Dimitrios Stergiou is an Associate Professor in Tourism Management at the School of Social Sciences at the Hellenic Open University. He studied for his MSc in Tourism Management and Marketing at Bournemouth University, where he graduated with distinction. In 2000 he joined the University of Surrey to conduct his PhD research on tourism education and management, completing his research in 2004. Dr Stergiou has previously held a Lecturing position at the University of Westminster (2001-2003) and the University of Patras (2008-2011), a Senior Lecturer position at the Technological Educational Institute of Western Greece (2006-2015), an Adjunct Member of Academic Staff role at the Hellenic Open University (2006-2015), a Visiting Lecturer position at the University of Surrey (2003), and an Online Tutor position at the University of Derby (2013-14). Dimitrios has over 15 years of experience in teaching, learning and research in the wider areas of tourism education and tourism management. His consultancy work includes, among others, course evaluation projects for the Hellenic Ministry of Tourism Development, the evaluation of tourism website effectiveness for Bournemouth Tourism, UK, and an ethnographic study of tourism experiences for Cyprus University of Technology. Dr Stergiou is also a member of the Laboratory for Tourism Research and Studies (University of the Aegean, Greece), and the Assistant Editor of the Journal of Air Transport Studies.
Despite the increasing academic attention that Airbnb has received as the most prominent company ... more Despite the increasing academic attention that Airbnb has received as the most prominent company in the domain of peer-to-peer networked accommodation services, there has been minimal consideration of residents’ perceptions of Airbnb and its impacts on local communities, particularly in neighbourhood and residential settings. This study delves into the impacts of Airbnb at the neighbourhood and residential levels. Drawing from 31 semi-structured interviews, emphasis is placed on why and under what conditions residents develop positive or negative perceptions of Airbnb impacts. Using a qualitative approach to research, we utilise social exchange theory to examine residents’ perceptions of the impacts of Airbnb in the area of Koukaki, a southeast neighbourhood of the Municipality of Athens, Greece. Findings are informative of the implications of the rise of tourism in residential areas and are useful to tourism planners, developers and policy makers.
This paper gives details about a study into the evaluation of tourism teaching in higher educatio... more This paper gives details about a study into the evaluation of tourism teaching in higher education. Although there has been a rapid growth in research into tourism education, little has focused on teaching or its evaluation. The work draws on literature from the field of education more generally to arrive at a set of dimensions. Based on these it explains a study conducted in the United Kingdom. Findings suggest that the important dimensions relate to the extent to which teaching is linked both to the vocational aspects as well as to deeper sets of experiences.
Tourism research is in the midst of a ‘critical turn’ away from traditional positivist approaches... more Tourism research is in the midst of a ‘critical turn’ away from traditional positivist approaches, towards more reflective and critical paths of inquiry. This paper introduces readers to Q-methodology, a method of research that tourism researchers rarely use and that can provide useful information in critical tourism research concerning the exploration and comparison of subjectivity. The paper presents the fundamentals of the approach and provides examples of its application in tourism and other areas that may directly interest tourism researchers. In so doing, the paper encourages and facilitates the use of Q-methodology amongst tourism researchers interested in enhancing the nature and richness of their methodological alternatives for developing tourism knowledge.
Airport catchment area is a dynamic measure that varies according to the examined location. The r... more Airport catchment area is a dynamic measure that varies according to the examined location. The relevant literature suggests that airport catchment area fluctuates, depending on factors affecting each airport. Among these factors, intermodality in airport regions is identified as a key success factor in the expansion of an airport’s catchment area. Against this background, the purpose of this paper is to explore the potential of Izmir Adnan Menderes Airport (ADB) to use intermodality as a way to expand its catchment area into the Greek Eastern Aegean Islands using Chios as a case study. The work draws first on secondary data on travel time and transport costs to develop scenarios concerning a roundtrip from the island of Chios to ten main European cities, with flights from Athens International Airport (ATH) and ADB. Subsequently, the paper undertakes primary data analysis aiming to study airport choice between ADB and ATH by Chios inhabitants. The research findings suggest that ADB ...
The conversion of second to primary homes is a known phenomenon; yet, its emergence as a result o... more The conversion of second to primary homes is a known phenomenon; yet, its emergence as a result of necessity in an era of economic crisis has not been adequately addressed in the literature. To fill this gap, the article discusses an interview study of younger adults who have made this conversion, conducted in a second home area near Athens, Greece. The study explores the factors that influenced respondents to move permanently to their second home and perceptions of their relocation. Given the ongoing economic crisis in Greece, the research is placed in a unique socioeconomic context, allowing the investigation to delve into the effects of the economic crisis on these housing choices, by comparing perspectives on conversions having taken place before and during the crisis. Findings depict second home mobility as a complex phenomenon linked to tourism, changing housing needs, social factors, economic pressures, but also new potential urban functions arising from the current economic depression in Greece.
