Senses by Seasons: Tourists’ Perceptions Depending on Seasonality in Popular Nature Destinations in Iceland
Publisher's version (útgefin grein) Seasonality in visitor arrivals is one of the greatest challenges faced by tourist destinations. Seasonality is a major issue for sustainable tourism as it affects the optimal use of investment and infrastructure, puts pressure on resources and can create neg...
Published in: | Sustainability |
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Main Authors: | , , |
Other Authors: | , , , |
Format: | Article in Journal/Newspaper |
Language: | English |
Published: |
MDPI AG
2019
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Subjects: | |
Online Access: | https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11815/1729 https://doi.org/10.3390/su11113059 |
_version_ | 1821551259506704384 |
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author | Sæþórsdóttir, Anna Hall, C. Michael Stefánsson, Þorkell |
author2 | Verkfræði- og náttúruvísindasvið (HÍ) School of Engineering and Natural Sciences (UI) Háskóli Íslands University of Iceland |
author_facet | Sæþórsdóttir, Anna Hall, C. Michael Stefánsson, Þorkell |
author_sort | Sæþórsdóttir, Anna |
collection | Opin vísindi (Iceland) |
container_issue | 11 |
container_start_page | 3059 |
container_title | Sustainability |
container_volume | 11 |
description | Publisher's version (útgefin grein) Seasonality in visitor arrivals is one of the greatest challenges faced by tourist destinations. Seasonality is a major issue for sustainable tourism as it affects the optimal use of investment and infrastructure, puts pressure on resources and can create negative experience of crowding at destinations. Peripheral areas commonly experience more pronounced fluctuations in visitor arrivals. Iceland is one of those destinations. Although the number of tourists visiting the country has multiplied in recent years, seasonality is still a major challenge, especially in the more rural peripheral areas of the country. Iceland's high season for tourism occurs during its brief summer (June to August), but in recent years more people visit the country on shorter winter trips, creating new management challenges. This research is based on an on-site questionnaire survey conducted in seven popular nature destinations in Iceland which compares the experience of summer and winter visitors. The results show that winter visitors are more satisfied with the natural environment while their satisfaction with facilities and service is in many cases lower. The areas are generally perceived as being more beautiful and quieter in winter than in summer. However, most destinations are considered less accessible and less safe in the winter. Tourists are much less likely to experience physical crowding during winter, although winter visitors are more sensitive to crowds, most likely because of expectations of fewer tourists. Finally, this research shows that tourists are less likely to encounter negative effects of tourism on the environment in the winter, (e.g., erosion or damage to rocks and vegetation), than in summer. The results highlight the importance of understanding visitor perceptions in a seasonal and temporal context. This research was funded by the Icelandic Tourist Board. We thank the Icelandic Tourist Board and its director at the time Ólöf Ýr Atladóttir for the initiative in financing ... |
format | Article in Journal/Newspaper |
genre | Iceland |
genre_facet | Iceland |
id | ftopinvisindi:oai:opinvisindi.is:20.500.11815/1729 |
institution | Open Polar |
language | English |
op_collection_id | ftopinvisindi |
op_doi | https://doi.org/20.500.11815/1729 https://doi.org/10.3390/su11113059 |
op_relation | Sustainability;11(11) https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/11/11/3059/pdf Sæþórsdóttir, A.D.; Hall, C.M.; Stefánsson, Þ. Senses by Seasons: Tourists’ Perceptions Depending on Seasonality in Popular Nature Destinations in Iceland. Sustainability 2019, 11, 3059. 2071-1050 https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11815/1729 Sustainability (Switzerland) doi:10.3390/su11113059 |
op_rights | info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess |
publishDate | 2019 |
publisher | MDPI AG |
record_format | openpolar |
