Identifying the Main Motivations to Visit Salt Mines: Do Socio-Demographic Variables Matter?
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.24193/subbgeogr.2024.1.06Keywords:
tourism motivation, salt mines, Turda Salt Mine, Romania, socio-demographic variablesAbstract
Identifying the Main Motivations to Visit Salt Mines: Do Socio-Demographic Variables Matter? Salt has been extracted from mines in Europe for thousands of years. More recently, some of these salt mines reinvented themselves as new tourism objectives attracting hundreds of thousands and even millions of visitors each year. This research aims to investigate the main reasons tourists visit a former salt mine, focusing on Turda Salt Mine, in Romania, as a case study. The study found that the main motivations for visiting the former salt mine were leisure/relaxation, learning, adventure, to try something new and to escape the daily routine whereas participation in various cultural/religious and sport events as well as socialization with like-minded people were considered the least important motivations. The results also show that some socio-demographic factors could influence motivation to visit a salt mine. The findings of this research have a number of practical implications for the marketing and management of salt mines which are outlined at the end of the paper.
References
Albayrak, T. & Caber, M. (2018), A motivation-based segmentation of holiday tourists participating in white-water rafting, Journal of Destination Marketing and Management, 9, 64-71.
Allaberganov, A. & Preko, A. (2022), Inbound international tourists’ demographics and travel motives: Views from Uzbekistan, Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Insights, 5,1, 99-115.
Andreu, L., Kozak, M., Avci, N., & Cifter, N. (2005), Market segmentation by motivations to travel: British tourists visiting Turkey, Journal of Travel and Tourism Marketing, 19, 1, 1-14.
Aziz, Y.A., Hussin, S.R., Nezakati, H., Yusof, R.N.R., & Hashim, H. (2018), The effects of socio-demographic variables and travel characteristics on motivation of Muslim family tourists in Malaysia, Journal of Islamic Marketing, 9, 2, 222-239.
Caber, M. & Albayrak, T. (2016), Push or pull? Identifying rock climbing tourists’ motivations, Tourism Management, 55, 74–84.
Chen, M., Xue, S., & Shi, Y. (2018), Leisure activities and leisure motivations of Chinese residents, PloS One, 13, 11, 1-12.
Cleaver Sellick, M. (2004), Discovery, connections, nostalgia. Journal of Travel & Tourism Marketing, 17, 1, 55-71.
Collins, D. & Tisdell, C. (2002), Gender and differences in travel life cycles, Journal of Travel Research, 41, 133-143.
Crompton, J. (1979), Motivations for pleasure vacation, Annals of Tourism Research, 6, 4, 408-424.
Crompton, J. L., & McKay, S. L. (1997), Motives for visitors attending festival events, Annals of Tourism Research, 24, 2, 425–439.
Çɪlgɪnoğlu, H. & Yazgan, I. (2022), Speleotherapy in the scope of health tourism: The case of Çankɪrɪ salt cave in Turkey, International Journal of Tourism Policy, 12, 3, 333-350.
Dann, G.M.S. (1981), Tourist motivation: an appraisal, Annals of Tourism Research, 8, 2, 187-219.
Dann, G.M.S. (1977), Anomie, ego-enhancement and tourism, Annals of Tourism Research, 4, 4, 184-194.
Del Chiappa, G. & Napolitano, E. (2019), Interest and attitude towards salt-related tourism experiences in Salinas: A demand-side study in Italy, ENICBCMED, EU, the Autonomous Region of Sardinia & MedArtSal: Report – Sustainable Management Model for Mediterranean Artisanal Salinas Project, https://www.enicbcmed.eu/sites/default/files/2022-12/MedArtSal%20-%20TOURIST_BASED_STUDY_ITALY_FINAL.pdf.
Egresi, I. (2017), Tourist market segmentation by motivation to shop: A case study of Istanbul, Turkey, Geographia Pannonica, 21, 4, 243-260.
Egresi, I. (Ed.) (2016), Alternative tourism in Turkey: Role, Potential Development and Sustainability, Springer International, Cham, Switzerland.
Egresi, I. & Kara, F. (2014), Motives of tourists attending small-scale events; The case of local festivals and events in Istanbul, Turkey, GeoJournal of Tourism and Geosites, 7, 2, 93-110.
Fan, X., Qiu, H., Hsu, C., & Liu, Z. (2015), Comparing motivations and intentions of potential cruise passengers from different demographic groups: the case of China, Journal of China Tourism Research, 11, 4, 461-480.
