The purpose of this study is to obtain more effective visitors dispersion method and admission fee plan applicable to crowded tourist destinations through the empirical analysis of the structural relationship of attitude difference between dispersion method and coping behavior for the reduction of perceived crowding, according to the type of wellness tourists.
Regression analysis, multiple regression analysis, one-way ANOVA analysis and two-way ANOVA analysis were performed by the SPSS 18.0 statistical package for the verification of hypothesis (research model) as for the empirical analysis method. In addition, frequency analysis was performed for demographic characteristics.
As for the empirical analysis results, first, there was a difference between the types of wellness tourists in perceived crowding; interference level of wellness experience; action recognition of unhealthy behaviors of others; and willingness to pay a surcharge to reduce visit demand. The results may reflect the desire to enjoy more relaxed and leisurely sightseeing and experience as the value associated with their lives depending on the degree of importance of tourists wellness.
Second, for the importance of wellness behavior types, independent variables-social factors, psychological factors, and physical factors-were used to evaluate the effect on the properties of Slow City-slowness, natural ecology and cultural traditions. The Slow City properties, slowness and natural ecology show impacts in all the social, psychological, and physical factors, but the property of traditional culture showed significant effect only in psychological factors and physical factors.
Third, the degree of impact of social, psychological, and physical factors appeared slightly different depending on items for impact relationship of perceived crowding, degree of interference, action recognition of unhealthy behaviors of others, and willingness to pay a surcharge, according to the degree of importance of wellness.
Fourth, differences were observed in preference between visitors dispersion method (first-come, first-served basis, reservation, lottery method) and entrance fee plan (temporal, spatial differences), to meet the wellness experience. In terms of preference for the dispersion method, the most preferred method was the advance reservation through the Internet or telephone, whereas the least preferred was lottery method. In addition, for admission fee plan, as seen in previous studies, it was confirmed again that the most effective method suggested was the pricing policy among dispersion method proposed against the excessive demand.
Fifth, regarding the degree of perception by the wellness type, in the evaluation of impact on coping behavior (spatial, temporal, self-rationalization, change of destination to visit, efforts for maintenance/overcoming including ease of congestion), 2 factors of perceived crowding and the degree of interference had affects on the coping behavior for maintaining/overcoming spatial, temporal and ease congestion, while 3 factors of perceived crowding, action recognition of unhealthy behaviors of others, and willingness to pay a surcharge affected the coping behavior of self-rationalization. Perceived crowding factor and action recognition of unhealthy behaviors of others were influential to the coping behavior of change of destination to visit.
Sixth, there was differences in congestion-coping behaviors (spatial, temporal, self-rationalization, change of destination to visit, efforts for maintenance/overcoming including ease of congestion) depending on the degree (high, medium, low) of the recognition of perceived crowding.
These results are in line with the precedent studies which claimed that the visitors who witnessed excessive congestion or experienced unwanted contacts with many people had tendency to avoid congested places spatially and temporally; and they had different level of desire to go back to the state of balance through coping behaviors like site departure depending on the degree of perceived crowding, a psychological state of imbalance as they perceive too many visitors.
Academically and in terms of practical use, the results of this study have the following implications.
In the academic side, this study confirmed the structure relationship between the dispersion method, coping behavior and preferred fee plan to reduce perceived crowding according to the type of wellness tourists; thus will make an opportunity to recognize the importance again of continually expanding wellness tourism in the leisure and tourism sector; and will set off the continued interest of researchers and follow-up studies in terms of leisure and tourism reflecting the quality of life.
In the practical aspects, the results of this study will make the tourist facilities-operating principals (providers) to recognize the tourism purposes and pursuit direction of wellness tourists correctly; and to keep in their mind that more affective design of tourist congestion avoidance and preferred fee plan for the satisfaction of tourists is the key to ensure the expanding continuous inflow of visitors and success of business; and will be the starting point of more effectively management of visitors within the adequate capacity range of limited resources.