The Intrinsic, Instrumental and Spiritual Values of Natural Area Visitors and the General Public: A Comparative Study
- 5 November 2007
- journal article
- Published by Taylor & Francis Ltd in Journal of Sustainable Tourism
- Vol. 15 (6), 599-614
- https://doi.org/10.2167/jost686.0
Abstract
Theory suggests that tourists who hold higher levels of environmental concern are more likely to have an interest in natural places and their conservation, and be more likely to engage in activities that are environmentally sustainable. This study assessed environmental concern by measuring and comparing the intrinsic, non-use, use, spiritual and recreation values of nature-based tourists, members of a recreational conservation group and the general public. The results showed that members of each sample could be grouped into four clusters, each holding a unique combination of the values. For some clusters, spirituality and intrinsic value were positively associated, yet for others, the two values appeared to exist in different conceptual domains. One cluster placed particular importance on bequest and existence values and one cluster valued natural places mainly for recreation. The results indicated that while many people are clearly interested in natural areas, they are influenced in different ways by a range of values. The study provides information about specific values that will help to better understand visitors to natural places and assist in the management and conservation of those places.Keywords
This publication has 30 references indexed in Scilit:
- Visitor Attitudes Toward a Modified Natural AttractionSociety & Natural Resources, 2003
- Overnight Ecotourist Market Segmentation in the Gold Coast Hinterland of AustraliaJournal of Travel Research, 2002
- A Value-Attitude-Behavior Model Predicting Wildland Preservation Voting IntentionsSociety & Natural Resources, 1999
- Outdoor Recreation and the Predictive Validity of Environmental AttitudesLeisure Sciences, 1999
- A Social Values Segmentation of the Potential Ecotourism MarketJournal of Sustainable Tourism, 1997
- Trends in national forest values among forestry professionals, environmentalists, and the news media, 1982–1993Society & Natural Resources, 1997
- Values, Beliefs, and Proenvironmental Action: Attitude Formation Toward Emergent Attitude Objects1Journal of Applied Social Psychology, 1995
- Towards a more desirable form of ecotourismTourism Management, 1995
- The Varieties of Intrinsic ValueMonist, 1992
- Interest group standards for ecological impacts at wilderness campsitesLeisure Sciences, 1992