This page has only limited features, please log in for full access.
In this paper, two World Heritage island destinations are compared, Gotland in the Baltic and Rapa Nui in the Pacific. Both islands deal with a growing number of tourists, which asks for rethinking of tourism development. As cultural heritage plays a major role in tourism for both destinations, it is especially important to look into sustainable cultural tourism development from the perspective of authenticity. The paper is based on a variety of materials and takes an innovative approach to methods through a student–staff collaboration. The data show that social acceptance of tourism by local communities on both islands could be achieved through the creation of authentic experiences. Furthermore, data show that it is rather potent to engage both locals and tourists in modernized authentic experiences. However, this can only be done if locals are empowered and are genuinely allowed to steer the development of tourism.
Marije Poort; Ulrika Persson-Fischier; Helene Martinsson-Wallin; Evelina Elf Donaldson; Mareike Schaub. “Authenticity” as a Pathway to Sustainable Cultural Tourism? The Cases of Gotland and Rapa Nui. Sustainability 2021, 13, 6302 .
AMA StyleMarije Poort, Ulrika Persson-Fischier, Helene Martinsson-Wallin, Evelina Elf Donaldson, Mareike Schaub. “Authenticity” as a Pathway to Sustainable Cultural Tourism? The Cases of Gotland and Rapa Nui. Sustainability. 2021; 13 (11):6302.
Chicago/Turabian StyleMarije Poort; Ulrika Persson-Fischier; Helene Martinsson-Wallin; Evelina Elf Donaldson; Mareike Schaub. 2021. "“Authenticity” as a Pathway to Sustainable Cultural Tourism? The Cases of Gotland and Rapa Nui." Sustainability 13, no. 11: 6302.
Sustainability challenges in tourism are widely discussed. There is a huge need for education in the field of destination development. Students require appropriate problem-solving skills. This article examines the master’s course in destination development at Uppsala University, Campus Gotland, with the aim of increasing students’ skills in solving sustainability problems. The course took place in the spring semester of 2020 with the main goal of improving students’ skills in formulating and solving sustainable challenges in groups. This was achieved by activating the heterogeneity of the group, seeking relevant information and facts, and organising and carrying out the task with a design-thinking methodology. Students were provided with real problems or challenges by tourist companies, authorities and other interest groups on the island of Gotland. The purpose of this study is to describe the group of students as well as joint learning processes and knowledge needed in the work towards sustainable solutions. The major implication of the study is that the course gave the students the opportunity to deepen their understanding of both the barriers and benefits of working with heterogeneous groups. Furthermore, the study revealed a number of factors that all organisations would need to take into account in order to improve the effectiveness of their work towards sustainable solutions.
Anette Oxenswärdh; Ulrika Persson-Fischier. Mapping Master Students’ Processes of Problem Solving and Learning in Groups in Sustainability Education. Sustainability 2020, 12, 5299 .
AMA StyleAnette Oxenswärdh, Ulrika Persson-Fischier. Mapping Master Students’ Processes of Problem Solving and Learning in Groups in Sustainability Education. Sustainability. 2020; 12 (13):5299.
Chicago/Turabian StyleAnette Oxenswärdh; Ulrika Persson-Fischier. 2020. "Mapping Master Students’ Processes of Problem Solving and Learning in Groups in Sustainability Education." Sustainability 12, no. 13: 5299.