The Risk™ strategic game of rural tourism: how sensory analysis can help in achieving a sustainable competitive advantage

Abstract

This paper examines how sensory analysis can be effectively implemented to achieve competitive advantage in rural tourism. Starting from the theoretical framework of experience economy outlined by Pine and Gilmore (1998), the authors describe how firms can differentiate their offer by using sensory analysis. In the first section, the authors provide a description of the rural tourism phenomenon and a literature review of rural tourism. Then, descriptive examples of the implementation of sensory analysis in rural tourism are provided. The paper ends with conclusions and recommendations for rural tourism operators.