title: The effects of recreation experience, environmental attitude, and biospheric value on the environmentally responsible behavior of nature-based tourists.
abstract: The scientific understanding of the recreation experience and the environmentally responsible behavior of nature-based tourists is limited. This study examines the relationship among the recreation experience, environmental attitude, biospheric value, and the general and site-specific environmentally responsible behavior of nature-based tourists in Taomi, Liuqiu Island, and Aowanda and Najenshan in Taiwan. A total of 1342 usable questionnaires were collected for this study. The empirical results indicate that the recreation experience influences biospheric value and environmental attitude; subsequently, it then indirectly influences the general and site-specific environmentally responsible behavior of nature-based tourists. Our theoretical behavioral model elucidates previously proposed but unexamined behavioral models among nature-based tourists, and it offers a theoretical framework for researchers, decision makers, managers, and tourists in the field of nature-based tourism. We conclude that when an individual participates in nature-based tourism as described here, these recreation experiences strengthen their environmental attitude and biospheric value, and consequently increase their engagement in both general and site-specific environmentally responsible behaviors.
authors.affiliation: Graduate School of Leisure and Exercise Studies, National Yunlin University of Science and Technology, 123, Section 3, University Road, Touliu, 640, Yunlin, Taiwan, thlee@yuntech.edu.tw.
authors.forename: Tsung Hung
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Fen-Hauh
authors.initials: FH
authors.lastname: Jan
mesh_terms: D001290:Attitude; D003247:Conservation of Natural Resources; D036262:Empirical Research; D004777:Environment; D006801:Humans; D011998:Recreation / Q000523:psychology*; D012941:Social Responsibility; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013624:Taiwan; D014195:Travel