The Role of On-Site Experience on Landscape Preferences. A Case Study at Doٌana National Park (Spain)

Analysis of landscape preferences of visitors to protected areas is considered a useful tool in designing environmental education programmes. This paper studies the landscape preferences of visitors to the Doٌana National Park, one of the most internationally well-known national parks in Spain. Despite the parkʹs popularity, its landscapes do not correspond to what a significant part of the population would consider as spectacular or beautiful landscapes. An analysis of several individual visitor characteristics reveals a positive relationship between on-site experiences and the degree of preference for Doٌanaʹs landscapes (plains, dunes, marshes) over the more commonly preferred mountain landscapes. The results of this study suggest the importance of providing more opportunities for visitors to interact with the parkʹs peculiar and unique features, given that this interaction has positive effects on their attitudes towards its landscape.