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CR 50:31-42 (2011)  -  DOI: https://doi.org/10.3354/cr01033

Tourist weather preferences in Europe’s Arctic

Jens Kr. Steen Jacobsen1,*, Jon Martin Denstadli1, Martin Lohmann2, Eirik J. Førland3

1Institute of Transport Economics, Gaustadalléen 21, 0349 Oslo, Norway
2Institut für Tourismus- und Bäderforschung in Nordeuropa, Fleethörn 23, 24103 Kiel, Germany
3Climate Department, Norwegian Meteorological Institute, PO Box 43 Blindern, 0313 Oslo, Norway
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ABSTRACT: Numerous high-latitude locations in northern Scandinavia receive many summer vacationers, even though cool weather conditions there are at odds with some expert-based literature on tourist weather preferences. Surveys in 2 climatically different Arctic archipelagos demonstrate that most tourists perceive the summer weather as better than expected. However, weather preferences and tolerances deviate between high and low Arctic destinations, illuminating diverging and subjective ideas of what constitutes ‘good’, ‘bad’, and ‘acceptable’ weather. The study shows an overall preference for clear sky, in contrast to some earlier research emphasizing temperature as the most important tourism weather variable. Most tourists are indifferent to occasional rain, and a majority accepts frequently changing weather. Main dislikes are frequent rain and low visibility, the latter accentuating visual tourism aspects such as sightseeing.


KEY WORDS: Weather preference · Weather tolerance · Adverse weather · Tourism · Sightseeing · Outdoor recreation · Arctic


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Cite this article as: Steen Jacobsen JK, Denstadli JM, Lohmann M, Førland EJ (2011) Tourist weather preferences in Europe’s Arctic. Clim Res 50:31-42. https://doi.org/10.3354/cr01033

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