Setting Preferences of High and Low Use River Recreationists: How Different are They?

Silvia Kainzinger,Arne Arnberger,Robert C. Burns

doi:10.1007/s00267-016-0754-7

Silvia Kainzinger, Arne Arnberger + Show 1 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1007/s00267-016-0754-7

Copy DOI

Abstract

Whitewater boaters often choose a river based on their preferences for attributes important for their trip experience. This study explored whether preferences and tradeoffs of whitewater boaters for social, resource, and managerial attributes of riverscapes differ among a high and a low use river in the United States by employing a stated choice approach. River trip scenarios were displayed using verbal descriptions and computer-generated photographs. Results indicate that use levels were more important for boaters on the low use river, whereas river difficulty and river access fee was of higher importance for the high use river boaters, who are more involved in this whitewater activity. Preferences for waiting times and trip length did not differ between the samples. Findings suggest that whitewater boaters of high and low use rivers have a different tradeoff behavior among river setting attributes, which has implications for river recreation management.

Highlights

Whitewater recreationists often choose a river for recreational activities based on their preferences—which are general beliefs about desirable or ideal conditions (Altman 1975)—for social, resource, and managerial characteristics of the riverscapes (Shelby and Heberlein 1986; Shelby 1980; Stewart et al 2003; Tarrant et al 1997)
This study advances the research in tradeoff behavior by exploring whether tradeoffs and preferences for social, resource, and managerial attributes differ among whitewater boaters recreating on a low and a high use river
Results indicated that the number of people on the river were more important for boaters on the low use river, whereas river difficulty and river access fee were of higher importance for boaters recreating in a high use river setting

Summary

Introduction

Whitewater recreationists often choose a river for recreational activities based on their preferences—which are general beliefs about desirable or ideal conditions (Altman 1975)—for social, resource, and managerial characteristics of the riverscapes (Shelby and Heberlein 1986; Shelby 1980; Stewart et al 2003; Tarrant et al 1997). Resource components (e.g., landscape, topography) include natural qualities, whereas managerial attributes (e.g., regulations) are provided by management (Clark and Stankey 1979) Recreationists must balance these conditions—or attributes—in their river trip choice decision making. This study advances the research in tradeoff behavior by exploring whether tradeoffs and preferences for social, resource, and managerial attributes differ among whitewater boaters recreating on a low and a high use river. This is done by employing a multivariate stated choice approach which allows analyzing visitor preferences and tradeoffs among various recreation conditions

Objectives

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion