Recreation Management Research Articles

The Status of Peer-Reviewed Research in Sports and Recreation Management: A Critique of Current Practices

When analysing the current practices in peer-reviewed research and scholarly publications in sports and recreation management, one is required to consider the purpose and audience of the research. The author of the present study suggests that there is a significant gap between the research community of scholars and the practitioners in sports and recreation management. The relationship that currently exists between the author of peer-reviewed works and the reader of the scholarly publications must be redefined. The review of the research and publication process will establish that the research and publication of scholarly manuscripts must be relevant to the daily practices and operations in the professions of sports and recreation management.

Analysis of Visitors' Cognition of Destination Image and Recreation Demand in National Park

In this study we chose the Taroko National Park as the research site, which is a popular sightseeing park with the characteristics of the natural resources and historic culture. First, the exploratory factor analysis was applied to extract five cognitive, affective, and unique factors of the destination images for the tourists, who visited Taroko National Park. Second, the cluster analysis was employed to identity four clusters among different factors of the destination images. Finally, the travel cost method was adopted to establish Taroko National Park recreation demand model, in order to estimate the recreation demand function by On-Site Poisson estimation model and to measure the differences in recreation benefits of the four destination image clusters. The empirical results of this study are as follows: (1) Among four identified clusters, the multi-purpose image seekers were found to be the most important segment. (2) The four destination image clusters differ significantly in terms of national park demands. (3) The recreation benefits of visiting Taroko National Park ranged between NT $3,684 to 4,139 for every visitor per year. (4) The “landscape attraction clusters” had the higher recreation benefits than other three destination image clusters. This study concluded that administrators of Taroko National Park should pay more attention to the destination image and recreation demand of domestic and international visitors in order to achieve the goals of sustainable development for the national park. Furthermore, attracting primary clusters by way of market segmentation, and the resource maintenance program to protect the natural landscape, ecological resources and recreation quality need to setup. The operating profit gained from recreation and environmental resources management through the entry fees could be invested in the management of Taroko National Park to improve the primary facilities and services, and enhance the ecological quality.

Understanding non-traditional forest recreation: The role of constraints and negotiation strategies among racial and ethnic minorities

This study examined and compared the perceived constraints and use of constraint negotiation strategies of non-traditional national forest recreationists (those who reported their race and ethnicity to be other than Caucasian). The study provides insight into the reasons why ethnic groups might not participate in forest recreation as often as Caucasian users. Data were collected through an on-site survey of visitors at the Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest (MBSNF), an urban-proximate forest near Seattle, Washington, USA. Non-traditional users were divided into two groups: Asians and other subcultures. Overall, Asians tended to be more constrained than the “other” non-traditional users, who in turn were more constrained than the traditional Caucasian visitors. Cultural and information-related reasons were more constraining for non-traditional users. Constraint negotiation strategies most commonly employed by the non-traditional users involved time management approaches such as planning ahead, setting aside time for outdoor recreation activities, and trying to fit recreation around other commitments. Managers of forest recreation sites near urban areas should be aware of the different cultures visiting the forests, and make concerted efforts to encourage different ethnic and racial groups to visit. Efforts focusing on better information and transportation options may be most effective in helping non-traditional users to pursue forest recreation opportunities. Management implicationsThis study provides valuable information to outdoor recreation managers who wish to understand diverse user groups. Historically, ethnic and racial minorities have not recreated in the US outdoor recreation areas at the same rate as Caucasian (traditional users). With a growing, diverse US population, it is imperative to land agency managers that they remain relevant to this non-traditional segment of our society. Managers can engage non-traditional users by understanding the socio-demographic makeup of existing and potential recreation users. In addition, it is important that managers understand what constrains existing and potential users, and how various segments of our society differ in their perceived constraints. Finally, outdoor recreation managers should strive to understand the most effective methods of engaging various and diverse outdoor recreation users and potential users. Managers will have the opportunity to learn about what is most important to non-traditional users, and how non-traditional users differ greatly, and must be thought of as distinctly different and important stakeholders.

