Pedro Álvaro Pereira Correia

Purpose: The gluten-free food market has grown significantly, driven by health-related needs and lifestyle choices. This study examines how product quality, service quality and assortment variety are associated with consumer satisfaction in the Portuguese gluten-free food market. Design/methodology/approach: A quantitative survey was conducted with 444 Portuguese consumers of gluten-free products. Data were analysed using reliability tests, correlation analysis and multiple linear regression models. Findings: The results show that product quality has the strongest association with consumer satisfaction, followed by service quality and product variety. Safety and taste emerge as the most valued product attributes. Consumers report dissatisfaction with the limited availability of key product categories such as bread, pastry and ready-to-eat meals. Research limitations/implications: The results should be interpreted with caution given the perceptual nature of the measures and the potential for construct overlap. Practical implications: The findings provide actionable guidance for food producers, retailers and foodservice operators regarding portfolio management, quality control and service design in the gluten-free sector. Originality/value: This study provides context-specific empirical evidence on consumer satisfaction in a specialised food market within a less studied Southern European context.

Purpose: This article examines the short-term market reaction of global e-commerce firms around different phases of COVID-19. Design/methodology/approach: The authors examine the impact of different phases of COVID-19 on global e-commerce firms using an event study methodology. Findings: We find a positive and statistically significant reaction of e-commerce firms to the first case of COVID-19, to the declaration of global health emergency by the WHO, the three waves of COVID-19 contamination and to the good results of Pfizer vaccine trials. The disruption caused by COVID-19 in retail, the accelerated trend towards electronic commerce and the strong link between self-intention to self-isolate and intention to make unusual purchases, may explain the positive reaction of e-commerce stocks in the first phase of COVID-19. The restored opportunity to spend and pent-up demand tend to explain the positive market returns found in the last phase of the COVID-19 pandemic. In contrast, the declaration of COVID-19 as a global pandemic and the lockdown announcements in each country seem to be bad news for e-commerce firms, which observe an abnormal negative and statistically significant return. The reduction of consumer expenses and precautionary savings to self-insure against the risk of unemployment tends to explain these results. These reactions are reinforced or mitigated by firm-specific characteristics such as liquidity, profitability, leverage and e-commerce main activity. Originality/value: To our best knowledge, it is the first study that analyses the impact of different phases of COVID-19 on the market returns of e-commerce global firms. This study intends to fill this gap in the literature.

This study explores the integration of Metaverse technologies into the tourism sector, emphasizing their potential to enhance sustainable and regenerative tourism practices. Through a systematic review methodology of 42 articles, the study identifies significant opportunities presented by immersive technologies such as the Metaverse in transforming tourist experiences, promoting environmental sustainability and supporting local economies. The findings highlight the role of these technologies in reducing the environmental impact of traditional tourism by offering virtual alternatives that decrease carbon footprints and mitigate over-tourism. The study also introduces the Sustainable Virtual Integration Model (SVIM), which provides a framework for leveraging these technologies to create net-positive impacts on the environment and society. Furthermore, the research underscores the importance of virtual conservation initiatives and digital economic platforms in preserving natural and cultural heritage sites while fostering economic resilience. However, challenges such as high energy consumption, infrastructure requirements and regulatory and ethical issues must be addressed to realize the full potential of Metaverse technologies in tourism. The study concludes with recommendations for future research to further explore the behavioural, economic, technological, social and ethical dimensions of these technologies, aiming to refine the SVIM framework and advance the development of sustainable and regenerative tourism practices.

This paper examines the transformative role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in cultural tourism, highlighting its integration with advanced digital platforms such as the Metaverse, Virtual Reality (VR), and Augmented Reality (AR). Traditionally, cultural tourism centers on immersive engagement with the tangible and intangible heritage of destinations. However, the adoption of AI and related digital technologies is revolutionizing how visitors interact with cultural artifacts and practices, creating personalized and deeply engaging experiences that were previously unattainable.AI enhances the tourist experience by offering adaptive and intelligent platforms that personalize interactions based on real-time data analysis of visitor preferences and behaviors. This capability significantly enriches educational outcomes and visitor satisfaction by providing culturally relevant, context-aware content in multiple languages, thereby increasing accessibility and inclusivity. In virtual settings, such as the Metaverse, AI-driven interfaces allow for the creation of deeply immersive environments where users can interact with cultural heritage in ways that respect and preserve the authenticity of the original sites, thus supporting sustainable tourism practices.Moreover, the use of VR and AR technologies, powered by AI, introduces unprecedented levels of interaction and immersion, making cultural tourism more vibrant and engaging. These technologies allow tourists to explore historical reconstructions or deeply engage with cultural narratives without the physical intrusion that can lead to site degradation.However, this digital transformation presents significant challenges, notably in the commodification of culture and the potential loss of authenticity in cultural representations. This paper advocates for a balanced approach to integrating AI, VR, and AR technologies, such as the Metaverse, in cultural tourism. It emphasizes that technological advancements should enhance the visitor experience while preserving the intrinsic cultural value of heritage sites. By outlining a roadmap for responsible and sustainable implementation, this study seeks to contribute to the ongoing discourse on leveraging technology to enrich cultural tourism while upholding ethical standards and preserving cultural integrity.

