The attraction and significance of the West Coast Trail, Pacific Rim National Park, to the West German tourist market : a cross-cultural comparison
Date
1990
Authors
McNicol, Barbara Jean
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Abstract
During recent years there has been a significant increase in the number of international tourists visiting the West Coast Trail of Pacific Rim National Park Reserve. Of the tourists who travelled to the West Coast Trail in 1989, 14.1 % were from West Germany. This constitutes the second largest visitor group by country to the West Coast Trail following domestic visitors. Canadian Parks Service statistics show that in the last six years the total number of visitors of West German origin has tripled.
The major objectives of this research address the issues of recreation motivation and tourism destination image as they relate to natural and wilderness areas. Tourists and recreationists select destinations to maximize their chances of obtaining the desired experiences. The study identifies and characterizes the West German visitor in terms of socio-economic characteristics and identifies what motivates this cultural group to undertake a hiking holiday on the West Coast Trail. It identifies the area attributes that contribute to the attraction of this national park to the West German market and identifies the expectations West Germans have for the wilderness hiking experience and if these expectations are fulfilled.
Results for the West German market are compared with results for the Canadian market and with those representing all other international tourists. The discovery of differences between these cultural groupings is emphasized with a discussion of the cross-cultural implications for parks and wilderness management. The West German tourist market is discussed with regard to wilderness use and wilderness management issues and then placed within a marketing orientation framework that has specific application to Pacific Rim National Park Reserve.