An Analysis of Visitor Behaviors and Satisfaction in Urban Forests: Focused on Major Forests in Incheon
Article information
Abstract
Background and objective
Urban forests have increasingly integrated recreational and welfare facilities to enhance the quality of life for urban residents. This study explores the behaviors, perceptions, and satisfaction of visitors to major forests in Incheon Metropolitan City, aiming to offer guidelines for the improvement of recreational facilities within these urban forests. By understanding visitor needs and preferences, the study seeks to contribute to the development of more user-friendly and sustainable forest environments that cater to the well-being of city dwellers.
Methods
The study focused on five major forests in Incheon: Munhaksan Mountain, Cheongnyangsan Mountain, Manwolsan Mountain, Wonjeoksan Mountain, and Gyeyangsan Mountain. Data were collected through field surveys and analyzed using cross-tabulation, one-way ANOVA, and regression analysis. Based on the results, targeted recommendations were made for the enhancement of recreational facilities in each forest.
Results
For Munhaksan Mountain, expanding recreational spaces and offering trail-specific programs are key priorities, along with developing a maintenance plan to improve visitor satisfaction. In Cheongnyangsan Mountain, expanding popular facilities like barefoot walking paths and optimizing the forest structure for air purification and noise reduction are needed. Manwolsan Mountain requires a more efficient maintenance system, focusing on security, amenities, and visitor services to address the issue of low satisfaction. Wonjeoksan Mountain should enhance trail safety with more CCTVs and improve amenities such as restrooms and trash disposal. Gyeyangsan Mountain needs more rest areas and amenities, addressing congestion in the northwest while preserving natural scenery and providing an information platform for younger visitors.
Conclusion
This study contributes to optimizing the use of urban forests and improving the quality of life for residents by proposing a strategic framework for the development of recreational welfare in forests. The findings are expected to serve as a valuable resource for local governments in formulating rational forest management and usage plans.
Introduction
South Korea is a country where 90.7% of the total population lives in cities, and in particular, 97.1% of the population resides in the Seoul Metropolitan Area such as Seoul, Gyeonggi, and Incheon, making it one of the most densely populated regions of the world. Overcrowding causes various problems regarding housing, transportation, and environment, and solutions for these problems are proposed continuously. Among these, urban forests are receiving attention as a crucial element for improving the urban environment and the quality of life for residents. Urban forests have diverse values and functions, such as addressing climate-related issues such as extreme heat and urban heat islands, preventing natural disasters, and conserving ecosystems. Recently, the recreational and welfare functions of urban forests have been actively applied, such as healing, education, and rest areas to improve the quality of life (Oleyar et al., 2008; O’Brien et al., 2022; Nam et al., 2022). Urban forests have high accessibility and public availability, allowing citizens to improve their quality of life in terms of health, social well-being, the environment, education, leisure, opportunities, and economy through light physical activities like walking within the forests without the burden of travel time (Kang et al., 2022). In particular, the growing national interest in hiking has led to an increase in the use of recreational activities in forests.
According to the Korea Forest Service’s 2021 survey on forest recreation and welfare activities, 46.7% of the population have experienced everyday forest recreation and welfare activities for the purposes of health improvement, recreation, and rest, showing a high utilization rate. Among those who experienced forest recreation and welfare activities, 94.7% perceived that these activities have a positive impact on their lives (Korea Forest Service, 2022). Forest recreation and welfare activities refer to all activities such as rest, hobbies, culture, and arts conducted in facilities installed within forests (Korea Forest Service, 2021). Recently, to meet such demands for forest recreation and welfare, the Korea Forest Service is planning to significantly expand forest recreation facilities that are easily accessible within the living spheres, such as healing forests, forest trails, and forest sports facilities in urban forests through 10 key tasks for forest welfare services tailored to each stage of life (Korea Forest Service, 2023; 2023 October 19). In accordance with the Korea Forest Service’s higher-level plans, local governments must actively explore new spaces that can be created within urban forests under jurisdiction and formulate reasonable and efficient land use plans to create and expand forest recreation facilities. They are expected to establish reasonable and efficient land-use plans (Korea Rural Economic Institute, 2014; Park and Jo, 2001). During the process of establishing forest recreation facilities and land use plans, it is crucial for local governments to identify the patterns and demands of forest leisure activities, such as behaviors, satisfaction, and preferred management methods among of local residents and forest visitors (Korea Rural Economic Institute, 2014; Jang et al., 2020).
