What inspires birders to migrate South towards Africa? A quantitative measure of international avitourist motivation
Year: 2013
Type: article
Abstract: Despite the rapid growth of avitourism (birding) globally, the \ninternational market potential of avitourism is not fully utilised. \nThis research endeavoured to develop a multidimensional measure \nof avitourist motivation and to investigate the relative importance \nof the different dimensions or factors of avitourist motivation. \nBased on an in-depth review of the literature, a measure of birder \nmotivation was developed. The research instrument was evaluated \nby a group of birding experts. The instrument was further evaluated \nand refined based on primary data gathered from 439 visitors to the \nBritish Birdwatching Fair and the Dutch Vogelfestival. Confirmatory \nfactor analysis was used to evaluate the dimensionality and fit of \nthe instrument based on the proposed factorial structure. Finally, \na second-order confirmatory factor analysis model for avitourist \nmotivation revealed higher-order constructs, namely wellbeing, \nintellectual activity, social interaction and photography. The results \nsuggest that the photography dimension could be excluded as a \nmotivational factor, and that birders consider aspects of wellbeing \n(emotional, spiritual, physical and mental stimulation) as the most \nimportant factors that motivate birding.
Authors: Nicolene Conradie, Ciná Van Zyl, A. Strasheim
Institutions: University of South Africa, University of Pretoria
Language: English
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W2135919770