Demonstrating the adoption and linkages of global best available practices and technologies (BAPs/BATs) in reducing land based pollution in the Collaborative Actions for Sustainable Tourism (COAST) Project in Kenya, Mozambique and Tanzania

The Collaborative Actions for Sustainable Tourism (COAST) Project is a five-year project funded by GEF with the UNEP as implementing agency; and the UNIDO as executing agency in partnership with the UNWTO. Its main objective is to demonstrate and support the adoption of BAPs/BATs approaches for sustainable tourism that reduces the degradation of marine and coastal environments of trans-boundary significance in its nine sub-Saharan African partner countries. The project has three interlinked themes, Ecotourism, Environmental Management Systems (EMS) and Reef and Marine Recreation Management (RMRM). The project seeks to produce BAPs/BATs adoption models that can be replicated at a national and/or regional scale that includes: measures to control Land Based Pollution, diversification of the local economy and Public Private Partnerships for efficient use of resources. These models will have a results based framework, robust baseline data, cross-cutting linkages, institutional partnerships, capacity building, knowledge sharing and monitoring and evaluation exercises. A global review was conducted to refine the COAST Project's BAPs/BATs definition, resulting to adoption of positive impact, partnership and sustainability as its main results criteria. Analysis of the review and initial implementation showed that Small and Medium Enterprises from local communities, informal business and civil societies are vital in promoting Ecotourism activities. While strong quantitative and scientific baseline data are important factors in implementing EMS and RMRM activities. Cross-cutting linkages includes a process based approach, utilization of science based tools, spatial mapping, prioritization of conservation management tools, participatory resource assessments and linkages to local knowledge, private sector and the government.

The EDGE of Learning

This article describes the process of design and implementation of a non-traditional delivery of the core introduction to the Parks, Recreation, and Tourism Management (PRTM) coursework within the structure of a traditional research university, Clemson University in SC. A complete description of the reasons for the design of a new curriculum delivery, context for incorporating experiential learning, and mechanisms for achieving learning outcomes are presented. The program, now called the PRTM EDGE, which stands for Engaging in Diverse Guided Experiences, has been in practice for four years and has served over 500 students. This allows authors to share lessons learned related to the best of what we have done, and what we have changed over time and why. Despite changes, the program has experienced success in terms of student bonding with each other and faculty, increasing hands-on experience with many aspects of the PRTM field, and understanding of the interconnections between the diverse parts of the PRTM field as well as individual critical thinking through the use of a learning portfolio.

Moral judgement changes among undergraduates in a capstone internship experience

This mixed-methods study explored the moral growth of undergraduates in a recreation management internship experience. The quantitative phase reported moral judgement gains in Personal Interest and Post-conventional schema, and N-2 scores, as measured by the Defining Issues Test 2 (DIT-2), among 33 interns. The case-study method used a pattern matching technique to show congruence between the theoretical patterns of Neo-Kohlbergian theory of moral development and observed patterns of judgement and action among 10 intern cases representing low and high levels of post-conventional reasoning as measured by the DIT-2.

Human recreation alters behaviour profiles of non-breeding birds on open-coast sandy shores

Sandy beaches are primarily valued for their amenity and property values rather than for their ecological functions and properties. Some human usage of beaches potentially conflicts with the conservation and management of wildlife, such as beach-dwelling birds, on sandy shorelines. Because responses by birds to environmental change, including disturbance by humans, often involve behaviours that carry fitness costs, we quantify behaviour profiles of birds in relation to human occurrence along 200 km of sandy shoreline in Eastern Australia, including the large conservation area of Fraser Island. Disturbance to birds on these shores was considerable: 1) birds encountered motorized vehicles (cars, trucks, buses etc.) during 80% of focal bird observation bouts, 2) birds were flushed in over half (up to 86% in individual species) of all bouts, and 3) individuals spent, on average, one-third of their time on disturbance-related behaviours; this was particularly prevalent for Crested Terns (Thalasseus bergii) which were alert 42% of the time and spent 12% of their time escaping from human stimuli. Overall, this study demonstrated that motorized traffic is the prime agent of disturbance to birds on these beaches, resulting in frequent and time-consuming escape behaviours. These findings also emphasize that management of vehicle-based recreation on beaches needs to be re-aligned to meet conservation requirements in addition to providing leisure opportunities in National Parks and beyond; we identify some salient issue for this development: a) encouragement of social norms that promote environmentally benign beach use not involving motor vehicles, b) creation of spatial refuges for beach wildlife from traffic and other non-compatible uses, and c) investment in developing complementary management actions such as effective set-back distances.

Pilot study: can older inactive adults learn how to reach the required intensity of physical activity guideline?

