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Health and Well-Being in Protected Natural Areas—Visitors’ Satisfaction in Three Different Protected Natural Area Categories in Catalonia, Spain

Author

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  • Estela Inés Farías-Torbidoni

    (Institut Nacional d’Educació Física de Catalunya (INEFC), Universidad de Lleida (UdL), 25192 Lleida, Spain
    Grup d’Investigació Social i Educativa de l’Activitat Física i de l’Esport (GISEAFE), INEFC, Universidad de Barcelona (UB), 08038 Barcelona, Spain)

  • Sebastià Mas-Alòs

    (Institut Nacional d’Educació Física de Catalunya (INEFC), Universidad de Lleida (UdL), 25192 Lleida, Spain
    Grup de Recerca Moviment Humà, Universidad de Lleida (UdL), 25192 Lleida, Spain)

  • Gonzalo Gil-Moreno-de-Mora

    (Institut Nacional d’Educació Física de Catalunya (INEFC), Universidad de Lleida (UdL), 25192 Lleida, Spain
    Grup de Recerca en Desenvolupament i Innovació de la Condició Física i l’Exercici (DICFE), INEFC, Universidad de Lleida (UdL), 25192 Lleida, Spain)

  • Pere Lavega-Burgués

    (Institut Nacional d’Educació Física de Catalunya (INEFC), Universidad de Lleida (UdL), 25192 Lleida, Spain
    Grup d’Investigació en Acció Motriu (GIAM), INEFC, Universidad de Lleida, 25192 Lleida, Spain)

  • Marta Castañer

    (Institut Nacional d’Educació Física de Catalunya (INEFC), Universidad de Lleida (UdL), 25192 Lleida, Spain
    Grup d’Observació de la Motricitat i l’Esport, Innovació en Dissenys Observacionals i Mixed Methods Research, INEFC, Universidad de Lleida (UdL), 25192 Lleida, Spain)

  • Eloisa Lorente-Catalán

    (Institut Nacional d’Educació Física de Catalunya (INEFC), Universidad de Lleida (UdL), 25192 Lleida, Spain
    Grup d’Investigació sobre l’Activitat Física i la seva Didàctica per a l’Educació, la Cultura i el Benestar (DECUBIAF), INEFC, Universidad de Lleida (UdL), 25192 Lleida, Spain)

  • Jordi Seguí-Urbaneja

    (Institut Nacional d’Educació Física de Catalunya (INEFC), Universidad de Lleida (UdL), 25192 Lleida, Spain
    Grup d’Investigació Social i Educativa de l’Activitat Física i de l’Esport (GISEAFE), INEFC, Universidad de Barcelona (UB), 08038 Barcelona, Spain)

  • Enric Lacasa-Claver

    (Institut Nacional d’Educació Física de Catalunya (INEFC), Universidad de Lleida (UdL), 25192 Lleida, Spain
    Grup de Recerca en Sistemes Complexos i Esport, INEFC, Universidad de Lleida (UdL), 25192 Lleida, Spain)

Abstract

Protected natural areas (PNAs) can be a source of health and well-being, but little research has been carried out regarding outcomes in terms of satisfaction (the difference between motivations and benefits). Inspired by previous research that examines the motivations and benefits perceived by visitors to various PNAs in Canada, and based on importance–performance analysis (IPA) and service quality gap (GAP) analysis theory, the aim of this study was to identify the outcomes generated by protected areas in terms of satisfaction, especially with regard to the PNAs’ individual protection categories. The study was based on survey data from visitors ( n = 360) to three PNAs in Catalonia: one national park, one natural park and one periurban park. The results indicate that anticipated environmental, psychological, physical and social benefits were of major personal value in choosing to visit a PNA. The results indicate that, generally, visitors were satisfied with regard to the benefits anticipated. Differences between parks in this respect could be explained in part by sociodemographic factors and visitors’ behavior. The results are discussed in terms of their applicability and how they relate to the role of PNAs in the promotion of visitors’ health and well-being.

Suggested Citation

  • Estela Inés Farías-Torbidoni & Sebastià Mas-Alòs & Gonzalo Gil-Moreno-de-Mora & Pere Lavega-Burgués & Marta Castañer & Eloisa Lorente-Catalán & Jordi Seguí-Urbaneja & Enric Lacasa-Claver, 2020. "Health and Well-Being in Protected Natural Areas—Visitors’ Satisfaction in Three Different Protected Natural Area Categories in Catalonia, Spain," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(18), pages 1-19, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:17:y:2020:i:18:p:6746-:d:414403
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    References listed on IDEAS

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