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Abstract
Because they are charged with providing opportunities for all potential site users, it is important that managers at public sites understand the characteristics and behaviors of different user groups. Recreationists who are sensitive to cost may be more sensitive to certain changes in policies, such as fees and other charges, than those who are not sensitive to costs. Day users at six recreation sites in northwestern South Carolina were surveyed to determine use patterns and the factors that affect their outdoor recreation participation and site choice. Of particular interest is the effect of cost on their choice of sites and their levels of participation. Respondents were categorized based on whether they chose cost as the most important factor limiting their choice of outdoor activity locations. About 25% of the respondents chose cost as the most important factor. The mean annual household income of those choosing cost was almost $15,000 less than that of those not choosing cost. Only 18% of these choosing cost had household incomes greater than $60,000 versus 43% of those not choosing cost. Respondents who chose cost appeared to spend more time at the sites at which they were sampled than those who did not choose costs. Both groups were similar in terms of number of individuals involved in each per visit, number of children at the sites, and ages of adults and children. Respondents choosing cost did not tend to avoid sites charging entrance or parking fees and, as a percentage of respondents, they outnumbered those not choosing cost on one of the three fee sites in the study. However, respondents choosing cost appear more likely than the others to be affected by fees.
Parent Publication
Citation
Marsinko, Allan; Dwyer, John; Schroeder, Herb. 2001. Cost consideration as a factor affecting recreation site decisions. In: Kyle, Gerard, comp., ed. 2001. Proceedings of the 2000 Northeastern Recreation Research Symposium. Gen. Tech. Rep. NE-276. Newtown Square, PA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northeastern Research Station. 68-73
