The Camp not Taken: Analysis of Preferences and Barriers Among Frequent, Occasional and Noncampers

Camping is a recreational activity that links people with their physical surroundings and the environment. Hence, efforts in promoting camping activities may help promote sustainable and accessible recreation and tourism. This research focuses on preferences and barriers for camping in Israel as perceived by frequent, occasional, and noncampers. The findings of an online study with 665 respondents show that focusing only on current campers may create self-selection bias and overlook the barriers that prevent people from camping. While noncampers shared some barriers with campers, they also experienced more barriers regarding information gaps (location of campsites) and camping equipment. All participants had a similar preference for solitude and lack of crowding. These findings create a dilemma for camping managers and marketing campaigns: to reduce the barriers that prevent low frequency campers and noncampers from camping or to keep the situation as is and minimize overcrowding in campsites.