University of Alberta The Nature of Adventure in Soft Adventure Tourism A thesis submitted to the

156 Pages·1999·8.16 MB·English

University of Alberta
The Nature of Adventure in Soft Adventure Tourism
A thesis submitted to the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research in partial fulfilment
of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts
Recreation and Leisure Studies
Faculty of Physicai Education and Recreation
Edmonton, Alberta
Fall, 1998
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ABSTRACI'
The purpose of this study was to investigate the nature of adventure in sofi
adventure tourism as experienced by tourists. A phenomenologicd approach was used in
order to gain insight into the lived expenences of fifteen individuals who had been
involved in dog sledding, back country skiing, or horse/trail riding adventure tourism
experiences. Descriptive accounts of CO-researcherç'e xpenences were provided in the
form of interviews and protocols (written accounts).
The sixteen themes which emerged fiom the experiences of the CO-researchers
include: the imaginative experience; hesitation and doubt; fear, novelty; freedom;
exploration; challenge; the unexpected; personal risk; remoteness; experiencing nature;
the learning experience; the social experience; the comparative experience;
transformation; and Living history (being wiih another time and place).
The study makes the argument that there exist significant oppominities to
incorporate adventure education oppomuiities within the sof t adventure tourism
expenence. Implications for marketing adventure tourism expenences are also discussed.
DEDICATION
This thesis is dedicated to al2 those who recognize and value adventure.
and especially to those who make u practice of it.
Acknowledgements
First, I would like to acknowledge the members of my thesis cornmittee. I thank
Dr. Debra Shogan for her words of encouragement and her support, and Dr. Jim Butler
for his role as the extemal committee member. Most importantly, many thanks to Dr.
Guy Swinnerton for doiog an excellent job of supervising my graduate program, as well
as this thesis. 1 truly appreciated the fieedom to pursue this research project according to
rny own interests.
Second, I'd like to acknowledge the support staff who have helped me with day-
to-day activities. details, and general business on countless occasions during my period of
study in the Faculty of Physical Education and Recreation. Many thanks go to Tana
Farrell, Anne Jordan, Carol McNeil, Jeanne Dunn, Carmen Mccomell, Jan Harris, Kris
Mattern, Allison Dietz, Judy Davidson, and Brenda Briggs for being the super people that
they are and for making my life easier. Likewise, 1 mut thank the talented computer
guys Rob Fairbaim, Dune Erautt, and Doug Zutz for their often timely and much needed
assistance.
Finally, 1 am thanldul for the assistance and friendship of dl of the graduate
students who I've been very lucky to get to how within the Faculty of Physical
Education and Recreation. 1 especially thank al1 the members of the Green Room!
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
CHAPTER I
AdventureExperiences ............................................. 1
Introduction ................................................1
Why the Interest? ............................................ 4
Purpose of the Study ........................................ 5
Overview of the Thesis ....................................... 6
CHAPTER II
Exploring the Literature ............................................. 7
Tourisrn. a Definition ........................................ - 7
The Importance of Adventure Tourisrn ........................... 8
Psychological Motivations for Adventure ........................ 10
AdventureTravel ........................................... 14
Adventure Travel Defined ..............................1 4
Soft versus Hard Adventure Tourism ..................... 16
TheNatureofAdventure ..................................... 18
AdvenhirePursuits ....................................1 8
Adventure Education (utilizing the adventure experience) ..... 19
AdventureDefined .................................... 21
Discussion ................................................ 25
Related Research .......................................... -30
CEAPTER III
PlanningtheRoute ................................................3 5
Epistemological Directions .................................. -36
Phenomenological Research ................................. -37
Basic Propositions of Phenomenology ......................... -39
Explicating Preconceptions ................................... 40
Selection of Participants .................................... -41
Data Collection Methods ..................................... 44
Thematic Analysis ......................................... -47
Theme Development ........................................4 8
TheIssueofRigor .......................................... 49
Ethical Considerations ......................................- 50
The Written Research Text ................................... 51
The Study's Contribution .................................... -52
CHAPTER IV
TheExperienceofAdventure .......................................5 4
Introduction ............................................... 54
The Imaginative Experience ................................. -56
Hesitation and Doubt ........................................ 57
Fear ..................................................... 57
Novelty ................................................... 58
Freedom
Exploration ................................................ 62
Challenge ................................................. 63
The Unexpected ........................................... -64
Remoteness ...............................................6 8
Experiencing Nature ....................................... -69
The Comparative Adventure .................................- 77
Transformation: JP's Adventure Experience ...................... 78
Living History (Being with another time and place):
Rob's adventure experience ................................... 81
CHAPTER V
AdventureNotes .................................................8 9
The Stimulus: Motivations ...................................- 90
Lmpediments/Barrien to Adventure .............................9 1
Facilitating the Adventure Expenence ........................... 93
Benefits of the Interview/Reflection Experience .................. -95
Profound and Lasting Effects .................................. 96
CHAPTER VI
Toward a Broader Understanding of Adventure ........................ -98
Cornparkg Soft Adventure Toourism Experiences ................. 102
Risk and an Alternative Perspective of Adventure ................ 107
Ecotourism versus Adventure Tourism ......................... 108
Defining Adventure Travel .................................. 111
Adventure Education and Adventure Tourism ................... 112
Marketing Adventure Experiences ............................. 117
CHAPTER W
UponReflection ................................................. 121
The Nature and Significance of the Study ....................... 121
The Study and its Discoveries ................................ 123
Implications for Adventure Tourism ........................... 124
Recornmendations for Future Research ......................... 125
Ments of the Phenomenologicd Approach ...................... 127
FinaiThoughts ............................................ 128
References ..................................................... 131
Appendices
A Interview Schedule ................................... 140
B Protocol Instructions ................................. 141
C Informed Consent for Interviewees ...................... 142
D Informeci Consent for Participants Providhg Protocols ...... 144
LIST OF TABLES
Page
1 Characteristics of Adventure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . - . . . . . . . -26
,
2 Thematic Description of The Experience of Adventure . . . . . . . . . . . . .99