Visitor satisfactions, impact perceptions, and attitudes toward management options on the Travers–Sabine Circuit Track

Cessford, G.

Department of Conservation

1998

Department of Conservation

www.doc.govt.nz

Walkers on the Travers–Sabine Circuit Track in Nelson Lakes National Park were surveyed in January–February 1994 as part of a wider study of track users in New Zealand. Their visit evaluations were highly positive, suggesting little dissatisfaction or any need for urgent management action. Other results indicated that further improvements to visit quality would be best achieved through improving the use of space in huts. Perceptions of crowding were low, but assessment of social and physical impacts indicated that visit-experience problems would gradually emerge with future increase in use-levels, particularly due to impacts from greater hut congestion. Visitors favoured information-based management to address these increasing use-pressures rather than more regulatory controls. New Zealand visitors were generally more opposed to management controls than were overseas visitors. Current low perceptions of crowding suggest that time may be available for information-based approaches to be applied to achieve long-term control, without more direct measures being required at present.

Keywords:

National Park, Park, Travers-Sabine, Walk, Track, Trail, Tramp, Survey, Perceptions

Visit/Download now

Survey

Nelson

Outdoor Recreation

Tourists

Outdoors

Mountains, National Parks

Barriers, Benefits, Impacts - environmental, Impacts- social, Management, Participation, Tourism

3105

July 16, 2012