Search Results (36)

Wine tourism has emerged as a thriving activity within the international wine sector, evolving from simple winery visits to immersive and experiential engagements. This study explores the role of wine tourism in Galicia, emphasizing its integration into the circular economy and sustainability frameworks. By analyzing visitor expectations and leveraging Galicia’s unique attributes—such as its natural beauty, cultural heritage, and renowned gastronomy—this research aims to position Galicia as a leading wine tourism destination in Spain. The study employs surveys targeting wineries, accommodation providers, and wine tourists to assess the impact of sustainable practices on economic performance and community development. Key findings indicate that activities related to renewable energy and sustainable tourism significantly enhance winery revenues, while also contributing to local economic growth and population retention in rural areas. The research concludes that a collaborative approach between public and private sectors is essential for designing a sustainable and circular economy in wine tourism, ensuring long-term benefits for both the environment and local communities. Full article

Wine tourism is a key segment of the global tourism industry, offering visitors opportunities to explore vineyards, taste wines, and experience cultural heritage. This study examines online reviews to identify positive and negative themes of wine tourism experiences and explores how perceptions vary among traveler types. Data were collected from 2850 TripAdvisor reviews of wineries in Bordeaux, Champagne, and Burgundy, France, and analyzed using Leximancer software. The findings reveal seven key themes, including Wine Quality, Tasting Experiences, Tour Guides, Vineyard Views, and Cultural Charm, alongside Dissatisfaction with Time Management and Value for Money. Variations among traveler types highlight distinct preferences, with solo travelers valuing education, couples prioritizing romance, groups focusing on culture, and families concerned with organization. This study contributes to research on experiential tourism by addressing diverse visitor expectations and enhancing service quality. Full article

This paper investigates wine tourists’ preferences for the attributes of the wine tourism experience (WTEXP) in Italy and Turkey, exploring cross-cultural differences and similarities in two countries with diverse wine tourism development. Data were collected through an online survey of 253 wine consumers, and the Best–Worst Scaling method was employed in both countries to assess the perceived importance of selected WTEXP attributes that influence tourists’ choices. The samples were then segmented using cluster analysis based on key attitudinal scales (e.g., wine involvement), with BWS applied to each segment to further examine visitor preferences. The results show that both Italian and Turkish wine tourists prioritized expert-led tours but differed in other preferences. Italian tourists valued the winery’s aesthetic appeal, while Turkish tourists favored pre-visit informative sessions. Additionally, Italians placed less importance on accompanying events, while Turks considered the reputation of the wine, winery, or wine region the least significant factor. These preferences also varied within the clusters identified in each sample. This research represents the first comparison of consumer preferences in wine tourism between Turkey, a developing market, and Italy, a traditional Old World wine producer, while considering the diversity within each group. The findings provide key insights for wine tourism stakeholders, such as wineries and tourism managers, offering actionable recommendations to tailor their offerings for specific tourist segments to attract a larger number of wine tourists, enhance their experience, and foster sustainable growth of wine tourism. Full article

This article explores the niche sector of literary tourism with a focus on the works of Italian writer Beppe Fenoglio in the Langhe-Roero and Monferrato area of Piedmont, Italy. It questions whether literary tourism can contribute to the cultural sustainability of a landscape. Nowadays, this area is already a well-established tourist destination known for its food and wine; however, Fenoglio’s work offers a different perspective, highlighting a specific heritage comprising the area’s rural life, local culture, and history of the Resistance movement. The research used a mixed method approach with documentary analysis, questionnaires, and in-depth interviews. “Fenoglians” (tourists motivated by Fenoglio’s life and works) were identified, and their characteristics were explored. The results cannot be generalized, as the chosen sampling method does not provide sufficient materials for broad application. While being a small group, these special interest tourists represent an opportunity for tourism diversification. This article concludes that Fenoglio’s literary tourism offers a distinctive experience, fosters new interpretations of the landscape, and strengthens collective memory of the Resistance. It highlights the importance of local communities in understanding how fictional narratives shape tourist perceptions of a destination as well as their role in preserving the community’s collective memory and landscape. Full article