Most individuals do not reach the recommended physical activity level of at least 150 minutes of aerobic exercise (AE) at moderate-to-vigorous intensity per week. For example, only 13% of older Canadian adults reach World Health Organization physical activity guideline (PAG). One of the reasons might be a difficulty identifying the required intensity. Twenty-five inactive older adults received one session about the AE-PAG and how to use a tool or strategy to help them identify AE intensity: heart-rate (HR) monitor (% of maximal HR; N = 9); manual pulse (% of maximal HR; N = 8); or pedometer (walking cadence; N = 8). Participants had 8 weeks to implement their specific tool with the aim of reaching the PAG by walking at home. At pre- and post-intervention, the capacity to identify AE intensity and AE time spent at moderate-to-vigorous intensity were evaluated. Only the two groups using a tool increased total AE time (both P < 0.01), but no group improved the time spent at moderate-to-vigorous intensity. No significant improvement was observed in the ability to correctly identify AE intensity in any of the groups, but a tendency was observed in the pedometer group (P = 0.07). Using walking cadence with a pedometer should be explored as a tool to reach the PAG as it is inexpensive, easy to use, and seemed the best tool to improve both AE time and perception of intensity.

Analysis of adaptation of selected forest recreational facilities to requirements of potential users

Both linear and aerial elements of forest recreational management should be equipped with recreational facilities which are called “small architecture”. Small architecture is very diverse and serves many different functions, thus it is very important in recreation space. Recreation facilities have to be safe for potential users and offer comfort and relaxation. These conditions can be fulfilled if the construction of facilities is based on anthropometric features of the users. In this paper, there are presented the results of analyses carried out with regard to adaptating technical parameters of selected forest facilities to potential user anthropometry. The study was conducted in Warsaw municipal forests. The analyses were based on analytical formulas, which give appropriate information about the parameters of perfectly designed facilities. Examination of technical condition of the recreation facilities analyzed was also included in the study.

The Factors Affecting Life Satisfaction: Recreation Benefits and Quality of Life Perspectives

Recreation research has evolved from three primary levels, including activities, settings and motivations to understand what, where and why people participating in recreation. The fourth level benefits are attracting more interests from recreation scholars and practitioners. Recreation benefits may contribute to enhance quality of life (QOL) and further life satisfaction for people. QOL is frequently used to evaluate the general well-being of individuals and societies. However, what kind of benefits would derive when people participated in recreation activity, and what factors would mostly contribute to people’s life satisfaction remains unknown. This study explored to identify the relationships among aforementioned factors in a context of forest recreation. In this study, seven hundred and sixty-seven visitors of Huisun National Forest Recreation Area in central Taiwan were involved for the survey with a 90% net response. First we analyzed the data with 17 beneficial measures. The results clearly showed three factors as we named health, introspection and learning benefits. Then we tested the reliability of measurement, which indicated that the measures demonstrated good reliability of instruments as shown from their Cronbach's alpha values. Hierarchical multiple regression analyses revealed that health benefits tended to be more important compared to introspection and learning benefits for people's life satisfaction. Furthermore, we found quality of life tended to contribute more on life satisfaction than those recreation benefits factors. We concluded that visitors' perceptions of health were salient regarding recreation benefits in forest recreation. Furthermore, recreation benefits and QOL predicted the life satisfaction effectively. The findings showed implications for recreation management, and also provided a platform for future studies.

How Do Weather Conditions Influence Leisure Traffic? Evidence from Michigan and Implications for Climate Change

Understanding of the nature of the relationship between weather conditions and participation in outdoor recreation and tourism remains relatively limited, despite the need to better comprehend these dynamics in order to prepare for the implications of projected increases in climate variability and climate change. This study addressed this gap through quantification of the relationships between daily weather conditions and leisure traffic activity throughout the US state of Michigan. Using a double-log model, daily leisure traffic counts were regressed against three sets of independent variables—weather conditions, economic conditions, and the availability of leisure time—across the four seasons. Daily maximum temperature had a statistically significant, positive effect on tourism traffic in spring, summer, and fall, with a slightly less pronounced impact in winter. Precipitation, in contrast, had a minimal impact on leisure traffic in spring, summer, and fall, but a negative impact in winter. These findings have implications not only for the current management and marketing of Michigan outdoor recreation and tourism providers, but also for the potential adaptation strategies they might consider adopting under conditions of climate change. In order to best capitalize on the opportunities presented by the changing climate, providers are advised to consider factors such as changing season length and diversification into additional, year-round activities and facilities. For winter sports providers, the ability to make snow will become increasingly critical.

