system. In order to analyze it, an empirical approach is discussed. The proposed conceptual framework consists of the relationship between touristic resources, in this case “the inner-city environment,” and the (day) tourists, a specific group of visitors. This relationship is assumed to be influenced by promotion. This exploration was inspired by the results of several case studies in historical Dutch cities, none of which are considered as traditional tourist places, but all of which, nevertheless, open interesting perspectives as to their touristic development. This can be deduced from interviews with promoters operating on a national, regional, or local scale and from a survey among city visitors. This study advocates continuous interaction between conceptual and empirical approaches in examining inner-city tourism.

ArticleScanning museum visitors: Urban tourism marketing

Abstract The role of museums in developing urban tourism is researched with special attention to the motivation constructs of visitors and the possible added value of a “museumpark”. Interviews with visitors were held in order to identify their motivation. The laddering technique was used to analyze the data. Both the interviews and the survey results can be used for the purpose of strategic positioning of the museum and cultural urban tourism. Marketing implications can be deduced from core motives. In addition, for urban authorities and tourism marketers, the motivation and behavior patterns of museum visitors offer interesting clues when developing an attractive urban tourism product.

Tourismification of Historical Cities

Abstract This Department publishes research notes, conference reports, reports on the work of public agencies and associations, field (industry) reports, and other relevant topics and timely issues.

Leisure, recreation, tourism: a geographic view on integration.

Abstract This review focuses on some geographic perspectives to study the leisure, recreation, and tourism (LRT) integration process in the Netherlands. Research into the spatial impacts and conditions of leisure experience, recreation activities, and tourism behavior has recently been faced with major social and planning changes. The countrys planning system is characterized by a sectoral structure. The increasing political interest in leisure implies the need to revise the sectoral structure for an LRT theoretical framework which captures the interaction process between man and his environment. The possible use of time-space concepts in supply-demand studies can be evaluated, and the perspectives of structuration theories questioned. Hence, the LRT integration as a social process and as a planning issue constitutes a major challenge for geographical studies.

Inner city leisure resources

Research into urban leisure is a response to various developments: more free time, the revaluation of urban areas, changing characteristics of the urban population and awareness of unused leisure resources. Dutch leisure policy features both sector planning and facet planning. Leisure opportunities in inner cities are based on a variety of facilities: the catering sector, shopping, tourist facilities and historical elements. In recent tourist overall recreational plans the inner city is treated as a leisure product. A further evaluation of inner-city leisure resources is required, especially in historic smaller towns. Several case studies indicate the line of research to be pursued, although a theoretical framework is lacking.

Cross-cultural differences in the practices of hotel managers: A study of Dutch and Belgian hotel managers

Abstract In the service sector there has been debate and research on whether it is the culture of the organization or that of the location that shapes hotel management practice — particularly given the internationalization of certain, mostly US-style practices. Here Myriam Jansen-Verbeke and Liesbet Steel of Rotterdams Erasmus University report on a survey of hotel managers in Belgium and The Netherlands. Differences are slight, but whether this is because of a shared cultural background or a homogenizing organizational culture is not clear. Comparisons with a larger study of managers in 13 countries worldwide are made.

Virtual Tourist Destinations: Assessing Their Communication Effectiveness With And Through Foreign Intermediaries

Travel and tourism is by now generally perceived to be the market with the biggest online potential for e-commerce. The success of major online travel agents and the growth numbers in online tourist expenditure are proof of that. As this was also recognised by the Flemish government, a research study into the effectiveness of the online communication of Flemish’ tourist destinations was commissioned. This paper reports on the findings resulting from a focus group session with twelve tour operators held in the Netherlands, the first foreign market for tourism in Flanders. It discusses issues such as dis-intermediation, use of the Internet by intermediaries themselves, and roles they play in the new market situation. It shows that, although traditional players are increasingly online, they are still a long way from understanding the new economy.