Visitor Typologies and Spatially Differentiated Management in Highly Visited Coastal Protected Landscapes

Coastal protected landscapes are increasingly becoming subject to high and diverse recreational use, creating complex challenges for balancing visitors’ experience with ecological protection. While visitor segmentation has been widely applied in tourism research, its integration with spatially differentiated management in frequently used natural areas remains limited. This study addresses this gap by examining visitor heterogeneity in a highly visited coastal protected landscape in Norway. Using survey data combined with behavioral indicators, an exploratory factor analysis identifies three core motivational dimensions: nature experience and environmental learning, social interaction and activity, and family-oriented recreation. Building on these dimensions, a cluster analysis reveals four distinct visitor typologies ranging from low-involvement to highly engaged users. The results demonstrate that visitor segments are primarily differentiated by psychographic characteristics, while socio-demographic and behavioral variables provide limited explanatory power. Importantly, the identified typologies correspond to distinct patterns of use and experiential expectations, offering a robust basis for differentiated management strategies. The findings highlight the need to move beyond uniform management approaches towards segment-specific interventions, particularly in landscapes dominated by experienced, locally based users. By linking motivational structures to spatial and managerial implications, this study contributes to advancing visitor research and provides practical insights for managing recreational pressure in protected coastal environments.