Government management of tourism in fostering residents support for sustainable tourism development: Evidence from a Portuguese historic town

This study proposes a conceptual framework that explores the correlations between economic dependence (ED), local government management of tourism (GMT), perceived tourism benefits and costs, and support for sustainable tourism development (STD). A quantitative research design was adopted. Data collection was carried out by personal survey applied to 300 residents of the small historic town of Lamego, located within the Douro Valley World Heritage Site. Structural equation modelling methods were employed to analyse the proposed model. Results suggest that GMT has a significant effect on the perceived impacts of tourism, both in the positive and in the negative. The effect of GMT in fostering residents’ support to STD was also empirically supported. Additionally, it was also determined that positive perceptions of the impacts of tourism directly influence support to STD. Nevertheless, ED does not have a significant effect either on perceivedbenefits, nor on perceived costs or on residents’ support to STD. Likewise, perceptions of the negative impacts do not predict residents’ support to STD.

Enotourism – more than a life style

Enotourism is a relatively new form of sustainable tourism. But is more than a lifestyle. The Douro landscape reflects its ancient and deep connection with the culture of wine, creating a picture of Man and Nature working side by side in search of the perfect wine. Lifestyle typically reflects: an individual's attitude, a way of life, values, or world view. Practical implications - the results suggest that there is scope for developing wine tourism products to attract tourists and which could be used to promote the Douro Valley region as a centre for enotourism. The beautifully unique landscape of the Douro was one of the reasons that made it a World Heritage site in 2001. There isn´t in Portugal an autonomous strategy process to define enotourism. Is a legal problem when we try to analyse the process or a data base to find information about enotourism players. So, how do winery operators, particularly those running small or family businesses, cope with the new developments occurring in the world of wines? The present study examines these issues from the perspective of a group of Portuguese winery operators. Our proposal in this research, is to analyse how many wineris or enotecas are hable to develop enotourism with a legal process. The results of the study reflect the level of education of employees, the seasonal nature of tourism, the improvements in its promotion and the need for greater support from local government. A key aspect is respect for the people who call the location home, the culture and customs of the area, and the socio-economic system. Design/methodology/approach - The methodology employed for this study consisted of a combination of surveys, interviews and field observations with the suppliers in the traditional wine‐producing region, Douro Valley, or Porto wine region, in the north of Portugal. The results of this investigation are almost analisys made inside the villages and also us wineries and enotecas. From the 30 winemakers that we visited, only 2 have an enotourism service acording to legislation and have a certificate that allows to pratices. It was very hard but it is an open field to future researchs (TOMÁS López‐Guzmán,et al, 2011). From the 30 wineries we have analysed only 2 were enotourism with a legal basis. Enotourism is on the travel agencies department and most of the wineries don´t have the legal licenses. Despite of most tourism agencies see enoturism as a segment of the industry with tremendous growth potential, stating that in some regions, it's only functioning at 20% of its full potential. Enotourism development guidelines and management practices are applicable to all forms of tourism in all destination types, including mass tourism and the various niche tourism segments.

Contributos para uma estratégia de marketing territorial para a região de Moimenta da Beira

Num contexto de urbanização, de acesa competitividade e desertificação do interior, assiste-se cada vez mais a cenários de concorrência entre territórios pela captação de recursos, investimentos, negócios e até visitantes e turistas, capazes de gerar dinâmicas positivas no território, palco deste movimento. Algumas projeções indiciam que o interior de Portugal terá, em 2040, cerca de um terço da população atual e, se a tendência de declínio demográfico se mantiver, em 90 anos o interior perderá 75 por cento da população. Neste contexto, o presente estudo tem por finalidade alertar os decisores políticos para o desenvolvimento de estratégias que possam atrair pessoas para o interior do país e estancar a sua desertificação. Para o efeito, o projeto que se apresenta vai procurar definir uma estratégia de marketing territorial para o concelho de Moimenta da Beira, tendo por base os seus produtos endógenos, como a maçã, o vinho, o mel, os enchidos, os granitos, o património religioso e cultural e, por fim, o património natural, como a Albufeira do Vilar e a Serra da Nave. Para a realização do referido estudo, foi seguida uma metodologia que teve por base uma revisão de literatura na área do marketing territorial, a análise de dados secundários e a realização de entrevistas aos principais Stakeholders da região. Os resultados deste estudo permitirão definir orientações para reforçar a atratividade e competitividade da oferta territorial junto dos segmentos alvo, ou seja, dos atuais e potenciais utilizadores do território.