Tourism in Cold Water Islands: A Matter of Contract? Experiences from Destination Management in the Polar North

Lack of local understanding and low preparedness for tourism characterise many remote communities of the Polar North, thus undermining positive attitudes towards tourism even if tourism is seen as a development force. The relatively new interest in Arctic regions as a tourist destination combined wi...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Per Åke Nilsson
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: Island Studies Journal 2008
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doaj.org/article/bc6262947fb54c80b88609d0c73ea147
Description
Summary:Lack of local understanding and low preparedness for tourism characterise many remote communities of the Polar North, thus undermining positive attitudes towards tourism even if tourism is seen as a development force. The relatively new interest in Arctic regions as a tourist destination combined with different exogenous forces like globalization and climate change make the situation even more complex. The peripheral and insular location often renders cruise tourism as the only option. Under these circumstances, the readiness to accept tourism as a development tool varies from destination to destination, ranging from being seen as a passport to development to a threat to local culture and traditional life. In order to bridge these perception gaps, the idea of a mental or written contract between tourists and local residents is discussed.