Research Centre for Tourism, Sustainability and Well-being

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Publications

Hotel industry and regional competitiveness: the bibliometric perspective of web of science

Publication . Teixeira, Sérgio J.; Pocinho, Margarida

The hotel industry is certainly a key sector study for any regional competitiveness. The aim of this study is to review the extent and emerging perspectives and approaches to the hotel industry and regional competitiveness. We adopted a systematic literature review using a bibliometric approach, focusing on the creation of maps and networks of visualization of intellectual structure in the period of 18 years (2000-2018), through the Web of Science database. The author argues that the hotel industry is undoubtedly the sector linked to regional competitiveness and that is an engine of the regional economy

2020Journal article

Open access

Exploring creativity and wellbeing characteristics of portuguese tourists

Publication . Garcês, Soraia; Pocinho, Margarida; Jesus, Saul Neves de; Câmara, Ester; Martins, Patricia

The purpose of this study was to explore creativity and wellbeing characteristics in a sample of Portuguese tourists while simultaneously building a creative tourist profile. A sample of 857 Portuguese tourists with ages ranging from 17 to 76 years was used. The Creative Personality Scale short form and the Tourism Experience Scale were applied for data collection. The results indicated positive and significant correlations between wellbeing and creativity. Women showed higher levels of wellbeing. Older tourists performed better in creativity. Age had a significant influence only on creativity and not on tourists’ overall wellbeing. Non-students obtained higher and significant scores for creativity, while overall wellbeing was not influenced by having a job (student vs non-student). A significant multiple linear regression model suggested that wellbeing and age are significant predictors of creativity in tourism settings. Wellbeing rankings showed positive emotions in first place, creativity in second place and meaning in third place. In conclusion, the results indicated that creativity and wellbeing are important factors for tourism experiences and that Portuguese tourists’ psychological profile already show

2020Journal article

Open access

BACK TO BASICS: EXPERIENCING A DESTINATION THROUGH GASTRONOMY - THE CASE OF MADEIRA ISLAND

Publication . Garcês, Soraia; Pocinho, Margarida; Jesus, Saúl Neves de

Abstract Purpose – This study aims to explore gastronomy tourists' wellbeing in Madeira Island, Portugal, particularly those who acknowledged this activity as the experience they most enjoyed. Methodology – Data was retrieved in 2019, and it is part of the "Wellbeing Tourists Project" developed in Madeira Island. From a preliminary sample of 475 tourists, 52 considered gastronomy their most enjoyed experience, composing this subset of participants the sample for the current study. Data collection occurred in-person (before the pandemic) and online. Tourists filled the Tourism Wellbeing Scale, which evaluates tourism experiences through positive Psychology variables [wellbeing (positive emotions, engagement, relationships, meaning, and accomplishment), creativity, optimism, and spirituality]. Findings – Tourists from England/UK, Czech Republic and Portugal (mainland) considered gastronomy their top choice. Findings showed that a gastronomy tourist in Madeira is someone who first looks to have fun, acknowledges the experience as unique/original, and enjoys engaging with the local community. Logistic regression showed that the estimated odds ratio favoured an increase of nearly 53% for the Gastronomy experience every one unit increase of the Meaning variable. Contribution – Madeira has a unique cuisine with unique flavours, which can be an essential attraction factor for this destination, but it is considered a complementary product. This study highlights that gastronomy should be considered a potential to promote the Island tourism and that it can also be an essential factor to promote wellbeing and Madeira food heritage.

2021Conference object

Open access

Senior tourists' well-being, happiness, and satisfaction with life: a systematic literature review

Publication . Câmara, Ester; Pocinho, Margarida; Jesus, Saúl Neves de; Agapito, Dora; Pocinho, Margarida; Marques Câmara, Ester do Carmo

The perception of well-being through tourism improves the quality of life of tourists, and for senior tourists, this re lationship is even more promising. While the association between tourism and mental health is clear, the processes involved are not always clarified. Thus, this systematic literature review aims to explore and systematise the benefits of senior tourism for well-being, happiness, and satisfaction with life. Following the PRISMA method, the search was undertaken on platforms SCOPUS and Web of Science, using the research terms “senior tourism”, “elderly tourism”, “well-being”, and “life satisfaction”. Articles were included, if published after 2018, peer-reviewed, in English, concern ing an overview of senior well-being and tourism. After applying the inclusion and exclusion criteria, the final sample comprised 16 articles. Senior tourists experience higher well-being, happiness, and satisfaction with life when their goals are of high valence, more likely to be achieved, coherent with the activities, and when they feel pleasure asso ciated with achieving those goals. Still, senior tourists’ happiness, life satisfaction and well-being are associated with four central elements: interpersonal relationships; time and resource management; achievement of goals and objec tives; and management of the personal meaning attributed to the experience. Theoretical and empirical implications are further discussed.

2024Journal article

Open access

The drawing of the human figure in Madeira Island: evidence of validity

Publication . Pocinho, Margarida; Solange Muglia Wechsler; Neves, Georgina; Pocinho, Margarida

Abstract Human figure drawing (HFD) is one of the most widely tests used to assess children's intellectual development. This study investigated the evidence of the validity and reliability of HFD for children in Madeira using Wechsler`s scoring system. The sample included 489 children (49% girls), 5-13 years old, from schools in the 1st and 2nd cycles of the education system. The instruments were: HFD, Raven's Colored Progressive Matrices (CPM) test, and school grades (Portuguese and Mathematics). There were differences by age, gender, and the figure drawn. The correlations between HFD, CPM, and school grades were significant. Reliability was satisfactory (>0.80). In conclusion, the Wechsler’s scoring system for HFD has evidence of validity and reliability for children in Madeira indicating the possibility of its use after obtaining Portuguese norms.

2025Journal article

Open access