Representations of Biosphere Reserve landscapes in tourism

Table of Contents

1. Introduction

1.1.UNESCO Biosphere Reserves, tourism in the UNESCO BRs and their analysis from a social constructivist perspective

1.2.Operationalisation of the phenomenon of tourism for the study. Specific features and tourism regulations in German Biosphere Reserves

1.3.Viewing tourism as a social construct

1.4.State of research. Literature review

1.5.Research question, aim and objectives of the Master’s thesis

1.6. Structure of the Master’s thesis

2. Theoretical background. Landscape and tourism: introduction to theoretical perspectives and to the connection between the two concepts

2.1. Exploring connections between the concepts of ‚landscape‘ and ‚tourism‘

2.2.The different theoretical approaches to the concept of landscape and the understanding of the concept from a social constructivist perspective

2.3.The four dimensions of landscape according to Kühne

2.4.Social constructivist landscape theory of landscape perception according to Ipsen

2.5.Landscape of tourism from a social constructivist perspective

2.6. Chapter 2 – Summary

3. Materials and methods

3.1.Data collection and analysis

3.2.Case studies

3.2.1. Case study 1: Schorfheide-Chorin Biosphere Reserve

3.2.2. Case study 2: Elbe River Landscape Biosphere Reserve (Brandenburg)

3.2.3. Case study 3: Spreewald Biosphere Reserve

3.3.Content analysis and interpretive content analysis

3.4.Semi-structured qualitative interviews with tourism experts and actors in the biosphere reserves under study

3.4.1. Data collection

3.4.1.1. Analysis of the choice of interview partners

3.4.1.2. Interview guideline

3.4.2. Data analysis

3.4.2.1.Transcription

3.4.2.2.Data evaluation of the interview results

3.5.Chapter 3 – Summary

4. Description of the case studies

4.1. Description of the physical spaces designated as landscapes of the biosphere reserves under study

4.1.1. Landscape of the Schorfheide-Chorin BR

4.1.2. Landscape of the Elbe River Landscape BR

4.1.3. Landscape of the Spreewald BR

4.2. Tourism sphere of the biosphere reserves under study. Touristic offers and themes

4.2.1. Tourism in the BR Schorfheide-Chorin as part of the socio-economic activities of the Biosphere Reserve

4.2.2. Tourism in the Elbe River Landscape BR as part of the socio-economic activities of the Biosphere Reserve

4.2.3. Tourism in the Spreewald BR as part of the socio-economic activities of the Biosphere Reserve

4.3. Chapter 4 – Summary

5. Results. The social landscape as a basis for tourists’ appropriation of landscape

5.1. Social landscape as shown by the media representation of the biosphere reserves under study

5.1.1. Analysis of landscape images on the official web pages of the biosphere reserves under study

5.1.2. Analysis of landscape representations on the official web pages of the biosphere reserves under study

5.1.3. Media landscape representations by tourism marketing organisations

5.2.Representations of Biosphere Reserve landscapes in tourism – social landscape

5.2.1. Representations of the Biosphere Reserve landscapes in tourism according to Kühne (2019) (Media landscape representations)

5.2.2. Representations of the Biosphere Reserve landscapes in tourism according to Ipsen (2006) (Media landscape representations)

5.3.Interim conclusion – Chapter 5: social landscape

6. Results. Semi-structured qualitative tourism expert and actor interviews: appropriated physical landscape

6.1.Biosphere Reserve administrations

6.2.City/communal administrations

6.3.Visitor and information centres

6.4. Tourism marketing organisations/associations

6.5.Ranger association / tour guides

6.6.Hotels / holiday apartments / regional products

6.7.Tourism destinations specific to each BR region

6.8.Representations of Biosphere Reserve landscapes in tourism (Interview results)

6.8.1. Representations of Biosphere Reserve landscapes in tourism according to Kühne (2019) (Interview results)

6.8.2. Representations of Biosphere Reserves landscapes in tourism according to Ipsen (2006) (Interview results)

6.9. Interim conclusion – Chapter 6: appropriated physical landscape

7. Discussion

7.1. Discussion: representations of the Biosphere Reserve landscapes in tourism

7.2.Comparison of the results of the study with existing scientific research on the topic

7.3.Limitations of the study

8. Conclusion

Research Objectives and Themes

This study investigates how the concept of "landscape" is conceptualized and represented in tourism, using three UNESCO Biosphere Reserves in Brandenburg as case studies to analyze how tourism actors communicate these landscapes to visitors through a social constructivist lens.