Fleischer, A. & Pizam, A. (2002), Tourism constraints among Israeli seniors, Annals of Tourism Research, 29, 1, 106-123.
Hall, J., O’Mahony, B., & Gayler, J. (2016), Modelling the relationship between attribute satisfaction, overall satisfaction, and behavioral intentions in Australian ski resorts, Journal of Travel & Tourism Marketing, 34, 764–78.
Hatano, T., Takezawa, T., Sugimoto, M., Xu, K., Morikawa, T., Azuma, Y., Shibuto, K., & Nagata, N. (2021). Measuring attractiveness of tourism resources by focusing on Kansei value structure: Posibility of inviting visitors using the Japanese heritage „Ako Salt”, Proceedings, APSIPA Annual Summit and Conference, 14-17 December, Tokyo, Japan.
Herrera-Franco, G., Montalván-Burbano, N., Carrión-Mero, P., Apolo-Masache, B., & Jaya-Montalvo, M. (2020), Research trends in geotourism: A bibliometric analysis using the scopus database, Geosciences, 10, 379.
Horneman, L., Carter, R.W., Wei, S., & Ruys, H. (2002), Profiling the senior traveler: An Australian perspective, Journal of Travel Research, 41, 23-37.
Hosany, S., Buzova, D., & Sanz-Blas, S. (2019), The Influence of Place Attachment, Ad-Evoked Positive Affect, and Motivation on Intention to Visit: Imagination Proclivity as a Moderator, Journal of Travel Research, 59, 3, 477-495.
Huang S. (2010), Measuring tourism motivation: Do scales matter? Tourismos 5, 1, 153–162.
Hueso-Kortekaas, K. & Iranzo-García, E. (2022), Salinas and „saltscape” as a geological heritage with a strong potential for tourism and geoeducation, Geosciences, 12, 141.
Irimiás, A., Mitev, A., & Michalkó, G. (2016), Demographic characteristics influencing religious tourism behavior: evidence form a Central-Eastern-European country, International Journal of Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage, 4, 4, 19-32.
Iso-Ahola, S. (1990), Understanding leisure and recreation, in E.L. Jackson & T.L. Burton (eds.), Motivation for Leisure (pp. 247-279), State College, PA: Vent.
Iso-Ahola, S. (1980), The social psychology of leisure recreation, Dubuque, IA: Brown.
Jang, S.C. & Wu, C-M.E. (2006), Seniors’ travel motivation and the influential factors: An examination of Taiwanese seniors, Tourism Management, 27, 2, 306-316.
Jelen, J. (2018), Mining heritage and mining tourism, Czech Journal of Tourism, 7, 1, 93-105.
Jönsson, C. & Devonish, D. (2008), Does nationality, gender, and age affect travel motivation? A case of visitors to the Caribbean Island of Barbados, Journal of Travel and Tourism Marketing, 25, 3-4, 398-408.
Kaufman, T.J. & Upchurch, R. (2007), Vacation ownership: Gender positioning, Journal of Retail and Leisure Property, 6, 1, 8-14.
Kazancɪ, N., Suludere, Y., Özgüneylioğlu, A., Mülazɪmoğlu, N.S., Şaroğlu, F., Mengi, H., Boyraz-Aslan, S., Gürbüz, E., Yücel, T.O., Ensöz, M., İleri, Ö., İnaner, H., & Gürbüz, A. (2019), Mining heritage and relevant geosites as possible instruments for sustainable development of miner towns in Turkey, Geoheritage, 11, 1267-1276.
Kim, S. & Prideaux, B. (2005), Marketing Implications arising from a comparative study of international pleasure tourist motivations and other travel related characteristics of visitors to Korea, Tourism Management, 26, 3, 347-357.
Kim, J.H. & Ritchie, B.W. (2012), Motivation-based typology: A case of Japanese visitors to Hawaii, Journal of Travel research, 27, 3, 31-34.
Kim, S.S.; Kim, M.; Park, J.; Guo, Y. (2008), Cave tourism: Tourists’ characteristics, motivations to visit, and the segmentation of their behavior, Asia Pacific Journal of Tourism Research, 13, 299–318.
Kimic, K., Smaniotto Costa, C., & Negulescu, M. (2021), Creating tourism destinations of underground built heritage – The cases of salt mines in Poland, Portugal and Romania, Sustainability, 13, 9676.
