@unpublished{theses_frw3447,
            year = {2021},
           title = {Rural Tourism during COVID-19: a sustainable alternative? - a case study at the Sallandse Heuvelrug National Park, the Netherlands},
          author = {T. Traanman},
        abstract = {Tourism can be a catalysator of positive socio-economic change for peripheral regions and the COVID-19 pandemic has increased the urge for stress relief and relaxation. This study researches the influence of COVID-19, amongst other factors, on the Return Intention of rural tourists at the Sallandse Heuvelrug National Park in the Netherlands. It tests its suitability as an alternative for urban tourism while questioning its sustainability for the future. This study applies a mixed-methods approach and contributes to a newly emerged research gap for rural tourism during a pandemic. The analysis (202 valid cases) shows very high Return Intention amongst current visitors at the Sallandse Heuvelrug. However, there is no significant relation between COVID-19 and the likelihood to return. The only factor significantly influencing Return Intention are the pull factors of rural tourism used in this research: authenticity, stress relief \& relaxation and landscape \& nature. Furthermore, the qualitative analysis (2 in-depth expert interviews) shows attention for the pull factors of rural regions and assurance of a socio-economic and environmentally sustainable ground for the development of rural tourism at the Sallandse Heuvelrug. This research concludes by suggesting future research ideas on the therapeutic value of the landscape in the National Park.},
             url = {https://frw.studenttheses.ub.rug.nl/3447/}
}