ABSTRACT
This study, based on the analysis of the existing bibliography, as well as the result of the appreciation of a low-density and remote case studies located in the Azores Archipelago, seeks to identify a theoretical nexus regarding rural and creative tourism and regional sustainable development in the post-COVID-19 scenario. In this regard, the authors applied analytical descriptive and inductive deductive methods. Contextually, the study aims not only to understand the subject in more prominent detail but also to clarify new tendencies, approaches, and potential guidelines that allow the actors implicated to design and drive sustainable regional development in the long term. The remote and low-density territories are the most appealing destination for this new tourism dynamics. Also, the paper shows that it is possible to establish that in this ultra-peripheral territory, the tourism sector was already presuming relevance in 2019, benefiting from a large sample of entrepreneurs and actors in the tourism sector in the Portuguese Autonomous Region of the Azores. Some potential implications may include the following: (i) Increased economic benefits: Creative tourism can bring in additional revenue for local businesses and organizations and individual artists and craftspeople;(ii) Preservation of cultural heritage: Creative tourism can help to support and preserve traditional cultural practices and crafts, which can be an essential aspect of island communities' identity;(iii) Job creation: Creative tourism can create new job opportunities for locals, such as tour guides, workshop instructors, and artists.
ABSTRACT
It has become evident that rural tourism grew significantly during the pandemic compared to mass tourism. However, at this time, all the forecasts were wrapped in considerable uncertainty regarding travel, which is not without the elevated associated risk. Therefore, we assessed the perceptions of the entrepreneurs in relation to rural tourism activities regarding the advantages of their rural tourism activity in the Azores for customers. Furthermore, the potential for developing this typology of tourism is pivotal for obtaining very reliable data and information on this topic and enabling us to provide guidelines for the leading regional players. In this regard, an exploratory method was used to assess the perceptions of the entrepreneurs with rural tourism activities in the Azores Islands regarding the customers’ experiences and some other important aspects concerning the promotion of this type of tourism in the region. Throughout this study, it was possible to verify that the most relevant obstacles to the development of rural tourism in the Azores region are the preservation and conservation of nature and endogenous resources and delivering proper infrastructures and regional accessibilities. Contrarily, the increase in community and regional funding and support for rural tourism could be key to the prosperity of this typology of tourism in this insular territory.
ABSTRACT
In tourism activities, rural tourism has a critical function in reaching regional and territorial sustainability. Bearing in mind the actual sanitary crisis caused by the SARS-CoV-2 and its horizontal impacts, as is the case of the impacts on the tourism sector. This article aims to understand the perceptions of entrepreneurs of establishments related to tourism activities in the Azores Region, an ultra-peripheral territory of Portugal, regarding regional strategies for the rural tourism practice during and after the pandemic in the Azores Region, highlighting the role of the development of rural tourism for regional growth. Contextually, this empirical research is based on a survey, previously submitted to a pre-test, with several relevant questions, including some multiple answer questions, in order to gather further information about the perceptions of business managers of the touristic sector regarding regional strategies for the rural tourism practice during and after the actual pandemic crisis in the Azores Region. Thereby, the three main aspects in which the regional authorities of tourism in the Azores will have to bet with urgency in the short and medium terms are three types – i) Improving air accessibility in the Azores, attracting new scheduled airlines to operate to and from the Region;ii) Facilitate visits to all islands, improving the inter-island transport network;iii) Promote activities throughout the year, attracting specific segments of tourists to combat the seasonality. © 2021, Czestochowa University of Technology. All rights reserved.
ABSTRACT
The papers in this edition of the Journal bridge the gap between initiatives that occurred before the pandemic and those developed in response to the pandemic. They illustrate how an institution's ability to implement rapid change is to some extent predicated on the institutional culture and adaptability before crises arise. © University of Deusto.