Geotourism: Toward a Better Understanding of Motivations for a Geotourism Experience: a Self-determination Theory Perspective

The purpose of this study is to explore the different motivations behind tourists engaging in a geotourism experience and to investigate the behavioural intention of tourists to revisit a geosite. Guided by Self-Determination Theory (Deci & Ryan, 1985, 2000), this research seeks to investigate what are different types of motivation (intrinsic motivation, extrinsic motivation and amotivation) behind the tourists undertaking a geotourism experience and the potential relationship between those motivations and the desire for repeat visitations to the same geosite. Quantitative methodology was employed, consisting of a self-administered questionnaire that involved inviting a convenience sample of 600 tourists visiting Crystal Cave in Yanchep National Park and The Pinnacles in Australia, as well as Wadi Rum and the Dead Sea in Jordan between 2010 - 2011. The results of this study revealed that the main intrinsic motivation for the respondents in Jordan and Australia were ?to escape from the hustle and bustle of the daily life routine?, ?relaxation?, ?enjoyment?, ?a sense of wonder?, and ?gaining knowledge?.