Understanding Constraints to Recreational Fishing in the International Tourism Context: The Case of Russian Tourists in Finland

ABSTRACT Despite the large perceived popularity of fishing as a recreational activity, its multiple tourism dimensions, such as constraints, have received somewhat limited research interests. Leisure constraints research sheds insights into consumer travel, helping tourism service providers and developers develop and target services more efficiently. Exploring why people seek or avoid destination activities, such as recreational fishing, helps craft strategies to address these constraints and modulate participation. This study examines the leisure constraints of recreational fishing within a tourism context by exploring both participants' and potential participants' perceived and experienced constraints in activity participation. Employing a case study approach, the study investigates the Russian tourists' constraints in recreational fishing activities in Finland, including an examination of water quality as a constraint in their fishing activities. Research panel data from 465 Russian tourists who had visited Finland suggests that leisure constraints vary across recreational fishing participants and potential participants. Russian tourists who had fished in Finland noted constraints related to language skills and fishing expenses. For those who had not fished, intrapersonal and structural constraints, namely, ‘knowledge about Finnish fishing environment’ and ‘service provider information’ were the strongest ones. Respondent's language skills were the highest rated constraint across both participants and potential participants. While female participants were generally more constrained than male participants, a closer look at gender among potential participants showed that males were more constrained across several constraints. The study shows the relevance of examining a group of potential participants to pinpoint their constraints and needs. Based on the results, easier accessibility regarding fishing related information would likely help international tourists ‘go fishing’ during their trip.