The research question addressed by this dissertation is: How is the tourist experience formed and what constitutes the authenticity of the tourist experience for two market segments (motivated and not motivated by learning) of tourists visiting (political) cultural heritage sites in South Africa. The study explores the correlation between three types of authenticity, namely objective, constructed and existential on two independent tourist samples, motivated and not motivated by learning. This research was initiated for three reasons. The first reason forms part of the research problem; South African cultural experiences received the lowest ratings from the international tourists despite the fact that culture and heritage play a role in reimaging South Africa from Big 5 destination into ‘It’s possible’ and ‘Leave ordinary behind’. It was suspected that not all types of cultural heritage products justify such a low ratings, especially not the political cultural heritage sites South Africa is famous for. The second reason emerged from the academic literature on authenticity theories and calls from the influential group of postmodernist scholars to declare the objective authenticity obsolete and replace it with the existential authenticity. The argument that; the hyperreal nature of the postmodern experience and its detachment from reality makes the authenticity of the site redundant, seemed inapt for cultural heritage sites exclusively dependent on their historical and authentic values. The third reason was the inability of the postmodern paradigm to explain the new tourism phenomenon driven by the tourists search for selfdevelopment through authentic experiences. The new emerging paradigm, transmodernity seemed to offer better theoretical framework in explaining the omnivorouessness of tourists’ consumption and the authentic nature of tourist experiences. The correlational character of the research question required a descriptive correlational design and quantitative methodology. The selected research instrument for primary data collection is a self–administered questionnaire. The sampling strategy is a non–probability sampling, and the sampling method is a convenience or accidental sample. The data was collected from November 2010 to February 2011 at the Constitutional Hill National Heritage Site in Johannesburg. The final sample (436) consists of 254 foreign and 182 domestic tourists. The questionnaire was designed to identify the variables pertinent to each type of authenticity of tourists experience and of the resultant tourist experience. The data analysis provided very interesting results. Firstly, the results of crosstabulation proved that more than half (56%) of the tourists expressed strong agreement that the Constitution Hill provided them with authentic experience, hence a proof that political heritage sites are not responsible for the overall low experiential ratings of the country’s culture and heritage. Secondly, the results of the Spearman’s correlation coefficient proved that objective authenticity as an independent variable have strong positive correlation with constructed and existential authenticity hence a proof that objective authenticity cannot be declared obsolete and replaced with existential authenticity. Finally, the results of the t–test proved that motivation for learning and place of birth do not play an important role in how tourist evaluate and experience the authenticity of the site pointing to the omnivorous nature of tourist consumption. In line with the transmodern paradigm, motivation for learning plays a critical role in triggering the transformative, authentic experience distinctive of the existential authenticity. The results of the study also showed that 32% of tourists are in fact the purposeful, New Age, transmodern Cultural Creatives. Proposed theoretical model of authenticity of tourists experience presents a theoretical platform for future research studies. / Thesis (M.A. (Tourism))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2012.

