Tourist Experiences & Zoo Tourism: A case study of Tropikariet

Abstract: Abstract Zoos have been gaining increased popularity from tourists in recent years, as many people feel distant from wildlife and thus are eager to experience closeness with animals. The aim of this paper is to analyse tourist experiences of modern zoo tourism and the research question asked is “What types of tourist experiences are tourists gaining when visiting a modern zoo?” To achieve this aim, knowledge from previous studies on tourist experiences and theoretical perspective discussing these experiences, in particular experiences of wildlife tourism and modern zoos, are presented in the literature review. Empirically the study applies two qualitative research methods, semi-structured interviews and a netnography to the case of Tropikariet Zoo in Helsingborg, Sweden. Data was collected from 103 online comment reviews of Tropikariet from TripAdvisor and 10 interviews with visitors to the zoo. Grounded theory was utilized to code the data, and eight dimensions of tourist experiences were found in the process. They are: entertainment, social interactions, aesthetic, educational values, uniqueness, ease of facilities, negative experience, and subjective well-being. The results of the study comes with significant social implications, showing how modern zoos are becoming one of the most attractive tourism destinations in cities, as they offer a chance for people to get closer to wildlife. Furthermore, based on the findings in the empirical study conclusions are drawn about how zoo destinations might work to create more memorable tourist experiences for their visitors, for example in terms of improving the on-site guiding, but also regarding developing modern zoos as more sustainable tourist destinations.