F. Severino, Ana Gláucia Roque, Margarida Cristina, Zélia Raposo Santos, Sandra Nunes, T. Costa
{"title":"Perceptions and Realities of Lisbon: An Examination of the Image of a Tourist Destination","authors":"F. Severino, Ana Gláucia Roque, Margarida Cristina, Zélia Raposo Santos, Sandra Nunes, T. Costa","doi":"10.34190/ictr.7.1.2097","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.34190/ictr.7.1.2097","url":null,"abstract":"Destination image is related to comprising cognitive, emotional, and conative components and includes an individual's thoughts, ideas, and perceptions of a place. Images consistently coincide with the internalisation of distinct perspectives, demonstrating that people have different perceptions of the destiny. Influences include media, authority figures, music, and movies. Although the experience may not match their initial expectations, these effects form their preconceived beliefs and expectations of a trip. Accordingly, it is important to explore the trustfulness of the positioning of tourist destinations to ascertain its alignment with the expectations of tourists. Given that, Lisbon has been regarded as one of the foremost European cities in recent years, owing to its high level of accessibility and its multifaceted sensory attributes, it was deemed pertinent to investigate the perceptions of the visitors towards the city. The present study used a mixed methods approach, incorporating a multimedia component that showcases various locations in the Lisbon region with open-ended questionnaires to gather the perspectives of the tourists and a closed-ended questionnaire that inquiries about the primary factors that attract visitors to Lisbon. This analysis employed graphical representations, including word clouds and graphics to explore the identified impressions. The research revealed a robust association between cultural, historical, and aesthetic variables and the choice of travel destination. Certain visual representations highlight the imperative of pursuing sustainable and responsible development to mitigate the potential for enduring degradation. This holds significance as certain images are linked to instances of environmental and social irresponsibility. The study also revealed that History and Heritage emerged as the most significant factors that attract individuals, followed by Cultural Attractions, Weather and Climate, Gastronomy, and Panoramic Views and Landscapes. A notable perception exists regarding the insufficiency of sustainability and eco-friendly practices, underscoring the necessity for targeted sustainability endeavours to promote responsible and sustainable development of tourism destinations. Indeed, additional research on the contrast of perception and reality at the location is needed to evaluate the picture provided to visitors. However, understanding tourist-relevant areas like Lisbon is a good foundation for advertising them, allowing various stakeholders to make authentic and valuable marketing decisions.","PeriodicalId":413105,"journal":{"name":"International Conference on Tourism Research","volume":"32 6","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-03-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140254045","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"The integration of Graduate Attributes within the hospitality management curriculum at higher education institutions","authors":"Ngizimisele Mosho, Tshinakaho Nyathela-Sunday, Oswald Mhlanga","doi":"10.34190/ictr.7.1.2143","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.34190/ictr.7.1.2143","url":null,"abstract":"South African institutions of higher learning are responsible for producing graduates who are well-prepared for the demands of the world of work. To meet this imperative, universities have adopted the use of graduate attributes (GAs) to develop and showcase their graduates’ skills and competencies. Furthermore, the current economic landscape places pressure on universities to produce highly skilled and employable graduates. Despite the recognised significance of GAs, lecturers often encounter difficulties when attempting to integrate them into the curriculum. The problem (gap), however, is that lecturers find it difficult to integrate these GAs for various reasons, including a lack of comprehensive understanding, effective teaching methods, and reliable assessment strategies of GAs. Moreover, the absence of structured training programs for lecturers on how to integrate GAs into the curriculum is a hindrance to the GAs’ successful implementation. This paper aims to determine the extent to which the GAs have been implemented within the hospitality curriculum in South Africa. A desktop review study was conducted and analysed according to identified themes. The findings propose developing the framework, a guiding tool, that will enable academic institutions to integrate GAs into their curriculum.","PeriodicalId":413105,"journal":{"name":"International Conference on Tourism Research","volume":"95 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-03-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140254536","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Religious Pilgrimages in South Africa: A Catalyst for Sustainable Tourism and Local Economic Development","authors":"Linda Nompumelelo","doi":"10.34190/ictr.7.1.1969","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.34190/ictr.7.1.1969","url":null,"abstract":"Sustainable tourism and local economic development as a mechanism for religious pilgrimages in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN). This is particularly pertinent for religious pilgrimages in KZN province which boosts historical landmarks and pilgrimage destinations. Pilgrimage tourism and several other forms of tourism related to it have significant affinities to the tenets of sustainable development. The purpose of this paper is to examine the complications that could arise from religious pilgrimages' potential as a form of travel that, once implemented, would be beneficial for sustainable tourism and local economic development (LED). This paper further intends to assess the pilgrimage destinations to be viewed as a mechanism for local economic development. A quantitative research design was employed, as the nature of this research necessitates