In the field of forest recreation, satisfaction can be seen as an attitude toward overall experience (Kim et al., 2023). Visitor experiences and satisfaction serve as key indicators for the management and development of urban forests, through which it is possible to systematically formulate plans for the improvement and management of these forests. Moreover, improving facilities based on visitor needs not only increases user convenience but also contributes to the efficient use of forest spaces and environmental protection (Cole, 1990). A study by Yao et al. (2024) revealed that the recreational environment of urban forests has a significant effect on visitors’ intentions to revisit. Higher satisfaction of visitors in urban forests leads to more positive behavioral intentions, which plays a crucial role in the sustainability and long-term development of urban forests. Thus, systematically investigating and analyzing the behaviors and satisfaction of visitors in urban forests is an important first step toward the improvement of these forests. In other words, analyzing visitor characteristics and needs and providing forest recreation facilities appropriately can contribute to maximizing visitor satisfaction with recreational experiences (Lounsbury and Polik, 1992; Farias et al., 2005).
Accordingly, this study analyzed visitor behavior and satisfaction with forest recreation facilities in order to establish improvement directions for major forests in Incheon Metropolitan City, one of South Korea’s upper-level local autonomies. Based on the analysis results, we aim to establish distinctive improvement measures for each forest. This can be used as foundational data for local governments, including Incheon Metropolitan City, to establish reasonable land use and management plans for forests in the future.
Research Methods
Study Areas
The study area for this research is Incheon Metropolitan City, a major port city located on the west coast of South Korea (37° 27′ 23″ N, 126° 42′ 19″ E, area: 106,521ha). Due to its proximity to Seoul, the capital city, Incheon serves as a crucial hub for the economy and culture of the Seoul Metropolitan Area. As of 2024, Incheon Metropolitan City has more than 3 million residents and is a global transport hub connected both domestically and internationally through Incheon International Airport and Incheon Port, and is a city that is rapidly developing, especially around its economic free zones such as Songdo, Cheongna, and Yeongjong. Moreover, Incheon has a rich natural environment, with a park and green space system formed around an S-shaped green axis running through the city center from north to south, making major forests serve as hubs so that forest recreation becomes a critical part of the city (Incheon Metropolitan City, 2012). In 2023, Incheon established the Second Plan for the Creation and Management of Urban Forests, etc. (2019–2028) in 2023, which includes plans to create recreational forests, green path connecting forests, and advanced management schemes, aiming to build a comprehensive urban forest recreation system and expand the culture of forest use. Therefore, this study selected five major forests that form the S-shaped green axis of Incheon Metropolitan City, such as Munhaksan Mountain, Cheongnyangsan Mountain, Manwolsan Mountain, Wonjeoksan Mountain, and Gyeyangsan Mountain, as the study sites. Table 1 shows the current status of the sites (Fig. 1).
Current status of study sites
A shows a regional map of the location of the Incheon Metropolitan City (red square). B shows a satellite map of the Incheon Metropolitan City. Photo 1 is a representative view of Mt. Munhaksan. Photo 2 is a representative view of Mt. Cheongnyangsan. Photo 3 is a representative view of Mt. Manwolsan. Photo 4 is a representative view of Mt. Wonjeoksan. Photo 5 is a representative view of Mt. Gyeyangsan.
