The main determinants affecting the spend in protected natural areas. The case of Cadí-Moixeró Natural Park, Catalonia, Spain
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.47197/retos.v63.107415Keywords:
Economic contribution of tourism, economic impact, protected natural areas, sustainable tourism, territorial developmentAbstract
Introduction and objectives. This study aimed to understand and analyse the main determinants affecting the (no) spend in protected natural areas. Method. Using a total of 1.119 on-site survey data from Cadí-Moixeró Natural Park, we analysed the visitor spending and identify influential sociodemographic, visit behavior, and motivational descriptors related to their likelihood of spending money during their visit. Natural Park is a man, in the early forties, with university studies who overnight in the park, which enables doing multiple group visits.
Results and conclusions. The result of the comparison between spenders and non-spenders during their visit was that spenders and non-spenders showed significant differences on sex distribution, frequency of visit, percentage of group visits, mean days of visit, type of accommodation, physical activity intensity, channel park knowledge, nature and relax motivation and outdoor and health motivation. Finally, the statistically significant predictors in the logistic regression model were group visit, type of accommodation, physical activity intensity, days of visit and nature and relaxation motivation. The findings have implications for future tourism development in Protected Natural Areas and should be applicable to other regions.
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