Identifying Primary Drivers of Participants from Various Socioeconomic Backgrounds to Choose National Forest Lands in the Southeastern Region of the US as a Travel Destination for Recreation

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

Many thanks for the opportunity to review this manuscript that deals with an interesting topic, the main drivers for choosing national forests for recreational purposes/activities.

In doing so, the Authors analyze visitors’ choices and behaviors towards recreational and outdoors activities in 14 national forests in Southeastern USA.

 

I think that this study gives some interesting outcomes, but I kindly ask Authors to consider my following suggestions and recommendations.

 

Literature review

There is not a devoted section for the Literature review and the introduction plays this role. In my opinion, the Authors can consider to explicitly insert a “Literature review” part.

In doing so, and considering the main goal of this study (page 3, lines 114-117), I would add more literature on the pull and push factors in tourism motivations.

 

Methods

As far as I have understood, the Authors did not prepare and distribute the questionnaire (a “4-page National Visitor Use Survey” was used). Nevertheless, more information on the questions may be useful to present the methodology, especially about the “16 satisfaction and 14 satisfaction questions elements”

Then, I would limit this part to present only the methodology that the Authors have adopted. Consequently, I would consider moving Table 2 in the results.

 

Conclusions

Please consider moving the limitations in the conclusion part and enriching them by adding the potential new avenues of research.

 

Keywords

Personally, I would delete “tourists” and “model”

 

Good luck!

Author Response

I greatly appreciate your time and effort in reviewing this manuscript. 
Please see attached document where your suggestions are addressed. 

Author Response File: Author Response.docx

Reviewer 2 Report

Dear authors,

Thank you for the opportunity to read this paper. I have some comments

1. in the abstract section, you mention that the present research used data from the period 2010-2014, are these data still relevant?

2. Introduction. It is well done ad describes the current state of research. Recommendations are only about improving the definition of the research scope

3. I recommend expanding the conclusions section.

Best of luck with your paper and be safe!

Author Response

I greatly appreciate your time and effort in reviewing this manuscript. 
Regarding your question about the relevancy of data used in the research, This is the most current data available. The USDA collects such data in five years increments. The following data collection by the agency was due to start in 2019. however, coved 19 has deterred such effort. 

Author Response File: Author Response.docx

Reviewer 3 Report

Forests in most countries of the world, apart from many important natural functions, are an attractive place for recreation. This recreational function of forests is taking on an increasingly important role in today's society, tired of the covid-19 pandemic.

The authors presented the results of research conducted among visitors to the State Forests in the Southeast Region of the USA. The data was collected by forestry services for over 150,000 visitors. The main factors that motivated to visit forests were the need for rest and relaxation. Various statistical models and statistical analyzes were used in the study.

I have a comment on Hypothesis 1, this is not how you formulate a hypothesis, it is rather a research question. A hypothesis should be formulated indicating the possible motivating factors to visit the forest. Additional hypotheses should also be formulated, e.g. regarding the influence of demographic parameters of respondents on motivating factors.

There is no information as to whether the authors participated in research conducted by forest services or only used ready-made data sets. The quality of the presented research reduces the time it takes to conduct it, it was carried out 10-8 years ago. Meanwhile, in my opinion, the structure of the motives was changed by the coronavirus pandemic. In the years 2020 and 2022, forests performed very important health functions in the USA and in other countries, escaping from closure, stress and worries about life and health. Many studies have already been prepared on this subject, several magazines have devoted special issues to the problems of the impact of the pandemic on tourism and recreation.

The Literature section must be expanded.

In the Discussion section, reference should be made to more recent research on the motives of recreational activities in forests

Author Response

I greatly appreciate your time and effort in reviewing this manuscript. 
Please see attached correction! 

Author Response File: Author Response.docx