Forest and Well-Being Services for Tourists : Case:Nuuksio
Nenonen, Sami; Iivari, Johanna (2011)
Nenonen, Sami
Iivari, Johanna
Laurea-ammattikorkeakoulu
2011
All rights reserved
Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2011091813095
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2011091813095
Tiivistelmä
Well-being and the health effects of forests and nature have gained research interest during recent years. Forest therapy is a therapeutic method which prevents and cures different kinds of diseases through the help of nature. Forest therapy is focused not only for healthy people to strengthen them physically and fight against stress and fatigue, but also for the sick. The treatment of forest therapy consists mainly in walking trails, jogging and exercising in the middle of forests. Forest therapy has several proven health benefits, for example stress and blood sugar level reduction, improved immunity and even anti-cancer effects. In many European countries, a significant proportion of the inhabitants of large cities, suffer from mental exhaustion, heart and blood vessel diseases, overweight and lack of physical exercise. People all over the world are losing touch with nature, which is leading to decreased awareness of the environment, biodiversity and its positive health impacts.
The objective of this development project was to create service concepts for forest therapy and well-being services for the use of Metsähallitus. The development project was executed using qualitative methods. The material of this study was collected with the following methods: literature review, specialist interviews and contextual interviews. The user-centred service design process proceeded by using three-step iterative process of exploration, creation and reflection. Affinity diagrams, probes, personas and storyboards were used as service design tools during the service design process.
The output of this study was two different forest and well-being service concepts targeted at European tourists: a guided trekking tour and forest triathlon. The integration of users’ needs, nature-based well-being factors and the knowledge about the environment’s benefits for the human health were the foundation of the study. Nature provides a source for mental wellness by aesthetic factors and multi-sense experiences. The developed service concepts include physical education in a recreational and relaxing environment, which also consider the social and physical aspects of well-being.
Forests provide a wide variety of well-being resources in many different forms. Innovative service concepts for the domain were designed in this thesis, building on current research in ecotourism and human well-being, applying methods of user-centred service design. Demand for such services is likely to grow remarkably in the near future, as ecological awareness increases and consumers seek alternatives for bulk tourism. Forest and well-being services offer great potential for tourism industry in countries like Finland, where untouched nature still exists.
The objective of this development project was to create service concepts for forest therapy and well-being services for the use of Metsähallitus. The development project was executed using qualitative methods. The material of this study was collected with the following methods: literature review, specialist interviews and contextual interviews. The user-centred service design process proceeded by using three-step iterative process of exploration, creation and reflection. Affinity diagrams, probes, personas and storyboards were used as service design tools during the service design process.
The output of this study was two different forest and well-being service concepts targeted at European tourists: a guided trekking tour and forest triathlon. The integration of users’ needs, nature-based well-being factors and the knowledge about the environment’s benefits for the human health were the foundation of the study. Nature provides a source for mental wellness by aesthetic factors and multi-sense experiences. The developed service concepts include physical education in a recreational and relaxing environment, which also consider the social and physical aspects of well-being.
Forests provide a wide variety of well-being resources in many different forms. Innovative service concepts for the domain were designed in this thesis, building on current research in ecotourism and human well-being, applying methods of user-centred service design. Demand for such services is likely to grow remarkably in the near future, as ecological awareness increases and consumers seek alternatives for bulk tourism. Forest and well-being services offer great potential for tourism industry in countries like Finland, where untouched nature still exists.