Francesca Cini

Promoting Ecotourism Among Young People: A Segmentation Strategy

Ecotourism in natural protected areas is receiving growing international recognition as a means to enhance sustainability. Nonetheless, research on ecotourism and, in particular, on young ecotourists segmentation is still scarce. This study aimed at segmenting the market of young tourists using a range of psychosociological factors. First, a sample of 365 young tourists was segmented on the basis of holiday motivations (considered driving factors of attitudes and behaviors). Second, each group identified was characterized by a consistent set of other psychosociological variables, such as personality traits, personal values, general environmental beliefs, and behavioral variables (ecotourism behavioral intentions and consumption habits). The results show that about 80% of the sample would be open to the ecotourism, and different communication strategies for promoting ecotourism for different segments of potential ecotourists are also proposed.

Local mass media communication and environmental disputes: an analysis of press communication on the designation of the Tuscan Archipelago National Park in Italy.

The role of mass media in the construction of debated environmental issues is discussed, with reference to biodiversity conservation policies. The articles in a local daily newspaper (Il Tirreno) about the designation of the Tuscan Archipelago National Park in Italy have been content analyzed, before and after the park designation. In a quantitative study, two lexical correspondence analyses were conducted, on the titles and bodies of a selection of articles, respectively. A qualitative content analysis of the selected material was also performed to deepen and broaden the quantitative study. Results revealed the salience of a local–regional political conflict in the representation of the park designation, with particular emphasis on the issue of local identity: Local activism appears to function as a territorial defense against external intrusion from a centralized authority. This authority is perceived as limiting the interests and freedom of local communities. The implications of the results are discussed.

The “sustainable tourist”: Values, attitudes, and personality traits

This paper reports the results of two exploratory studies (overall N=532) which aimed at drawing the profile of the “sustainable tourist” (a person committed to respect the sustainability principles when on holiday) in terms of personal values, attitudes, and personality traits, following an environmental psychology approach. More specifically, study 1 explored the role of attitudes toward sustainable tourism, affinity toward (social and environmental) diversity, and personal values, while study 2 assessed the role of the Big Five personality traits in the prediction of preferences for sustainable and unsustainable tourist activities. Results indicate that biospheric values, positive attitudes toward sustainable tourism, and higher levels of affinity toward diversity are able to predict more sustainable tourism choices while personality traits seemed to play a more indirect and complex role.

The Role of Ethnicity in Shaping Dietary Patterns: A Review on the Social and Psychological Correlates of Food Consumption

Ethnicity and identification with the ethnic group is a cultural mediating and orienting framework relevant for understanding individual food consumption behavior. Empirical evidence, within social and behavioral sciences, confirmed the relationship between ethnicity, food choices, and dietary practices. There are important health implications of ethnicity and ethnic identification, in relation to food consumption patterns. Ethnic identity might play a crucial role in shaping (un)healthy behaviors across the lifespan, and particularly among younger generations. Different models for the explanation of individual food choices have been proposed in the field of cognitive and social psychology. Recent empirical studies have highlighted the role of identification with the ethnic group and social norms (e.g., perceived norms of the ethnic group) in predicting ethnic food choices.

Youth and ecotourism: A qualitative exploration

Young people’s beliefs concerning ecotourism were investigated in a qualitative study based on the focus group technique. Findings confirmed results of previous research work conducted with both adults and the young populations that had recorded a general lack of knowledge of the nature, aims and characteristics of ecotourism, as well as a lack of awareness of some of its potentialities like, for example, the benefits it could provide to local inhabitants. In addition, new insights were added to the existing literature concerning the characteristics and contents of the image of this tourism phenomenon which appeared to be affected by preconceptions and stereotypes.