Tourism In Portugal Research Articles

Determinants of Touristic Attraction in Portuguese Regions and Their Impact on GDP

The tourism sector is considered a powerful stimulator of national economies because it affects those economic sectors associated with it, and at the same time creates jobs, increases domestic demand, contributes positively to the balance of payments and allows a better reallocation of wealth. Recognizing this importance, it becomes relevant to investigate the impact of tourism in Portugal at the regional level in order to compare the different Portuguese regions and identify their determinants of attraction. After characterizing the Portuguese tourism market, the authors undertake an empirical analysis, based on a panel data analysis for the Portuguese regions classified by NUTs II and for the period 1990–2007. The results suggest that Lisbon is the region that contributes most to Portuguese GDP because its tourism product is more differentiated.

Effects of tourism on regional asymmetries: Empirical evidence for Portugal

This study uses a vector autoregressive approach to estimate the regional effects of tourism in Portugal with the ultimate objective of assessing tourism's role in reducing regional asymmetries. We identify the locations where tourism generates higher effects for each region, as well as the regions where tourism generates the strongest effects on the country's economic performance. This issue is of particular interest from the side of the country's authorities since tourism is a strategic sector to promote national and regional convergence. The study's findings suggest that tourism has contributed to the concentration of economic activity in the largest region of the country and to reduce the gap between the second and the third largest regions. Some regions benefit more from tourism located in other regions than tourism located in each region and tourism in all regions generate positive effects on the country's economic performance.

Da Regulamentação à Promoção - o rural nos planos nacionais de turismo (1985-2011)

Os Planos Nacionais de Turismo (PNT) constituem documentos importantes para uma melhor compreensão das representações e dos significados sociais do rural e do turismo rural em Portugal. O presente artigo, procurando debater estas questões, tem por base a análise de conteúdo detalhada dos PNT ao longo dos últimos 30 anos, designadamente, os PNT dos períodos de 1985-1988 e 1989-1992 e o Plano Estratégico Nacional do Turismo (PENT) dos períodos de 2007-2010 e 2011-2015. A análise de conteúdo efetuada teve como suporte uma grelha de análise exaustiva, contendo múltiplas categorias (e valores correspondentes) identificadas a partir da revisão da literatura nacional e internacional sobre o mundo rural, as suas representações e significados, assim como sobre o turismo rural e as políticas e estratégias implementadas no âmbito da União Europeia (UE) e aplicadas em Portugal. A escolha deste período temporal toma como referência a data do primeiro PNT (1985) e da entrada de Portugal na Comunidade Económica Europeia (CEE) (1986). Da análise de conteúdo, identificámos as principais definições, características e produtos de Turismo em Espaço Rural (TER) associadas a cada um dos PNT, permitindo agrupar um conjunto de imagens e representações do rural e do TER.

Portuguese tourism – facing the crisis

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is address two questions: “Did the context of economic crisis affect the image of Portugal as a tourist destination? And What were the answers and lessons learned?”. Design/methodology/approach – The authors have no information to assess the effect of the crisis on the brand image of Portugal as a tourist destination. The paper limits itself to what is a first step in this assessment and assumes that periods of low demand for destination Portugal are linked in some way to the economic crisis. The paper examines the UK market demand for holiday travel to Portugal from 2009 to 2013 and additionally the revenue contribution from tourism to Portugal’s balance of payments. The data are analyzed in the context of two decisions relating to Portuguese tourism governance: the anti crisis measures of 2009 and the new model for tourism promotion of 2013. Findings – The paper assumes that during the period 2009-2013 the demand for Portuguese tourism was not affected by the crisis and, if any damage has been done to the international brand image of destination Portugal, its consequences are not dramatic. In fact, the demand for destination Portugal in the UK market remained strong and is higher than the market as a whole. The same applies to destination Greece and the decline in demand for destination Turkey seems to be linked to social and political crisis in the country. Given this context, it is interesting to note that revenue from travel and tourism in Portugal achieved a growth rate that had not occurred before in the recent past. Research limitations/implications – The scope for analyzing empirical data is limited to the statistical information for Tourism in Portugal. However, it is possible to identify patterns of demand behavior of demand that help provide clues to the variations in tourism flows. Practical implications – In 2013, the index of overnight stays and income to the Portuguese hospitality industry exceeded that of 2009, but the index of average revenue per overnight stay at current prices was still lower than that of 2009. It would appear that the anti-crisis measures that the government took in 2009 had little or no impact nor do the changes to the tourism promotion Model in 2013 reveal why the Government considered 2013 to be “the best tourist year ever” or in 2014 “an historic year”. Originality/value – The paper provides a bottom-up perspective, based on observation, measurement and analysis.

