Visitor Support for Recreation Fees in Georgia State Parks

Abstract

Public land managers are experiencing increasing pressure to create parks that are self-sustaining. Recreation fees can help managers achieve this goal, but tradeoffs associated with fees often produce undesired consequences (i.e., declining visitation) that warrant further investigation. This study used intercept surveys (n = 1049) to examine support for recreation fees among visitors to Georgia state parks. Participants were evenly split regarding their willingness to pay to enter state parks, with a mean willing to pay increase about $2 above the current $5 parking fee. Proposed fee increases negatively affected projected visitation among all groups, particularly low-income visitors. Place attachment ratings were the strongest predictor of support for fees. Results suggest that, to accommodate a diverse clientele, managers could work on strengthening visitors’ attachment to and reliance upon state parks while developing flexible pricing schemes that appeal to a range of potential users.