No abstract

This paper presents empirical research that supports territorial approaches to tourism product development that ground tourism in science, as a mechanism to support sustainable tourism heritage conservation goals. Scientific Tourism (ST), in this context, builds on the scientific heritage of a geography, matching researchers with local actors and tourists, through a five-stage iterative process that leads to new scientific knowledge, advancing theory and building relevance for communities through socio-cultural and economic development. This article focuses on the initial stage of the ST product development process, documenting empirical research conducted within the geographies surrounding the Palena River watershed in the Aysén Region of Chilean Patagonia. Both geo-structured literature review methods and results are presented and discussed to illustrate how the outcomes, including a series of maps, can inform and ground actors’ processes of heritage resource identification, justification, conservation, and exhibition, through the development of pilot ST initiatives within the territory. Similar research approaches may prove valuable for other low-density and peripheral geographies that share an interest in grounding tourism on the science taking place within their geography.

The article analyses the activation of the object “science” on the coast of southern Chile to create a destination for scientific tourism. A territorial resource is “revealed” through the selection and enhancement of scientific objects. A research centre acts as an articulator of the tourism development project and trans‑ forms “generic” resources to “specific” ones. New heritage milestones are created around cultural geographi‑ cal areas and relevant themes for scientists and local actors. New social links and collective dynamics allow the creation and insertion of an emerging tourist destination in the national and international scenario. Giving value to resources for the creation of a sustainable destination is carried out in 5 theoretical stages; selection, justification, conservation, exposure and valorisation. In practice, it requires the formation of a network of actors to clarify the nature of the destination and the marketing of four possible scientific tourism products: scientific and sports explorations, eco‑volunteering or cultural trips with scientific content. In this manner the Patagonian Archipelagos offers products based on scientific resources enhanced by local actors to create a sustainable destination.