Navigating crowds: Reconsidering visitor recreational experience and crowding preference for a forest park in Taiwan

As forest recreational activities gain popularity, the potential for crowding and activity-based conflicts to diminish sustainable recreational quality becomes a critical concern. Consequently, it is vital to understand the factors shaping recreational preferences and conflict perceptions in natural settings. This study selected Xitou Nature Education Area, Taiwan's most frequented forest park, as a case study to investigate complex relationships among visitor demographics, crowding perceptions, and recreational behaviors. Using a questionnaire and choice experiment, the study explored perceptions of crowding and recreational conflicts within Xitou, alongside visitors' willingness to travel further to avoid crowded conditions. The analysis showed that visitor preferences differed significantly across socioeconomic groups, with age playing a substantial role in shaping motivations and behaviors. While overall perceptions of crowding were moderate, visitors aged 65 and older demonstrated notable tolerance for crowds. Despite the park's high visitation, the incidence of recreational conflict was relatively low, with primary disturbances attributed to visitors resting in various locations, park staff, and group game participants. Contrary to expectations, visitors did not exhibit strong willingness to pay to avoid crowding. Instead, results surprisingly suggested a slight preference for increased social interaction within the park, challenging the general assumption that crowding is always viewed negatively. Drawing from visitor perceptions of overcrowding, we propose enhanced regulations and stricter monitoring for designated resting and picnicking areas to elevate the forest recreation experience. Crucially, this study highlights that effective park management must acknowledge and cater to diverse visitor motivations, whether they seek physical activity, social engagement, or solitude.