Tourism transitions, complex challenges and robust destination development in peri-urban areas: A case study of Zealand, Denmark

The concept of the peri-urban has been used to explore the dynamics of transition at the urban-rural interface, which has clarified the specific and diverse transitions taking place in these areas. However, research still offers little insight into tourism transitions in peri-urban areas that aim to use tourism as a catalyst for development. This paper addresses this gap with an in-depth study of tourism transitions in such a Danish peri-urban region. The analysis is based on observation, interview and documentary data collected over three years in one macro-case region and two micro-case destinations within that region. Drawing on the concept of robust action, the paper seeks a better understanding of what is termed complex challenges, associated with tourism transitions, and how specific destination development efforts can mitigate these. Four such challenges are identified relating to a lack of respectively investment, star attractions, access and accommodation. The two micro-cases illustrate how destinations can address such complex challenges through what we term robust destination development. The paper also develops a robust destination development framework and confirms its utility in a peri-urban tourism context. This framework enables destinations to cope with complex challenges and researchers to understand how they may do so.