Rethinking niche tourism: The example of backpacking

Abstract This conceptual paper re-evaluates the concept of niches in tourism markets. As many regions are now attempting to address niche markets in tourism as a development strategy, understanding of the dynamics of niche markets is crucial. Current approaches are often limited to seeing niche markets as simple subsectors of larger consumer markets. We argue for a broader view of market niches as forms of social rituals involving both consumers and producers with a mutual focus of attention. Based on the work of Randall Collins we examine how interaction rituals are produced and maintained, and how these are also reflected in niche markets, such as backpacking. We illustrate the how backpacking produces a mutual focus of attention and boundaries to outsiders, helping to sustain the niche over the longer term. This analysis has implications for producers hoping to tap into niche markets, as they too need to become part of the niche community.

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Food tourism, niche markets and products in rural tourism: combining the intimacy model and the experience economy as a rural development strategy

Journal of Sustainable Tourism ◽

10.1080/09669582.2013.836210 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 23 (8-9) ◽

pp. 1179-1197 ◽

Cited By ~ 85

Author(s):

Katia Laura Sidali ◽

Elisabeth Kastenholz ◽

Rossella Bianchi

Keyword(s):

Rural Development ◽

Development Strategy ◽

Rural Tourism ◽

Experience Economy ◽

Niche Markets ◽

Food Tourism

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The Micro-sociology of Interaction Rituals within Megachurches

High on God ◽

10.1093/oso/9780199827718.003.0007 ◽

2019 ◽

pp. 79-88

Author(s):

James K. Wellman ◽

Katie E. Corcoran ◽

Kate J. Stockly

Keyword(s):

Focus Of Attention ◽

Emotional Energy ◽

Interaction Ritual ◽

Interaction Ritual Chains ◽

Interaction Rituals ◽

Collective Effervescence

We describe the paradigm of micro-sociology using Randall Collins’s work on interaction ritual chains to understand how emotional energy is produced in megachurches. We argue that individuals are motivated to participate in megachurches through a process of interaction ritual chains that produce and evoke deep desires satisfied through emotional energy, which attracts and keeps so many coming to megachurches. We describe Collins’s ingredients for successful rituals (co-presence, a shared mood, a mutual focus of attention, and barriers to outsiders) and how megachurches meet or transform these ingredients for their purposes. As we narrate Collins’s interactive ritual structure, we briefly outline the ways in which the six desires, described in Chapter 3, are met in a cyclical manner within megachurches. We show how they are evoked and addressed in overlapping and synchronic ways, which reinforces the power of the collective effervescence of these churches.

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Combined analyses of costs, market value and eco-costs in circular business models: eco-efficient value creation in remanufacturing

Journal of Remanufacturing ◽

10.1007/s13243-017-0031-9 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 7 (1) ◽

pp. 1-17 ◽

Cited By ~ 20

Author(s):

Joost G. Vogtlander ◽

Arno E. Scheepens ◽

Nancy M. P. Bocken ◽

David Peck

Keyword(s):

Value Creation ◽

Customer Value ◽

Business Models ◽

Market Value ◽

Point Of View ◽

Business Strategies ◽

Niche Markets ◽

Consumer Markets ◽

Product Image ◽

Roll Out

Abstract Eco-efficient Value Creation is a method to analyse innovative product and service design together with circular business strategies. The method is based on combined analyses of the costs, market value (perceived customer value) and eco-costs. This provides a prevention-based single indicator for ‘external environmental costs’ in LCA. The remanufacturing of products is an environmental and sustainable approach, in the circular economy, and can deliver lower eco-costs of materials depletion and pollution. From a business point of view, however, remanufacturing seems to be viable in B2B niche markets only. In consumer markets, remanufacturing is less common. The question is how can remanufacturing become a viable business solution for mainstream consumer markets. Traditional ‘green’ marketing approaches are not enough: green has a positive, but also negative connotations, so marketing approaches are complex. By using the Eco-efficient Value Creation method, marketing strategies for the roll-out of remanufacturing in mainstream consumer markets, can be revealed. This approach has led to the development of five aspects, which are key to innovative circular business models, for remanufacturing: (1) buyers differ from the buyers of the ‘new product’ (2) quality must be emphasised in all communications (3) risk must be taken away from the buyer (4) top level service is required to convince the buyer (5) a ‘green’ brand may support the remanufactured product image.

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