Short answer
Design strategies for adventure tourism destinations must move beyond product-centric offerings to encompass a comprehensive ecosystem of resource management, sustainable practices, and supportive governance.
- Field
- Innovation & Design
- Source
- Journal of Outdoor Recreation and Tourism (2025)
- Method
- Qualitative research
- Sample
- 16 participants
- Evidence
- Moderate effect
Enhancing the competitiveness of island-based adventure tourism requires strategic interventions that holistically integrate natural resource management, infrastructure development, and robust government support, guided by sustainability principles. This innovation & design research insight is drawn from a 2025 study published in Journal of Outdoor Recreation and Tourism. Using Qualitative research with 16 participants, researchers explored how this design variable affects real-world outcomes. The key design takeaway: Design strategies for adventure tourism destinations must move beyond product-centric offerings to encompass a comprehensive ecosystem of resource management, sustainable practices, and supportive governance.
Island Adventure Tourism Competitiveness Driven by Integrated Resource and Sustainability Strategies
Enhancing the competitiveness of island-based adventure tourism requires strategic interventions that holistically integrate natural resource management, infrastructure development, and robust government support, guided by sustainability principles.
Journal of Outdoor Recreation and Tourism · 2025
Key Findings
- 01Natural resources, sustainability, and infrastructure are critical determinants of destination competitiveness.
- 02Strategic interventions are necessary to balance economic growth, environmental conservation, and community engagement.
- 03Government support plays a significant role in shaping tourism development.
Application
Design takeaway
Design strategies for adventure tourism destinations must move beyond product-centric offerings to encompass a comprehensive ecosystem of resource management, sustainable practices, and supportive governance.
How to apply
When designing or advising on adventure tourism projects in island or remote locations, conduct thorough stakeholder interviews to understand the interplay of natural resources, community needs, and governmental policies, and build sustainability into the core of the strategy.
Project actions
- 01When researching a tourism-related design project, consider the 'Triple Bottom Line' (people, planet, profit) as a framework.
- 02Investigate the role of local government and community involvement in the success of similar ventures.
Method & Evidence
Variables
Strengths & Limitations
Strengths
- +Focuses on a specific, under-researched niche (small island adventure tourism).
- +Integrates theoretical frameworks (RBV, TBL) with practical stakeholder insights.
Limitations
The insights are based on interviews, which can be subjective; a broader quantitative study might offer different perspectives.
Reliability & validity
The use of semi-structured interviews with multiple stakeholders provides a degree of triangulation, enhancing the validity of the findings. However, the small sample size may limit generalizability, impacting external validity.
Think critically
How might the specific geographical and cultural context of an island destination influence the effectiveness of the identified strategic interventions compared to a mainland destination?
Design Principles
"Integrate resource management, sustainability, and stakeholder support into the strategic design of tourism offerings."
This research highlights that for island destinations, simply possessing natural attractions is insufficient for sustained competitiveness. A strategic approach that balances economic goals with environmental preservation and community involvement is crucial for long-term success and resilience in the adventure tourism sector.
What This Means for Your Design
To make island adventure tourism successful, you need to think about the environment, the local people, and the government, not just the fun activities.
How to use in your project
- 1.Use the findings to justify the importance of a holistic approach in your design project's contextual research.
- 2.Reference the study when discussing the need for stakeholder engagement and sustainable practices in your design rationale.
Add to My Project
Quick Cite
Paragraph starter
This research highlights that the competitiveness of island-based adventure tourism is not solely dependent on natural assets but is significantly shaped by strategic interventions that integrate resource management, sustainability principles, and robust government support. For instance, the study identified that balancing economic growth with environmental conservation and community engagement, alongside ensuring accessibility and government backing, are critical for long-term success.
Source
Journal of Outdoor Recreation and Tourism
Strategic interventions for enhancing destination competitiveness in island-based adventure tourism: Insights from a small island destination
journal · 2025
View sourceQuestions About This Research
- What does the research say about island adventure tourism competitiveness driven by integrated resource and sustainability strategies?
- Design strategies for adventure tourism destinations must move beyond product-centric offerings to encompass a comprehensive ecosystem of resource management, sustainable practices, and supportive governance. Evidence: Journal of Outdoor Recreation and Tourism (2025).
- Why does "Island Adventure Tourism Competitiveness Driven by Integrated Resource and Sustainability Strategies" matter for design?
- This research highlights that for island destinations, simply possessing natural attractions is insufficient for sustained competitiveness. A strategic approach that balances economic goals with environmental preservation and community involvement is crucial for long-term success and resilience in the adventure tourism sector.
- How can designers apply this research?
- Design strategies for adventure tourism destinations must move beyond product-centric offerings to encompass a comprehensive ecosystem of resource management, sustainable practices, and supportive governance.
- What were the main findings?
- Natural resources, sustainability, and infrastructure are critical determinants of destination competitiveness.. Strategic interventions are necessary to balance economic growth, environmental conservation, and community engagement.. Government support plays a significant role in shaping tourism development.
- What research method was used?
- Qualitative research with 16 participants.
- How strong is the evidence?
- Evidence strength is rated Moderate effect, based on a 2025 journal from Journal of Outdoor Recreation and Tourism.
- What should I do differently in my next project?
- When designing or advising on adventure tourism projects in island or remote locations, conduct thorough stakeholder interviews to understand the interplay of natural resources, community needs, and governmental policies, and build sustainability into the core of the strategy.
- What are the limitations?
- Findings are specific to a single small island destination and may not be universally generalizable without adaptation.