Environmental Geography Seminar 7/31

Dear all,

Hello!

This is an announcement of the upcoming Environmental Geography Seminar.

Please see all the details carefully below.

【Date】 31st. July. Wed. （Time: 15:00~）

【Place】 D101

【Content】

1. Presenters

i. Ding Manhui
Title: An analysis of hydrological characteristics in the tidal zone of Bekanbeushi River basin

ii. Takada
Title: Analyzing visitor characteristics and movement patterns in Daisetsu-zan National Park using GPS loggers

iii. Sha Shuo
Title: Ecotourists’ Motivation and Its Relation to Ecotourism’s Principles
Abstract: The definition of ecotourism and ecotourists became a matter of debate among researchers. Moreover, such aspects as ecotourists’ motivation and behavior are frequently criticized by scholars, who claim that they contradict to principles of sustainability and are not environmentally friendly. Nevertheless, in terms of lacking definition, the concept of ecotourism is reflected by its principles, which are considered by researches as a sustainable basis for this tourism form. In this occasion, the consumers of the ecotourism industry are recognized as the tourists, who reflect the ecotourism’s principles at all stages of the travel. Thus, ecotourists’ behavior, preferences, and decision regarding the trip should correspond to the ecotourism principles. All these characteristics are determined by tourists’ motivation as it is a base which stimulates people to make a certain decision (Pearce et al., 1998). Thereby, to consider travelers as ecotourists, their motivation to travel and to behave in a certain way during the trip should be based on ecotourism’s principles.
The present thesis examines the ecotourist’s motivation to be involved in ecotours and to behave in a certain way during the trip with the purpose to define whether their motivation corresponds to the theoretical principles of ecotourism or not. The study is focused on those tourists who identify themselves as an ecotourist. The research was conducted using quantitative methodology. The tourists’ motivation was defined using an online questionnaire. This study is not limited to space. Thus, it investigates general ecotourists’ motivation without focusing on regional features.
As a result of this research, it was revealed that the vast majority of self-identified ecotourists are driven by personal motives, especially when it comes to motivation to behave in a certain way during the tour. Nevertheless, in some cases, the personal tourists’ motives coincide with the ecotourism’s principles and one-quarter of tourists are strongly motivated to be ecotourism’s principles when participating in the eco trip.
The findings of this research can be included to the broader studies of ecotourists’motivation, as well as it can be used for further researches aimed to determine the criteria for identifying the consumers of ecotourism and to verify the applicability of the respondents-based approach to define the ecotourists.
Link: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1djU_Z-V8hcTRL51GqaVthrP5C3gcZ4Cj/view?usp=sharing

2. Note this:

Please send me detailed information about your presentation at least 5 days before your turn.

For a paper review: title and author of the paper, journal name, which volume, pages, also the link (if possible) should be provided.

If a paper written in Japanese is going to be presented, please kindly send me the information both in Japanese and English.

【Notice】

※ In case you are absent from the seminar or late for the seminar, please contact Professors or me in advance. Any absence without permission is not allowed;

※ Please be punctual (very important);

※ Please do your full preparation for the seminar;

※ Your active participation is always appreciated;

※ Please feel free to get in touch with me if you have any questions or comments.

Best Regards,

Chang Liang