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A master's thesis from Aalborg University
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The effect of tourism: Island tourism and seasonality

Translated title

The effect of tourism: Ø turisme og sæsonbestemt

Author

Term

4. term

Publication year

2021

Submitted on

Pages

173

Abstract

Dette speciale undersøger, hvordan turisme påvirker livet i en ø-kommune med Bornholm som case. Udgangspunktet er socialkonstruktivisme, hvilket betyder, at analysen ser på, hvordan beboere, myndigheder og erhvervsaktører oplever og fortolker turismens rolle. Destinationsorganisationen (DMO, Destination Bornholm) og øvrige interessenter ønsker at forlænge turistsæsonen for at gøre det mere attraktivt at bo på øen hele året. Kommunen vil samtidig bruge turisme som en platform til at tiltrække nye tilflyttere og dermed skabe befolkningsvækst. Strategien rummer delmål, der skal øge livskvaliteten, blandt andet gennem byfornyelse og områdefornyelse. Denne form for udvikling åbner nye muligheder lokalt og styrker ejerskab og samarbejde i lokalsamfundene. Bornholm er i gang med at skabe en ny identitet. I 1980'erne var arbejdsmarkedet præget af fiskeri, men kvoter førte til, at store dele af erhvervet forsvandt, og mange job gik tabt. Mange ansatte er siden blevet omskolet og har fundet nye leveveje. I dag er kommunen den største arbejdsplads med cirka 4.500 stillinger, og turismen er den næststørste med knap 3.000. Øens brand er 'Solskinsøen' – en fortælling, som har trukket mange gæster. Fordi turismen er så vigtig for økonomien, er der stor interesse for at udjævne sæsonudsving. Klimaet er en hovedårsag til sæsonpræget efterspørgsel. Destination Bornholm arbejder derfor for at tiltrække gæster i skulder- og vintersæsonen ved at fremhæve øens autenticitet. Flere interessenter mener dog, at brandet bør gentænkes, fordi Bornholm rummer mere end solen; betegnelsen kan opleves som iscenesat autenticitet. Overordnet søger Bornholm kontinuerlig udvikling frem for den stagnation, der ofte forbindes med yderområder.

This thesis examines how tourism influences life in an island community, using Bornholm as a case. The study is grounded in social constructivism, meaning it focuses on how residents, authorities, and businesses experience and interpret tourism's role. The destination management organization (DMO, Destination Bornholm) and other stakeholders aim to extend the tourist season to make year-round living more attractive. The municipality also uses tourism as a platform to attract newcomers and grow the population. The strategy includes goals to improve quality of life, including urban regeneration and area renewal. These initiatives create new local opportunities and strengthen ownership and cooperation within communities. Bornholm is reshaping its identity. In the 1980s the labor market was dominated by fishing, but quotas led to the loss of much of the industry and many jobs. Many workers have since retrained and found new livelihoods. Today the municipality is the largest employer with about 4,500 positions, and tourism is second with nearly 3,000. The island's brand is the 'sunshine island', a story that has attracted many visitors. Because tourism is vital to the economy, stakeholders want to smooth out seasonality. Climate is a main driver of seasonal demand. Destination Bornholm therefore seeks to attract off-season visitors by highlighting the island's authenticity. Several stakeholders, however, believe the brand should be redefined, as Bornholm offers more than sunshine; the current label can feel like staged authenticity. Overall, Bornholm strives for ongoing development rather than the stagnation often associated with peripheral areas.

[This summary has been rewritten with the help of AI based on the project's original abstract]