Browsing by Author "Carvalho, Aida"
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- An ICT platform to support cultural heritage in rural communities: the Viv@vó – living in the grandma's house case studyPublication . Cunha, Carlos R.; Carvalho, Aida; Afonso, Luís C.M.; Silva, Daniel; Fernandes, Paula Odete; Pires, Luís; Costa, Carlos Casimiro da; Correia, Ricardo; Ramalhosa, Elsa; Correia, Alexandra I.; Parafita, AlexandreTourism and manly experience and cultural heritage tourism are growing in tourist’s interests. Rural regions have an untapped potential for this slice of tourism industry. Also, rural regions have an enormous collection of ancestral knowledge. Unfortunately, all this knowledge typically is elderscentered and it lack effective processes of digitalization, storage and providing systems for that all this heritage can be perpetuated through future generations. From this base-thinking it was created a project case study limited to the Portuguese Northeast region, named Viv@vó – living in the grandma's house. This paper presents this project and what it has been achieved during the project development process.
- An ubiquitous approach to tourism and tourists information needs in the Douro Valley Heritage sitePublication . Carvalho, Aida; Cunha, Carlos R.With the distinction of the Alto Douro Wine Region to World Heritage Site in the category of Cultural Landscape, in December 2001, the pristine nature was echoed internationally, reaching new visibility. This is not only an amazing space where are produce excellent wines, notably the Port Wine, but also a natural Heritage, architectural, socio-cultural, gastronomic and wine space that urges boost. The heritage, its potential as a tourist resource, needs to be explained and / or interpreted, bailing up the model of ubiquitous computing - mobile phone, smart phone or tablet. These devices are embedded in the people daily routines, and represent today’s most common and widely used technology. This growing technological phenomenon, aims to break with the traditional model, centered on the personal computer, giving users the ability to interact with the digital world through the elements that surround the user environment, and using multiple devices. Because all the information is reproduced in multiple atoms, becomes fundamental rethink the classical forms to support information needs that tourists have on the trip - guided tours and self-guided, "living history" performances / plays, forums / discussions, pamphlets, interpretive panels, signage, among others, as well as how actors tourist must interact with these.This paper analyzes the main problems and needs that tourism entities have in disseminating information, and proposes a new approach of interaction between the tourist and the information and services within tourism. The proposed approach presents a Technologic Framework, based on the principle of ubiquity and implementing the concept of smart spaces supported by contextualization mechanisms.
- Análise da adequabilidade do destino terras de Trás-os-Montes face ao nicho de mercado nómadas digitaisPublication . Correia, Ricardo; Garcez, Ana; Carvalho, AidaObjetivo: A presente investigação pretende aferir se a oferta do destino turístico Terras de Trás-os-Montes tem um posicionamento forte e único (oferecendo experiências diferentes com enfoque naquilo que torna o destino único e difícil de imitar) e uma oferta de qualidade excelente com vantagens competitivas adequadas às características dos nómadas digitais. Metodologia: Tendo em consideração o objetivo geral e os objetivos específicos deste artigo estabeleceu-se o plano metodológico. Sendo que numa primeira parte se realizou a revisão da literatura, tendo em conta as temáticas do estudo, abordando, essencialmente, as transformações nas relações de trabalho, o nomadismo digital e o perfil do nómada. A revisão da literatura foi efetuada através do recurso a artigos que se encontram em bases de dados eletrónicos, como a Scopus, Science Direct, B-on, em plataformas de partilha, como o website Research Gate, portais de acesso aberto, como o Repositório Científico de Acesso Aberto (RCAAP) e motores de pesquisa, como o Google Académico. Os dados secundários foram recolhidos nas bases de dados da Fundação Francisco Manuel dos Santos, PORDADA, no Registo Nacional de Turismo (RNT), no Instituto Nacional de Estatística (INE), como também na Comunidade intermunicipal das Terras de Trás-os- Montes (CIM-TTM). Resultados: De acordo com a investigação efetuada, concluiu-se que embora as Terras de Trás-os-Montes, detenham recursos e potencial turístico capaz de ir ao encontro das necessidades do nómada digital, tais recursos estão ainda numa fase embrionária de potenciação, tornando-se necessário que os atores turísticos desenhem um plano de ação que permita criar valor na oferta desenvolvida para dar resposta a este novo público. Limitações: A principal limitação do artigo é a sua natureza exploratória, sendo baseado apenas numa análise também ela superficial com a ausência de um trabalho empírico suportado numa recolha de dados provenientes de fontes primárias. Originalidade/Valor: Não foram identificados estudos significativos relativamente à adequabilidade de um destino face ao nicho emergente dos nómadas digitais, o que confere um carácter original ao estudo em causa.
