Understanding Coastal Tourists\u27 Behavioral Intentions toward Nature-based Experiences

Ecotourism is a viable alternative to mass tourism in promoting a sustainable tourism industry. Ecotourism evolved from tourism providers who began to focus their services on educating tourists about the natural environmental and promoting conservation efforts. Past studies have shown that ecotourism programs have the ability to change tourists’ environmental attitudes and behaviors. Prior research has investigated that interpretation in the form of educating tourists about the natural environment through hands on experiences can result in a deeper appreciation for nature. However, research has yet to examine environmental attitudes and behaviors of tourists from a gender perspective and more research should investigate the effect of interpretative programs on coastal communities. The present study used Ajzen’s Theory of Planned Behavior as the framework to examine tourists’ attitudes, intention to act, and behaviors as a result of engaging in an eco-tour in Half Moon Bay, California. The study revealed that environmental attitudes differed between gender and that participants in eco-tours express the demand side of interpretation, where positive environmental preferences led to positive environmental behavior when introduced to environmental education

Residents' support for tourism development: The role of residents' place image and perceived tourism impacts

Drawing on the triple bottom line approach for tourism impacts (economic, socio-cultural and environmental) and adopting a non-forced approach for measuring residents' perception of these impacts, this study explores the role of residents' place image in shaping their support for tourism development. The tested model proposes that residents' place image affects their perceptions of tourism impacts and in turn their support for tourism development. The results stress the need for a more flexible and resident oriented measurement of tourism impacts, revealing that more favorable perceptions of the economic, socio-cultural and environmental impacts lead to greater support. Moreover, while residents' place image has been largely neglected by tourism development studies, the findings of this study reveal its significance in shaping residents' perception of tourism impacts as well as their level of support. The practical implications of the findings for tourism planning and development are also discussed

The role of place image dimensions in residents' support for tourism development

Understanding residents' perceptions of tourism impacts and their level of support for its development is considered vital for the sustainable development of tourism. Despite the plethora of factors examined as determinants of residents' attitudes toward tourism, the role of residents' place image has been under-examined. This study developed a model examining the relationships between residents' place image dimensions, perceived tourism impacts and support for development. Findings suggest that two (physical appearance, social environment) out of the four place image dimensions identified in this study exercise a significant effect on residents' attitudes toward tourism. The theoretical and practical implications to the formation of planning and development programs for tourism are discussed

The impact of residents' informedness and involvement on their perceptions of tourism impacts: The case of Bled

The tourism development debate includes many studies on how residents perceive positive or negative tourism impacts, based on sustainability, as understood by a three-pillar concept. However, so far studies were very limited in addressing certain requirements for sustainable tourism, such as informed stakeholders’ participation and cooperation – which represent the subject of this study. The survey that was undertaken follows previous ones in using the established three-pillar sustainability concept in order to define impacts of tourism. Further, it adds to tourism research by surveying informedness and developmental involvement. A four-dimensional informedness–involvement tourism grid is used to segment residents and their perceptions on tourism impacts in each segment are analysed. The model is empirically applied to the Slovenian lake and mountain destination of Bled. The findings confirm that highly informed and highly involved residents had better perceptions of tourism than all other groups, whereas those residents who were lowly informed and lowly involved had more negative perceptions of tourism. The survey contributes by expanding knowledge on resident perceptions of tourism by adding in the aspects of informedness and involvement. The proposed model can be applied to any destination to help manage residents’ opinions and consequently their support for tourism development

Do Travelers Support Green Practices and Sustainable Development

A 2007 survey of managers from RCRA members found strong motivational support for green practices. These and other findings suggest there is broad support for green practices among resort managers. However, it is unclear the level of traveler support for eco-friendly practices. Study objectives were to: Investigate consumers’ attitudes toward environmentally responsible or green practices in the travel industry; identify green practices they’ve undertaken while traveling; explore factors influencing traveler adoption of green practices; and provide implications for the travel industry. In spring 2008 an intercept survey of travelers visiting the California Welcome Center at Pier 39 in San Francisco, CA was administered. Green practices were defined as: “Green practices could range from using/generating renewable energy, taking lower CO2 emission forms of transportation, recycling of wastes, water conservation, buying green products or supporting green organizations.” A total of 267 useable surveys were collected. Respondents were very diverse in terms of age, income and residence. Results showed supportive attitudes toward green practices. Four factors accounted for 51% of variation in traveler attitudes toward green practices. About half of survey respondents agreed they were willing to pay 10% more for green services. A similar number agreed the “biggest factor holding them back was a lack of information about who provides them.” About one-third sought out green travel providers. Over 12% listed a green practice they undertook while traveling. Findings suggest there is a large support base for green practices; many more will buy/support green practice with better information and clearly distinguishable alternatives

SCIENTIFIC JUSTIFICATION OF HYDROMECHANICAL DISPERGATING IN FOOD PRODUCTION FROM HYDROBIONTS (CYST)

The problem of raising the level of protein supply in the diet of the population of the Russian Federation is still relevant. To solve this problem it is important to investigate protein food reserves, while priority is given to a combination of vegetable and animal proteins. Fish and non-fish water fishing is paid particular attention as a potential source of protein, because of almost inexhaustible world ocean reserves and the prospects for their use. The aim of the work is the scientific study and practical implementation of preparation and evaluation of the quality of pasty concentrates of aquatic organisms, as well as health food products based on them using hydro-mechanical dispersion. The scientific background of technological aspects of the production of aquatic pasty concentrate from hydrobionts (cyst Artemia Salina) using hydro-mechanical dispersion is presented in the article. Consumer characteristics, conditions and terms of the concentrate storage are identified. New data on the effectiveness evaluation of paste concentrate from cyst Artemia to increase the body's immune properties are obtained in the experiments with animals. The expediency of development and industrial production of cheese products using pasty concentrates of aquatic organisms is based. Regulated quality parameters, modes and terms of their storage are established

Geographic and temporal variation in the consumption of bats by European barn owls

Capsule We report a review of the occurrence of bats in the Barn Owl diet Tyto alba in Europe. Based on 802 studies reporting 4.02 million prey items identified in pellets, 4949 were bats (0.12%). We found that bat predation decreased during the last 150 years, is more frequent on islands than mainland, and is higher in eastern than western Europe and in southern than northern Europe. Although Barn Owls usually capture bats opportunistically, they can sometimes specialize on them