Visitor satisfactions, impact perceptions, and attitudes toward management options on the Routeburn Track Research Completed

Title

Visitor satisfactions, impact perceptions, and attitudes toward management options on the Routeburn Track

Lead Author

Cessford, G.

Organisation(s)

Department of Conservation

Publication Year

1998

Publisher

Department of Conservation

Contacts

Abstract

Walkers on the Routeburn Track in Mt Aspiring and Fiordland National Parks were surveyed in January–February 1994 as part of a wider study of track users in New Zealand. Evaluations of overall satisfaction and individual facility and service satisfactions were highly positive, suggesting little dissatisfaction or any need for urgent management action. However, crowding results indicated a need for urgent management action. Perceptions of crowding and social and physical impacts indicated that visit-experience problems would increase with future increase in use-levels, particularly difficulties due to hut congestion, which was highly associated with crowding. Visitors favoured informationbased management to address these increasing use-pressures, rather than more regulatory controls. However a more direct approach appeared necessary, given the crowding levels, and the subsequent application of a booking system had some support from these results.

 

Keywords:

Routeburn, Track, Trail, Walk, Tramp, Satisfaction, Survey

How to access

Areas of Focus

Population Groups

Settings (location)

Provision (delivery type & infrastructure)

Topics

Views

1569

Added

July 16, 2012