Determinants of Recreational Activities Choice in Protected Areas

Conciliating nature conservation and tourism development is an increasingly important task for authorities in charge of managing protected areas and requires an adequate knowledge of visitors′ preferences and recreational behavior. In this light, we used data collected by means of a choice experiment to investigate recreational preferences at Dolomiti Bellunesi National Park, a protected area located in Northeastern Italy. More specifically, we analyzed the determinants of visitors’ decisions to engage with different activities in the park. This is important information for park managers, as different recreational activities have both different impact on the natural heritage and different capability to generate revenue for nature conservation and for enhancing the quality of life of local communities. The findings of our study suggest that the choice of recreational activities is mainly driven by the features of recreational sites and by visitors’ personal characteristics. Concerning park features, visitors’ choices seem to be mostly driven by features directly related to each activity, such as thematic trails for hiking and climbing routes for rock climbing. Among visitors′ characteristics, we found that both previous experience with the activity and socio-demographic characteristics had a significant effect on activity choice. Overall, the results of our study can help park authorities in developing management plans aimed specifically at attracting a larger number of visitors of a certain type, which is an important tool to foster the more sustainable forms of tourism.