Economic crisis and the image of Portugal as a tourist destination: the restaurants’ perspective

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate the effects of the international financial crisis on the food and beverage sector in Portugal, and the impact of a steep increase in the tax burden on this sector’s activity, together with the wider effects on the economy, enterprises and tourism in Portugal. Design/methodology/approach – The paper uses information drawn from official national information sources, together with other empirical data. Findings – The international financial crisis has caused severe damage to the food and beverage sector in Portugal. Since 2008, it has recorded successive reductions in key indicators: number of enterprises, employed persons and turnover. Besides this effect, the sharp rise in the tax burden has caused serious damage to the sector, leading to the closure of thousands of businesses, and the loss of thousands of jobs. The conjugation of these two factors, the economic and financial crisis and the increase in taxes caused serious disruption in the operation of businesses and the market as a whole. Practical implications – It is hoped that this analysis (among others) will lead to a reduction in the tax burden on the food and beverage sector of the tourism industry. It is argued that this is an impediment to progress. Originality/value – This article concludes that the current tax burden is undermining one of the main sectors of the Portuguese economy, which is vital to the country’s recovery. If it remains, there will be serious consequences for the image of Portugal, in terms of its tourism offer, its gastronomy and the excellence of service that is provided.

Holiday intentions of Portuguese residents: a profile analysis for the years 2010 to 2014

Purpose – This article aims to identify the holiday intentions of Portuguese residents, highlighting the importance and evolution of the internal market and the constraints that lead to a significant decrease of those taking holidays in recent years. Design/methodology/approach – The article is based on official tourism statistics and on an ongoing research by Instituto de Planeamento e Desenvolvimento do Turismo (IPDT) on “the holiday intentions of Portuguese residents regarding summer holidays”. Findings – The article finds that tourism in Portugal continues to grow and, in 2013, witnessed a record number of foreign tourists. Despite this success, domestic tourism showed a decrease, explained by the context of economic crisis that affects the country since 2009. However, other reasons such as professional commitments, and the avoidance of peak season for summer holidays, are also referred as reasons for not taking summer holidays. Practical implications – Results allow for a clear understanding of Portuguese residents’ profile regarding holiday intentions for summer holidays. The information presented and analyzed may be seen as very relevant in assisting decision makers in their strategy making process. Originality/value – This article seeks to illustrate the holiday intentions of the Portuguese residentes in a comparative study carried out over a three-year period. The results allow drawing conclusions about the tourism behavior of residents in Portugal during a severe economic crisis.

Profile of the tourists visiting Porto and the North of Portugal

Purpose – This article aims to characterize the profile of non-resident tourists visiting Porto and the North of Portugal and highlights the importance and evolution of tourist flows to the region, taking into account the airport development and the impact of low-cost airlines. Design/methodology/approach – The article presents and discusses official tourism statistics and the results of on an ongoing survey by Institute for Tourism Planning and Development (IPDT) – Institute of Tourism, conducted at Porto airport on the tourist profile of non-resident tourists to the region. Findings – The research findings reveal a remarkable growth in Porto and North of Portugal tourism – reflecting notable work over the past few years by tourism industry organizations. The Porto airport upgrade allowed for a new dynamic in the region, opening the door to European tourists via low-cost routes. The tourist’s profile depicts a young, active, upper class tourist, with an above average income, who truly appreciates Porto and the North of Portugal region and is willing to recommend it to friends and family. Practical implications – Results provide rich insights on non-resident tourism in the region – where tourists come from, why they selected this destination for their trip and what they enjoy doing, among other information and is highly relevant for strategic and marketing activities related to tourism promotion and the service quality offer. Originality/value – This article seeks to illustrate the non-resident tourist profiles of those visiting Porto and the North of Portugal, based on a unique study conducted over the past three years.

