Visitor Use Patterns at Great Smoky Mountains National Park

摘要

The study provided a demographic, behavioral, and economic portrait of visitors to great Smoky Mountains National Park; established a taxonomy of visitor use patterns within the park; and replicated elements from previous studies conducted in 1956 and 1975 to establish trends in visitor characteristics, use patterns, and expenditures. Significant differences in age, group size, and activity patterns were found by season. Visitor origin has shifted dramatically in the last 10 years, from the midwestern U.S. to the deep south. Most park patrons are quite familiar with the park, with four out of five having been to the park previously. A dramatic decline in length of stay in the park (12%) and in the region (25%) was also recorded. The total number of visitors to the park was estimated at 1.7 million for 1985, and average expenditures per visitor group amounted to approximately $100 per day. Factoring in a conservative multiplier effect of 1.5, the overall impact of visitor expenditures to the park and region exceeds $345 million.