Development of Tourism Products and the Concept of Experience Economy

Purpose: The aim of this research is to show the relationships between the process of development of tourist services and the concept of experience economy. The theoretical assumption was made that the value of a tourist product is based on the tourist’s experiencing it in the act or process of consumption; experience is an important factor for the modern customer-tourist in assessing the consumed service. The article attempts to identify the relationships between the development of tourist services and the assumptions of experience economy, which constitute the theoretical foundations of contemporary consumption in society. Design/Methodology/Approach: The research methods applied in the presented study comprise critical analysis of the literature, including available secondary sources discussing the results of research on the development of tourism services with reference to the tourists’ experiences as a source of the value acquired by them. Therefore, reference was also made to the role of the tourist’s experiences as a significant marketing determinant. Examples from observations were also provided. Findings: In tourism, where experiences, impressions, or emotions often constitute a key value for the customer and are often the core of the realized product, there are feedback loops that shape these relationships. Practical implications: The research results reveal to tourism managers a specific aspect of the tourism product – the expected and post-consumption experience; its natural symbiosis with the tourism product is a challenge for tourism service providers, which determines the directions of product development. Originality/Value: The originality of the presented research lies in showing the development of tourism products in the context of the theoretical assumptions of the experience economy as a determinant of progress in meeting tourist needs and market expectations.