An examination of visitor management issues within the Broken Group Islands, Pacific Rim National Park Reserve
Date
2003
Authors
Randall, Brenda Carleigh
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Abstract
This study examined visitor management issues in the Broken Group Islands, Pacific Rim National Park Reserve (PRNPR). Effective visitor management becomes increasingly important given the growth of tourism and recreation within parks and protected areas coupled with the central position of the maintenance of ecological integrity as the National Parks mandate. As a result of excessive visitor use, problems such as crowding and over harvesting of resources are evident in many of our National Parks, and in particular the Broken Group Islands, PRNPR. However, ecological integrity is affected not just by levels of visitor use, but also by visitors' attitudes and beliefs and levels of knowledge. Compounding this concern for ecological integrity is the significant lack of information on both visitors in general and kayak tourism in particular.
The overall purpose of this exploratory study was to gain an understanding of protected area visitor management within the Broken Group Islands, (PRNPR) by examining three identified issues: (1) the role of commercially guided kayak tourism in the delivery of National Park messages; (2) visitor attitudes towards a voluntary no fishing policy in place to protect declining rock fish populations; and (3) managing for visitor crowding. A multiple method approach included a focus group, structured questionnaire and participant observation techniques to gather data. The focus group was used primarily as tool to assist in the development of the structured questionnaire. The questionnaire was designed to gain an understanding of the demographics of marine-based tourists, levels of recreation specialization, satisfaction, attitudes, beliefs and knowledge levels and was administered pre and post trip to 699 kayak visitors. The participant observer method allowed for in-field observations of the role of the guide in influencing guided visitors' learning, attitudes and behaviour.
Results of the study provided baseline data on visitor characteristics, use of the islands and activities engaged in. The results also suggest that these visitors cannot be considered homogenous, but vary in a number of ways, notably in terms of recreation specialization. Recreation specialization can be viewed as a continuum of behaviour from the generalist (novice) to the specialist (expert), as reflected by differing levels of skills, experience, equipment and psychological involvement in the activity. Findings indicate that approximately one quarter of visitors are highly specialized, or specialists and three quarters can be considered generalists or low specialized.
Results reveal differences between generalists and specialists: generalists have lower knowledge levels of National Park messages and are less supportive of the voluntary no fishing policy than specialists. Findings also indicate that specialists are more sensitive to crowding and appear to value solitude and the absence of others more highly than generalists.
An examination of the role of the commercial guide reveals differences between guided and non guided visitors in terms of knowledge of National ark messages. This finding suggests that the guide may have an influential role in guided participants' learning experience. Given that many visitors to the area are generalists, the role of the tour guide becomes critical for improving the understanding of heritage messages and modeling and shaping appropriate behaviour and values of the guided visitor. However, analysis of the role of the guide suggests that while kayak tour guides perform highly in instrumental and interactionary roles, they have yet to perform their communicative, environmental interpreter and motivator of responsible environmental behaviour roles to the level desired or expected by tour participants.
The intent of this thesis was not to advance theories in recreation literature, but to draw on theories as a conceptual framework for understanding the issues identified in this study. To understand visitor beliefs and attitudes towards the voluntary no fishing policy, Ajzen and Fishbein's (1980) Theory of Reasoned Action was adopted. Crowding issues were examined using an approach to normative theory based on the work of Jackson (1965) (Vaske et al 1986). Analysis of the guides' role was examined using Cohen's model (1985). Specialization theory based on the work of Bryan (1977) was adopted as a way to examine variability of visitor beliefs and attitudes. While these theories have been applied individually in recreation literature, the combination of the theories to examine visitor management issues is somewhat unique. For example, while the Theory of Reasoned Action has been adopted to examine visitor attitudes in recreation research, it is rarely applied in combination with specialization theory.
Overall, results confirm the need to consider visitors' attitudes, values, beliefs and behaviours, as well as contributions from commercial tour operators, in managing for the protection of ecological integrity within National Parks. Recommendations that contribute to improved visitor management are provided.