The Role of Experience and Service Offerings in Tourist Information Centers (TICs) in Germany

Abstract

A central question for the development of tourist information centers is what visitors expect of this institution. Does the offer of experiences play a role in the competitiveness of a TIC? A study based on qualitative interviews examines the perspectives of the most important stakeholders of tourist information centers: visitors, managers, and touristic service providers. The study shows that it is worthwhile to distinguish between pure service offers and experience offers and to use both in a targeted manner to ensure competitive advantages.