Making a Splash

Are Water-Related Touristic Experiences Linked to Authentic Island Tourism

Bibliographic Data

ID13061724
AuthorsSusan C Graham (0000-0003-0703-5110, University of Prince Edward Island, corresponding author), Laurie Brinklow (0000-0001-8158-5634, University of Prince Edward Island)
Year2025
Volume14
Issue1
Publication date2025-04-30
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueJournal of Marine and Island Cultures (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 2212-6821 • E-ISSN: 2212-6821
PublisherShima Publishing (PUBLISHER • AU)
DOI10.21463/jmic.2025.14.1.02
OpenAlexW4410359878
LanguageEN
References cited17

Water is universally synonymous with islands, encompassing a defining feature of islands’ very existence. For islanders, water is critical to their sense of self, place, cultural identity, social framework, and economic livelihood. In tourism marketing, water is often portrayed as a warm, inviting place for relaxation and/or leisurely pursuits, and is a common theme used to entice visitors to the island destination. The purpose of this paper is to examine the various ways in which water-related touristic experiences are linked to authenticity in island tourism, thereby providing visitors with myriad opportunities to make meaningful connections to the place. Residents of Prince Edward Island were surveyed to explore what kinds of island tourism experiences in their home province offered opportunities for visits to experience the authentic place. Findings show that water transcends specific touristic categories and is deeply embedded throughout authentic island experiences. Island respondents identified an array of water-related experiences through which visitors experience different types of authenticity, including objective, constructive, and existential authenticity

Archaeology · Business · Environmental planning · Geography · Meteorology · Splash · Tourism · Cruise Tourism Development and Management · Diverse Aspects of Tourism Research

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