Andreia Moura

Scientific literature demonstrates significant variability in the use of the term “gastronomic charter,” highlighting a considerable knowledge gap regarding its conceptualisation, purpose, and content. This study aims to explore the origins and objectives of gastronomic mapping in Portugal, define the concept of a gastronomic charter, and identify the essential elements such a document must include. Methodologically, a qualitative approach was employed, utilising triangulation through an exploratory literature review combined with a systematic and targeted bibliographic review to organise and analyse scientific literature on this subject. From a documentary sample collected from the SCOPUS database, the study found that: (1) there are few relevant publications on gastronomic charters, although their number is increasing; (2) the main publications originate from Italy, Turkey, the United Kingdom, and the United States; and (3) the social sciences and agricultural and biological sciences are the fields most focused on studying the inventorying and preservation of a region’s gastronomic and food heritage. The integration of bibliographical reviews with thematic content analysis allowed for the establishment of guidelines for defining a gastronomic charter and identifying its fundamental contents. This pioneering study in Portugal provides a solid theoretical foundation and practical support for training professionals in gastronomy and tourism.

This study analyses employment in the tourism sector and seeks to identify trends in the evolution of worker profiles and transformation of the structure and working conditions in Portugal’s tourism sector from 2012 to 2022. It aims to understand how profiles, qualifications, and working conditions relate to the spatial distribution among Portuguese tourist regions and the typology and scale of tourism businesses, contributing valuable insights to defining sector strategies. It applies a quantitative approach based on statistical data from the Portuguese Ministry of Labour, Solidarity, and Social Security, disaggregated by the three segments of economic activity in the tourism sector: accommodation and food services, recreational and cultural activities, and transport and logistics. Descriptive statistics, MANOVA, and ANOVA tests analyse differences based on establishment size, tourist regions, and activity segments. The results show significant employment growth, regional variations, high turnover, and an increase in fixed-term contracts. Weak but significant correlations link education, nationality, gender, and working hours, indicating potential inequalities. The study highlights gender and educational differences among workers, as well as disparities related to employment status and nationality.

This study explores the regional disparities in the tourism sector in Portugal between 2012 and 2022 with the aim of understanding how the spatial distribution, typology, and scale of tourism enterprises relate to regional wage dynamics. Using a quantitative approach, the analysis draws on secondary data from the Ministry of Labour and the Bank of Portugal, incorporating information on business characteristics and average employee remuneration across NUT II or regions. A combination of descriptive statistics, linear mixed-effects regression models, time series analysis, and ANOVA tests were employed to capture both temporal and territorial variations. The findings reveal a notable concentration of larger tourism enterprises in Lisbon, the North, and the Algarve, coupled with persistent wage disparities that tend to favour these same regions. Although average wages have increased, they remain insufficient in areas with high living costs, raising concerns about tourism’s redistributive potential. The study provides empirical evidence that tourism may exacerbate rather than reduce regional inequalities. By highlighting the territorial dimension of economic outcomes, this research offers valuable insights for policymakers and contributes to a more nuanced theoretical understanding of tourism-led development.

While previous research has focused on food, recipes, and cooking techniques, recent studies highlight the importance of marketing and product segmentation in gastronomic tourism. This research provides a comprehensive overview by identifying the distinguishing attributes of gastronomic destinations and their interaction with tourism. A literature review using VOSviewer software and an empirical case study through the PTFoodies Survey (170 valid responses) were conducted. Exploratory factor analyses validated the most relevant attributes for gastronomic destinations in Portugal. The findings suggest that these destinations should focus on four factors: Tourism Supply, Gastronomic Product, Local Gastronomy, and Destination Differentiation. This study advances the theoretical understanding of gastronomic tourism and offers practical insights for enhancing the appeal of gastronomic destinations, improving both tourist satisfaction and overall destination performance.

Gastronomic tourism has become a dynamic segment within the tourism sector, serving as a vital tool for the economic, cultural, and environmental growth of regions that emphasize culinary experiences. This study examines the motivations of young food-motivated tourists (“foodies”) and their impact on travel choices and destination development. Using a quantitative methodology, data were collected from 170 respondents (131 valid answers) in Portugal. The data were collected through the PTFoodies survey, a tool specifically designed by the authors to analyze tourist motivations and their connections to destination attributes. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) identified five key factors—endogenous products, local gastronomy, quality and innovation, authenticity and tradition, and diversity—revealing a balance between sustainability, local authenticity, and openness to innovation in tourist preferences. Additionally, correlation analysis highlighted significant relationships between motivations, such as the strong association between an interest in culinary routes and event participation and between local product appreciation and the preference for organic food. These findings contribute to both theory and practice by refining motivational theories specific to gastronomic tourism, offering insights into destination development strategies and emphasizing sustainable practices that resonate with tourists’ preferences. The study provides destination managers with actionable strategies to attract food-motivated tourists and foster sustainable community growth through gastronomic tourism.

Destination Branding through Tourism Entrepreneurship and Territorial Identity: The Center of Portugal as a Case Study

An in-depth understanding of the business dynamics of a given sector enables key stakeholders to define appropriate strategies for its development, promotion and consolidation. This study aims to analyse the Portuguese tourism and hospitality sector, characterising the companies and their business dynamics between 2011 and 2022. It uses a Related-Samples Friedman‘s Two-Way Analysis of Variance by Ranks to identify any statistically significant differences between the subsegments of Hotels and Restaurants, Recreational and Cultural Activities, and Transports and Logistics using specific competitiveness indicators. The results show significant differences between the subsegments in some indicators. The sector is resilient and plays a key role in recovering from highly impactful challenges. Micro and small companies employ thousands of people and make hotels and restaurants a key subsegment of activity for the sector. This study contributes to a comprehensive understanding of the dynamics of the tourism sector, providing valuable information to industry players and researchers.

The relationship between digital nomads and tourism is a little addressed topic in the scientific literature. Understanding the needs, expectations and attributes of this audience may open new opportunities for tourism, what justifies the relevance of this research. A bibliometric analysis was carried out, indicating an evolution in the concept of digital nomads and its interconnections to tourism, especially highlighting psychological and sociological perspectives, in addition to the technological one which predominated in the initial studies. Results point to four dimensions that explain the relationship between digital nomads and tourism variables, namely: 'Supply attributes', 'Trends', 'Lifestyle' and 'Social engagement'. Each of these dimensions consists of a set of mediating variables, suggesting interesting supply guidelines on how to welcome these new audiences. Furthermore, the discussion suggests some challenges and opportunities for the tourism industry, and conclusion debates theoretical and practical implications. A relação entre nómadas digitais e turismo é um tema pouco abordado na literatura científica. A compreensão das necessidades, expectativas e atributos deste público pode abrir novas oportunidades para o turismo, o que justifica a relevância desta investigação. Foi realizada uma análise bibliométrica, indicando uma evolução no conceito de nómadas digitais e as suas interligações com o turismo, destacando especialmente as perspectivas psicológicas e sociológicas, para além da tecnológica que predominou nos estudos iniciais. Os resultados apontam para quatro dimensões que explicam a relação entre os nómadas digitais e as variáveis do turismo, nomeadamente: 'Atributos da oferta', 'Tendências', 'Estilo de vida' e 'Compromisso social'. Cada uma destas dimensões consiste num conjunto de variáveis mediadoras, sugerindo interessantes orientações de oferta sobre como acolher estes novos públicos. Além disso, a discussão sugere alguns desafios e oportunidades para a indústria do turismo, e debates de conclusão com implicações teóricas e práticas.