This chapter explores the transformative impact of the Metaverse on sustainable tourism through innovative digital marketing strategies. It delves into how immersive virtual environments revolutionize tourist experiences and destination marketing while enhancing sustainable tourism initiatives. The integration of Metaverse technologies offers both challenges and opportunities, encompassing technological, operational, regulatory, economic, and social dimensions. Central to the discussion are strategic recommendations for harnessing the Metaverse to develop environmentally friendly tourism solutions. The role of immersive storytelling and virtual tours is underscored, with real-world applications such as Nike's NIKELAND on Roblox illustrating the effective utilization of Metaverse technologies. The chapter is supported by a comprehensive literature review, which highlights the Metaverse's potential to foster new engagement pathways and promote sustainability within the tourism sector.

Introducción: la Constitución portuguesa de 1976 concede la autonomía a la Región de Madeira. Desde entonces, cada 1 de julio se celebran actos oficiales conmemorativos por el Día de la Región Autónoma de Madeira y de las Comunidades Madeirenses. El principal acto conmemorativo se realiza en el parlamento regional, máximo exponente oficial de la soberanía popular y de la normalidad democrática, cuestión esta que imprime a la ceremonia un fuerte mensaje institucional hacia la opinión pública. Metodología: se realiza un análisis cualitativo sustentado en el método del estudio de caso, modalidad de caso único, y se utilizan, como técnicas de investigación el uso de fuentes secundarias (bibliográficas y archivísticas). Resultados: los actos oficiales del Día de Madeira no solo transmiten un mensaje institucional tanto a la opinión pública como al estado portugués, sino que también promueven significativamente el turismo en la región. Las celebraciones atraen a numerosos visitantes, dinamizan la economía local y destaca, a la par que proyecta, la cultura madeirense a nivel internacional. Discusión y conclusiones: se corrobora la hipótesis inicial ya que se establecen conexiones sinérgicas entre este tipo de conmemoraciones oficiales, los actos oficiales, la gestión de las relaciones y la promoción turística.

Purpose: This paper examines the short-term market impact of the beginning of the military conflict between Russia and Ukraine (February 24, 2022) on the world’s largest defense firms.Design/methodology/approach: The authors examine the world’s 100 largest listed defense firms at and around the beginning of the military conflict between Russia and Ukraine using an event-study methodology.Findings: We observe a positive and statistically significant stock price reaction at and around the beginning of the military conflict. These results are consistent with the asset-pricing perspective/expected cash flow hypothesis. Consistent with the captured regulator theory, we find superior market returns for the two portfolios with a greater weight of defense sales. Superior market returns are also found for defense firms with higher R&D and capital expenditure intensity. Finally, these reactions are reinforced or mitigated by other firm-specific characteristics such as size, profitability and institutional ownership.Originality/value: The effect of the war on stock markets has been relatively little examined in the financial theory. This study intends to fill this gap in the literature.

This paper emphasizes the importance of adopting strategies to attract and retain audiences within cultural organizations, more precisely in museums. Gradually, cultural institutions evolved from product-driven to consumer-driven organisations, seeking to attract and serve different groups with appropriate offers. In this sense, museums turn to marketing to expand their audiences, as well as to create and maintain long-lasting relationships. In order to identify the strategies that are put into practice in Madeira’s museums, a sample of local museums was selected. Afterwards, open-ended questionnaires were created for later interviews with directors and visitors of these museums. The results show that educational services play a key role in attracting and managing the relationship with the local community, mainly with the school audiences. However, there is a weak promotion of the offer within the tourist audiences.