Browsing by Author "Loureiro, Isabel Sofia"
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- An overview of higher education in tourism and hospitality in PortugalPublication . Moura, Andreia Antunes; Costa, Vânia; Loureiro, Isabel Sofia; Silva, Susana; Mira, Maria do Rosário; Pereira, Sílvia RaquelObjective: This study evaluates the higher education provision in Portugal's tourism and hospitality sector, examining its evolution and alignment with labor market demands to address the growing skills gap in the industry.TheoreticalFramework: The research is grounded in concepts of labor market demands, educational alignment, and workforce development amid digital, societal, and economic transformations. Theories on skills mismatch and human capital development help understand the dynamics between education and employment in this sector.Method: A comprehensive review of higher education offerings in tourism and hospitality in Portugal was conducted, assessing the number of courses and student vacancies while analyzing job market trends. Data were collected from national educational databases and industry reports to examine the evolving relationship between educational programs and labor needs.Results and Discussion: Results indicate a notable increase in tourism and hospitality courses and student vacancies in Portugal’s higher education system, reflecting efforts to cultivate a skilled workforce. However, gaps persist in regional job distribution and the need for specialized training in certain areas.Research Implications: Thefindings suggest that higher education institutions are progressing in closing the skills gap by offering programs aligned with industry needs, which may influence workforce development strategies and curriculum design.Originality/Value: This study contributes to the literature by analyzing Portugal's educational response to labor market shifts, highlighting the growing alignment between education and industry needs, and providing actionable insights for improving human capital development in tourism and hospitality.
- The use of the EUROHIS-QOL-8 to assess the perception of quality of life at Termas de ChavesPublication . Vaz, Márcia; Loureiro, Isabel Sofia; Alves, Maria José; Ferreira, Fernanda A.; Costa, Vânia; Fernandes, Paula Odete; Nunes, AlcinaQuality of life is a person's perception of life in the context they belong in. It compresses multiple dimensions that need to be assessed. The EUROHIS-QOL-8 scale is an instrument that measures the subjective well-being of individuals and the impact of different health issues. It is a brief tool to measure the quality of life that includes eight items. The higher the results shown in this scale, the better the quality of life of individuals. The EUROHIS-QOL-8 has been proven to have good internal consistency and an excellent index for measuring the quality of life. It has been validated and reliable in many different contexts of application. This paper uses EUROHIS-QOL-8 to evaluate thermalists' perception of quality of life before and after attending a thermal spa. It intends to identify if there are differences between the state of quality of life before and after using thermal spa services. For this purpose, a self-administrated questionnaire was applied to the Termas de Chaves' users during the 2021 thermal season, i.e., between 09 August and 20 December. A convenience method of non-probability sampling allowed to obtain a sample of 213 thermal users. The data were analysed through statistical techniques of exploratory descriptive and inferential analysis. The results showed statistically significant differences in customers' perception of quality of life before and after 14 days of treatment. In addition, the study of five sociodemographic variables showed that the categories: female, up to 35 years old, single, without academic qualifications, and housekeeper were the most benefited from the thermal treatments. Regarding the analysis of pathologies, the participants guided by their family doctor to attend the Chaves thermal springs for respiratory problems showed the most significant improvement. The paper's results dissemination becomes an added value for verifying the benefits of thermal spas on the individuals' quality of life. It also allows for better development of thermal spa products to improve the quality of life perceived by individuals.
- Thermal tourism: study of the profile and motivations of the practitioner in PortugalPublication . Loureiro, Isabel Sofia; Gomes, Helena; Costa, Vânia; Ferreira, Fernanda A.; Pereira, Raquel; Nunes, AlcinaHealth and wellness tourism had a growing interest in the Portuguese population until 2019. However, with the appearance of Covid-19, several establishments had to close over these two years, this segment being one of the most affected areas. Many water users looked forward to the opening of the spa resorts to continue their treatments. Given the importance of this theme, this work has as its main goal the definition of a consumer profile and to identify the determinants of satisfaction of the thermal tourists, as well as to gauge the degree of knowledge of thermal tourism and specifically of spas in the Portuguese context. In methodological terms, a questionnaire survey was conducted among the tourists to achieve the research objectives. The results show a younger, healthier and diversified thermal tourism practitioner. It also reveals similarities with other profile and motivations studies. However, it is possible to notice a few differences. Practitioners are seeking a combination of a leisure and health dimension and valorise factors such as location and access of the establishments, quality of the services provided and rest and tranquillity. An issue regarding their length of stay has been identified. As they are locals and live in the same country as the thermal spa, most respondents do not stay overnight at the destination. In the future, it would be interesting to research product development and market strategies for diversified thermal practitioners.
- Tourism sector: evidence of business dynamics in PortugalPublication . Costa, Vânia; Pereira, Raquel; Loureiro, Isabel Sofia; Campinho, Sara; Moura, Andreia; Mira, Maria do Rosário; Silva, Goretti; Silva, SusanaAn 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.