Mountain hikes and Levada Practitioner’s motivation and experience – Characterization

Fernando Catarina (), Lopes Helder, Noite João, Rodrigues Ana, Vieira Sara, Alves Ricardo and Prudente João
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Fernando Catarina: Universidade da Madeira, Campus Universitário da Penteada, 9020-105 Funchal; CITUR, Polo Madeira, Colegio dos Jesuítas, Rua dos Ferreiros, 9000-082, Funchal; CIDESD, Universidade de Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro, Quinta de Prados, Edifício Ciências de Desporto, 5001-801, Vila Real
Lopes Helder: Universidade da Madeira, Campus Universitário da Penteada, 9020-105 Funchal
Noite João: CITUR, Polo Madeira, Colegio dos Jesuítas, Rua dos Ferreiros, 9000-082, Funchal
Rodrigues Ana: Universidade da Madeira, Campus Universitário da Penteada, 9020-105 Funchal
Vieira Sara: CITUR, Polo Madeira, Colegio dos Jesuítas, Rua dos Ferreiros, 9000-082, Funchal
Alves Ricardo: Universidade da Madeira, Campus Universitário da Penteada, 9020-105 Funchal
Prudente João: Universidade da Madeira, Campus Universitário da Penteada, 9020-105 Funchal

European Journal of Tourism, Hospitality and Recreation, 2020, vol. 10, issue 1, 74-82

Abstract: The Madeira Island provides excellent conditions for tourism due to its variety of scenarios, weather conditions and topography, and it becomes fundamental to think about the tourists’ experience. This study aims to understand the practitioner’s motivations on mountains hikes and Levada, and how visitors live the experience. We applied a ‘QEFENRAM’ survey (Florido, 2010) with 3 main dimensions related to the practitioner’s experience while performing mountain hikes or Levadas: 1. Practitioner’s motivations; 2. Practitioner’s predisposition; 3. Practitioner’s experience. We obtained 293 replies immediately after the activities’ conclusion (males: 124; female: 169) with the following results: a) Levels of motivation: 52.6% of the participants revelled intrinsic motivation, while 27.1% showed extrinsic motivation; b) Safety: 79.2% reported to be aware of safety measures and to have the necessary competence to perform the activity; c) Practitioners experience: 76.3% reported to be highly focused on their activity and felt to be part of the scenario itself. 10.9% referred to a feeling that, somehow, they were interfering, negatively, with the environment. These findings can help to characterize the practitioner’s motivations and experience. Based on this information, we can discuss what to improve in the touristic scenarios to refine the experience in Levadas and mountain hikes.

Keywords: Nature; Experiences; Hikes; Levadas (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:vrs:ejothr:v:10:y:2020:i:1:p:74-82:n:6

DOI: 10.2478/ejthr-2020-0006

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