Profiling of shelter campers, their attitudes, and perceptions towards environmental impacts of campsite use and management: Evidence from national parks of Sri Lanka

There is a dearth of research describing the campsite user segment and in assessing camp-site users’ perceptions of the bio-physical impacts of campsite use in Sri Lanka. Using a structured questionnaire, we evaluated campsite user characteristics, visitor motivations, behaviors, and how visitor experience is affected by visible biophysical impacts at campsites. Based on underlying visitor motivations derived through a Factor Analysis and Cluster Analysis, we identified three distinct segments of campsite users: Eco-tourists, Prestige seekers, and Adventure seekers. Results indicate that the overall cleanliness of the campsite is an important attribute that affects the visitor experience. The Ecotourist segment reported environmentally desired motives, attitudes and behaviours. However, majority of campsite users belong to the Prestige-seeker and Adventure-seeker segments. Prestige seekers in particular demand better facilities and proper maintenance of campsites. Additionally, Prestige seekers are more attractive as a market segment to target because they are high-income, well-educated individuals with pro-environmental attitudes and behaviors. Recommended management actions include increasing visitor awareness, monitoring, zonation of activity areas, and enforcement of park campsite user policies to ensure enhanced visitor experience

Effects of recreational camping on the environmental values of national parks in Sri Lanka

Camping is a popular activity in the contemporary nature-based tourism domain and rapidly gaining momentum as a key recreational activity in Sri Lanka’s national parks (NPs). Recreational uses such as camping in natural areas can induce significant and often localised resource impacts that can affect soil, vegetation, wildlife and water, with the severity of such impacts varying according to the intensity of use. Hence, monitoring of the biophysical conditions of campsites has become an important component in the reserve management agenda in many places, especially in developed countries. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to examine the biophysical impacts associated with the recreation ecology of camping in Sri Lanka. Ten campsites from three dry zone NPs were selected to assess biophysical impacts of camping activities. Field measurements were based on the fixed radial transect method. Gathered data included the total area of the campsite, erosion potential measured as the area of exposed soil (devoid of vegetation or organic litter), number of exposed roots and human damage to trees, number of fireplaces/ fire scars on the ground, visual counts of litter, soil compaction measured by penetrometer, loss of woody debris. This study reports significant levels of environmental degradation related to all the indictors of biophysical impacts at both high and low use campsites. There was no evidence for any difference in the level of environmental degradation associated with high and low use campsites. The loss of natural values associated with campsites negatively impacted visitors’ nature-based experience. These findings highlight the importance of managing biophysical impacts in campsites to provide a high-quality visitor experience, while sustainably managing tourism activities in NPs

How Bio-physical Impacts of Campsite-Use affect Camping Experiences at Highly-visited National Parks of Sri Lanka

With escalating demand for wildlife tourism in Sri Lanka’s National Parks, the visitor interest on camping in designated campsites inside National Parks is also on the rise. However, unplanned recreational uses such as camping in natural areas can induce significant and often localized resource impacts that can affect soil, vegetation, wildlife, and water, with severity of such impacts varying depending on the intensity of use. Limited or no published research have attempted to assess the camp-site users’ perceptions on bio-physical impacts of campsite use in the Sri Lankan context. Therefore, this study evaluated the campers’ perception on environmental impacts of campsite use in highly-visited National Parks in the dry zone of Sri Lanka. Campsite user characteristics, visitor motivations, behaviors and how visitor experience is affected by visible biophysical impacts at campsites were evaluated using a structured questionnaire. The survey also gathered management actions perceived by campsite users to minimize such environmental impacts. The questionnaire was administered over-the-phone with a total of 202 individuals who had a camping experience within a period of less than 12 months from the date of contact, responding to the survey (response rate of 56.1%). Results revealed that “to be in a natural setting” as the main motivation for camping in National Parks while wildlife viewing and photography were the most popular activities of campers. Well-educated middle-aged males dominated the camping visitor segment. Based on the visitor behaviors and underlying visitor motivations derived through a Factor Analysis, the study further identified three distinct segments of campsite users: Eco-tourists, Prestige seekers, and Adventure seekers. Results further indicated that presence of litter, vandalism activities, vehicle related impacts and current solid waste disposal practices in campsites are negatively affecting visitor experience. Respondents in general, especially the well-educated high income visitor segment exhibited environmentally responsible behaviors during camping. With respect to visitor perceptions on future management of campsites, respondents approved management measures aimed at assuring the ecological integrity of campsites while disapproving substantial infrastructure development within campsites. Study results overall highlights the importance of managing biophysical impacts in campsites to provide a high quality visitor experience, while sustainably managing tourism activities in National Parks. Potential management implications are further discussed.Keywords: Wildlife tourism, Camping, Recreation ecology, Campsite user survey, Ecotouris

Assessment of the environmental impact of campsite use by visitors in selected national parks of dry zone Sri Lanka

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Assessment of the environmental impacts of campsite use in selected national parks of Dry-zone, Sri Lanka

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