Tourism-induced landscape change as assessed by tourists

How do tourists assess landscape change? Photo: SLF

The lay assessment of tourism-induced landscape changes was investigated with standardized questionnaires and photo-experiments. A main result was that tourists are very sensitive to landscape changes caused by tourist infrastructure. They wish the landscape to remain traditional! Furthermore the survey data indicated that the tourist's choice of destination is sensitive to the existence of tourism-induced landscape changes.

Recognising that the visual aspects of the landscape get more important as a future supply factor, one might interpret these result as an early warning that more serious reactions of tourists might occur due to negative impacts on traditional landscapes. Thus, future resort planning must take this into account and try to minimize the impacts of new tourist infrastructure - in order to keep the resort attractive for tourists!

Publications

On-line information:

• Hunziker, M., 2000: Einstellungen der Bevölkerung zu möglichen Landschaftsentwicklungen in den Alpen, Birmensdorf, Eidg. Forschungsanstalt WSL. 157 S. >>>
  
• Hunziker, M. & Buchecker, M., 1999: Bedürfnisorientierte Landschaftsentwicklung im Gebirgsraum? Ergebnisse sozialwissenschaftlicher Untersuchungen. Forum für Wissen 1999/2 >>>
  

Other key references:

• Hunziker, M., 1995: The Spontaneous Reafforstation in Abandoned Agricultural Lands: Perception and Aesthetical Assessement by Locals and Tourists. Landscape and Urban Planning 31: 399-410
  
• Hunziker, M., 1994: Wiederbewaldung von Brachflächen - ein Verlust für das Landschaftserlebnis? Cratschla 2/1/1994: 34-39
  Güsewell, S., Krüsi, B.O. & Hunziker, M., 1994: Skipisten im Sommer - Urteile von Laien und Ökologen. Inf.bl. Forsch.bereich Landsch. WSL 23: 1-3
  
• Hunziker, M., 1992: Tourismusbedingte Landschaftsveränderungen im Urteil der Touristen. Geographica Helvetica 4/1992: 143-149
  
• Hunziker, M., 1992: Tourism-Induced Landscape Changes as Assessed by Tourists. IAPS 12 international conference, Proceedings, vol. 1: 108.
  
• Hunziker, M., 1991: Die Schönheit der Landschaft im Urteil der Touristen. Inf.bl. Forsch.bereich Landsch. WSL 9: 1-2.
  

Contact

• Marcel Hunziker