IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v13y2021i4p1681-d493451.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Seasonal Variation in Visitor Satisfaction and Its Management Implications in Banff National Park

Author

Listed:
  • Dehui Christina Geng

    (National Park Research Centre, Faculty of Forestry, University of British Columbia, 2424 Main Mall, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada)

  • John L. Innes

    (National Park Research Centre, Faculty of Forestry, University of British Columbia, 2424 Main Mall, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada)

  • Wanli Wu

    (National Park Research Centre, Faculty of Forestry, University of British Columbia, 2424 Main Mall, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada)

  • Weiwei Wang

    (National Park Research Centre, Faculty of Forestry, University of British Columbia, 2424 Main Mall, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada)

  • Guangyu Wang

    (National Park Research Centre, Faculty of Forestry, University of British Columbia, 2424 Main Mall, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada)

Abstract

Seasonal variations in tourist satisfaction is an important issue for the sustainable management of national parks worldwide. Visitors should have high-quality experiences in both the high season and the off-season. This research investigated visitor satisfaction patterns and determinants in Banff National Park in different seasons. The study was conducted through a face-to-face questionnaire survey that collected visitor demographic, expectation and satisfaction data in July 2019 (high season) and December 2019 (off-season) in Banff National Park. The data analyses were based on a sample of 741 respondents and were processed using principal component analysis, correlation analysis and logistic regression models for different seasons. There were significant differences in visitor satisfaction levels and their determinants in different seasons. The quality of the park’s natural characteristics and the park’s activities were the most important determinant of visitor satisfaction in the high season and off-season, respectively. The correlation between visitor satisfaction and expectations in the high season was generally negative, whereas all correlations in the off-season were positive. The results fill a knowledge gap by examining the seasonal differences in visitor experience and their determinants in the national park, and by building a bridge between visitor experience and tourism seasonality. The findings may assist both practitioners and scholars in understanding visitor expectations and satisfaction in different seasons. They may assist in the prioritization and effective management of the park to optimize the visitor experience in both seasons and achieve tourism sustainability.

