Towards sustainable growth in nature-based tourism destinations: Clients' views of land use options in Finnish Lapland

The recent tourism development plans for nature-based tourism destinations have raised concerns about how sustainable land use targets can be achieved. In Lapland, Northern Finland, the aim is to double the annual visitor rates by 2020 by boosting construction, which may threaten the quality of the landscape and the perceived environment. The tourism destinations should meet clients' environmental expectations and, therefore, it is important to assess the acceptability and desirability of ongoing or anticipated land use changes. This research aimed at studying tourists' environmental and accommodation preferences in northern Lapland tourism destinations. Altogether, 1054 foreign and domestic tourists participated in the on-site survey carried out during 2009-2010 at two main tourism destinations in Finnish Lapland. The respondents were asked about their willingness to engage in sustainable tourism practices, as well as their evaluation of different land use development options in the tourism destinations. The results suggest that building density and patterns are important in defining the quality of the environment in tourism destinations, as they affect the nature experiences associated with accommodation. The tourists valued small-scale accommodation units, habitat protection, green infrastructure, and easy access to authentic nature in the environs of their accommodation site. The study results stress the need for careful planning and design in tourism destinations while aiming for eco-efficient land use. The efforts include conservation of natural forest vegetation and landscaping practices, in addition to ensuring views of nature from the accommodation. (C) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.