On the edge of the world: examining pro-environmental outcomes of last chance tourism in Kaktovik, Alaska

Last chance tourism: a decade review of a case study on Churchill, Manitoba’s polar bear viewing industry

“…Research on LCT destinations has evolved since this first study, expanding beyond polar bear viewing to areas around the world (e.g., the Great Barrier Reef in Australia, cruise tourism in Antarctica, glacier viewing in Montenvers-Mer-de-Glace). In addition, these studies provide a better understanding of tourists' motivations to travel, as well as opportunities for LCT destinations to reduce the effects of climate change (Groulx et al, 2016;Lemieux et al, 2018;Miller et al, 2020;Piggott-McKellar & McNamara, 2017;Salim & Ravanel, 2020). Despite these efforts, few studies have quantified the carbon intensity of a LCT destination (see Eijgelaar et al, 2010 for an exception), and no known studies have examined a tourism destination on the longitudinal scale to identify how carbon intensity in these LCT markets may evolve over time.…”

Evaluating the impact of a youth polar expedition alumni programme on post-trip pro-environmental behaviour: a community-engaged research approach

“…This study advances our understanding of the elusive and complex concept of polar ambassadorship (Miller et al, 2020). Findings suggest that social identity might be one way to explain the long-term impact of educational expeditions in terms of desired future pro-environmental behaviours, highlighting the critical importance of an alumni programme.…”

“…This component is associated with the sense of belonging and identification or the feeling, belief, and expectation that one fits in the group and has a place there. This component is linked to group self-esteem (McMillan & Chavis, 1986). The third component is member commitment to the groupor their emotional attachmentand includes feelings of attachment and belonging to the community (Bagozzi & Dholakia, 2006).…”

“…In a tourism context, confirming a relationship between individuals' pro-environmental behaviour change and the impact of their travels upon this change is difficult to make, but it is a growing area of interest (Landon et al, 2019;Lee & Jan, 2015;Miller et al, 2020). The notion that visitors become important advocates or ambassadors for a place or cause is common in tourism literature (see Beaumont, 2001;Higham & Carr, 2002).…”

“…Manley et al (2017) drew similar conclusions in the Arctic, where cruise tourists expressed a slight increase in some environmentally oriented behaviours after their cruise, for example, attending environment-focused meetings in their community or voting for elected officials who support environmental protection. Miller et al (2020) showed that polar bear viewing experience in Alaska has the potential to increase visitors' pro-environmental and ambassadorship behavioural intentions. By contrast, Eijgelaar et al (2010) found no evidence of Antarctic tourism having an impact upon overall environmental awareness or travel choices of tourists upon their return home.…”