This research examined how food and wine pairing affects the sustainability in local hospitality settings. This study focused on hospitality employees’ attitudes in Srem, where it explored the importance of integrating local produce, the economic and environmental benefits of reduced food miles, and customer satisfaction through authentic experiences. Key research questions investigated the perceived value of food–wine pairing, factors that influenced sustainable practices, and employee motivation. Data were gathered via a structured survey that highlighted challenges like limited ingredient availability and high costs. The results show that the employees recognized the importance of sustainability but displayed limited motivation for further initiatives. The findings suggest that enhancing local sourcing can bolster economic resilience and cultural preservation, promoting a sustainable tourism model for the region. This study recommends additional research on ecological impacts and local community benefits to further embed sustainability in hospitality practices. Full article

This study comprises a systematic literature review of 68 articles published between 2010 and 2024, identifying and coherently grouping the wine tourism sector’s adoption of technological innovation practices. The articles were analyzed using a framework developed from the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA). The selection criteria included peer-reviewed, full-length articles in English emphasizing technological innovations in the wine tourism sector. The results highlight several key trends in technological innovation applied to wine tourism. The innovations were categorized into five areas: digital marketing and promotion, sustainability and innovation, immersive technologies (AR/VR), e-commerce and distribution models, and smart technologies for winery management. The review reveals a growing interest in digital marketing and immersive technologies in promoting wine tourism through digital platforms and creating engaging tourist experiences through virtual and augmented reality. The review focuses only on peer-reviewed studies published in English, which may limit its global scope. Books and non-peer-reviewed articles may have introduced further developments in technological innovation that are not captured in this review. This study is a post-COVID-19 review of technological innovation in wine tourism. The findings provide significant implications for researchers and policymakers, suggesting future research areas and offering insights on how public funds can support wine tourism’s digital transformation and sustainability Full article

While aspiring to become internationally valued producers of high-quality wines, certain Romanian wineries recently turned towards wine tourism. Given the increasing role of smart devices and online-based information in holiday selection and planning, the main objective of the paper is to evaluate the online presence, informational content and effectiveness of Romanian wineries’ websites for the promotion of wine tourism. This evaluation comprised 53 features tested in previous research and organized into four categories: main website characteristics, wine tourism, marketing, and education. Based on content analysis conducted on 154 websites of wineries identified in all Romanian regions, scores were computed and, subsequently, wineries were classified, mapped, and evaluated. The findings show that certain basic features are overall available, while exclusive features that could positively influence tourist preferences and experiences are insufficient in terms of design, education, and marketing characteristics. Less than 50% of the analysed websites inform about wine tasting activities, less than 35% specify visiting hours, and less than 20% mention tourist amenities. The websites that indicate other local wineries, allied industries or tourist attractions represent exceptions. This study underlines the importance of leveraging digital tools within the marketing strategy of wineries and the need to enhance networking among regional stakeholders as prerequisite for sustainable development. Full article

The braided cord vineyard management system of the La Orotava Valley (Canary Islands, Spain) is a unique technique in the world that has been developed in the northern area of the island of Tenerife since the introduction of the first strains from Europe after the conquest of the Canary Islands and that synthesizes the unique wine cultural landscape of the territory. The future sustainability of this landscape seems to be inescapably linked to policies in favour of environmental, social and economic development, primarily through wine tourism. To do this, the methodology addresses the opinions of 16 in-depth interviews of key informants from the sector to understand this cultural landscape’s degree of use and enhancement. The results indicate significant progress in the revaluation and sustainability of the braided cord system (BCS) as part of the public–private strategy in search of its recognition as a BIC. Likewise, the winery sector recognizes the need to move towards a management model for the wine sector of the La Orotava Valley, where wine tourism has a more significant role, that seems to be closed based on the projects and initiatives under development. Full article

