Tourism Product

tourism product

total experience, service, or combo of goods and services offered to tourists

(attractions, transpo, accommodation, food, activities, services)

complete experience offered

including tangible and intangible elements

heart of tourism industry

tourism product

• satisfied tourists

• economic growth

• sustainable destination development

strong tourism product leads to

core product

could be a destination, event, or activity

main reason for travel

main benefit or experience

• travel decisions

• guides product design

• improves guest satisfaction

• creates competitive advantage

importance of core product

travel decisions

tourists choose destinations based on the benefit they want to experience

guides product design

helps tourism businesses fesign services that truly meet guest needs

improves guest satisfaction

when the core need is fulfilled, guests are more satisfied

creates competitive advantage

destinations that clearly deliver their core product stand out

augmented product

extras that go beyond basic service and are designed to exceed guest expectations, create satisfaction, and encourage loyalty

(tour guide, souvenirs, etc)

intangibility

product cannot be seen or touched before purchase

tourism services are experienced rather than owned

perishability

refers to the characteristic of tourism and hospitality where services cannot be stored, saved, or inventoried for future sale

tourism services are time-bound

(unused services like empty hotel room cannot be stored or resold later)

heterogeneity / variability

services may vary depending on who provides them or when they are provided

quality of service cannot be exactly the same every time it is delivered

accessibility

how easily a tourist can reach a destination or attraction and move within it

attraction

natural or man-made places that draw visitors

encourage longer stays, multiple attractions motivate tourists to stay longer and spend more

destination image

overall perception tourists have of a destination

formed by what tourists see, hear, read, and experience including marketing messages, media, word of mouth, and personal visits

• cognitive

• affective

• conative

Components destination images

cognitive image

what tourists know

knowledge and beliefs about the destination

(attractions, climate, safety, prices, facilities)

affective image

how tourists feel

emotional responses to the destination

(exciting, relaxing, romantic, fun, peaceful)

conative image

what tourists intend to do

behavioral intention based on perception

(desire to visit, recommend, or revisit)

tourist experience

feelings and memories formed during a trip

carrying capacity

maximum number of visitors a site can handle without damage

level of tourism that the natural environment can handle without long-term damage

level of tourism that local residents can tolerate without feeling overcrowded/disturbed

tourist satisfaction

how well the actual experience meets tourist expectations

package tour

combined offer of travel, accommodation, and activities for one price

service quality

level of excellence in the services provided

focuses on how well services are delivered, not just what is delivered

cultural tourism

travel to experience the traditions, art, and history of a place

adventure tourism

travel involving physical activity and exploration

ecotourism

responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the environment

souvenir

tangible reminder or product from a tourist destination

sustainable tourism product

product that balances environmental, economic, and social benefits

tourism demand

total number of people who wish to travel for tourism purposes

represents the actual and potential volume of tourist flows to a destination, influenced by income, time availability, motivation, and external conditions