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- All Subjects: Behavioral Sciences
- Creators: Andereck, Kathleen
Description
As the number of travelers around the world grows, the importance of managing tourism destinations in a sustainable manner becomes increasingly important. Sustainable tourism has long been discussed as necessary for managing tourism responsibly, yet adoption of sustainable strategies and operationalization has been slow. Initiatives and programs often focus on environmental components of sustainability and the role of large companies. Certification programs are one way in which destinations are operationalizing community-wide sustainable tourism and small businesses are engaging in sustainability initiatives and recognition.
Using social cognitive theory as the research framework, this study examined internal and external motives and their influence on small business participation in sustainable tourism certification and sustainability practices. Incentives for behavior, modeling of other businesses, company values, and self-efficacy were examined as motives and barriers. Regression analysis and independent samples t-tests were used to examine statistical relationships.
This study partnered with the Alaska Travel Industry Association (ATIA) to study businesses that hold Adventure Green Alaska sustainable tourism certification or are viewed as prospects for certification. From a list of 77, 44 Alaska tourism businesses responded to an online questionnaire to participate in this study. Businesses were categorized into those with certification (n = 31) and those without (n=13). Results indicated participation in sustainability practices to be higher among certified businesses than non-certified. Internal motives indicated to be more significant than external motives for participation in sustainable practices and certification. Company values were of high importance to both certified and non-certified businesses in implementing sustainable practices and certification. Consumer interest and marketing benefits were important incentives for participation in sustainability strategies. These findings have implications for tourism industry associations and organizations interested in the operationalization and development of sustainable tourism. This study is expected to aid in marketing and retention efforts for sustainable tourism certification programs, as well as future direction for development of sustainable tourism certification.
Using social cognitive theory as the research framework, this study examined internal and external motives and their influence on small business participation in sustainable tourism certification and sustainability practices. Incentives for behavior, modeling of other businesses, company values, and self-efficacy were examined as motives and barriers. Regression analysis and independent samples t-tests were used to examine statistical relationships.
This study partnered with the Alaska Travel Industry Association (ATIA) to study businesses that hold Adventure Green Alaska sustainable tourism certification or are viewed as prospects for certification. From a list of 77, 44 Alaska tourism businesses responded to an online questionnaire to participate in this study. Businesses were categorized into those with certification (n = 31) and those without (n=13). Results indicated participation in sustainability practices to be higher among certified businesses than non-certified. Internal motives indicated to be more significant than external motives for participation in sustainable practices and certification. Company values were of high importance to both certified and non-certified businesses in implementing sustainable practices and certification. Consumer interest and marketing benefits were important incentives for participation in sustainability strategies. These findings have implications for tourism industry associations and organizations interested in the operationalization and development of sustainable tourism. This study is expected to aid in marketing and retention efforts for sustainable tourism certification programs, as well as future direction for development of sustainable tourism certification.
ContributorsRoberg, Kari (Author) / Vogt, Christine (Thesis advisor) / Andereck, Kathleen (Committee member) / Darnall, Nicole (Committee member) / Arizona State University (Publisher)
Created2017
Description
Wildlife has been critically affected by human-induced change and in some areas, species extinction may be as high as 35%. Despite the overwhelming evidence of species extinction, habitat loss, and global climate change, current public support for conservation programs is low. One potential way to promote pro-conservation behavior is through transformative experiences as outlined in Mezirow’s Transformative Learning Theory (TLT). TLT works to explain the process through which people create new worldviews that can influence both attitudes and behaviors. This mixed methods dissertation seeks to understand transformative experiences and their short-term consequences in the context of wildlife viewing opportunities. Three studies were conducted to: 1) explore the key components of wildlife experiences that prompt transformation; 2) compare transformative experiences and visitor outcomes across captive and natural wildlife viewing opportunities; and 3) understand the short-term impacts of a natural gorilla-based wildlife viewing opportunity. The first study used semi-structured photo elicitation interviews. These interviews uncovered three major themes that provide evidence of critical components for fostering transformation during wildlife encounters. These themes were used to create two novel scales assessing transformative wildlife experiences. The second study used onsite visitor surveys to compare TLT and visitor outcomes at the North Carolina Zoo and at the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund’s Conservation Gallery in Rwanda. Structural equation modeling showed that onsite transformation occurred at both sites and directly influenced conservation caring, which mediated the relationship between onsite transformation and species- and biodiversity-oriented behavioral intentions. The final study included a follow-up questionnaire for visitors from the gorilla trekking experience 4-months after their trek. Hierarchical cluster analysis revealed three distinct levels of short-term response to the trek. Qualitative results from the follow-up questionnaire were also considered in the context of the three groups. Overall, this dissertation adds to the growing body of literature examining the transformative nature of wildlife experiences and contributes two novel scales that can be used in future studies. In addition, it adds to the limited onsite research examining terrestrial, African wildlife experiences. The theoretical and managerial implications for the findings from all three studies are discussed at length.
ContributorsSampson, Marena Elizabeth (Author) / Budruk, Megha (Thesis advisor) / Andereck, Kathleen (Committee member) / Larsen, Dale (Committee member) / Farrell, Tracy (Committee member) / Arizona State University (Publisher)
Created2023
Description
Since the pandemic accelerated the penetration of AI-based autonomous service robots (ASRs) in hospitality and tourism, people are more likely to experience these service innovations, which raises critical ethical concerns from consumers’ perspectives. This dissertation focuses on the ethics of ASRs in hospitality and aims to 1) explore consumers’ ethical perceptions of ASRs, 2) investigate factors that can affect consumers’ intention to adopt ASRs in a post-pandemic context, and 3) examine how initial trust can mediate the relationship between consumers’ ethical perceptions and facilitate the intention to adopt ASRs. This dissertation conducted two studies using the exploratory mixed methods approach to achieve these goals. Study one explored the consumers’ ethical perceptions of ASRs, driven by various ethical theories, such as teleology and deontology. Using triangulation methodology, data collection proceeded through semi-structured interviews, focus groups, and on-site interviews. The findings revealed eight themes of consumers’ perceived ethical issues of ASRs. These themes were categorized into two dimensions: ethical issues that arise during interactions and ethical issues that are inherent to the characteristics of ASRs. Therefore, a total of 16 ethical issues were identified. Study two further developed measurements of consumers’ perceived ethical issues of ASRs by conducting two rounds of online surveys. A second-order model based on Technology Acceptance Model and Initial Trust Model was built to understand better the relationship between consumers’ ethical perceptions and their intention to adopt ASRs. By utilizing second-order confirmatory factor analysis and partial least square structural equation modeling, the main results demonstrated the relationships between the two dimensions of consumers’ perceived ethical issues, perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, initial trust, and behavioral intention. Furthermore, initial trust significantly mediated the relationship between consumers’ ethical perceptions and behavioral intention, while personal innovativeness moderated the relationship between initial trust and behavioral intention. This study is the first to empirically explore, measure, and validate a framework regarding consumers’ ethical perceptions of ASRs in hospitality. The findings contribute to the literature on ethics studies in business and information technology and provide valuable implications for managers in tourism and hospitality, policymakers, and those implementing ASRs in broader service contexts.
ContributorsLin, Boyu (Author) / Lee, Woojin (Thesis advisor) / Andereck, Kathleen (Committee member) / Wise, Nicholas (Committee member) / Choi, Hwan-Suk (Committee member) / Arizona State University (Publisher)
Created2023