| Full text | |
| Author(s): |
Marconi, Marina
;
Giglio, Vinicius J.
;
Pereira-Filho, Guilherme H.
;
Motta, Fabio S.
Total Authors: 4
|
| Document type: | Journal article |
| Source: | JOURNAL OF OUTDOOR RECREATION AND TOURISM-RESEARCH PLANNING AND MANAGEMENT; v. 41, p. 11-pg., 2023-03-23. |
| Abstract | |
Faced with the need for isolation of most people to reduce the transmission of COVID-19, a great concern for the well-being of the population has resurfaced. Considering the numerous benefits of outdoor activities to human health and well-being, we assessed whether the quality of the experience of recreational divers in a marine protected area (MPA) was impacted during the pandemic. We applied a semi-structured questionnaire to divers, collected their socioeconomic profile, preferences, motivations, experiences, and compared the results with those obtained in the previous season. We found that the quality of the recreational diver's experience remained high even during one of the world's biggest health crises. This suggests that the combination of contact with a pre-served environment and the adaptation of regulations in favor of visitor safety was enough to stimulate positive experiences. Therefore, we highlight the importance of investing in adaptive management so that MPAs continue to promote ecosystem services such as human health and subjective well-being. Management implications: center dot Quality of experience for recreational divers remained high and was unaffected after the first major wave of COVID-19 cases. center dot Through adaptive tourism management, MPAs can promote positive experiences even in chal-lenging contexts. center dot High impact of environmental attributes on the quality of divers' experience reinforces that threats to ecosystems are social impacts. center dot Socially unequal access to benefits generated by MPAs may negatively influence population's support for these areas. center dot Efforts are needed to strengthen the equity of distribution of positive social impacts in MPAs. center dot Potential to provide positive experiences for users must be seen beyond economic value, but as an investment in the population's subjective well-being. (AU) | |
| FAPESP's process: | 17/22273-0 - Ecological effects of recreational diving in subtropical marine protected areas |
| Grantee: | Vinicius Jose Giglio Fernandes |
| Support Opportunities: | Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral |
| FAPESP's process: | 19/19423-5 - Science applied to public use management and knowledge boundaries of Marine Protected Areas: from visitors' experience to biodiversity of subtropical mesophotic reefs |
| Grantee: | Fabio dos Santos Motta |
| Support Opportunities: | BIOTA-FAPESP Program - Regular Research Grants |