Looking for evidence that place of residence influenced visitor attitudes to feeding wild dolphins

Jessica Patroni (), Alicia Day (), Diane Lee (), Jennifer Kim Lian Chan (), David Kerr (), David Newsome () and Greg D Simpson ()
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Jessica Patroni: Environmental and Conservation Sciences School of Veterinary and Life Science Murdoch University, Perth, Western Australia and Dolphin Discovery Centre
Alicia Day: Honours Alumina Environmental and Conservation Sciences School of Veterinary and Life Science Murdoch University, Perth, Western Australia
Diane Lee: Society and Communication, School of Arts, Murdoch University, Perth, Western Australia
Jennifer Kim Lian Chan: Borneo Tourism Research Centre, Universiti Malaysia Sabah
David Kerr: Dolphin Discovery Centre, Koombana Bay, Bunbury, Western Australia
David Newsome: Environmental and Conservation Sciences, School of Veterinary and Life Science, Murdoch University, Perth, Western Australia
Greg D Simpson: Environmental and Conservation Sciences, School of Veterinary and Life Science, Murdoch University, Perth, Western Australia

Tourism and Hospitality Management, 2018, vol. 24, issue 1, 87-105

Abstract: Purpose – To ascertain if place attachment or experiential norms influence visitor attitudes to the feeding of wild dolphins. Design/Methodology/Approach – A cross section of beach based visitors at a popular Australian marine tourism destination were opportunistically sampled using pen and paper questionnaires. Findings – Visitors expressed strong support for the strictly controlled minimalist reward feeding that accompanies beach based wild dolphin interactions at the Bunbury Dolphin Discovery Centre and visitors believe there are tourism benefits to be gained from the regulated feeding of wild dolphins. Results also suggest that neither place attachment nor experiential norms influence visitor attitudes to feeding of the Koombana Bay dolphin population. Originality of the research – This location specific, snapshot, case study suggests that contrary to published theory, place attachment and experiential norms do not influence tourist attitudes to wildlife feeding, especially for charismatic iconic wildlife such as dolphins

Keywords: Dolphins; Place Attachment; Tourism; Visitor Attitudes; Wildlife Feeding Journal: Tourism and Hospitality Management (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: L83 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2018
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:tho:journl:v:24:y:2018:n:1:p:87-105

DOI: 10.20867/thm.24.1.2

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