Self-determined travel motivations and ecologically responsible attitudes of nature-based visitors to the Ramsar wetland in South China

ABSTRACT

This study investigates the effects of self-determined travel motivations on the ecologically responsible attitudes of Ramsar wetland visitors. An on-site questionnaire survey was administered at the Ramsar wetland in Hong Kong to evaluate the self-determined travel motivations and ecologically responsible attitudes of visitors. The results show that Ramsar wetland visitors are likely to be motivated by intrinsic motives such as seeking relaxation and knowledge. Most visitors have a self-determined agenda for visiting the Ramsar wetland to fulfil their own intrinsically and extrinsically motivated desires. Our findings also suggest that the level of self-determined motivation is positively correlated with ecologically responsible attitudes, implying that if a visitor exhibits a high level of self-determined motivation to visit the Ramsar wetland, they also exhibit a more ecologically responsible attitude. The study concludes with practical implications for nature-based destination planning and management. This information can serve as an important reference for improving visitor management and planning in ecologically sensitive wetlands.

KEYWORDS:

• Self-determined motivations
• ecologically responsible attitudes
• nature-based visitors
• Ramsar wetland
• Hong Kong

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank the student research assistants of the Education University of Hong Kong for helping in questionnaire surveys and the funding support from the FLASS Dean’s Research Grant provided by the Faculty of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences of the Education University of Hong Kong.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes on contributors

Alice S.Y. Chow is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Social Sciences of the Education University of Hong Kong. Her research interests focus on sustainable transport and travelling, environmental attitude and behaviour, and environmental education.

Irene N.Y. Cheng is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Science and Environmental Studies of the Education University of Hong Kong. Her research interests focus on geographical and environmental education, environmental attitudes and behaviour, and pedagogy of environmental studies.

Lewis T.O. Cheung is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Social Sciences of the Education University of Hong Kong. His research interests focus on sustainable tourism in protected areas, environmental education, and environmental conservation.

ORCID

Lewis T.O. Cheung http://orcid.org/0000-0002-1619-0473

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by FLASS Dean’s Research Fund, EDUHK [grant number ECR-6].