- Analysis of the economic impact of Torre de Moncorvo’s medieval fair for local developmentPublication . Carvalho, Aida; Fernandes, Joana; Moreira, VictorAn event is an occasion, planned and organized with a specific goal, which occurs at a particular time and place, for a target audience. The multitude of factors inherent to its creation and organization lead to endless classifications, dividing them into categories, interest area, audience types, periodicity, program, objectives, and so on. Due to an event’s ability to generate new flows of people, they can economically boost a city, a neighbourhood or a street, making it an excellent opportunity for local development and promotion. Many events do create a large influx of people over their lifetime, but their effects can be much broader by the ability to stimulate information through the media by putting the promoter's name and location in the public mind and giving a positive image about the promoter and/or the destination where the event takes place. This motivates the influx of new people to the destination in order to attend the event. However, many are also attracted by the destination itself, influenced by the increase of information in the media, thus intensifying future visits. The case presented here concerns the municipality of Torre de Moncorvo that has been focusing on the Medieval Fair, a large annual event. The objective of this study is to estimate the economic impact of the Medieval Fair, using secondary data, through the consultation of specialized bibliography and through information available from different entities involved, and using primary data, in a quantitative approach, with surveys to exhibitors and visitors during the Medieval Fair. With this study and the results achieved, the promoter will be able to devise strategies for the enhancement of the event, seeking to attract more visitors, increasing the average length of stay of tourists, their loyalty to the destination, and boosting local economy and job creation.
- Analysis of the economic impact of Torre de Moncorvo’s medieval fair for local developmentPublication . Carvalho, Aida; Fernandes, Joana; Moreira, VictorAn event is an occasion, planned and organized with a specific goal, which occurs at a particular time and place, for a target audience. The multitude of factors inherent to its creation and organization lead to endless classifications, dividing them into categories, interest area, audience types, periodicity, program, objectives, and so on. Due to an event’s ability to generate new flows of people, they can economically boost a city, a neighbourhood or a street, making it an excellent opportunity for local development and promotion. Many events do create a large influx of people over their lifetime, but their effects can be much broader by the ability to stimulate information through the media by putting the promoter's name and location in the public mind and giving a positive image about the promoter and/or the destination where the event takes place. This motivates the influx of new people to the destination in order to attend the event. However, many are also attracted by the destination itself, influenced by the increase of information in the media, thus intensifying future visits. The case presented here concerns the municipality of Torre de Moncorvo that has been focusing on the Medieval Fair, a large annual event. The objective of this study is to estimate the economic impact of the Medieval Fair, using secondary data, through the consultation of specialized bibliography and through information available from different entities involved, and using primary data, in a quantitative approach, with surveys to exhibitors and visitors during the Medieval Fair. With this study and the results achieved, the promoter will be able to devise strategies for the enhancement of the event, seeking to attract more visitors, increasing the average length of stay of tourists, their loyalty to the destination, and boosting local economy and job creation.
