Assessing visitor satisfaction with a pioneering agritourism project: vegetable tourism in the Parc Agrari del Baix Llobregat (Barcelona)

Abstract

Among the major changes that have occurred in the tourist sector in recent years, of particular note has been the constant emergence of new products that seek to satisfy the needs of tourists demanding new kinds of consumer experiences. A good example of this is agritourism, in which the tourist participates in the typical activities of a working farm. This study focuses on a recent variant of this type of tourism, known as vegetable tourism (or holeriturismo in Spanish). Specifically, an assessment is undertaken of a pioneering project in Spain on an agricultural park: the Parc Agrari del Baix Llobregat (Barcelona). Based on the information obtained from a survey conducted in the Park itself, the degree of visitor satisfaction with the various activities they experience is analysed. Using non-parametric statistical methods, the study seeks to determine whether the visitors’ socio-demographic profile and their knowledge of the concept of vegetable tourism have a significant impact on their assessments.