2016 Volume 89 Issue 2 Pages 53-67
This study examined visitors, visitor behavior, and visitor experiences in small protected areas in the suburbs based on questionnaire surveys. Three small protected areas of seepage marsh in Aichi prefecture (Imo marsh, Yanami marsh, and Icchoda marsh), Japan, were studied. Most visitors came in small groups consisting of a married couple, a parent and child, or friends. Most were in their 50s or older and lived within several tens kilometers from the protected areas. Their main reason for visiting was nature watching and/or strolling around the area, and most did not stay for longer than one hour. The characteristics and behavior of visitors could be changed by determining whether to open the protected areas every day or only on designated days. The quality of the visitor experience was analyzed by satisfaction degree and items satisfied with. It seems that the visitors felt a high level of satisfaction when they were given knowledge about the protected area and wildlife from guides and when they were given adequate instructions on how to observe the wildlife. On the other hand, descriptions of problems of conservation such as vegetation succession caused by aridification and the decrease in wildlife numbers seemed to reduce visitor satisfaction.
Geographical Review of Japa,. Ser. A, Chirigaku Hyoron