Research Method
Composition of Survey Items
The survey items were developed after verifying validity and reliability through a literature review and a preliminary survey. The items already used in previous studies have successfully produced statistically significant results, so it can be considered that their validity and reliability are ensured (Babbie, 2020). Accordingly, this study used Google Scholar (https://scholar.google.co.kr) to search for keywords such as “forest usage behavior” and “satisfaction”. Papers and reports unrelated to the characteristics of the study sites, such as those on national parks, urban parks, and arboretums, were excluded. We then collected survey items that could serve as a basis for setting improvement directions for urban forests (Kim and Choi, 2012; Korea Forest Service, 2022; Koo et al., 2019; National Institute of Forest Science, 2019). After creating a preliminary questionnaire by restructuring the collected survey items, we conducted the preliminary survey for 2 days from October 30 to 31, 2023 on 25 graduate students majoring in forest recreation or landscape architecture who have experience using urban forests at least once in the past year. Through this preliminary survey, items that were redundant or potentially misleading were revised or deleted. Thus, a total of 14 survey items were used in this study. The survey questions investigating user characteristics (gender, age), user behavior (frequency of visit, companion, difficulty, congestion, visitation factors), satisfaction and dissatisfaction factors, and facility preferences and demands used nominal scales to analyze visitor behavior. Satisfaction with specific forest components, such as trees, facilities, and management conditions, was measured using a 5-point Likert scale.
Data Collection
The survey was conducted during the autumn foliage season with many visitors from November 11 (Sat) to November 12 (Sun), 2023 between 8 a.m. and noon at the main centers of the five forests using random sampling. A total of 250 questionnaires were distributed, of which 220 valid questionnaires (response rate: 88.0%) were used for the final analysis excluding incomplete responses considering the accuracy of analysis and missing values.
Analysis Method
The results from the survey were analyzed using SPSS Win. 26.0 (SPSS Inc., 2019). Frequency and cross-tabulation analyses were conducted to evaluate the usage behavior of visitors to the five forests. A one-way ANOVA was conducted to compare user satisfaction with detailed factors of components for each forest. Moreover, multiple regression analysis using the Enter method was conducted to analyze the forest components affecting the overall space use satisfaction for each forest.
Results and Discussions
Characteristics and Usage Behavior of Survey Respondents
The survey sample of visitors to the five forests consisted of 48 visitors to Munhaksan Mountain, 36 to Cheongnyangsan Mountain, 44 to Manwolsan Mountain, 43 to Wonjeoksan Mountain, and 49 to Gyeyangsan Mountain (Table 2). For demographic characteristics, the gender distribution was relatively balanced, with 49.8% male and 50.2% female respondents. Approximately 60% of visitors to Gyeyangsan Mountain, which contains numerous historical tourism facilities such as relics and cultural heritage sites, were in their 20s and 30s. In contrast, visitors in their 50s or above were mostly visiting Munhaksan Mountain, Cheongnyangsan Mountain, Manwolsan Mountain, and Wonjeoksan Mountain, which have relatively fewer tourism facilities. According to previous studies on forest recreation and welfare activities (Korea Forest Service, 2022), younger age groups tend to visit forests mainly for recreation and relaxation, whereas older age groups tend to visit for the purpose of improving health. These findings suggest that younger visitors mostly visit Gyeyangsan Mountain where there are more tourism elements.
