What fosters awe-inspiring experiences in nature-based tourism destinations?

ABSTRACT

Awe, an intense, and usually positive emotion often experienced by individuals visiting nature-based tourism destinations, has the potential to nurture strong connections between individuals and their environment. Despite this, awe research has been neglected in the tourism literature, especially in relation to the aspects or features that foster awe-inspiring experiences. This study sought to rectify this by focusing on such experiences in the remote, unique Kimberley region in north-western Australia. A total of 49 tourist interviews were conducted to ascertain their responses to the question “what has been your most awe-inspiring experience and why?” Responses highlighted five distinct facets contributing to respondents’ awe-inspiring experiences: marine fauna, aesthetics, ecological phenomena, vast geological landscapes and reflective/perspective moments. Future research should focus on exploring the applicability of these facets to other nature-based tourism destinations.

摘要

敬畏是一种强烈、常为积极且在人们游览自然旅游景观时易被感受到的情感，有培养个人与所处环境间紧密联系的潜力，但旅游文献忽视对其的研究，特别是培养敬畏体验方面。本文关注澳大利亚西北偏远独特的金伯利地区的敬畏体验，试图纠正此现象。采访49位游客收集对最令人敬畏的体验及原因的回答。5个突出方面被强调：海洋动物，美学，生态现象，广阔地质景观和反思展望时刻。未来研究应集中探索这些方面在其他同类目的地的适用性。

KEYWORDS:

• Awe
• Kimberley region
• nature-based tourism
• reflection
• tourists
• vastness

关键字:

• 敬畏
• 金伯利地区
• 自然旅游
• 反思
• 游客
• 广阔

Acknowledgements

The time and expertise contributed by the people who participated in this project are acknowledged. Without their generosity, this research would not have been possible. This work was supported by the Kimberley Marine Research Program, administered by the Western Australian Marine Sciences Institution.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

Kimberley Marine Research Program, administered by the Western Australian Marine Sciences Institution.

Notes on contributors

Joanna Pearce

Joanna Pearce (nee Tonge) is a lecturer within the School of Business and Law at Edith Cowan University. Her research interests include the emotional relationships visitors form with places, particularly coastal areas. Previous research has focused on the concepts of place attachment, visitor satisfaction, pro-environmental behaviours, visitor motivations and preferences.

Jennifer Strickland-Munro

Jennifer Strickland-Munro is a research fellow with the School of Veterinary and Life Sciences at Murdoch University. Her research interests include the ecological and social impacts (and management implications) of human – nature interactions; sustainable tourism; protected area tourism; community engagement; conservation and social equity; Indigenous and Traditional knowledge systems, and how these can combine with Western science to enhance conservation and social outcomes; environmental behaviour change; and natural resource management more generally.

Susan A. Moore

Susan Moore is a professor in the School of Veterinary and Life Sciences at Murdoch University. Her research has examined visitor impacts, documented human usage through spatial usage via GIS and aerial surveys, as well as evaluating visitors’ satisfaction and expectations. A key focus of her work is exploring human values, perceptions and attitudes as well as the social aspect of biodiversity policy, all of which are of particular importance to the sustainable management of nature-based tourism. Sue currently leads the Nature Based Tourism Research Group at Murdoch University.