Environmental Value Orientation and Environmental Impact Perception of Visitors to Khao Yai National Park

Abstract

     The purposes of this study were to examine environmental value orientation and perceptions of the environmental impacts of domestic visitors in Khao Yai National Park (KYNP) across three groups of activities: campers, hikers and bird-watchers. A total of 628 questionnaires were distributed to participants in these three major activities. The results showed that visitors enjoyed a high level of environmental value. The majority of campers, hikers, and bird-watchers were ecocentrists (valuing nature for its own sake). Proportionately, there were more ecocentrists among the bird-watchers compared to the campers and hikers, while there were more anthropocentric hikers than campers and bird-watchers. For impact perception, more than 30 percent of visitors indicated that visitor activities did not cause environmental impacts. The majority of visitors rated the severity of impact in KYNP at the moderate level. Visitors who engaged in different types of recreational activities perceived impacts differently. Overall, bird-watchers perceived impacts at a higher level of severity than either campers or hikers. For management recommendations, KYNP needs to seriously consider more effective environmental education programs to create a positive environmental attitude and improve the ecological impact knowledge of visitors that is a primary factor underlying environmentally friendly behavior.