Esta dissertação versa sobre Paisagem e a mediação que parece produzir entre turistas e as Cataratas do Iguaçu (Brasil/Argentina). Os pontos de partida de nossa trilha foram: o Paradigma da Complexidade e a Geografia Cultural. O objetivo geral que perseguimos foi analisar os significados que os sujeitos atribuem à experiência geográfica das Cataratas do Iguaçu desde sua intencionalidade turística. Recorrendo aos princípios da Complexidade: dialógica, recursividade e hologramática; nossos procedimentos investigativos basearam-se no instrumental da Pesquisa Qualitativa. No primeiro capítulo expusemos a problemática de pesquisa e nossos objetivos. Na segunda seção tratamos de questões metodológicas. A terceira parte é dedicada à revisão bibliográfica das categorias: Espaço Geográfico, Turismo, Paisagem e Geograficidade. O quarto capítulo é devotado à história da mediação paisagística nas Cataratas do Iguaçu, e aos relatos dos primeiros a registrarem os saltos. Aí, ratificamos o Turismo como produto de uma processualidade histórica marcada pela contingencialidade, e não uma „vocação inata' do local. No quinto momento procuramos analisar o diálogo que parece ocorrer entre os sujeitos turistas e as quedas do rio Iguaçu. Esse colóquio afigura-se pautado primordialmente por um vínculo de cunho estético, que é influenciado pela categoria do sublime, elaborada sob a égide de uma noção de natureza advinda do romantismo dos séculos XVIII e XIX. O momento não tão final do trabalho dedicamos aos registros e narrativas dos sujeitos em relação às Cataratas. Há o predomínio de narrativas visuais, em especial a fotografia. Procuramos analisar os significados que os sujeitos atribuem aos seus registros; bem como o papel que têm na experiência turística, conformando o que denominamos como Paisagem-cenário. / This essay is about Landscape and the mediation it seems to produce between tourists and the Iguassu falls (Argentina/ Brazil). The starting points of our track were the Paradigm of Complexity and Cultural Geography. The main goal was to analyze the meanings given by tourist subjects to their geographical experience of the Iguassu Falls. Through the complex principles of dialogics, recursivity and hologrammatics, our investigative procedures were grounded on Qualitative Data Analysis. In the first chapter the research problem the objectives are exposed. At the second section methodological questions are approached. The third part is dedicated to a literature review on the following concepts: Geographical Space, Tourism, Landscape and Geographicite. The fourth chapter brings the history of the Iguassu falls landscape mediation, as well as the first reports on the site. There, we assure tourism as a result of an historical and contingent process, as opposed to an innate vocation of the place. At the fifth moment we persuade to analyze the dialog that seems to happen between tourists and the Iguassu falls. This conversation is guided by an aesthetical rapport, that‟s tributary on the sublime and on a way to conceive nature which derives from XVIII and XIX centuries' romanticism. A not so final moment of this essay is dedicated to the reports and narratives on the falls made by tourist subjects. There‟s a predominance of visual narratives, in special photography. We aimed at the meanings tourist subjects give to their reports, as well as the role of recording on their touristic experience, conforming what we name as landscape setting. / Este trabajo trata del Paisaje y la mediación que se parece producir entre turistas y las Cataratas del Iguazú (Brasil/Argentina). Los puntos de partida de nuestro sendero han sido: el Paradigma de la Complejidad y la Geografía Cultural. El objetivo general que perseguimos fue analizar los significados que los sujetos atribuyen a la experiencia geográfica de las Cataratas del Iguazú desde su intencionalidad turística. Usando los principios de la Complejidad: dialógica, recursividad y hologrammatical; nuestros procedimientos se basaran en el instrumental de la Investigación Cualitativa. En el primer capítulo evidenciase el problema y los objetivos de investigación. En la segunda sección se tratan las cuestiones metodológicas. La tercera parte está dedicada a revisión de la literatura respecto a las categorías: Espacio Geográfico, Turismo, Paisaje y Geograficidad. El cuarto capítulo está consagrado a la historia de la mediación paisajística en las Cataratas de Iguazú, y a los informes de los primeros en registrar los saltos. En este sentido, confirmamos el Turismo como resultado de una procesualidad histórica señalada por su carácter contingente, y no como una „vocación innata‟ del sitio. En el quinto momento buscamos analizar el diálogo que parece ocurrir entre los sujetos turistas y las caídas del río Iguazú. Esa conversación figurase guiada principalmente por un enlace de contenido estético, en que influye la categoría de lo sublime, elaborada bajo a una noción de naturaleza derivada del romanticismo de los siglos XVIII y XIX. El momento todavía no definitivo del trabajo, lo dedicamos a los registros y narrativas de los sujetos en relación a las Cataratas. Hay un predominio de la narrativa visual, en particular de la fotografía. Buscamos analizar los significados que los sujetos atribuyen a sus registros; así como el rol que poseen en la experiencia turística, constituyendo lo que denominamos como Paisaje-escenario.

