| Abstract |
Tourism is a multi-faceted and geographically complex activity, with tourism increasingly giving rise to new (and different) market segments with distinct individual interests. These segments are characterized by the motivations that make them travel and, in turn, by differentiating the existing supply. Specifically, mall tourism has increasingly asserted itself as one of the most common leisure activities, and one of the fastest growing in the tourism sector, because it is a segment where tourists have higher expenses and, so it has received greater attention from business leaders, policymakers, and academics around the world. At the same time, the management of the territories provides several advantages in terms of the sustainable development of a tourist destination, stimulating exports and attracting more tourism and investment. Like businesses, cities and countries can (and should) develop their own brands, making them increasingly differentiating and competitive destinations. Thus, the present study aims to better understand the role of marketing applied to places and territories as a contribution to tourism segmentation. In particular, a conceptual model to be tested empirically in contexts of shopping tourism is proposed. In an interdisciplinary perspective, the present study presents inputs in the area of marketing and tourism. At the end, some lines of future research will be presented. |
