The relationship between the tourists' experience on the Great Barrier Reef and their pro-environmental attitudes and behaviours

Abstract

[eng] The Great Barrier Reef (Australia) is a popular tourist destination as well as an important natural ecosystem, which is home to numerous species of fish and corals. During previous decades it has been subject to massive degradation and is in urgent need of restoration and preservation. This Master’s Thesis investigates the relationship of the tourists’ experience on the Great Barrier Reef (GBR) and their personal pro-environmental attitudes, as well as behaviours. It examines the changes which occur after a visit. By conducting a validated online survey, which has been additionally extended by the author, this study has collected valuable data on the effect of tourism activities, taking place on the GBR, on the attitudes and behaviours of the participants. Results had been analysed using a statistical software STATA. After a visit, people’s perception regarding the importance of protecting the environment was slightly greater (by 0.8%) and they showed a statistically significant improvement in the amount of pro-environmental behaviours - they received higher scores in all 6 categories: energy saving, mobility, waste avoidance, consumption, recycling, social engagement. Moreover, it had been found that 32% of them declared a broad knowledge on pro-environmental actions which they can take on a daily basis, as opposed to only 6% of respondents who have not visited the GBR. This Master’s Thesis confirms that pro-environmental attitudes and behaviours of tourists who have visited the GBR are greater than of those who have not done so.