Conceptualization of tourist destinations using the "SmartMax" approach: An application to the Gijon destination (Spain)

The definition of the tourist destination concept has changed considerably over recent years. The co-creation experience factor is currently at the core of the tourist destination. The ?network destination? concept has received the greatest academic consensus. It assumes the existence of inter-and intra-relations between agents, attractions, and tourist services, as well as destinations, which are co-managed. This paper proposes a conceptual approach of network analysis, the so-called SmartMax approach, which can examine the multi-destination tourism concept (unique, headquarters, circuit, and day-tripping). It presents its essentials, components, and methodology and offers an empirical application, with non-metric multivariable attributes, for a Spanish destination. The results allow for the determination of the weight of each destination level, and, most impor-tantly, the groups of tourist attractions specific to each case.