The tourist experience of out-there-ness: theory and empirical research

Birgit H.M. Elands and Jaap Lengkeek

Forest Policy and Economics, 2012, vol. 19, issue C, 31-38

Abstract: Forest and nature managers are confronted with an increasing number of tourists visiting National Parks, nature reserves and forest areas. Not all tourists, however, have or prefer the same experiences. In this study, we develop a theory on the nature of tourist experiences by proposing tourism as a way of distancing oneself from everyday reality, conceptualised in terms of out-there-ness. Experience is conceived of as conscious awareness, embedded in relatively stable mental structures, and manifested as a dynamic precondition for immediate responses to tourist practices. These preconditions are theoretically translated into different modes of experience, which are empirically tested. The results show that the theoretical modes of the experience of out-there-ness have considerable empirical support. We present these results in relation to practical applicability for policy-making, planning and design.

Keywords: Tourism; Modes of experience; Visitor management; Forest and nature policy (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2012
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (7)

Downloads: (external link)
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1389934111001882
Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:forpol:v:19:y:2012:i:c:p:31-38

DOI: 10.1016/j.forpol.2011.11.004

Access Statistics for this article

Forest Policy and Economics is currently edited by M. Krott

More articles in Forest Policy and Economics from Elsevier
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Catherine Liu ().