Understanding generational differences in digital skills and recreational behaviour for effective visitor management in forest destinations
Abstract Digitalisation is reshaping how people interact with natural environments, particularly in the context of outdoor recreation. This study examines generational differences in digital skills and recreational behaviour and their implications for visitor management in urban forests. Based on an...
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| Format: | Article |
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Nature Portfolio
2025-05-01
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| Series: | Scientific Reports |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-02036-5 |
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| author | Fruzsina Stefán Mariusz Ciesielski Andreas Weber Kamil Choromański Dariusz Gotlib Karolina Taczanowska |
| author_facet | Fruzsina Stefán Mariusz Ciesielski Andreas Weber Kamil Choromański Dariusz Gotlib Karolina Taczanowska |
| author_sort | Fruzsina Stefán |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Digitalisation is reshaping how people interact with natural environments, particularly in the context of outdoor recreation. This study examines generational differences in digital skills and recreational behaviour and their implications for visitor management in urban forests. Based on an online panel survey conducted in the Vienna metropolitan area (n = 3,121), we identified four distinct visitor profiles using Self-Organizing Maps: All-rounders (49.6%), Traditional Planners and Navigators (17.2%), Tech-Savvy Navigators (14.5%), and Balanced Adapters (18.7%). These clusters differ in both digital competence and used information sources used for planning and navigating forest visits. Significant relationships were found between generational groups and visitor profiles: older adults (Baby Boomers, Traditionalists) were featured more prominently among Traditional Planners, while younger generations (Generation Z, Millennials) were more prevalent in the Tech-Savvy group. Balanced Adapters included older individuals transitioning towards digital tool use. Further, our findings highlight that younger users reported less frequent forest visits than older cohorts. These insights underscore the need for inclusive, hybrid infrastructure and communication strategies that address varying recreational needs, including trip planning and navigation behaviours. This study contributes to forest management and nearby recreation planning by revealing a generational gap in technology use in digitally evolving societies. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-4f8b1a7ed1bd4713be926dc8f96b7bfb |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-05-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
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| series | Scientific Reports |
| spelling | doaj-art-4f8b1a7ed1bd4713be926dc8f96b7bfb2025-08-20T03:48:15ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-05-0115112110.1038/s41598-025-02036-5Understanding generational differences in digital skills and recreational behaviour for effective visitor management in forest destinationsFruzsina Stefán0Mariusz Ciesielski1Andreas Weber2Kamil Choromański3Dariusz Gotlib4Karolina Taczanowska5Institute of Landscape Development, Recreation and Conservation Planning / Department of Landscape, Water and Infrastructure, BOKU UniversityDepartment of Geomatics, Forest Research InstituteLondon Centre for Nanotechnology, University College LondonFaculty of Geodesy and Cartography, Warsaw University of TechnologyFaculty of Geodesy and Cartography, Warsaw University of TechnologyInstitute of Landscape Development, Recreation and Conservation Planning / Department of Landscape, Water and Infrastructure, BOKU UniversityAbstract Digitalisation is reshaping how people interact with natural environments, particularly in the context of outdoor recreation. This study examines generational differences in digital skills and recreational behaviour and their implications for visitor management in urban forests. Based on an online panel survey conducted in the Vienna metropolitan area (n = 3,121), we identified four distinct visitor profiles using Self-Organizing Maps: All-rounders (49.6%), Traditional Planners and Navigators (17.2%), Tech-Savvy Navigators (14.5%), and Balanced Adapters (18.7%). These clusters differ in both digital competence and used information sources used for planning and navigating forest visits. Significant relationships were found between generational groups and visitor profiles: older adults (Baby Boomers, Traditionalists) were featured more prominently among Traditional Planners, while younger generations (Generation Z, Millennials) were more prevalent in the Tech-Savvy group. Balanced Adapters included older individuals transitioning towards digital tool use. Further, our findings highlight that younger users reported less frequent forest visits than older cohorts. These insights underscore the need for inclusive, hybrid infrastructure and communication strategies that address varying recreational needs, including trip planning and navigation behaviours. This study contributes to forest management and nearby recreation planning by revealing a generational gap in technology use in digitally evolving societies.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-02036-5DigitalisationOutdoor recreationVisitor managementForestDigital societySelf-organizing maps (SOMs) |
| spellingShingle | Fruzsina Stefán Mariusz Ciesielski Andreas Weber Kamil Choromański Dariusz Gotlib Karolina Taczanowska Understanding generational differences in digital skills and recreational behaviour for effective visitor management in forest destinations Scientific Reports Digitalisation Outdoor recreation Visitor management Forest Digital society Self-organizing maps (SOMs) |
| title | Understanding generational differences in digital skills and recreational behaviour for effective visitor management in forest destinations |
| title_full | Understanding generational differences in digital skills and recreational behaviour for effective visitor management in forest destinations |
| title_fullStr | Understanding generational differences in digital skills and recreational behaviour for effective visitor management in forest destinations |
| title_full_unstemmed | Understanding generational differences in digital skills and recreational behaviour for effective visitor management in forest destinations |
| title_short | Understanding generational differences in digital skills and recreational behaviour for effective visitor management in forest destinations |
| title_sort | understanding generational differences in digital skills and recreational behaviour for effective visitor management in forest destinations |
| topic | Digitalisation Outdoor recreation Visitor management Forest Digital society Self-organizing maps (SOMs) |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-02036-5 |
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