An Analysis of Activity Preferences and Motivation for Outdoor Recreation

Authors

  • Vanessa Gaffar Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia
  • Yeni Yuniawati Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia
  • Oce Ridwanudin Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia

Keywords:

sport tourism, outdoor recreation motivation, activity preferences, hiking, recreation, leisure

Abstract

Hiking is one of the popular sport tourism activities in Indonesia, especially in West Java Province. It’s not only favored by professionals but also amateurs who are eager to spend their leisure time outdoors. These participants do the activity based on various motivations and preferences. Activity preferences are activities chosen by sport tourism participants and can be used as a basis for conducting market segmentation. This study aimed to investigate dominant factors of participants’ outdoor recreation motivation and its influence on outdoor activity preferences. Quantitative research was used in this study. Data were collected from 411 respondents who hiked Ciremai Mountain and Papandayan Mountain in West Java Province. Data were analysed using Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) and Structural Equation Model (SEM). Results showed that achievement, learning and sociality, independent and personal development, and relaxation formed outdoor activity motivation. The most dominant factor was learning and sociality, while the least dominant was relaxation. Motivation was also proven to have a significant influence on activity preference. Most of the hikers were willing to explore and learn new things when they hiked, which can be an opportunity for the management to socialize sustainable behaviour aspects around the area.

References

Gibson H.J. (1998). Sport Tourism: A Critical Analysis of Research. Sport Management Review, 1, pp. 45-76.

Standeven, J. & DeKnop, P. (1999). Sport Tourism. Human Kinetics Europe

Gozalova, Shchikanov ,Vernigor , Bagdasarian. (2014). Sports Tourism. Pol. J. Sport Tourism 2014, 21, 92-96 DOI: 10.2478/pjst-2014-0009

Grabowska, Justina Mokras (2016). Mountain Hiking in Tatra National Park. Tourism Journal 26/1 71-78

Shanks, Rupert (2018). Adventure Travel Trends Snapshot. Retrieved from Adventure Travel Trade Association http://www.visitfinland.fi/wp- content/uploads/2018/05/2018-Trends-Snapshot.pdf

Cordell, H.K. and Super, G.R. (2000). Trends in Americans’ outdoorrecreation, in Gartner

W.C. and Lime, D.W. (Eds), Trends in Outdoor Recreation, Leisure and Tourism, CABI Publishing, Wallingford, pp. 133-144.

Nordbø, I., & Prebensen, N. K. (2015). Hiking as Mental and Physical Experience. Advances in Hospitality and Leisure. Published online: 12 Nov 2015; 169-186. DOI: 10.1108/S1745-354220150000011010

Svarstad, H. (2010). Why hiking? Rationality and reflexivity within three categories of meaning construction. Journal of Leisure Research, 42(1), 91–110.

Manfredo, Driver, Tarrant. (1996). Measuring Leisure Motivation: A Meta-Analysis of the Recreation Experience Preference Scales. Journal of Leisure Research 1996, Vol. 28, No. 3, pp. 188-213.

Asan, Kubra & Murat Emeksiz. (2016). Outdoor Recreation Participants’ Motivations, Experiences andVacation Activity Preferences. Journal of Vacation Marketing 2018, Vol. 24(1) 3–15 DOI: 10.1177/1356766716676300

Kim, H., Lee S., Uysal, M., Kim, J., & Ahn, K. (2015). Nature-Based Tourism: Motivation and Subjective Well-Being. Journal of Travel & Tourism Marketing DOI: 10.1080/10548408.2014.997958

Chang, Hung, Hui-Yun. (2010). The Study of Participation Motivation, Enduring Involvement and Happiness of Mountain Hikers. Journal of Sport, Leisure and Hospitality Research. DOI 10.29429/JSLHR.201012_5(4).03

Mehmetoglu, Mehmet & Øystein Normann. (2013). The Link Between Travel Motives and Activities in Nature‐Based Tourism. Tourism Review, Vol. 68 Issue: 2, pp.3-13. DOI: 10.1108/TR-02-2013-0004

Xiao, H., So K. K. F., and Wang, Y. (2015).

The university student travel market: motivations and preferences for activities. Tourism Analysis. Vol. 20. Pp. 399-412. DOI: 10.3727/108354215X14400815080488

Sidi, M. A. M., & Radzi, W. M. (2017). A study of motivation in outdoor recreational activities. International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences. Vol. 7, Issue 3. Pp. 366-379

Beard, J.G., & Ragheb, M. G. (1983) Measuring Leisure Motivation, Journal of Leisure Research, 15: 3, 219-228, DOI: 10.1080/00222216.1983.11969557

Zeidenitz, C., Mosler, H.J., & Hunziker, M. (2007). Outdoor recreation: from analysing motivations to furthering ecologically responsible behaviour. Snow Landscape Research. 81, 1/2: 175–190 (2007) 175

Mills, A.S. (2001). Recreation experience preferences of hikers in a Colombian national park. International Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Administration. 1(3-4): 161-168. DOI: 10.1300/J149v01n03_10.

Raadik, J, Cottrell, P, Fredman, P. (2010) Understanding recreational experience preferences: application at Fulufjället national park, Sweden. Scandinavian Journal of Hospitality and Tourism. 10(3): 231–247. DOI: 10.1080/15022250.2010.486264.

Walker, GJ, Deng, J, Dieser, R (2001) Ethnicity, acculturation, self-construal, and motivations for outdoor recreation. Leisure Sciences: An Interdisciplinary Journal. 23(4): 263–283. DOI: 10.1080/01490400152809115.

Weber, D, Anderson, D (2010) Contact with nature: recreation experience preferences in Australian parks. Annals of Leisure Research. 13(1–2): 46–69. DOI: 10.1080/11745398.2010.9686837.

Driver, B.L., Tocher, S.R. (1970). Toward a behavioral interpretation of recreational engagements, with implications for planning. In Driver, BL (ed.), Elements of Outdoor Recreation Planning. Ann Arbor: University of Michigan Press, pp. 9–31.

Downloads

Published

2026-02-14

How to Cite

Gaffar, V., Yuniawati, Y., & Ridwanudin, O. (2026). An Analysis of Activity Preferences and Motivation for Outdoor Recreation. SELL (Scope of English Language Teaching, Linguistics, and Literature) Journal, 11(1), 35–48. Retrieved from http://publikasi.stkippgri-bkl.ac.id/index.php/SL/article/view/1283