Exploring sustainable experiences in tourism

Abstract

This study explores the vaguely defined concept of sustainableexperiences. Specifically, it questions how perceived experiencevalue at tourism destinations can be enhanced through sustainableexperience dimensions. Although experiences and sustainabletourism are intrinsically interlinked, knowledge of sustainableexperiences and how they can be included in experience design toenhance perceived value is limited. Within a lake context, localstakeholders, researchers and students were invited to activelyidentify and co-design sustainable experience dimensions using,among others, interviews with residents and tourists. Ourfindingssuggest four sustainable experience dimensions: interaction withthe natural environment; interaction with the cultural environment;insights and views; and lake-based activities. The study advocatesfor future research and management to better incorporatesustainable experience dimensions to holistically enhance tourists’perceived experience value and destination sustainability.