The relationship among trekking as a serious leisure activity in tourism, enviromental identitiy, and life satisfaction

People tend to join special interest tourism activities, in regions which present elements such as natural, cultural, historical and social values, as an activity of free time instead of mass tourism. Lately, one of the popular trends in tourism industry is nature-based special interest tourism. Trekking is a product in this tourism type and could be perceived as a serious leisure activity by participants. It is stated that individual and social benefits gained from the participation to serious leisure activities have positive effects on people's life satisfaction. The aim of this study is to reveal the relationship between trekking as serious leisure activities in tourism, life satisfaction, and environmental identity. In this regard, research findings prove that trekkings as serious leisure activities make a contribution to individuals' environmental identity; individuals with higher environmental identity tend to join trekkings more than others; and trekkings increase individuals' life satisfaction. Additionally, there is a weak relationship between life satisfaction and environmental identity of individuals. Keywords: Serious Leisure, Special Interest Tourism, Trekking, Life Satisfaction, Environmental Identity.