Determination relationship between nature experience, outdoor recreation motivation and vacation activity preferences

Nature activities, within nature based outdoor recreation, are considered as a developing social phenomenon with effects of different areas such as tourism, sport and education. In this study, it is aimed to describe behavioral relationship between nature based outdoor recreation and vacation tourism in order to benefit the marketing of nature activities as tourism and recreation products. Explaining the behavior of outdoor recreation, Experience Preferences Theory was applied to determine the outdoor recreation motivation and Experience Economic Theory was applied to determine the nature experience. Additionally, vacation activity preferences that is an important variable in market segmentation, were examined in the determination of the behavior of vacation tourism. As a part of the study, in Ekişehir a survey research via questionnaires upon recreationists actualizing individual or group nature activities is carried out and Structural Equation Modelling from methods of multivariate data analysis is consulted. In the result of analysis, it is determined that there are correlations between nature experiences, vacation activity preference and motivation for outdoor recreation structures and also outdoor recreation profile in Eskişehir displayed. In conclusion, it is determined that outdoor recreationists have a deficient relationship with pleasure tourism market. At this point, implications are suggested that outdoor recreationists are regarded as a special market segment and this market led nature based products are developed in the market of both tourism and recreation. Keywords: Leisure and tourism marketing, outdoor recreation, motivation for outdoor recreation, nature experience, pleasure tourism market, Eskişehir