Visitors' environmental awareness, experiences, and motivations towards botanical gardens: Implications for visitor education center
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.48017/dj.v11iSpecial_1.3635Keywords:
botanical garden, environmental consciousness, motivation, tourist experience, sustainabilityAbstract
Garden visits have evolved from a simple appreciation of plants and flowers to a multifaceted experience encompassing social, intellectual, and personal dimensions. Historically, tourism focused on providing new and unique experiences, but modern garden attractions now cater to visitors seeking fresh air, picturesque landscapes, recreational activities, and local produce. Botanical gardens (BGs) play a key role in education and sustainable development, prompting Cebu's garden attractions to redesign their offerings and assess visitor readiness to embrace these changes. This study employed a quantitative design with unpurposive sampling and descriptive statistics to explore the environmental awareness, experiences, and motivations of garden visitors. The results of a one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) indicated no significant differences between visitor demographics and environmental awareness, suggesting that awareness of environmental issues transcends demographic profiles. Visitors recognized the role of BGs in preserving and conserving flora. Notably, those who expected visitor education centers demonstrated greater environmental awareness and motivation. The findings highlight the importance of integrating educational programs into botanic gardens to enhance visitor experiences and promote environmental awareness, positioning these gardens as centers of leisure and learning.
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