What affects environmentally sustainable behaviour? A case study of visitors to Whistler BC

Environmental sustainability has increasingly become a global concern and a goal for many communities. The Resort Municipality of Whistler is one such community. While engaged in sustainability-based planning, it has not yet included specific input from its large visitor population. It is useful to...

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Main Author: Nathaniel, Lindsay Carolyn Tamara
Language:English
Published: University of British Columbia 2011
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/2429/35011
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spelling ndltd-LACETR-oai-collectionscanada.gc.ca-BVAU.2429-350112014-03-26T03:37:49Z What affects environmentally sustainable behaviour? A case study of visitors to Whistler BC Nathaniel, Lindsay Carolyn Tamara Environmental sustainability has increasingly become a global concern and a goal for many communities. The Resort Municipality of Whistler is one such community. While engaged in sustainability-based planning, it has not yet included specific input from its large visitor population. It is useful to understand visitor views and what drives their behaviour before implementing integrated environmental sustainability initiatives. This research investigates what influences environmentally sustainable behaviour of visitors to Whistler. It examines perceptions of environmental sustainability, environmental behaviour norms, and motivators and barriers affecting environmental behaviour of visitors to Whistler. It is grounded in literature on sustainability theory and environmental behaviour. Data from 232 visitors were collected through surveys in winter 2009. The data were analyzed using correlations, analyses of variance, by extent of agreement, and by categorizing respondents’ quotes and discussing issues raised. Results show that convenience, values, cost, how local businesses act and the belief that one’s behaviour would make a difference most influence environmentally sustainable behaviour at Whistler. It was determined that information provided and social pressures have the least influence. Respondents perceive that maintaining a healthy environment is their responsibility and do not prioritize the environment over human well-being. They engage in recycling and hotel-related environmental behaviours more often than food-related ones. The research concludes with recommendations on improving visitor engagement in Whistler’s sustainability initiatives. 2011-05-31T21:20:06Z 2011-05-31T21:20:06Z 2011 2011-05-31T21:20:06Z 2011-11 Electronic Thesis or Dissertation http://hdl.handle.net/2429/35011 eng University of British Columbia
collection NDLTD
language English
sources NDLTD
description Environmental sustainability has increasingly become a global concern and a goal for many communities. The Resort Municipality of Whistler is one such community. While engaged in sustainability-based planning, it has not yet included specific input from its large visitor population. It is useful to understand visitor views and what drives their behaviour before implementing integrated environmental sustainability initiatives. This research investigates what influences environmentally sustainable behaviour of visitors to Whistler. It examines perceptions of environmental sustainability, environmental behaviour norms, and motivators and barriers affecting environmental behaviour of visitors to Whistler. It is grounded in literature on sustainability theory and environmental behaviour. Data from 232 visitors were collected through surveys in winter 2009. The data were analyzed using correlations, analyses of variance, by extent of agreement, and by categorizing respondents’ quotes and discussing issues raised. Results show that convenience, values, cost, how local businesses act and the belief that one’s behaviour would make a difference most influence environmentally sustainable behaviour at Whistler. It was determined that information provided and social pressures have the least influence. Respondents perceive that maintaining a healthy environment is their responsibility and do not prioritize the environment over human well-being. They engage in recycling and hotel-related environmental behaviours more often than food-related ones. The research concludes with recommendations on improving visitor engagement in Whistler’s sustainability initiatives.
author Nathaniel, Lindsay Carolyn Tamara
spellingShingle Nathaniel, Lindsay Carolyn Tamara
What affects environmentally sustainable behaviour? A case study of visitors to Whistler BC
author_facet Nathaniel, Lindsay Carolyn Tamara
author_sort Nathaniel, Lindsay Carolyn Tamara
title What affects environmentally sustainable behaviour? A case study of visitors to Whistler BC
title_short What affects environmentally sustainable behaviour? A case study of visitors to Whistler BC
title_full What affects environmentally sustainable behaviour? A case study of visitors to Whistler BC
title_fullStr What affects environmentally sustainable behaviour? A case study of visitors to Whistler BC
title_full_unstemmed What affects environmentally sustainable behaviour? A case study of visitors to Whistler BC
title_sort what affects environmentally sustainable behaviour? a case study of visitors to whistler bc
publisher University of British Columbia
publishDate 2011
url http://hdl.handle.net/2429/35011
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