Experiential tourism and strategic management of heritage resources: an exploratory study of perceptions of tourism products in the Sierras Subbéticas Cordoba (Andalusia)

Abstract

This work applies a perceptual and experiential approach to the phenomenon of tourism a case study, with reference to some recent research on bio emotional cartography based methodology called "Bio Mapping / Emotion Mapping", trying to get a visual representation of the reactions experienced by tourists and hikers to external stimuli received in different geographical locations and visits made-heritage tourism resources. It uses geographic memory and sensory and cognitive map of the tourists of an emerging destination for rural tourism and nature, the Sierras Subbéticas Cordoba in Andalusia, in order to study the perceptions of various products and activities, especially as it as a precursor and purpose applied to the creation of competitive tourism products and improving management strategies of companies in the area. And as a starting point, some routes are selected and heritage tourist products specifically designed to be the destination evaluated for quality and attraction, depending on the degree of satisfaction experienced reactions or emotions and sensations perceived by users, all within the framework of new experiential tourism trends that give the new consumer an active role in the whole process of creation and marketing of tourism-heritage, with all that this implies in need of reorientation of strategic management tourist destinations