Designing experience of place for tourists: A case study of Chinese tour groups' visits to Lake Tekapo

Abstract

As China is becoming the second largest tourist market for New Zealand, there is a major opportunity for local areas to enhance the experience of Chinese visitors. Due to different cultural backgrounds, there are challenges for the locals to develop the village in ways that appeal to these tourists. Using Lake Tekapo as a case study, I have focused on the design of enriching experiences in order to enhance the sense of place for tourists and increase the local attractiveness. For the purpose of achieving a balance between the development of tourism and retaining local character, I explored the theory of sense of place, phenomenology, and tourist behaviours, and two case studies, along with developing a toolbox. Through analysing the lakefront concept plan, I designed four potential locations in Lake Tekapo based on sensory experience. I propose that the five senses are important keys for designing experiences, and a good balance of sensory experiences enhance the ways in which a location is perceived.