Tourists perception of Recreational Oppertunity Spectrum as a management tool in Fulufjället National Park

Abstract

At a time where the amount of wilderness is critically declining, while the demand for nature experiences are rising, multi orientated management becomes increasingly important. One management tool for visitor planning is the Recreational Opportunity Spectrum. The intention with Recreational Opportunity Spectrum is to create a variety of recreational opportunities to meet various expectations. Since Fulufjället was designated as a national park, the Recreational Opportunity Spectrum system has been implemented as a management tool, and has proven useful in minimizing conflicts, as well as aiding in local anchoring during the designation process. The Swedish part of Fulufjället National Park is divided into four zones based on each area’s physical, social and managerial settings. The purpose of this study is to examine whether this management approach is suitable for dealing with the different demands in a way that guarantees satisfaction for all visitors regarding their wishes for recreation opportunities. In order to meet the objectives of this study, data collected from research conducted in Fulufjället National Park in the summer of 2014. Here 1425 respondents have participated in an online survey regarding their visit in the area, the management, the journey and expenses, as well as a more general part about mountain region information. The respondents are for presentation and comparison reasons divided into groups based on which areas of the park they visited during their stay. For all results regarded relevant for this study, analyzes and Chi-square tests have been conducted to test for significant differences between user groups. The results indicate a high degree of satisfaction among all groups of visitors regarding their stay at Fulufjället National Park. Moreover, results indicate that the information about the purpose of the zoning, and what to expect in each of the different zones have been received and used for matching of experience, wishes and actual available opportunities. This is concluded to be an indicator that the dissemination of the zoning is working as intended for the visitors of the park. More surprisingly, the results indicate another factor to be crucial for the satisfaction of the visitors: the beforehand expectations of the area they choose to visit.