Factors contributing to beach attractiveness: Understanding recreational choice behavior on the North Carolina coast

This dissertation research examined the Recreational Opportunity Spectrum model components of setting, activity participation, and desired experience as well as the utility of sociodemographics in studying recreational preferences and behaviors on North Carolina recreational beach users. Based on the volume of summer tourists visiting North Carolina beach areas each year, it is crucial that a thorough understanding of the factors that influence coastal recreational choice be obtained. There has been very little research conducted that examines the motivations of tourists to visit specific beaches based on site-specific social, physical, and managerial attributes. Recreational beach users were examined in reference to the following: (1) The role of specific beach attributes in attracting individuals with a variety of recreational interests; (2) Visitor preferences for beach attributes based on personal sociodemographics; (3) The diversity in recreational activity preferences based on sociodemographics; (4) The types of beach settings people choose to visit in relation to personal activity preference and desired experience.; Data were collected from July to November 2, 2003. A total of 672 visitor surveys were successfully completed by means of a modified systematic sampling strategy. Seven North Carolina beaches were utilized as interview sites based on several site-specific natural, social, and managerial attributes. These areas represent the various jurisdictions that manage the North Carolina coast. Agencies include federal, state, and municipal government agencies. Questions were designed to demonstrate the full diversity of potential beach experiences.; Significant relationships were found to exist between the three Recreation Opportunity Spectrum components within the coastal zone. Results also suggest that relationships exist between specific sociodemographic attributes and the components of setting and activity preference. This study contributes additional information to the Recreation Opportunity Spectrum body of knowledge, specifically relevant to coastal settings.; Information obtained in this study has the ability to assist coastal managers in better serving their visitors through setting improvements, understanding of visitor perceptions of social and managerial attributes, a clear knowledge of visitor activity preferences, and the general demographic composition of their visitors.