Table 1:
Key dimensions and indicators
| Keyword | Indicators / Expressions |
|---|---|
| Place | Locality, distinctiveness, landscape, heritage, environment, produce. |
| People | Community, culture, local enterprise, cuisine, hospitality, authenticity |
| Time | Pace, relaxation, unhurried, more in-depth |
| Travel | Distance, speed, mode, low carbon |
| Personal | Well-being, pleasure, recreation, conviviality, learning, meaning, enjoyment, understanding |
[i] Source: Caffyn, 2012
Table 2:
Identical or similar keywords related to slow movement and slow tourism
| Keyword | Number of accommodations websites with the identical/similar keywords identified |
|---|---|
| Tranquillity/Serenity/Serene/Calm/Quiet | 26 |
| Nature + Natural | 23 |
| Gastronomy / Flavours / Food / Cuisine | 21 |
| Heritage / Culture + Cultural / History + Historical | 15 |
| Landscape | 12 |
| Countryside / Rural + Rurality / Rustic | 11 |
| Tradition + Traditional | 10 |
| Experience | 8 |
| Family | 8 |
| Rest / Relaxation | 8 |
| Hospitality / Welcoming / Receiving | 7 |
| Leisure | 7 |
| Quality | 7 |
| Life + Living | 6 |
| Refuge | 6 |
| Peace | 5 |
| Time | 4 |
| Well-being | 4 |
| Sustainable | 3 |
| Beauty | 3 |
| Environment | 3 |
Figure 1.
Word cloud of the slow tourism indicators keywords
Source: Author
Table 3:
Activities and experiences commercialised and their relation with slow tourism dimensions
| Dimensions (Caffyn, 2012) | Examples of offers and product activities (according to the literature) | Observations on websites |
|---|---|---|
| To choose their own pace | Flexible timings for meals, options to extend stays or take a slower-paced tour. | Not directly observed. |
| Promote the use of slower transport. | Options discounts for those arriving without a car, information on public transport and bicycle hire, and a good knowledge of slow options and routes. | “Walks,” “hikes,” “cycling,” “and trails.” “Bike hire, electric bikes, ‘bike friendly’ programme, horse riding, carriage rides”. |
| Provide slower environments | Such as tranquil areas, TV-free or mobile phone-free zones, reducing advertising, and use of local imagery or literature to strengthen the sense of place. | Not directly observed. |
| Source and promote local food and drink | Traditional dishes, tastings, fair trade products. | “Wine and olive oil tasting”. “Cheese and bread tasting”. |
| Develop a specific slow product. | Relaxation and well-being breaks, learning traditional skills or cuisine, slow tours, chillout holidays, and slow food menus. | “Cookery workshop”. “Picnic in the countryside”. “Alentejo cuisine”. “Jam making”. “Carnival programme. Guided tours”. “Visits to historical heritage”. “Visits with shepherds and former smugglers”. “Hiking, hunting, fishing, boating, hot air ballooning, animal handling, farming, sunset activities, stargazing”. |
| Target specific markets to which slow would especially appeal (people suffering stress, older people) | Distressing activities; well-being activities. | “Yoga, Pilates, retreats, massages, SPA, wellness programs”. |
Table 4:
Synthesis of the most frequent associated words/expressions related to the Place dimension
| Indicators | Frequently mentioned word/expression |
|---|---|
| Locality | Alentejo, heart, city, Moura, Beja. |
| Distinctiveness | Authenticity, allure, charm. |
| Landscape | Landscape, countryside, land, flowers. |
| Heritage | History, tradition. |
| Environment | Nature, tranquillity, silence, peace, countryside, flowers. |
| Produce | Pool, flavours, culinary arts, local products, wines, land. |
Table 5:
Synthesis of the most frequent words/expressions associated with the People dimension
| Indicators | Frequently mentioned word/expression |
|---|---|
| Community | Roots, producers’ union, families, children, local groups, local community, affective ties, sharing, playfulness, warm welcome. |
| Culture | Tradition, Cante Alentejano, folk songs and culture, festivals, Portuguese music, history, handicrafts, basil plants, local sounds and expressions. |
| Local enterprise | Local producers, dedicated team, handicrafts and regional specialities, local management. |
| Cuisine | Regional flavours, Alentejo cuisine, shared meals, local products, sardines, barbecue, traditional dishes, full buffet, free meals. |
| Hospitality | Welcoming atmosphere, excellent service, feeling at home, welcome warmly, receive with care, turn guests into friends, calm and tranquillity, memorable experiences, sharing and socialising, attention to detail. |
| Authenticity | Genuine products, genuine and authentic experiences, preserved tradition, stories told, local atmosphere, bonds and memories, cultural and natural elements, sincerity in service. |
Table 6:
Synthesis of the most frequent words/expressions associated with the Time dimension
| Indicators | Frequently mentioned word/expression |
|---|---|
| Pace | Day, morning, seasons, light, slow, slowly, cycle, nature, grape harvest, landscape. |
| Relaxation | Relaxing, rest, comfort, tranquillity, pause, restart, peace and quiet, refuge, well-being, spa, jacuzzi, pool. |
| Unhurried | Slow down, take your time, wander, pause, slow living, time just for you, walk and run slowly, peace and quiet. |
| More in-depth | Moment, memory, detail, meaning, history, eternalise, presence, communion, beauty, enchantment, connection. |
Table 7
Synthesis of the most frequent words/expressions associated with the Travel dimension
| Indicators | Frequently mentioned word/expression |
|---|---|
| Distance | Escape, refuge, isolation, getaway, break. |
| Speed | Slow down, without haste, slowness, slow living, slowed down time. |
| Mode | Walking, living, inhabiting, communion, presence. |
| Low carbon | Nature, no Wi-Fi, self-sufficiency, green certification |
Table 8:
Synthesis of the most frequent words/expressions associated with the Personal dimension
| Indicators | Frequently mentioned word/expression |
|---|---|
| Well-being | Comfort, peace, tranquillity, refuge, energy |
| Pleasure | Flavour, wine, beauty, pleasure, embrace, colour. |
| Recreation | Relaxation, rest, leisure, holidays, recharging |
| Conviviality | Sharing, family, friendship, home, celebration |
| Learning | Discover, transform, communion, history, learn. |
| Meaning | Soul, detail, pause, love, inspiration |
| Enjoyment | Smiles, lightness, memories, relaxation |
| Understanding | Essence, reflection, reconnection, journey, inner peace |