Exploring Visitor Experience at a Mountain Attraction: The Nordkette Mountain in Tirol, Austria
Keywords
Alpine tourism, grounded theory, mountain attraction, participant observation, visitor experience
Abstract
The study explores visitor experience while visiting a mountain attraction in the Alpine region of Tirol, Austria, through participant observations, informal conversations, and photography. A grounded theory approach was adopted to uncover the meaning of visitors' overall experience and deduct a possible theory that may contribute to a better understanding of visitor experiences at mountain attractions. The data collected from 600 subjects at the attraction's four stopovers concluded that the visiting experience was a process that involved a blend of events composed of material and human elements. Guest experiences were also practiced on a passive–active continuum, where some of the experiential consumption activities were focused beyond the mountain itself, primarily viewing the landscape and photography. The study affirms the importance of participant observation as a methodological tool to study visitors at a tourist attraction, discusses implications for management, and offers recommendations for enhancing the overall guest experience.
Publication Date
1-1-2018
Number of Pages
172-186
Document Type
Article
Language
English
Source Title
Journal of Vacation Marketing
Volume
24
Issue
2
Copyright Status
Unknown
College
Rosen College of Hospitality Management
STARS Citation
Milman, Ady and Zehrer, Anita, "Exploring Visitor Experience at a Mountain Attraction: The Nordkette Mountain in Tirol, Austria" (2018). Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works. 722.
https://stars.library.ucf.edu/ucfscholar/722