Purpose: This paper explores perceptions of tourism theory and its usefulness to the professional... more Purpose: This paper explores perceptions of tourism theory and its usefulness to the professional practice of tourism management as identified by the two major stakeholder groups – academics and tourism practitioners. Design/methodology/approach: Data for this study were collected through the use of two electronically administered surveys with tourism academics teaching on undergraduate tourism programmes of study and tourism professionals, both based in the UK. Findings: Findings suggest that tourism theory is important in understanding tourism itself. But at the same time it has pragmatic relevance, facilitating researchers and others to make sense of the real world and contributing to successful practice in tourism. Originality/value: This is the first study to provide empirical data from both academic and practitioner perspectives into often contested debates about the nature and uses of tourism theory.
The purpose of this research is to investigate the wine tourism experience from the perspective o... more The purpose of this research is to investigate the wine tourism experience from the perspective of Generation Z adults in Greece, following an actual winery visit. Responses were obtained from a total of 306 respondents drawn from student groups visiting a winery in the Achaia region of the Peloponnese, Western Greece, using convenience sampling. A list of winescape attributes was adopted for testing and used to structure self-administered questionnaires. The data collected were analysed using a factor-analytic and Importance-Performance Analysis framework. Five factors that promote understanding of the desired wine tourism experience of Generation Z adults were identified, namely: Cost Considerations and Wine & Entertainment both perceived to be important but the winery’s performance on the same was poor; Destination Attributes and Service Staff both perceived to be important with good performance; and Learning about Wine perceived unimportant with low performance. This is the first academic study focusing specifically on the winery experience from the perspective of Generation Z. As such it has provided new and useful insights for researchers and managers in the wine industry concerning the experience of this under-researched generational cohort.
Whilst job satisfaction has been extensively investigated as a CSR moderator or outcome, pertinen... more Whilst job satisfaction has been extensively investigated as a CSR moderator or outcome, pertinent literature is predominantly silent on the complexity surrounding the formulation of the construct. This study adopts the theory of complexity and examines the combinations of factors leading to hotel employee job satisfaction within a CSR context. Using fuzzy-set Qualitative Comparative Analysis (fsQCA), those factorial combinations that are significant in driving job satisfaction were first identified, whereas semi-structured interviews revealed the relationships that describe such configurations. Necessary Condition Analysis (NCA) was used as complementary to estimate the effects of size of the examined conditions. In total, three solutions were generated: (i) ethical issues and morality; (ii) hotel-related aspects; (iii) employee-related aspects which are supported by the qualitative data. Results indicate that job satisfaction can be stimulated by diverse combinations of hotel employees’ CSR perceptions, moral identity, subjective norms and work engagement, yielding significant theoretical and managerial implications.
The aim of this study is to test the applicability of the construct of memorable tourism experien... more The aim of this study is to test the applicability of the construct of memorable tourism experience in the context of a mega-sport event, and to investigate the contribution of event quality factors on the development of memorable tourism experiences. For the accomplishment of this aim, the study investigated the experiences of a sample of international spectators who attended the 2018 FIFA World Cup matches hosted in St. Petersburg, Russia. Data collection took place on-site during the group stage matches hosted at the stadium and was conducted with a self-completion questionnaire using two scales, one for memorable tourism experience and one for event quality factors. The results of exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses provided support for the psychometric properties of revised versions of the two scales. Multiple regression analysis showed that memorable tourism experiences were significantly predicted by the event quality factors, with the authenticity, entertainment, venue quality, and event competition dimensions having the most significant contributions. Theoretical and management implications are discussed.
The inclusion of peace as a Sustainable Development Goal (SDG 16) in the United Nations’ Agenda 2... more The inclusion of peace as a Sustainable Development Goal (SDG 16) in the United Nations’ Agenda 2030 underscores the interrelationships between peace, economic development, durable security, and promoting human rights. Within this context, tourism has been heralded by scholars and practitioners as a means to alleviate negative prejudice and improve human relations. Yet the existing research on tourism as peacebuilding shows little supportive evidence of tourism’s contributory role to peace, and instead forwards numerous claims that tourism inhibits peacebuilding by exacerbating economic, political, and socio-cultural inequalities between opposing groups. This study examines the role of tourism as a potential vehicle for justice that may bridge the gap between tourism and sustainable peace. More precisely, it considers tourism as an agent of justice addressing economic, political, and social inequalities between opposing groups through distributive, procedural, and restorative justice-related activities. Its analysis and findings offer insights that contribute to peace-through-tourism theory and practice while enhancing understanding of tourism’s contribution to the UN’s sustainable development goals.