Stakeholder perceptions of recreational and management impacts on protected coastal dune systems: A comparison of three European countries

Coastal dune systems are particularly susceptible to destabilisation through recreational pressure and because of this, conflicts frequently arise between those who want to use the dunes for recreational purposes and those who wish to see these fragile ecosystems protected. In addition, a range of approaches to resolving this conflict are being used in different countries with differing levels of success. To study this conflict, an approach based on the Q-method was applied to three European Union Member States, i.e. Ireland, Scotland and Germany to determine the degree to which there are differences in opinion regarding recreational management in coastal conservation areas and to assess whether there are examples of perceived best management practice that could be applied to some or all of these countries. The Q-method involved using semi-structured interviews of stakeholders (conservationists and non-conservationists, i.e. landowners, locals and landusers) to yield a set of statements relating to recreational and management impacts on protected coastal dune systems in each of the selected countries. Selected statements were then submitted to former interviewees for rating on a seven point scale from complete agreement to complete disagreement. Principle components analysis (PCA) of these ratings (Q-sorts) indicated that while there is much agreement overall (particularly relating to the protection of dune systems while still supporting recreation), stakeholder opinion can be separated according to country of origin. In general, this separation is reflected in the intensive recreational management regime (strict zonation and access restrictions) at the German sites compared to the Scottish (less recreational management) and Irish (absence of recreational management) sites. Significant differences in opinion are most apparent in the sections concerned with restricting access for recreation and the provision of facilities (less acceptable in Scotland and Ireland). We suggest that given Irish stakeholder opinions regarding the potential loss of naturalness through strict recreational management, the Scottish rather than the German model would be more suitable in the Irish context.

Managing city forests for or in spite of recreation? Perspectives of forest managers

This paper provides insights into foresters’ perceptions of forest recreation and its management. It is based on qualitative interviews with foresters in Berlin and the region of Stuttgart, Germany (N = 16). The results highlight the lack of strategic planning concerned with recreation management at both locations. Moreover, recreation management seems to depend mostly on the local forester in charge. Foresters’ perceptions of recreation, in turn, appear to be closely linked with how they perceive their work. Three narratives of the foresters’ self-perception are constructed that address three key items: perception of foresters’ skills and tasks, perception of the societal and political context of the foresters’ work and of their own scope of action in this context, and visions for future recreation management. The first narrative emphasises classical forestry and silvicultural aspects; the second understands foresters as multifunctional service providers for communal clients; and the last criticises the classical orientation of forestry and highlights new challenges for foresters in urban areas. These three views of recreation management in urban forests relate to classical forestry culture in different ways: either embodying this culture; differentiating from it; or adopting a new view which challenges this culture. Further research needs are discussed. The paper lastly argues for increased awareness of the importance of the social dimensions of forest management as one of the crucial future challenges for the forestry profession.

Environmental Behavior Frameworks of Sport and Recreation Undergraduate Students

This study examined the values, beliefs, and norms of undergraduate sport management and recreation administration student’s related to environmental awareness and personal actions utilizing Stern’s (2000) value-belief-norm (VBN) framework. Students (N = 341) in sport-related programs at two universities completed the survey. Structural equation modeling found the VBN framework explained both personal and organizational environmental behavior. Values were a significant predictor of environmental beliefs. Beliefs significantly explained personal norms, but not behavior. Personal norms were the strongest indicator for proenvironmental action and predicted personal and organizational conservation behavior equally. This study extends research related to environmental behavior and provides a departure point to improve understandings of the current foundational environmental perspectives held by future sport and recreation managers.

The impact of distance on fans' intentions to attend team sporting events: a case study of fans of the Carolina Hurricanes of the United States National Hockey League

This research examines the influence of distance on the travel behaviour of fans of professional hockey teams; specifically, with reference to theories of distance decay, the research examines the strength of influence that travel distance has on professional hockey fans' road game attendance. Data collection occurred at the RBC Centre located in Raleigh, North Carolina. A questionnaire was developed and distributed to fans of the Carolina Hurricanes of the National Hockey League at the RBC Centre. The results of the analysis indicated that distance influences the travel behaviour of fans of professional hockey teams, and that for respondents there is a relationship between distance and travel behaviour and the type of ticket they purchased and when they attended a game. When factoring in the mode of transportation, the relationship between the variables changes. By understanding the nuances and complexities of the relationships between distance and travel behaviour, sport, recreation and leisure planners and managers will be able to better cater to, engage with, and attract visitors within specific distance parameters.

