Play-based ecotourism experiences for children: a tri-method approach

Like adults, children possess individual expectations and pursue specific experiences when involved in tourism activities. Research suggests the importance of tailored approaches in children's tours, advocating for integrating play-based experiences to engage them. This study concentrates on play as the fundamental activity in eco-tours for children. Employing a triangulation methodology, insights are collected from two primary sources. Firstly, semi-structured interviews with Iranian tour guides have been conducted to elucidate the utilisation of diverse activities to enhance children’s ecotourism experiences. Secondly, participant observations of children's ecotours in Iran have been conducted to ascertain the nature of activities integrated into such tours. Thematic content analysis is employed using the experience economy framework. By differentiating all types of play within the experience economy realm, we identified the key elements for designing a favourable ecotour experience, offering children what is called a “sweet spot”. Industry implications and future research directions are also provided.