Henna Konu
Associate Professor
Tourism business research
Business School, Faculty of Social Sciences and Business Studies
I’m working as an Associate Professor at University of Eastern Finland focusing on examining nature-based tourism business. My current research interests are nature connectedness in nature-based tourism experiences, sustainability in tourism firms, designing experiential tourism services and tourism as a part of bioeconomy.
Specialties and interests in research: well-being tourism, nature-based tourism, wellbeing from nature, experience design, experiential services, customer involvement, qualitative methods, responsible tourism, sustainable tourism, eco-labels and schemes, carbon offsetting models in tourism, cultural ecosystem services
Research groups
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Tourism Business 01.01.2017 - -
Social Scientific Biosociety Research Network (SOBIO) 01.01.2018 - -
Researchers’ Network of Environmental Culture 01.08.2008 - 31.07.2030
Projects
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Transformative tourist experiences – new business opportunities to enhance sustainability in tourism Finished 01.03.2023 - 31.12.2024 -
Visitor monitoring and management in protected and recreational areas: new challenges, novel solutions for the Anthropocene 01.11.2023 - 31.12.2027 -
SenseLab 01.01.2023 - 31.12.2030 -
Regenerative nature tourism (REGGAE) 01.09.2023 - 31.08.2026 -
The Potential of Regenerative Tourism in North Karelia – From Knowledge to Practice (USMA) 01.01.2026 - 30.06.2028
Recent publications
Journal articles (see more from publications):
Sorakunnas, E., & Konu, H. (2023). Digitally Customized and Interactive Laddering: A New Way for Examining Tourists’ Value Structures. Journal of Travel Research, 62(3), 626–643. https://doi.org/10.1177/00472875221077976
Konu, H., Murphy, J., Komppula, R., & Mikkonen, T. (2020). Investigating emotional commitment towards a region and a hotel brand. International Journal of Hospitality Management, 87, 102467. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhm.2020.102467
Konu, H. & Tyrväinen L. (2020). Matkakohteen luontoympäristön vetovoimaisuuden ylläpitäminen maisema- ja virkistysarvokaupan avulla. Matkailututkimus, 16(2), 40–44. https://doi.org/10.33351/mt.97572
Industry reports (see more from publications):
den Herder, M., Wallius, V., Konu, H., Heräjärvi, H., Viitanen, J., Mutanen, A., Kurttila, M. & Chen, X. (2022). Developing forest-based bioeconomy in the Region of North Karelia, Finland: Opportunities in co-operation with China. Natural resources and bioeconomy studies 8/2022. Natural Resources Institute Finland. Helsinki. 55 p. https://jukuri.luke.fi/bitstream/handle/10024/551543/luke-luobio_8_2022.pdf?sequence=7&isAllowed=y
Konu, H., Neuvonen, M., Mikkola, J., Kajala, L., Tapaninen, M. & Tyrväinen L. (2021). Suomen kansallispuistojen virkistyskäyttö 2000–2019 [The Recreational Use of Finnish National Parks 2000–2019]. Metsähallituksen Luonnonsuojelujulkaisuja. Sarja A 236. [Metsähallitus / Parks and Wildlife Finland. Nature conservation publications, Series A] Metsähallitus, Vantaa. 131 pages. https://julkaisut.metsa.fi/assets/pdf/lp/Asarja/a236.pdf
Konu, H. & Tyrväinen, L. (2021). 4.4 Luontomatkailun, luonnontuotealan ja luontoon liittyvän palveluliiketoiminnan kehitys. In: Suomen biotalouden kestävän kasvun skenaario: Taustaselvitys Suomen biotalousstrategian päivitykseen. Työ- ja elinkeinoministeriön julkaisuja 2021:57: 39–41.
