Construction of community in Northern Värmland : a study of local people’s experiences of outdoor life and nature tourism

Abstract: This master’s thesis in rural development explores how local inhabitants perceive tourism and how it is included in their sense of community. How people use narratives and activities to make meanings of their community is in the centre of attention. The fieldwork took place in the areas around Sysslebäck, situated in northern Värmland. The material was collected through semi structured interviews with inhabitants in Sysslebäck who have an interest in outdoor life. The study focuses on two nature tourism facilities: one that is “small” and locally owned, and one that is “big” and externally owned. Local people stress the importance of the small facility’s local ownership and its history in the community, whereas the lack of local anchoring is described as a shortcoming for the big facility. The history of the small facility in the community means that people have memories of being there, which have created a certain feeling for it and the scenic nature surrounding it. The analysis is based on the question How is a sense of community maintained over time? Ruth Liepins’ theory is used for the understanding of how construction of community is made and it shows that the content of community is continuously contested among people with different perceptions of what belongs and what does not. The meanings of community are constantly negotiated, showing that it is not static but always changing.