Conceptualizing nature-based science tourism : a case study of Seili Island, Finland
Abstract
Nature-based tourism has been widely addressed, yet research on nature-based science tourism, founded on science, scientific knowledge, and/or engagement in scientific research, is still scarce. Drawing on tourist motivation, nature-based tourism, special interest tourism, and science tourism, a novel theoretical conceptualization of nature-based science tourism was developed. The framework identified three categories of science tourism with intensifying levels of tourists’ interest in scientific knowledge and tourist engagement: tourism based on scientific knowledge, tourism with scientific adventure or volunteering, and scientific research tourism. In the empirical part, the framework was applied to Seili Island, Finland, and tourist motivation to nature-based science tourism was examined through a survey (n = 518). According to the results, tourists were interested in science and nature-based science tourism products, especially guided tours involving scientific interpretation, but also in intensive scientific excursions. Learning was a dominant motivation, but enjoying nature and escape and relaxation were also significant. When moving from guided tours to more intensive scientific excursions, motivations diversified; besides learning, other tourist motivations also need to be addressed in developing nature-based science tourism experiences. The study contributes to nature-based tourism and underresearched science tourism literature and provides practical implications for developing nature-based tourism.
Main Authors
Format
Articles
Research article
Published
2023
Series
Subjects
Publication in research information system
Publisher
Routledge
The permanent address of the publication
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:jyu-202107144325Use this for linking
Review status
Peer reviewed
ISSN
0966-9582
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1080/09669582.2021.1948553
Language
English
Published in
Journal of Sustainable Tourism
Citation
- Räikkönen, J., Grénman, M., Rouhiainen, H., Honkanen, A., & Sääksjärvi, I. E. (2023). Conceptualizing nature-based science tourism : a case study of Seili Island, Finland. Journal of Sustainable Tourism, 31(5), 1214-1232. https://doi.org/10.1080/09669582.2021.1948553
Additional information about funding
The authors are grateful to the Turku University Foundation for providing financial support for this research.
Copyright© 2021 The Author(s). Published by Informa
UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis
Group.