@article{guo_guo_lin_lin_leung_chen_2019, title={Managing congestion at visitor hotspots using park-level use level data: Case study of a Chinese World Heritage Site}, volume={14}, ISSN={["1932-6203"]}, url={http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?eid=2-s2.0-85070103557&partnerID=MN8TOARS}, DOI={10.1371/journal.pone.0215266}, abstractNote={Tourist congestion at hot spots has been a major management concern for UNESCO World Heritage Sites and other iconic protected areas. A growing number of heritage sites employ technologies, such as cameras and electronic ticket-checking systems, to monitor user levels, but data collected by these monitoring technologies are often under-utilize. In this study, we illustrated how to integrate data from hot spots by camera-captured monitoring and entrance counts to manage use levels at a World Heritage Site in southeastern China. 6,930 photos of a congestion hotspot (scenic outlook on a trail) were collected within the park at a 10-minute interval over 105 days from January to November 2017. The entrance counts were used to predict daily average and maximum use level at the hotspot Average use level at the congestion hotspot did not exceed the use limit mandated by the Chinese park administration agency. However, from 9:20 am to 12:00 pm, the use level at hotspots exceeded visitor preferred use level. Visitor use level was significantly higher at the hotspot during a major Chinese “golden week” holiday. The daily entrance counts significantly predicted the average and maximum use level at the hotspot. Based on our findings, we recommend that the number of visitors entering the gate on each day should be less than 28,764 for the hotspots to meet use level mandates, while less than 6,245 to meet visitor preference. The gap manifested the complexity in visitor capacity management at high-use World Heritage Sites and other protected areas and calls for innovative monitoring and management strategies.}, number={7}, journal={PLOS ONE}, author={Guo, Jin-Hui and Guo, Tian and Lin, Kai-Miao and Lin, Dan-Dan and Leung, Yu-Fai and Chen, Qiu-Hua}, year={2019}, month={Jul} }
 @article{leung_smith_seekamp_conlon_mayer_guo_walden-schreiner_adams_keane_2016, title={The Effects of 2D and 3D Imagery and an Educational Message on Perceptions of Trail Impacts}, volume={36}, ISSN={0885-8608}, url={http://dx.doi.org/10.3375/043.036.0115}, DOI={10.3375/043.036.0115}, abstractNote={ABSTRACT: The method of experiencing recreational resources, whether it be through on-site participation in an activity or viewing an image of the resource, might directly affect an individual's preference for, and evaluation of, those resources. In this research note, we explore the effect of three-dimensional (3D) displays, which are now widely available to consumer markets, on an individual's perceptions of degraded trail conditions. We also explore the hypothesis that viewing an educational message about responsible hiking behavior influences perceptions of trail conditions. The effects of imagery type and the educational message were tested through experimentally varying types of trail impacts (muddiness and erosion) and impact severity (minimal and severe) across 20 images presented to individuals in a controlled laboratory setting on a 60-inch, 3D capable LCD monitor. Results indicate neither the use of 3D imagery nor the presence of an educational message had a significant main effect on perceptions of trail degradation, but significant two-way interaction effects between image type and impact type on perceptions were identified. Perceptions of trail impacts were significantly different across impact type and severity level. These findings suggest the utility of 3D imagery in perception studies might be restricted to certain impact types (e.g., erosion); the findings also raise concerns over the efficacy of educational materials.}, number={1}, journal={Natural Areas Journal}, publisher={Natural Areas Journal}, author={Leung, Y.-F. and Smith, J.W. and Seekamp, E. and Conlon, K. and Mayer, J. and Guo, T. and Walden-Schreiner, C. and Adams, B. and Keane, R.}, year={2016}, month={Jan}, pages={88–92} }
 @article{guo_smith_leung_seekamp_moore_2015, title={Determinants of Responsible Hiking Behavior: Results from a Stated Choice Experiment}, volume={56}, ISSN={0364-152X 1432-1009}, url={http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00267-015-0513-1}, DOI={10.1007/s00267-015-0513-1}, abstractNote={This research examined the determinants of responsible hiking behavior through a lab-based experiment in which two managerial factors believed to influence individuals' behavior (the presentation of an educational message and the method of displaying degraded trail conditions) were varied across four experimental treatments in a 2 × 2 between subjects factorial design. The effect of trail degradation type (muddiness and erosion) and severity (moderate or severe) of trail degradation were also examined within each of the 4 treatment groups. Analyses revealed neither the educational message nor the method of displaying the image had a consistent and expected impact on individuals' behavioral intentions. In fact, participants who viewed the educational message were more likely to indicate they would hike off the trail. The effects of both trail degradation type and severity were consistent and significant with muddiness and more severe levels of degradation having a greater influence on individuals' intent to hike on the edge of or off the trail. The analyses also revealed both gender and hiking frequency had significant effects on behavioral intentions. Female participants were more likely to indicate they would turn around than males when they encountered degraded trail sections. Women were also less likely to indicate they would hike off the trail than men. Collectively, these findings highlight a variety of ways recreation resource managers can more efficiently inform recreationists about the impacts of off-trail hiking and prioritize trail management needs.}, number={3}, journal={Environmental Management}, publisher={Springer Science and Business Media LLC}, author={Guo, Tian and Smith, Jordan W. and Leung, Yu-Fai and Seekamp, Erin and Moore, Roger L.}, year={2015}, month={Apr}, pages={765–776} }