Title: Tourist motivations to participate in adventure tourism activities in Gauteng, South Africa

Authors: Tshepho J. Chauke; Ndivhuwo N. Tshipala; Liezel Boshoff

Addresses: Tshwane University of Technology, Madiba Dr & Techno Dr, Sonheweul, Mbombela, 1201, South Africa ' Centre for Sustainable Tourism, Department of Tourism Management, Staatsartillerie Rd., Pretoria West, Pretoria, 0183, South Africa ' Tshwane University of Technology, Staatsartillerie Rd., Pretoria West, Pretoria, 0183, South Africa

Abstract: Motivation, which originates in consumer behaviour, plays a significant role in explaining tourist demand. Several researchers have found that adventure tourists are motivated by adventure activities that contain the elements of risk, challenge, sensation, excitement, the locus of control, escape, and social reasons. The objective of this study was to examine tourist motivations to participate in adventure tourism activities in Gauteng, South Africa. The data were collected using a self-administered questionnaire. Respondents were chosen using a snowball sampling technique. Descriptive statistics and inferential statistics were applied, and the results were presented using tables. The results revealed that fun, excitement and exploring new destinations are the main motivating factors for adventure tourists to participate in adventure tourism activities. Furthermore, the results revealed that the respondents mostly participated in adventure activities that are far from their home, and they only started participating in these activities at a certain stage of their lives.

Keywords: adventure activities; adventure tourism; tourist motivations; motivation theories; motivation factors; adventure risk; adventure tourists; tourist behaviour; South Africa.

DOI: 10.1504/IJLTM.2022.131073

International Journal of Leisure and Tourism Marketing, 2022 Vol.7 No.4, pp.302 - 324

Received: 20 Oct 2021
Accepted: 22 Dec 2021
Published online: 24 May 2023 *

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