Adventure tourists on water: linking expectations, affect, achievement and enjoyment to the adventure

Abstract

This pilot study examined a range of factors surrounding adventure tourists’ experiences in white‐water rafting and sea kayaking. Participants (N=73) were categorized into low challenge or high challenge groups based on ratings of post‐adventure risk and competence. In both activities, statistically significant differences (p<.05) were found between these groups on their expectation of the likelihood of injury. Further differences were found between the rafting challenge groups on measures of affect (tense and threatened) and the sea‐kayaking challenge group on sources of enjoyment (arousal and challenge). Considering the nature of each activity, adventure tourists are categorised into either: fearless thrill‐seekers, daring thrill‐seekers, eco‐seekers, or competence‐testers.