Health and Well-Being in Protected Natural Areas—Visitors’ Satisfaction in Three Different Protected Natural Area Categories in Catalonia, Spain
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 visit...
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doaj-200a0c2fef484b6a935bde8976f260f82020-11-25T02:29:59ZengMDPI AGInternational Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health1661-78271660-46012020-09-01176746674610.3390/ijerph17186746Health and Well-Being in Protected Natural Areas—Visitors’ Satisfaction in Three Different Protected Natural Area Categories in Catalonia, SpainEstela Inés Farías-Torbidoni0Sebastià Mas-Alòs1Gonzalo Gil-Moreno-de-Mora2Pere Lavega-Burgués3Marta Castañer4Eloisa Lorente-Catalán5Jordi Seguí-Urbaneja6Enric Lacasa-Claver7Institut Nacional d’Educació Física de Catalunya (INEFC), Universidad de Lleida (UdL), 25192 Lleida, SpainInstitut Nacional d’Educació Física de Catalunya (INEFC), Universidad de Lleida (UdL), 25192 Lleida, SpainInstitut Nacional d’Educació Física de Catalunya (INEFC), Universidad de Lleida (UdL), 25192 Lleida, SpainInstitut Nacional d’Educació Física de Catalunya (INEFC), Universidad de Lleida (UdL), 25192 Lleida, SpainInstitut Nacional d’Educació Física de Catalunya (INEFC), Universidad de Lleida (UdL), 25192 Lleida, SpainInstitut Nacional d’Educació Física de Catalunya (INEFC), Universidad de Lleida (UdL), 25192 Lleida, SpainInstitut Nacional d’Educació Física de Catalunya (INEFC), Universidad de Lleida (UdL), 25192 Lleida, SpainInstitut Nacional d’Educació Física de Catalunya (INEFC), Universidad de Lleida (UdL), 25192 Lleida, SpainProtected 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 (<i>n</i> = 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.https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/17/18/6746physical activityhealth-related physical activitiesmotivationsbenefitsnational parksnatural parks |
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DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
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 |
spellingShingle |
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 Health and Well-Being in Protected Natural Areas—Visitors’ Satisfaction in Three Different Protected Natural Area Categories in Catalonia, Spain International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health physical activity health-related physical activities motivations benefits national parks natural parks |
author_facet |
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 |
author_sort |
Estela Inés Farías-Torbidoni |
title |
Health and Well-Being in Protected Natural Areas—Visitors’ Satisfaction in Three Different Protected Natural Area Categories in Catalonia, Spain |
title_short |
Health and Well-Being in Protected Natural Areas—Visitors’ Satisfaction in Three Different Protected Natural Area Categories in Catalonia, Spain |
title_full |
Health and Well-Being in Protected Natural Areas—Visitors’ Satisfaction in Three Different Protected Natural Area Categories in Catalonia, Spain |
title_fullStr |
Health and Well-Being in Protected Natural Areas—Visitors’ Satisfaction in Three Different Protected Natural Area Categories in Catalonia, Spain |
title_full_unstemmed |
Health and Well-Being in Protected Natural Areas—Visitors’ Satisfaction in Three Different Protected Natural Area Categories in Catalonia, Spain |
title_sort |
health and well-being in protected natural areas—visitors’ satisfaction in three different protected natural area categories in catalonia, spain |
publisher |
MDPI AG |
series |
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health |
issn |
1661-7827 1660-4601 |
publishDate |
2020-09-01 |
description |
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 (<i>n</i> = 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. |
topic |
physical activity health-related physical activities motivations benefits national parks natural parks |
url |
https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/17/18/6746 |
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