This study draws from the hospitality sector to examine how hotel employees use their self-percei... more This study draws from the hospitality sector to examine how hotel employees use their self-perceived moral identity to inform their CSR implementation practices. Specifically, we employ a practice-based approach to investigate how skills, resources and meanings of CSR as a morally determined concept manifest in employee CSR actions. Study findings reveal that hotel employees' behaviours towards CSR implementation is not necessarily consistent with their self-perceived moral identity, identifying two forms of practices undertaken by employees: (a) immersing in CSR implementation by propagating morality and (b) avoiding CSR implementation by concealing immorality. The study offers a matrix of moral identity and CSR employee behaviour, which illustrates four different types of employees encapsulating their CSR behavioural spectrum. The study concludes with a discussion of the relevant theoretical and practical implications.
Interantional Journal of Hospitality Management, 2021
This research note reports the results of a qualitative study exploring front-line hotel employee... more This research note reports the results of a qualitative study exploring front-line hotel employees’ views about working during the COVID-19 pandemic in order to identify factors that may influence their ability and willingness to report to work. Findings from online focus-groups reveal that front-line hotel employees generally felt a sense of duty to work during the pandemic. However, there were also a number of perceived barriers to working that impacted on this sense of duty. These emerged as barriers to ability and barriers to willingness, but the distinction is not clear-cut. Instead, most barriers seem to form a continuum ranging from negotiable barriers to insuperable barriers. Following this coneptualisation, the key to reducing absenteeism during the pandemic is likely to take remedial action so that barriers to willingness do not become perceived as barriers to ability to work. Practical implications towards this direction are offered.
This study aims to use Foucault’s theory of heterotopian space to interpret peer-to-peer (P2P) ac... more This study aims to use Foucault’s theory of heterotopian space to interpret peer-to-peer (P2P) accommodation experiences by considering the perceptions of Airbnb hosts and guests. Data for this study were collected through the use of semi-structured interviews with Airbnb hosts and guests of different cultural backgrounds. Informed by Foucault’s heterotopology, study findings identify and discuss the spatial dimensions at the micro-scale that distinguish P2P accommodation space from traditional hospitality spaces, arguing that P2P accommodation represents an interstitial space within the tourism system that triggers a reordering of resources, skills and meanings. The paper introduces a cutting-edge perspective on how P2P accommodation spatiality may be viewed or approached in a meaningfully different manner, particularly advancing knowledge on how prescribed roles and practices in hospitality are being redefined.
Responsible host conduct has emerged as important in regulating the peer-to-peer accommodation ph... more Responsible host conduct has emerged as important in regulating the peer-to-peer accommodation phenomenon. Utilising moral identity theory, this paper explores how hosts draw on their own perceptions of morality and responsibility to inform hosting practice. Through a qualitative research approach, the study reveals a variance of host practices that are not necessarily reflective of the perceived moral identity of hosts. In particular, the paper exposes the moral questions that hosts need to answer at different phases of the peer-to-peer transaction and, especially, if and how they enact certain aspects of their moral identity to guide their behaviour. The study offers a typology of Airbnb hosts’ (im)moral behaviour, which may be of theoretical and practical value to academics and policymakers alike.
Despite the increasing academic attention that Airbnb has received as the most prominent company ... more Despite the increasing academic attention that Airbnb has received as the most prominent company in the domain of peer-to-peer networked accommodation services, there has been minimal consideration of residents’ perceptions of Airbnb and its impacts on local communities, particularly in neighbourhood and residential settings. This study delves into the impacts of Airbnb at the neighbourhood and residential levels. Drawing from 31 semi-structured interviews, emphasis is placed on why and under what conditions residents develop positive or negative perceptions of Airbnb impacts. Using a qualitative approach to research, we utilise social exchange theory to examine residents’ perceptions of the impacts of Airbnb in the area of Koukaki, a southeast neighbourhood of the Municipality of Athens, Greece. Findings are informative of the implications of the rise of tourism in residential areas and are useful to tourism planners, developers and policy makers.
This paper gives details about a study into the evaluation of tourism teaching in higher educatio... more This paper gives details about a study into the evaluation of tourism teaching in higher education. Although there has been a rapid growth in research into tourism education, little has focused on teaching or its evaluation. The work draws on literature from the field of education more generally to arrive at a set of dimensions. Based on these it explains a study conducted in the United Kingdom. Findings suggest that the important dimensions relate to the extent to which teaching is linked both to the vocational aspects as well as to deeper sets of experiences.
