Regulation Compliance Model of National Park Visitors

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Noppawan Tanakanjana Phongkhieo
Thanakrit Sangchoey

Abstract

The purpose of this research was to investigate visitor compliance in Thailand’s national parks and test a path model of factors influencing visitor compliance. Visitors to five national parks were sampled. Questionnaire was used to collect data from 500 visitors. The data was analyzed by descriptive and SEM methods. The research found that the path model was consistent with empirical data, which was evidenced through a chi-square (x2) of 42.00, a probability (p) of 0.06, a degree of freedom (df) of 29, a goodness of fit index (GFI) of 0.98, an adjusted goodness of fit index (AGFI) of 0.97, a comparative fit index (CFI) of 0.99, a standard root mean square residual (SRMR) of 0.04, and a root mean square error of approximation (RMSEA) of 0.03. All variables in the model could explain 34% of variance in regulation compliance. The intention to comply had a direct positive effect on visitor compliance, while the perceived injunctive social norm, personal morality, the awareness of regulation compliance, legitimacy, knowledge of park regulations, the perceived environmental problems, and legal sanctions had a direct positive effect on the intention to comply and had an indirect positive effect on visitor compliance through the intention to comply.

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