Place- and activity-related antecedents of challenge perception in adventure tourism

Abstract

This study developed a formation model of challenge perception for adventure tourists by considering site conditions and activity attributes. Data were collected from tourists who participated in high-altitude mountaineering, scuba diving, and whitewater rafting activities by using a self-administered questionnaire. Responses were analyzed using structural equation modeling and the findings demonstrated that the site-related antecedents (i.e., site wilderness and site difficulty) and the activity-related antecedents (i.e., skill utilization, demands, and interaction) positively affected the tourists’ perceptions of challenge, whereas personal factors exhibited negative effects. This study contributes to tourism literature by including place- and activity-related factors as antecedent variables of perceived challenge and quantifying their influences on challenge perception among adventure tourists. Implications and future research directions are provided.