3 . 2 .

2 - Fa c t o r s t h a t i n fl u e n c e s o c i e t a l r e l a t i o n s h i p s
2. Commercialisation of outdoor environments and
experiences
 C O M M E R C I A L I S AT I O
N
Commercialization is the process of
b r i n g i n g a p r o d u c t i n t o t h e m a r ke t .
That means selling a product
(physical or an experience).

Outdoor environments and

experiences are seen as
commodities th at can b e p ackaged
and sold.
 C O M M E R C I A L I S AT I O N S H A P E S R E L AT I O N S H I P S

The selling of experiences has shaped or changed our relationships with

outdoor environments.

People can now quickly access and experience the outdoors without the time
hassles of organising it themselves. The following are ways that relationships
have been shaped..

Seeing places they otherwise would not have: people are able to access
environments that they normally may not be able to - this might lead to a
greater appreciation of the natural world.
• Experiences can be tiered: those who can afford
extreme/remote/high end places, while those who can’t go to
lesser ‘remote’ places. Some may not be able to visit these at all.

• Environment seen as a commodity: outdoor experiences can be

bought and sold according to consumer demand/trends. Far more
people are given access to environments, equipment and
experiences that may have been out of their reach.

• People don't have to work very hard: physically and mentally.

E.g. GPS tells you where to go, tent is put up in a matter of minutes,
comforts are catered for removing many of the discomforts of the
outdoors. Perhaps this makes experiences less meaningful?
 GEAR/EQUIPMENT
O u td o o r g e a r i s a l s o a n exa m p l e o f c o m m e rc i a l i s a ti o n . I t ’s fa s h i o n a b l e
t o h av e t h e l ate st s e a s o n ’s ge a r a n d t h at ’s h o w i t ’s m a r ke te d . 4 w d ’s a re
m a r ke te d a t p e o p l e w h o w i l l n e v e r ta ke t h e m o ff ro a d . P ro d u c t s a r e
m a r ke te d t o m a ke y o u b e l i e v e t h a t i f y o u b u y t h i s ge a r, yo u w i l l b e a b l e
t o a d ve n t u re … S e e b e l o w …
 MT EVEREST
In the early days of
mountaineering, the only
exp ed ition s were for th e real
experienced, skilled mountaineers.

These kind of expeditions took

yea rs o f prepa ratio n, s earch in g for
support and sponsors.

To d a y y o u c a n b u y a p l a c e o n a
co mmercia l E verest exped itio n!
 P O S I T I V E I M PA C T S O F C O M M E R C I A L I S AT I O N

• Greater choi ce of locati ons for acti vities

• More equi pm ent provi ders = better equi pm ent

• Greater access to pro fessional instructors

• Improved access to outdoor envi ronm ents

• E c o n o m i c b e n e fi t s f o r p r o v i d e r s

• Providers can educate parti ci pants on the importance of

outdoor envi ronm ents and their protectio n
 N E G AT I V E I M PA C T S O F C O M M E R C I A L I S AT I O N

• Lo s s o f n a t i v e v e g e t a t i o n a n d h a b i t a t f o r t h i n g s
s u c h a s c a r p a r k s , t o i l e t s , s k i r u n s , Ac c e s s p a t h s .

• Lo s s o f i n d e p e n d e n c e d u e t o c ro w d e d v e n u e s

• I n c re a s e d d e g r a d a t i o n t h ro u g h e ro s i o n a n d p o l l u t i o n
etc.

• Lo s s o f o t h e r re s o u rc e s e . g . w a t e r f o r s n o w m a k i n g