• Accommodation
The average value of satisfaction of InterRailers on the quality of the services provided in Accommodation was 3.6684 for the Italian accommodation, 3.7707 for Greek accommodation and 3.5874 for Croatian accommodation.
Taking into account the scale used to determine the satisfaction of InterRailers (Likert scale composed of 5 points) it was assumed that all the results that show average values equal to or greater than 3 – “Enough” attributed to the InterRailers quality of satisfied.
Assuming the average values presented above, it is possible to verify that they are all above 3 then verifying that InterRailers are sufficiently satisfied with the quality of services in accommodation use in Italy, Greece and Croatia.
No differences were significant and positive although it is possible to verify that the average value is higher on the quality of Greek accommodation and the average value is lower on the quality of Croatian accommodation.
For the indicators used to evaluate the satisfaction of InterRailers regarding the quality of services provided within the Italian accommodation, one can conclude that the indicators that showed a greater satisfaction from InterRailers in accessi- bility to housing, hospitality and times of entry and exit from housing. In turn, indicators showed less satisfaction from InterRailers in the time taken to respond to anomalies, quality and comfort of the bedrooms and en-suite.
For the indicators used to evaluate the satisfaction of InterRailers regarding the quality of services provided within Greek accommodation, it was possible to conclude that the indicators showed a greater satisfaction from InterRailers regard- ing hospitality, accessibility to housing, the schedules of entry and exit into housing and receptivity on the part of officials. In turn, indicators showed less satisfaction from InterRailers on issues of general hygiene and cleanliness of bathrooms, and bathing quarters.
Finally, with respect to indicators that were used to evaluate the satisfaction of InterRailers in the quality of services provided within the Croatian accommodation, the conclusion was that the indicators that showed a greater satisfaction from InterRailers regarding hospitality, the times of entry and exit the accommodation and value for money. In turn, indicators showed less satisfaction from InterRailers regarding the location of housing, accessibility to housing, the response time anomalies and bathrooms, shower facilities.
• Catering
The average value of satisfaction of InterRailers on the quality of the services provided in Catering was 3.9689 for the Italian catering, 4.0484 for Greek catering and 4.0597 for Croatian catering.
Taking into account the scale used to determine the satisfaction of InterRailers (Likert scale composed of 5 points) it was assumed that all the results that show average values equal to or greater than 3 – “Enough” attributed to the InterRailers quality of satisfied.
Assuming the average values presented above, it is possible to verify that they are all above 3 then verifying that InterRailers are sufficiently satisfied with the quality of services in catering use in Italy, Greece and Croatia.
No differences were significant and positive although it is possible to verify that the average value is higher on the quality of Greek catering and the average value is lower on the quality of Croatian catering.
The indicators that were used to evaluate the satisfaction of InterRailers regard- ing the quality of services provided under the Italian catering, one can conclude that the indicators that showed a greater satisfaction from InterRailers in regards location, hours of operation and quality of food (taste, aroma, texture, presentation).
In turn, indicators showed less satisfaction from InterRailers in matters of reliability of service, menu variety and value for money.
The indicators that were used to evaluate the satisfaction of InterRailers in the quality of services provided under the Greek catering, one can conclude that the indicators showed a greater satisfaction for the environment of InterRailers accom- modation, dining experience and the relationship between cost and value. In turn, indicators showed less satisfaction from InterRailers regarding waiting times, hygiene and cleanliness and quality of equipment.
The indicators that were used to evaluate the satisfaction of InterRailers in the quality of services provided in Croatian catering, one can conclude that the indicators showed a greater satisfaction from InterRailers in matters pertaining to the number of hours of operation, the environment and the relationship between cost and value. In turn, indicators showed less satisfaction from InterRailers regarding waiting times, hygiene and cleanliness and quality of equipment.
• Tourist Entertainment
The average value of satisfaction of InterRailers on the quality of the services provided in tourism entertainment was 3.9075 for the Italian Tourism Entertain- ment, 3.7910 for Greek Tourism Entertainment and 3.4410 for Croatian Tourism Entertainment.
Taking into account the scale used to determine the satisfaction of InterRailers (Likert scale composed of five points) it was assumed that all the results that show average values equal to or greater than 3 – “Enough” attributed to the InterRailers quality of satisfied.
Assuming the average values presented above, it is possible to verify that they are all above 3 then verifying that InterRailers are sufficiently satisfied with the quality of services Tourism Entertainment in Italy, Greece and Croatia.
Although satisfied, is to emphasize that there are significant differences in satisfaction InterRailers about the quality of services in Tourism Entertainment used for all three destinations, InterRailers are more satisfied with the quality of services in Italian Tourism Entertainment than with the quality of services in Greeks and Croats. Although positive, the lowest mean value is related to the quality of services in Croatian Tourism Entertainment.
The indicators used to assess satisfaction with the quality of InterRailers tourist entertainment in Italy, concluded that there was greater satisfaction from InterRailers regarding the existence of cultural, historical and cultural heritage and diversity of museums. In turn, indicators showed less satisfaction from InterRailers regarding the shortage of equipment for sports activities, retail shop- ping centers and theme parks.
The indicators that were used to assess satisfaction with the quality of InterRailers of Greek tourist entertainment, it is possible to conclude that the indicators that showed greater satisfaction from InterRailers regarding historical and cultural heritage and nightlife. In turn, indicators showed less satisfaction from InterRailers on music festivals, retail shopping centers and theme parks.
