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Antarctic tourists: ambassadors or consumers?

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 July 2008

Robert B. Powell
Affiliation:
Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism Management; Department of Forestry and Natural Resources, 281 Lehotsky Hall, Clemson University, Clemson, SC 29634-0735, USA
Stephen R. Kellert
Affiliation:
School of Forestry & Environmental Studies, Yale University, Sage Hall, 205 Prospect Street, New Haven, CT 06511, USA
Sam H. Ham
Affiliation:
Department of Conservation Social Sciences, University of Idaho, Moscow, Idaho 83844-1139, USA; Tourism Research Unit, Monash University, Australia

Abstract

Two complementary studies were conducted to investigate both the immediate and longer-term influence of Antarctic cruise tourism experiences on participants’ knowledge of Antarctica, attitudes toward management issues facing the Antarctic region, and environmental behaviours and future intentions. In addition, the study investigated tourists’ attitudes toward visitor guidelines. The results suggest that Antarctica nature-based tourism operators have the potential to provide experiences that educate the public to the importance of Antarctica.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2008

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