Construction of tourist destination meanings based on cruise visitors' experience. The case of Ushuaia

Ushuaia has ranked as a very interesting destination for cruise liners. This study focuses on the experience of cruise passengers who visit Ushuaia as part of a longer voyage in South America or even a more extensive itinerary. A survey was carried out during the 2015/2016, 2016/2017 and 2017/2018 summer seasons. Results show main motivations are especially related to discovering Patagonia, while Ushuaia is highly appraised for its landscape and the idea of the 'end of the world'. Besides, visitors achieve a high level of satisfaction. These findings provide decision-makers in the local tourist sector with ideas on how to improve products and services in order not only to cater to but also benefit from the cruise industry by meeting visitors' needs.