Testing visitor produced pictures as a management strategy to study visitor experience qualities – A Swedish marine case study

The aim of this paper is to test how visitor produced pictures can be applied in recreation management in order study, and potentially also monitor, different visitor experience qualities. To support this goal, a case study from Sweden is introduced wherein visitor produced pictures are the main methodological approach. The case study took place during summer 2014 and involved 41 participants who via smartphones took pictures of their important recreational experiences. The results revealed six different categories of experience qualities in the visitor produced pictures: natural elements, social situations, cultural environments, recreational activities, emotional reactions and disturbing factors. These categories are described with special attention to possible management implications and a better understanding of visitor experience qualities. Furthermore, the paper suggests how new technology might be useful for recreation managers. The paper concludes that visitor produced pictures have considerable potential as an informative and efficient strategy to capture and study visitor experience qualities. The development of visual methods as a monitoring approach should therefore receive more attention in recreation management.