The indicators that were used to assess satisfaction with the quality of InterRailers of Croatian tourist entertainment, it is possible to conclude that indicators showed greater satisfaction from InterRailers on the quality of beaches (river beach), swimming pools, parks, nightlife and gardens. In turn, indicators showed less satisfaction from InterRailers regarding the lack of art galleries and exhibitions, variety of museums, cinema, theatre, entertainment and commercial areas.
Tourism is not just another sector, but rather a constellation of activities different in nature, not always unique to tourism, which converge in the same end: to transport, accommodate, feed and provide services that contribute to a pleasant stay to all those that travel, nationals or foreigners, moving to a different destination from the usual, with intention of stay for a limited period of time. It is a global view.
References
Be Young (2009) Histo´ria do inter-rail. Available at:http://ap-serjovem.blogspot.com/2009/05/
historia-do-inter-rail.html. Accessed 31 Oct 2009
Cronbach L (1951) Coefficient alpha and the internal structure of tests. Psychometrika 16:297–334 Cunha L (2009) Introduc¸a˜o ao Turismo. Verbo, Lisboa
Free to explore Europe (2007) InterRail: a histo´ria. Available at:http://interrailap.blogspot.com/
2007/11/o-interrail-ou-inter-rail-surgiu-em.html. Accessed 31 Oct 2007 Gerson R (1998) Medir a qualidade e a satisfac¸a˜o do cliente. Monitor, Lisboa Giaretta MJ (2003) Turismo da Juventude. Manole, Sa˜o Paulo
Hampton MP (1998) Backpacker tourism and economic development. Ann Tour Res 25 (3):639–660
Hoffman KD, Bateson JEG (2006) Princı´pios de Marketing de Servic¸os. Conceitos, Estrate´gias e Casos. Thomson, Sa˜o Paulo
InterRail.net (2009) Onde comprar o bilhete. Avaible at: http://www.interrail.net/portugues/
onde_comprar_o_bilhete.php. Accessed 2 Nov 2009
Kellogg D, Youngdahl W, Bowen G (1997) On the relationship between customer participation and satisfaction: two frameworks. Int J Serv Ind Manage 8(3):206–219
Kotler P, Bowen J, Makens J (1999) Marketing for hospitality and tourism. Prentice Hall, New York
Leme F, Neves S (2007) Dos ecos do turismo aos ecos da paisagem: ana´lise das tendeˆncias do ecoturismo e a percepc¸a˜o de suas paisagens. Pasos Revista de Turismo e Patrimoˆnio Cultural 5 (2):209–223
Loker-Murphy L, Pearce P (1995) Young budget travelers: backpackers in Australia. Ann Tour Res 22(4):819–843
Maroco J, Bispo R (2003) Estatı´stica aplicada as cieˆncias sociais e humanas. Climepsi Editores, Lisboa
Marujo MJ (2008) Turismo e Comunicac¸a˜o. RVJ Editores, Castelo Branco Mazon T (2001) Sociologı´a del turismo. Centro de Estudios Ramo´n Areces, Madrid
Moshin A, Ryan C (2003) Backpackers in the Northern Territory of Australia – motives, behaviours and satisfactions. Northern Territory. Int J Tour Res 5:113–131
Mowforth M, Munt I (1998) Tourism and sustainability: new tourism in the Third World. Londres, Routledge
Nunnally JC (1978) Psychometric theory. McGraw-Hill, New York
Official Website of the European Union (2009) Viajar na Europa de comboio. Avaible at:http://
europa.eu/abc/travel/gettingthere/index_pt.htm#rail. Accessed 5 Nov 2009
Oliveira AP (1998) Turismo e desenvolvimento: planejamento e organizac¸a˜o. Terceiro Mile´nio, Floriano´polis
Oliveira RJ (2000) Backpackers no Brasil. Tese de Mestrado em Turismo. Escola de Comunicac¸a˜o e Artes da Universidade de Sa˜o Paulo, Sa˜o Paulo
Pinto Coelho J, Cunha M, Legatheaux Martins I (2008) Infereˆncia Estatı´stica. Edic¸o˜es Sı´labo, Lisboa
Pires A, Santos AP (1996) Satisfac¸a˜o dos clientes. Um objectivo estrate´gico de gesta˜o. Texto Editora, Lisboa
Ramos FM (1996) Textos Antropolo´gicos. Monsaraz. ADIM – Associac¸a˜o de defesa dos interesses de Monsaraz
Swarbrooke J, Horner S (1999) Tourism: consumer behavior. Butterworth-Heinemann, Oxford Te´boul J (1999) A era dos servic¸os: uma nova abordagem ao gerenciamento. Qualitymark, Rio de
Janeiro
Trains from Portugal (2009a) Inter-rail: evoluc¸a˜o. Documento Interno
Trains from Portugal (2009b) Inter-rail: o que e´? Available at:http://www.cp.pt/cp/displayPage.
do?vgnextoid¼79826e29d6b74010VgnVCM1000007b01a8c0RCRD. Accessed 1 Nov 2009 Trains from Portugal (2009c) Inter-rail: modalidades. Available at: http://www.cp.pt/cp/
displayPage.do?vgnextoid¼a7636e29d6b74010VgnVCM1000007b01a8c0RCRD. Accessed 1 Nov 2009
Visser G (2004) The developmental impacts of backpacker tourism in South Africa. GeoJournal 60:283–299
Youth at the United Nations (2009) Frequently asked questions. Available at:http://www.un.org/
esa/socdev/unyin/qanda.htm. Accessed 21 Feb 2009