Determinants of visitation in natural parks
a systematic review and proposal for an integrated framework
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.7784/rbtur.v20.3407Keywords:
Tourism in protected areas, Visitation in natural parks, Determinants of visitation, Park attractiveness, Integrated frameworkAbstract
Understanding the factors that influence visitor flow variation in natural parks is essential to improving the management of these territories and strengthening their economic, environmental, and social performance. This study aimed to identify the determinants of visitation in natural parks through a systematic review of the literature in articles indexed in the Web of Science and Scopus databases, following the SPAR-4-SLR protocol for data collection, organisation, extraction and analysis. The review identified about 300 factors, later synthesised into twelve dimensions, grouped into three categories: internal determinants (natural characteristics of the park, climate, infrastructure and services supporting visitation in the park, trails and attractions in the park), external determinants (access to the park, socioeconomic characteristics of the surrounding area, infrastructure and services supporting visitation in the surrounding area and alternative protected areas), and cross-cutting determinants (park management, park visibility, and demand characteristics). These dimensions comprise an integrated framework that offers a strategic view of the elements that shape visitation in natural parks. The results have practical implications, including a framework-guided flow of actions, and discuss gaps, limitations, and directions for future research, contributing to the advancement of knowledge about natural park management and planning.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Érika Sayuri Koga, Ewerton Monti, Grislayne Guedes Lopes da Silva
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