Exploring Aesthetic Dimensions in Nature-Based Tourist Experiences

Abstract

There are few empirical studies linking nature-based tourist experiences to the increasing focus on the concept of aesthetics in the tourism literature to date. Although tourism scholars have studied aesthetic notions with regard to landscape preferences in the past two decades, the literature on the concept of aesthetics as it relates to human-made environments in nature-based tourism is limited. For example, accommodation, food, and signs may all be central features in a nature-based holiday, and thereby influence the tourists' experiences. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to gain knowledge of the influence of central aesthetic dimensions on tourists' experiences in a nature-based setting. Specifically, it extends the previous research by including the human-made environment situated within nature together with the natural environment itself. The empirical context is a specific tourist route in Norway. Semistructured interviews were conducted with travelers holidaying along the route to explore the kinds of aesthetic dimensions and forces that shape aesthetic judgments in such a context. The findings revealed five aesthetic dimensions: (1) “harmony,” (2) “scenery/viewing,” (3) “cleanliness,” (4) “genuineness,” and (5) “variation/contrast.” Based on the results, the study suggests that future tourism research should include aesthetic dimensions for both the human-made and the natural environment, to better understand tourists' overall “experiencescape” at nature-based destinations. It also emphasizes the importance for managers of focusing on the role of aesthetic dimensions in tourists' satisfaction. It is especially important to understand how to manage aesthetic dimensions in such a way that they both add customer value and can be a source of competitive advantage for service businesses at nature-based tourist destinations.