Wilderness and Culture: Tourist Views and Experiences in the Laponian World Heritage Area

Abstract

The Laponian World Heritage Area in northern Sweden was established due to the natural beauty and the history of the indigenous Sami reindeer culture. Laponia, which is often referred to as the last wilderness of Europe, is also of importance for tourists. This article investigates how the landscape of Laponia is viewed and experienced. Tourists were questioned to explore how they think about the kind of landscape they visit, and, more specifically, they were asked about the meaning of the concept of wilderness. It is found that wilderness is used as a description of a defined area with pristine nature, wild animals, and few human influences. The tourists see no contradiction in the idea that a place can be pristine, used for Sami practice, and at the same time developed for tourism. This article also discusses the implications of the concept of wilderness for place and people.