Date of Award

Summer 8-16-2024

Level of Access Assigned by Author

Open-Access Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department

Ecology and Environmental Sciences

Advisor

Sandra De Urioste-Stone

Second Committee Member

Sarah Jackson

Third Committee Member

Laura Rickard

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has had an unprecedented effect especially industries like tourism that rely heavily on transportation and mobility. The state of Maine’s economy is supported by nature-based tourism and visitors to Maine commonly seek outdoor recreation opportunities when visiting. As the pandemic progressed, Maine recommended outdoor recreation as a means of socializing safely which increased interest for outdoor recreation and nature-based tourism. Being outdoors does not eliminate the likelihood of contracting COVID-19 therefore individuals’ risk perceptions impact their participation in outdoor recreation and travel behavior. Furthermore, institutional encouragement created new users that may have different expectations and understandings when it comes to outdoor recreation. For economies reliant on tourism that are sensitive to environmental, social, political, and health crises, determining individuals’ expectations and factors that influence risk perceptions can help anticipate behavioral intent and foster resilience for future crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic.

To understand impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on engagement in Maine’s outdoor recreational economy I conducted two separate surveys: one for visitors to Acadia National Park (ACAD) and one for individuals who engage in outdoor recreation in Maine’s public lands. The first survey of ACAD visitors sought specifically to understand how COVID-19 risk perceptions had influenced their travel making decisions and behaviors. We used a mixed-mode survey design where we conducted intercept surveys of ACAD visitors from June to November of 2022 and asked them to complete a follow up online self-administered questionnaire. We found that egalitarian and pro-social values, trust in science and government, and knowledge of COVID-19 are positively related to high COVID-19 risk perceptions. These risk perceptions also impact visitors’ experiences at ACAD and their motivations and decision-making in regard to traveling to the park. Finally, we showed that there is a positive association between prioritizing safety during travel and having high COVID-19 risk perceptions.

In comparison, the second survey conducted in conjunction with Maine’s Bureau of Parks and Lands (BPL) looked more closely at individuals’ expectations and continued participation in Maine’s outdoor recreation as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. We used email lists from Maine’s Inland Fisheries and Wildlife (IFNW) and BPL to distribute the online self-administered questionnaire over two sampling periods in fall of 2022 and spring of 2023. The results from this survey indicate that barriers to outdoor recreation have not shifted significantly due to the pandemic and current participation trends in outdoor recreation are likely to continue. However, actionable changes to increase participation include lower fees, more access to public land, and more access to information regarding activities and resources. In addition, though the majority of respondents were white, there is some disconnect among outdoor recreationists between feeling comfortable in the outdoors due to familiarity versus representation.

Finally, using ArcGIS Pro, I used data from both of the surveys to visually represent the relationship between Maine visitors’ place of residence and their COVID-19 risk perception. Using the USDA ERS shapefile of zip codes with associated urbanity I connected respondents’ COVID-19 risk perceptions from the ACAD and BPL surveys with their zip code’s urbanity designation. Our results did not show any significant correlation between rurality of place of residence and COVID-19 travel risk perception but shows Maine’s visitors are often from the New England area. In addition, it is important to note that the majority of respondents were from urban areas rather than areas considered rural by USDA ERS standards and had Medium COVID-19 risk perception as it influences the repository of data to be analyzed.

In all, the results from this thesis provide a holistic view of the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on the risk perceptions and travel behaviors of participants in Maine’s outdoor recreation industry. By analyzing the influence of the pandemic on participants’ risk perceptions and the likelihood of continued participation, managers and policymakers moving forward can be better prepared in the face of other global crises that endanger the economic health of Maine’s nature-based tourism and outdoor recreation economy. This study also reinforces the lack of diversity present in the outdoor recreation industry and highlights the need for more research on ways to change that.

Download

Share