Generation Y, Nature and Tourism

Research has suggested that young people may be at risk of losing contact with nature and developing what Louv describes as ‘nature-deficit disorder’. This may be because of a lack of time, cost, transportation issues and competition from electronic entertainment. However, studies have shown that the young can benefit the most from exposure to nature in terms of health benefits. The research in this paper focused on Generation Y, and a questionnaire was distributed to 483 respondents in four countries (Hungary, Poland, Romania and Israel) to compare the frequency of young peoples’ visits to the countryside, reasons for visiting or not visiting, the types of landscape and activities they prefer and the benefits derived from time spent there. Although the emphasis was partly on leisure, the respondents were also asked about trips to the countryside and rural tourism.