Revisiting the Ecotourist: The Case of Grasslands National Park

Saleh, Farouk; Karwacki, Judy

doi:10.1080/09669589608667259

Cited by 29 publications

(21 citation statements)

References 8 publications

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“…However, compliance with the sustainability criterion of ecotourism has led many ecotourism operators to implement extensive environmentally responsible practices and management systems, particularly in order to obtain eco accreditation, and has tended to place some of them at the upper end of the price scale. As identified by Kusler (1991) and Saleh and Karwacki (1996), the largest number of tourists interested in nature and learning tend to be independent visitors to protected areas who camp or seek low cost accommodation. Kwan et al (2008) also found that the nature and learning motivations were the same for tourists staying at budget, midprice and upscale ecolodges.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Saleh and Karwacki (1996) undertook research of independent tourists visiting a Canadian national park on a day visit or camping excursion. A factor analysis of the important motivations of visitors indicated that their major travel motivations were to view a natural setting and to learn more about the environment, which accorded closely with those of commercial ecotourists in the earlier studies but at a lower cost.…”

Section: Segmenting the Ecotourist Market By Motivations And Behavioumentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Ballantine & Eagles, 1994;Eagles, 1992; Juric, Cornwall & Mather, 2002;Kwan, Eagles & Gebhardt, 2008;Saleh & Karwacki, 1996;Wight, 1996). There has been a long-held view that because ecotourists seek nature and learning about the natural environment they are also environmentally aware and concerned (Beaumont, 2001).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The third criterion of ecotourism: are ecotourists more concerned about sustainability than other tourists?

Beaumont

2011

Journal of Ecotourism

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The third criterion of ecotourism: Are ecotourists more concerned about sustainability than other tourists?Ecotourism can be defined by three core criteria: nature, learning and sustainability. The ecotourist market has been segmented by the nature and learning criteria only. It has been assumed that ecotourists are environmentally concerned and therefore sustainability is a factor in their decisionmaking. However, little empirical research has confirmed this assumption. This study surveyed 243 respondents participating in an ecotourism experience in Australia. It identified ecotourists according to the nature and learning criteria as per previous segmentation studies. Proenvironmental attitudes were measured as an indication of their support for sustainability. Results revealed no significant differences in pro-environmental attitudes between those identified as ecotourists and those considered non-ecotourists. Whilst demand exists for nature and learning experiences, compliance with the sustainability criterion seems to be no more a factor in ecotourist decision-making than for mainstream tourists. Implications are that market segmentation research should consider all relevant criteria when segmenting a market for a particular product to ensure supply matches demand. However, demand for certain products can be created by innovative marketing practices. This would enable the ecotourism industry to respond to the market's demand for nature and learning, but also influence the behaviour and structure of the market with regard to sustainability.Keywords: core criteria of ecotourism; product differentiation; market segmentation; ecotourist market; pro-environmental attitudes; sustainability 3 IntroductionDespite a variety of definitions of ecotourism since its emergence in the 1980s, it is now generally agreed by academics, government and the tourism industry that ecotourism can be identified by three core criteria: nature, learning, and sustainability (Beaumont, 1998;Blamey, 1995;Weaver, 2008). The sustainability criterion incorporates environmental, social and economic elements and therefore includes criteria referred to specifically in some definitions, such as conservation and community benefits. However, because of ecotourism's focus on nature the emphasis tends to be on environmental sustainability. The three core criteria have been used to differentiate ecotourism from other tourism products and accordingly ecotourism products are expected to comply with the three criteria. Those seeking eco accreditation or certification must comply with stringent requirements regarding these criteria. Compliance with the environmental sustainability criterion has led many ecotourism operators to implement extensive environmentally friendly practices and management systems, and has tended to put some of them at the upper end of the price scale.By contrast, ecotourist market segmentation research has identified the ecotourist as a tourist with motivations and behaviour related only to the nature and learning criteria of ecot...

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Segmenting the Ecotourist Market By Motivations And Behavioumentioning

confidence: 99%

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The third criterion of ecotourism: are ecotourists more concerned about sustainability than other tourists?

Beaumont

2011

Journal of Ecotourism

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“…Studies of ecotourists, both on commercial ecotours and travelling independently, have found that they generally share motivations of wanting to view or experience a natural area and to learn about nature (Ballantine & Eagles, 1994;Eagles & Cascagnette, 1995;Forestry Tasmania, 1994;Hatch, 1998;Saleh & Karwacki, 1996). Indeed, Ballantine and Eagles (1994) developed a system for classifying travellers as ecotourists based on their having a prime social motivation of 'learning about nature' and a prime attraction motivation of visiting 'wilderness/undisturbed areas', as well as their spending at least one-third of their vacation participating in firsthand nature experiences.…”

Section: The Role Of Pre-existing Environmental Interest and Involvementmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Therefore, attitudes would not alter after involvement in an ecotourism activity due to a 'ceiling effect'. A number of studies have found that ecotourists generally have motivations of wanting to experience and learn about nature (Ballantine & Eagles, 1994;Eagles & Cascagnette, 1995;Forestry Tasmania, 1994;Hatch, 1998;Saleh & Karwacki, 1996). However, both research and anecdotal evidence tends to suggest that not all ecotourists are already 'converted' to the pro-environment cause or interested in matters related to the environment (Beckmann, 1993;Cater, 1994;Elkington, 1992;Forestry Tasmania, 1994;Goss, 1994).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ecotourism and the Conservation Ethic: Recruiting the Uninitiated or Preaching to the Converted?

Beaumont¹

2001

Journal of Sustainable Tourism

132

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Ecotourism is being promoted as a sustainable alternative to mass tourism, although critics suggest that it may be just as damaging because it encourages increased use of natural areas. One of ecotourism's claimed benefits is the promotion of pro-environment attitudes and behaviours. However, this may not occur if ecotourists are already 'converted' to the pro-environment cause. To test this claim, a study was undertaken of ecotourists visiting Lamington National Park in southeast Queensland. A pre-/ post-visit questionnaire survey was conducted on-site, as well as a follow-up mail-out survey four months later. This paper presents results of that study in terms of four ecotourist groups. Results indicate that ecotourism can increase environmental knowledge and influence conservation views and behaviours. Of the four groups, coach day tour visitors were the least pro-environment initially but had relatively strong ecotourist motivations. They achieved the highest gains in knowledge and in the short term were influenced the most by the visit. In the long term, respondents who were the most pro-environment and who had learnt most during their visit were influenced the most. Therefore, for immediate effects of the experience on the uninitiated to endure, motivations need to be stimulated to encourage further involvement in and learning about nature. The question remains as to whether encouraging such involvement will have net benefits for the environment.

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Definition Paradoxes: From concept to definition

Björk¹

2007

Critical Issues in Ecotourism

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Revisiting the Ecotourist: The Case of Grasslands National Park

Cited by 29 publications

References 8 publications

The third criterion of ecotourism: are ecotourists more concerned about sustainability than other tourists?

The third criterion of ecotourism: are ecotourists more concerned about sustainability than other tourists?

Ecotourism and the Conservation Ethic: Recruiting the Uninitiated or Preaching to the Converted?

Definition Paradoxes: From concept to definition

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