The place of National Park and ecotourism in Norway

Abstract

T ourism is a big and growing business all over the world. In recent decades, Norway promotes tourism in general and ecotourism in particular, as a product, as well as the improvement of quality and the development of tourism. Norway is more goal-directed to promote not just a profitable tourism but a sustainable one. Experiences and recreation in the Norwegian nature are the most important reasons why foreign tourists travel to Norway. That’s why the country has to take care and protect the nature that have a great value for both an ecological diversity and a stable economy. The landscape in Norway is so varied that it can attract tourists from all over the world and tourists with different wishes and expectations. Famous tourist sites are fjord-indented coastline, mountains, ski resorts, lakes and woods. Of cause, unspoiled nature in Norway has a big interest among the tourists. People from regions of big cities wish in a growing extend to experience something different. Fresh air, clear water and virgin nature have a great value for many people. Furthermore there are the special nature-experiences which attract tourist to travel to a place where mass tourism has not broke out yet (Dolve; Holt-Jensen; Seim, 1995, p. 162). Norway has a big challenge to find the right approach in tourism development to combine ways to attract more tourists to the country and still not to spoil the nature and the feeling of a calm place.