Abstract |
Due to its reliance on natural landscapes nature-based tourism is sensitive to other land uses which lead to landscape changes, such as renewable energy harnessing. For identification of locations most suitable for renewable energy infrastructure knowledge regarding the spatial extent of the impacts of such infrastructure on nature-based tourism is highly needed. Estimating the impact area of renewable energy infrastructure on nature-based tourism is, however, challenging. Besides taking into consideration the characteristics of the energy infrastructure and of the surrounding landscapes it is important to investigate how power plants change the meanings assigned to the areas by various tourism stakeholders. Moreover, natural areas used for tourism can be defined as places which are constructed via numerous relations and processes going on within these areas and in larger networks (Massey, 2005; Urry & Larsen, 2011). Therefore, it should be taken into consideration how renewable energy infrastructure affects surrounding areas as elements of tourism systems (Leiper, 1979, 1990). This study focuses on the views of the tourism industry in Iceland and aims to i) map the impact area of renewable energy infrastructure on tourism as perceived by the tourism industry; and ii) investigate the factors affecting the size and shape of the perceived impact area. To achieve these aims 49 semi-structured interviews were conducted with the managers of the tourism companies operating near six existing and proposed hydro-, geothermal and wind power projects situated within or at the border of the Icelandic Central Highlands. This area is an important venue for nature-based tourism as well as of high interest for further energy infrastructure development due to abundance of renewable resources. During the interviews, participants were asked to map their perceived impact areas of renewable energy infrastructure on tourism using participatory mapping software and, among other topics, to discuss the reasoning behind their estimated impact areas. |