Volume: 16  Number: 1  Page: 23–41  doi:10.2167/jost711.0

Research article

Ecotourism and Simulated Attractions: Tourists' Attitudes Towards Integrated Sites in a Desert Area

Arie Reichela, Natan Urielya and Amir Shanib aDepartment of Hotel and Tourism Management, School of Management, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel and bRosen College of Hospitality Management, University of Central Florida, Orlando, USA

This paper examines the attitudes of tourists towards a conceptual planning approach, which combines elements of ecotourism with themed and simulated attractions for sustainable tourism development in desert areas. Based on a survey of 453 tourists, the study examines respondents' preferences regarding the suggested contents and facilities of tourist attractions to be developed in the Israeli desert area of the Negev. The findings indicate that the respondents do not necessarily see contradictions between the seemingly irreconcilable ecotourism elements and themed simulations. They expressed clear preference for the development of sites with appropriate infrastructure and themed simulations that preserve local nature and culture. The findings are discussed within the frameworks of ecotourism, post-modern tourism, and tourism development in desert areas.

Keywords: desert tourism, ecotourism, post-modern tourism, sustainable development

Copyright © 2008 A. Reichel et al

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