spelling | ftopinvisindi:oai:opinvisindi.is:20.500.11815/1729 2025-01-16T22:34:29+00:00 Senses by Seasons: Tourists’ Perceptions Depending on Seasonality in Popular Nature Destinations in Iceland Sæþórsdóttir, Anna Hall, C. Michael Stefánsson, Þorkell Verkfræði- og náttúruvísindasvið (HÍ) School of Engineering and Natural Sciences (UI) Háskóli Íslands University of Iceland 2019-05-30 3059 https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11815/1729 https://doi.org/10.3390/su11113059 en eng MDPI AG Sustainability;11(11) https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/11/11/3059/pdf Sæþórsdóttir, A.D.; Hall, C.M.; Stefánsson, Þ. Senses by Seasons: Tourists’ Perceptions Depending on Seasonality in Popular Nature Destinations in Iceland. Sustainability 2019, 11, 3059. 2071-1050 https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11815/1729 Sustainability (Switzerland) doi:10.3390/su11113059 info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess Crowding Sustainable management Tourism seasonality Tourists' perception Sjálfbær ferðaþjónusta Árstíðasveiflur Ferðamenn Ferðamennska info:eu-repo/semantics/article 2019 ftopinvisindi https://doi.org/20.500.11815/1729 https://doi.org/10.3390/su11113059 2022-11-18T06:51:54Z Publisher's version (útgefin grein) Seasonality in visitor arrivals is one of the greatest challenges faced by tourist destinations. Seasonality is a major issue for sustainable tourism as it affects the optimal use of investment and infrastructure, puts pressure on resources and can create negative experience of crowding at destinations. Peripheral areas commonly experience more pronounced fluctuations in visitor arrivals. Iceland is one of those destinations. Although the number of tourists visiting the country has multiplied in recent years, seasonality is still a major challenge, especially in the more rural peripheral areas of the country. Iceland's high season for tourism occurs during its brief summer (June to August), but in recent years more people visit the country on shorter winter trips, creating new management challenges. This research is based on an on-site questionnaire survey conducted in seven popular nature destinations in Iceland which compares the experience of summer and winter visitors. The results show that winter visitors are more satisfied with the natural environment while their satisfaction with facilities and service is in many cases lower. The areas are generally perceived as being more beautiful and quieter in winter than in summer. However, most destinations are considered less accessible and less safe in the winter. Tourists are much less likely to experience physical crowding during winter, although winter visitors are more sensitive to crowds, most likely because of expectations of fewer tourists. Finally, this research shows that tourists are less likely to encounter negative effects of tourism on the environment in the winter, (e.g., erosion or damage to rocks and vegetation), than in summer. The results highlight the importance of understanding visitor perceptions in a seasonal and temporal context. This research was funded by the Icelandic Tourist Board. We thank the Icelandic Tourist Board and its director at the time Ólöf Ýr Atladóttir for the initiative in financing ... Article in Journal/Newspaper Iceland Opin vísindi (Iceland) Sustainability 11 11 3059 |
spellingShingle | Crowding Sustainable management Tourism seasonality Tourists' perception Sjálfbær ferðaþjónusta Árstíðasveiflur Ferðamenn Ferðamennska Sæþórsdóttir, Anna Hall, C. Michael Stefánsson, Þorkell Senses by Seasons: Tourists’ Perceptions Depending on Seasonality in Popular Nature Destinations in Iceland |
title | Senses by Seasons: Tourists’ Perceptions Depending on Seasonality in Popular Nature Destinations in Iceland |
title_full | Senses by Seasons: Tourists’ Perceptions Depending on Seasonality in Popular Nature Destinations in Iceland |
title_fullStr | Senses by Seasons: Tourists’ Perceptions Depending on Seasonality in Popular Nature Destinations in Iceland |
title_full_unstemmed | Senses by Seasons: Tourists’ Perceptions Depending on Seasonality in Popular Nature Destinations in Iceland |
title_short | Senses by Seasons: Tourists’ Perceptions Depending on Seasonality in Popular Nature Destinations in Iceland |
title_sort | senses by seasons: tourists’ perceptions depending on seasonality in popular nature destinations in iceland |
topic | Crowding Sustainable management Tourism seasonality Tourists' perception Sjálfbær ferðaþjónusta Árstíðasveiflur Ferðamenn Ferðamennska |
topic_facet | Crowding Sustainable management Tourism seasonality Tourists' perception Sjálfbær ferðaþjónusta Árstíðasveiflur Ferðamenn Ferðamennska |
url | https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11815/1729 https://doi.org/10.3390/su11113059 |