Wine tourism is emerging as one of the most important forms of alternative, sustainable tourism in wine countries, such as Greece, in the post-COVID-19 era. In this paper, consumers’ motives for wine tourism in Greece today are investigated regarding (i) their consumption habits related to wine, (ii) their experience with wine tourism, (iii) the parameters that would encourage their visit to a wine region, such as wine, the winery, and general regional characteristics, and (iv) the source of information consulted for a wine tourism experience. The questionnaire was conducted from April to May 2023, with 595 participants, via the Google Forms platform. The statistical analysis was performed with basic tools, as well as cross and chi-square tests, to analyze the data. The highlights of the results indicate that consumers (the participants of the survey) consume more wine today than before the pandemic (57%) and have previous experience in wine tourism (59.8%), with the majority of them having visited a winery more than once (67.4%). The most popular activity at the winery was found to be wine tasting (46.6%), followed by open discussion about wine (35.2%), and, at the regional level, visiting the sights (46%) and doing activities in nature (30.6%). Future participants are looking for innovation in wine tourism, with trained staff (77.5%) and organized tours (74.3%), the organization of wine festivals and other events (71.9%), opportunities to explore the local community, such as the outdoors (83.5%) and its culture and history (70.9%), during their visit, and available information on wine tourism opportunities online (73%). They also are encouraging the transition of the Greek wine tourism industry to the digital world. Based on the overall results, three types of support are proposed for the successful, sustainable development of wine tourism in wine-producing countries. Full article

Sensory experiences play a remarkable role in the visitor’s satisfaction and behavioral intention to return to a wine tourism unit, so it is important to frequently review the environment in which the experience is lived, to make it memorable. This study aimed to perform a comparative analysis of the perception of sensory experiences between the Abruzzo region in Italy and the Douro region in Portugal. This study also intended to understand the most important sensations sought by wine tourists in each region. A quantitative methodology was used, based on a questionnaire survey that analyses the perceptions of sensory experiences and some variables that characterize the profile of wine tourists. The sample consisted of 199 wine tourists who visited the wine tourism units of the aforementioned regions. The structural equation model results showed that sensory experiences were composed of five factors: sight, hearing, smell, taste, and touch, and sensory experiences manifested with greater intensity in the hearing and smell factors. By comparing the results between the two regions, it can be concluded that smell is the most important factor for wine tourists who visit the Douro region, while for those who visit the Abruzzo region, it is the taste. The obtained results are important, in that they allow perceiving the differences in perception in sensory experiences, which has an impact on the management of companies in the two regions studied. This comparison between two wine regions in two different countries is pioneering work. Different wine regions have different attractiveness factors. Full article

The subject of generations and their differences has been intensely analyzed and debated. Each generation has its own characteristics, regardless of the element that differentiates them. Gen Z’s relationship with tourism has been approached in recent years from various perspectives by many scholars. For the current research, representative characteristics were identified as important for Gen Z: off-the-beaten-path locations and experiences. Off-the-beaten-path locations refer to small-scale destinations, under-tourism, local businesses, sustainability, and local traditions. All of the aspects mentioned before are typical of rural tourism. Experiences are introduced by various elements of rural attractiveness: material cultural heritage (MCH) and immaterial (ICH), the living human treasures program (LHT), wine tourism, products with a protected designation of origin (PDO), products with a protected geographical indication (PGI), culinary diversity, and other rural leisure facilities. Two purposes have been established: to identify the relationship between Gen Z and rural tourism and its components defined by cultural heritage and traditional gastronomy, and to construct a predictive model regarding Gen Z’s behavior when traveling to rural destinations. For this, we performed a quantitative investigation among university students from Romania using an online survey. Using 280 Gen Z respondents from 323 valid responses, we performed a direct logistic regression. The results showed that they value local gastronomy and unique attractions, which we can include in MCH. The price represents an important element when choosing an accommodation unit. Due to the constantly increasing share of Gen Z in the tourism market, destinations and tourism operators will have time to prepare and adapt to new realities. Transversal research will benefit from the opportunity to compare Gen Z’s preferences and changes over time. Full article

