Comparing Visitor Perceptions, Characteristics, and Support for Management Actions before and during a Pilot Timed Entry System at Arches National Park

Zachary D. Miller, Amy Tendick (), Caleb Meyer, David Pettebone, Bret Meldrum and Steve Lawson
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Zachary D. Miller: National Park Service, Lakewood, CO 80228, USA
Amy Tendick: National Park Service, Moab, UT 84532, USA
Caleb Meyer: Department of Environment and Society, Quinney College of Natural Resources, Utah State University, Logan, UT 84341, USA
David Pettebone: National Park Service, Fort Collins, CO 80525, USA
Bret Meldrum: National Park Service, Fort Collins, CO 80525, USA
Steve Lawson: Otak Inc., Portland, OR 97204, USA

Sustainability, 2023, vol. 15, issue 13, 1-13

Abstract: Over the past decade, many national park units in the United States broke visitation records. Arches National Park (UT, USA) is no exception. Between 2011 and 2021, visitation increased 74%. As part of considering management options to address the issues from sustained and concentrated visitation, Arches implemented a pilot timed entry system from 3 April to 3 October 2022. This article compares visitor perceptions, characteristics, and support for management actions before and during the pilot timed entry system using data from visitor intercept surveys. Findings suggest visitors experience quality improved across the park and on hiking trails during the pilot timed entry system. Visitor characteristics were extremely similar, and there were no differences in local residency, group size, vehicle occupancy, race, ethnicity, first time visitation, education level, or household income. Visitors were more likely to plan for the trip further in advance and were less likely to re-enter the park during the pilot timed entry system. Lastly, visitors demonstrated more support for timed entry and lower levels of support for expanding parking, site specific reservations, and temporary closures during the pilot timed entry system. These results reflect unique insights for managers considering managed access systems like timed entry to sustainably manage visitor use in parks and protected areas.

Keywords: visitor use management; managed access; national parks; sociodemographics (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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