Terrestrial Astrotourism – Motivation and Satisfaction of Travelling to Watch the Night Sky
Author
Pinto Coutinho de Matos, Ana Luisa
Term
4. term
Education
Publication year
2017
Submitted on
2017-05-31
Pages
194
Abstract
Astrotourism is a growing niche in which people travel to observe celestial phenomena. This thesis focuses on terrestrial astrotourism—Earth-based activities such as visiting observatories, space centers, or viewing aurorae—and investigates what motivates participation and what delivers the greatest satisfaction. Guided by a social constructivist perspective, the study combined an online survey with semi-structured interviews and analyzed responses using Beard and Ragheb’s Leisure Motivation Scale and Leisure Satisfaction Scale. Survey results highlight intellectual motives—especially the desire to expand knowledge—as paramount, while satisfaction is strongest across psychological, educational, and aesthetic dimensions. Interviewees, by contrast, emphasized social motives, engaging to build or strengthen relationships, and reported the greatest satisfaction from relaxation and stress relief. Given the small sample and exploratory design, the findings are indicative rather than conclusive, but they offer a starting point for researchers and practitioners developing astrotourism experiences and for awareness efforts related to protecting dark night skies.
Astroturisme er en voksende niche, hvor man rejser for at opleve himmelfænomener. Denne afhandling fokuserer på terrestrisk astroturisme—aktiviteter på Jorden som besøg på observatorier, rumcentre eller at se nordlys—og undersøger, hvad der motiverer folk til at deltage, samt hvad der giver størst tilfredshed. Med udgangspunkt i et socialkonstruktivistisk perspektiv kombinerer studiet en online spørgeskemaundersøgelse med semistrukturerede interviews og analyserer svarene ved hjælp af Beard og Raghebs Leisure Motivation Scale og Leisure Satisfaction Scale. Spørgeskemaet peger på intellektuelle motiver—især ønsket om at udvide viden—som de vigtigste, mens tilfredsheden er stærkest på de psykologiske, uddannelses- og æstetiske dimensioner. Interviewpersonerne fremhævede derimod sociale motiver, idet de deltog for at skabe eller styrke relationer, og de var mest tilfredse med afslapning og stressreduktion. På grund af det lille datagrundlag og den eksplorative tilgang er resultaterne vejledende snarere end endegyldige, men de giver et udgangspunkt for forskere og praktikere i udviklingen af astroturisme og for oplysning om behovet for at beskytte mørke nattehimle.
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Keywords
astronomic tourism ; astrotourism ; astrotourist ; leisure ; motivation ; satisfaction ; LMS ; LSS ; dimensions