- Boosting cultural heritage in rural communities through an ICT platform: the Viv@vó projectPublication . Cunha, Carlos R.; Carvalho, Aida; Afonso, Luís C.M.; Silva, Daniel; Fernandes, Paula Odete; Pires, Luís; Costa, Carlos Casimiro da; Correia, Ricardo; Ramalhosa, Elsa; Correia, Alexandra I.; Parafita, AlexandreRural regions concentrate on themselves a very rich set of ancestral traditions. The perpetuation of such traditions has been achieved through transmission between generations. Unfortunately, all this knowledge is typically elders-centered and it lacks effective processes of digitalization, storage and providing-systems for that all this heritage can effectively be perpetuated through future generations that are digital-born. From this base, it was created a project case study limited to the Portuguese Northeast region, named Viv@vó – living in the grandma's house. This paper presents the ICT platform that was created in this project and some main achievements during the project development process. Tourism and mainly experience and cultural heritage tourism are growing in tourist’s interests. Rural regions have an untapped potential for this slice of tourism industry. Rural regions have an enormous collection of ancestral knowledge that we are responsible to deliver to future generations as an inheritance to which they are entitled.
- Côa Valley’s medicinal plants as potential cosmetic ingredients: cytotoxic and antioxidant assessmentPublication . Marques, Mário Pedro; Landim, Euclides; Varela, Carla; Marques, Joana; Costa, Ricardo M.F. da; Carvalho, Luís A.E. Batista de; Carvalho, Aida; Oliveira, Paulo J.; Cabral, CéliaWhere is located and what is the importance of river Côa Valley? • The river Côa Valley is part of the Guarda District, in the Northeast of Portugal. The Valley comprises an Archeological Park, which is considered “the most important open-air Paleolithic rock art site” in the world, being classified as UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1998. What are the natural resources’ relevance of this region? • The flora of the Archeologic Park in river Côa Valley comprises approximately 500 to 600 different plant species, some Portuguese and/or Iberian endemic species, according to a botanical survey recently carried out by us. Even though, so far, little is known about the natural endogenous resources of this territory, namely concerning medicinal plants. What is the aim of this investigation? • The main aim is to assess the cytotoxicity in skin fibroblasts (NHDF cell line) and the antioxidant activity through cell-free methods, of hydroalcoholic extracts obtained from selected plant species (Figure 1). These extracts are meant to be incorporated into scientific-validated plantbased cosmetic formulations, hence creating an exclusive cosmetic brand for Côa Valley.
- Côa Valley’s medicinal plants as potential cosmetic ingredients: cytotoxic and antioxidant screeningPublication . Marques, Mário Pedro; Landim, Euclides; Varela, Carla; Marques, Joana; Costa, Ricardo; Carvalho, Luís de; Carvalho, Aida; Oliveira, Paulo; Cabral, CéliaCôa Valley is a Northeast region of Portugal, classified as a UNESCO World Her- itage Site since 1998, and recognised as “the most important open-air Paleo- lithic rock art site”. So far, little is known about the natural endogenous resourc- es of this territory, namely medicinal plants. According to a preliminary ethnobotanical survey in this region, several medicinal plants were mentioned to have skin-beneficial effects. However, many of them still lacking scientific validation. Taking into account the results gathered during the survey carried in the CôaMedPlants project, the main goal of this investigation is to assess the cytotoxicity and antioxidant activity of selected species to incorporate them into scientific-validated plant- based cosmetic formulations and create an ex- clusive cosmetic brand for Côa Valley. Therefore, nine species were selected and their hydroalcoholic extracts (EtOH 80 %) were prepared. Their non-cyto- toxic concentrations were determined in vitro using the Normal Human Dermal Fibroblasts (NHDF) cell line, by the evaluation of metabolic activity through the Alamar Blue assay, and cell mass estimation according to the sulforhodamine B (SRB) assay. Most of the extracts revealed non-toxic concentrations ≤ 0.2 mg/mL using the NHDF cell model. Afterwards, non-cellular techniques were used to screen the antioxidant activity of these ethanolic extracts, through DPPH, ABTS, CUPRAC and FRAP assays. From the 9 species studied, the most promising so far are: Arbutus unedo L., Cistus albidus L., Cistus salviifolius L., Lavandula pedunculata (Mill.) Cav. and Pistacia terebinthus L., which will be further investigated in- depth, to characterise their antioxidant potential using in vitro cell models.