Socio-demographic characteristics of visitors
As a result of conducting cross-tabulation analysis to examine the usage behavior of visitors to each forest (Table 3), there was statistical significance at the 0.05 significance level in most results except for selection factors, indicating significant differences in visitor behavior between the forests. Regarding frequency of visit, most visitors visited Munhaksan Mountain, Cheongnyangsan Mountain, Manwolsan Mountain, and Wonjeoksan Mountain 1–2 times a week (more than 40%), whereas visitors visited Gyeyangsan Mountain mostly 1–2 times a month (28.6%) or 1–2 times a year (30.6%). This may be because local residents mostly visit Munhaksan Mountain, Cheongnyangsan Mountain, Manwolsan Mountain, and Wonjeoksan Mountain, while many visitors from other regions also visit Gyeyangsan Mountain in addition to local residents (Kim and Lee, 2022). In terms of companions, most visitors across all five forests came with family (36.2%), with friends/partners (couple)/co-workers (35.3%), or alone (22.7%). Most respondents visited Munhaksan Mountain with family (51.1%) or friends/partners co-workers (40.0%), Cheongnyangsan Mountain alone (35.3%) or with family (38.2%), Manwolsan Mountain alone (40.9%), Wonjeoksan Mountain with family (43.9%), and Gyeyangsan Mountain with friends/partners (couple)/co-workers (67.4%).
Usage patterns of visitors using cross-tabulation analysis
The results of the cross-tabulation analysis on satisfaction and dissatisfaction factors related to forest leisure activities are shown in Table 4. The most highly rated factor for satisfaction in all forests was the convenience of movement on hiking trails and walking paths (33.8%). In addition, forest recreation facilities were the high satisfaction factor in Munhaksan Mountain (27.1%), Cheongnyangsan Mountain (37.1%), and Wonjeoksan Mountain (26.2%), while the scent of forest (22.7%) and natural scenery (20.5%) were in Manwolsan Mountain, and natural scenery (34.0%) in Gyeyangsan Mountain.
Cross-tabulation analysis of satisfaction/dissatisfaction factors for forest recreation activities
The results of the cross-tabulation analysis on forest difficulty, forest congestion, and forest selection factors are shown in Table 5. Regarding forest difficulty, responses indicating that the forests were easy were highest for Cheongnyangsan Mountain (61.1%) and Manwolsan Mountain (43.2%), which are mostly low-altitude and gentle-sloped areas (refer to Table 1). Responses indicating moderate difficulty were highest for Munhaksan Mountain (52.1%), Wonjeoksan Mountain (46.5%), and Gyeyangsan Mountain (51.0%). However, Gyeyangsan Mountain had more visitors who chose “very hard” for difficulty compared to other forests. This is likely because Gyeyangsan Mountain is the tallest of the forests studied, containing many steep sections (over 25° incline), which may have caused some visitors to experience physical strain while engaging in forest leisure activities. Regarding forest congestion, there were many responses indicating that all forests were moderate (44.1%) or relaxing (40.0%) for enjoying leisure. However, in Gyeyangsan Mountain, where various forest recreational facilities such as a healing forest and forest park are concentrated, responses indicating that it is congested (26.5%) was higher than other forests. As for the factors affecting the choice of the forest visited, there were no significant differences among the forests, and accessibility (79.4%) such as time, distance, and transportation turned out to be the most important factor for all forests. According to Kim (2009), accessibility is a particularly important factor for urban forests, more so than for national parks, provincial parks, or natural recreation forests. This study supports that finding, showing that most urban forest visitors prefer forests that are accessible by walking or are located near transportation facilities.
Cross-tabulation analysis of forest difficulty, congestion and visitation factors
Meanwhile, the results of the cross-tabulation analysis on dissatisfaction factors showed that insufficient features for each mountain path (28.9%) and lack of experiential programs (17.8%) were the high dissatisfaction factors in Munhaksan Mountain. One suggestion for addressing these issues could be to create a meditation forest using the existing pine tree groves near Munhak Urban Nature Park or a forest garden using water pools near the entrance to Sinseonbawi Spring.
In Cheongnyangsan Mountain, insufficient features for each mountain path (32.3%) were identified as the high dissatisfaction factor. To enhance the features for each path, it is necessary to create a forest garden that integrates the area around Byeongpungbawi Spring and link a barefoot walking path to the Incheon Dulle-gil Course 9 on the eastern slope of Cheongnyangsan Mountain. This would allow the introduction of various experiential programs such as barefoot walking, plant education in the forest garden, and forest management activities.
