What fosters awe-inspiring experiences in nature-based tourism destinations?
Open accessAbstract
Awe, an intense, and usually positive emotion often experienced by individuals visiting nature-based tourism destinations, has the potential to nurture strong connections between individuals and their environment. Despite this, awe research has been neglected in the tourism literature, especially in relation to the aspects or features that foster awe-inspiring experiences. This study sought to rectify this by focusing on such experiences in the remote, unique Kimberley region in north-western Australia. A total of 49 tourist interviews were conducted to ascertain their responses to the question “what has been your most awe-inspiring experience and why?” Responses highlighted five distinct facets contributing to respondents’ awe-inspiring experiences: marine fauna, aesthetics, ecological phenomena, vast geological landscapes and reflective/perspective moments. Future research should focus on exploring the applicability of these facets to other nature-based tourism destinations.
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While the ubiquity of Eastern gray squirrels reduces their novelty, the emergence of a variation in their pelage coloration may change the way they are generally regarded by communities.
“While the ubiquity of Eastern gray squirrels reduces their novelty, the emergence of a variation in their pelage coloration may change the way they are generally regarded by communities (Chardonnet et al., 2002;Pearce et al., 2017).”
From Of Rarity and Symbolism: Understanding Human Perceptions of Charismatic Color Morphs (2024) · cites this paper as Pearce et al., 2017
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“…3 synthesizes the primary effects of awe in tourism contexts, highlighting five prominent outcomes: tourists’ environmentally responsible behavior (Pearce et al., 2016; L. Wang & Lyu, 2019; M. Zhao et al., 2022), well-being (Jiang, Xia et al., 2022; Severin et al., 2021; Van Cappellen & Saroglou,…”
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“Pearce et al. (2017) revealed five such elements: marine fauna, aesthetics, ecological phenomena, vast geological landscapes, and reflective/perspective moments.”
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“…entertainment meaning, but can provide messages of motivation, comfort, even influence behavior, and can also have a positive impact on listeners (Putri, 2023) Awe is a feeling that one feels when witnessing something extraordinary (Digun-Aweto et al., 2019; Lu et al., 2017; Pearce et al., 2017).”
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“A strong connection between individuals and environment has the potential to nurture Awe, an intense, and usually positive emotion often experienced by tourists visiting nature-based tourism destinations (Lu, Liu, Lai, and Yang, 2017, Pearce et al., 2017, Zedam, 2006).”
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“However, awe is primarily considered a positive emotion (Gordon et al., 2017; Pearce et al., 2017; Stellar et al., 2017, 2018; Zhao et al., 2018).”
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Mitsui, S., Uno, T., & Horiuchi, M. (2024) · Socio-Ecological Practice Research · doi:10.1007/s42532-024-00202-z · Cited by 1 · see citing works
“Previous studies have indicated that awe can occur during outdoor adventure, nature-based tourism, and religious tourism, such as visits to sacred mountains (Coghlan et al. 2012, p. 1711; Lu et al. 2017, p.12 of 15; Pearce et al. 2017, p. 364).”
Ito, E., Kono, S., Tanisho, K., & Kawanishi, T. (2024) · Rural Society · doi:10.1080/10371656.2024.2439156 · Cited by 1 · see citing works
“Pearce et al. (2017) also employed a qualitative research approach to better understand awe experiences in nature-based tourism destinations.”
Natural awe but not other types promotes altruistic behavior by increasing sense of the small self
Luo, L., Yan, X., & Yuan, J. (2023) · Stress and Brain · doi:10.26599/sab.2022.9060036 · Cited by 1 · see citing works
Awe of Intangible Cultural Heritage: The Perspective of ICH Tourists:
Su, X.-W., Li, X., Wang, Y.-C., Zheng, Z.-M., & Huang, Y.-S. (2020) · doi:10.25384/sage.c.5066742.v1 · Cited by 1
Iceland as a therapeutic landscape: white wilderness spaces for well-being
Brooke, K., & Williams, A. (2020) · GeoJournal · doi:10.1007/s10708-019-10128-9
Li, S.-C., & Xu, H.-R. (2026) · Asia Pacific Journal of Tourism Research · doi:10.1080/10941665.2026.2728713
Wu, W.-W., Yang, X.-Q., & Xie, D.-M. (2026) · Leisure Sciences · doi:10.1080/01490400.2026.2725149
Assessing campsites: an application of GIS, fuzzy-AHP and network analysis
Sedefoğlu, B., Genç, L., Kozak, M., & Oz, N. A. (2026) · Tourism Recreation Resarch · doi:10.1080/02508281.2026.2660276
- Authors
- Pearce, J., Strickland-Munro, J., & Moore, S. A.
- Affiliations
- Edith Cowan University (AU)
- Murdoch University (AU)
- Corresponding author
- Pearce, Joanna
- Venue
- Journal of Sustainable Tourism
- Publisher
- Informa UK Limited
- Published
- 2016-08-02
- Volume
- 25
- Issue
- 3
- Pages
- 362-378
- ISSN
- 0966-9582 (ISSN-L)
- 1747-7646
- OpenAlex
- W2475923659
- Cited by
- 119
- References
- 48
- Citations by year
- 2026: 16 · 2025: 17 · 2024: 25 · 2023: 16 · 2022: 13 · 2021: 11 · 2020: 6 · 2019: 6 · 2018: 5 · 2017: 4
- FWCI
- 14.26
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
- ro.ecu.edu.au
- Locations
- Journal of Sustainable Tourism (publishedVersion)
- Murdoch University Research Portal (submittedVersion)
- Australasian Journal of Paramedicine (submittedVersion)
- Funders
- Kimberley Marine Research Program, administered by the Western Australian Marine Sciences Institution
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Diverse Aspects of Tourism Research
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Recreation, Leisure, Wilderness Management
- Physical Sciences › Earth and Planetary Sciences › Geology › Geotourism and Geoheritage Conservation
- Keywords
- awe, nature-based tourism, tourist experience, marine fauna, landscape aesthetics, geological landscapes, perspective taking, human-environment connection, Kimberley region
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