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Assessing Tourists’ Preferences for Recreational Trips in National and Natural Parks as a Premise for Long-Term Sustainable Management Plans

Author

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  • Diana E. Dumitras

    (Department of Economic Sciences, Faculty of Horticulture, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Cluj-Napoca, 3-5 Manastur Street, 400372 Cluj-Napoca, Romania)

  • Iulia C. Muresan

    (Department of Economic Sciences, Faculty of Horticulture, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Cluj-Napoca, 3-5 Manastur Street, 400372 Cluj-Napoca, Romania)

  • Ionel M. Jitea

    (Department of Economic Sciences, Faculty of Horticulture, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Cluj-Napoca, 3-5 Manastur Street, 400372 Cluj-Napoca, Romania)

  • Valentin C. Mihai

    (Department of Economic Sciences, Faculty of Horticulture, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Cluj-Napoca, 3-5 Manastur Street, 400372 Cluj-Napoca, Romania)

  • Simona E. Balazs

    (Community and Economic Development Initiative of Kentucky, College of Agriculture, Food and Environment, University of Kentucky, 414 C. E. Barnhart Bldg, Lexington KY 40546, USA)

  • Tiberiu Iancu

    (Department of Management and Rural Development, Faculty of Agricultural Management, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Timisoara, 119 Calea Aradului, 300645 Timisoara, Romania)

Abstract

Sustainable tourism management plans rely on relevant and consistent information about factors that can influence the decision to visit a protected area. This paper uses the choice experiment method to investigate tourists’ preferences with regard to recreational trip characteristics in national and natural parks in Romania. An on-site survey questionnaire was administered to visitors. The multinomial logit model was employed to investigate the preference orderings of the identified groups of recreational users. Overall, results indicate that tourists gain benefits after visiting the parks. Main preference differences were found for information sources and location of campsites. Visitors who stated that the park was the main trip destination were willing to have access to more information sources, the marks on trails being insufficient. Camping is preferred only in organized places, expressing the concern for environmental protection. The results of this study have management implications, highlighting the importance of assessing tourists’ preferences as a foundation for developing sustainable tourism strategies.

Suggested Citation

  • Diana E. Dumitras & Iulia C. Muresan & Ionel M. Jitea & Valentin C. Mihai & Simona E. Balazs & Tiberiu Iancu, 2017. "Assessing Tourists’ Preferences for Recreational Trips in National and Natural Parks as a Premise for Long-Term Sustainable Management Plans," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(9), pages 1-15, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:9:y:2017:i:9:p:1596-:d:111248
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    3. Francisco Javier Castellano-Álvarez & Rafael Robina-Ramirez, 2024. "Relevance of Territorial Identity in the Rural Development Programs—The Case Study of Tajo-Salor (Extremadura, Spain)," Economies, MDPI, vol. 12(2), pages 1-16, January.
    4. Dana Badau & Adela Badau, 2018. "The motric, Educational, Recreational and Satisfaction Impact of Adventure Education Activities in the Urban Tourism Environment," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(6), pages 1-13, June.
    5. Cristiano Franceschinis & Joffre Swait & Akshay Vij & Mara Thiene, 2021. "Determinants of Recreational Activities Choice in Protected Areas," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(1), pages 1-16, December.
    6. Iulia C. Muresan & Rezhen Harun & Felix H. Arion & Camelia F. Oroian & Diana E. Dumitras & Valentin C. Mihai & Marioara Ilea & Daniel I. Chiciudean & Iulia D. Gliga & Gabriela O. Chiciudean, 2019. "Residents’ Perception of Destination Quality: Key Factors for Sustainable Rural Development," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(9), pages 1-21, May.
    7. Georgică Gheorghe & Petronela Tudorache & Ioan Mihai Roşca, 2023. "The Contribution of Green Marketing in the Development of a Sustainable Destination through Advanced Clustering Methods," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(18), pages 1-24, September.
    8. Diana E. Dumitras & Valentin C. Mihai & Ionel M. Jitea & Delia Donici & Iulia C. Muresan, 2021. "Adventure Tourism: Insight from Experienced Visitors of Romanian National and Natural Parks," Societies, MDPI, vol. 11(2), pages 1-11, May.
    9. Weiwei Zhang & Lingling Jiang, 2021. "Effects of High-Speed Rail on Sustainable Development of Urban Tourism: Evidence from Discrete Choice Model of Chinese Tourists’ Preference for City Destinations," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(19), pages 1-19, September.

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