The Role of Niche Tourism Products in Destination - Repository ...
The Role of Niche Tourism Products in Destination - Repository ...
The Role of Niche Tourism Products in Destination - Repository ...
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Abstract<br />
<strong>Niche</strong> tourism refers to how a specific tourism product can be tailored to meet the needs <strong>of</strong> a particular audience/market segment.<br />
Locations with specific niche products are able to establish and position themselves, as niche tourism dest<strong>in</strong>ations. <strong>Niche</strong> tourism,<br />
through image creation, helps dest<strong>in</strong>ations to differentiate their tourism products and compete <strong>in</strong> an <strong>in</strong>creas<strong>in</strong>gly competitive and<br />
cluttered tourism environment. Academic literature has paid little attention to the role and position<strong>in</strong>g <strong>of</strong> niche tourism products.<br />
Through the use <strong>of</strong> the niche tourism life cycle it is clear that niche products will have different impacts, market<strong>in</strong>g challenges and<br />
contributions to dest<strong>in</strong>ation development as they progress through it.<br />
This critical appraisal presents an important reflection on my research <strong>in</strong> this area. <strong>The</strong> core <strong>of</strong> the critical appraisal is the eight<br />
published journal articles; two book chapters and three fully refereed conference papers upon which it is based but it also derives<br />
from the broader perspective <strong>of</strong> my research over the last ten years. <strong>The</strong> research context is set, with niche tourism products and<br />
dest<strong>in</strong>ation development <strong>in</strong>troduced, developed and seen <strong>in</strong> the perspective <strong>of</strong> the authors work <strong>in</strong> this field <strong>of</strong> tourism enquiry. <strong>The</strong><br />
pragmatist research paradigm that has guided the publications is <strong>in</strong>troduced and the adoption <strong>of</strong> mixed methods to produce results<br />
that are practical, relevant and progress both tourism bus<strong>in</strong>ess theory and practices, is discussed. <strong>The</strong> research methodologies and<br />
methods used are analysed aga<strong>in</strong>st current developments <strong>in</strong> tourism research.<br />
My contribution to academic knowledge and understand<strong>in</strong>g with<strong>in</strong> this area is summarised with<strong>in</strong> the three key themes <strong>of</strong> niche<br />
tourism product development; niche tourist pr<strong>of</strong>il<strong>in</strong>g and dest<strong>in</strong>ation development through niche tourism. To illustrate this, my<br />
research has focused primarily on two significant niche tourism products: w<strong>in</strong>e and festivals and events. <strong>The</strong> benefits <strong>of</strong> this work to<br />
the academic community are the presentation <strong>of</strong> <strong>in</strong>sights <strong>in</strong>to niche tourism consumers, and an understand<strong>in</strong>g <strong>of</strong> the challenges