ABSTRACT
This chapter uses published literature to examine the links between interpretation and visitor satisfaction, knowledge, attitudes and behaviour. It presents empirical research from Queensland, Australia, which examines whether educating visitors about biological diversity during a visit to tropical rainforest can raise their levels of satisfaction and knowledge above those achieved from the experiential encounter alone. All visitors sampled experienced the rainforest ecosystem and half were provided with biodiversity interpretation that informed them of the nature of the ecosystem and its threats. The circular ropewalk at Crocodylus Rainforest Village provided a satisfying tourist experience irrespective of whether visitors had been provided with interpretive biodiversity sheets. Tourists seemed to partition their consumption of the rainforest into an affective domain and a cognitive domain. Biodiversity interpretation played a significant pedagogic role at the site in that it acted as an effective tourist educator. Ecosystem biodiversity should be valued as an ecotourism resource and its importance conveyed to visitors.
