Nature-Based Tourism: Motivation and Subjective Well-Being

ABSTRACT

The purpose of this study is to understand hiking-tourist behavior by exploring tourist motivation, personal values, subjective well-being, and revisit intention. The study demonstrates the theoretical and empirical evidence of the relationships among the four constructs. Using a sample drawn from tourists in South Korea, an exploratory factor analysis (EFA) is carried out. As a result, “enjoying the natural environment and escaping from daily life”, “pursuing new type of travel”, “pursuing healthy life”, and “pursuing intimacy” are classified as motivations for hiking tourists. Moreover, in order to investigate the relevant relationships among the four constructs, a structural equation modeling (SEM) approach is used. The results indicate that revisit intention is affected by tourist motivation and subjective well-being. Furthermore, hiking-tourists’ motivation and personal values are effective predictors of subjective well-being.

KEYWORDS:

• Hiking tourist
• motivation
• personal values
• subjective well-being
• revisit intention

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Hyelin Kim

At the time of writing this paper, Hyelin Kim was a PhD Student at the Department of Hospitality and Tourism Management, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA 24061-0002, USA. She is currently an Assistant Professor with the William F. Harrah College of Hotel Administration, University of Nevada-Las Vegas, Las Vegas, NV 89154-6021, USA (E-mail: [email protected]).

Seungwoo Lee

Seungwoo Lee, PhD, Assistant Professor, Foodservice Management and Nutrition, Sang Myung University, 7 Hongji-dong, Jongno-gu Seoul, 110-743, Seoul, Republic of Korea (E-mail: [email protected]).

Muzaffer Uysal

Muzaffer Uysal, PhD, Professor, Department of Hospitality and Tourism Management, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA 24061-0002, USA (E-mail: [email protected]).

Juyeon Kim

Kyungmo Ahn, PhD., Professor, Department of Convention Management, KyungHee University, 310, 1 Hoiegi dong, Dongdaemun gu, Seoul, 130-701, Seoul, Republic of Korea (E-mail: [email protected]).

Kyungmo Ahn

Juyeon Kim, PhD, is Assistant Professor, Department of Global Tourism Management, Shinhan University, Kyunggi-do, Republic of Korea (E-mail: [email protected]).