Broadening tourism experience and destination image

A Cross-cultural approach between international and domestic tourists

Authors

  • Manuela Guerreiro Research Centre for Tourism, Sustainability and Well-being (CinTurs) and Faculty of Economics, University of Algarve, Campus of Gambelas, Faro 8005-139, Portugal.
  • Patrícia Pinto Research Centre for Tourism, Sustainability and Well-being (CinTurs) and Faculty of Economics, University of Algarve, Campus of Gambelas, Faro 8005-139, Portugal.
  • Fatemeh Bagheri Research Centre for Tourism, Sustainability and Well-being (CinTurs) and Faculty of Economics, University of Algarve, Campus of Gambelas, Faro 8005-139, Portugal. https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7723-1091
  • Nelson Matos Research Centre for Tourism, Sustainability and Well-being (CinTurs) and Faculty of Economics, University of Algarve, Campus of Gambelas, Faro 8005-139, Portugal.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.54055/ejtr.v39i.3743

Keywords:

Tourist experience, experiential destination image, tourist's memory, tourist's satisfaction, tourist's loyalty

Abstract

Although previous studies deal with tourism experience, destination image and related outcomes, this study innovates by elaborating on a more comprehensive view of the tourism experience and destination image. Guided by suggestions for more research in the relevant literature, this study examines the correlation between tourism experience, experiential destination image, tourism memory, satisfaction and loyalty and explores domestic and international tourists. The data were collected from tourists visiting the Algarve, Portugal, in 2021. A multi-group analysis determined the main differences between domestic and international tourists. The results show that the tourist experience has five dimensions: active learning, emotional engagement, passive entertainment, immersive escape, and aesthetic appeal. Furthermore, tourism experiences of both domestic and international tourists positively affect the cognitive image of the Algarve. There is a significant difference among domestic and international tourists regarding the impact of tourism memory on tourists' loyalty. Theoretical and managerial implications, limitations, and potential directions for future research are discussed.

Author Biographies

Patrícia Pinto, Research Centre for Tourism, Sustainability and Well-being (CinTurs) and Faculty of Economics, University of Algarve, Campus of Gambelas, Faro 8005-139, Portugal.

Patrícia  Pinto holds a PhD in Quantitative Methods Applied to Economics and Business. She is a Full Professor at the Faculty of Economics, University of Algarve, and the coordinator of the Research Centre for Tourism, Sustainability and Well-being (CinTurs). She is also a member of the directive board of the PhD in Tourism at the University of Algarve. She teaches mainly courses on quantitative data analysis and research methodologies. Her research interests are applied statistics and modelling, especially in Tourism Management (Sustainable Tourism, Destination image and branding, Marketing segmentation, and Consumer behaviour). She is the author/co-author of over a hundred scientific articles published in indexed journals. She is the Pro-Rector for the European Universities of the Seas (SEA-EU) at the University of Algarve.

Fatemeh Bagheri, Research Centre for Tourism, Sustainability and Well-being (CinTurs) and Faculty of Economics, University of Algarve, Campus of Gambelas, Faro 8005-139, Portugal.

Fatemeh Bagheri holds a Bachelor's, Master's, and Doctoral degree in Tourism Management. Currently, she is a postdoctoral research fellow at CinTurs research center, Algarve University. In addition to her scholarly contributions in top-tier tourism journals, she serves as a reviewer for several International academic journals dedicated to publishing tourism and hospitality research. Her research focuses on Tourism Marketing, Tourism and Gender issues, Tourists’ well-being, and Entrepreneurship in Tourism.

Nelson Matos, Research Centre for Tourism, Sustainability and Well-being (CinTurs) and Faculty of Economics, University of Algarve, Campus of Gambelas, Faro 8005-139, Portugal.

Nelson Manuel da Silva deMatos is an assistant professor at the Faculty of Economics from the University of Algarve, Portugal, with two decades of experience in the hospitality, tourism and real estate sectors. He holds a PhD in Marketing and Strategy (2022) from the University of Minho, Portugal, and another in Tourism (2015) from the University of Algarve. He is also an integrated research member of the CinTurs- Research Centre for tourism sustainability and Well-being at the Universidade do Algarve.  His research interests are flow, tourism experience, co-creation, experience marketing, destination image and consumer behaviour.

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Published

2025-01-15

How to Cite

Guerreiro, M., Pinto, P., Bagheri, F., & deMatos, N. (2025). Broadening tourism experience and destination image: A Cross-cultural approach between international and domestic tourists. European Journal of Tourism Research, 39, 3909. https://doi.org/10.54055/ejtr.v39i.3743