Effects of Communication Strategies for Managing Depreciative Behavior in Carlsbad Caverns National Park

국립공원내의 환경오염행위 관리를 위한 Communication정책의 효 과 -미국 Carlsbad Caverns 국립공원의 사례를 중심으로-

Damage to natural resources from inappropriate visitor behavior is a problem faced by National Park management. Based on the data gathered by personal interview and mail questionnaire, this study examines the effects of communication strategies to reduce depreciative behavior in Carlsbad Caverns National Park. One-quarter of Carlsbad Caverns visitors indicates that they have noticed damage to cave formation during their tour. Almost 38% of visitors say that they have witnessed someone touch a formation inside the Caverns. This is a relatively high percentage compared with other depreciative behavior research to refrain from "tattling" on fellow visitors. Two-thirds of the respondents recalls touching formation replicas before entering the Cavern, while almost all visitors (97.9%) say that they have heard the ranger's talk about not touching formation or leaving the trail. Visitors feel that the ranger's talk is more effective in reducing depreciative behavior than the formation replicas, although at least three-fourths of all respondents believes both techniques are effective.