Nature tourists and national parks: how important are nature and the protection status of an area for visitors?
Christine Bild, University of Marburg (DE)
Discussing the question what nature protection actually means and how it could be envisaged, territorial protection, as one of the most important nature protection instruments, is a crucial topic. Analysing the meaning of territorial protection, it is of utmost interest to get insight into how important is nature and the protection status of an area for visitors. Based on an empirical study in three German National Parks (Berchtesgaden, Schwarzwald and Kellerwald-Edersee), the importance of nature and nature protection will be illustrated from the view point of national park visitors.