Abstract
My concern here is whether traffic control introduced in many natural parks in Japan is effective in coping with problems derived from over-use. Users' cooperation and sympathy with management of natural parks are essential to implement traffic control successfully. The question is to have an insight into subjects on park planning system of visitor use control based on visitors' attitude toward the present condition under traffic control. This is a case study conducted in Shiretoko National Park. Date of visitors' opinions and behavior were collected by a mail-back questionnaire survey on visitors. Records of visitors' movement were offered by Environment Agency. As a result, many visitors were affected by traffic control.Most visitors were acceptable to some methods of traffic control. Visitors' motives were diverse.Intensity of their motives and their destinations were closely related.Preserving opportunities of recreational experiences is needed to conserve of ecological and social aspects of environments. Amount of use in the area under traffic control was reduced. Congested condition with traffic and visitors was dissolved moderately. Amelioration of survey method should be needed to have an accurate knowledge about use and impacts. There is no indicator to monitor ecological and social aspects of environment affected by traffic control. In conclusion, it is noteworthy that zoning based on resources and visitors' experience should be discussed to conserve diversity of environmental conditions and to achieve diverse intention of visitors. The point for getting support traffic control is to establish specific goals of each area and monitoring system of changes of environment.