Esta dissertação versa sobre Paisagem e a mediação que parece produzir entre turistas e as Cataratas do Iguaçu (Brasil/Argentina). Os pontos de partida de nossa trilha foram: o Paradigma da Complexidade e a Geografia Cultural. O objetivo geral que perseguimos foi analisar os significados que os sujeitos atribuem à experiência geográfica das Cataratas do Iguaçu desde sua intencionalidade turística. Recorrendo aos princípios da Complexidade: dialógica, recursividade e hologramática; nossos procedimentos investigativos basearam-se no instrumental da Pesquisa Qualitativa. No primeiro capítulo expusemos a problemática de pesquisa e nossos objetivos. Na segunda seção tratamos de questões metodológicas. A terceira parte é dedicada à revisão bibliográfica das categorias: Espaço Geográfico, Turismo, Paisagem e Geograficidade. O quarto capítulo é devotado à história da mediação paisagística nas Cataratas do Iguaçu, e aos relatos dos primeiros a registrarem os saltos. Aí, ratificamos o Turismo como produto de uma processualidade histórica marcada pela contingencialidade, e não uma „vocação inata' do local. No quinto momento procuramos analisar o diálogo que parece ocorrer entre os sujeitos turistas e as quedas do rio Iguaçu. Esse colóquio afigura-se pautado primordialmente por um vínculo de cunho estético, que é influenciado pela categoria do sublime, elaborada sob a égide de uma noção de natureza advinda do romantismo dos séculos XVIII e XIX. O momento não tão final do trabalho dedicamos aos registros e narrativas dos sujeitos em relação às Cataratas. Há o predomínio de narrativas visuais, em especial a fotografia. Procuramos analisar os significados que os sujeitos atribuem aos seus registros; bem como o papel que têm na experiência turística, conformando o que denominamos como Paisagem-cenário. / This essay is about Landscape and the mediation it seems to produce between tourists and the Iguassu falls (Argentina/ Brazil). The starting points of our track were the Paradigm of Complexity and Cultural Geography. The main goal was to analyze the meanings given by tourist subjects to their geographical experience of the Iguassu Falls. Through the complex principles of dialogics, recursivity and hologrammatics, our investigative procedures were grounded on Qualitative Data Analysis. In the first chapter the research problem the objectives are exposed. At the second section methodological questions are approached. The third part is dedicated to a literature review on the following concepts: Geographical Space, Tourism, Landscape and Geographicite. The fourth chapter brings the history of the Iguassu falls landscape mediation, as well as the first reports on the site. There, we assure tourism as a result of an historical and contingent process, as opposed to an innate vocation of the place. At the fifth moment we persuade to analyze the dialog that seems to happen between tourists and the Iguassu falls. This conversation is guided by an aesthetical rapport, that‟s tributary on the sublime and on a way to conceive nature which derives from XVIII and XIX centuries' romanticism. A not so final moment of this essay is dedicated to the reports and narratives on the falls made by tourist subjects. There‟s a predominance of visual narratives, in special photography. We aimed at the meanings tourist subjects give to their reports, as well as the role of recording on their touristic experience, conforming what we name as landscape setting. / Este trabajo trata del Paisaje y la mediación que se parece producir entre turistas y las Cataratas del Iguazú (Brasil/Argentina). Los puntos de partida de nuestro sendero han sido: el Paradigma de la Complejidad y la Geografía Cultural. El objetivo general que perseguimos fue analizar los significados que los sujetos atribuyen a la experiencia geográfica de las Cataratas del Iguazú desde su intencionalidad turística. Usando los principios de la Complejidad: dialógica, recursividad y hologrammatical; nuestros procedimientos se basaran en el instrumental de la Investigación Cualitativa. En el primer capítulo evidenciase el problema y los objetivos de investigación. En la segunda sección se tratan las cuestiones metodológicas. La tercera parte está dedicada a revisión de la literatura respecto a las categorías: Espacio Geográfico, Turismo, Paisaje y Geograficidad. El cuarto capítulo está consagrado a la historia de la mediación paisajística en las Cataratas de Iguazú, y a los informes de los primeros en registrar los saltos. En este sentido, confirmamos el Turismo como resultado de una procesualidad histórica señalada por su carácter contingente, y no como una „vocación innata‟ del sitio. En el quinto momento buscamos analizar el diálogo que parece ocurrir entre los sujetos turistas y las caídas del río Iguazú. Esa conversación figurase guiada principalmente por un enlace de contenido estético, en que influye la categoría de lo sublime, elaborada bajo a una noción de naturaleza derivada del romanticismo de los siglos XVIII y XIX. El momento todavía no definitivo del trabajo, lo dedicamos a los registros y narrativas de los sujetos en relación a las Cataratas. Hay un predominio de la narrativa visual, en particular de la fotografía. Buscamos analizar los significados que los sujetos atribuyen a sus registros; así como el rol que poseen en la experiencia turística, constituyendo lo que denominamos como Paisaje-escenario.

