Browsing by Author "Fernandes, Paula O."
Now showing 1 - 8 of 8
Results Per Page
Sort Options
- Industry 4.0 and global value chains: what implications for circular economy in SME?Publication . Suchek, Nathalia; Ferreira, João J.M.; Fernandes, Paula O.Drawing on the resource-based view (RBV), this paper aims to analyse the relevance of Industry 4.0 (I4.0) technologies and participation in global value chains (GVC) and the effects of the complementarity between both in the adoption of circular economy (CE) actions by small and medium-sized enterprises (SME).Design/methodology/approachThis paper analysed a large-scale international sample by employing logistic and linear regression models to test the research hypotheses on the effects of I4.0 technologies, GVC participation, and the interaction on CE actions (recycling or reusing materials, reducing the consumption and impact of natural resources, saving energy and/or switching to sustainable energy sources, developing sustainable products or services).FindingsThe evidence suggests that I4.0 technologies already represent important resources for CE adoption and SME participating in GVC display a greater likelihood of adopting CE actions. From the perspective of resource complementarity, by interacting the two factors viewed as resources in this article, results may report that adopting I4.0 technologies and simultaneously participating in GVC may turn out detrimental to SME undertaking CE actions, specifically as regards recycling and reusing materials, saving energy or switching to sustainable energy sources and in cases of widely adopting CE practices.Originality/valueThe paper returns novel insights into the adoption of CE practices by presenting evidence that I4.0 technologies and participation in GVC may be successful means for SME seeking to implement CE actions but must be combined carefully. This paper also provides theoretical and practical implications for SME managers, firms participating in GVCs and policy makers, and shedding light on new research avenues.
- Medical tourism and modelling: a bibliometric analysis based on a Scopus databasePublication . Fernandes, Paula O.; Ferreira, Fernanda A.; Ferreira, Flávio; Teixeira, João PauloThe main goal of this paper is to systematically evaluate the bibliographic production on modelling, with an emphasis on medical and wellness tourism, to identify possible convergence of interests among health and tourism fields, from 2012 to 2021. This paper was based on a bibliometric analysis to find a relationship between medical and wellness tourism with data modelling based on a network citation analysis. The main findings showed: (i) a growing evolution of scientific production in recent years that address the medical tourism topic; (ii) a combination of important features of management of health services related to medical tourism, supported by forecasting data models may be a trend of future topics to be researched and developed as decision-making support.
- Sociocultural determinants of creative tourismPublication . Scalabrini, E.C.B.; Remoaldo, Paula; Fernandes, Paula O.Tourism impacts are a widely studied topic and these can be classified as economic, sociocultural, and environmental. Considering that the resident is the most sensitive stakeholder to the impacts, these subjects are usually associated with research. Cultural events also end up generating impacts and understanding how residents perceive the sociocultural effects is essential to the success of this type of event. Thus, this study aims to analyse the sociocultural determinants of creative tourism based on the perspective of residents living in a small village called Amares (Portugal), in the north of Portugal, very close to Braga. Consequently, 202 questionnaires were applied, face-to-face and by Internet using Google Forms, for residents of Amares between March and July 2020. Exploratory Factor analysis with varimax with the Kaiser normalisation rotation method was applied. Three determinants were extracted. The first determinant is related to the costs of the sociocultural effects. The second determinant indicates the benefits related to the cultural aspects. Finally, the third indicates the benefits related to investments and infrastructure improvement. Concluding, understanding the sociocultural dimensions of a creative event, from the perspective of the residents allows for effective planning of the event's activities. Despite some limitations, namely the pandemic period that affected the application of the questionnaires, the study carried out in Amares (Portugal) can be replicated in other similar events and, later on, a comparison can be made with the reality of a small cultural event.
- The application of sustainable practices in tourism: the case of olive-growing in the region of Trás-os-MontesPublication . Ferreira, Jessica; Fernandes, Paula O.Several authors have argued that oleotourism can be associated with different niches that fall into this segment, such as gastronomic, cultural, rural, and health tourism. Furthermore, the development of activities such as oleotourism is carried out under the prism of sustainability, considering the economic, social and environmental components. This study had a double objective: to identify sustainable practices in tourism, in the case of olives, to understand better how sustainable practices contribute to the development of olive cultivation. Hence, a qualitative methodology used the MAXQDA program, consisting of a literature review and collecting preliminary information from different producers in the Trás-os-Montes region through semi-structured interviews. The results show that sustainability and tourism are intertwined in empirical contexts due to the intervention of other global institutions. The results indicate that the link between tourism and olive grove practices is important and could contribute to regional development. Also, sustainable practices are important for numerous reasons. It is impossible to streamline and develop an activity without considering its sustainability.
