Environmental Attitudes and Tourist Satisfaction in Overloaded Natural Protected Areas

Despite high visitation and extensive infrastructure, environmentalist tourists report higher satisfaction with their experience at Iguaçu National Park compared to non-environmentalists. This finding challenges the hypothesis that overcrowding and overdevelopment diminish the positive impact of pro-environmental attitudes on visitor satisfaction. The study analyzed data from 434 interviews with long-haul tourists, revealing that even in crowded natural protected areas, environmentalist visitors remain more satisfied, likely due to their deeper connection to nature. These insights have significant implications for park management and conservation strategies.

de Oliveira, A. C. R., Santos, G. E. d. O., & Santos Lobo, H. A. (2020). Environmental Attitudes and Tourist Satisfaction in Overloaded Natural Protected Areas. Journal of Travel Research, 60(8), 1667–1676. https://doi.org/10.1177/0047287520957419