Motivations for Tourism Shopping in Department Stores: An Exploratory Research about Tourists’ Profiles Visiting El Corte Inglés Gaia

Abstract

Shopping forms a part of tourism activity. It can be the main motivation to travel (shopping tourism), or a parallel tourist action (tourism shopping). Existing literature explores the attributes of products that tourists look for, as souvenirs. However, department stores are increasingly prominent on tour itineraries and promoted by tour guides, exploring the trend of purchasing luxury goods in tourism experience. This study identifies the profile and motivations of tourists to shop in department stores, whose main products refer to global luxury brands and do not show the authenticity of the destination.The research was developed in the department store El Corte Inglés Gaia, the only department store in the Porto destination. A survey was applied in the store during four days to 210 tourists who contacted the tourism office of the store. The results show that purchasing is not the main motivation for travelling, but it is an important activity. The department store is chosen for tourism shopping because of the quality and variety of products and services, personal selling and the advantages of tax refund for non-residents in the European Union. The paper contributes with the idea that shopping should be seen as an important activity in tourism and retailers should enhance the provision of differentiated services and experiences rather than just the authenticity of local products.

Understanding Memorable Tourism Experience: Long-Term Memory System and Revisit Intention

“…Finally, travel destinations other than the UK can refer to MTE factors to develop appropriate marketing strategies and create travel products that may increase the revisit intention of alumni tourists. As a symbolic memory, souvenirs could evoke an imagined return to memorable moments and locations (Boulhosa & Casais, 2019). For example, creating tailor-made souvenirs, such as photos, for tourists to keep as proof and memory of their trips is recommended.…”

Mega shopping malls technology-enabled facilities, destination image, tourists’ behavior and revisit intentions: Implications of the SOR theory

“…Sometimes the requirements may be latent (unmotivated) and therefore not a driver of consumer behavior. The sources of stimuli may be endogenous (such as feeling hungry), situational (such as watching an advertisement for a Big Mac sandwich), or psychological (just thinking about food can cause feeling hungry (Boulhosa and Casais, 2019;Çavusoglu et al, 2021).…”

The Influence of the Global Perfumery Market on the Principles of the Formation of a Tourist Flow

“…Dokashenko considers perfume tourism as a type of industrial tourism -excursions to the enterprise [7]. I. Boulhosa, B. Casais attribute the purchase of perfumes of well-known brands abroad to shopping tourism, as they are included in the list of goods in greatest demand [8]. M.P.…”