The structure of demand by Tucson households for rural water-based outdoor recreation

Abstract

This study represents an attempt to meaningfully ascertain and describe the pertinent relationship between activities, area visitation, and socioeconomic factors as they pertain to non-urban, water-based outdoor recreation demand by Tucson households. The objective was to conceptualize these relationships into a framework amenable to the subsequent application of demand theory. In order to accomplish this goal, the basic approach was to view the population as one of sets and subsets. Permanent residents of Tucson were viewed as either recreators or nonrecreators. Further, they were differentiated in terms of whether they were urban or non-urban recreators as well as whether they were land or water-based outdoor recreators. The focal subset was that of non-urban, water-based outdoor recreators. Subsequently, this subset itself was viewed as being composed of further subsets of differing area and activity patterns. By describing the socioeconomic characteristics and recreational activities of the non-urban, water-based recreator subsets and the areas associated with their visits and activities, the outcome has been description of the water-based outdoor recreation market in Tucson and of participants in that market.