Tourism research is in the midst of a ‘critical turn’ away from traditional positivist approaches... more Tourism research is in the midst of a ‘critical turn’ away from traditional positivist approaches, towards more reflective and critical paths of inquiry. This paper introduces readers to Q-methodology, a method of research that tourism researchers rarely use and that can provide useful information in critical tourism research concerning the exploration and comparison of subjectivity. The paper presents the fundamentals of the approach and provides examples of its application in tourism and other areas that may directly interest tourism researchers. In so doing, the paper encourages and facilitates the use of Q-methodology amongst tourism researchers interested in enhancing the nature and richness of their methodological alternatives for developing tourism knowledge.
Airport catchment area is a dynamic measure that varies according to the examined location. The r... more Airport catchment area is a dynamic measure that varies according to the examined location. The relevant literature suggests that airport catchment area fluctuates, depending on factors affecting each airport. Among these factors, intermodality in airport regions is identified as a key success factor in the expansion of an airport’s catchment area. Against this background, the purpose of this paper is to explore the potential of Izmir Adnan Menderes Airport (ADB) to use intermodality as a way to expand its catchment area into the Greek Eastern Aegean Islands using Chios as a case study. The work draws first on secondary data on travel time and transport costs to develop scenarios concerning a roundtrip from the island of Chios to ten main European cities, with flights from Athens International Airport (ATH) and ADB. Subsequently, the paper undertakes primary data analysis aiming to study airport choice between ADB and ATH by Chios inhabitants. The research findings suggest that ADB ...
The conversion of second to primary homes is a known phenomenon; yet, its emergence as a result o... more The conversion of second to primary homes is a known phenomenon; yet, its emergence as a result of necessity in an era of economic crisis has not been adequately addressed in the literature. To fill this gap, the article discusses an interview study of younger adults who have made this conversion, conducted in a second home area near Athens, Greece. The study explores the factors that influenced respondents to move permanently to their second home and perceptions of their relocation. Given the ongoing economic crisis in Greece, the research is placed in a unique socioeconomic context, allowing the investigation to delve into the effects of the economic crisis on these housing choices, by comparing perspectives on conversions having taken place before and during the crisis. Findings depict second home mobility as a complex phenomenon linked to tourism, changing housing needs, social factors, economic pressures, but also new potential urban functions arising from the current economic depression in Greece.
Purpose: This paper explores perceptions of tourism theory and its usefulness to the professional... more Purpose: This paper explores perceptions of tourism theory and its usefulness to the professional practice of tourism management as identified by the two major stakeholder groups – academics and tourism practitioners. Design/methodology/approach: Data for this study were collected through the use of two electronically administered surveys with tourism academics teaching on undergraduate tourism programmes of study and tourism professionals, both based in the UK. Findings: Findings suggest that tourism theory is important in understanding tourism itself. But at the same time it has pragmatic relevance, facilitating researchers and others to make sense of the real world and contributing to successful practice in tourism. Originality/value: This is the first study to provide empirical data from both academic and practitioner perspectives into often contested debates about the nature and uses of tourism theory.
The purpose of this research is to investigate the wine tourism experience from the perspective o... more The purpose of this research is to investigate the wine tourism experience from the perspective of Generation Z adults in Greece, following an actual winery visit. Responses were obtained from a total of 306 respondents drawn from student groups visiting a winery in the Achaia region of the Peloponnese, Western Greece, using convenience sampling. A list of winescape attributes was adopted for testing and used to structure self-administered questionnaires. The data collected were analysed using a factor-analytic and Importance-Performance Analysis framework. Five factors that promote understanding of the desired wine tourism experience of Generation Z adults were identified, namely: Cost Considerations and Wine & Entertainment both perceived to be important but the winery’s performance on the same was poor; Destination Attributes and Service Staff both perceived to be important with good performance; and Learning about Wine perceived unimportant with low performance. This is the first academic study focusing specifically on the winery experience from the perspective of Generation Z. As such it has provided new and useful insights for researchers and managers in the wine industry concerning the experience of this under-researched generational cohort.