In Manwolsan Mountain, trail safety level (20.5%) and lack of forest recreation facilities (18.2%) were the highest dissatisfaction factors. Therefore, it is necessary to reassess the stability of the slopes along the hiking trails and plan the installation of rockfall prevention facilities, while prioritizing slope stability. Furthermore, there is a need to refurbish stairways and set up handrails for walking assistance, and establish a night-lighting plan for the hiking trails and walking paths leading to the peak. To make up for the lack of forest recreation facilities, it is necessary to set up viewpoints along the ridge near the summit and improve observation spaces.
In Wonjeoksan Mountain, trail safety level (20.9%) and other factors (20.9%) were high dissatisfaction factors. Other factors mainly refer to cases in which most respondents claimed there were no particular dissatisfaction factors. To improve trail safety level, it is necessary to expand the installation of CCTVs, install handrails along the forest trails (ridge paths) formed along the Wonjeoksan Mountain summit, and develop a drainage system maintenance plan.
In Gyeyangsan Mountain, lack of information on trails and level (36.4%) was the highest dissatisfaction factor. Since Gyeyangsan Mountain attracts many tourists from outside the region compared to other forests, it is necessary to establish signposts and signboards with enhanced visibility and representation within the forest to provide accurate information for visitors.
As a result of the cross-tabulation analysis on preferred and demanded facilities to be added in the future (Table 6), most visitors expressed preference for dulle-gil (trekking trails) (69.1%), forest trails (61.8%), and healing spaces (50.0%). In particular, Manwolsan Mountain and Gyeyangsan Mountain showed the highest demand for forest trails and dulle-gil (trekking trails) among all forests. Despite the fact that all five forests already have established forest trails and dulle-gil (trekking trails), visitor demand is still high because, referring to the results in Table 4, the main visitors to these forests are mid-life to older adults, for whom forest trails and dulle-gil (trekking trails) are easier to access and more convenient to use compared to other forest recreation facilities. When creating forest trails or dulle-gil (trekking trails) in Manwolsan Mountain and Gyeyangsan Mountain, it is necessary to introduce aromatic plants and species that are favorable for creating seasonal landscapes around the trails to differentiate them from existing facilities, thereby enhancing the understory vegetation, providing a sensory experience. Meanwhile, in Munhaksan Mountain, there was the highest preference for earthing trails (barefoot walking paths) (56.3%). Most visitors to Munhaksan Mountain preferred earthing trails (78.7%) for the barefoot walking paths. Thus, it is necessary to consider creating a earthing trails (barefoot walking path) along the Gomari-gil Trail, part of Incheon Dulle-gil Course 8.
Multiple response cross-tabulation analysis of favored facilities and demand facilities
As for facilities that must be added or installed within the forests, there was the highest demand for public restrooms (64.6%), followed by litter bins (3.3%) and sports facilities (29.2%), in Munhaksan Mountain. The most highly demanded facilities were public restrooms (69.4%), litter bins (58.3%), and benches (25.0%) in Cheongnyangsan Mountain, and public restrooms (50.0%), sports facilities (40.9%), and signposts (34.1%) in Manwolsan Mountain. Moreover, the most required facilities were public restrooms (67.4%), litter bins (32.6%), and benches (27.9%) in Wonjeoksan Mountain, and benches (46.9%), public restrooms (44.9%), and litter bins (42.9%) in Gyeyangsan Mountain. Thus, there is a need to establish and increase amenities such as public restrooms, litter bins, and benches as well as sports equipment, and it is important to ensure regular maintenance of existing facilities (Seok et al., 2024).
Comparison of Satisfaction with Detailed Factors of Components in Each Forest
To derive distinctive improvement measures considering the current status and characteristics of each forest, we compared satisfaction with detailed factors for the components of each forest such as the condition of trees and plants, use of facilities, and management status using one-way ANOVA.
