The Effects of the Foot-and-Mouth Outbreak on Visitor Behaviour: The case of Dartmoor National Park, South-West England

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of the 2001 outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) on visitors to Dartmoor in Devon. Questionnaires to ascertain the effects of FMD on the visitors were successfully conducted on four days at Hound Tor. Higher proportions of local visitors were adversely affected by FMD. A continuous log of visitor numbers was also conducted at the location. FMD and weather conditions both appeared to have an impact on the number of visitors. In-depth interviews provided evidence that many visitors changed their behaviour patterns during the FMD outbreak and that some have not readjusted to ‘old habits’, activities and original locations. In addition the paper locates this case study in the broader context of crisis management and sustainability within the tourism industry. Keywords: foot and mouth disease (FMD), visitors, Dartmoor National Park (DNP)