Examining the relationship between recreation settings and experiences in Oulanka National Park – A spatial approach

The management of recreation areas can presumably affect visitors׳ experiences by altering the settings where experiences are constructed. Thus, several methodological approaches have been used in the past to explore the relationship between recreation setting and experiences. Most of these approaches have ignored spatial aspects of experiences. This study explores a participatory mapping technique, as one form of Public Participation GIS (PPGIS), to examine recreation satisfaction in Oulanka National Park (ONP). The applied mapping technique asked visitors to mark on a paper map where they had the highest and lowest quality experiences in ONP and to explain why. The study shows that positive and negative experiences are spatially clustered and often concentrate in the same locations within the park. In addition, different types of visitors identify similar places that produce high-quality experiences. These positive experiences are dominated by perceptions of scenery, while recreation facilities are often the reasons for dissatisfactory experiences. This study improves the understanding of the spatial nuances of visitor experiences and further encourages developing participatory mapping techniques that can aid recreation management of natural areas.Management implicationsThis study used a spatial approach for exploring recreation experiences in a national park setting. The participatory mapping method was valuable in producing spatially explicit information to help national park managers to facilitate visitors׳ high-quality experiences while avoiding low-quality experiences. The study also provides information for developing indicators for future place-based monitoring of visitor experiences.