the use of numerical data and descriptive statistics to draw conclusions. A standardised questionnaire was used to collect data from 410 respondents selected using a convenience sampling technique from different pilgrimage destinations in KZN, South Africa. Descriptive, bivariate, and multivariate analyses were conducted using IBM’s SPSS version 28 software. The pilgrims and local communities’ perceptions of socio-economic contribution indicate that the availability of tourism facilities might be perceived as a socio-economic contributor to pilgrimage destinations. The findings further reveal that African religious pilgrimages can be sustainable and be a local economic development catalyst in KwaZulu-Natal. The study recommends that the South African National Christian Forum (SANCF), in collaboration with the South African government (national and provincial), develop an operational plan to provide business education, entrepreneurial skills, and relevant support to local communities surrounding religious pilgrimages or religious destinations, to empower them to contribute to the development of the local economy. This will assist to reduce South Africa's high unemployment rate, particularly in less developed regions.","PeriodicalId":413105,"journal":{"name":"International Conference on Tourism Research","volume":"115 5","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-03-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140251609","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
B. Knott, Kamilla Swart, Othman Althawadi, Yara Zeyad Ali
{"title":"Nation-branding Opportunities Through Sport Mega-events: Tourism Impact from FIFA World Cup in South Africa 2010 and Qatar 2022","authors":"B. Knott, Kamilla Swart, Othman Althawadi, Yara Zeyad Ali","doi":"10.34190/ictr.7.1.2191","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.34190/ictr.7.1.2191","url":null,"abstract":"Sport mega-events can be powerful agents in the imaging, re-imaging and branding of places, especially for emerging mega-event host nations. South Africa was the first African country to host the FIFA World Cup in 2010 and is a good case of how nation-branding opportunities were leveraged to showcase its global engagement, re-emergence post-apartheid, and its competence as a tourism and mega-event host. Similarly, Qatar’s hosting of the 2022 FIFA World Cup is a region-first for the Middle East. Hosting the World Cup is aligned to Qatar’s strategic leveraging of sport to build a new image, acquire global recognition as a world-class venue for major events, sport sponsorships, and state-of-the-art stadiums. Yet Qatar, like South Africa, was confronted with significant detractors and negative media coverage in the lead-up to its hosting. This paper compares nation-brand perceptions collected from international visitors to the respective mega-events. The studies aimed to identify any changes to these brand perceptions because of their visit to these nations. It utilises the same instrument and method; with the survey instrument for 2010 adapted for Qatar to increase its relevance. A total of 561 (South Africa) and 421 (Qatar) international visitors were interviewed at event and tourist locations, using a spatially based, purposive sampling approach. The findings reveal how visitor perceptions changed in both instances. It reveals nuances in profiling mega-event sport tourists and contrasts expected nation-branding legacies for host nations, especially in emerging nation contexts. \u0000 ","PeriodicalId":413105,"journal":{"name":"International Conference on Tourism Research","volume":"129 4","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-03-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140251323","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Challenges and Opportunities Facing Ecotourism in Sub-Saharan Africa from Climate Change Desertification","authors":"Thomas Mullikin","doi":"10.34190/ictr.7.1.1988","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.34190/ictr.7.1.1988","url":null,"abstract":"This study explores one aspect of the macro-atmospheric phenomenon of amplified climate change that is causing significant micro manifestation challenges in one of the most fragile ecosystems on earth, sub-Saharan Africa. The micro manifestation of desertification impacts humans, flora, and fauna all of whom already struggle to survive in these areas. Desertification in turn effects ecotourism. Desertification is a type of land degradation in which biological productivity is reduced and where fertile areas become arid. Desertification causes the loss of vegetation and food for livestock and humans and a decrease in drinking water reserves. Our examination researches the extents of desertification in the area and the effect it is having on ecotourism. We explore the strategies for proper ecotourism management and planning that are being utilized to offset these effects and explore how these strategies can and are being utilized to offset these effects and even supply numerous economic resources for government, private sector, and local groups to help improve living conditions and quality of life. Ecotourism in these unique ecosystems that are impacted by climatic changes provide a meaningful opportunity to enhance the lives of host communities and protect the environment. During a recent visit to Namibia, I found residents who are utilizing innovative strategies such as solar energy, rainwater collection and other innovations to protect the ecosystem, wildlife and environment and allow them to continue to continue to host ecotourists and provide services. Resources for ecotourism in deserts are made of the mutual effect of topography, climate, water, wildlife, plant type and density. Previous studies have shown that if ecotourism is properly managed and planned, it has the potential for numerous economic resources for the local community. We examine the extent of desertification in these semi-arid deserts, the planning and management of ecotourism activities, and the role that education of these ecosystems could provide for additional economic resources and ecological protection. ","PeriodicalId":413105,"journal":{"name":"International Conference on Tourism Research","volume":"59 