Márcio Ribeiro Martins and Rui Augusto Costa
Backpackers can be found all over the world, especially in urban areas where the main enclaves are established. The purpose of this paper is to discuss the operationalisation of…
Abstract
Purpose
Backpackers can be found all over the world, especially in urban areas where the main enclaves are established. The purpose of this paper is to discuss the operationalisation of the term “backpacker” and present a proposal to conceptualise backpackers and backpackers’ segments based on the operational criteria available in literature to avoid incongruities among researchers.
Design/methodology/approach
Based on a literature review, this study provides a critical review of the backpacker conceptualisation and operationalisation using a methodology divided into three phases, a quantitative analysis based on the Scopus database and a bibliometric analysis coupled with a manual analysis of documents (content analysis).
Findings
Substantial heterogeneity and complexity regarding the conceptualisation of backpacker tourism and its diversified subsegments were evident. For this reason, this paper argues that backpacker tourism can and should continue to be analysed from different perspectives, suitably framed in the theoretical instrument constructed to identify and distinguish the different subsegments through its operationalisation features.
Originality/value
This study provides a practical contribution to all researchers interested in the topic of backpackers proposing the operationalisation of the term backpacker and it subsegments to avoid disparate results and deviations. This contribution will enable the correct and objective assessment of the operationalisation of this concept for researchers, managers and destination management organisations, identifying exactly what phenomenon is to be studied.
Details
Keywords
Márcio Ribeiro Martins, Rui Augusto da Costa and André Pedrosa
This study examines network coopetition strategies to promote the spatial distribution of tourists and their importance for Destination Management Organisations (DMOs). Geotagged…
Abstract
This study examines network coopetition strategies to promote the spatial distribution of tourists and their importance for Destination Management Organisations (DMOs). Geotagged photos from the municipality of Porto, Portugal (n = 152,312) uploaded to the Flickr social network between 2010 and 2022 were utilised, and thematic maps were produced using geographic information systems (GISs). Residents and visitors were identified and separated, employing a heuristic approach with a five-day threshold between the first and last photo of each user. The findings indicate an uneven distribution of tourists within the destination, with a notable concentration of accommodation, attractions and visitors in the historic centre. The establishment of a coopetition network could contribute to the dispersion of activity.