tourism
www.elsevier.com/locate/atoures
Annals of Tourism Research, Vol. 28, No. 2, pp. 360–377, 2001
2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved
Printed in Great Britain
0160-7383/01/$20.00
PII: S0160-7383(00)00051-7
OUTDOOR ADVENTURE TOURISM
A Review of Research Approaches
Karin Weber
La Trobe University, Australia
Abstract: A review of the existing literature on adventure tourism reveals that research on this subject has so far focused mainly on preconceived notions of scholars and practitioners.
This paper argues that individuals’ subjective experience of adventure and their perceptions of what constitutes it have to be also researched and considered in the study of adventure tourism. Qualitative research methods should be afforded greater prominence in its investigation. The proposed shift in focus to individuals’ perceptions of adventure also challenges the exclusivity of only certain market segments and independent travelers being associated with this form of tourism. Further research, marketing, and management implications are discussed. Keywords: adventure tourism and recreation, overland travel, individual adventure experience. 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.
Re´sume´: Tourisme d’aventure au grand air: un bilan des approches de recherche. Dans cet article, on passe en revue la litte´rature du tourisme d’aventure. Le bilan re´ve`le que la recherche sur le tourisme d’aventure s’est concentre´e jusqu’a` pre´sent sur les ide´es pre´conc¸ues des savants et des practiciens. Cet article soutient qu’il faut examiner e´galement les expe´riences subjectives des individus au sujet de l’aventure et leurs perceptions de ce qui constitue une aventure. Par conse´quent, il faudrait accorder plus d’importance aux me´thodes de recherches qualitatives dans l’investigation de ce genre de tourisme. Un tel changement d’objectif sur les perceptions des individus met en question l’exclusivite´ de certains segments du marche´ et
Annals of Tourism Research, Vol. 28, No. 2, pp. 360–377, 2001
2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved
Printed in Great Britain
0160-7383/01/$20.00
PII: S0160-7383(00)00051-7
OUTDOOR ADVENTURE TOURISM
A Review of Research Approaches
Karin Weber
La Trobe University, Australia
Abstract: A review of the existing literature on adventure tourism reveals that research on this subject has so far focused mainly on preconceived notions of scholars and practitioners.
This paper argues that individuals’ subjective experience of adventure and their perceptions of what constitutes it have to be also researched and considered in the study of adventure tourism. Qualitative research methods should be afforded greater prominence in its investigation. The proposed shift in focus to individuals’ perceptions of adventure also challenges the exclusivity of only certain market segments and independent travelers being associated with this form of tourism. Further research, marketing, and management implications are discussed. Keywords: adventure tourism and recreation, overland travel, individual adventure experience. 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.
Re´sume´: Tourisme d’aventure au grand air: un bilan des approches de recherche. Dans cet article, on passe en revue la litte´rature du tourisme d’aventure. Le bilan re´ve`le que la recherche sur le tourisme d’aventure s’est concentre´e jusqu’a` pre´sent sur les ide´es pre´conc¸ues des savants et des practiciens. Cet article soutient qu’il faut examiner e´galement les expe´riences subjectives des individus au sujet de l’aventure et leurs perceptions de ce qui constitue une aventure. Par conse´quent, il faudrait accorder plus d’importance aux me´thodes de recherches qualitatives dans l’investigation de ce genre de tourisme. Un tel changement d’objectif sur les perceptions des individus met en question l’exclusivite´ de certains segments du marche´ et