Naslov
Ecosystem Services Awareness Building through Quality Control in Tourist Destination: a Possible Methodological Approach

Autori
Poljanec-Borić, Saša ; Šikić, Luka

Vrsta, podvrsta i kategorija rada
Sažeci sa skupova, sažetak, znanstveni

Izvornik
Linking Wellness Tourism to Ecosystem Services: Towards a Research Agenda / Amelung, Bas ; Peeters, Paul - Wageningen, 2013

Skup
COST Action TObeWELL, First Seminar

Mjesto i datum
Wageningen, Nizozemska, 03.09.2013. - 05.09.2013

Vrsta sudjelovanja
Predavanje

Vrsta recenzije
Nije recenziran

Ključne riječi
Tourism; Ecosystem; Destination; Quality; Control

Sažetak
Quality based approach has become mainstay in acquiring competitive advantage among various tourist destinations. As the concept of destination experience appears to be the main distinction factor behind miscellaneous tourist supply, we propose a framework for empirical evaluation of destination quality. This framework is based on quality control of destinations’ experiences’ supply chain. To capture this relation, our methodological approach identifies 11 dimensions that emanate from “accommodation”, identified by the number of beds which we regard to be the basic dimension of destination’s supply value chain. Each of these dimensions is next decomposed into varying set of indicators regarded to be of pivotal importance for the quality of tourist experience. Dimensions and 43 related indicators take into account wide variety of possible destination experiences. Since most of tourist destinations base their supply on factor endowment, thus on corresponding natural or cultural resources, we build evaluation methodology by incorporating these indicators into our methodological framework. As a part of both natural and cultural dimensions of supply chain in tourism, ecosystem services play a major role in sustaining quality of supply chain in a particular destination. Therefore, we integrate ecosystem assessment in a quality control framework and thus make connection between ecosystem and quality of destination’s tourist offer. Next, we define a questionnaire where trained judges through a process of structured observation evaluate the quality of particular destination’s supply chain. As a result we obtain large rating database that is informative about quality of touristic supply in 100 destinations covered by survey. Ranking destinations based on criteria of interest gives us hierarchical grids which than serve as a quality control tool and database. Since proposed methodology and subsequent empirical research undertaken for last 6 years affect national public opinion through an elaborate marketing strategy, we argue that our methodology and research results help mainstream institutional regulation toward overall better ecosystem management in tourist destinations. Furthermore, since large part of destination experience is by survey construct ascribed to public related facilities, services, local ecology substratum and heritage, examination of these data is extended in direction of giving policy recommendations. For policy recommendation we make use of panel data framework since our survey results show up in both, horizontal and vertical dimensions. General goal we strive to achieve is developing complete methodological system that would connect tourist destination quality measuring system and respective policy action. This could hence serve as an instrument for improving various performance dimensions one society might be concerned about while allowing for importance of destination relevant ecosystem services.

Izvorni jezik
Engleski

Znanstvena područja
Ekonomija

POVEZANOST RADA