Whilst job satisfaction has been extensively investigated as a CSR moderator or outcome, pertinen... more Whilst job satisfaction has been extensively investigated as a CSR moderator or outcome, pertinent literature is predominantly silent on the complexity surrounding the formulation of the construct. This study adopts the theory of complexity and examines the combinations of factors leading to hotel employee job satisfaction within a CSR context. Using fuzzy-set Qualitative Comparative Analysis (fsQCA), those factorial combinations that are significant in driving job satisfaction were first identified, whereas semi-structured interviews revealed the relationships that describe such configurations. Necessary Condition Analysis (NCA) was used as complementary to estimate the effects of size of the examined conditions. In total, three solutions were generated: (i) ethical issues and morality; (ii) hotel-related aspects; (iii) employee-related aspects which are supported by the qualitative data. Results indicate that job satisfaction can be stimulated by diverse combinations of hotel employees’ CSR perceptions, moral identity, subjective norms and work engagement, yielding significant theoretical and managerial implications.
The aim of this study is to test the applicability of the construct of memorable tourism experien... more The aim of this study is to test the applicability of the construct of memorable tourism experience in the context of a mega-sport event, and to investigate the contribution of event quality factors on the development of memorable tourism experiences. For the accomplishment of this aim, the study investigated the experiences of a sample of international spectators who attended the 2018 FIFA World Cup matches hosted in St. Petersburg, Russia. Data collection took place on-site during the group stage matches hosted at the stadium and was conducted with a self-completion questionnaire using two scales, one for memorable tourism experience and one for event quality factors. The results of exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses provided support for the psychometric properties of revised versions of the two scales. Multiple regression analysis showed that memorable tourism experiences were significantly predicted by the event quality factors, with the authenticity, entertainment, venue quality, and event competition dimensions having the most significant contributions. Theoretical and management implications are discussed.
The inclusion of peace as a Sustainable Development Goal (SDG 16) in the United Nations’ Agenda 2... more The inclusion of peace as a Sustainable Development Goal (SDG 16) in the United Nations’ Agenda 2030 underscores the interrelationships between peace, economic development, durable security, and promoting human rights. Within this context, tourism has been heralded by scholars and practitioners as a means to alleviate negative prejudice and improve human relations. Yet the existing research on tourism as peacebuilding shows little supportive evidence of tourism’s contributory role to peace, and instead forwards numerous claims that tourism inhibits peacebuilding by exacerbating economic, political, and socio-cultural inequalities between opposing groups. This study examines the role of tourism as a potential vehicle for justice that may bridge the gap between tourism and sustainable peace. More precisely, it considers tourism as an agent of justice addressing economic, political, and social inequalities between opposing groups through distributive, procedural, and restorative justice-related activities. Its analysis and findings offer insights that contribute to peace-through-tourism theory and practice while enhancing understanding of tourism’s contribution to the UN’s sustainable development goals.
This study draws from the hospitality sector to examine how hotel employees use their self-percei... more This study draws from the hospitality sector to examine how hotel employees use their self-perceived moral identity to inform their CSR implementation practices. Specifically, we employ a practice-based approach to investigate how skills, resources and meanings of CSR as a morally determined concept manifest in employee CSR actions. Study findings reveal that hotel employees' behaviours towards CSR implementation is not necessarily consistent with their self-perceived moral identity, identifying two forms of practices undertaken by employees: (a) immersing in CSR implementation by propagating morality and (b) avoiding CSR implementation by concealing immorality. The study offers a matrix of moral identity and CSR employee behaviour, which illustrates four different types of employees encapsulating their CSR behavioural spectrum. The study concludes with a discussion of the relevant theoretical and practical implications.
Interantional Journal of Hospitality Management, 2021
This research note reports the results of a qualitative study exploring front-line hotel employee... more This research note reports the results of a qualitative study exploring front-line hotel employees’ views about working during the COVID-19 pandemic in order to identify factors that may influence their ability and willingness to report to work. Findings from online focus-groups reveal that front-line hotel employees generally felt a sense of duty to work during the pandemic. However, there were also a number of perceived barriers to working that impacted on this sense of duty. These emerged as barriers to ability and barriers to willingness, but the distinction is not clear-cut. Instead, most barriers seem to form a continuum ranging from negotiable barriers to insuperable barriers. Following this coneptualisation, the key to reducing absenteeism during the pandemic is likely to take remedial action so that barriers to willingness do not become perceived as barriers to ability to work. Practical implications towards this direction are offered.
This study aims to use Foucault’s theory of heterotopian space to interpret peer-to-peer (P2P) ac... more This study aims to use Foucault’s theory of heterotopian space to interpret peer-to-peer (P2P) accommodation experiences by considering the perceptions of Airbnb hosts and guests. Data for this study were collected through the use of semi-structured interviews with Airbnb hosts and guests of different cultural backgrounds. Informed by Foucault’s heterotopology, study findings identify and discuss the spatial dimensions at the micro-scale that distinguish P2P accommodation space from traditional hospitality spaces, arguing that P2P accommodation represents an interstitial space within the tourism system that triggers a reordering of resources, skills and meanings. The paper introduces a cutting-edge perspective on how P2P accommodation spatiality may be viewed or approached in a meaningfully different manner, particularly advancing knowledge on how prescribed roles and practices in hospitality are being redefined.
