Unplug and Connect to Nature

Global mobility coupled with digital technologies creates new issues regarding human relations that are now permanently maintained despite geographical distance separating individuals. The new information and communications... [ view full abstract ]

Global mobility coupled with digital technologies creates new issues regarding human relations that are now permanently maintained despite geographical distance separating individuals.

The new information and communications technology allows tourists to stay in touch with people at home: Nowadays even if you are in remote locations like in a Himalayan village or a tourism hot spot like Koh San Road in Bangkok, you can easily find a Wi-Fi connection (Germann Molz, 2008 and 2012; White et al. 2007). In this context a new form of touristic practice is appearing which consists of disconnecting from any form of information technologies and communication (Jauréguiberry 2014). But even when visiting spaces like national parks - understood as natural space or wilderness etc. – Connection possibilities exist and are used by the visitors.

Nature is more and more becoming an important symbol within the tourism industry, signifying a disconnection and a break from a stressful daily life. Typical destinations of nature tourism are therefore situated "outside" the connected space, beyond the park boundary (Crown 2006). The case study of this research project will be conducted in the natural parks of western Canada, in Alberta as they represent iconic areas of "wilderness" across North America; moreover, those parks are often frequented by individuals seeking disconnection and a confrontation with the "wilderness"(Arnould and Glon, Leduc 2006).