Monitoring Visitor Experience Aboard Expedition Cruises To

SINPR

P. T. Maher, PhD Cape Breton University

Sable Island Conference 2015

May 2, 2015 -- Halifax, NS

Outline

• Background

• Context

• Methods

• “Hurdles”

• Some Preliminary Results

• Conclusions

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Background

• Parks Canada mandate: VE in relation to EI

• Critical in places with no permanent population

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Context

• Expedition cruising – shuffle board and siestas replaced by well stocked libraries, lectures and zodiac landings

• Ships typically carry between 100-150 passengers • Passengers are generally of more advanced years –

baby boomers and newly or near retirement – well educated, well-travelled, in good health, have highly successful careers, and therefore have high levels of disposable income.

• Expedition cruising appeals to them because they are typically interested in “finding new unspoilt, previously unvisited locations with a strong natural or cultural appeal” (Ellis & Kriwoken, 2006, p.251).

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Context

Experiences tend to follow the Lindblad pattern, named for the pioneering work of Lars-Eric Lindblad… “the Lindblad pattern of cruising emphasizes exploration and education. Experiences take three forms: using the ship as an observation platform (e.g., for whale watching), small boat cruising (e.g., along scenic coastlines, to view icebergs) and landings ashore. Throughout the cruises, both afloat and ashore, passengers are guided by experienced staff and naturalists, with lectures given enroute between destinations. The guides also ensure visitors behave in a way that causes minimal or no disturbance to the natural environment” (Crosbie and Splettstoesser, 2011, p. 106).

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• 2 part survey

• Administered on the ship

• Distributed by the operator

• Voluntary completion

• Collected in a secure container

• Container collected by researcher

Methods

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“Hurdles”

• Researcher off site

• Reliance on Adventure Canada

• Realities of expedition cruising

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Preliminary Results

• 82 pre-trip responses, 91 post-trip, 64 respondent overlap (up to 118 pax/trip)

• From pre-trip: – 76 Canadian (including 39 ON, 15 NS, 8 BC, 7 AB) – Avg. income (n=60): $131,000 – Avg. age (n=79): 62 – Gender (n=81): 24 male, 57 female – Education: mostly university, less PhDs and MDs than

previous research – Well travelled: top 3 = Antarctic, Galapagos, Arctic – Majority knew it was a National Park

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Preliminary Results

Purpose for the visit:

To experience this completely wild & off limits island. Also to see the horses

See all of the National parks

Whole package, remote island, location, horses, seals, other wildlife

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Preliminary Results

Expectations:

Anything, as long as we see horses

Time to explore at my leisure

To experience something very special

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Preliminary Results

Highlights:

• Horses

• Landscape

• People on site (both Zoe and PC staff mentioned frequently)

Lowlights:

• Not enough time on island

• Lack of “freedom to roam”

• Other visitors

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Preliminary Results

Research:

• Heard about many topics

• Impacts seem well monitored

Visitation:

• Damage to vegetation - trampling

• Dune erosion

• Our visit in particular, no. Numerous visits of this size over time, yes. Visitor management will be a big part of moving forward

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Preliminary Results

Management:

• I think Parks Canada has appropriate protocols in place, but they lack the man power to enforce them where large groups of people are concerned.

• …think it should maintain (focus on) ecological integrity of island over visitor experience and set a cap on yearly visitors. Hopefully all visitors will have to be with park staff & not roam freely.

• Sable should be treated like the Galapagos Islands, very controlled supervised visits, not a free for all

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Preliminary Results

• Generally pre-trip information was accurate

• Generally trip was a success – Need time at main station

– Need more time with the horses

– Many visitors said trip greatly exceeded their expectations

• Time ashore was amazing, but obviously want more

• Time at sea – well spent (lectures, whale/bird sightings)

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Conclusions • Visitors

satisfied, but…

• Visitation is a hot topic

• Baseline info is critical

• Full report coming soon - to help with 2016 season

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Acknowledgements

• Internal RP Grant (#8753) • REB (#1314-145) • Thanks Jenna and Erin

• Research Permit (SINP-

2014-16319) • Thanks Jonathan, Heather

and Chris

• Thanks Shirley • Thanks to the crew of the

Sea Adventurer

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Thanks for Listening

QUESTIONS

@DrPatMaher

http://drpatmaher.com