Enhancing environmental conservation in recreational sports tourism from a shared-responsibility perspective : a qualitative study of recreational kayaking in Hong Kong

Abstract

Despite extensive literature on the demand for recreational sports tourism, more research is needed on stakeholders' shared responsibilities for environmental conservation. To address this gap, this study proposed an extended conceptualization of shared responsibility, examining stakeholders' perceptions, expectations and interactions in recreational sports tourism. Empirical data were collected through 28 semi-structured interviews with service providers, instructors and tourists in the context of recreational kayaking in Hong Kong, and analysed inductively via thematic analysis. Findings revealed bidirectional relationships among key actors, showing how responsibility for environmental conservation is shaped through expectations, reliance and intervention. This study establishes a conceptualization of shared responsibility in recreational sports tourism, offering insights into real-world practices of supply- and demand-side actors to inform effective policy interventions.