Harnessing Nature’s Benefits:
Recognising the Wider Value of
Tourism through Wellbeing
Cheryl Willis
Sub-title in 24pt Calibri – Name of presenters
CSLTR Research Showcase Event
8th June 2011
Research Partner
• This Research is Supported by Partner Organisation:
Dorset County Council
• Key Contacts: Don Gobbett, Head of Planning
Peter Moore, Environment Policy Group Manager
David Walsh, Economic Development Manager
Broad Aims of Research
• To explore the relationship between the natural environment and human
wellbeing
• To attempt to understand the ‘Intangible Values’ or ‘Cultural Ecosystem
Services’ that arise from coastal landscapes and render them highly
valuable to visitors
• To determine how such a deeper understanding of ‘value’ can be set
alongside economic measures in policy decisions
Context and Background
‘A rational process for assessment of environmental policy
options should be based on an appreciation of how humans
value nature’
(Lockwood, 1999 p381)
Capturing Responses to the Landscape and their Effect
on Subjective Wellbeing
• Measures of Physical Benefit
• Measures of Psychological Benefit
• Human Needs Approach
Methodology
• Fieldwork will be conducted throughout the period of greatest visitor
population (May – September 2011)
• A mixed methods approach will be taken:
– 400 on-site surveys
– 30 in-depth interviews
– 4 focus groups
Case Study Areas
Thank you – any questions?
• Research presented here was conducted during an ESRC Studentship
under its Capacity Building Clusters Award (RES-187-24-0002) in
partnership with Dorset County Council.
• For more information about this project and the work of the Centre for
Sport, Leisure and Tourism research, see
http://www.exeter.ac.uk/slt/ourresearch/value/
• Contact: Cheryl Willis C.A.Willis@exeter.ac.uk