| Given the growing economic importance of tourism and the traditional importance of timber industries in some states, it is necessary to understand the relationship between the two. This concern is based on the fact that for some regions, such as the Northwest, the physical environment, which serves as a prime attraction for tourists, can be altered by timber harvesting. This study used survey methodology to investigate tourists' attitude and intention toward visiting a destination that has visible clearcuts. The effects of large and small clearcuts were examined. In addition, this study also examined the relationship between attitude accessibility and the attitude-behavioral intention relationship. Data came from a sample of visitors who used campgrounds in Montana during the summer of 1990. Multivariate analysis of variance was used to determine if selected independent variables differed by visitors' attitude, subjective norm, and the components of each of these. Overall the results indicated that although subjects did not intend to visit destinations with either large or small clearcuts, they were more negative toward visiting a destination with large clearcuts than an area with small clearcuts. Differences were found to exist for the four independent variables--gender, activity, number of clearcuts seen, and attitude--examined. Regression analysis was used to examine the effect of attitude accessibility on the attitude-intention relationship. Only in two of the four cases examined did the results support the proposed relationship. A main conclusion from this study is that the timber industry may adversely affect tourism unless timber harvesting practices are altered or tourists' beliefs are changed. In addition, this study showed the need for additional research to determine why increased attitude accessibility does not always increase attitude-intention consistency. |
