Young People Collecting Natural Souvenirs: A Perspective of Sustainability and Marketing

Abstract

Collecting of natural souvenirs causes destruction of the natural environment as well as social and economic problems. The article shows that the next generation will have a tendency to aggravate such problems by collecting natural souvenirs. To discover the preferences of young people related to collecting natural souvenirs, the authors performed a survey in Poland on a sample of 426 persons aged 21–30. The survey has shown that 80.7% of young people participating in tourist trips bring souvenirs to their places of residence. As much as 61.4% collect natural souvenirs. Most people bring shells (53.9%), rocks (22.7%), and sand from seaside beaches (18.0%). Natural souvenirs are important to young Poles. This is confirmed by the following major motivations for collection: natural souvenirs are unique (26.2%), genuine (23.8%), bring back the best memories (22.6%), and cannot be bought in stores (14.5%). Only 9.8% of those surveyed oppose bringing of natural souvenirs, 5.2% deem such practices unlawful, and 11.2% recognize their detrimental effect on local tourist attractions. The article presents demarketing actions, which can largely stem the negative phenomenon of collection of natural souvenirs.

What is hidden in the luggage? First assessments of illegal seashells gathering inSardinia (Italy)

“…Even if over‐collection and trade of marine curio has been identified as a driving force in biodiversity and habitat degradation with consequent loss of related ecosystem services (Gössling et al, 2004; Kowalewski et al, 2014), there is little scientific data on this phenomenon especially for the Mediterranean Sea. More specifically, there are no studies focusing on natural mementos, that is, souvenirs not purchased as manufacture of crafts or as marine curiosities, but directly collected by tourists in the wild (Dias et al, 2011; Pabian et al, 2020). This activity seems to be widespread and with high environmental and socio‐economic impacts (Kowalewski et al, 2014).…”

“…Wildlife governance as well as regulation and its enforcement vary across countries, regions and communities, as do tourists compliance on the base of their origin and related cultural, social, and economic conditioning. A study performed in Poland showed that female tourists are more engaged than male tourists in seashell collection and that 100 g corresponds to the average personal quota (Pabian et al, 2020). Another survey in Tanzania by Gössling et al (2004) quantified that 39% of tourists collected shells in Zanzibar and only 7% had bought them (2004).…”

“…Another survey in Tanzania by Gössling et al (2004) quantified that 39% of tourists collected shells in Zanzibar and only 7% had bought them (2004). Pabian et al (2020) consider that discouraging people from bringing natural souvenirs could be difficult due to the naturalness and uniqueness of those goods and the preference of natural souvenirs over mass‐produced items of low aesthetic and quality, that represent the main offer of souvenir shops and stalls. Moreover, collected natural souvenirs are free of charge and emotionally linked to the holiday place (Pabian et al, 2020).…”

“…Shell collecting is also an extremely popular hobby that has intensified in recent years with the development of tourism and tourists' interest in “portable memories” (Gössling et al, 2004; Nijman et al, 2015). During their trips, tourists are prone to collect seashells and other natural items and bring them home once they have returned from their vacations as a souvenir (Pabian et al, 2020).…”

“…This practise could particularly affect endemic, long-lived and endangered species (Dias et al, 2011). Moreover, transport of such souvenirs from their origin area to the tourist home may enhance the spreading of microorganisms and non-native species (Pabian et al, 2020). In addition, shell removal from the environment may contribute to habitat changes by increasing beach erosion, limiting the recycling of calcium-carbonate and reducing the presence of species which are dependent on shell availability (Kowalewski et al, 2014).…”