Issues Regarding Collection of Visitor Data

Corps natural resources managers use standardized tools to collect visitor use and satisfaction data on their projects. To help direct ongoing efforts of the RMSP, project managers were asked to characterize their need and use of data concerning recreation visitors. Their responses are summarized in the following tables.
• Visitors of interest
  Most data collected at Corps projects are associated with visitors to Corps-managed recreation areas. Here managers assess their comparative interest in visitor data associated with recreation areas that are not managed by the Corps, dispersed use recreation, etc.

  Comparative usefulness of information in regard to different visitor groups. (Question 17)
  

  Visitors To:	Rating*
  Corps-managed recreation areas	8.07
  Visitor Centers	7.76
  Undeveloped lands and wildlife management areas (dispersed use)	6.78
  Recreation areas managed by outgrant partners	5.98
  Concessionaire-managed recreation areas	5.50
  * Rating options ranged from 0 to 10 where 0 = not useful, 5 = moderately useful, and 10 = extremely useful.

• What managers want to know about visitors:
  A comparative summary of the kinds of information that manager's want regarding their project visitors and the spatial scale at which they want it.

  Importance of different kinds of information about project visitors (Questions 12-16).
  

  Information Category	Project-Wide		By Recreation Area
  	Overall*	By Activity*	Overall*	By Activity*
  Visitor Satisfaction	7.83	7.81	8.44	8.34
  Visitation Estimates	6.75	6.60	7.21	6.93
  Economic / Benefits	6.80	6.33	6.19	6.19
  Visitor Activities	6.38	-	6.71	-
  Demographics	5.35	5.30	5.66	5.63
  * Rating options ranged from 0 to 10 where 0 = not useful, 5 = moderately useful, and 10 = extremely useful.

• Visitor activities:
  Eight standard visitor activities are currently tracked in Corps visitor use surveys. Here managers rate the value of these standard categories on their projects.

  Comparative value of activities currently tracked in visitor use surveys (Question 18).
  

  Activity	Rating
  Boating	6.91
  Fishing	6.89
  Picnicking	6.72
  Camping	6.70
  Sightseeing	6.54
  Hunting	6.21
  Swimming	6.14
  Water-skiing	5.20
  Note. Rating options ranged from 0 to 10 where 0 = not useful, 5 = moderately useful, and 10 = extremely useful.

• Additional activities of interest:
  A summary of other recreation activities that managers would like to track as part the visitor use survey.

  Additional recreation activities of interest to project managers (Question 21).
  Click here to access individual responses.
  

  Activity Category	Number of Responses	Most Often Listed Activities
  Trail or Backcountry (unmotorized)	48	Hiking (27), Horseback riding (16), Mountain biking (8)
  Park Users	28	Bicycling (9), Golf (2), Walking/jogging (2), Playground (2), Roller skating (2)
  Water Sports	25	Personal watercraft (10), Windsurfing (3)
  Wildlife Watching	25	Bird watching (15)
  Other Responses	17	Tourist vs. local visitors (1), Size/type camping equipment (1), Parking (1), Economic benefits (1), Dispersed use (1), Beach usage (1), etc.
  None, N/A, etc.	17
  Group Activities	16	Special events (3), School groups (3), Interpretative programs (3)
  Winter Sports	11	Snowmobiling (5), Cross-country skiing (5)
  Off Road (motorized)	9	ATV (7)
  Total	196

• Manager's comments about visitor surveys:
  A summary of manager comments and suggestions regarding visitor data.

  Comments and suggestions regarding the collection and use of visitor monitoring information at Corps projects (Question 22).
  Click here to access individual responses.
  

  Comment	Number of Responses
  Need to update Visitation Surveys	13
  Accuracy of Visitation Surveys	13
  Funding / Staffing for Surveys	10
  Value of Surveys to Projects	8
  Need For Dispersed Use Surveys	8
  Need for Additional Types of Information	4
  Recommended Frequency of Surveys	4
  Need for Visitor Center Surveys	3
  Other Comments	14
  Total	77