Transformative experiences in nature-based tourism as a chance for improving sustainability of tourism destination

Abstract

The consequences of the coronavirus pandemic, such as social isolation and physical (social) distancing, have led many people to become more aware of the values of nature. Natural destinations provide tourists with the opportunity for easy social distancing and improvement of mental and physical health. At the same time, they provide an opportunity for various stakeholders in the destination to, through experiences in the natural environment, encourage the transformation of tourists towards values and behaviours aimed at preserving the environment. Therefore, this paper aims to present, based on a review of existing literature, transformative experiences in nature-based tourism as a means to improve the sustainability of a tourist destination and identify possible solutions for designing such experiences.