Economic sustainability of parks: the Park Visitor ECSI model

Abstract

ABSTRACT This research explored visitor satisfaction and loyalty, vital to securing the economic sustainability of parks, in the proposed Park Visitor ECSI model. Self-administered surveys with online consumer panels were adopted for the data collection. The research model was tested with PLS-SEM in parks across Australia (N = 430), USA (N = 348) and China (N = 319). In the main, the findings suggested that the perceived image of park management shaped visitor expectations, which formed their perceptions of quality and value that impacted their satisfaction and willingness to recommend. This highlights theoretical and methodological potential for the applicability of the Park Visitor ECSI model and PLS-SEM across other countries and park types. The findings pragmatically identify the success factors for generating visitation through word-of-mouth and highlight five key areas that address effective park management, critical to self-financing and securing the economic future for parks.