Tourism Experience Innovation in Nature Parks

Introduction Provision of tourism experience products and services in connection with Danish nature parks (https://www.friluftsraadet.dk/danskenaturparker) are far from abundant but presents a possible local development potential in several peripheral and semi-peripheral areas of Denmark. This paper discuss the attitudes towards, and potentials and barriers for innovations of new experience services and products tied to Danish naturals parks .It focuses in particular on barriers and potentials for such development among local private companies (e.g. landowners and existing tourism and service companies) and voluntary organizations. Theoretical approach Drawing on tourism entrepreneurship and innovation literature (e.g. Ateljevich & Doorne, 2000; Solvoll et al. 2015; Sundbo et al, 2007), experience economy (e.g. Andersson, 2007; Sundbo & Sørensen, 2013), practice (e.g. Pantzar & Shove, 2010; Warde, 2005) and actor network theory (e.g. Van Der Duim et al, 2013) the paper builds an analytical framework for interpreting potentials and barriers for locally based experience innovation activities connected to nature parks. Inspired by Pantzar and Shove (2010) this framework focuses on the possible innovation practices resulting from combinations of a) local material conditions of nature parks; b) entrepreneurs images of nature parks, and c) their know-what and know-how of developing nature park related experiences.The theoretical framework relates these elements of practices to the role of local actor networks and the role of nature parks in these networks. We argue that this provides a relevant understanding of the development of interests and potentials for locally based innovation activities in and around nature parks. Method Empirically the paper focuses on the Danish Nature Park Åmosen (NPÅ). NPÅ is located on Zeeland and is an area of important and unique historical, natural and geological values. It consists of lakes, bogs, moraine landscapes and contains several historicalsites.The empirical research is related to the research and development project “Nye Veje i Naturpark Åmosen” (“New Paths in Nature Park Åmosen”; funded by Nordea Fonden; see https://nordeafonden.dk/nyheder/flere-gaester-til-vestsjaellands-natur-og-kulturskatte). This project aims, among other things, to incite and support local actors within and around NPÅ to develop new experience products and services.This paper presents the first steps in this process as it seeks to identify potentials and barriers for such development. For this, a number of qualitative exploratory interviews will be made during May and June 2019. Interviewees include landowners, service companies, voluntary organizations as well as keypersons in the administrative organization of NPÅ and relevant municipalactors.Interviews cover topics such as interviewees’ perceptions of NPÅ and the development potential surrounding it, as well as their participation in different relevant networks that may affect their interests, possibilities and approaches to taking part in new experience developments.Expected findingsWe expect the findings to provide knowledge of experience entrepreneurship practices that may exist or possibly develop in and around NPÅ and how networks can affect this development.Further, the practical implications of this will be discussed. These practical implication will guide the research and development project onward and will be of relevance also in other Danish and foreign Nature Park contexts.