Nature tourists’ concern for the environment and response to ecolabels in Oulanka National Park

National parks and other protected areas attract increasingly tourists in Finland, which highlights the importance of sustainable tourism. Various international initiatives, ecolabels and certification programs, such as PAN Parks in Europe, have been introduced to promote sustainable nature-based t...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Riikka Puhakka
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: The Geographical Society of Northern Finland 2010-01-01
Series:Nordia Geographical Publications
Online Access:https://nordia.journal.fi/article/view/75965
id doaj-97f4da248610413bab0e760d5ddba37b
record_format Article
spelling doaj-97f4da248610413bab0e760d5ddba37b2021-03-29T13:12:48ZengThe Geographical Society of Northern FinlandNordia Geographical Publications1238-20862736-97222010-01-01391Nature tourists’ concern for the environment and response to ecolabels in Oulanka National ParkRiikka Puhakka0Oulanka Research Station/Thule Institute, University of Oulu National parks and other protected areas attract increasingly tourists in Finland, which highlights the importance of sustainable tourism. Various international initiatives, ecolabels and certification programs, such as PAN Parks in Europe, have been introduced to promote sustainable nature-based tourism. Often tourists are also given responsibility to prevent negative impacts of their activities. This paper examines the role of nature tourists in developing sustainable tourism in protected areas: How concerned are they for the environment? How do they consider environmental aspects when travelling? How do they respond to tourism ecolabels and certifications? The paper is based on concurrent interview and survey studies conducted in Oulanka National Park, one of the certified PAN Parks in Finland. The paper indicates that only a small proportion of tourists are highly concerned for the environment and interested in ecolabels, and aim at travelling in an environmentally responsible way. Nature tourists’ lack of response to ecolabels and environmentally friendly behavior undermines their role in developing sustainable tourism. Therefore, the study results emphasize the role of regulation, incentives and guidance in implementing ecological, socio-cultural and economic sustainability in tourism companies and destinations. https://nordia.journal.fi/article/view/75965
collection DOAJ
language English
format Article
sources DOAJ
author Riikka Puhakka
spellingShingle Riikka Puhakka
Nature tourists’ concern for the environment and response to ecolabels in Oulanka National Park
Nordia Geographical Publications
author_facet Riikka Puhakka
author_sort Riikka Puhakka
title Nature tourists’ concern for the environment and response to ecolabels in Oulanka National Park
title_short Nature tourists’ concern for the environment and response to ecolabels in Oulanka National Park
title_full Nature tourists’ concern for the environment and response to ecolabels in Oulanka National Park
title_fullStr Nature tourists’ concern for the environment and response to ecolabels in Oulanka National Park
title_full_unstemmed Nature tourists’ concern for the environment and response to ecolabels in Oulanka National Park
title_sort nature tourists’ concern for the environment and response to ecolabels in oulanka national park
publisher The Geographical Society of Northern Finland
series Nordia Geographical Publications
issn 1238-2086
2736-9722
publishDate 2010-01-01
description National parks and other protected areas attract increasingly tourists in Finland, which highlights the importance of sustainable tourism. Various international initiatives, ecolabels and certification programs, such as PAN Parks in Europe, have been introduced to promote sustainable nature-based tourism. Often tourists are also given responsibility to prevent negative impacts of their activities. This paper examines the role of nature tourists in developing sustainable tourism in protected areas: How concerned are they for the environment? How do they consider environmental aspects when travelling? How do they respond to tourism ecolabels and certifications? The paper is based on concurrent interview and survey studies conducted in Oulanka National Park, one of the certified PAN Parks in Finland. The paper indicates that only a small proportion of tourists are highly concerned for the environment and interested in ecolabels, and aim at travelling in an environmentally responsible way. Nature tourists’ lack of response to ecolabels and environmentally friendly behavior undermines their role in developing sustainable tourism. Therefore, the study results emphasize the role of regulation, incentives and guidance in implementing ecological, socio-cultural and economic sustainability in tourism companies and destinations.
url https://nordia.journal.fi/article/view/75965
work_keys_str_mv AT riikkapuhakka naturetouristsconcernfortheenvironmentandresponsetoecolabelsinoulankanationalpark
_version_ 1724198658265579520