From the Ecocentric and Anthropocentric Perspectives, an Investigation for the Future Tourism Entrepreneurs' Attitudes toward Environmental Issues

SARGIN S. A., BALTACI F., BİÇİCİ H.

ERPA Congress 2014 İstanbul, İstanbul, Turkey, 6 - 08 June 2014, pp.97, (Full Text)

  • Publication Type: Conference Paper / Full Text
  • City: İstanbul
  • Country: Turkey
  • Page Numbers: pp.97
  • Akdeniz University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

Environment is a value playing a key role for the existence of all living things. The presence of a healthy environment is important on behalf of both today's and the future's tourism entrepreneurs. This research was conducted with 100 students who continue their education in Alanya Faculty of Business, Alanya Chamber of Commerce & Industry Vocational School and Gazipasa Vocational School, of Akdeniz University for the spring semester of the 2013-2014 academic years. In the preparation of the questionnaire, it was benefited from the ecocentric and anthropocentric approach scales developed by Bjerke & Katlenborn (1999) and Aytaç & Öngen (2012). As a result of the study, it was determined that participants exhibit the ecocentric attitude in a general sense. In contrast, among the participants there are also individuals with anthropocentric attitude. The majority of these individuals constitute the female participants. The most striking findings obtained in this study are; the participants being much disinterested in environmental issues, the majority of their support for the protection of the environment remains ideational and this issue (can) not being transformed into behaviour. New application oriented courses should be opened in the areas of environmental protection & environmental sensitivity for ensuring to increase the environmental awareness of young tourism entrepreneurs.