11","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-03-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140252191","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Host Scaling and Revenue Management: Is there a link?","authors":"Ruggero Sainaghi, Graziano Abrate","doi":"10.34190/ictr.7.1.2127","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.34190/ictr.7.1.2127","url":null,"abstract":"This study explores how a revenue management capability can be created by Airbnb hosts and the role played by their degree of professionalization, defined as the number of listings (apartments) the hosts manage. Considering the explorative nature of this research, a qualitative approach based on interviews has been adopted. The sample includes 55 interviews realized in the Milan destination (Italy). A protocol was created using the four theoretical blocks. These latter identify the main processes of revenue management: i) identifying the required information to establish the revenue management strategy, ii) making strategic and then tactical pricing and revenue management decisions, iii) managing communication with the guests, and iv) making available software dedicated to revenue management. Milan was selected for two reasons: first, is the second leading Italian destination after Rome in terms of overnights. Second, Milan attracts different targets, such as business, leisure, and trade fairs. Therefore, there are continuous changes in off- and on-pick revenue constituting an ideal setting for exploring the creation of a revenue management capability.Three groups of hosts were identified: i) single hosts, ii) hosts managing three to five listings, iii) hosts managing more than 10 listings. Results show strong differences between single hosts and those managing 10 or more listings, explaining why professional hosts are able to extract more value from their listings compared to single hosts. Two theoretical contributions are proposed. First, the research adds to the knowledge about how a revenue management capability (RMC) is created in the context of short-term rentals (STR). The crucial role of professionalization is confirmed, and a complex set of relationships emerge between tangible (such as the presence/absence of a RM software and dedicated staff) and cultural (such as the orientation towards price discrimination and to revenue or price maximization, as well as the approach to guest selection) barriers to RMC. Second, findings can explain why quantitative studies have sometimes shown controversial results on factors affecting price and revenue performance. Interviews with multiple hosts highlighted how they often manage third-party listings based on agreements that include a limit price, reducing the rooms for dynamic and discrimination price, and more generally revenue maximization.","PeriodicalId":413105,"journal":{"name":"International Conference on Tourism Research","volume":"20 16","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-03-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140253889","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Women Tourism Entrepreneurs in KwaZulu – Natal, South Africa: Capabilities and Challenges?","authors":"Nompumelelo Nzama, I. Ezeuduji","doi":"10.34190/ictr.7.1.1993","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.34190/ictr.7.1.1993","url":null,"abstract":"This study conducted in the context of South Africa, aims to explore gender nuances in the performances of tourism-related businesses in the Durban Central Business District, KwaZulu-Natal, with emphases on traditional societal perceptions and access to capital. Questionnaire survey, a quantitative research method, was used to collect data from 150 tourism-related business owners and managers using purposive sampling method. Data was analysed using IBM’s SPSS version 25 software. Descriptive (frequency, mean), bivariate (Spearman’s Rank Correlation (two-tailed) test, Pearson’s Chi-Square test, Mann-Whitney U test) and multivariate (Reliability test using Cronbach’s Alpha) data analyses were applied in this study. Results shows that entrepreneurial performance is influenced by the belief system of the society, marketing capabilities, and the entrepreneur background. Hence, there may be the influence of African traditional societal perceptions on African women entrepreneurs to be more contented than men with the small size of their businesses (because society expects them not to manage large businesses). This study did not make a conclusive finding that gender plays a strong role in differentiating business success or performance. However, the study found that it is somewhat easier for female entrepreneurs to find business start-up capital. Based on this study results, authors recommend that entrepreneurial training and mentorship programmes should emphasise that gender has no role in determining entrepreneurial success. Better optimisation of marketing capability and increased awareness of entrepreneurs regarding sources of business funding, are crucial for business start-ups and success.","PeriodicalId":413105,"journal":{"name":"International Conference on Tourism Research","volume":"16 5","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-03-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140254498","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Developing and Managing Tourism in the Post Covid-19 Era: Perceptions from Hotel Industry Professionals in Cyprus","authors":"Nikolaos Boukas, Stelios Marneros","doi":"10.34190/ictr.7.1.2135","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.34190/ictr.7.1.2135","url":null,"abstract":"As in any other part of the world, the COVID-19 pandemic had a huge impact on tourism in the south-eastern island of Cyprus. Indeed, in a turbulent environment with many challenges that Cyprus’ tourism had to face, such as loss of competitiveness, monoculture of tourism, unplanned development, human resources management issues, etc., the pandemic was considered the most significant, that not only led to the halt of tourism activity – and hence, the partial collapse of the industry - for many months, but also brought into the surface several chronic structural problems of the island’s hospitality business, in terms of management. This paper seeks to examine how the tourism sector and more specifically, hotel enterprises in Cyprus