1. Comparing ecotourist‘s general environ-mental beliefs and general ecological behaviour to other groups of tourists
Silvia Wurzinger
Department of Environmental Psychology
Lund Institute of Technology
Box 118, Lund, Sweden

2. Ecotourism contrary nature tourism
is related to a natural area
is sustainable
supports local people
includes a learning element
admiring of nature and culture
considers ethical aspects
is small-scale (WTO und UNEP, 2002)
Introduction
Method and Results
Conclusions

3. Ecotourism contrary nature tourism
is related to a natural area
has not to include further elements (e.g., sustainability)
(Weaver, 2001)
Introduction
Method and Results
Conclusions

4. Aim Are ecotourists really more „eco“?
A comparison of general environmental beliefs and general ecological behaviour between ecotourists, nature tourists and a group of city and spa tourists
Introduction
Method and Results
Conclusions

5. Sample (N = 245, mean age 47, 53% females)
Ecotourists (N = 43):
2-4 days „package-holiday“ including
ecotourism label „Nature‘s Best“
Introduction
Method and Results
Conclusions

6. Sample (N = 245, mean age 47, 53% females)
2. Nature tourists (N = 124): Participants of 2-4 hours long lasting guided tours in a nature reserve
Introduction
Method and Results
Conclusions

7. Sample (N = 245, mean age 47, 53% females)
3. City and spa tourists (N = 78):
Trips for 2 to 4 days to Stockholm
or Gothenburg or to a spa
Introduction
Method and Results
Conclusions

8. General Environmental beliefs Revised New Environmental Paradigm Scale (Dunlap, Van Liere, Mertig, & Jones, 2000)
Reality of limits to growth
Anti-Anthropocentrism
Fragility of nature‘s balance
Rejection of exemptionalism
Possibility of an ecocrisis
Introduction
Method and Results
Conclusions

9. Result Revised New Environmental Paradigm Scale (Dunlap, et al., 2000)
Cronbach’s Alpha = .72
Mean
Difference between the groups and linearity significant,
F(2, 240) = 7.73, p = .001 and F(1, 240) = 15.46, p = .000 resp.
Introduction
Method and Results
Conclusions

10. Water and power conservation Consumer behaviour
General ecological behaviour General Ecological Behaviour Scale (Kaiser, 1998)
Garbage removal
Garbage inhibition
Water and power conservation
Consumer behaviour
Nature protection activities
Automobile use
Introduction
Method and Results
Conclusions

11. Result General Ecological Behaviour Scale (Kaiser, 1998)
Cronbach’s Alpha = .72
Mean
Difference between the groups significant, F(2, 241) = 21.86, p = .000;
However, ecotourists and nature tourists do not differ!
Introduction
Method and Results
Conclusions

12. Conclusions
Compared to city and spa tourists ecotourists seem to be really more „eco“!
However, compared to nature tourists the difference seems to be not so clear in general ecological behaviour
Introduction
Method and Results
Conclusions

13. Thank you very much for your attention!