A Review of Environmental Interpretation Research in the West in the Past Decade

Abstract

Abstract-Playing a vital role in sustainable tourism, environmental interpretation is an effective tool for visitor management and tourism resource protection. The present study selected some famous academic journals in the field of tourism and reviewed the studies of environmental interpretation research. Findings indicated that in the past decade, environmental interpretation research mainly focused on characteristics of effective personal interpretation and interpretive programs as well as interpretation outcomes. Most studies adopted quantitative methods and data were collected via questionnaire surveys and interviews. Countries like America, Australia, Canada, New Zealand etc. attached importance to interpretation research and the settings involved in the research were mainly national parks, outdoor recreation and entertainment settings, wild life reserves and nature-based settings etc. It was found that interpretation studies gradually shift to visitors' affective outcomes. The author of this study holds that future interpretation research should base empirical studies on appropriate theories and scientific measurement tools. In addition, interpretation at cultural heritage settings should be taken into consideration.