Proceedings of the 2009 northeastern recreation research symposium

Table 1.—Estimated visitation to national parks, 2000 to 2008, including breakdown by age categories and education level*
Year 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 Chg Rate**
‘00-’08
Estimated Total Adult
Population (‘000)
201,715 202,753 204,964 209,657 213,454 215,800 218,289 220,847 222,210 1.2%
Estimated Number of
National Park Visits
11,920 12,490 12,009 12,237 11,302 11,908 12,148 12,410 11,578 -0.2%
Total Adult National Park
Visitation Rate (%)
moving average—i.e., 1995 data would represent the
average participation rate for 1993, 1994, and 1995.
Participation rates of individuals (used for TRR data)
and households (used for SRDS data) are treated as
primary variables for examining the overall trends.
SRDS data alone were used to conduct cross-market or
within-market analysis of interest levels and household
participation in various activities. Where possible,
changes in participation were compared to national
population growth and percentage change in number of
households.
5.9 6.2 5.9 5.8 5.3 5.5 5.6 5.6 5.2 -1.5%
Adults age 18-24 4.5 4.6 4.2 4.9 3.5 3.8 4.0 2.8 3.4 -1.6%
Adults age 25-34 5.4 5.9 5.7 6.7 6.0 4.6 5.1 6.0 5.1 0.4%
Adults age 35-44 7.4 7.4 7.9 7.4 6.3 7.2 6.8 7.2 6.7 -0.8%
Adults age 45-54 7.8 8.4 7.0 6.5 6.5 7.5 6.9 6.6 6.2 -2.4%
Adults age 55-64 5.9 7.0 5.7 5.9 5.6 5.5 5.6 5.9 5.6 -0.1%
Adults age 65+ 3.4 2.8 3.4 2.6 2.8 3.4 4.2 4.1 3.5 2.0%
Adults age 18-34 5.1 5.4 5.1 6.0 5.0 4.3 4.6 4.7 4.4 -1.2%
Adults age 18-49 6.3 6.5 6.5 6.6 5.7 5.8 5.7 5.8 5.4 -1.8%
Adults age 25-54 6.9 7.3 6.9 6.9 6.3 6.5 6.3 6.6 6.0 -1.6%
Educ: did not graduate HS 3.1 2.6 2.4 2.6 1.7 1.7 2.5 1.8 1.8 -3.9%
Educ: graduated high school 4.5 4.5 4.8 4.6 3.9 4.2 4.3 4.3 3.6 -2.4%
Educ: attended college 6.9 7.1 6.4 6.1 6.4 6.4 5.9 6.0 6.1 -1.4%
Educ: graduated college plus 9.0 10.0 9.1 9.4 8.3 8.7 8.8 9.1 8.2 -0.9%
Educ: post-graduate na 10.6 9.8 10.0 9.4 9.2 9.6 9.4 8.8 -2.5%
*Source: Mediamark’s Topline Research Reports, 2000 to 2008; interpretation of data by authors.
**Chg. Rate = Average Annual Change Rate for period covered.
3.0 RESULTS
We present only some of the data in tables here; full
data tables are available from the authors. As a reference
point for the analysis of TRR data, the estimated U.S.
population increased at an average annual adjusted rate
of 1.2 percent per year from 2000 to 2008 (Table 1).
Any rates not equaling or exceeding this rate indicate real
declines in visitation or participation. As a reference point
for the trends in the Lifestyle Market Analyst data, the
number of households in the U.S. grew by 1.1 percent
per year from 1993 to 2008.
3.1 National Park Visitation Trends, 2000
to 2008
Using the TRR data (Mediamark 2000-2008), we found
that annual national park visitation rates between 2000
and 2008 declined by an average of about 1.5 percent
per year while the actual number of visitors declined by
about 0.2 percent per year (Table1). Approximately 5.9
percent of individuals had visited national parks in the
past 12 months in 2000 and this percentage decreased
to 5.2 percent by 2008. From 2000 to 2004, the
participation rate steadily declined from 5.9 percent to
5.3 percent; it rebounded slightly to 5.6 percent in 2006-
2007 and fell again to 5.2 percent in 2008. In 2000, an
estimated 11.9 million individuals had visited a national
park in the previous 12 months; by 2008, this number
had declined to 11.6 million individuals.
Proceedings of the 2009 Northeastern Recreation Research Symposium GTR-NRS-P-66
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