The TourX Project Visit to China

A Comprehensive Study on Tourist Perceptions

Authors

  • Manuel INESC TEC, GOVCOPP, DEGEIT, University of Aveiro https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2154-6171
  • Antonio EVBB - the European Association of Institutes for Vocational Training, Brussels, Belgium
  • Roger DEHOGA Brandenburg, Germany
  • Emanuela ENAIP, Veneto, Italy
  • Frederico Human-Centered Computing and Information Science, INESC TEC; School of Science and Technology, UTAD, Vila Real, Portugal

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.34190/ictr.8.1.3538

Keywords:

Tourism, Cross-Cultural Exchange, Smart Tourism, Digital Infrastructure, Tourist Perceptions

Abstract

This study provides an extensive examination of tourist perceptions during a visit to China, conducted within the framework of the Erasmus+ TourX project. The project includes participants from Spain, Italy, Germany, Greece, Belgium, and Portugal. Tourism is widely acknowledged as a mechanism for cultural exchange, fostering intercultural learning and broadening global perspectives. This research aims to empirically analyze the experiences and behaviors of tourists within an unfamiliar cultural environment. The findings contribute to the broader academic discourse on the role of tourism in facilitating cross-cultural engagement and its implications for the tourism industry in China. 

Author Biographies

Manuel, INESC TEC, GOVCOPP, DEGEIT, University of Aveiro

Manuel Au-Yong-Oliveira is an Associate Professor with Habilitation at the University of Aveiro. Before working full-time in Academia Manuel worked for several multinational companies and also for small and medium sized firms (SMEs). Manuel’s latest research topic - in which he is one of the pioneers - is negative organisations. Where the status quo wins out over innovation and innovators - who end up changing (to be less innovative and thus less of a threat to the reigning hierarchy) or else leaving the organisation (in search of environments that are more welcoming to innovative people and where there is more of a meritocratic environment).

Antonio, EVBB - the European Association of Institutes for Vocational Training, Brussels, Belgium

Mr. Antonio Gennarelli holds an MSc in Comparative International Relations obtained from Ca’ Foscari University of Venice with honours. Specialised in relations between Europe and Asia, he is currently working as a European Project Manager at EVBB.  He has obtained different certifications on EU-funded projects (from IDEC SA, a consulting company with 30 years experience in EU projects) & SDGs Management and Monitoring (United Nations Institute for Training and Research, LUMSA University).  He is a founding member of Mondo Internazionale APS ETS, an Association promoting youth’s talents through Cultural Diplomacy across more than 20 countries in the world. He speaks fluently Italian, English, French, Japanese and Greek.  

Roger, DEHOGA Brandenburg, Germany

Roger Heinzel is project coordinator Internationalization/Digitisation at DEHOGA Brandenburg and manager of the Digital Education and Training Lab in Potsdam. Roger Heinzel holds a university degree in engineering technical cybernetics and a degree in political science. He has many years of experience and extensive references in the planning and management of complex IT projects and own extensive know-how in digital knowledge management and the use of digital solutions for education and learning management. Roger Heinzel worked as COO/CFO in various software companies that provided digital solutions for the hospitality industry, tourist destinations and public administration. For more than 10 years he was managing director of a German-Irish technology joint venture. 

Emanuela, ENAIP, Veneto, Italy

Emanuela Vizzarro is an International Project Manager with solid international experience, with over 20 years dedicated to managing complex projects in multicultural contexts. She has developed a deep knowledge of European and Chinese markets and has demonstrated a remarkable ability to adapt business strategies to different cultural and regulatory contexts. Her educational background includes a bachelor's degree in foreign languages and literature and a master's degree in strategic studies and international security.  She is currently Project Manager at Enaip Veneto and manages Erasmus + KA2 international cooperation projects in green and digital skills, remote maintenance, artificial intelligence, functional illiteracy, smart industries and creative spaces. As a passionate advocate for innovation, Emanuela’s commitment to blending innovation with digital skills and smart industries resonates strongly with our project’s overarching goals. 

Frederico, Human-Centered Computing and Information Science, INESC TEC; School of Science and Technology, UTAD, Vila Real, Portugal

Frederico Branco, assistant professor and Pro-Rector at UTAD, is a senior researcher at INESC TEC. He has published over 120 articles, supervises academic work, and engages in research and industry projects, especially in information systems for agri-food, mobility, and services. He has held senior roles in information systems management. 

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Published

2025-04-14

Issue

Vol. 8 No. 1 (2025): Proceedings of the 8th International Conference on Tourism Research

Section

Academic Papers

License

Copyright (c) 2025 International Conference on Tourism Research

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.