Perceptions of crowding and resource quality by early and more recent visitors

Abstract

Previous literature suggests that a recreationist's current evaluations of a natural setting are influenced by the conditions that existed during the individual's initial exposure to the environment. Given the rapid growth in backcountry use and the ecological impairments associated with this use, it follows that each new generation of visitors will experience a different set of initial conditions. This paper explores the relationship between the year boaters made their first trip to the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore and their current evaluations of the resource. Results indicate that those who made their first trip prior to the area's national designation, when use levels were lower, perceived significantly greater levels of environmental damage to the islands and evaluated perceived increases in visitor numbers more negatively than the more recent boaters. The implications of these findings for managing the recreational experience are discussed.

Key words:

• expectations
• evaluations
• prior experience
• reported contacts
• perceived crowding
• resource quality