Place attachment and pro-environmental behaviour in national parks: the development of a conceptual framework

Abstract

This paper critically examines the concept of place attachment and its likely influence on proenvironmental behavioural intention of visitors. It considers place attachment as a multidimensional construct comprising place dependence, place identity, place affect, and place social bonding, and suggests that research investigating this relationship in a national park context is fragmented, scattered, and often does not fully consider its multi-dimensional nature. A coherent and integrated approach is needed to advance the field. By considering place attachment as an attitude and acknowledging the close relationship between attitude and behavioural intention when both are directed toward a particular object or environment, the paper develops a conceptual framework that integrates the different place attachment subconstructs. It presents their relationship to pro-environmental behavioural intention as a series of propositions. The framework further considers place satisfaction to exert a direct influence on visitors' pro-environmental behavioural intentions in national parks and a moderating effect on the relationship between the different place constructs and proenvironmental behavioural intention in parks. Finally, the latter construct is proposed to influence visitors' general pro-environmental behavioural intentions. The paper's theoretical contributions, its limitations and its practical implications for sustainable tourism in general and national park management in particular, are discussed.

Place attachment, place satisfaction and pro-environmental behaviour: a comparative assessment of multiple regression and structural equation modelling

“…This section focuses on a brief description of place attachment, place satisfaction and pro-environmental behaviour outlining current findings regarding each construct's relationship to each other An introductory treatment of place attachment sub-constructs and place satisfaction including their relationships to pro-environmental behaviour is provided in Ramkissoon et al (2012), Ramkissoon et al, (in press) and others.…”

“…Place dependence and place identity are the two most commonly used sub-constructs of place attachment in literature (Prayag & Ryan, 2012;Williams, Patterson, Roggenbuck, & Watson 1992). Other researchers have investigated other sub-dimensions, for example place affect (Halpenny, 2010;Kals, Shumaker, & Montada, 1999;Ramkissoon et al, 2012) and place social bonding Wynveen, Kyle & Sutton, 2012). Place dependence reflects the functional attachment of a setting in achieving the specific goals of the individual (Stokols & Schumaker, 1981).…”

“…The future of national parks will depend on the interaction between people and these protected areas (Ramkissoon, Weiler, and Smith, 2012).…”

Visitors’ Experience, Place Attachment and Sustainable Behaviour at Cultural Heritage Sites: A Conceptual Framework

“…This implies that experience is a pivotal concept for understanding many facets of heritage tourism, including ways in which visitors can preserve, protect and enhance cultural heritage sites [19,21]. Moreover, the literature suggests that experiences of tourists play a key role in influencing their attachment to the visited place, their pro-environmental behaviour [9,[22][23][24], and their future behaviour [25]. Studies on heritage tourism however fall short in sufficiently considering tourists' experience and involvement in relation to the sustainable management process [15,26].…”

Building a culture of conservation: Research findings and research priorities on connecting people to nature in parks

“…Together, place identity and place dependence define our place attachment (Ramkissoon et al, 2012;Walker & Chapman, 2003).…”