Visitors’ Perceived Crowding, Visual Attention, and Covid Infection Risks in National Parks

A Social Density Optimization Approach

Bibliographic Data

ID6441349
AuthorsPeizhe Li (0000-0003-3102-2897, North Carolina State University), Xiao (0009-0006-3429-1506), Xiao Xiao (0000-0002-3875-8496, Arizona State University), Hongsong Peng (0000-0002-4520-7078, Nanjing University of Finance and Economics, corresponding author)
Year2023
Volume47
Issue8
Pages1-23
Publication date2023-10-18
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueLeisure Sciences (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0149-0400 • E-ISSN: 1521-0588
PublisherTaylor & Francis (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/01490400.2023.2267543
OpenAlexW4387742934
LanguageEN
Citations received1
References cited43

The COVID-19 pandemic has intensified the complexity of national park visitors' perceived crowding and visual attention. Decision support frameworks are needed to monitor, quantify, and forecast visitors' visual attention, perceived risks, and perceived crowding by different social density conditions before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study forecasts temporal patterns of visitors' perceived crowding by varying perceived risk levels and visual attention in a national park. A mixed-methodology was developed using longitudinal monitoring, visitor surveys (n = 444), and eye-tracking experiments (n = 42). Results suggest that visitors' perceived crowding and visual attention fluctuate dramatically by varying perceived risk levels. Moreover, Kernel Density analysis and mediation analysis indicate that perceived crowding is associated with inadequate visual attention to natural landscapes, and visual attention is a mediator between perceived risk and perceived crowding. Results developed a real-time analytical approach for visual attention and perceived crowding guided by the dual-process theory and attention restoration theory.Keywords: Eye-trackingperceived crowdingperceived risksocial carrying capacitysocial densityvisual attention Disclosure statementNo potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).Additional informationFundingThis study is supported by the Institute of Social Science Research (ISSR) at Arizona State University

Cognitive psychology · Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19 · Crowding · Crowding out · Economics · Eye tracking · Pandemic · Perception · Risk perception · Visitor pattern · Computer Science · Diverse Aspects of Tourism Research · Medicine · Olfactory and Sensory Function Studies · Psychology · Social Psychology · Urban Green Space and Health

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