Exploring the crowding-satisfaction relationship between day and overnight users in the lower Colorado River Basin, Texas Conference Paper uri icon

abstract

  • As the boating population and number of boats in use have grown in the United States, boaters perceptions of density at recreation sites and the associated impacts on their experience (eg, satisfaction) are becoming increasingly important. This paper explores a recreational boating crowdingsatisfaction model derived from previous work using safety and enjoyment as mediating variables. We also tested our crowding-satisfaction model among day and overnight users at three lakes in the Highland Lakes region within the lower Colorado River basin. Our analysis revealed no significant difference between day and overnight users for any of the relationships tested. The final model indicated that as respondents expectations for seeing people increased along with their feelings of being crowded, they were more inclined to consider conditions on the lake unsafe. They were also more inclined to indicate that the number of people they had seen on the lake detracted from their boating experience. Respondents satisfaction was tied to their perceptions of crowding. Mediating variables illustrated that the relationship was conditioned by perceptions of safety and enjoyment.

published proceedings

  • Proceedings of the 2008 Northeastern Recreation Research Symposium

author list (cited authors)

  • Tseng, Y., Kyle, G. T., Shafer, C. S., Graefe, A. R., & Bradle, T. A.

complete list of authors

  • Tseng, Y-P||Kyle, GT||Shafer, CS||Graefe, AR||Bradle, TA

publication date

  • 2008