Kozak, M. (2002), Comparative analysis of tourist motivations by nationality and destinations, Tourism Management, 23, 3, 221-232.
Kruczek, Z. & Szromek, A.R. (2011), Using R.W. butler’s model to interpret the development of tourist attractions based on the example of the salt mine in Wieliczka. Folia Turistica, 25, 1, 249-263.
Lageard, J.G.A. & Drew, I.B. (2015), Evaporating legacies: Industrial heritage and salt in Cheshire, UK, Industrial Archaeology Review, 37, 1, 48-61.
Luo, Y. & Deng, J. (2008), The new environmental paradigm and nature-based tourism motivation, Journal of Travel Research, 46, 392-402.
Ma, A., Chow, A., Cheung, L., Lee, K. & Liu, S. (2018), Impacts of tourists’ socio-demographic characteristics on the travel motivation and satisfaction: the case of protected areas in South China, Sustainability, 10, 10. 3388.
Mandelartz, P. (2018), Eliciting the importance of salines as tourist attractions; Salt production facilities as touristscapes, International Journal of Multidisciplinary Thought, 7, 3, 35-50.
McGehee, N.G., Kim, K., & Jennings, G.R. (2007), Gender and motivation for agri-tourism entrepreneurship, Tourism Management, 28, 1, 280-289.
Meng, F. & Uysal, M. (2008), Effects of gender differences on perceptions of destination attributes, motivations and travel values: An examination of a nature-based resort destination, Journal of Sustainable Tourism, 16, 4, 445-466.
Meng, F., Tepanov, Y., & Uysal, M. (2008), Measuring tourist satisfaction by attribute and motivation: The case of a nature-based resort, Journal of Vacation Marketing, 14, 1, 41-55.
Mohsin, A. (2008), Analysis of Chinese travelers’ attitudes toward holidaying in New Zealand: the impact of socio-demographic variables, Journal of Hospitality and Leisure Marketing, 16, 1/2, 21-40.
Molnár, E.I., Gulyás, G., & Printz-Markó, E. (2023), The role of therapeutic salt resources in the health tourism in Transylvania, Polgári Szemle, 1, 1-3, 228-242.
Moscardo, G., Morrison, A., Pearce, P., Lang, C., & O’Leary, J. (1996), Understanding vacation destination choice through travel motivation and activities, Journal of Vacation Marketing, 2, 2, 109-122.
Murphy, P., Pritchard, M., & Smith, B. (2000), The destination product and its impact on traveler perceptions. Tourism Management, 21, 1, 43-52.
Oh, H.C., Uysal, M., & Weaver, P.A. (1995), Product bundles and market segments based on travel motivations: A canonical correlation approach, International Journal of Hospitality Management, 14, 123–37.
Oleksa, P., Więsyk, P., Spozovski, K., Wójcik, P. (2023), Effectiveness of salt therapy – current knowledge status, Journal of Education, Health & Sport, 13, 1, 52-55.
Otoo, F.E., Kim, S., & Park, J. (2020a), Motivation-based segmentation of Chinese senior travelers: The role of preferences, socio-demographic and travel-related features, Journal of Vacation Marketing, 26, 4, 457-472.
Otoo, F.E., Kim, S., & Choi, Y. (2020b), Understanding senior tourists’ preferences and characteristics based on their overseas travel motivation clusters, Journal of Travel & Tourism Marketing, 37, 2, 246-257.
Park, J. & Mok, C. (1998), Travel motivational factors and their relationship to demographics: the Korean market, Pacific Tourism Review, 2, 1/2, 109-120.
Park, K-S., Reisinger, Y., & Kang, H-J. (2008), Visitors’ motivation for attending the South Beach Wine & Food Festival, Miami Beach, Florida, Journal of Travel & Tourism Marketing, 25, 161-181.
Pesonen J, Komppula R (2010), Rural wellbeing tourism: motivations and expectations, Journal of Hospitality & Tourism Management, 17, 1, 150–157
Pine, B.J. & Gilmore, J.H. (2013), The experience economy: Past, present and future, in J. Sundbo & F. Sørensen (eds.), Handbook on the Experience Economy (pp. 21-44, Cheltenham, UK: Edward Elgar.
Pizam, A. & Sussman, S. (1995), Does nationality affect tourist behavior? Annals of Tourism Research, 22, 4, 901-917.