Responsible host conduct has emerged as important in regulating the peer-to-peer accommodation ph... more Responsible host conduct has emerged as important in regulating the peer-to-peer accommodation phenomenon. Utilising moral identity theory, this paper explores how hosts draw on their own perceptions of morality and responsibility to inform hosting practice. Through a qualitative research approach, the study reveals a variance of host practices that are not necessarily reflective of the perceived moral identity of hosts. In particular, the paper exposes the moral questions that hosts need to answer at different phases of the peer-to-peer transaction and, especially, if and how they enact certain aspects of their moral identity to guide their behaviour. The study offers a typology of Airbnb hosts’ (im)moral behaviour, which may be of theoretical and practical value to academics and policymakers alike.
International Journal of Hospitality Management, 2019
Although a research base is beginning to emerge in relation to the peer-to-peer accommodation phe... more Although a research base is beginning to emerge in relation to the peer-to-peer accommodation phenomenon, the voices of residents are seldom heard in this scholarly literature. This study uses Social Exchange Theory to examine resident perceptions regarding the impact of P2P accommodation growth, and specifically Airbnb, on their neighbourhood. Fifty-one semi-structured interviews were employed to illuminate understanding of how resident perceptions are formed in relation to the exchange relationship with Airbnb guests. Findings reveal a dominance of negative perceptions of socio-economic and environmental impacts. The study also contributes a typology of residents, based on their perceptions and behaviour towards associated impacts, which may guide policymakers and practitioners towards the adoption of an anthropocentric approach on P2P accommodation. The study concludes with a discussion of theoretical and practical implications.
This research note explores the relationship between loneliness and the use of Airbnb from the pe... more This research note explores the relationship between loneliness and the use of Airbnb from the perspective of host-guest interactions. Findings from semi-structured interviews with co-habiting Airbnb hosts and guests, identify loneliness as a key driver and an important element of the peer-to-peer accommodation experience. By offering a typology of Airbnb users in terms of their loneliness-interaction interface, findings contribute to a better compatibility between Airbnb hosts and guests who experience loneliness and social isolation. Thus, in light of the increasing rates of loneliness, this research note provide support to international attempts to ameliorate the social problem of loneliness. Considering that loneliness has been largely overlooked in tourism research, the empirical evidence offered in this research note may serve as a stepping stone for further research on loneliness within tourism studies.
Generation Z (Gen Z), as consumers, represent the future of the wine tourism industry. Yet to dat... more Generation Z (Gen Z), as consumers, represent the future of the wine tourism industry. Yet to date it has escaped the attention of wine tourism researchers. This study sought to begin addressing this gap, by investigating the winery experiences of Gen Z in Greece. A list of attributes of the winery visit was adopted for testing and a sample of Gen Z higher education students (n=156) participating on a winery field trip was used to determine the perceived importance and performance of each attribute. The results show that the core wine product has limited appeal for Greek Gen Z consumers, who are mostly interested in spending a pleasurable day outdoors with opportunities to socialise with friends, enjoy the food and scenery, and undertake non-wine related activities.
In recent decades there has been a movement towards approaching higher education as a lifelong pr... more In recent decades there has been a movement towards approaching higher education as a lifelong process, making it accessible to a greater number of potential students. One growing student group, within this new reality, are mature students who are returning to university. Much has been said and written about the mature student experience. A recurring idea within this literature is that mature students have additional problems to those of younger ones. On this view, returning to education creates additional demands on adults who already have multiple roles with families, communities and the workplace, thus resulting in a stressful educational experience. In this context, the purpose of this chapter is to present a study exploring perceptions of stress among mature students returning to higher education in a tourism program of study. More specifically, data for this investigation were taken from an interview study with a mature student population undertaking the first year of study in the Masters program in Tourism Management at the Hellenic Open University. The data collected provide insights into student-self perceptions as returning learners, perceptions of the institution and balancing multiple roles.
Regional events play an important role in the Cretan tourism product with many communities hostin... more Regional events play an important role in the Cretan tourism product with many communities hosting regional festivals. From a managerial perspective, these festivals provide a range of entertainment and activities and there are many factors that determine their success. In this context, this study used Q-methodology to uncover festival success factors based on the subjective perceptions of festival organisers in Crete and identify clusters of participants sharing common viewpoints. The Q-analysis identified two factors representing different perspectives of festival organizer opinion about success factors in the Cretan festival market: a Communitarian/Person-oriented focus, and a Pragmatic/Traditional Management focus.
