«Investigating trekkers’ environmental behavior that visit Olympus mountain refuges»

The purpose of this research was to demonstrate that people participating in nature activities, and in particular in the activity of mountain climbing in the Olympus region, depending on their demographic specificities, frequency of participation and their different mountaineering experience, develop positive behaviors towards the environment. The survey sample consisted of 180 people (n = 180), 126 men and 54 women, with different demographic characteristics, ie gender, marital status and different age, as well as a different frequency of participation and different climbing experience in outdoor activities. For the assessment of the environmental behavior of people, the Zafiroudi and Chatzigeorgiadis (2012) "Environmentally Responsible Behavior" scale was used, consisting of 10 subjects. The questionnaires were completed by visitors trekkers in shelters built at a height of 2100 <2700 meters. The answers were given in a Likert scale and were tested successfully. The results of t-test analysis for gender, age, marital status as well as the frequency of participation in outdoor activities showed statistically significant differences. Regarding the Total Environmental Behavior Index, as well as the mountaineering experience of the climbers, there appears to be no statistically significant difference. In conclusion, married, adults and people involved with outdoor recreational activities show a friendlier attitude towards the environment, while in terms of gender, women appear to be more sensitized in terms of participation in events related to the environment.