Matching destination difficulty and participant capability in outdoor recreation and tourism: role of third-party certifications for 15 activities in 52 countries

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BUCKLEY, Ralf, UNDERDAHL, Sonya, CATER, Carl, PEREIRA, Elsa, COOPER, Mary-Ann, LIDDON, Meisha, WESTAWAY, Diane, DORAN, Adele, ZHANG, Zoë Jiabo, O'KEEFFE, Patrick, KHATIYOUN, Hanieh, HALES, Rob, MACKENZIE, Susan Houge and POMFRET, Gill (2025). Matching destination difficulty and participant capability in outdoor recreation and tourism: role of third-party certifications for 15 activities in 52 countries. Journal of Outdoor Recreation and Tourism, 52: 100983. [Article]

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Abstract
For safety and satisfaction in outdoor recreation and tourism, participant or client capability must match destination difficulty. Social trends have increased demand by inexperienced clients. Tour operators and tourists rely on third-party difficulty gradings and participant skill certifications. These operate as autonomous information sources within destination matching. We analyse their significance using iterative thematic analysis of participant observations by 14 coauthors for 15 activities in 52 countries. We find that certifications are used at 5 scales: destination, infrastructure, tour operator, guide or instructor, and individual clients. Currently, guide certification is most widespread. We propose that site grading and client certifications may expand, with increasing regulation and training. Drivers of expansion include insurance, marketing, adoption of outdoor recreation and tourism in healthcare, and legal permitting and insurance requirements for access to public and private parks and other lands.
More Information
Official URL:
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jort.2025.100983
Uncontrolled Keywords:
1506 Tourism; 3508 Tourism

Identifiers

Identification Number:
10.1016/j.jort.2025.100983
ORCID for Ralf Buckley: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0003-0442-5818
ORCID for Sonya Underdahl: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0002-5069-4819
ORCID for Carl Cater: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0002-6673-0677
ORCID for Mary-Ann Cooper: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0002-2377-6499
ORCID for Meisha Liddon: ORCID iD orcid.org/0009-0008-3017-7911
ORCID for Adele Doran: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0002-4964-6908
ORCID for Zoë Jiabo Zhang: ORCID iD orcid.org/0009-0004-4607-4619
ORCID for Susan Houge Mackenzie: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0001-5660-6325
ORCID for Gill Pomfret: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0003-1161-7703

Library

Item Type:
Article
SWORD Depositor:
Symplectic Elements
Depositing User:
Symplectic Elements
Date record made live:
01 Dec 2025 10:26
Last Modified:
01 Dec 2025 10:30
Date of first compliant deposit:
30 November 2025
Date of first compliant Open Access:
1 December 2025
Version of first compliant deposit:
Version of Record
URI:
https://shura.shu.ac.uk/id/eprint/36513
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