Interpretation needs and preferences of visitors to Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park

Abstract

South African National Parks is one of South Africa’s main drawcards for ecotourists. One of these parks is the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park (KTP), which is also a World Heritage Site (WHS). Because tourism is key to national parks and WHSs, visitor management strategies such as interpretation are vital for these destinations to provide tourists with better experiences and knowledge. The aim of this research was therefore to determine the interpretation needs and preferences of visitors to KTP. The factor analyses revealed that tourists felt that park guidelines would add the most to a quality experience. Tourists preferred interpretation topics on nature and heritage and would like to receive in-depth information on these topics. Interpretation should also preferably be offered through audio and visual media. These findings impact the development of relevant interpretation services for the park, which will contribute towards visitors’ experiences. The research is original as it examined visitors’ interpretation needs and preferences on topics, the extent of information tourists would like to receive and the type of media through which information should be presented.Conservation implications: Designing relevant interpretation services based on tourists’ needs and preferences will contribute towards satisfactory experiences. In turn, this may lead to an increase in profits, which can support conservation practices. Effective interpretation messages can also foster additional support towards conservation efforts.

Alignment of Goals for Personal Interpretation Among Staff Groups in a Park Agency

“…To increase understanding staff performance and job satisfaction, researchers could expand the comparison of interpretation goals to include the agency’s legislation, policies, and management plans (Boswell, 2006), and to outcomes as reported by visitors (e.g., just after an interpretive experience and some time later) and as desired by visitors (Van der Merwe et al, 2020). Researchers should examine which factors affect the differences in priorities for interpretation goals and resources used (e.g., accountability, metrics, collaboration possibilities).…”

Understanding and Influencing Perceptions about Marine Protected Areas Through an Aquarium Exhibit: A Multi-phase Case Study from South Africa

“…Interestingly, visitors in this study often expressed surprise that a coastal area that they had visited was a MPA. There is currently limited interpretation, or facilitated experiences, to support tourists’ learning in most South African protected areas (Van der Merwe et al, 2020) and recent research in the Aliwal Shoal MPA in South Africa highlighted an urgent need for interpretive signage to communicate with people visiting the MPA (Francolini et al, 2023). This signage should, at the very minimum, highlight the fact that the area is a MPA.…”

“…This has implications for communication about MPAs in general, and particularly amongst stakeholders such as tourists. Visitors to protected areas in South Africa consider learning to be an important motivation and it has been suggested that such protected areas should educate tourists through information boards, talks, videos, and displays (Kruger & Saayman, 2010; Van der Merwe et al, 2020). As management plans for MPAs are developed and implemented, it is recommended that these include a focus on effective communication.…”