Studia Periegetica

Outfitting Adventure Tourism: Hunting in South Africa, 1890-1930

Christian M. Rogerson — 2025-09-01

This paper is an historical contribution to adventure tourism scholarship. The novel contribution is to provide an historical perspective on the organization and outfitting of the products and equipment required for the pursuit of one niche in adventure tourism. The specific focus is South Africa during the period 1890 to 1930 when the country was promoted as a destination for hunter ‘sportsmen’ and to examine the associated clothing, equipment and services required for sportsmen hunters in Africa. The research uses archival sources, most importantly specialized guidebooks produced for British colonial hunters. During the period 1890 to 1930 the mainly English participants in the adventure activity of hunting in colonial South Africa required an array of different products and services. The supply chains for these products and services were differentiated with many products manufactured abroad and imported for sale in South Africa. Examples were equipment such as specialized clothing, guns and rifles, medical products, and cameras all of which were essential items for hunters. The major equipment produced in South Africa was the wagons which were constructed locally and the means of transport for many hunter adventurers into the African interior.

Sustainability of Nigeria’s Event Centre Industry: Analysing Venue Attributes and Choices for Wedding Banquets

Mercy B. Bello — 2025-09-23

This study investigates key venue attributes that influence choices made by couples planning their wedding banquets in Lagos State in Nigeria with a view to filling the current research gap in the field of events management in an emerging economy. A quantitative research design was employed, involving a structured questionnaire to gather data from 323 married couples at 37 event centres in 20 local government areas in Lagos. The data were analysed using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling. Four out of six tested hypotheses were supported. It was found that seating capacity (H1), location/accessibility (H4), cost/affordability (H5), and power supply capacity (H6) significantly influence couples’ choice of venue for a wedding banquet. The study offers practical recommendations for event centre managers to enhance service delivery and competitiveness. Additionally, it contributes to the broader literature on consumer behaviour and wedding event planning, supporting the sustainable growth of Nigeria’s event industry.

Corporate Hospitality and Experience Creation: A Case Study of Grand Slam Tennis Tournaments

Natalia Latuszek — 2025-09-27

Participation in sporting, cultural, or other events is associated with a variety of experiences that are central to corporate hospitality (CH), whose main goal is to build relationships with key stakeholders. Despite its practical relevance, CH remains underexplored in academic literature, especially from the perspective of event organisers. In order to address this research gap, this article aims to analyse the structure of CH products in the context of experience creation. The study focuses on four Grand Slam tennis tournaments and is based on a thematic analysis of the tournaments’ websites, which was conducted at the turn of 2023/2024. The findings show that CH elements form an experiencescape that can enhance the enjoyment of corporate guests compared to that of regular spectators. A comprehensive CH product at a tennis tournament should include premium seating, high-quality food and beverages, dedicated staff, tennis-related activities, and other exclusive services.

Perspectives of Tourism Employees on the Implementation of Smart Technologies

Selda Guven — 2025-10-16

In the context of the ongoing digital transformation that characterizes the contemporary business landscape, the adoption of advanced technologies has become a strategic imperative for organizations. Although such technological investments involve substantial risks, they also present significant opportunities for organizational growth and enhanced competitiveness. Failure to keep pace with technological innovations may severely undermine a firm’s long-term viability in an increasingly competitive environment. In line with this perspective, the present study investigates how tourism employees perceive smart technologies by employing the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) together with the positive dimensions of Technology Readiness. Drawing on data collected from a convenience sample of 388 respondents, the findings reveal that the intention to adopt smart technologies is positively influenced by perceived usefulness, optimism, and innovativeness. These results highlight the critical role of both cognitive and attitudinal factors in shaping employees’ willingness to engage with smart technologies, thereby offering practical and theoretical implications for promoting technology adoption in the tourism sector.

The Sustainable Shift: Employees’ Behavioural Intentions Towards the Use of Artificial Intelligence in Sustainable Tourism

Yollanda Kakomwe — 2025-10-21

The study aimed to assess the effect of eight factors that shape employees’ behavioural intentions regarding the use of AI systems in their professional environments: performance and effort expectancy, social influence, facilitating conditions, relative advantage, compatibility, complexity and trialability. These factors were used as predictors of behavioural intention and use behaviour. Data for PLS-SEM analysis were collected from tourism employees using an online survey. Findings revealed a positive and substantial correlation between factors like performance expectancy, effort expectancy and social influence on the one hand and behavioural intentions on the other. In addition, facilitating conditions, compatibility, complexity and trialability were found to be positively and significantly correlated with behavioural intentions, which were also correlated with employees’ use of AI. The study contributes to a more nuanced understanding of the human dimension in the implementation of AI, offering insights for organisations seeking to navigate the complex behavioural landscape of technological change.

From Reviews to Reality: The Role of Electronic Word of Mouth in Shaping Tourist Experiences in South Africa

Bramwell Kundishora Gavaza — 2025-10-24

The study investigated the influence of electronic word of mouth (eWOM) on tourism experiences in South Africa, focusing on how digital interactions shape travel decisions, destination behaviour, and post-visit evaluations. With the rise of digital platforms such as Instagram, TikTok, and TripAdvisor, eWOM has become central in tourists’ search for information, expectation formation, and experience sharing. The study is based on qualitative data collected during semi-structured online interviews with 30 South African tourists who engaged with eWOM platforms during their travel planning and experiences. Findings reveal that eWOM significantly affected interviewees’ destination choice, trust in travel information, and behavioural intentions, including in-destination activities and online experience sharing. The study highlights the effect of accurate and trustworthy eWOM content on tourist satisfaction and future travel behaviour. Given its vital role throughout the entire tourism experience cycle, eWOM should be strategically integrated into tourism marketing and experience management.