ABSTRACT
This chapter aims to develop and test a strategy for measuring camper satisfaction with frontcountry campgrounds of National Parks in Alberta and British Columbia. The measurement of camper satisfaction is an essential element of the Visitor Activity Management Process, a strategy recently developed to define the social science data required in the development of management plans for Canada’s national parks. The chapter explores the Canadian Park Service in identifying or substantiating management concerns, that could ultimately assist management activities, such as the allocation of resources to maintenance, capital expenditures or information services. Park staff briefly explained the purpose of the questionnaire to the camper, and instructed the camper to return the completed questionnaire to a drop-off box near the entry kiosk, at the camper’s convenience. The cognitive dissonance issue was addressed by hypothesizing that people who have selected a campground as their primary destination, will be more satisfied than other campers.
