please find enclosed a copy of the socio-demographic results
of UK's occasional ecotourists behaviour. This was a part of
my PhD results.
What I tried to do is to minimise some of the
limitations of the current ecotourists studies. Therefore,
the research investigated two types of behaviour: that of the occasional
and frequent ecotourists in the natural area.
What became clear, is that these two types of ecotourists not only exist
but their characteristics are quite different.
Regards
Dimitrios Diamantis, PhD
Bournemouth University
E-mail: d_diamantis@hotmail.com
OCCASIONAL ECOTOURISTS RESULTS
Age and income levels
The measurement of the two interval variables revealed that age and
income are very significant to occasional ecotourists in the UK. The
majority of occasional ecotourists who responded to the survey (55.8%)
were aged between 17-34 years (see table 5.1). It follows that 32.8%
were middle-aged [35-54], while the remaining 11.3% were over 55's.
The income levels showed variations although there is a clear
distinction where 33.2% of the total sample have earnings of less than =A3
10,000. Clearly, the next income group is that of over =A3 30,000 (17.8%=
)
followed by an even split of 14.2% for incomes between [=A3
15,000-20,000], and 8.9% with earnings of [=A3 25,000-30,000]. In
measuring the relationship between these two variables, a null
hypothesis was created of non difference between age and income of
occasional ecotourists:
=B7 The results show that income is affected by age (x2 =3D 51,31), where
63.8% of young occasional ecotourists [17-34 years] generated lower
incomes of less than =A3 10,000 to 15,000 (p=3D0.0000). In addition, 46.=
9%
of the middle aged occasional ecotourists enjoyed the higher income
bracket [=A3 25,000-30,000+]. Here the 42.9% of the older aged occasiona=
l
ecotourists indicated incomes in the mid range category (15,000-25,000)
and 35.7% indicated incomes between =A3 25,000-30,000+. These results
suggest that the majority of the occasional ecotourists in this sample
(young) have incomes in the lower category, and the actual association
of these two variables is also significant (r=3D 0.38). The double
negative outcome demonstrates that according to the age of occasional
ecotourists, incomes vary more or less accordingly (p=3D0.00000).
Gender
Fifty six point seven percent (56.7%) of the sample were females (see
table 5.1) and according to the binomial test the ratio of males to
females is 2:5 (Observed probability =3D 0.43; p< 0.05). Further, the
relationships between gender and other demographics is illustrated only
with :
=B7 Age (x2=3D 9.42). Here, 65.2% of the young age category [17-34]
comprised of females (p< 0.001). In the middle age category there was a
distribution of 53.1% males and 46.9% females. In the older age
category, 57.1% of the sample comprised of males. Hence, it can be
suggested that it is the young female occasional ecotourists as opposed
to the middle and older aged men who dominate this sample and this
reflects on the demand for ecotourism in the UK (p< 0.01); and
=B7 Income levels (x2=3D 10.01). The 53.6% of the female occasional
ecotourists generated the lower incomes in contrast to their males
counterparts who demonstrated a more or less equal distribution of
income, that of 33% in all the categories (p<0.001).
Marital status and education
Fifty four point three percent (54.3%) of occasional ecotourists were
single, a further 39.3% were married/had partners or were widowed with
the remaining 6.5% resided in the divorced and separated category (see
table 5.1).
Looking at the educational background of these occasional ecotourists
the majority of them have a first degree (46.2%), and 20.6% have pursued
a postgraduate qualification (see table 5.1) in a variety of disciplines
such as environmental management, hospitality, tourism, mathematics,
engineering, marketing and computing. It also appears that 22.3% of
occasional ecotourists were educated to secondary level and 10.9% have
pursued an HND or Diploma. At this stage a number of null hypothesis
addressed that:
=B7 No association was found between marital status and education (x2=3D
5.63; p<0.1);
=B7 There is a relationship between age and marital status (x2=3D 94,59).
