Exploring sustainable experiences in tourism

Abstract

This study explores the vaguely defined concept of sustainable experiences. Specifically, it questions how perceived experience value at tourism destinations can be enhanced through sustainable experience dimensions. Although experiences and sustainable tourism are intrinsically interlinked, knowledge of sustainable experiences and how they can be included in experience design to enhance perceived value is limited. Within a lake context, local stakeholders, researchers and students were invited to actively identify and co-design sustainable experience dimensions using, among others, interviews with residents and tourists. Our findings suggest four sustainable experience dimensions: interaction with the natural environment; interaction with the cultural environment; insights and views; and lake-based activities. The study advocates for future research and management to better incorporate sustainable experience dimensions to holistically enhance tourists’ perceived experience value and destination sustainability.