The research on tourism is constant and unending; food and wine tourism research still represents a small part inside this wider field. Wine tourism and events are critical for sustainable development of rural areas. In this context, the emotional bond between the wine tourists the regions and the producers that they visit is created, not just through the wine as a product, but also through a set of hedonic features that are present in the visit and tasting experience. To reach the research objectives, a quantitative methodology was chosen. For this research a questionnaire was used and completed by wine cellar visitors and distributed to wine tourism facilities. An online questionnaire was applied in wine and wine tourism social network groups. To test the hypothesis, a structural equation modelling (SEM) was used has well as an importance–performance matrix analysis (IPMA) was also used for further exploration of the results. Results reveal that brand love and wine involvement are positively related to emotional satisfaction, evaluative satisfaction, and word-of-mouth (WOM) intention. Regarding the two dimensions of satisfaction (emotional and evaluative), only the second revealed a direct and indirect positive effect on WOM. From an interdisciplinary point of view, this paper presents insights for niche marketing (i.e., wine tourism, segmentation and brand management) and for local and sustainable development. Lastly, the research limitations and suggestions for future research are presented. Full article

This paper researches aspects of affirmation of intangible heritage and the valorisation of viniculture through themed wine hotels that offer integral wine experiences as well as satisfy tourists’ needs for individualism. This paper aims to explore the intangible cultural heritage through thematic wine hotels and identify special tourism products and experiences created via storytelling and co-creation that impact its competitiveness. The research design includes the selection process of wine hotels in the international context, a comparative analysis of themed hotel offers online promotions, and original research of themed offers. Data is analysed using qualitative and quantitative methodology, including statistical processing. Developed under the concept of wine tourism, themed accommodation facilities—wine hotels—are the core value in the creation of an integral wine experience. However, the research results indicate that international wine hotels do not affirm all the potential and possibilities of creating specific products and do not realise their full competitiveness. The results form a platform for the proposal of a competitiveness model, which synergically affirms hotel core competencies, expressed through tangible and intangible features, sustainability, experiences, co-creation, special advantages and marketing mix elements. Recommendations for wine hotels’ new competitiveness represent an additional contribution of the paper and point to new considerations directed towards innovations, creativity and affirmation of intangible heritage. Full article

The paper focuses on analysing the potential benefits and challenges of the Metaverse, particularly in the field of research in the tourism and food and wine sectors. The Metaverse is part of the new generation of the internet known as web 3.0, which also includes AI, blockchain and other digital innovations. The food marketing and tourism sectors are the main fields where companies are experimenting with solutions to offer people a fully functioning immersive Metaverse experience. This paper aims to highlight the potential impact of the Metaverse on tourism sectors as well as on research activities. Open challenges concern the social acceptance, affordability, and environmental sustainability of these technologies. Research is needed on the Metaverse’s ability to reduce bias and accurately simulate real experiences, as well as on tourists’ perceptions, attitudes, and willingness to pay for mediated experiences. Another important issue is the management of sensitive data that will travel through the Metaverse. Looking forward, the Metaverse has the potential to become a valuable tool for advancing tourism research through virtual collaboration and interdisciplinary research projects. Full article

It is now widely accepted that climate change is having a profound impact on the weather systems around the world. These, in turn, have a considerable effect on two important elements of the Tuscan economy: wine production and tourism. This case study sought to explore the relationship between the perception of Tuscan wine-producing agritourism owners of the potentially abstract notion of climate change and their concrete experiences as entrepreneurs. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with eight wine-producing agritourism owners or managers in Val d’Orcia, a small area of Siena, Tuscany, and analysed thematically. The impact of climate change on the area’s viticulture is undeniable but the responses to the challenges are more nuanced. Political leadership on the climate crisis appears absent and perhaps as a consequence, these small-scale operators lack knowledge and funds to enable them to plan ahead: they react often day-to-day to the immediate weather conditions rather than planning long term. While recognizing the difficulties they face from climate change as viticulturists, as agrotourism owners they welcome the longer seasons which enable them to open in the formerly barren shoulder seasons but struggle with last-minute cancellations due to unpredictable weather in the area. Full article