Attachment theory and sense of place for visitors to Kazbegi National Park

Abstract

This study seeks to empirically contribute to the analysis and interpretation of issues related to “sense of place” in terms of environment and tourism, particularly in national parks. In this sense, a conceptual model was developed that identifies the explanatory factors of the “sense of place”, such as: “place identity” and “place dependence”. The empirical work resorted to the quantitative method to obtain the data that portray the Kazbegi National Park case study. The questionnaire was carried out with the aim of relating the experience of tourists with the place, the feeling of place, their activities, their attitudes towards the development of current conditions of tourism and future improvements. The results show that tourists who visit Kazbegi National Park have significant levels of “place attachment”, “place identity”, “place dependence” and satisfaction with the place.