- The impact of smart tourism on tourist experiencesPublication . Lima, Camila Lourenço; Fernandes, Paula O.; Oliveira, Jorge M.R.; Lopes, Isabel MariaThe tourism industry has witnessed significant growth and transfor mation in recent years, becoming one of the most dynamic sectors globally. With the increasing number of tourist arrivals, the integration of cutting-edge tech nologies, including Computer Reservations Systems (CRSs), Global Distribution Systems (GDSs), the Internet, and various contemporary smart technologies, has not only enhancedtheconvenienceandefficiencyoftravelbuthasalsorevolution ized consumer behavior and expectations. Modern travelers demand personalized and tailored experiences that cater to their individual preferences and interests. Understanding the technological effect of so-called smart tourism on the tourist experience is crucial for companies and tourist destinations to remain competitive in the rapidly evolving scenario. This article aims to provide a comprehensive review of the influence of smart tourism technologies on the tourist experience. By synthesizing the latest research, examining industry practices, and analyzing tourist behaviors through surveys, we explore the ways in which technology has reshaped the tourism experience.
- The importance-satisfaction matrix as a strategic tool for termas de chaves thermal spa priority improvementsPublication . Vaz, Márcia; Fernandes, Paula O.; Ferreira, Fernanda A.; Alves, Maria José; Costa, Vânia; Nunes, AlcinaHealth and wellness tourism has gained increased interest from the public, which searches for spaces that assure health and wellness maintenance. Proof of this is the example of Termas de Chaves thermal spa, which has gradually grown demand for its products and services. In this context, this study aims to identify and analyse the attributes offered by the thermal spa since it is essential to know the customer's preferences and satisfaction. To this end, di- mensions related to the determinants of importance that influence the respondents' satisfaction were evaluated. A questionnaire survey was applied on-site from 09 August to 20 December 2021, obtaining a total sample of 225 par- ticipants. After data collection, the importance-satisfaction matrix was applied for exploratory, descriptive analysis. The results show that customers give high overall importance and satisfaction to the attributes under study. More -over, it was possible to identify that the factor "availability and assistance provided by human resources" presents high importance but low satisfaction. Such a conclusion indicates that it will be necessary to adapt improvement strategies to increase customer satisfaction.
- The occupational risks and health effects resulting from exposition to cytotoxic drugs preparationPublication . Gonçalves, Ana; Oliveira, Rui; Fernandes, Paula O.Health professionals dealing with cytotoxic drugs are exposed to occupational hazards, which need to be controlled and reduced to the lowest possible level. The research intends to analyse the effect on the health of the manipulators and the main risks exposition in the preparation of cytotoxic drugs. To achieve this aim, a quantitative analysis was carried out based on data collected through the application of a survey developed for cytotoxic drugs manipulators in Portuguese Oncology institutions. The main results show some symptoms for general manipulators, the occurrence of accidents in the past and more training is required as important. The number of accidents is not connected with more training needs and proceedings lack of knowledge by manipulators. The research intends to contribute to the manipulation of cytotoxic drugs by health professionals, proposing the necessity of better and good practices implemented and organised throughout the CTX manipulation process that must be transversal between different oncology institutions.
- Visitors' satisfaction in natural areas: the case of Vinhais biological parkPublication . Alves, Diana Rafaela Rocha; Scalabrini, E.C.B.; Vaz, Márcia; Teixeira, João Paulo; Rivas Rojo, Carlos Jesus; Muriel Alonso, David; Garrote Mestre, Lucía; Fernandes, Paula O.Satisfaction is a widely studied issue in tourism as it provides an understanding of the performance of a tourism destination's offer, highlighting the most important features considered by tourists. The growth in tourism demand in natural areas also makes it an important factor in identifying visitor satisfaction, as sustainable planning of these areas may also rely on knowing the opinion of their visitors. In this context, this study aimed to determine the visitors´ satisfaction with Vinhais Biological Park, located in the northeast of Portugal, during the summer of 2022. A questionnaire consisting of 8 closed-ended questions to identify the socio-demographic profile and overall satisfaction was applied during July and August 2022. Therefore, 251 valid questionnaires were considered for the quantitative data analysis and a final sampling error of 6.13% was assumed. A descriptive statistical analysis was performed to identify the socio-demographic profile and the satisfaction with the resources offered. Four hypotheses were formulated to test the association between socio-demographic profile (age group, gender, nationality, and education level) and overall satisfaction. The χ2 test was used to test the hypotheses assuming a 5% significance level. The main findings showed that the socio-demographic profile of the sample is predominantly male (54.6%), aged between 11 and 40 years (77.6%), of Portuguese nationality (71.3%) and with higher education level (48.6%). Concerning the visit motivation, 61.4% went to the park after visiting the city of Vinhais or the region and nearly half (47%) of the respondents were satisfied. The results of χ2 test revealed no significant association between the socio-demographic profile and overall satisfaction, meaning that none of the hypotheses was supported. Considering the number of visitors received in the park annually, this study's sample can be regarded as a limitation, making the understanding of satisfaction limited to the period of analysis and at a period when the impact of COVID-19 is noticeable. Finally, for future studies, a comparative analysis with other natural parks, both Portuguese and Spanish, is suggested for better monitoring of visitor satisfaction.