Four Realms Of Experience Analysis

The four realms of experience” (Pine and Gilmore 1998,1999) is a figure created to identify what creates a memorable experience; namely “Entertainment, Education, Esthetics, and Escapism. “ (Hanssen, A. G. (2011). Entertainment category shows that people participate passively and their experiences is leaning towards immersion. Education category requires an active participation however its relationship to its environment is more absorption. Escapist is a combination of educational and entertainment experiences and is more immersion than absorption. Esthetics means that customer is immersed in an event but has remain a passive participant. The model is divided into two dimensions ; Participation and Engagement.” (Hanssen, A. G. (2011). Winter

G. (2011) “is a degree which one has to be physically present and involved in order to produce the experience”. This means the tour guides are unable to determine the level of involvement of its tourist, this will be all dependent on the involved individual. The horizontal axis explains that one tourist may just be a mere spectator and the other may participate into activities that can create a memorable experience. Vertical axis of the model explains the relationship of the clients to its environment - Absorption and Immersion. This model is used to relate that “staging and creating the setting in which the customers may have a meaningful and memorable experience” (Pine and Gilmore, 1999). This means to have the tourist engage to any activities or programs the guide or company has provided to create that “wow

The tour wouldn’t be complete without the tour guides. Guides make the trip interactive, informative and fun. The basic role of a tour guide in my opinion is to interact with its tourist with excellent social and communication skills. This already includes the knowledge of the product and services. Since they are providing the tourist in setting up the stage - which they will customize to their own memorable experiences. The tour guide in Pæskatun Ellinor, is an engaging story teller and has provided other activities while waiting for the northern lights to appear. “ that being genuinely interested and having passion is essential because it gives the guides the “truth value” making it sincere and thus memorable experience” (Mathisen p.35 2012). She clearly was in her zone and was able to connect with the tourist under her wing. During the bus ride the guide was already engaging and setting the expectations that the lights may not appear. Not promising something that they can’t control, instead she has provided background about Alta and the business Pæskatun is known