Beyond the Mainstream: Tourism Development and Visitor Perceptions in an Emerging Tuscan Destination

This study analyzes the tourism positioning of Quarrata, a small destination in Tuscany (Italy), through a mixed-method approach combining tourism statistics, online review analysis, and SWOT analysis. The findings highlight positive tourism dynamics, increasing overnight stays, and high levels of visitor satisfaction, particularly regarding gastronomy, cultural heritage, and hospitality. The study also identifies challenges related to accommodation capacity and tourism fragmentation. From a broader perspective, the paper suggests that integrating statistical and sentiment analysis may provide a useful framework for assessing the attractiveness and development potential of small tourism destinations.