Is Building New the Only Option? A Teaching Approach to Heritage Management

The debate between building new sport and recreation facilities or renovating existing venues has engrossed sport managers (Barghchi, Omar, &amp; Aman, 2009; Galvan, 2006; Grant-Long, 2005; Rosentraub &amp; Ijla, 2008; Seifried, 2010). Interestingly, the individuals entrusted with making investment decisions on these facilities often lack knowledge of this process. Many sport management programs include courses related to facility management; however, they rarely include curriculum items on the renovation of culturally valuable sport and recreation buildings. The main purpose of this paper is to propose heritage management as an important component to sport and recreational facility management and to showcase an example of this initiative that was incorporated into a facility management class. This teaching methodology on heritage management allows students to understand how to create valuable contributions to their field while simultaneously learning about the culture and history of sport venues.

Identifying policy target groups with qualitative and quantitative methods: The case of wildfire risk on nonindustrial private forest lands

Designing policies to harness the potential of heterogeneous target groups such as nonindustrial private forest owners to contribute to public policy goals can be challenging. The behaviors of such groups are shaped by their diverse motivations and circumstances. Segmenting heterogeneous target groups into more homogeneous subgroups may improve the chances of successfully identifying policy strategies to influence their behavior. Findings from a multimethod study of nonindustrial private forest owners in eastern Oregon suggest four unique subgroups of owners with different fuel management motivations and suitabilities for policy tools: commodity managers could benefit from market-based incentives; amenity managers could benefit from capacity building programs paired with symbolic campaigns; recreational managers could benefit from public incentives provided through consultants or contractors who can help plan the work; and passive managers may benefit from opportunities to respond to the policy strategies designed for the other groupings until more information can be gathered. Incorporating qualitative analysis of interview data with statistical analysis of survey data improved understanding of the groupings and appropriate policy strategies for them.

A Critical Appraisal of the Conceptualization of Public Park and Recreation Marketing

The objectives of the study were (a) to identify the reasons and concerns of those public administrators and marketing scholars who do not accept the usefulness of marketing in the public sector; (b) to deconstruct, comprehend, interpret, and critically appraise the current conceptualization of public sector marketing from the viewpoint of negativists identified in step (a); and (c) to reconstruct, redefine, reinterpret, and reoperationalize the current controversial conceptualization of public sector marketing into a new conceptualization in the context of park and recreation services. The critical theory approach to the study primary used non-empirical procedures data collection and analytic procedures which included investigative research, negative case analysis, and theoretical triangulation. These procedures were supplemented with empirical data collected from in-depth interviews with five scholars and with three parks and recreation managers. Results of the non-empirical procedures revealed the biased selective nature of the current conceptualization of public park and recreation marketing and the existence of alternative conceptualizations which have been ignored. The existing and alternative models were discussed with scholars and park and recreation managers. Support was found for the alternative models. From these data an alternative conceptualization of public park and recreation marketing was developed and named the concept of administered marketing. Implications for park and recreation managers are discussed. Directions for future research into the administratively managed park and recreation marketing concept are suggested.

Responsible recreation planning in Gatineau Park, Québec

Outdoor recreation management increasingly occurs in messy situations that are typified by contested or ambiguous goals and lack of agreement on cause–effect relationships. In Gatineau Park, Canada, a shift in park purpose from a nature park as presented in the 1990 Master Plan to a conservation park as presented in the 2005 Master Plan has created a dichotomy between park visitation and conservation and it has sparked significant discord about how to manage recreation in the park. In response to this messy situation, a recreation management planning process was initiated in 2008 and a modified rational/transactive planning approach was developed to guide phase one of the planning and public consultation process. Using Gatineau Park as a case study, the purpose of this article is to critically assess its utility for recreation management. The results provide lessons related to satisfying the dimensions of successful planning, increasing shared ownership, collecting negative feedback, testing proposed management actions and fulfilling Canada's public service bilingual requirements.

England, Whales and Princess Diana: A case study of US students' perceptions of Wales

Studying some part of a degree course abroad has witnessed significant growth in the past decade as part of a broader internationalisation agenda of many Higher Education institutions. Within this paper we present a case study of a group of Recreation, Park and Tourism Management students at a state university in the United States of America and look at their perceptions of Wales as a country and as a potential place to visit. The results highlight that Wales has a very limited profile and is a place that many students know nothing about. This work also problematises the discourses of internationalisation and considers some of the challenges facing educators.