This study sought to identify the distinctive elements of wilderness settings that contribute to triggering peak experiences. Thirty-nine participants who had visited wilderness areas were recruited using a voluntary wilderness registration system operated by the Victorian National Parks Service, Australia. Using a postal survey participants were asked to provide a written response to an open-ended question requesting them to describe, in their own words, a peak experience in wilderness. A conventional approach to qualitative content analysis of the participants' descriptions revealed the aesthetic qualities of the wilderness setting and being away from the pressures, people, distractions, and concerns of the human-made world were key elements in their peak experiences. In order to gain an understanding of this phenomenon the concept and theory of restorative environments was applied to the participants' experiences. This analysis suggested that wilderness settings provide a mix of aesthetic pleasure and renewal that can lead to a triggering of peak experiences which provides the basis for individual spiritual expression.

The Municipality of Mentawai Islands is the only regency in West Sumatra Province in a form of islands which has different regional characteristics with other cities and regencies in the province. It consists of a small and large group of 99 islands surrounded by the Indian Ocean. The distance between the Municipality of Mentawai Islands and the provincial capital of Padang is about 62 nautical miles. Sea and air transports become main transportation. However, sea transport is often used rather than air transport. The only route of air transport is from Rokot to Padang and otherwise using small plane (Susi Air). Based on the results of the research, the transportation costs to experience the significant resources of Mentawai Islands with its natural scenery and underwater beauty is expensive due to the inadequate of transportation accessibility.

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This research analyzes a strategic approach to managing surf tourism in Papua New Guinea (PNG). Surf tourists travel to often remote destinations for the purpose of riding surfboards, and earlier research suggests the mismanagement of surf tourism in some destinations has resulted in significant deleterious impacts on host communities. The research question in this study addresses how surf tourism can be managed to achieve sustainable host community benefits in the context of a developing country. Primary data came from semistructured interviews and participant observation. The findings demonstrate how sport governing bodies can engage host communities in a collaborative framework for the sustainable utilization of sport tourism resources. The derived knowledge from this research may decrease host communities’ reliance on less sustainable commercial activities, and inform policy and practice on sustainable approaches to using sport tourism for community building and poverty alleviation.