Esta dissertação versa sobre Paisagem e a mediação que parece produzir entre turistas e as Cataratas do Iguaçu (Brasil/Argentina). Os pontos de partida de nossa trilha foram: o Paradigma da Complexidade e a Geografia Cultural. O objetivo geral que perseguimos foi analisar os significados que os sujeitos atribuem à experiência geográfica das Cataratas do Iguaçu desde sua intencionalidade turística. Recorrendo aos princípios da Complexidade: dialógica, recursividade e hologramática; nossos procedimentos investigativos basearam-se no instrumental da Pesquisa Qualitativa. No primeiro capítulo expusemos a problemática de pesquisa e nossos objetivos. Na segunda seção tratamos de questões metodológicas. A terceira parte é dedicada à revisão bibliográfica das categorias: Espaço Geográfico, Turismo, Paisagem e Geograficidade. O quarto capítulo é devotado à história da mediação paisagística nas Cataratas do Iguaçu, e aos relatos dos primeiros a registrarem os saltos. Aí, ratificamos o Turismo como produto de uma processualidade histórica marcada pela contingencialidade, e não uma „vocação inata' do local. No quinto momento procuramos analisar o diálogo que parece ocorrer entre os sujeitos turistas e as quedas do rio Iguaçu. Esse colóquio afigura-se pautado primordialmente por um vínculo de cunho estético, que é influenciado pela categoria do sublime, elaborada sob a égide de uma noção de natureza advinda do romantismo dos séculos XVIII e XIX. O momento não tão final do trabalho dedicamos aos registros e narrativas dos sujeitos em relação às Cataratas. Há o predomínio de narrativas visuais, em especial a fotografia. Procuramos analisar os significados que os sujeitos atribuem aos seus registros; bem como o papel que têm na experiência turística, conformando o que denominamos como Paisagem-cenário. / This essay is about Landscape and the mediation it seems to produce between tourists and the Iguassu falls (Argentina/ Brazil). The starting points of our track were the Paradigm of Complexity and Cultural Geography. The main goal was to analyze the meanings given by tourist subjects to their geographical experience of the Iguassu Falls. Through the complex principles of dialogics, recursivity and hologrammatics, our investigative procedures were grounded on Qualitative Data Analysis. In the first chapter the research problem the objectives are exposed. At the second section methodological questions are approached. The third part is dedicated to a literature review on the following concepts: Geographical Space, Tourism, Landscape and Geographicite. The fourth chapter brings the history of the Iguassu falls landscape mediation, as well as the first reports on the site. There, we assure tourism as a result of an historical and contingent process, as opposed to an innate vocation of the place. At the fifth moment we persuade to analyze the dialog that seems to happen between tourists and the Iguassu falls. This conversation is guided by an aesthetical rapport, that‟s tributary on the sublime and on a way to conceive nature which derives from XVIII and XIX centuries' romanticism. A not so final moment of this essay is dedicated to the reports and narratives on the falls made by tourist subjects. There‟s a predominance of visual narratives, in special photography. We aimed at the meanings tourist subjects give