Restoration of Visitors through Nature-Based Tourism: A Systematic Review, Conceptual Framework, and Future Research Directions

Abstract

Visiting natural environments could restore health and contribute to human sustainability. However, the understanding of potential linkages between restoration of visitors and nature-based tourism remains incomplete, resulting in a lack of orientation for researchers and managers. This study aimed to explore how visitors achieve restoration through nature by analyzing published literature on tourism. Using a systematic review method, this study examined destination types, participant traits, theoretical foundations, and potential restorative outcomes presented in 34 identified articles. A new framework that synthesizes relevant research and conceptualizes the restorative mechanisms of nature-based tourism from a human–nature interaction perspective was developed. Owing to the limitations in the theories, methods, cases, and the COVID-19 pandemic, interdisciplinary methods and multisensory theories are needed in the future to shed further light on the restoration of visitors through nature-based tourism. The findings provide a theoretical perspective on the consideration of nature-based tourism as a public-wellness product worldwide, and the study provides recommendations for future research in a COVID-19 or post-COVID-19 society.

Tourist Satisfaction, Willingness to Revisit and Recommend, and Mountain Kangyang Tourism Spots Sustainability: A Structural Equation Modelling Approach

“…(2) Contextual Value Contextual value of tourism refers to the perception and evaluation from visitors of environmental atmosphere and service attitudes of recreational areas [57,58]. The contextual value indicators include reputation [1,59,60], landscape environment [14], veg-etation coverage [12,15,26], architectural characteristics [13], service attitude [61], and climatic conditions [26].…”

Sustainable Development and Rural Tourism in Depopulated Areas

“…However, within this division into the different motivational variables that influence the tourist, and, therefore, the formation of the initial and final destination images, as well as the choice of the trip, several authors consider that one specific motivation is far more influential than the others. Luo and Deng [77] focus on the importance of a love of nature as a motivation in this process, as do [73,74,78,79].…”

Visitor satisfaction and behavioral intentions in nature-based tourism during the COVID-19 pandemic: A case study from Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, China

“…National parks and other protected areas are increasingly being developed as popular NBT destinations ( Eagles, 2002 ; ICEM, 2003 ; Spenceley & Goodwin, 2007 ), attracting billions of visitors annually. They have become a popular destination for mental and physical relaxation, and social wellbeing, particularly after the travel and tourism restrictions were posed to the public during the COVID-19 pandemic for more than 18 months in China ( Geng, Innes, Wu, & Wang, 2021 ; Qiu, Sha, & Scott, 2021 ). Tourism could be an effective tool in conservation and national park management by generating social and economic benefits, such as funding for conservation programs and income generation for local people ( Ballantyne, Packer, & Hughes, 2009 ; Balmford et al, 2009 ; Bookbinder, Dinerstein, Rijal, Cauley, & Rajouria, 1998 ).…”