Plaziak, M. & Szymańska, A.I. (2014), Good practices of an underground health spa operation – The case of the Wieliczka Salt Mine, Current Issues of Tourism Research, 2, 38-44.
Poria, Y., Butler, R., & Airey, D. (2004), Links between tourists, heritage and reasons for visiting heritage sites. Journal of Travel Research, 43, 1, 19-28.
Rybár, P., Hvizdák L (2010), Information technologies and mining tourism, Acta Geoturistica, 1, 1, 12–24.
Sancho Esper, F. & Álvarez Rateike, J. (2010), Tourism Destination Image and Motivations: The Spanish Perspective of Mexico, Journal of Travel & Tourism Marketing, 27, 349–60.
Sandu, I., Alexianu, M., Curcă, R.G., Weller, O., & Pascu, C. (2009), Halotherapy: From ethnoscience to scientific explanations, Environmental Engineering & Management Journal, 8, 6, 1331-1338.
Sangpikul, A. (2008), Travel motivations of Japanese senior travelers to Thailand, International Journal of Tourism Research, 10, 1, 81-94.
Sauri-Pujol, D. & Llurdés-Coit, J. (1995), Embellishing nature: The case of the salt mountain project in Cardona, Catalonia, Geoforum, 26, 1, 35-48.
Schofield, P. (2004), Health tourism in the Kyrgyz Republic: The Soviet salt mine experience, in T. Singh (Ed.), New Horizons in Tourism: Strange Experiences and Strange Practices (pp. 135-146), CAB International, London.
Smith, M. (2009), Issues in cultural tourism studies, Routledge, London, UK.
Spence, M. (2002), The effect of age on the probability of participation in wildlife-related activities: a birth year cohort study, American Journal of Agricultural Economics, 84, 5, 1384-1389.
Stănciulescu, G.C. & Molnár, E.I. (2017), Examinations of health tourism in Romania salt mines, Knowledge Horizons – Economics, 8, 4, 72-80.
Torabi Farsani, N., Alsadat Ghiami Esfahami, M., & Shokrizadeh, M. (2019), Understanding tourists’ satisfaction and motivation regarding mining geotours (Case study: Isfahan, Iran), Geoheritage, 11, 681-688.
Vargas-Sanchez, A., Porras-Bueno, N., & Plaza-Mejia, M. (2013), Clustering industrial heritage tourists: motivations for visiting a mining site, in R. Staiff, R. Bushell, & S. Watson (Eds.), Heritage and Tourism: Place, Encounter, Engagement (pp. 274-296), Routledge, New York.
Verbeke, M.J. & Rekon, J.V. (1996), Scanning museum visitors: Urban tourism marketing, Annals of Tourism Research, 23, 2, 364-375.
Vespestad, M.K. & Mehmetoglu, M. (2015), Gender differences in vacation behavior, Tourism Review International, 19, 147-161.
Wiewiórka, J., Dudek, K., Charkot, J., & Gonera, M. (2009), Natural and historic heritage of the Bochnia salt mine (South Poland), Studia UBB, Geologia, 54, 1, 43-47.
Wu M.Y. & Pearce P.L. (2014), Chinese recreational vehicle users in Australia: A netnographic study of tourist motivation, Tourism Management, 43, 22–35. DOI 10.1016/j. tourman.2014.01.010.
Wu, T-C., Xie, P.F., & Tsai, M-C. (2015), Perceptions of attractiveness for salt heritage tourism: A tourist perspective, Tourism Management, 51, 201-209.
Xie, H., Costa, C.A., & Morais, D.B. (2008), Gender differences in rural tourists’ motivation and activity participation, Journal of Hospitality and Leisure Marketing, 16, 4, 368-384.
Yoon, Y. & Uysal, M. (2005), An examination of the effects of motivation and satisfaction on destination loyalty: A structural model, Tourism Management, 26, 45-56.
Yuan, S. & McDonald, C. (1990), Motivational determinates of international pleasure time, Journal of Travel Research, 29, 1, 42-44.
Zimmer, Z., Brayley, R., & Searle, M. (1995), Whether to go and where to go: Identification of important influences on seniors’ decision to travel. Journal of Travel Research, 33, 3, 3-8.
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2024 Studia Universitatis Babeș-Bolyai Geographia
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
©Studia Universitatis Babeş-Bolyai Geographia. Published by Babeș-Bolyai University.