Original scientific paper
Which attributes are important to tourists in a mature seaside destination? A case of Opatija in Croatia
Ksenija Vodeb
orcid.org/0000-0002-2358-4542
; University of Primorska, Faculty of Tourism Studies – Turistica, Portorož, Slovenia
Helena Nemec Rudež
orcid.org/0000-0002-1213-4693
; University of Primorska, Faculty of Tourism Studies – Turistica, Portorož, Slovenia
Abstract
Tourist's perception of destination attributes provides valuable managerial information for the tourism destination planning process. Destination attributes evaluation assists the management to recognize the tourist's satisfaction and thereby to direct the course of destination competitiveness. Mature seaside destinations suffer from the lack of differentiation, which is corollary of losing position in the competitive tourism market. The present study evaluates the attributes of the seaside destination Opatija from the tourist's perspective. Following this, a sample of 252 randomly chosen tourists were asked to complete a structured questionnaire. Destination attributes were evaluated using the gap analyses and Importance-Performance Analysis (IPA). The study identified four actors of Opatija attributes: destination basic attributes, thematic attractions, culture and local gastronomy and accessibility. On the basis of factor analysis and grand mean values, IPA was designed. Neither factors were identified in Quadrant I Concentrate Here nor in Quadrant IV Possible Overkill. In Quadrant II Keep up the Work were identified Destination basic attributes and Culture and local gastronomy, while in Quadrant III Low Priority were identified Accessibility and Thematic attributes. The results of the research highlight the necessity of differentiated strategic development of destination attributes. The article includes managerial implications of the findings and suggestions for future research in related context.
Keywords
destination competitiveness; destination attributes; tourist satisfaction; attributes evaluation; Croatia
Hrčak ID:
187098
URI
Publication date:
29.9.2017.
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