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Purpose The literature review reveals that lake tourism and lake-destination areas (LDA) have been particularly absent from destination image (DI) studies over 45 years of research. In fact, there is a lack of research concerning the characteristics of lake tourism, particularly related to the attributes involved in the formation of lake-DI. Therefore, this paper aims to explore lake tourism and lake-DI based on the Alqueva Lake more thoroughly, it being the biggest man-made lake in Europe, as an emerging lake-destination area located in the south of Portugal. Design/methodology/approach Within this, the perceptions of stakeholders professionally involved with this type of destination were examined through 17 semi-structured interviews based on content-analysis as a qualitative technique. Framed by the important contribution of visual-based research in tourism studies, this study adopts two approaches: an attribute-based approach (textual data) and a photo-based approach (visual data), to strengthen the concept, characteristics and dimensions of lake tourism and image attributes applied to this type of destinations. Multiple techniques of extracting data were used, demonstrating the importance of using various techniques in obtaining image attributes as a first step in assessing DIs. Findings The findings revealed textual and pictorial attributes related to lake tourism and LDA, which confirms that although image attributes are universally important, depicting specific attributes is important considering particular types of tourism, such as lake tourism. Originality/value This is a very recent sub-field of DI studies, which justifies its investigation on a theoretical as well as on a practical management level.

Lake-destination areas are highly favoured places for tourists due to their aquatic environment as well as areas' rich surrounding regions. Existing literature on marketing lake-destination marketing lacks insights to identify the main image attributes driving visitors and understanding the lake tourism concept. The present study examines textual and pictorial data to generate image variables about Alqueva Lake, Portugal, the largest manmade lake in Europe. Results provide insights to characterize the potential of lake-destinations and to develop a final list of variables specifically related to this destination type. The aim is also to help those involved in marketing the Alqueva Lake as a destination to identify and propose an adequate strategy. info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion

This study aims to demonstrate that mixed-methods are suitable when assessing the image of a tourism destination. Depict the image attributes that influence a lake destination area and conceptualize lake tourism are the goals of this study. Lake tourism is a growing academic field of tourism studies. However, little attention has been given to tourism images. The case is the newly-formed Alqueva Lake, Portugal, the biggest man-made lake in Europe. A mixed-design method was adopted, particularly a complementarity approach. The data were first collected in the qualitative stage, then analysed. Results were used to develop a follow-up questionnaire. A set of image attributes that best describe Alqueva Lake was obtained and validated. The advantages of adopting mixed-methods to studies about destination image are discussed.Keywords: Tourism; Destination Image; Lake Tourism; Mixed-Methods; Alqueva Lake. As vantagens na adoção de métodos mistos em estudos de imagem de destinosResumo: O estudo objetiva demonstrar que métodos mistos são adequados para avaliar a imagem de um destino turístico, bem como descrever os atributos de imagem que influenciam em uma área de destino de lagos e conceitualizar o turismo de lagos. O caso em estudo é o recém formado “Lago Alqueva em Portugal”, o maior lago feito pelo homem, na Europa. Foi adotado um método misto de design, particularmente, uma abordagem de complementaridade. Inicialmente foram coletados os dados em um estágio qualitativo e, então, analisados. Os resultados foram usados para desenvolver um questionário de acompanhamento. Foi obtido um conjunto de atributos de imagem que melhor descrevem o Alqueva. São discutidas vantagens de adotarem-se métodos mistos para estudos de imagens de destino.Palavras-chave: Turismo; Imagem de Destinos; Turismo de Lagos; Métodos Mistos; Lago do Alqueva.

A number of well-known tourism destinations around the world are based on lakes as the main attraction. Although is still difficult to determine the economic significance of lakes, lake tourism has been recognized as a relevant sub-field of tourism studies. Based on a PhD investigation related to lake tourism, this paper seeks to reveal and discuss the potential of the Alqueva reservoir as an emerging destination in the Alentejo region in the south of Portugal. This new resource has offered a naturally defined unit for tourism development since the reservoir started to fill up in 2002. Further research concerning destination image applied to the Alqueva Lake as a study area will provide valuable information for positioning and promoting it as a lake-destination in the future. Meanwhile, some of the challenges and contradictions in aligning the Alqueva as a resource with tourism development are highlighted in this paper