{"id":46742,"date":"2024-08-13T15:13:23","date_gmt":"2024-08-13T22:13:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/engage.gov.bc.ca\/bcparksblog\/?p=46742"},"modified":"2024-08-13T15:13:23","modified_gmt":"2024-08-13T22:13:23","slug":"who-visits-b-c-s-marine-parks-why-do-they-go-and-what-do-they-experience","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/engage.gov.bc.ca\/bcparksblog\/2024\/08\/13\/who-visits-b-c-s-marine-parks-why-do-they-go-and-what-do-they-experience\/","title":{"rendered":"Who visits B.C.\u2019s marine parks, why do they go, and what do they experience?\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Who visits B.C.\u2019s marine parks, why do they go, and what do they experience?\u00a0<\/h1>\n
BC Parks News<\/a>, <\/span>Design Research<\/a><\/div>\n\n\n
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Over the past three years, BC Parks established a <\/em>program of ongoing design research<\/em><\/a> that provides direct access to feedback from the people who use our services. We regularly share what we learn from our research sessions on this blog.<\/em> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In April 2024, we conducted one-on-one research interviews with people who volunteered to take part in design research with BC Parks. In this post, we share what we learned about marine park visitors and what motivates them to get out on the water. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Our goals were to: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dig deeply into people\u2019s motivations, emotions, and guiding principles as they relate to marine activities <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Learn how marine park visitors find places to go, and how they plan their trips <\/p>\n\n\n\n

During these interviews we asked participants to tell us about their experiences at marine parks, including: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

How they determine where to go and where to spend the night <\/p>\n\n\n\n

How fees impact their decisions on where to overnight <\/p>\n\n\n\n

How they feel about crowded marine parks <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What key amenities they look for and how they use them <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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This is a high-level summary of our research findings from our marine park visitor research. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The feeling of awe created by marine parks is what makes people want to visit them (again and again) <\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe are very lucky that we have these places to represent the B.C. coast. They are special and we must ensure they keep that way.\u201d \u2013 Research participant <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Research participants said that B.C. has some of the best boating waters in the world and local marine park users assume a sense of responsibility to preserve their natural beauty.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

People are eager to support BC Parks marine parks through reasonable fees<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMaybe it\u2019s time to have these things pay for themselves.\u201d \u2013 Research participant <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Most research participants said that BC Parks\u2019 marine park fees do not impact their decision on where to spend the night or whether to use a mooring buoy or not, and that they don’t expect to use marine parks for free. Research participants also mentioned they would like to better understand how their park fees are being used.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Owning a large boat has significant recurring costs for things like upkeep, storage, and marina fees. Research participants said that the fee for a BC Parks\u2019 mooring buoy compared to the amount of money they spend on their boat each year is insignificant. Some were also surprised at how inexpensive BC Parks\u2019 mooring buoys are especially when compared to private marina fees. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Research participants said they prefer to pay BC Parks for a mooring buoy rather than pay for a privately owned one, so that they know the money is going to maintaining and improving the parks and their amenities. They tend to also be less trusting of private mooring buoys, worrying that they are not well maintained.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Crowds do not deter people from visiting popular parks<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Most research participants acknowledge that certain marine parks can be crowded, however it does not affect the enjoyment of their stay. The following are some of the different ways people we spoke with like to enjoy marine parks. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some people enjoy being remote and far away from others  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI don’t like the noise and disruption of powerboaters. It’s no better than frontcountry camping with the generators and RVs.\u201d \u2013 Research participant <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThere is a joy in getting out of the boat in a secluded anchorage with no one else around. There is wildlife \u2013\u202fwhales and seals. I think it must have been like this for the first explorers.\u201d \u2013 Research participant <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some people we spoke with visit marine parks to be immersed in nature, with no one else around, and use several strategies to avoid crowds:  <\/p>\n\n\n\n