A Comparison of Motivations, Preferred Management Actions, and Setting Preferences Among Costa Rican, North American and European Visitors to Five Protected Areas in Costa Rica

Authors

  • George N. Wallace
  • Mike D. Smith

Keywords:

Costa Rica, cultural differences, desired experience outcomes, international visitors, park management, preferred recreational setting, recreation motivation, ROS.

Abstract

Over 1,000 national and international visitors to five protected areas in Costa Rica were surveyed about their motivations for visiting, preferred management actions, and preferred recreational settings. Data were analyzed to determine if motivations (desired experience outcomes), preferred management actions, and settings differed significantly among Costa Ricans, North Americans and Europeans. Significant differences were found to exist between the three visitor types with regard to all 15 motivations, 18 of 22 potential management actions, and preference for settings within a park or protected area. Visitors were clustered for shared motivations and setting preferences to aid in further describing differences between visitor types and as part of a check for possible linkages between motivation and setting preference. No such linkages were found. Implications for managers of Costa Rica's protected area system are discussed, including the need to diversify management zones, experience opportunities, and investments in infrastructure and to do so in a way that provides for needs of both national and international visitors.

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Published

1997-01-03

Issue

Vol. 15 No. 1 (1997)

Section

Regular Papers

License

Sagamore Publishing LLC (hereinafter the “Copyright Owner”)

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