Camping in Portugal: a perspective in the light of the experience economy

Abstract

Considering that camping is a topic that has not been suciently studied at an academic level in Portugal, this paper has the general objective of analyzing the experiences associated with the practice of camping, focusing on the dimensions that are most valued by the campers according to the particularities of the experience. For this purpose, a quantitative methodology was applied, carried out through a questionnaire survey applied to 50 campers. The results suggest that the location and surrounding area are the most important elements in the choice of the camping park and demonstrate that the aesthetic and escapist dimensions are the most relevant of the four dimensions of experience as dened by Pine and Gilmore (1999). The presented results contribute to the design of more eective strategies and actions that may improve the competitiveness of campsites in the context of the Portuguese tourism sector.