the changing apostle islands visitor walter kuentzel – university of vermont tom heberlein –...
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The Changing Apostle Islands Visitor
Walter Kuentzel – University of VermontTom Heberlein – University of Wisconsin-Madison
The Apostle Islands and Leisure Research
Longitudinal Study of Change
1975 – Boaters1982 – Cruise Boat Passengers1985 – Boaters1985 – 1975 Boater Follow-Up1997 – Boaters1997 – 1975 Boater Follow-Up1997 – 1985 Boater Follow-up1997 - Kayakers2000 – Retirement Study2009 – The Next WaveOn-Going Community Indicators
Five Changes
The Crowded VisitorThe Aging VisitorThe Charter Boat Visitor The Specialized VisitorThe Retiring Visitor
“Loving Our Parks To Death”
High
Low High
Sat
isfa
ctio
n
Density
High
Low High
Fee
ling
Cro
wde
d
Density
More Visitors, Less Crowding
1975
1978
1981
1984
1987
1990
1993
1996
1999
2002
2005
0
5000
10000
15000
20000
25000
30000
Overnight BoatersN
um
ber
of
Vis
itor
s
1973
1976
1979
1982
1985
1988
1991
1994
1997
2000
2003
2006
0
50,000
100,000
150,000
200,000
250,000
Total VisitorsN
um
ber
of
Vis
itor
s
Encounters & Perceived Crowding
1975 1985 1997 20090
2
4
6
8
10
12
6.2
8.69.6
10.0
Encounters While Anchored Overnight
Nu
mb
er o
f B
oats
1975 1985 1997 20090
2
4
6
8
10
1210.8
8.99.7
8.3
Perceived Crowding
Mea
n
Not Density Dependent
Interaction ofExpected/Preferred Encounters With Actual Encounters
Perceived Crowding:
“How Crowded Did You Feel?”
Expected and Preferred Encounters
1975 1985 1997 20090
5
10
15
20
10.9
15.313.7
10.4
5.8
11.8 12.5
8.9
Expected Preferred
Nu
mb
er o
f B
oats
Average Age
1975 - 371985 - 361997 - 442009 - 53
The Aging Visitor
% With Kids
1975 – 35.61985 – 24.51997 – 19.32009 – 17.5
1981 1984 1986 1998 2000 2004 20070
20406080
100120140160180200
142
178165
9285 86 83
Bayfield Charter Fleet
Nu
mb
er o
f B
oats
The Charter Boat Visitor
1975 1985 1997 20090.0
10.0
20.0
30.0
40.0
50.0
60.0
70.0
80.0
31.3
72.9
55.7
48.2
Per
cen
t
The Specialized Visitor
Experience
Frequency
Equipment
Skill
Commitment
Lifestyle
Social Networks
From Novice to Expert?
Specialization was the exception, rather than the rule.
Boat Ownership
Great LakesBoating
OceanBoating
Racing BoatingSkill
Change in Interest
QuitBoating
Did NotSpecialize 76.6% 71.4% 57.7% 58.2% 57.6% 53.2% 58.0%
Specialized23.3% 28.6% 42.3% 41.8% 42.4% 46.8% 42.0%
Over time, more boaters are casual or losing interest.
What keeps boaters from specializing?
Marriage
Other Leisure Interests
Financial Change
Illness (nostalgia)
Life Course Changes:
Marital Change
Child Birth
Job Change
Residential Change
Illness
Financial Change
Change in Interest
Develop Other Interests
Retirement
Empty Nest
Amenity Retirement Migration
Retiring to the South Shore
Apostle Islands Boating
Family Home Social Reasons Recreation Solitude Wilderness
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
39.4
57.7
32.928.6
70.475.7
79.8
6661.4
74.3
47
South Shore Non South Shore
Perc
ent
Why Didn’t Boaters Retire to the South Shore?
Reasons Percent
Too far for friends and family to visit 54%
Poor transportation services 46%
It would often be too cold 42%
My spouse would be unhappy 34%
No cultural events or facilities 34%
Limited shopping opportunities 32%
Poor health care facilities 28%
It would be too lonely 28%
It would be too dull 24%
“Finally got our town back!”
Future Directions?
Changing Visitors
Changing Communities