Exploring visitor perceptions of the influence of climate change on tourism at Acadia National Park, Maine

Abstract

This study explores the range of perceptions about the impacts of climate change on tourism in one protected area, Acadia National Park, Mount Desert Island, Maine, US. Summer visitation to this park depends strongly on favorable weather conditions. An intercept survey was used to collect data on visitor perceptions about the role of weather and possible climate change on tourism in general, and their destination selection specifically. A total of 506 visitors participated in the study.The majority of participants expressed that climate change will affect tourism. Weather conditions are important and influence visitors' destination selection. Statistically significant differences between age groups and gender about the effects of climate change on tourism were identified. By understanding the perceptions of the visitors, suitable adaptive strategies and early preparedness actions may be developed to cope with the impacts of climate change to the nature-based tourism industry in national parks. Management implicationsBecause nature-based tourism is highly-weather dependent, understanding visitor perceptions of destinations and their essential features will be crucial for sustainable tourism destination development. This qualitative study shows that the majority of visitors are concerned about climate change in a national park they visit, and would support agency efforts to mitigate possible climate change effects. Findings suggest public education and outreach to be relevant strategies for parks to enhance visitors' understanding of climate effects in the region and their role in reducing carbon-footprint. Management efforts, such as resource stewardship and mitigation strategies, should contemplate differences in perceptions of the effects of climate change and travel behavior according to visitor characteristics (e.g., age, gender) and market segments.