Reflections on the case
This case has demonstrated the issues involved in developing tourism at the discovery
stage of the life cycle – effectively at the frontier of tourism, where access and climate
are important considerations. In both destinations the products are closely matched to
the resource base, particularly in Svalbard with an environment ideally suited to the
harder end of adventure tourism. Of course development of tourism in these regions
demands careful management and regulation to reduce the impact upon not only the
environment and the host community, but also the visitors themselves.