Examining the relationships among nature-based tourists’ travel motivations, ecologically responsible attitudes and subjective well-being within the scope of self-determination theory

The main purpose of this study is to reveal the relationships between nature-based tourists’ self-determined travel motivations, ecologically responsible attitudes and subjective well-being within the scope of self-determination theory. Empirical analyses show that there are positive relationships between nature-based tourists’ self-determined travel motivations, ecologically responsible attitudes and subjective well-being. The conceptual model was tested using Smart-PLS with 268 valid survey responses. The results of the study showed that there are positive and significant relationships between nature-based tourists’ self-determined travel motivation, ecological responsibility attitudes and subjective well-being. Research integrating self-determination theory and nature-based tourism is relatively limited and the results of this study enhance our understanding of the topic.