Tourism in a nature-based destination: the human versus the ecological perspectives

In the tourism studies literature, wilderness has been addressed from two perspectives. From the first, human, perspective wilderness is a social, subjective construction that exists only in the mind of its users. From the second, ecological, perspective it is a material, objective reality. Here, we compare these two perspectives based on data collected in one of Poland's most popular nature-based destinations, The Great Masurian Lakes region, and develop a methodological framework which would operationalise this comparison and make it measurable. The research approach combined a survey of tourists and mapping of natural features. The data was analysed, first, to verify whether stated preferences regarding nature and the natural features surrounding tourist accommodation were coherent; this resulted in the construction of a Coherence Index (CI). Second, we analysed how stated preferences with respect to nature were linked to outdoor recreational activities; this was measured by a Nature Cruciality Index (NCI). Finally, both indexes were mapped and their spatial distributions were analysed. The findings showed that the subjective, social construction of wilderness does not always correspond to objective reality. Although tourists declared natural environment to be very important to them, in some cases the analysis found a lack of consistency between expressed preferences and the natural features found around accommodation. The phenomenon was mainly found in towns, where tourists were most nature-indifferent. Moreover, they were not interested in activities with high NCI. In some cases, however, the two perspectives were coherent, especially among nature-oriented tourists who stayed near lakes and those who stayed in villages (who were most conscious of their choices). Tourists who stayed near lakes undertook the most nature-crucial activities. These findings can be used to enhance local planning, management and marketing strategies for nature tourism.     

Club Carib: a geo-ethnography of seduction in a Lisbon dancing bar

Over the last three decades, nightlife has become one of the most important time–spaces for the reproduction of human relationships. In this paper, we examine Club Carib, a particular nightlife space in Lisbon’s Bairro Alto neighbourhood. Our focus is on the flirting strategies that occur during dance sessions. We examine the ways in which these seduction strategies operate in relation to particular constructions of race, class, cultural capital and gender. Particular attention is paid to the ways in which young adult straight males use their bodies to negotiate the dance space. We describe how the dance space is an environment in which the (hetero)normative and patriarchal character of Lisbon’s nightlife is often reinscribed, but also at times contested.