As Preferências dos Turistas que Visitam o Minho-Lima: uma Análise com Base nas Preferências Declaradas

Abstract

Some territories use their natural, historical and ethnographical resources with the double aim of preserving these resources and increasing their revenue and employment. In order to efficiently promote the folder of products and services available and attracting tourists, private and public decision makers need to know and incorporate tourists’ preferences in its marketing strategies. In this paper we illustrate the use of stated preferences as an instrument to identify national and foreign tourists’ preferences in what concerns the products and services the Minho-Lima sub-region tourist destination should offer. As a starting point, we have taken as attributes the three general groups of tourist resources mentioned above. We believe the previously identified methodology can be a valuable instrument in the identification of strengths and weaknesses of the selected territory and, thus, to give support to the decision making process behind its future tourist development and external promotion.