ABSTRACT
These two quotes illustrate a central tension in contemporary nature tourism. On the one hand, touristic experiences center on attractions-special objects and places that draw visitors. Advertisements promise fun, thrills, adventure, and an unforgettable experience. The first quotation implies that a whale watch can even be compared with a circus show. On the other hand, nature tourism, when coupled with an environmental sensibility, promises more than a sensational experience and calls for developing insight about settings in which sights are encountered. In this regard, tourists may be encouraged (as in the second quotation) to move beyond fascination with enormous animals to a deeper awareness of their environmental situation.1
