"The social impact of domestic tourism at Destination Vesterhavet - A case study in social sustainable development in the coastal city of Hvide Sande": “The social impact of domestic tourism at Destination Vesterhavet - A case study in social sustainable development in the coastal city of Hvide Sande”
Author
Hyldgaard, Kasper Franck
Term
4. term
Education
Publication year
2021
Submitted on
2021-05-31
Pages
64
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic caused a sharp downturn in Danish tourism. In 2020, domestic destinations were largely left to Danes themselves. West Jutland (Destination Vesterhavet) is one of Denmark’s most visited regions, known for its coastline, beaches, quiet and idyllic surroundings, and authentic local food experiences, and for many years it has attracted holidaymakers, especially from Germany. Coastal tourism is a major form of leisure worldwide and affects destinations economically, socially, and environmentally. With sustainability high on the agenda, sustainable tourism is receiving more attention, yet much research still emphasizes economic and environmental impacts over social ones. This thesis uses the COVID-19 disruptions to travel as an opportunity to examine social dynamics at Destination Vesterhavet. It looks at the social impact of increased domestic visitation as mobility declined and everyday life became more stationary. To study this change, a framework was developed that brings together existing theories and perspectives to shape the research question, guide the selection of relevant data, support interpretation, and propose explanations for the underlying causes of observed phenomena. In a post-pandemic context, the findings show respondents’ desire for the return of the region’s original visitors at a time when domestic tourism is in the spotlight and promoted by VisitDenmark. The thesis connects these findings to theory and discusses how the rise in domestic tourism at Destination Vesterhavet creates both opportunities and threats.
COVID-19-pandemien gav dansk turisme et markant tilbageslag. I 2020 var de danske destinationer i høj grad overladt til danskerne selv. Vestjylland (Destination Vesterhavet) er en af landets mest besøgte regioner, kendt for kyst, strande, rolige og idylliske omgivelser samt lokale, autentiske madoplevelser, og den har i mange år tiltrukket især tyske feriegæster. Kystturisme er globalt en af de vigtigste former for fritid og oplevelser og påvirker destinationer økonomisk, socialt og miljømæssigt. Med den stigende fokus på bæredygtighed får bæredygtig turisme mere opmærksomhed, men meget forskning lægger stadig vægten på økonomiske og miljømæssige effekter, mens de sociale effekter er mindre udforskede. Dette speciale bruger de store ændringer i rejsemønstre under COVID-19 som en mulighed for at undersøge sociale dynamikker på Destination Vesterhavet. Det ser på de sociale konsekvenser af, at flere danskere end før besøgte området, mens mobiliteten faldt, og hverdagen blev mere stillestående. For at indkredse og forstå denne udvikling er der udviklet et rammeværk, der samler eksisterende teorier og perspektiver til at formulere forskningsspørgsmålet, styre udvælgelse af relevante data, støtte tolkningen og forklare underliggende årsager til observerede fænomener. I en post-pandemisk kontekst viser resultaterne, at respondenterne ønsker de oprindelige gæster tilbage i en tid, hvor indenlandsk turisme er i fokus og profileres af VisitDenmark. Specialet kobler disse resultater til teori og diskuterer, hvordan den øgede indenlandske turisme på Destination Vesterhavet rummer både muligheder og trusler.
[This apstract has been rewritten with the help of AI based on the project's original abstract]