Fonte: Journal of Tourism & Development; Vol 43 (2023); 49-66
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Resumo: Despite the importance of oering memorable tourist experiences and the increase of research in this field, there are few studies in this context that focus on local products, and no research is known on the tourist experience associated with salt. However, salt, a fundamental food product in most gastronomy and associated with a peculiar traditional production, marks the landscapes and the identity of some tourist destinations. This study aims to characterize the tourist experience associated with salt, identifying its dimensions and the factors that influence it. Using netnography, 296 comments regarding tourist products related to salt offered in Portugal by several companies, published on Tripadvisor between September 2013 and May 2021, are analyzed.
The results reveal that the dimensions of tourist experiences related to salt most referred by visitors were the emotional, followed by the behavioral. The most mentioned influencing factors were other saltrelated attractions (e.g., spas, museums), followed by the salt-related landscape. The study also shows that the impact of the experience dimensions and factors on the overall experience varies according to the dimensions and factors. Conclusions and implications for managers of destinations and organizations offering salt-related tourism products are presented.