The results of comparing satisfaction with detailed factors regarding the condition of trees and plants in the forests (Table 7) showed overall high satisfaction across all five forests, with no significant differences among the detailed factors. This is attributed to the even distribution of coniferous and broadleaf forests, which provide seasonal landscapes, and the high tree density in most of the forests, resulting in high greenness and green coverage. Meanwhile, Cheongnyangsan Mountain exhibited significantly higher satisfaction in the tree shade factor compared to Gyeyangsan Mountain. This may be because, unlike Cheongnyangsan Mountain where trees close to the hiking trails provide shade, some hiking trails including those on Gyeyang Mountain Fortress are not providing sufficient shade of trees for visitors (Kim and Lee, 2022). Thus, it is necessary to reinforce the shade by replanting representative native species such as katsura tree along the hiking trails of Gyeyangsan Mountain.
One-way ANOVA of satisfaction with detailed factors of tree and plant condition
The results of the one-way ANOVA regarding satisfaction with the detailed factors for use of facilities are presented in Table 8. Manwolsan Mountain showed lower satisfaction compared to other forests in factors such as sports facilities, drinking fountain/mineral spring, night lighting/CCTV, and signposts. Notably, satisfaction with night lighting/CCTV was lower than that in Munhaksan Mountain and Gyeyangsan Mountain. This is because there are various night sculptures installed at the summit of Munhaksan Mountain and numerous CCTVs at Gyeyangsan Mountain, whereas Manwolsan Mountain lacks these facilities. Moreover, satisfaction with signposts was also lower for Manwolsan Mountain compared to Gyeyangsan Mountain. This implies that it is necessary to improve and increase signposts in Manwolsan Mountain, considering the high demand for additional installation for signposts. Furthermore, Cheongnyangsan Mountain showed higher satisfaction with sports facilities and drinking fountain/mineral spring compared to Manwolsan Mountain, as Cheongnyangsan Mountain has several sports facilities and drinking fountains and mineral springs such as Byeongpungbawi Spring and Bamsagol Spring. Manwolsan Mountain currently has an insufficient number of sports facilities relative to user demand, and requires improvements in drinking fountains/mineral springs. In terms of rest facilities such as benches, Munhaksan Mountain exhibited higher satisfaction than Manwolsan Mountain. This is because, while various rest facilities are available at Munhaksan Mountain, including a pergola, shelter, and swing chairs at the summit, Manwolsan Mountain lacks adequate rest facilities aside from Manwoljeong and the wisteria rest area.
One-way ANOVA analysis of satisfaction with detailed factors of use of facilities
The lower satisfaction with most detailed factors for use of facilities at Manwolsan Mountain is likely due to its relatively small area (51ha) compared to other forests, which limits the installation of diverse recreational facilities and amenities. To enhance visitor satisfaction at Manwolsan Mountain, it is necessary to prioritize the expansion of necessary facilities and focus on concentrated placements of drinking fountains/mineral springs, public restrooms, sports facilities, and rest facilities around key areas such as Seokchon Neighborhood Park, Yaksa Park, and the wisteria rest area.
The results of the one-way ANOVA regarding satisfaction with the detailed factors for management status in each forest are presented in Table 9. Significant differences in satisfaction were observed in sports facilities, night lighting/CCTV, and signpost management, with Manwolsan Mountain showing generally lower satisfaction compared to other forests. First, Cheongnyangsan Mountain showed higher satisfaction with sports facilities management than Manwolsan Mountain. Satisfaction with night lighting/CCTV management was also higher for Munhaksan Mountain compared to Manwolsan Mountain. It is presumed that the lower satisfaction with Manwolsan Mountain is due to insufficient night lighting/CCTV installations, which restrict night-time use for visitors. Finally, satisfaction with signpost management at Manwolsan Mountain was lower compared to Munhaksan Mountain and Gyeyangsan Mountain. This indicates an urgent need for Manwolsan Mountain to not only expand amenities but also establish more efficient maintenance plans than other forests.
