A Websites Analysis of European Tourism Organizations

RDOLFO BAGGIO
Bocconi University

ABSTRACT
Internet has proved to be a widespread medium and an integral part of the habits of millions of users. An effective online communication strategy is considered nowadays a key element to achieve a competitive advantage on the market to satisfy actual and potential tourists' information needs in a highly competitive way and to acquire new clients. All the European countries have implemented some kind of official tourism portal to promote their own destinations. An analysis of these tourism websites has been performed collecting end-user evaluations and mapping contents and services offered online. The results of this survey are presented and are compared with the general behaviour of the European Internet users regarding the usage of the network as a tool to gather information and to acquire travel services.

Keywords: Internet users, Information technology, destination marketing, destination competitiveness, tourism organisations.

The Role of Climatic and Bioclimatic Conditions in the Development of
Health Tourism Product

ELENI A. DIDASKALOU - PANAGIOTOS NASTOS*
* University of Athens

ABSTRACT
The aim of this paper is to discuss the concept of health tourism product as a competitive tourism product with a focus on Ikaria Island, Greece. The diversification of the health tourism product is explored and the study identifies key components for a successful development of a spa resort. The paper also examines the prospects for the thermal/mineral springs of Ikaria Island, taking account of the climatic and bioclimatic regimes of the area. The study concludes that there are prospects for future development if the spa product is diversified. This, in combination with the good climatic conditions of the area, can be a starting point for providing services in order to satisfy potential clients.

Keywords: Health tourism, product diversification, climatic and bio-climatic conditions, Greece.

Understanding New Anzacs: A Managerial Perspective

HURIYE CATALCA*- HUSEYIN RIDVAN YURTSEVEN**
*Istanbul University
**Canakkale Onsekiz Mart University

ABSTRACT
The purpose of this paper is to examine the behavioral characteristics of Australian and New Zealander (Anzacs) visitors who attended Anzac Day in Gallipoli. This type of information will help to understand the different segments of visitors interested in international cultural-historical events. In particular, this study aimed to determine (1) Australian and New Zealander (Anzac) visitor segments based on motivations in attending Anzac Day, (2) whether the segments identified through Anzacs' motivations are statistically diversified in terms of demographic characteristics, visitation characteristics, and Gallipoli's image as a destination. The need for such research has arisen because of the paucity of knowledge of the Anzacs' profile to understand and satisfy their need as a cultural-historical tourist. The paper concludes by assessing the management implications for effectively targeting Anzac Day's specific market. The research supports the former studies presented in the literature review section on cultural tourism and the cultural tourist. The findings of this research suggest that ANZAC Day attendees are not homogeneous.

Keywords: Anzacs, Anzac day, Gallipoli, market segmentation.

The Tourism Researcher's Gaze: Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices Concerning Qualitative Research

TAZIM B. JAMAL* - HWAN-SAK CHOI**
*Texas A&M University
***Texas A&M University

ABSTRACT
This empirical study examines how the methodological training, attitudes and perceptions of tourism researchers are shaping the form and content of the "Knowledge-Based Platform" in tourism studies. Data was gathered electronically with the help of e-mail and an on-line web survey. The trends observed point out a number of institutional and structural barriers to the acceptance of qualitative research as a legitimate mode of inquiry. These relate to tenure, journal article publication, agency funding and obtaining academic positions based on qualitative dissertations. Additionally, the study indicates two graduate program-related conditions that inhibit effective social inquiry: (1) insufficient training to produce good qualitative researchers, and (2) inadequate program support for training students to recognize the philosophical/methodological issues that shape their own research approaches and analyses. Overall, results suggest that tourism research still aspires to being primarily (post)positivistic, seeking epistemological certainty through quantitative methods and institutional legitimacy through emulating natural science methods. The tourism researcher's gaze must change, we argue, to one that is methodologically more reflexive and theoretically more sophisticated.

Keywords: Qualitative research, institutional-structural barriers, philosophy of (social) science, web-based survey, (post)positivistic "knowledge-based platform