Whilst job satisfaction has been extensively investigated as a CSR moderator or outcome, pertinen... more Whilst job satisfaction has been extensively investigated as a CSR moderator or outcome, pertinent literature is predominantly silent on the complexity surrounding the formulation of the construct. This study adopts the theory of complexity and examines the combinations of factors leading to hotel employee job satisfaction within a CSR context. Using fuzzy-set Qualitative Comparative Analysis (fsQCA), those factorial combinations that are significant in driving job satisfaction were first identified, whereas semi-structured interviews revealed the relationships that describe such configurations. Necessary Condition Analysis (NCA) was used as complementary to estimate the effects of size of the examined conditions. In total, three solutions were generated: (i) ethical issues and morality; (ii) hotel-related aspects; (iii) employee-related aspects which are supported by the qualitative data. Results indicate that job satisfaction can be stimulated by diverse combinations of hotel employees’ CSR perceptions, moral identity, subjective norms and work engagement, yielding significant theoretical and managerial implications.
Power, Construction and Meaning in Festivals, 2017
Regional events play an important role in the Cretan tourism product with many communities hostin... more Regional events play an important role in the Cretan tourism product with many communities hosting regional festivals. From a managerial perspective, these festivals provide a range of entertainment and activities and there are many factors that determine their success. In this context, this study used Q-methodology to uncover festival success factors based on the subjective perceptions of festival organisers in Crete and identify clusters of participants sharing common viewpoints. The Q-analysis identified two factors representing different perspectives of festival organizer opinion about success factors in the Cretan festival market: a Communitarian/Person-oriented focus, and a Pragmatic/Traditional Management focus.
In recent decades there has been a movement towards approaching higher education as a lifelong pr... more In recent decades there has been a movement towards approaching higher education as a lifelong process, making it accessible to a greater number of potential students. One growing student group, within this new reality, are mature students who are returning to university. Much has been said and written about the mature student experience. A recurring idea within this literature is that mature students have additional problems to those of younger ones. On this view, returning to education creates additional demands on adults who already have multiple roles with families, communities and the workplace, thus resulting in a stressful educational experience. In this context, the purpose of this chapter is to present a study exploring perceptions of stress among mature students returning to higher education in a tourism program of study. More specifically, data for this investigation were taken from an interview study with a mature student population undertaking the first year of study in the Masters program in Tourism Management at the Hellenic Open University. The data collected provide insights into student-self perceptions as returning learners, perceptions of the institution and balancing multiple roles.
The inclusion of peace as a Sustainable Development Goal (SDG 16) in the United Nations’ Agenda 2... more The inclusion of peace as a Sustainable Development Goal (SDG 16) in the United Nations’ Agenda 2030 underscores the interrelationships between peace, economic development, durable security, and promoting human rights. Within this context, tourism has been heralded by scholars and practitioners as a means to alleviate negative prejudice and improve human relations. Yet the existing research on tourism as peacebuilding shows little supportive evidence of tourism’s contributory role to peace, and instead forwards numerous claims that tourism inhibits peacebuilding by exacerbating economic, political, and socio‐cultural inequalities between opposing groups. This study examines the role of tourism as a potential vehicle for justice that may bridge the gap between tourism and sustainable peace. More precisely, it considers tourism as an agent of justice addressing economic, political, and social inequalities between opposing groups through distributive, procedural, and restorative justic...
Purpose This study aims to use Foucault’s theory of heterotopian space to interpret peer-to-peer ... more Purpose This study aims to use Foucault’s theory of heterotopian space to interpret peer-to-peer (P2P) accommodation experiences by considering the perceptions of Airbnb hosts and guests. Design/methodology/approach Data for this study were collected through the use of semi-structured interviews with Airbnb hosts and guests of different cultural backgrounds. Findings Informed by Foucault’s heterotopology, study findings identify and discuss the spatial dimensions at the micro-scale that distinguish P2P accommodation space from traditional hospitality spaces, arguing that P2P accommodation represents an interstitial space within the tourism system that triggers a reordering of resources, skills and meanings. Originality/value The paper introduces a cutting-edge perspective on how P2P accommodation spatiality may be viewed or approached in a meaningfully different manner, particularly advancing knowledge on how prescribed roles and practices in hospitality are being redefined.