- Criação de espaços inteligentes para a disponibilização de informação e serviços em Turismo ReligiosoPublication . Carvalho, Aida; Cunha, Carlos R.; Moreira, FernandoA partir do século XVI desenrolaram-se, por toda a Europa, uma série de acontecimentos únicos que desembocaram, cada qual a seu tempo, nos horizontes nossos contemporâneos na relação da igreja com a sociedade. Entre os vários acontecimentos destaca-se a política de encomendas, construção e/ou reconstrução dos monumentos mensagem (Igrejas, Mosteiros, Conventos, Capelas e Santuários), fomentados pelo Concílio de Trento (1545- 1563), dando origem a obras de incontornável interesse com apetência para deslocações religiosas e/ou de carácter cultural (Guimont 1997; Vukoni ´c 1996), representando, no caso português, cerca de 75% de todo o património cultural inventariado. Na presença de tanto espólio, as dioceses têm feito, nos últimos anos, grandes investimentos no levantamento e classificação deste património, atribuindo-lhe o respetivo valor intrínseco, patrimonial e artístico, despertando a curiosidade da indústria do turismo; a título de exemplo, o Santuário de Nossa Senhora de Fátima recebe anualmente cerca de quatro milhões de visitantes (Mendes 2012), corroborando as tendências das estatísticas oficiais da Organização Mundial de Turismo que indicam que cerca de 300 a 330 milhões de peregrinos visitam anualmente os locais religiosos mais importantes do mundo. Estes números revestem-se de grande significado, constituindo uma sólida base de trabalho, designadamente no que toca à introdução de novos formatos de inovação tecnológica no âmbito da informação turística não obstante da resistência continuada à sua absorção. Independentemente do instrumento em si, a sua finalidade, descritiva e explicativa, deverá estar em conformidade com as dimensões mais relevantes deste património que é “sacro por natureza, pela origem e pela finalidade” (Azevedo 1999: 5), visando informar os públicos.
- Cultural tourism in the Northern East region of PortugalPublication . Martins, Catarina Antónia; Esteves, Elsa Tavares; Carvalho, AidaNowadays tourists have changed their values particularly in what concerns the environment and different cultures. The old mass tourism has given place to a new tourism where changing values are generating demand for a more environmentally conscious and nature-oriented holidays. Sun and beach resorts which have for long been one of the main attractions for tourists start to be replaced for other destinations such as rural areas where natural environment is still intact. Also the new tourist wishes to run away from everyday life and look for new cultural environments, in order to explore new values, and new ways of living. Cultural motivations turn into enrichment in what education is concerned through the participation in cultural events, such as festivals, theatre, music, museums, etc. or through visiting destinations rich in history, costumes and traditions which , in fact, attract the cultural tourist. The northern east region of Portugal near the border with Spain still owns a rich natural, historic and cultural patrimony which is the base to promote tourism activity. The proximity with Spain makes this country as the first market coming to the region not always as a tourist but also as a one day visitant. A research project was conducted in 2002 aiming to characterise the supply and demand in the tourism sector in the northern east region of Portugal and also to find what were the motivations and expectations of the tourist coming to this region. The research was held in August and September and a survey was applied both to national and foreign tourists from a sample considered significant. In what the demand is concerned the following features were inquired, among others: type of tourist consumer, motivations, touristic products that were more satisfying and dissatisfying and the likelihood to return and to recommend the regions to others. The research allowed to conclude that the first motivation for tourists who visit the region for the first time is a cultural one- meet new places, new people and other ways of living. The first motivation for people that came to the region for the second time or more is the nature and landscape of this region followed by the gastronomy as the second motivation. Moreover the tourist who came for the second time or more refer the hospitality and sympathy of the people of the region as one of the main reason to return.. The aim of the present study is to launch another research based on the first one, trying to explore these first results with the purpose of assessing how those motivations are related to cultural tourism and how the proximity of the border influences cultural tourism. The survey was conducted in the summer months trying to identify the main characteristics of tourists coming to the northern east region focusing on those who come for cultural purposes. This second research project will also allow us to conclude from those who came for cultural purposes what measures could be undertaken to promote cultural tourism and to take the best advantage of this region location.