Sustainable tourism development and the world heritage status of the Wadden Sea: The case of Terschelling

A significant majority of tourists visiting Terschelling, a Dutch Wadden island, do not consider the UNESCO World Heritage status as a reason for their visit during the off-season. While 93.5% of respondents were not motivated by this designation and 23.7% were unaware of it, the Wadden Sea itself remains one of the most attractive elements on the island, alongside its North Sea beaches, dunes, and forests. The study highlights that domestic tourists, who dominate off-season visits, are more drawn to the natural beauty rather than the heritage recognition. However, international or first-time tourists, potentially more influenced by World Heritage status, were notably absent during this period. The research suggests targeted promotional efforts could enhance awareness and support for nature conservation among these groups, thereby strengthening the preservation of this unique region.

Folmer, A., Revier, H., & Cupido, T. (2016). Sustainable tourism development and the world heritage status of the Wadden Sea: The case of Terschelling. Research in Hospitality Management, 6(1), 45–50. https://doi.org/10.2989/rhm.2016.6.1.6.1294