The role of attractions in tourism in Norway

The study focuses on the role of attractions at different types of destinations. The problem is approached by examining how attractions create new traffic, contribute to synergy effects within the destination or region and/or compete with existing attractions. The analysis is based on nearly 4000 visitor interviews at fifteen different attractions, carried out in July and August 1997. Round trip tourists constitute the main market segments at the destinations in rural Norway. The study reveals that the tourists seek “highlights” and visit two or three attractions only at each destination. Hence, the number of attractions that may prove viable at each destination is quite limited. The study further reveals that, even at small destinations, synergy effects between attractions are relatively complex to identify.