Canada

As a researcher, I deploy targeted methods to get actionable insights: Surveys (personal/QR-code/social media-enabled to understand visitor feedback and quantify trends), In-Depth Interviews (uncovering local stakeholder perspectives and reveal ‘why’ behind data), Field Research (direct observation of real-world behaviors in tourism settings to capture authentic interactions), and Controlled Experiments (testing interventions like volunteer programs or application of new tourism attractions).

Social and cultural dynamics, focusing on how people interact, form communities, and navigate identity within diverse contexts. It also addresses how traditions, norms, and cultural practices influence human behavior and societal development.

This paper examines the remarkable transformation of Siberia’s Priiskovy region, where winter tourism development overcame political resistance to become a catalyst for social and economic revival. Seven years ago, visionary entrepreneurs recognized the untapped potential of Priiskovy’s pristine wilderness, initiating snowmobile and cat skiing operations despite government indifference. Their success story reveals how tourism can revitalize post-industrial communities while reshaping political engagement in remote regions.

Emotion is a feeling. It is not a thought. Such as happiness, love, fear, anger, or boredom. Emotions can be caused by a specific situation that you are in. Or by a specific experience that you have. Explore the alchemy of authenticity in Indigenous tourism – where ancestral wisdom meets modern curiosity. I examine how BC’s First Nations create transformative experiences by engaging emotions, storytelling, and multisensory immersion. Through case studies like Klahoose Wilderness Resort and West Coast Expeditions, I dissect how authenticity isn’t just “pristine” (MacCannell, 1973) but felt – and why this emotional resonance is tourism’s ultimate competitive edge.

Most important is to find the “heart of the destination” – its competitive advantage that helps it stand out of other similar destinations. It is the soul that visitors remember and communities cherish; unique, authentic essence that sets it apart.
This strategic approach helps build sustainable demand, avoiding mass tourism traps by targeting niche markets that value authenticity.
This strategic approach helps build sustainable demand, avoiding mass tourism traps by targeting niche markets that value authenticity.

is transforming, authentic tourism that boosts well-being. It is a regenerative travel model  where visitors are moving beyond superficial sightseeing and immerse themselves in local life. I call it 3Ls: ‘Live Like a Local’ – a vacation that transforms tourists into temporary community members, creating authentic experiences rooted in reciprocity rather than consumption.