Suggested Citation

  • Dehui Christina Geng & John L. Innes & Wanli Wu & Weiwei Wang & Guangyu Wang, 2021. "Seasonal Variation in Visitor Satisfaction and Its Management Implications in Banff National Park," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(4), pages 1-17, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:4:p:1681-:d:493451
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/13/4/1681/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/13/4/1681/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Cuccia, Tiziana & Rizzo, Ilde, 2011. "Tourism seasonality in cultural destinations: Empirical evidence from Sicily," Tourism Management, Elsevier, vol. 32(3), pages 589-595.
    2. Boris Bartikowski & Sylvie Llosa, 2004. "Customer satisfaction measurement: comparing four methods of attribute categorisations," Post-Print hal-01822828, HAL.
    3. Park, Sangwon & Yaduma, Natina & Lockwood, Andrew J. & Williams, Allan M., 2016. "Demand fluctuations, labour flexibility and productivity," Annals of Tourism Research, Elsevier, vol. 59(C), pages 93-112.
    4. Jinwon Kim & Brijesh Thapa & Seongsoo Jang & Eunjung Yang, 2018. "Seasonal Spatial Activity Patterns of Visitors with a Mobile Exercise Application at Seoraksan National Park, South Korea," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(7), pages 1-21, July.
    5. Hany Kim & Hyo Jae Joun & Yeongbae Choe & Ashley Schroeder, 2019. "How Can a Destination Better Manage Its Offering to Visitors? Observing Visitor Experiences via Online Reviews," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(17), pages 1-19, August.
    6. Duro, Juan Antonio, 2016. "Seasonality of hotel demand in the main Spanish provinces: Measurements and decomposition exercises," Tourism Management, Elsevier, vol. 52(C), pages 52-63.
    7. Alain Dupeyras & Neil MacCallum, 2013. "Indicators for Measuring Competitiveness in Tourism: A Guidance Document," OECD Tourism Papers 2013/2, OECD Publishing.
    8. Anjali R. Virkar & Prita D. Mallya, 2018. "A Review of Dimensions of Tourism Transport Affecting Tourist Satisfaction," Indian Journal of Commerce and Management Studies, Educational Research Multimedia & Publications,India, vol. 9(1), pages 72-80, January.
    9. Boris Bartikowski & Sylvie Llosa, 2004. "Customer satisfaction measurement: comparing four methods of attribute categorisations," The Service Industries Journal, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 24(4), pages 67-82, July.
    10. Connell, Joanne & Page, Stephen J. & Meyer, Denny, 2015. "Visitor attractions and events: Responding to seasonality," Tourism Management, Elsevier, vol. 46(C), pages 283-298.
    11. Lather, Anu Singh & Singh, Reena & Singh, K. Ajay, 2012. "Comparing The Levels Of Expectation And Satisfaction Of Indian And Foreign Adventure Tourists Visiting India," APSTRACT: Applied Studies in Agribusiness and Commerce, AGRIMBA, vol. 6(3-4), pages 1-10, November.
    12. Anna Dóra Sæþórsdóttir & C. Michael Hall & Þorkell Stefánsson, 2019. "Senses by Seasons: Tourists’ Perceptions Depending on Seasonality in Popular Nature Destinations in Iceland," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(11), pages 1-18, May.
    13. Arabatzis, Garyfallos & Grigoroudis, Evangelos, 2010. "Visitors' satisfaction, perceptions and gap analysis: The case of Dadia-Lefkimi-Souflion National Park," Forest Policy and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 12(3), pages 163-172, March.
    14. Douglas Jeffrey & Robin R. D. Barden, 1999. "An Analysis of the Nature, Causes and Marketing Implications of Seasonality in the Occupancy Performance of English Hotels," Tourism Economics, , vol. 5(1), pages 69-91, March.
    15. Scott E. Sampson & MICHAEL J. SHOWALTER, 1999. "The Performance-Importance Response Function: Observations and Implications," The Service Industries Journal, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 19(3), pages 1-25, July.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Tengan Cornelius & Maayir Gordon & Sakyi Richmond & Kuusogre Augustine, 2023. "Dimensions of Visitor Satisfaction at Attractions: A Study of Kakum National Park, Ghana," European Journal of Tourism, Hospitality and Recreation, Sciendo, vol. 13(2), pages 173-187, December.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Paz Rico & Bernardí Cabrer-Borrás & Francisco Morillas-Jurado, 2021. "Seasonality in Tourism: Do Senior Programs Mitigate It?," Mathematics, MDPI, vol. 9(16), pages 1-27, August.
    2. Dimitrios Tsiotas & Thomas Krabokoukis & Serafeim Polyzos, 2021. "Detecting Tourism Typologies of Regional Destinations Based on Their Spatio-Temporal and Socioeconomic Performance: A Correlation-Based Complex Network Approach for the Case of Greece," Tourism and Hospitality, MDPI, vol. 2(1), pages 1-27, February.
