Analysis of participatory behavior of tourists in the protection forest based on the theory of planned behavior (Case study: Qalehgol forest area of Khorramabad city)

Nature-based tourism is one of the important types of tourism that is considered as a suitable tool for of natural resources protection. The present descriptive-survey research using the theory of planned behavior, was conducted to analyze the participatory behavior of tourists in forest protection in the ​​Qaleh Gol, Khorramabad city. For this purpose, 364 tourists who had visited the study area were surveyed by available sampling method. A researcher-made questionnaire was used to collect data. The content validity of the questionnaires was confirmed by experts and the validity of the structure and the reliability of the instrument were obtained by examining the fit of the model at two levels of the measurement model and the structural model. Findings showed that the initial model of planned behavior (TPB), which explains 63% and 52% of the intentions and environmental behavior of tourists in forest protection, respectively. The three main variables of the theory of planned behavior included attitude (ATT), perceived behavioral control (PBC), and subjective beliefs (SN), all of which had positive effects on tourists' intentions to protect the forest. Extended planned behavior with the inclusion of the environmental concern (EC) variable increased by 4% the power to explain the variable of tourist behavior.In the present study, the attitude of tourists was identified as the most important factor, so policymakers can maintain it by emphasizing it. Natural resources and forests are effective. On the other hand, it is necessary to formulate and implement supportive policies for forest protection with an emphasis on tourist participation.