Sustainable and Attractive Motorised Nature-Based Experiences: Challenges and Opportunities

Abstract

In response to issues and challenges facing the operators of nature-based tours, this study examines snowmobile tours in Svalbard, Norway. Specially, it posits to explore experience providers awareness of the fragile nature in which they are operating and how this awareness is implemented in their offerings. Subsequently, the chapter evaluates experience providers’ attitude of what aspects of the offerings they perceive as attractive to the tourists and the staging of the offerings accordingly. This study utilises interviews with six informants representing three different firms, a participant observation, and text analyses of the offer on the website www.Svalbard.net as the study method. The results show that the informants are aware of the fragile nature and strive to promote a sustainable behaviour during tours. In particular, they focus on informing and teaching the tourists about environmental aspects of the tour through storytelling and staging during the tour. By empowering the tourists through education and involvement they aim to make the tourists change their focus from riding the snowmobile to learning about the fragility of the nature and wildlife. Further, the informants state that the tourists may even become spokesmen for sustainable tourism due to the touring experience received. In conclusion, in a highly fragile environment like the Arctic a rise of motorised tours invites discourses on tourism development. It is pivotal to preserve the nature in a sustainable way while offering attractive tour experiences.

Citation

Lyngnes, S. and Prebensen, N.K. (2014), "Sustainable and Attractive Motorised Nature-Based Experiences: Challenges and Opportunities", Advances in Hospitality and Leisure (Advances in Hospitality and Leisure, Vol. 10), Emerald Group Publishing Limited, Leeds, pp. 151-171. https://doi.org/10.1108/S1745-354220140000010008