Environmentalism and Tourists' Experiences on Swim-With Dolphins Tours: A case study of New Zealand

Over the past decades, the demand for nature-based tourism has increased drastically, with a particularly high demand for whale and dolphin watching. This study examines environmental values, attitudes and behaviour of tourists on dolphin tours in New Zealand, and how they relate to their on-tour experiences. A demographic profile of participants formed the basis for these analyses, which employed the New Environmental Paradigm (NEP) scale, the Environmental Concern (EC) scale, and the General Measure of Ecological Behavior (GEB). Factors contributing to the visitor experience, including interpretation and education, tourist satisfaction, and perceived crowding were also addressed. Results indicate that tourists on dolphin tours generally embrace high environmental values and attitudes, although their environmental behaviour does not consistently reflect this. Demographic characteristics have insignificant influence on both the environmental consciousness, and the on-tour experience. Tour staff have good knowledge about dolphins, but respondents expect more information about the wider marine environment. Crowding is a minor problem that does not seem to influence the experience.