• Theoretical framework of landscape in tourism studies.
• Social construction of landscapes in Biosphere Reserves.
• Media representation of protected areas on digital platforms.
• Expert perspectives on communicating landscape to tourists.
• Interdisciplinary approach (sociology, landscape ecology, tourism research).

Excerpt from the Book

Summary of Chapters

1. Introduction: This chapter introduces the study, its rationale, and the objective to analyze how landscapes in Brandenburg's biosphere reserves are constructed and represented for tourists.

2. Theoretical background. Landscape and tourism: introduction to theoretical perspectives and to the connection between the two concepts: This section establishes the theoretical groundedness of the research, focusing on constructivist landscape theories and their application to tourism.

3. Materials and methods: This chapter justifies the choice of case studies, interpretive content analysis, and qualitative interviews as the primary instruments for data collection and evaluation.

4. Description of the case studies: This chapter provides a detailed contextualization of the three selected regions—Schorfheide-Chorin, Elbe River Landscape, and Spreewald—serving as the foundational physical basis for the subsequent analysis.

5. Results. The social landscape as a basis for tourists’ appropriation of landscape: This chapter analyzes digital media representations and web content to identify how Biosphere Reserves present their landscapes through social media and official websites.

6. Results. Semi-structured qualitative tourism expert and actor interviews: appropriated physical landscape: This chapter presents the empirical findings from expert interviews, categorizing how different actors perceive and mediate landscape concepts.

7. Discussion: This section discusses the findings by comparing them with existing scientific literature and critically evaluates the study's limitations.

8. Conclusion: The concluding chapter summarizes the study's answers to the research question and reflects on the significance of applying social constructivist theory to biosphere reserve management.

Keywords

Biosphere Reserves, Tourism, Landscape, Social Constructivism, Brandenburg, Landscape Representation, Qualitative Research, Landscape Perception, Nature Tourism, UNESCO, Content Analysis, Expert Interviews, Cultural Landscape, Sustainability, Interpretive Geography

Frequently Asked Questions

In what field of study does this work fall?

This thesis is situated at the intersection of tourism research, sociology of landscape, and environmental management, specifically focusing on the social constructivist perspective of natural and managed landscapes.

What are the primary themes analyzed in this research?

The research examines the relationship between landscapes and tourism, the communication strategies of biosphere reserves, the role of media in shaping the image of nature, and the professional perceptions of landscape held by tourism experts.

What is the core research question of this study?

The study primarily seeks to answer: "How do the three UNESCO Biosphere Reserves in Brandenburg construct and represent their landscapes through communication with tourists?"

Which scientific methodology is employed?

The author uses a qualitative research design, primarily utilizing case studies, interpretive content analysis of official websites and documents, and semi-structured qualitative interviews with tourism experts and local actors.

What is covered in the main body of the work?

The work covers theoretical frameworks of landscape perception, detailed case studies of three German Biosphere Reserves, and an empirical analysis of media representations and qualitative interview data regarding the appropriation of these landscapes in tourism.

What are the key concepts that define the work?

Key concepts include social construction of space, "space as a container," the four dimensions of landscape (social, individually actualized, physical, and appropriated), and the cognitive-aesthetic-emotional interplay in landscape perception.

How does this study contribute to the management of Biosphere Reserves?

The study provides practical insights for Biosphere Reserve administrations and marketing partners on how landscape representations are interpreted by visitors, helping them refine their marketing materials and visitor communication.

Why are three specific Biosphere Reserves used as cases?

The three reserves—Schorfheide-Chorin, Elbe River Landscape, and Spreewald—were chosen because they provide a diverse cross-section of geographic features and tourism approaches within the state of Brandenburg, allowing for a comprehensive comparison.