Towards sustainable growth in nature-based tourism destinations: Clients’ views of land use options in Finnish Lapland

Published Date
February 2014, Vol.122:1–15, doi:10.1016/j.landurbplan.2013.10.003

Author

Liisa Tyrväinen ^a,1,

Marja Uusitalo ^b,,

Harri Silvennoinen ^c,

Eija Hasu ^d,

aThe Finnish Forest Research Institute, P.O. Box 16, FI-96301 Rovaniemi, Finland

bMTT Agrifood Research Finland, Plant Production Research, Eteläranta 55, FI-96300 Rovaniemi, Finland

cThe Finnish Forest Research Institute, Finland

dAalto University, Department of Architecture, Finland

Received 19 December 2012. Revised 29 September 2013. Accepted 7 October 2013. Available online 14 November 2013. 

Highlights

• Building density and pattern effect the perceived quality of a nature-tourism destination.
• •
  Experiencing nature as part of the accommodation is highly appreciated by tourists.
• •
  Use of sustainable tourism practices needs to be supported by easy choices and well-designed services.
• •
  The importance of landscape quality calls for an improvement in landscaping practices in tourism destinations.

Abstract 

The recent tourism development plans for nature-based tourism destinations have raised concerns about how sustainable land use targets can be achieved. In Lapland, Northern Finland, the aim is to double the annual visitor rates by 2020 by boosting construction, which may threaten the quality of the landscape and the perceived environment. The tourism destinations should meet clients’ environmental expectations and, therefore, it is important to assess the acceptability and desirability of ongoing or anticipated land use changes.

This research aimed at studying tourists’ environmental and accommodation preferences in northern Lapland tourism destinations. Altogether, 1054 foreign and domestic tourists participated in the on-site survey carried out during 2009–2010 at two main tourism destinations in Finnish Lapland. The respondents were asked about their willingness to engage in sustainable tourism practices, as well as their evaluation of different land use development options in the tourism destinations.

The results suggest that building density and patterns are important in defining the quality of the environment in tourism destinations, as they affect the nature experiences associated with accommodation. The tourists valued small-scale accommodation units, habitat protection, green infrastructure, and easy access to authentic nature in the environs of their accommodation site. The study results stress the need for careful planning and design in tourism destinations while aiming for eco-efficient land use. The efforts include conservation of natural forest vegetation and landscaping practices, in addition to ensuring views of nature from the accommodation.

Keywords

• Landscape planning
• Nature-based tourism destinations
• Eco-efficient land use
• Environmental preferences
• Sustainable tourism
• Tourists’ attitudes

---

Fig. 1.

 Table 1

Table 1.

Fig. 2.

Fig. 3.

Fig. 4.

Fig. 5.

Fig. 6.

Fig. 7.

Fig. 8.

Fig. 9.

Fig. 10.

Fig. 11.

.

.

• ⁎ 
  Corresponding author. Tel.: +358 40 551 6916.

For further details log on website :
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0160738313001199