Evaluating the effectiveness of guided versus non-guided interpretation in the Kruger National Park, South Africa
Koedoe - African Protected Area Conservation and Science
| Field | Value | |
| Title | Evaluating the effectiveness of guided versus non-guided interpretation in the Kruger National Park, South Africa | |
| Creator | Roberts, Mark Mearns, Kevin Edwards, Victoria | |
| Description | In the face of growing pressure placed on the natural environment, the study on which this article is based considered the effectiveness of interpretive provision in mitigating the harmful effects of tourism on the environment. The aim of this research was to determine whether guided or non-guided interpretation is most effective in reaching the stated goals of interpretation. The four key goals of interpretation, namely visitor satisfaction, knowledge gain, attitude change and modification of behaviour intent, were used in the assessment of the relative effectiveness of guided and non-guided interpretation in the Kruger National Park, South Africa. Through comparing responses to questionnaires from post-visit samples and observing both guided and non-guided interpretation, the research found that guided interpretation was only marginally more effective in reaching the four key goals of interpretation than the non-guided interpretive media. Guided interpretation was found to be more effective in terms of visitor satisfaction, whilst guided and non-guided interpretation had only marginal differences in effectiveness in relation to knowledge gain, attitude change and intent to modify behaviour.Conservation implications: The necessity of implementing an appropriate interpretation programme within protected areas cannot be overemphasised. The interpretation programme should be designed to include elements of both guided and non-guided interpretation in order to achieve a predetermined goal. The effectiveness of the programme should be evaluated periodically and amended where appropriate. | |
| Publisher | AOSIS Publishing | |
| Date | 2014-06-24 | |
| Identifier | 10.4102/koedoe.v56i2.1160 | |
| Source | Koedoe; Vol 56, No 2 (2014); 8 pages 2071-0771 0075-6458 | |
| Language | eng | |
| Relation |
The following web links (URLs) may trigger a file download or direct you to an alternative webpage to gain access to a publication file format of the published article:
https://koedoe.co.za/index.php/koedoe/article/view/1160/1617
https://koedoe.co.za/index.php/koedoe/article/view/1160/1618
https://koedoe.co.za/index.php/koedoe/article/view/1160/1619
https://koedoe.co.za/index.php/koedoe/article/view/1160/1616
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