This research paper addresses the usage of visitor communication and education as a means in protected areas for visitor management in order to raise awareness of the necessity of pro-environmental behaviour and induce low-impact behaviour of visitors. The author analysis the tools already implemented in protected areas and their effectiveness. Findings show that a certain number of visitors obeys these regulations and tools but it varies and is not exercised to the full extent. As there is an increase in technology usage nowadays, the paper analyses to which extent technologies can raise environmental awareness, create pro-environmental behaviour and therefore conserve protected areas. A concept of a web-based technology will be developed and validated in their potential success in creating environmental-friendly visitor behaviour. A prototype for the case of the Jasmund National Park on Rügen is presented in this paper.
Table of Contents
1 Introduction
1.1 Problem definition
1.2 Research objectives
1.3 Organization
2 Theoretical framework
2.1 Defining the term protected areas
2.2 Tourism effects on protected areas and their environmental consequences
2.3 Other challenges in protected areas
2.4 Management strategies in protected areas
2.4.1 Overview of management strategies
2.4.2 Soft visitor management strategies
2.4.3 Hard visitor management strategies
2.5 Usage and effectiveness of soft visitor management strategies
2.6 The process of behaviour creation and influential factors
2.6.1 The theory of planned behaviour
2.6.2 The model of Ohtomo and Hirose
2.6.3 The theory of place attachment
2.6.4 Behaviour creation through learning
2.7 Summary of the chapter
3 Methodology
3.1 Approach and data collection method
3.2 Inclusion and quality criteria
3.3 Evaluating and justification of method choices
4 Information and communication technologies
4.1 ICT and the tourism sector
4.2 The usage of ICTs for sustainable tourism development
4.3 The usage of smartphones
4.4 Summary of the chapter
5 The National Park Guide application
5.1 Overview of the concept
5.2 Functions of the app
5.2.1 The planning function
5.2.2 The navigation service
5.2.3 The notification service
5.2.4 The reporting service
5.3 Gamification
5.4 Goals of the mobile app
5.4.1 Raising awareness for environmental needs
5.4.2 Inducing behaviour change of visitors
5.4.3 Protecting the natural environment
5.5 The technology used in the concept
5.5.1 Bluetooth-low energy (BLE) and beacons
5.5.2 The function of beacons
5.5.3 The Beacon technology and the concept
5.6 Requirements to achieve the goals
5.6.1 The app as a necessity to visit the park
5.6.2 Implemented incentives for visitors
5.6.3 Promotion of the app
5.7 Design
5.7.1 User interface
5.7.2 Corporate Language
5.8 Example of the National Park Guide - Jasmund National Park
5.8.1 Environmental challenges in the Jasmund National Park
5.8.2 Applied strategies in the park according to literature
5.8.3 Applied strategies according to own observations
5.8.4 Message Content for Jasmund National Park
5.9 Summary
6 Findings from the interview
7 Discussion
7.1 Revision of the research questions
7.2 Evaluation of the mobile app concept
7.3 Recommended courses of action
8 Conclusion
Research Objectives and Core Themes
This research paper aims to evaluate how modern information and communication technologies (ICTs) can be utilized to improve visitor management in protected areas. By analyzing existing strategies and the psychological processes behind human behaviour, the study explores whether a dedicated mobile application can raise environmental awareness, foster pro-environmental attitudes, and effectively reduce the negative impacts of tourism on national parks.
- Analysis of current visitor management strategies and their effectiveness in protected areas.
- Examination of behavioural science models to understand how environmental attitudes and habits are formed.
- Evaluation of ICTs as tools for sustainable tourism development and visitor guidance.
- Development of a mobile application concept (The National Park Guide) featuring gamification, navigation, and location-based reporting.
- Case study of Jasmund National Park to test and validate the proposed technological solutions.
