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 National Library Biblimtheque .nationale du Canada Acquisitions and Acquisitions et Bibliographie Services services bibliographiques 395 Wellington Street 395. rue Wellington OtÉawaON K1AW OÈtawaON K1A W canada Canada The author has granted a non- L'auteur a accordé une licence non exclusive licence allowing the exclusive permettant à la National Library of Canada to Bibliothèque nationale du Canada de reproduce, loan, distribute or seIl reproduire, prêter, distribuer ou copies of this thesis in microfom, vendre des copies de cette thèse sous paper or electronic formats. la forme de rnicrofiche/film, de reproduction sur papier ou sur format électronique. The author retains ownersbip of the L'auteur conserve la propriété du copyright in this thesis. Neither the droit d'auteur qui protège cette thèse. thesis nor substantial extracts fkom it Ni la thèse ni des extraits substantieis may be p ~ t e odr otheIURse de celle-ci ne doivent être imprimés reproduced without the author's ou autrement reproduits sans son permission. autorisation. 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