International Journal of Wine Business Research, 2018
Purpose The purpose of this paper is to investigate the wine tourism experience from the perspect... more Purpose The purpose of this paper is to investigate the wine tourism experience from the perspective of Generation Z adults in Greece, following an actual winery visit. Design/methodology/approach Responses were obtained from a total of 306 respondents drawn from student groups visiting a winery in the Achaia region of the Peloponnese, Western Greece, using convenience sampling. A list of winescape attributes was adopted for testing and used to structure self-administered questionnaires. The data collected were analysed using a factor-analytic and importance-performance analysis framework. Findings Five factors that promote understanding of the desired wine tourism experience of Generation Z adults were identified, namely, cost considerations and wine and entertainment both perceived to be important but the winery’s performance on the same was poor, destination attributes and service staff both perceived to be important with good performance and learning about wine perceived to be u...
... Название публикации, INQUIRY CONVERSION AND TOURISM WEBSITE EFFECTIVENESS: ASSUMPTIONS, PROBL... more ... Название публикации, INQUIRY CONVERSION AND TOURISM WEBSITE EFFECTIVENESS: ASSUMPTIONS, PROBLEMS AND POTENTIAL. Авторы, Dimitrios Stergiou, David Airey Geographic Place: United Kingdom; UK. Журнал, Tourism & Hospitality Research. ...
PurposeThis paper explores perceptions of tourism theory and its usefulness to the professional p... more PurposeThis paper explores perceptions of tourism theory and its usefulness to the professional practice of tourism management as identified by the two major stakeholder groups – academics and tourism practitioners.Design/methodology/approachData for this study were collected through the use of two electronically administered surveys with tourism academics teaching on undergraduate tourism programmes of study and tourism professionals, both based in the UK.FindingsFindings suggest that tourism theory is important in understanding tourism itself. But at the same time it has pragmatic relevance, facilitating researchers and others to make sense of the real world and contributing to successful practice in tourism.Originality/valueThis is the first study to provide empirical data from both academic and practitioner perspectives into often contested debates about the nature and uses of tourism theory.
Uploads
Design/methodology/approach: Data for this study were collected through the use of two electronically administered surveys with tourism academics teaching on undergraduate tourism programmes of study and tourism professionals, both based in the UK.
Findings: Findings suggest that tourism theory is important in understanding tourism itself. But at the same time it has pragmatic relevance, facilitating researchers and others to make sense of the real world and contributing to successful practice in tourism.
Originality/value: This is the first study to provide empirical data from both academic and practitioner perspectives into often contested debates about the nature and uses of tourism theory.
predominantly silent on the complexity surrounding the formulation of the construct. This study adopts the
theory of complexity and examines the combinations of factors leading to hotel employee job satisfaction within
a CSR context. Using fuzzy-set Qualitative Comparative Analysis (fsQCA), those factorial combinations that are
significant in driving job satisfaction were first identified, whereas semi-structured interviews revealed the relationships
that describe such configurations. Necessary Condition Analysis (NCA) was used as complementary to
estimate the effects of size of the examined conditions. In total, three solutions were generated: (i) ethical issues
and morality; (ii) hotel-related aspects; (iii) employee-related aspects which are supported by the qualitative
data. Results indicate that job satisfaction can be stimulated by diverse combinations of hotel employees’ CSR
perceptions, moral identity, subjective norms and work engagement, yielding significant theoretical and
managerial implications.
Design/methodology/approach: Data for this study were collected through the use of two electronically administered surveys with tourism academics teaching on undergraduate tourism programmes of study and tourism professionals, both based in the UK.
Findings: Findings suggest that tourism theory is important in understanding tourism itself. But at the same time it has pragmatic relevance, facilitating researchers and others to make sense of the real world and contributing to successful practice in tourism.
Originality/value: This is the first study to provide empirical data from both academic and practitioner perspectives into often contested debates about the nature and uses of tourism theory.
predominantly silent on the complexity surrounding the formulation of the construct. This study adopts the
theory of complexity and examines the combinations of factors leading to hotel employee job satisfaction within
a CSR context. Using fuzzy-set Qualitative Comparative Analysis (fsQCA), those factorial combinations that are
significant in driving job satisfaction were first identified, whereas semi-structured interviews revealed the relationships
that describe such configurations. Necessary Condition Analysis (NCA) was used as complementary to
estimate the effects of size of the examined conditions. In total, three solutions were generated: (i) ethical issues
and morality; (ii) hotel-related aspects; (iii) employee-related aspects which are supported by the qualitative
data. Results indicate that job satisfaction can be stimulated by diverse combinations of hotel employees’ CSR
perceptions, moral identity, subjective norms and work engagement, yielding significant theoretical and
managerial implications.