Measuring Geotourism:Developing and Testing the Geotraveler Tendency Scale (GTS)

B. Bynum Boley; Norma Polovitz Nickerson; Keith Bosak

doi:10.1177/0047287510382295

Measuring Geotourism:Developing and Testing the Geotraveler Tendency Scale (GTS)

B. Bynum Boley
, Norma Polovitz Nickerson
, Keith Bosak

W. A. Franke College of Forestry and Conservation

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

72 Scopus citations

Abstract

Geotourism is tourism that sustains or enhances the geographical character of a place, including its environment, culture, aesthetics, heritage, and the well-being of its residents. The purpose of this study was to develop and test a scale measuring geotraveler tendencies (GTS). The GTS consists of 35 items across eight subscales measuring both attitudes and behaviors of travelers. Confirmatory factor analysis tested each scale for construct validity, convergent validity, discriminant validity, and nomological validity, and demonstrated that all eight scales of the GTS were valid and reliable measures of the dimensions of geotourism. Standardized factor loadings ranged from.52 to.92 and construct reliability scores ranged from.72 to.94 for the eight attitudinal and behavioral scales. For destinations interested in promoting geotourism, the GTS provides a tool to determine if visitors traveling to their area embrace geotourism values of sustaining and enhancing the geographical character of place.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	567-578
Number of pages	12
Journal	Journal of Travel Research
Volume	50
Issue number	5
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1177/0047287510382295
State	Published - Sep 2011

Funding

The authors disclosed receipt of the following financial support for the research and/or publication of this article: Funding for this project was provided the Montana statewide accommodation tax and through the Alberta Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism. The project was approved by the Governor’s Tourism Advisory Council of Montana.

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 8 Decent Work and Economic Growth
SDG 12 Responsible Consumption and Production

Keywords

confirmatory factor analysis
geotourism
scale development
sustainable tourism

Access to Document

10.1177/0047287510382295

Cite this

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title = "Measuring Geotourism:Developing and Testing the Geotraveler Tendency Scale (GTS)",

abstract = "Geotourism is tourism that sustains or enhances the geographical character of a place, including its environment, culture, aesthetics, heritage, and the well-being of its residents. The purpose of this study was to develop and test a scale measuring geotraveler tendencies (GTS). The GTS consists of 35 items across eight subscales measuring both attitudes and behaviors of travelers. Confirmatory factor analysis tested each scale for construct validity, convergent validity, discriminant validity, and nomological validity, and demonstrated that all eight scales of the GTS were valid and reliable measures of the dimensions of geotourism. Standardized factor loadings ranged from.52 to.92 and construct reliability scores ranged from.72 to.94 for the eight attitudinal and behavioral scales. For destinations interested in promoting geotourism, the GTS provides a tool to determine if visitors traveling to their area embrace geotourism values of sustaining and enhancing the geographical character of place.",

keywords = "confirmatory factor analysis, geotourism, scale development, sustainable tourism",

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note = "Funding Information: The authors disclosed receipt of the following financial support for the research and/or publication of this article: Funding for this project was provided the Montana statewide accommodation tax and through the Alberta Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism. The project was approved by the Governor{\textquoteright}s Tourism Advisory Council of Montana.",

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AU - Bosak, Keith

N1 - Funding Information: The authors disclosed receipt of the following financial support for the research and/or publication of this article: Funding for this project was provided the Montana statewide accommodation tax and through the Alberta Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism. The project was approved by the Governor’s Tourism Advisory Council of Montana.

PY - 2011/9

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N2 - Geotourism is tourism that sustains or enhances the geographical character of a place, including its environment, culture, aesthetics, heritage, and the well-being of its residents. The purpose of this study was to develop and test a scale measuring geotraveler tendencies (GTS). The GTS consists of 35 items across eight subscales measuring both attitudes and behaviors of travelers. Confirmatory factor analysis tested each scale for construct validity, convergent validity, discriminant validity, and nomological validity, and demonstrated that all eight scales of the GTS were valid and reliable measures of the dimensions of geotourism. Standardized factor loadings ranged from.52 to.92 and construct reliability scores ranged from.72 to.94 for the eight attitudinal and behavioral scales. For destinations interested in promoting geotourism, the GTS provides a tool to determine if visitors traveling to their area embrace geotourism values of sustaining and enhancing the geographical character of place.

AB - Geotourism is tourism that sustains or enhances the geographical character of a place, including its environment, culture, aesthetics, heritage, and the well-being of its residents. The purpose of this study was to develop and test a scale measuring geotraveler tendencies (GTS). The GTS consists of 35 items across eight subscales measuring both attitudes and behaviors of travelers. Confirmatory factor analysis tested each scale for construct validity, convergent validity, discriminant validity, and nomological validity, and demonstrated that all eight scales of the GTS were valid and reliable measures of the dimensions of geotourism. Standardized factor loadings ranged from.52 to.92 and construct reliability scores ranged from.72 to.94 for the eight attitudinal and behavioral scales. For destinations interested in promoting geotourism, the GTS provides a tool to determine if visitors traveling to their area embrace geotourism values of sustaining and enhancing the geographical character of place.

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ER -

Measuring Geotourism:Developing and Testing the Geotraveler Tendency Scale (GTS)

Abstract

Funding

UN SDGs

Keywords

Access to Document

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