Sensing the destination: Development of the destination sensescape index

Despite the increasing academic interest in the sensory dimension of the tourist experience, the quantitative empirical research in the field is limited by a lack of measurement instruments for evaluating the sensory stimuli perceived by tourists during a destination visit. The study addresses this gap by developing a composite index to assess the sensory destination panorama, termed as destination sensescape. The construct is conceptualised as a formative multidimensional variable with 5 dimensions (visualscape, smellscape, tastescape, soundscape, and hapticscape). The psychometric validity and reliability of the 17 items integrating the formative index were established by a rigorous multi-step procedure based on three empirical studies. The instrument was tested with data collected from visitors of a Mediterranean urban destination. The operationalisation of the destination sensescape construct not only paves the way for future quantitative sensory studies, but also yields a useful tool for Destination Marketing Organisations (DMOs).

Automated summary

Despite the increasing academic interest in the sensory dimension of the tourist experience, there is a lack of measurement instruments for evaluating the sensory stimuli perceived by tourists during a destination visit. This study addresses this gap by developing a composite index to assess the sensory destination panorama, and establishes the psychometric validity and reliability of the measurement tool through rigorous empirical studies. The operationalisation of the destination sensescape construct provides a useful tool for Destination Marketing Organisations (DMOs) and opens up possibilities for future quantitative sensory studies.