Exploring Geotourism in Lake Constance A Qualitative Study of Expert Insights

Abstract

This scientific article explores the concept of geotourism, which encompasses tourism focused on a region's geology and the preservation of its resources, as well as its ecological and cultural aspects. Over the years, academics from different countries have redefined and interpreted geotourism in various ways. Nevertheless, National Geographic's definition defines it as "tourism that sustains or enhances the geographical character of the place being visited." The article's main focus is to identify characteristics that are associated with tourism in the Lake Constance region by conducting 30 expert interviews from May to July 2022. The open-ended questions will address the characteristics attributed to the Lake Constance region as a tourism destination. The results of the interviews will undergo qualitative content analysis to identify the various characteristics and characteristics attributed to Lake Constance. The findings will offer information for the future marketing campaigns aimed at promoting the Bodensee region. The hierarchal code sub-code model analysis generated six categories and nine sub-codes with a total coding of 408. The participants were asked about their age and gender, and their perception of the region's geographical boundaries. The expert interviews also evaluated the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats of tourism in the Lake Constance region, applying the SWOT analysis method. Overall, this study aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of the perception of Lake Constance as a tourism destination by analyzing the interviews' responses.