Here, 79.7% of young occasional ecotourists [17-34] were single, 66.7%
of the middle aged group [35-54] were married/partners/widowed, and
67.9% of the older occasional ecotourists were also in the married
category (p=3D 0.0000);
=B7 There is not an independency between education and income (x2=3D 10.9=
1).
Here, 54.5% of occasional ecotourists with a secondary education
generated lower incomes, as well as 47.4% of occasional ecotourists with
a first degree (p<0.05). In contrast 37.3% of occasional ecotourists
with a postgraduate qualification had higher incomes (p<0.05); Hence
most of the occasional ecotourists , except those with a secondary
education generate middle incomes of above =A3 15,000.
=B7 No relationship was found between age and education (x2=3D 8.75; p<0.=
1);
=B7 No relationship was found between gender and education (x2=3D 4,43;
p<0.1); and
=B7 No relationship was found between gender and marital status (x2=3D 0.=
45;
p<0.1).
Activities undertaken on an ecotourism holiday
There were a number of activities which occasional ecotourists
considered during their holidays. The first two activities of this
sample related to the admiration of nature (n=3D187; 75.7%) and the
observation of animals (n=3D176; 71.3%). Consequently, these are very
close to the definitional perspective of ecotourism which includes the
observation and admiration of nature and species (Ceballos-Lascurain,
1987, 1991a, b) Further, occasional ecotourists were particularly
interested in the following kinds of activities, where educational tours
were highly considered underlining the emphasis on an educational
experience depicted by the current sample :
=B7 Snorkeling: 61.9% (n=3D153); Turtle watching: 25.9% (n=3D=
64);
=B7 Educational guided tours: 60.3% (n=3D149); Horse riding: 2=
0.6%
(n=3D51);
=B7 Natural photography: 51.4% (n=3D127); Rock climbing: 18.2% (n=3D4=
5);
=B7 Camping: 49% (n=3D121); Marine fishing: 11.=
3% (n=3D28).
=B7 Scuba diving: 47.8% (n=3D118);
=B7 Bush walking: 46.6% (n=3D115);
=B7 Adventure tours: 36.8% (n=3D91);
=B7 Observing flowers: 35.6% (n=3D88);
=B7 Bird watching: 34.8% (n=3D86);
=B7 Whale watching: 33.2% (n=3D82);
=B7 White-water rafting: 27.5% (n=3D68);
Continents of travel
Most of the occasional ecotourists preferred to travel within Europe for
their holidays, especially to mountainous regions and national parks (30
%). The other commonly stated destinations included: Asia (24.3%),
Americas (23.1%), Africa (11.7%), and Australia/New Zealand/Pacific
(10.9%). It is pertinent to make a brief comment on the tendency of
occasional ecotourists to travel within Europe, as it appears that air
travel expenses and distances played a role when choosing an
eco-destination.
Type and grade of accommodation
The type of accommodation played a significant role in occasional
ecotourists choice process. Respondents were asked about their
preferred types of accommodation for their ecotourism vacations. The
accommodation preferences showed a multitude of responses as more than
one range of accommodation type was indicated. It was suggested that
nature tourists considered their accommodation preferences less (Boo,
1990), indeed the results of this sample acknowledge this suggestion by
revealing their overall preference of staying in a tent (53.4%). The
other preferred types of accommodation included hotels/motels (41.3%),
bed and breakfast (24.7%), cabins (22.7%), ecolodges (19.4%), inns
(10.1%), and ranches (2.8%). Among the other accommodation types
mentioned were staying with friends and relatives, youth hostels and
apartments. With respect to grade or luxury of these types of
accommodation, 48.2 % preferred a mid-price range, 46.6% a basic budget
and 6.9% luxurious.
Preference of travelling with companions
It appears that occasional ecotourists tend to travel with only one
person (63.2%) and in some instances with two (15.0%). There are
however a number of occasional ecotourists who showed preferences of
travelling with more than two people (see table 5.1).
______________________________________________________
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