Dolphin Watch Tourism: Two Differing Examples of Sustainable Practices and Proenvironmental Outcomes

Abstract

This study compares the management practices and content of the education/interpretation commentaries of two differing commercial dolphin watch operators in Nelson Bay, New South Wales, which is promoted as the "Dolphin Capital of Australia." The major objective of the study was to measure and evaluate the postexperience effectiveness of the education/interpretation components on the self-reported proenvironmental attitudes, beliefs, intended behaviors, and intended actions of participants. A questionnaire was administered to participants immediately after their half-day dolphin watch cruises. The most important feature of the experience for all participants was the opportunity to see wild dolphins behaving naturally in their natural habitat. Although the management practices and content of the education and interpretation messages differed aboard the two vessels, no significant differences occurred between the two differing samples for impacts on visitors' intended proenvironmental actions. Significant differences did occur between samples for the self-reported impacts on participants' strength of support for conservation of marine wildlife and for conservation of dolphins. The effectiveness and influence of the dolphin watch cruises on proenvironmental attitudes, beliefs, intended behaviors, and actions of participants appears to be related to two factors: the quality and content of the education/interpretive message, and the intensity level of the dolphin watching experience.

Nature-based tourism's impact on environmental knowledge, attitudes, and behavior: a review and analysis of the literature and potential future research

“…Hughes et al, 2011), Higham and Carr (2002) authored the lone qualitative study involving observation at ecotourism sites and interviews with visitors. Tubb (2003) and Mayes and Richins (2009) employed mixed-methods designs using a combination of observation at the study sites and quantitative-data surveys completed by visitors.…”

“…Ballantyne, Packer, & Falk, 2011;Dubin, 2008;Hovardas & Poirazidis, 2006;Powell et al, 2009); The types of experiences provided and visitors' level of involvement in those experiences (e.g. Coghlan, Fox, Prideaux, & L€ uck, 2011;Higham & Carr, 2002;Lee & Moscardo, 2005;Mayes & Richins, 2009;Skibins et al, 2013;Stamation et al, 2007); Purpose and type of interpretation (e.g. Coghlan et al, 2011;Coghlan & Kim, 2012;Hill et al, 2007;Hughes & Morrison-Saunders, 2002, 2005aMayes & Richins, 2009;Stamation et al, 2007;Weiler & Smith, 2009); Presence of post-visit action resources (e.g.…”

“…Coghlan, Fox, Prideaux, & L€ uck, 2011;Higham & Carr, 2002;Lee & Moscardo, 2005;Mayes & Richins, 2009;Skibins et al, 2013;Stamation et al, 2007); Purpose and type of interpretation (e.g. Coghlan et al, 2011;Coghlan & Kim, 2012;Hill et al, 2007;Hughes & Morrison-Saunders, 2002, 2005aMayes & Richins, 2009;Stamation et al, 2007;Weiler & Smith, 2009); Presence of post-visit action resources (e.g. Hughes 2011Hughes , 2013Hughes et al, 2011); Length of stay (e.g.…”

“…Nine other studies (53%) reported partially favorable changes in behavioral intentions. Mayes and Richins (2009), for example, asked dolphin-watching-tour participants to reflect on the influence of the trip on their intention to engage in 10 pro-environmental behaviors. Seven of these received support from more than half of the respondents.…”

The Negative Impacts of Whale-Watching

“…At present some studies suggest that these benefits are minimal [20], whilst others are more positive about the educational and public 2 Journal of Marine Biology conservation-promoting benefits of whale watching [21][22][23][24]. It has been found that provision of education on-board whale-watching vessels increased customer satisfaction with trips [25] or was considered to be an important part of a whale-watching trip [21,26,27] in several locations and this does suggest that on-board education is providing some benefits to customers.…”