Social construction of nature in tourism

Abstract

This study employs the theory of social construction of reality to examine how primary and secondary socialization processes shape tourists' perceptions of nature. An online survey of 167 domestic tourists who visited nature-based tourism sites in Malaysia reveals that fear, particularly of supernatural beings and predators, dominates many tourists' emotions toward nature. This fear is rooted in early socialization, where parents emphasize the dangers of nature. While secondary socialization introduces recreational aspects of nature, the influence of primary socialization remains significant. The findings suggest that nature-based tourism destinations must work within these pre-existing beliefs to understand tourist behaviour and promote stronger environmental stewardship.