Environmentally Friendly Behaviors of Recreationists and Natural Area Tourists: A Comparative Perspective

Abstract

This study measures the impacts of environmental concern and environmental altruism on eco-friendly behaviors, and the impacts of environmentally friendly behaviors on nature-based tourism behaviors and ecologically friendly purchasing behaviors. The study sample included a population of tourists and recreationists in three different destinations in Turkey. Data were obtained from questionnaires and were analyzed using a Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Model (PLS-SEM). In addition, a one-way ANOVA test was performed to show the differences in common questions for the three destinations. The findings identified that the independent variables positively affected participants’ environmentally friendly behaviors and purchasing behaviors. Visitors who participated in hiking on Mount Ida displayed more environmental attitudes than visitors in the other areas in all variables other than the ‘environmentally friendly behavior’ scale. Among participants, while environmental tourism behavior was the highest variable, environmental concern was the lowest variable. Study participants displayed environmentally friendly behavior in Köprülü Canyon at a higher level than in the other two destinations. The types of activities performed during the journey were considered in recognizing the environment, taking note of environmental problems and acting.