Guiding tourism on Svalbard: A place-responsive pedagogical approach

Abstract

This master thesis explores the potential of applying a place-responsive pedagogy to the tourism sector on Svalbard. It addresses the need for a guiding framework which shapes how tourists engage and interact with the places they will encounter when visiting, as currently there is no guide standard on Svalbard. This qualitative study incorporates an interpretive research paradigm where semi structured interviews have been conducted with 6 experienced stakeholders in the tourism sector on Svalbard. Rephotography examples of places on Svalbard have been incorporated as part of my semi structured interviews via a photo-elicitation technique where cultural and climatic examples which depict changes in the landscapes were used to generate additional data. Findings reveal that elements of a place-responsive pedagogy both exist on Svalbard already, and are lacking in some respects. Furthermore, rephotography can communicate cultural and climatic changes on Svalbard as part of a place-responsive pedagogy.