Linking protected areas with health and well-being: Reconstructing the recreational amenity experience model in the Chinese context

IF 3.6 3区管理学 Q1 HOSPITALITY, LEISURE, SPORT & TOURISM

Journal of Outdoor Recreation and Tourism-Research Planning and Management Pub Date : 2025-03-11 DOI:10.1016/j.jort.2025.100867

Kaimiao Lin , Qing Zhang , Qiong Lu , Fang Meng , Chongcheng Chen

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Amenity refers to health and well-being benefits that attract recreationists to protected areas. However, few studies have explored the specific components and characteristics of the recreational amenity experience from the perspective of Chinese recreationists. This concept is crucial for promoting protected areas as contributors to health and well-being and for advancing the well-planned development of harmonious coexistence between humans and nature. The study used semi-structured interviews and grounded theory to establish the recreational amenity experience model, through analysis of 25 qualitative interviews. The recreational amenity experience model was constructed, including four dimensions of physiological, psychological, spiritual, and social amenity. The recreational amenity experience model developed in this study is based not only on the recreationists’ perceived health and well-being but also on the leisure and aesthetic aspects of traditional Chinese culture. Moreover, this study expands on the theory of cultural ecosystem services and promotes the harmonious coexistence of humans and nature.

Management implications

•
The Recreational Amenity Experience Model (RAE) provides a framework for understanding how amenity elements within protected areas contribute to visitors' health and well-being.
•
By recognizing the multifaceted dimensions of recreational amenity experience, managers of protected areas can design and implement programs that cater to a wide range of visitor needs.
•
Managers of protected areas can refer to the RAE to comprehend the full spectrum of visitors' expectations and identify intervention points to enhance the quality of recreation.
•
Understanding the critical role of recreational amenity experience in delivering cultural ecosystem services can inform resource allocation decisions.

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来源期刊

Journal of Outdoor Recreation and Tourism-Research Planning and Management HOSPITALITY, LEISURE, SPORT & TOURISM-

CiteScore

6.70

自引率

5.30%

发文量

期刊介绍： Journal of Outdoor Recreation and Tourism offers a dedicated outlet for research relevant to social sciences and natural resources. The journal publishes peer reviewed original research on all aspects of outdoor recreation planning and management, covering the entire spectrum of settings from wilderness to urban outdoor recreation opportunities. It also focuses on new products and findings in nature based tourism and park management. JORT is an interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary journal, articles may focus on any aspect of theory, method, or concept of outdoor recreation research, planning or management, and interdisciplinary work is especially welcome, and may be of a theoretical and/or a case study nature. Depending on the topic of investigation, articles may be positioned within one academic discipline, or draw from several disciplines in an integrative manner, with overarching relevance to social sciences and natural resources. JORT is international in scope and attracts scholars from all reaches of the world to facilitate the exchange of ideas. As such, the journal enhances understanding of scientific knowledge, empirical results, and practitioners'' needs. Therefore in JORT each article is accompanied by an executive summary, written by the editors or authors, highlighting the planning and management relevant aspects of the article.