Introduction to Hvaler’s Greenmapper – Supporting Ecotourism and Mitigating Seasonality
Ecotourism refers to travel to relatively unspoiled natural areas to experience wildlife and local cultures. Its original concept links resource conservation with local development, and the field has grown alongside outdoor tourism, rising visits to protected areas, and greater environmental awareness. Marine protected areas and archipelagos draw visitors for their pristine settings and sense of tranquillity. Beyond the regular peak-season activities, some tourists actually value the absence of crowds as part of the nature-based experience.
If managed sustainably, ecotourism can help ease seasonality, particularly in marine and peripheral destinations, while also reducing the negative effects of mass tourism.
Following the definition of ecotourism as nature-based, low-impact tourism that involves learning and supports conservation and local well-being, we explore three ways to extend ecotourism across the year: dedicated winter/off-season activities such as nature photography and scenic boat tours; activities that naturally fall outside the traditional season, like birdwatching and plant observation; and nature-interpretation experiences tied to marine ecotourism that can be delivered in less natural, indoor-friendly settings.
Overall, we treat ecotourism as a coping strategy for easing peak-season pressure and spreading visitation more evenly, taking a visitor-oriented view to ask: how can ecotourism help address tourism seasonality in Hvaler by targeting tourists themselves?
What is Hvaler-Greenmapper Friends?
GreenMapper Friends is a scientific experiment with geography in focus. It provides insights into how people cherish nature and what is best for nature. In the case of Hvaler Islands, we invite people as “citizen scientists” to explore how to encourage ecotourism and mitigate seasonality through an interactive polling experiment to hear opinions and find consensus and divergence.
How can I participate in the project?
Step 1: Create an account
Press the button below this page. Register and participate in the project with a GreenMapper “friend/fan” account!
To start participating, you first mark on a map where you live. For privacy, you don’t mark your exact address, but approximately where you live. You can watch the short animation video to explain how this works.
>> Click and see how to place a home marker <<
Step 2: Participate in the survey of ecotourism and seasonality
After registering, you will be redirected to a voting page. The topic is how to actively engage in ecotourism to mitigate the seasonality. You can vote “Agree,” “Disagree,” and “Unsure/Pass” on various statements. Perhaps you have a completely different opinion. Give your opinion and submit it so that others can vote on your idea.
You will remain anonymous and will see a visualization of opinion groups. The votes will be used to analyze consensus and differences of opinion. The topics and measures that receive the most votes will be analysed and discussed during the later meeting with local organisations.
Disclaimer!
We feel we should give a warning! Yes, Greenmapper is a user-friendly web app designed for the general public. Still, it remains scientific software, with very limited funding and a very small technical support team. When compared to a simple written survey, Greenmapper stands out as a visually appealing and interactive tool. When compared to big tech applications, you may still find it far less fluent and user-friendly. Bear with our small team and us. Our means are limited, but our efforts, and yours (!), are noble.
Greenmapper is made possible with support from:
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