The ‘Power’ of Tourism in Portugal

The author analyses the upper tail of the distribution of tourism supply in Portugal from 2002 to 2009, using data from the Instituto Nacional de Estatística database. Tourism supply is defined in terms of the lodging capacity of hotel establishments in about 250 tourist destinations. The paper shows that the empirical distribution of tourism supply in Portugal is heavy-tailed and consistent with a power law behaviour in its upper tail. Such behaviour seems to be stable over the years, provided that, for the time horizon covered by the data sets, the scaling parameter is always close to the value of two. The power law hypothesis is tested positively through the use of graphical and analytical methods. Cooperation among stakeholders and the enlargement of the base for tourism supply are the main policy implications drawn from the power law analysis to avoid the threat of a fall in tourist arrivals in Portugal.

Events that marked tourism in Portugal

This article uses outlier detection procedures to investigate events that may have had a pronounced effect on tourism in Portugal. Interestingly, we confirm the evidence that the effects on tourism are lagged in time. As a result, expected business volumes are only attained later than originally anticipated and arising difficulties affect tourism leading to possible destination rerouting.

Discussing the Potential Benefits of Hiking Tourism in Portugal

ABSTRACT This study discusses the relevance and potentialities of hiking as a tourist activity, looking at its particular role and potential in Portugal. Based on results of a survey of Portuguese and foreign hikers (N= 200) encountered in different natural areas in Portugal, three groups of hikers are distinguished by the amount of money spent per day during their visit on the walking path. Statistically significant differences between them are studied in order to identify the profile of “biggest spenders” that, arguably, may be the most appealing segment to cater to. The analysis reveals visitor features and patterns of behaviour that are most associated with different levels of spending and correspondingly point at potential interventions aiming at increasing spending at the hiking destination. Also other economic, environmental, social and cultural consequences of selecting the segment of “big spenders” and investing in it to attract it and satisfy its needs are discussed, in a perspective of sustainable tourism development.

FRAMING PORTUGAL: Representational Dynamics

Existing research on the representation of tourism destinations by the mass media has primarily focused on the ideological implications of advertising messages. This study adopts framing analysis to determine the representational dynamics utilized in travel articles. The purpose of this study is to identify the frames used in the selected American newspapers— New York Times, Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, and USA Today—travel sections’ coverage of tourism in Portugal. As such, this study identifies and discusses some of the general narrative characteristics, as well representations of Portugal and the Portuguese. Findings suggest two types of frames: traditional and contemporary. Their sociocultural significance and implications are discussed.

The Influence of Service Quality on the Positioning of Five Star Hotels—The Case of the Lisbon Area

Tourism in Portugal has expanded very rapidly over the last decades. At present, it accounts for about 8% of the GDP and directly employs more than 300,000 people. The growing numbers of arrivals in Portugal have also led to a rapid expansion of the hotel industry. However, this expansion has been followed by some worrying drops in the occupancy rates of five star hotels. Fierce competition has then become one of the cornerstones of the Portuguese hotel industry. Research conducted in the field of market positioning has highlighted the importance of understanding the preferences attributed by consumers to a given product (“perception”) and how and why products and services are evaluated and purchased. Based on research conducted recently among tour operators and business companies, this paper will look at the way in which service quality influences the positioning of five star hotels. The analysis and conclusions presented in the paper offer grounds for discussion about the way in which five star hotels located in the Portuguese capital and in the surrounding area may improve their image, attract larger numbers of tourists and, as a result of this, prepare themselves for growing competition that has developed in Lisbon and its outskirts. Some of the findings are applicable to other European capitals.

Segmenting Tourism in Rural Areas: The Case of North and Central Portugal

The primary purpose of this study was to segment and profile the needs of rural tourists so as to provide a better understanding of rural tourism in Portugal. A self-administered survey in four languages was obtained from 200 visitors in the study area. Four useful benefit segments were identified, and implications for market development are discussed.

Cultural tourism in Portugal

Cultural tourism in Portugal