to their reports, as well as the role of recording on their touristic experience, conforming what we name as landscape setting. / Este trabajo trata del Paisaje y la mediación que se parece producir entre turistas y las Cataratas del Iguazú (Brasil/Argentina). Los puntos de partida de nuestro sendero han sido: el Paradigma de la Complejidad y la Geografía Cultural. El objetivo general que perseguimos fue analizar los significados que los sujetos atribuyen a la experiencia geográfica de las Cataratas del Iguazú desde su intencionalidad turística. Usando los principios de la Complejidad: dialógica, recursividad y hologrammatical; nuestros procedimientos se basaran en el instrumental de la Investigación Cualitativa. En el primer capítulo evidenciase el problema y los objetivos de investigación. En la segunda sección se tratan las cuestiones metodológicas. La tercera parte está dedicada a revisión de la literatura respecto a las categorías: Espacio Geográfico, Turismo, Paisaje y Geograficidad. El cuarto capítulo está consagrado a la historia de la mediación paisajística en las Cataratas de Iguazú, y a los informes de los primeros en registrar los saltos. En este sentido, confirmamos el Turismo como resultado de una procesualidad histórica señalada por su carácter contingente, y no como una „vocación innata‟ del sitio. En el quinto momento buscamos analizar el diálogo que parece ocurrir entre los sujetos turistas y las caídas del río Iguazú. Esa conversación figurase guiada principalmente por un enlace de contenido estético, en que influye la categoría de lo sublime, elaborada bajo a una noción de naturaleza derivada del romanticismo de los siglos XVIII y XIX. El momento todavía no definitivo del trabajo, lo dedicamos a los registros y narrativas de los sujetos en relación a las Cataratas. Hay un predominio de la narrativa visual, en particular de la fotografía. Buscamos analizar los significados que los sujetos atribuyen a sus registros; así como el rol que poseen en la experiencia turística, constituyendo lo que denominamos como Paisaje-escenario.

The aim of the Master thesis is to design the tourist product with elements of gamification for a chosen tourist attraction in the Czech Republic including its implementation. The project partner is Tachov castle which is situated is the town of the same name in the tourist area of Český les. The theoretical part of the thesis is included in the first three chapters, the chapter number four guarantees the transition between theoretical and practical part and the practical part is contained in the chapter number five and six. The theoretical part consists of the general terms which are related to the services and products in the tourism field, then there are defined the current trends in tourism and some marketing aspects of tourist attractions. The fourth chapter deals with the term of gamification and its principles when designing the gamified product. The chapter number five focuses on the analysis of the current situation of using gamification in tourism in the Czech Republic as well as in the foreign countries. In the last chapter there is suggested the gamified tourist product for the chosen tourist attraction. The contribution of the using gamified elements in tourist product is evaluated on the basis of its implementation and of other findings.

