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The Role of Niche Tourism Products in Destination - Repository ...

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s<strong>in</strong>gle m<strong>in</strong>ority group <strong>in</strong> the US ignor<strong>in</strong>g the grow<strong>in</strong>g worldwide ag<strong>in</strong>g population. People with disabilities and their families would be<br />

able to spend at least $27bn per year if certa<strong>in</strong> needs were met on their trip, especially as most developed countries now have<br />

disability legislation that the tourism sector has to adhere to. This confirms Novelli’s (2005) f<strong>in</strong>d<strong>in</strong>gs that niche markets are not<br />

<strong>in</strong>fluenced by generational differences and share common values across multiple generations.<br />

2.8 Conclusion<br />

<strong>The</strong> research context detailed above highlights the development <strong>of</strong> the key literature <strong>in</strong> the area <strong>of</strong> the role <strong>of</strong> niche tourism<br />

products <strong>in</strong> dest<strong>in</strong>ation development. It explores the niche tourism framework, the position<strong>in</strong>g <strong>of</strong> niche tourism products; w<strong>in</strong>e and<br />

festival and events as niche tourism products and niche tourism as a contributor to dest<strong>in</strong>ation development. Clear gaps are<br />

identified <strong>in</strong> the literature, reveal<strong>in</strong>g that the area <strong>of</strong> study lacks a mature research base and ongo<strong>in</strong>g research is imperative to<br />

move the debate forward. <strong>The</strong> development, market<strong>in</strong>g and management <strong>of</strong> the niche tourism product, although key, has received<br />

an over concentration <strong>in</strong> the literature with a dearth <strong>of</strong> data def<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g and understand<strong>in</strong>g the niche tourism consumer. This<br />

dom<strong>in</strong>ance <strong>in</strong> academic debate on the product and supply side is heavily criticised by key academics who seek a more balanced<br />

view (Hall et al., 2000). Novelli (2005) highlights also how certa<strong>in</strong> niche tourism segments, such as heritage, sport and culture, are<br />

easily known and recognisable whilst emergent micro niches, such as wellness, have received little attention <strong>in</strong> the tourism<br />

literature. Further <strong>in</strong>vestigation and debate is needed to assess how niche tourism can be strategically managed and developed as<br />

a viable susta<strong>in</strong>able option for dest<strong>in</strong>ations. <strong>Niche</strong> tourism is ‘characterised by a complex mechanism <strong>of</strong> issues’ (Novelli, 2005,<br />

p.248) that provide both positive and negative implications and pose a series <strong>of</strong> challenges for the host dest<strong>in</strong>ation. <strong>The</strong> key

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