Excerpt from the Book
Soft visitor management strategies
Soft visitor management strategies are based on environmental interpretation, which is “a mission-based communication process that forges emotional and intellectual connections” (Stronza & Durham, 2008: 143-144). Other definitions say that it is an approach involving communication which establishes a relationship between people emotionally and intellectually with the object of interpretation for deepening the appreciation. Deeper appreciation of the protected area in this case will lead to a change as emotions are involved and may alter behaviours of visitors (Spenceley et al., 2015). Directorial interpretive information is knowledge distributed by the park management which shall lead the visitors along the park concerning environment-friendly behaviour and control the outcome of their actions. They are to be seen as regulations. Trailhead signs are one means of the directorial approach defining appropriated behaviour of visitors. They are implemented in different protected areas, because visitors tend to for example pursue off-trail usage for accessing other attractive places or shortcutting (Bradford & McIntyre, 2007).
Information boards or bulletin boards are established tools containing various information reaching from trail information and desired behaviour towards transport information. Usually, main information boards are set up at the different entrances of the protected area to inform visitors. Within the park, there can be also bulletin boards designed to different areas. Behavioural interpretive information is dedicated to the behaviour of visitors as these tools are guidelines for visitors such as the Global Code of Ethics and the Code of Conduct.
The Global Code of Ethics is created for contributing to a more sustainable and environmental-friendly development by offering non obligable proposals on how to behave (Marion & Reid, 2007). It is a framework within a responsible and sustainable tourism shall be created through designed principles for guiding stakeholders (including the travel industry, tourists, communities and the government) in tourism development (UNWTO, 2020).
Summary of Chapters
1 Introduction: Defines the research problem regarding rising tourist numbers in protected areas and outlines the objectives for examining technological solutions for visitor management.
2 Theoretical framework: Provides a comprehensive overview of protected area management, tourism impacts, and psychological behaviour models, including the theory of planned behaviour and place attachment.
3 Methodology: Details the qualitative research approach, including literature analysis, field observations in Jasmund National Park, and an expert interview.
4 Information and communication technologies: Analyzes the role of ICTs and smartphones in modern tourism and how these tools can support sustainable development.
5 The National Park Guide application: Describes the proposed mobile app concept, including its planning, navigation, notification, and reporting functions, alongside a gamification approach.
6 Findings from the interview: Presents insights from an expert on the potential of digital transformation in national parks for improving information distribution.
7 Discussion: Evaluates the research findings, revises the research questions, and performs a SWOT analysis of the mobile app concept.
8 Conclusion: Summarizes the research, confirming that digital tools are essential for modernizing visitor management and fostering pro-environmental behaviour.
Keywords
Protected areas, Visitor management, Environmental behaviour, Sustainability, ICT, Smartphone, National Park Guide, Gamification, Beacons, Tourism impact, Behavioural intention, Place attachment, Jasmund National Park, Education, Digital transformation
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this research?
The paper examines how modern digital technologies, specifically mobile applications, can be implemented in national parks to improve visitor management and foster environmentally friendly behaviour among tourists.
What are the primary themes covered in the study?
Key themes include the negative environmental impacts of tourism, psychological models of human behaviour, the effectiveness of current visitor management strategies, and the integration of mobile technology in nature conservation.
What is the main research objective?
The primary goal is to determine if a mobile application can bridge the gap between park management and visitors by providing educational, location-based information to reduce high-impact behaviour like littering or off-trail hiking.
Which scientific methods were applied?
The study uses a qualitative approach consisting of extensive literature research, personal observation on hiking trails in the Jasmund National Park, and an expert interview with the manager of "Digitize the Planet".
What does the main body of the work address?
The work explores theoretical models of behaviour, reviews the current state of ICT in tourism, details the technical and functional design of the "National Park Guide" app, and evaluates this concept through a SWOT analysis.
Which terms characterize this research?
Important terms include Visitor Management, Pro-environmental Behaviour, Information and Communication Technologies (ICT), Gamification, and Place Attachment.
Why was the Jasmund National Park selected as a case study?
It served as an ideal prototype because it faces typical environmental pressures, such as high visitor numbers and waste management issues, while also having clearly defined entry points and trails suitable for testing the app's functions.
What role does the "gamification" aspect play in the app?
Gamification is used to increase visitor engagement by providing incentives for listening to educational notifications, thereby strengthening the emotional connection to the park and improving the retention of information.
- Quote paper
- Vivian Rinza (Author), 2021, Visitor management in protected areas, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/1674631