handled the crisis and its consequences. To collect the data, exploratory research was utilised through the form of document scanning as well as face-to-face in-depth interviews with representatives of five-star hotels in Cyprus. Findings revealed that the greatest challenge that hotels in Cyprus needed to face during the pandemic era, was the high degree of uncertainty. All respondents stressed the role of the government and its support and emphasized the cooperation between the public and private sectors on the island. The results of the study would be useful for hotel managers to reduce the immediate impact of the crisis and support the long-term recovery of their operations and expansion, of Cyprus tourism, in a sustainable manner.","PeriodicalId":413105,"journal":{"name":"International Conference on Tourism Research","volume":"8 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-03-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140253967","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"A Western Cape Food Tour: Examining Indigenous Foods in Eateries Through the Lived Experience Model","authors":"Hennie Fisher, Gerrie E du Rand","doi":"10.34190/ictr.7.1.2077","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.34190/ictr.7.1.2077","url":null,"abstract":"Drawing attention to indigenous foods is economically advantageous for local communities growing plants to sell to the food industry, to promote food tourism and establishing alternative food systems characterised by lower costs, lessened environmental impact, and local availability. There is evidence that indigenous land stewardship could reinforce indigenous food sovereignty by recovering indigenous foods that could disappear. Although South African cuisine is not globally recognised as an ethnic cuisine, interest in it is growing, as its recent 52nd ranking (out of 100) on the TasteAtlas.com global cuisine rankings for 2023/2024 shows. Increasing understanding, availability, and celebration of indigenous foods in commercial eateries is therefore critical, along with an understanding of their sociocultural contextuality. Lived experience was the predominant guiding methodological model for this research. The researchers used qualitative phenomenological reporting to present their first-hand lived experiences, along with knowledge gained through meaning making of indigenous and heritage foods. Although this model has been criticised for methodology slurring, attention to academic rigour (in line with Husserl and Heidegger’s applied philosophical viewpoints) ensured that the knowledge gained was grounded in the researchers’ own experiences. The researchers report key insights and meaning making from their eating experiences and indigenous foods found during a food tour from 17 to 22 September 2023, along a predetermined road route within the Western Cape province of South Africa. This research contributes to the unique application of lived experience within the hospitality and tourism environments, and particularly the application of IPA (Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis) to assess participants’ ways of making meaning of indigenous food offerings found in eateries in detail.","PeriodicalId":413105,"journal":{"name":"International Conference on Tourism Research","volume":"2 5","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-03-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140252766","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Paradisiacal Lived Experiences of Tourists in Islas de Gigantes","authors":"Don Anton Robles Balida","doi":"10.34190/ictr.7.1.2056","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.34190/ictr.7.1.2056","url":null,"abstract":"This study explores the viewpoints and experiences of tourists at Islas de Gigantes, a captivating tourist destination located in the Philippines. This research aims to unravel the complex factors that influence tourists' perception of Gigantes as an authentic paradise, using a combination of interviews and observations. This study explores the underlying motives of tourists, their interactions with the local environment and community, and their overall level of contentment during their travels. Moreover, it carefully examines the complex relationship between tourism and the remarkable variety of biodiversity of plants and animals found on these islands. It places special importance on the long-term viability of activities like scallop harvesting and their compatibility with efforts to protect the environment and promote the welfare of local communities. This analysis examines the economic consequences of tourism for local communities, emphasizing the crucial role that tourism plays in promoting local economic growth while also acknowledging the possible disruptions that may occur. The study reveals intricate patterns and underlying patterns, enhancing our understanding of idyllic travel experiences. This research considerably contributes to the global discussion on paradisiacal locations by exposing these findings to a comparison analysis with previous literature. Additionally, it provides practical suggestions to individuals involved in the tourism industry, highlighting the significance of responsible and sustainable actions that protect the natural surroundings and conserve the local cultural heritage. Although acknowledging the inherent constraints of any research undertaking, this study provides guidance for future inquiries. This statement proposes potential areas for future research, including longitudinal studies and evaluations of climate resilience, with the aim of improving the sustainability and resilience of tourism in picturesque locations in an increasingly volatile world. This research offers valuable insights into the enticing appeal of Islas de Gigantes, as well as enhances our comprehension of how pleasant destinations can coexist harmoniously with the environment and local communities, serving as an exemplary model for responsible and sustainable tourism practices worldwide.","PeriodicalId":413105,"journal":{"name":"International Conference on Tourism Research","volume":"49 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-03-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140253284","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}