Determinants of Outdoor Tramping Satisfaction – A Waikato Example

Pan, S. & Ryan, C.

University of Otago, University of Waikato

2006

Tourism and Hospitality Research Conference

The 2006 conference was hosted by the University of Otago: www.business.otago.ac.nz/tourism/

tourism@otago.ac.nz

A list of abstracts for papers presented at the 2006 conference is available here: www.business.otago.ac.nz/tourism/research/abstractbooknzthrc.pdf

Prof Ryan, Profile and contact information at the University of Waikato: www.waikato.ac.nz/research/expertise/staff/ChrisRyan.shtml

This paper reports results derived from 205 respondents who visited Pirongia Forest Park, New Zealand, during the summer and primarily at weekends. The study used a derivative of the Leisure Motivation Scale to assess motives, and a factor analysis confirmed five dimensions of “relaxation”, “social needs”, “a sense of belonging”, “mastery skills”,and intellectual needs”. From the scales five clusters were identified; “active social relaxers”, “enthusiastic visitors”, “nature isolates”, “relaxers”,and “reluctant visitors”. Using regression analysis it appears that “pull” factors are better predictors of overall satisfaction than motivational “push factors, but a key aspect is that among local residents who use the Park there is a high level of repeat usage.

Keywords:

Parks, Outdoors ecotourism, Conservation, Tourism,

Tourism and Hospitality Research Conference, University of Otago, Dunedin: 5-8 December, 1-33.

Case study

Otago

Outdoor Recreation

Outdoors

National Parks

Barriers, Benefits, Impacts- social, Participation

1186

July 10, 2012