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Sustainability Communication in Rural Tourism: Website Content Analysis, in Viseu Dão Lafões Region (Portugal)

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  • Maria Lúcia Pato

    (CERNAS-IPV Research Centre, Polytechnic Institute of Viseu, Campus Politécnico, 3504-510 Viseu, Portugal)

  • Ana Sofia Duque

    (CiTUR-Centre for Tourism Research, Development and Innovation, Polytechnic of Leiria, ESTGV, Polytechnic Institute of Viseu, 3504-510 Viseu, Portugal)

Abstract

In the last few years, the relationship between tourism and sustainability has been consolidated. In the context of rural tourism, this connection is even stronger given the environmental specificities and the natural framework of this type of tourism. To achieve sustainability behaviors, it is crucial that rural tourism lodgings communicate their essence, as well the products and experiences available for tourists. This because it is a common practice for visitors to look for more information on the internet about where they will be staying, before booking their tourist experience. The main objective of this study is the analysis of the information provided by rural tourism lodgings, through their websites, regarding sustainability issues. The territory selected for the development of this study is the Portuguese Viseu Dão Lafões Region, located in the center of Portugal. Based on other studies, the methodology includes a content analysis, conducted on 39 rural tourism lodging websites. The results show that some improvements are needed, to clarify and emphasize the message about sustainable practices, in these rural lodgings. Some practical recommendations are provided, that can be adapted to these rural tourism lodgings, or others.

Suggested Citation

  • Maria Lúcia Pato & Ana Sofia Duque, 2021. "Sustainability Communication in Rural Tourism: Website Content Analysis, in Viseu Dão Lafões Region (Portugal)," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(16), pages 1-15, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:16:p:8849-:d:610391
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Michael William-Patrick Fortunato, 2014. "Supporting rural entrepreneurship: a review of conceptual developments from research to practice," Community Development, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 45(4), pages 387-408, October.
    2. World Commission on Environment and Development,, 1987. "Our Common Future," OUP Catalogue, Oxford University Press, number 9780192820808.
    3. Law, Rob & Qi, Shanshan & Buhalis, Dimitrios, 2010. "Progress in tourism management: A review of website evaluation in tourism research," Tourism Management, Elsevier, vol. 31(3), pages 297-313.
    4. Inmaculada Rabadán-Martín & Francisco Aguado-Correa & Nuria Padilla-Garrido, 2019. "Facing new challenges in rural tourism: signaling quality via website," Information Technology & Tourism, Springer, vol. 21(4), pages 559-576, December.
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    Cited by:

    1. Chris Roberts & Joel Reynolds & Mary Jo Dolasinski, 2022. "Meta-Analysis of Tourism Sustainability Research: 2019–2021," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(6), pages 1-18, March.
    2. Bernard Lane & Elisabeth Kastenholz & Maria João Carneiro, 2022. "Rural Tourism and Sustainability: A Special Issue, Review and Update for the Opening Years of the Twenty-First Century," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(10), pages 1-15, May.
    3. Gladys Maquera & Bruno B. F. da Costa & Óscar Mendoza & Raúl A. Salinas & Assed N. Haddad, 2022. "Intelligent Digital Platform for Community-Based Rural Tourism—A Novel Concept Development in Peru," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(13), pages 1-18, June.
    4. Ana Težak Damijanić & Marija Pičuljan & Smiljana Goreta Ban, 2023. "The Role of Pro-Environmental Behavior, Environmental Knowledge, and Eco-Labeling Perception in Relation to Travel Intention in the Hotel Industry," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(13), pages 1-15, June.

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