Vindkraftsturism
En studie av teknisk turism med särskilt fokus på vindkraftsparker
Technical tourismTourismWind powerVattenfallDemocratic dialogEducation for sustainable developmentTeknisk turismTurismVindkraftVattenfallDemokratiska samtalEducation for sustainable development
This study investigates and describes the phenomenon of ?technical tourism?, in the case ofwind power plants in Sweden. The main purpose of the study is a greater understanding ofa field which to date has remained largely uncharted.Technical tourism is a type of visits to a production site, where the technical aspect ofthe production is the main focal point for the visitor. The definition of technical tourism isbased on concepts within ?Industrial tourism?. Technical tourism is argued to be a subcategoryof Industrial tourism.The study, conducted in collaboration between KTH and Vattenfall, resulted in twocomplementing parts. Part one, ?Vinkraftsturism: En studie av teknisk turism med särskiltfokus på vindkraftsparker?, is a theoretical description of technical tourism (hereafterreferred to as ?Rapporten?). Part two, ?Kommunikationsmanual: Vindkraftsturism?, acommunications manual based on the results of the study and tailored for Vattenfall to usewhen informing various stakeholders about technical tourism (hereinafter ?Manualen?).Material for the two parts of the thesis was gathered through interviews and literaturereviews. The informants where gathered in and around one single wind park in northernSweden. Stakeholders from both the municipality and local/regional businesses wereincluded in the study.?Rapporten? ? The theoretical review of technical tourism in a wind power plantdeals with benefits and conflicts which may occur when interfacing with the localcommunity and other stakeholders. A model for stakeholder assessment is presented andused to find key relationships between involved parties. It further describes the importanceof cooperation and finding common points of identification between the host company andthe region. Two factors which are needed to efficiently establish technical tourism.?Manualen? ? The communications manual is designed with the characteristicdemocratic perspective of ?Education for sustainable development?. Furthermore itpresents a workshop structure and a summary of similar projects both national andinternational.The study showed a variety of benefits (five of them) from technical tourism, andalso some potential conflicts. The study also highlighted the importance of collaborationbetween stakeholders, both through the informants? statements and explored in previousacademic works. It also states that the democratic process and the participants? view ofthemselves as democratic subjects, are important factors when communicating technicaltourism.The study presents a new definition of technical tourism.