초록
The purpose of this paper is to examine atmospherical factors affecting user's satisfaction in natural park to answer the research question: what are the effects of atmosphere on user's satisfaction in natural parks(NP). After reviewing the literature, mechanism of NP, and use elements in NP, We constructed the conceptual framework and have formulated the hypothesis of this research. We had obtained data through a questionnaire, which surveyed 508 visitors at 6 of the 73 NP in Korea in 2001, based on stratified sampling method. We have analyzed the data using descriptive statistical methods, the mean difference test, Pearson's correlation analysis, and the multiple linear regression method. We found that 1) the five atmospheric variables, j.e., number of users(NOU), crowding, damage to park resources(DPR), and maintenance of park resources and facilities(MPRF), encounter level(EL) affecting user's satisfaction, have tuned out to be statistically significant at a five percent level. The direction of the relationship between user's satisfaction and MPRF, NOU, EL is the same as that of the dependent variable and the opposite of crowding, and BPR, 2) in bivariate analysis, the positive relationships between user's satisfaction and park resources, MPRF are fairly high and statistically significant. The higher the value of DPR, and crowing, the lower the degree of user's satisfaction, 3) in multivariate analysis, such variables as NOU, crowding, DPR, EL, and MPRF affecting user's satisfaction have been statistically significant at five percent level, and 4) the relative contribution of MPRF, park resources, park facilities, NOU, crowding, DPR, and size of activity space on user's satisfaction have been determined to have respectively 6.00, 4.78, 2.53, 1.83, 1.64, 1.59 and 2.03 times more important than that of EL. Among the atmospheric variables, MPRF is the most important at 1.26 times higher than that of park resources. The research results suggest that the development of devices for the increase in user's satisfaction and user management program based on the knowledge we have found, be recommended in the planning and development process of natural park. The approach adopted by this research is valid and useful for evaluation criteria of NP. It is recommended that more empirical studies by activity types, activity spaces, and seasons on atmospheric elements affecting user's satisfaction be performed in the future.