[pt] A palavra lugar se refere a algo mais do que uma posição física, está vinculada a aspectos identitários, relacionais e históricos, influenciando nas experiências dos indivíduos, inclusive no âmbito turístico. Esta dissertação aborda como temática a experiência dos turistas e o valor do lugar, possuindo como objeto de estudo, a experiência do lugar mediada pela atividade turística associada a biodiversidade e a geodiversidade. O objetivo geral é evidenciar a importância do valor do lugar na experiência turística, nas tipologias do ecoturismo e do geoturismo nos municípios escolhidos no noroeste do Estado do Rio Grande do Sul. Como estudos de caso, escolheu-se o Ametista Parque Museu e o Balneário Osvaldo Cruz, localizados nos municípios de Ametista do Sul e Iraí, respectivamente. O primeiro é caracterizado por pedras preciosas e o segundo por fontes de água mineral e termal. Desta forma, surgiram questionamentos como: de que forma o lugar influencia na experiência dos turistas? Qual a relação dessa experiência com a tipologia do turismo? Como são caracterizadas as relações sociais e as políticas públicas existentes nos municípios escolhidos para o estudo? Para responder essas questões a pesquisa utiliza procedimentos metodológicos qualitativos, por meio de revisão bibliográfica, fotografias, observações, entrevistas semiestruturadas, mapeamentos e análise de conceitos, contendo como principais: o turismo, o lugar e a experiência. Os resultados obtidos, por meio das entrevistas realizadas com os secretários do turismo, gestores dos pontos turísticos, empresários, moradores e turistas, evidenciaram a importância do valor do lugar e a sua relação com a experiência turística. / [en] The word place refers to something more than a physical position, it is linked to identity, relational and historical aspects, influencing the experiences of individuals, including the tourist scope. This thesis addresses the experience, the theme of the experience of tourists and the value of the place is addressed, considering as an object of study, the experience of the place mediated by the touristic activity associated with biodiversity and geodiversity. The main objective is to highlight the importance of the place value in the tourist experience, focusing on ecotourism and geotourism in the selected municipalities in the northwest of the State of Rio Grande do Sul. As case studies, the Amethyst Park Museum and the Osvaldo Cruz Spa were adopted, located in the cities of Ametista do Sul and Iraí, respectively. The former being characterized by precious stones and the latter by mineral and thermal water sources. Thus, questions are made, such as: how does the place influence the experience of tourists? What is the relationship of this experience with the typology of tourism? How are characterized the social relations and public policies existing in the cities chosen for the study? To answer these questions, the research uses qualitative methodological procedures, through bibliographical review, photographs, observations, semi-structured interviews, mappings and analysis of concepts, containing as main: tourism, place and experience. The obtained results, through interviews made with the secretaries of tourism, managers of tourist attractions, businessmen, residents and tourists, highlighted the importance of the place value and its relationship with the tourist experience.

This study seeks to gain an insight into the experiences Lord of the Rings tourists have on guided tours in New Zealand and the role of the tour guide(s) in that experience. The study examines motivations, expectations, actual experience and its evaluation and the role of the tour leader and guides. By drawing primarily on the results of qualitative research that examined the experience of film tourists and other people involved in the film tourism industry over a span of three years, I identified underlying motivations involved in the production and consumption of film tourism. The study found that pre-tour images of Lord of the Rings and its publicity surrounding the making of the films play a significant role in the formation of film tourists' expectations. The emotional relationship towards the films and the novel by J.R.R. Tolkien had motivated film tourists to seek a meaningful and sincere experience. Furthermore, the film and its making as discussed on the DVDs, further publicised myths like the authenticity of the film production itself and the experience of great meaning for one's personal life. Consequently, the study found that most film tourists put a high significance on the sincerity of the relationships within the tour community and with the tour leader and guide(s). The film location visit itself was experienced as highly rewarding but was significantly enhanced by the presence of the tour community ('fellowship'), reenactments and the physical presence on site. This embodiment was crucial for the overall experience as it further authenticated the location visit but also the journey itself as a worthy and spiritual endeavour. It was shown that the New Zealand image of 'green', 'clean' and 'exotic otherness' has been reinforced by multiple media portraits and matches many aspects of the Middle-earth image. All film tourists judged the use of New Zealand for the portrayal of Middle-earth as 'authentic' even if they knew about J.R.R. Tolkien's British background. Furthermore, they judged their film tourism experience as authentic even though the locations were used in a fictional setting. Thus the notions of object authenticity was explored and replaced with the concepts of existential authenticity and sincerity to shift the focus towards the active process of negotiation of authenticity in the tourism experience. To understand tourists' behaviour and motivation, notions of 'spirituality' and 'pilgrimage' were also employed. The study tourists undertook a meaningful and spiritually significant journey that was enhanced through the experience of embodiment and community which suggested parallels between the religious pilgrim and the secular film tourist. Both are on a meaningful journey to distant places and follow scripted guidelines while also creating their own experience. Embodiment played an important role. Furthermore, film tourists sought the community of other believers and were willing to 'follow in the footsteps' of film stars and crew when choosing which film locations and eateries to visit as they sought places that had attained an 'aura'.