    3. Dimitrios TSIOTAS & Thomas KRABOKOUKIS & Serafeim POLYZOS, 2020. "Detecting Interregional Patterns In Tourism Seasonality Of Greece: A Principal Components Analysis Approach," Regional Science Inquiry, Hellenic Association of Regional Scientists, vol. 0(2), pages 91-112, June.
    4. Fernández-Morales, Antonio & Cisneros-Martínez, José David & McCabe, Scott, 2016. "Seasonal concentration of tourism demand: Decomposition analysis and marketing implications," Tourism Management, Elsevier, vol. 56(C), pages 172-190.
    5. Duro Moreno, Juan Antonio & Turrión Prats, Judith, 2018. "Tourism seasonality worldwide," Working Papers 2072/351586, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Department of Economics.
    6. Antonio Fern�ndez-Morales, 2017. "Tourism Mobility In Time And Seasonality In Tourism," RIEDS - Rivista Italiana di Economia, Demografia e Statistica - The Italian Journal of Economic, Demographic and Statistical Studies, SIEDS Societa' Italiana di Economia Demografia e Statistica, vol. 71(2), pages 21-30, April-Jun.
    7. Anca-Gabriela Turtureanu & Rodica Pripoaie & Carmen-Mihaela Cretu & Carmen-Gabriela Sirbu & Emanuel Ştefan Marinescu & Laurentiu-Gabriel Talaghir & Florentina Chițu, 2022. "A Projection Approach of Tourist Circulation under Conditions of Uncertainty," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(4), pages 1-21, February.
    8. Albayrak, Tahir & Caber, Meltem, 2015. "Prioritisation of the hotel attributes according to their influence on satisfaction: A comparison of two techniques," Tourism Management, Elsevier, vol. 46(C), pages 43-50.
    9. Frédéric Dobruszkes & Jean-Michel Decroly & Pere Suau-Sanchez, 2022. "The monthly rhythms of aviation: A global analysis of passenger air service seasonality," ULB Institutional Repository 2013/341140, ULB -- Universite Libre de Bruxelles.
    10. Henner Gimpel & Dominikus Kleindienst & Niclas Nüske & Daniel Rau & Fabian Schmied, 2018. "The upside of data privacy – delighting customers by implementing data privacy measures," Electronic Markets, Springer;IIM University of St. Gallen, vol. 28(4), pages 437-452, November.
    11. Lionel Nicod & Élodie Mallor & Sylvie Llosa, 2023. "L’influence de l’aide à participer en magasin sur la satisfaction client : une approche par le modèle tétraclasse," Post-Print hal-04311121, HAL.
    12. Hasan Zakaria & Shinya Numata & Katsuya Hihara, 2021. "Expenditure Patterns of Foreign Resident Visitors and Foreign Tourist Visitors at a Day-Trip Nature-Based Destination," Tourism and Hospitality, MDPI, vol. 2(2), pages 1-11, June.
    13. Martínez, José Manuel Guaita & Martín, José María Martín & Rey, María del Sol Ostos, 2020. "An analysis of the changes in the seasonal patterns of tourist behavior during a process of economic recovery," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 161(C).
    14. Junge, Hendrik & Vollmar, Bernhard, 2021. "Autokauf der Zukunft: Eine Darstellung und Analyse des gegenwärtigen und zukünftigen Kaufentscheidungsprozesses von Automobilen unter Berücksichtigung aktueller Trends in der Automobilindustrie," PFH Forschungspapiere/Research Papers 2021/001, PFH Private University of Applied Sciences, Göttingen.
    15. Anna Serena Vergori, 2017. "Patterns of seasonality and tourism demand forecasting," Tourism Economics, , vol. 23(5), pages 1011-1027, August.
    16. Xian Ji & Long Shao & Yu Du, 2020. "Collaborating with Local Communities to Identify Improvement Priorities for Historic Urban Landscape Based on Residents’ Satisfaction: An Application of Asymmetric Impact-Performance Analysis in Dando," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(4), pages 1-16, February.
    17. Chen, Pin-Zheng & Liu, Wan-Yu, 2019. "Assessing management performance of the national forest park using impact range-performance analysis and impact-asymmetry analysis," Forest Policy and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 104(C), pages 121-138.
    18. Christèle Camelis & Sylvie Llosa & Cécile Maunier, 2015. "Gestion de la satisfaction et de l’insatisfaction des touristes : les apports du modèle Tétraclasse," Post-Print hal-01243401, HAL.
    19. Darko Prebežac & Josip Mikulić, 2008. "Destination image and key drivers of perceived destination attractiveness," Tržište/Market, Faculty of Economics and Business, University of Zagreb, vol. 20(2), pages 163-178.
    20. Finn, Adam, 2011. "Investigating the non-linear effects of e-service quality dimensions on customer satisfaction," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 18(1), pages 27-37.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:4:p:1681-:d:493451. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.