Tourism, Environmental Awareness, and Conservation Behavior: Evidence from Ecotourism Sites in Nigeria

Authors

Enesi Chukwuemeka Majebi National Open University of Nigeria

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.55927/wakatobi.v3i2.127

Keywords:

Ecotourism, Environmental Awareness, Conservation Behavior

Abstract

This study investigates the relationships between tourism experience, environmental awareness, and conservation behavior at ecotourism sites in Nigeria. Using a quantitative approach, data were collected from 250 tourists through a structured questionnaire and analyzed using regression and mediation analysis. The findings reveal that tourism experience has a significant positive effect on environmental awareness and conservation behavior. Environmental awareness also significantly influences conservation behavior and partially mediates the relationship between tourism experience and conservation behavior. These results indicate that ecotourism experiences can promote environmentally responsible behavior, particularly when supported by effective environmental education and destination management practices. The study contributes to the sustainable tourism literature by providing empirical evidence from a developing country context and offers practical implications for policymakers and ecotourism managers in Nigeria.

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