Place has been a fundamental topic for geographers (Agnew, 1987). It stands both for a study object and a manner of perceiving the world. This thesis departs from the theoretical debate regarding places and how places are considered as being spatially fixed in the sense that places cannot be reproduced or imitated elsewhere. However, technological innovations have extraordinary significance in all the realms of leisure and lifestyle (Godbey, 1997) whereas, leisure activities increasingly are being simulated and reproduced exemplifying the new postmodern culture and the ‘post-tourist’ (Urry, 1990). Thus, challenges the spatial fix of places (Shaw & Williams, 2004). There has been little empirical research regarding artificial environments and therefore, the research problem contributes to understand how artificial environments are altering habitual travel patterns regarding the ‘genuine’ or as previous authors have stated, regarding the ‘real thing’. The research questions proposed for the study, directed the researcher to a quantitative approach using the questionnaire as a main source of data collection. The simulated environment that was investigated in the study was the indoor ski slope located in Madrid (Spain). The results showed that the simulated environment is enhancing and intervening the ski activity. For most of the skiers the indoor ski slope is complementing their ski activity in front of the outdoor ski resorts. Furthermore, the facility is recruiting every year a great number of new skiers that after skiing indoors desire to experience the ‘real thing’. Due to the proximity of the facility to the major urban areas, the indoor ski slope is acting as an intervening opportunity and boosting the visitors towards outdoor skiing.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:UPSALLA1/oai:DiVA.org:umu-136266 |
| Date | January 2017 |
| Creators | Lipasti, Johannes |
| Publisher | Umeå universitet, Kulturgeografi |
| Source Sets | DiVA Archive at Upsalla University |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Student thesis, info:eu-repo/semantics/bachelorThesis, text |
| Format | application/pdf |
| Rights | info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess |
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