Rinnevalli, R., Artell, J., Iho, A., Konu, H., Pokki, H., Ahopelto, L., Ojanen, H., Kuoppala, M., Koljonen, S. & Louhi, P. (2021). Vaellusesteiden purkaminen osana vaelluskalojen elinympäristökunnostuksia. Luonnonvara- ja biotalouden tutkimus 29/2021. Luonnonvarakeskus, Helsinki. 88 pages. https://jukuri.luke.fi/bitstream/handle/10024/547478/luke-luobio_29_2021.pdf?sequence=7&isAllowed=y
Rikkonen, P., Aakkula, J., Niemi J., Setälä. J, Tyrväinen, L., Viitanen, J., Kniivilä, M., Konu, H., Kurttila, M., Mutanen, A., Niemi, J., Pihlanto, A., Rinne, M., Routa, J., Saarni, K. & Salmi, P. (2020). Skenaariotarkastelu koronapandemian vaikutuksista metsäsektoriin, maa-, elintarvike- ja kalatalouteen sekä luontoon perustuvaan matkailu ja luonnontuotealaan 2020-luvulla. Luonnonvara- ja biotalouden tutkimus 77/2020. Luonnonvarakeskus. Helsinki. 65 pages. https://jukuri.luke.fi/bitstream/handle/10024/546424/luke-luobio_83_2020.pdf?sequence=4&isAllowed=y
Wallius, V., Viitanen, J., Konu, H., Mutanen, A., Heräjärvi, H., Kurttila, M., Chen, X., Hälinen, M. & den Herder, M. (2020). Pohjois-Karjalan ja Kiinan välisen metsäbiotalouden nykytilanne ja kehitysmahdollisuudet. [The current state and development possibilities of forest bioeconomy between North Karelia and China.] Luonnonvara- ja biotalouden tutkimus 23/2020. Helsinki. 55 pages. https://jukuri.luke.fi/bitstream/handle/10024/545681/luke_luobio_23_2020.pdf?isAllowed=y&sequence=1
Keywords
Publications
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Understanding Constraints to Recreational Fishing in the International Tourism Context: The Case of Russian Tourists in Finland
Hannonen, Olga; Suni, Jarno; Murphy, Jamie; Komppula, Raija; Kortet, Raine; Konu, Henna, 2026, Aquaculture, fish and fisheries, 6, 1, e70176. A1 Journal article (refereed), original research -
Co-Designing Transformative Wellbeing Tourism Experiences for Japanese Tourists to Finland
Johansen, Kelsey; Konu, Henna, 2025, Tiwari, Ranjana; Khoo, Catheryn; Lee, Timothy J., Wellness, Wellbeing and Tourism: Theories, Models and Emerging Paradigms, 117-136. A3 Book section, Chapters in research books -
Designing transformative nature-based wellbeing tourism experiences: a case study from the Finnish Lakeland Region
Johansen, Kelsey M; Konu, Henna, 2025, Tourism recreation research, [Epub ahead of print 15 Jan 2025], 1-17. A1 Journal article (refereed), original research -
Muutosmatkailutuotteiden kysyntäpotentiaali Suomessa kahden markkina-alueen näkökulmasta
Pasanen, Katja; Konu, Henna; Vento, Elli, 2025, Matkailututkimus, 21, 2, 1-30. A1 Journal article (refereed), original research -
The Transformative Outcomes of Co-Creating Tourism Experiences: A Service Provider Perspective
Konu, Henna; Vento, Elli, 2025. Abstract -
The economic value of fishing competitions in Finland–insights from an online survey
Suni, Jarno; Konu, Henna; Brouwer, Roy; Komppula, Raija; Kortet, Raine, 2025, Leisure studies, [Published online: 21 Aug 2025], 1-16. A1 Journal article (refereed), original research -
The role of a hotel room within leisure and work-related travel experiences – perspectives of traveller types
Lvov, Anatoly; Konu, Henna, 2025, European journal of tourism research, 41, 4111. A1 Journal article (refereed), original research -
The types of knowledge and sources required by nature-based tourism firms for success
Kazai, Zsolt; Konu, Henna, 2025, Centre for Regional and Tourism Research. Abstract -
A Research Agenda for Tourism and Wellbeing
Konu, Henna; Smith, Melanie Kay, 2024, Edward Elgar. C2 Edited book, conference proceedings or special issue of a journal -
Biodiversity, leadership, and resilience in a national sustainable tourism program
Sorakunnas, Esko; Räikkönen, Juulia; Konu, Henna; Grénman, Miia; Tyrväinen, Liisa, 2024, Scandinavian journal of hospitality and tourism, 24, 4-5, 473-491. A1 Journal article (refereed), original research