RESEARCH METHOD
A qualitative research approach is suitable when the purpose of a study is to explore a phenomenon,
the studied area is complex, and detailed descriptions are of interest (Connell &
Lowe, 1997; Maxwell, 1996). A telephone interview method was used to collect data from the
13 project leaders involved in tourism development in the district of Ostrobothnia in Finland1.
Sustainable tourism is a complex area and can be discussed on different levels. An open-ended
interview guide was therefore used. Colwell (1990) stresses the importance of creating a
friendly and relaxed interview situation, of thinking analytically during the interview phase,
and of being a good listener. All project leaders were willing to participate after having been
informed of essential parts of our research project. Before the interviews began, it was explained
to the project leaders that the interviews would take about 45 minutes to complete.
No definition of STD was given in advance to the respondents. They chose to focus on the
environmental dimension in this interview. The interviews were tape-recorded and transcribed
for analysis (Ericsson & Simon, 1984).
Within the framework of a quantitative research approach a questionnaire was sent to 60
small tourism companies (companies with less than 30 employees) located in the district of
Ostrobothnia in Finland. There are two reasons why a questionnaire was used to collect data
from the tourism companies. Firstly, the sustainable tourism principles on a company level
can be concretized and structured questions can be asked. Secondly, it was of interest to use a
research approach that would facilitate a generalization of the results. A definition of ST was
not presented to the respondents, but their individual frame of reference was accepted. Out of
the many dimensions STD embrace, environmental matters were put in focus. A sample of 60
was thought to be enough in this exploratory study on the assumption that the response rate
would be at least 50 percent. This response level was not reached, but a response level of 46
percent can be accepted considering the fact that no follow-up letter was sent out due to budget
limitations. The many different types of companies that answered the questionnaire and the
large geographical distribution of the tourism companies in Ostrobothnia offer a good basis for
analysis2.