Woods, Barbara (2000) Beauty and the beast: preferences for animals in Australia. Journal of Tourism Studies, 11 (2). pp. 25-35.

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Abstract

It is clear, both intuitively and from research findings, that humans have definite preferences regarding different animal species. These preferences have implications for the management of wildlife tourism in terms of selecting animals that people want to see, understanding the features of the animals that are appealing to visitors, and developing education and interpretation programs. This study reports on findings from 790 respondents who were asked to list their favourite animals, and the reasons why they are favourites. The results confirm that favourite animals are often companion animals and those animals with which people are familiar. the reasons for liking animals center around perceptions of their attractiveness, intelligence and character. reasons for disliking animals often focus on the threat or potential harm to humans. Results highlight the importance of perceptions rather than actual characteristics in influencing preference and provide a basis for wildlife tourism planning.

Item ID:	24139
Item Type:	Article (Research - C1)
ISSN:	1035-4662
Date Deposited:	06 Dec 2012 23:45
FoR Codes:	15 COMMERCE, MANAGEMENT, TOURISM AND SERVICES > 1506 Tourism > 150606 Tourist Behaviour and Visitor Experience @ 100%
SEO Codes:	90 COMMERCIAL SERVICES AND TOURISM > 9003 Tourism > 900303 Tourism Infrastructure Development @ 100%
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