@article {444,
	title = {Tourist perception of recreational environment and management in a marine protected area},
	journal = {Landscape and Urban Planning},
	volume = {79},
	year = {2006},
	abstract = {<p>A person{\textquoteright}s socio-economic status, cultural ties, and past experiences  influence how people perceive environmental quality. In the case of  tourism,people using protected areas can differ in many ways, including  their personal characteristics and perception about the recreation  environment. This research addresses the general problem of tourist  perception in a marine protected area (MPA), focusing on tourists{\textquoteright}  awareness of being in a MPA, tourists{\textquoteright} opinion on management activities,  the importance of natural attractiveness components, tourists{\textquoteright}  satisfaction with recreational experience and willingness to come back,  and on tourists{\textquoteright} awareness of their environmental impacts. Data were  collected by means of questionnaires, and statistical analyses were  performed according to four main variables: awareness to be in a MPA,  gender, education level, and place of residence. Answers, and  consequently, perceptions were highly dependent on education level and  the place of residence, and surprisingly the unaware tourists came from  neighbouring municipalities, in particular from the province of Brindisi  where the MPA is located. This research put in evidence that a  different perception can be due to environmental and park related  attitudes, but also to the profile of visitors who frequent protected  areas. In this respect, we stress the importance of a better  identification of visitors{\textquoteright} profile, for a better management of tourism  development in a MPA.</p>},
	keywords = {Adriatic Sea, awareness, conservation, education, environment, impact, Italy, management, marine protected area, Mediterranean sea, perception, protected area, recreation, recreational ecosystem services, research, sustainable development, sustainable tourism, Torre Guaceto, tourism, tourist{\textquoteright}s perception, visitation, visitor{\textquoteright}s profil, western Mediterranean},
	author = {I. Petrosillo and M. Dadamo and N. Zaccarelli and M-E. Corliano and G. Zurlini}
}