One-way ANOVA analysis of satisfaction with detailed factors of management state
Meanwhile, parking lots and public restrooms showed low satisfaction in terms of use of facilities and management status in all forests. There are significant constraints on installing these two facilities due to land ownership, zoning restrictions, and eco-friendly operations, and thus these facilities are not sufficiently installed in not only the study sties but in other forests nationwide (Kim and Lee, 2022; Lee et al., 2015; Yoon et al., 2024). In cases where it is difficult to secure sufficient parking spaces, it is necessary to first create spaces for elderly visitors to park (Lee et al., 2015). As for restrooms, since it is difficult to install water supply, sewage, and drainage systems, it may be reasonable to connect them with park facilities or management buildings included in the forests.
Relationship Between Forest Components and Space Use Satisfaction in Each Forest
To prioritize improvement plans for forests and identify the forest components that affect overall space use satisfaction in each forest, we set forest components as independent variables and overall space use satisfaction as the dependent variable, and conducted a multiple regression analysis using the Enter method (Table 10).
Regression analysis results of forest components and forest use satisfaction
As a result, Munhaksan Mountain, Wonjeoksan Mountain, and Gyeyangsan Mountain showed forest components that had a significant effect on overall space use satisfaction (p < .05), whereas Cheongnyangsan Mountain and Manwolsan Mountain had no forest components significantly affecting overall space use satisfaction (p > .05).
For Munhaksan Mountain, the relationship between overall space use satisfaction and forest components had an R2 value of 0.518, explaining 51.8% of the variance. The F-test result showed a significance level of 0.019, confirming significance. Moreover, the smallest tolerance limit was 0.170, which is greater than 0.1, and the highest VIF (Variance Inflation Factor) was 5.881, which is below 10, indicating no multicollinearity between the independent variables. The forest component that affected space use satisfaction in Munhaksan Mountain was management status (β = 0.619), suggesting that the maintenance of walking and hiking trails, rest facilities, and night lighting/CCTV within the forest is a key determinant of space use satisfaction. Therefore, the most important improvement measure for Munhaksan Mountain is to first establish and implement a sustainable maintenance plan. The condition of trees and plants (β = 0.145) and use of facilities (β = −0.006) did not have a significant effect on space use satisfaction in Munhaksan Mountain (p > .05).
For Wonjeoksan Mountain, the relationship between overall space use satisfaction and forest components had an R2 value of 0.514, explaining 51.4% of the variance. The F-test result showed a significance level of 0.000, confirming significance. The smallest tolerance limit was 0.252, which is greater than 0.1, and the highest VIF was 3.962, which is below 10, indicating no multicollinearity between the independent variables. The forest component that affected space use satisfaction in Wonjeoksan Mountain was also management status (β = 0.866), suggesting that the maintenance of walking and hiking trails, trees and plants, and rest facilities is a key determinant of space use satisfaction. Therefore, the most important improvement measure for Wonjeoksan Mountain is to first consider sustainable maintenance. Meanwhile, the condition of trees and plants (β = 0.186) and use of facilities (β = −0.373) did not have a significant effect on space use satisfaction in Wonjeoksan Mountain (p > .05).
For Gyeyangsan Mountain, the relationship between overall space use satisfaction and forest components had an R2 value of 0.378, explaining 37.8% of the variance. The F-test result showed a significance level of 0.028, confirming significance. The smallest tolerance limit was 0.286, which is greater than 0.1, and the highest VIF was 3.492, which is below 10, indicating no multicollinearity between the independent variables. The forest component that affected space use satisfaction in Gyeyangsan Mountain was the condition of trees and plants (β = 0.287), indicating that trees and plants such as the harmony of the entire forest, feeling of seasonal change, comfortable and cozy feel, and various types of tree composition were key determinants of space use satisfaction. This suggests that it is more important to first consider natural environments such as trees and plants compared to other forest components when deriving improvement measures for Gyeyangsan Mountain. Meanwhile, use of facilities (β = 0.244) and management status (β = 0.306) did not have a significant effect on space use satisfaction in Gyeyangsan Mountain (p > .05).
