Ecotourists' beliefs and knowledge about dolphins and the development of cetacean ecotourism

Abstract

The current trend towards environmental awareness is accompanied by people seeking ways to change their relationship with nature. Every individual will perceive their relationship with animals, and interpret the behaviour of animals, in the light of their culture. This study explored the relationships among beliefs, knowledge and demographic characteristics of participants in a ‘Swim with Wild Dolphins’ program in the Bay of Islands, New Zealand. Most respondents interpreted dolphin behavior anthropomorphically, and perceived the dolphins’ social structure as being sociocentric. Principal Components Analysis revealed attributions of spirituality, altruism, interspecies sociability and dolphin society. The ecotourists who formed this sample were unacquainted with scientific knowledge related to cetaceans, and therefore were not likely to understand most of the philosophical, educational, economic or ecological values of wildlife. Increased knowledge of the users in terms of beliefs, expectations, and satisfaction will allow for more precise management of human-animal interactions and guide educational programs.

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