Tourists’ motivations, learning, and trip satisfaction facilitate pro-environmental outcomes of the Antarctic tourist experience

Tourism in Antarctica has been growing and diversifying. While Antarctic tourists are purported to have meaningful interactions with the environment, little empirical research exists understand how motivations trip characteristics of journey shape tourists' experiential outputs, which may turn influence their pro-environmental outcomes. To examine these relationships, we conducted exploratory analyses using 242 pre-and post-trip surveys collected during 2019–2020 season. We identified four motivation types tourists: experience & learning, adventure into Antarctica, social bonding, a lifetime. Following interactional model tourist experience, associated this typology outputs (Perceived Learning, Measured Satisfaction) outcomes (Environmental Concerns, Management Preferences, Behavior Intentions). Our results indicated most traveling already possessed high levels attitudes behavior intentions, leading few significant changes after journey. However, found that specific inputs influenced different ways -especially Perceived Learning Satisfaction-, were strongly Findings reinforce importance transformative experiences promoting sustainable human-environment provide new insights regarding tourists’ learning Tourists hold diversity expectations motivations. These interact experiences. Enhanced understanding relationships could contribute tourism industry efforts develop strategic promotion, programming, communication strategies produce foster As diversifies, should reflect on become more customized participatory, effectively inspiring serve as stewards ambassadors for Last Frontier.