Abstract
Details
Keywords
In the past decade, scholars across social sciences shifted their attention towards creative and dynamic research methods. Despite the growing popularity of LEGO® Serious Play®…
Abstract
Purpose
In the past decade, scholars across social sciences shifted their attention towards creative and dynamic research methods. Despite the growing popularity of LEGO® Serious Play® method across social sciences, few studies applied the method in tourism and hospitality research. This method represents a powerful tool which uses a toy to solve problems, explore ideas and achieve objectives in business, research and community work. This paper aims to provide insights into qualitative multi-method approach incorporating LEGO® Serious Play® to gain a deeper understanding of hosts-guest experiences in volunteer tourism exchange programme.
Design/methodology/approach
The empirical material mentioned in the paper is based on an interpretive study investigating hosts-guest experiences on organic farms. The study used a multi-method approach, and the data were collected through unstructured interviews, observation, reflexive notes and LEGO® Serious Play® workshops with 32 participants in total.
Findings
The paper highlights the benefits and limitations of the qualitative multi-method study, specifically focusing on LEGO® Serious Play® as a novel approach for tourism and hospitality research.
Originality/value
This study contributes to making the current body of knowledge on qualitative multi-method methodologies and creative visual methodologies in the field of tourism and hospitality. As such, the paper provides an overview of the LEGO® Serious Play® method. Specifically, this exploratory paper brings attention to how and to what end existing LEGO® Serious Play® has been modified and adopted in this multi-method study. Furthermore, the paper highlights the future use to benefit the tourism and hospitality academics and industry professionals.
Details
Keywords
This paper aims to review two micro-trends influencing the landscape of adventure tourism activities in Nepal. In spite of being a popular adventure tourism destination for more…
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to review two micro-trends influencing the landscape of adventure tourism activities in Nepal. In spite of being a popular adventure tourism destination for more than half a century, the offer of adventure tourism activities in Nepal remained limited until recently.
Design/methodology/approach
This study underpinned by interpretive epistemology used netnographic methods of data collection. As such, 15 stakeholderss’ interviews were conducted, and 25 grey literature sources were collected.
Findings
The findings suggest that a bottom-up approach to the development of emerging adventure sports and the upsurge of domestic adventure tourism are the micro-trends influencing the adventure tourism landscape in Nepal. This paper discusses skiing and mountain biking as emerging land-based adventure activities. One distinguishing feature is that those initiatives are driven by locals passionate about this sport. Furthermore, skiing and mountain biking are promoted for both international and domestic tourists. Overall, the findings highlight the growth of the domestic adventure tourism market in Nepal.
Practical implications
This study recommends shifting attention from focussing merely on international visitors and to establish domestic adventure tourism market. For practitioners, including tourism agencies and wider industry stakeholders, it might be important to explore the demand in adventure tourism and create products for domestic adventure tourism.
Social implications
Creating and expanding adventure tourism activities for locals would not only provide economic benefit but also contribute to well-being and recreation opportunities for Nepali.
Originality/value
To date, research on adventure tourism activities in Nepal other than mountaineering remains scant. This paper contributes towards understanding the micro-trends influencing the landscape of adventure tourism activities in Nepal and for the first time, explores the trends of Nepal’s domestic adventure tourism market.