The reason why the condition of trees and plants did not significantly affect space use satisfaction in Munhaksan Mountain and Wonjeoksan Mountain is likely because visitors perceive the beauty of lush trees, harmony of the entire forest, feeling of seasonal change, shade of trees, comfortable and cozy feel, and various types of tree composition as inherent characteristics of forests that are natural. Thus, unless the natural environment is exceptionally outstanding, it does not have a notable impact on space use satisfaction among forest visitors. Furthermore, although visitors had a demand for improvements in various forest facilities such as walking and hiking trails, rest facilities, and sports facilities in Munhaksan Mountain Wonjeoksan Mountain, and Gyeyangsan Mountain, the use of facilities such as location, number, and convenience of facilities and management status of Gyeyangsan Mountain are not significantly affecting space use satisfaction. This indicates the need for further research through a separate study.
Conclusions
This study compared the usage behavior for forests and forest recreation facilities in five major forests located in Incheon (Munhaksan Mountain, Cheongnyangsan Mountain, Manwolsan Mountain, Wonjeoksan Mountain, Gyeyangsan Mountain), analyzed the satisfaction with forest components, and proposed a basic direction for forest recreation reflecting the improvement plans for each forest.
Urban forests are crucial green spaces that promote health and improve the quality of life for urban residents within their living areas, and these spaces must be able to smoothly perform various functions such as recreation, education, and relaxation. To achieve this, there is a need for a systematic development and management plan that reflects the satisfaction and needs. This study theoretically supports the importance of managing urban forests by reflecting visitors’ needs and satisfaction. The findings confirmed the need to apply tailored management and facility improvements to enhance visitor satisfaction in each forest. This implies that user-centered management strategies are crucial in urban forest management and provides a theoretical foundation for the fact that design and management of public facilities must meet user demands. Furthermore, analyzing visitor behavior plays a key role in the efficient operation and improvement of urban forests. This study identifies the characteristics of each forest and suggests improvement directions based on factors such as frequency of visits, companions, satisfaction, and dissatisfaction. This emphasizes that analysis of user behavior is essential in urban forest management, which can be associated with theories in behavioral economics and environmental psychology.
Through this study, we could identify the forest recreation usage behavior of visitors to the five forests located in Incheon Metropolitan City and derive improvement plans that must be considered with priority when developing and managing forest recreation facilities for each forest. This research process can be used as valuable data for formulating reasonable land use and management plans that meet the needs of urban residents for forests selected as the study sites, not only for Incheon Metropolitan City but also at the local government level. Furthermore, applying the results of this study to actual settings will increase visitor satisfaction by improving forest recreation facilities, thereby contributing to the revitalization of regional economy.
However, this study has a limitation in that it failed to derive forest components that affect user satisfaction in Cheongnyangsan Mountain and Manwolsan Mountain. Thus, components other than trees and plans, use of facilities, and management status must be additionally reviewed. Moreover, developing survey items for use of facilities in light of the facility status of each forest will help formulate a more detailed development and management plan in analyzing forest visitor behavior and satisfaction factors. Meanwhile, the fact that the survey was conducted over a short period (2 days) during a specific season of autumn foliage may affect the generalizability of the results. This may be a limitation in that the results might not sufficiently reflect visitor user behavior or satisfaction in other seasons or time periods. Furthermore, the sample size of 220 was somewhat limited, which may hinder the representation of all visitors. This may have also caused difficulty in securing statistical significance for some variables. Therefore, future research should expand the subjects to include various seasons and time periods and increase the sample size to derive more generalized conclusions. By addressing these limitations, it will be possible to promote a more in-depth understanding of forest users’ characteristics and satisfaction.