The Changing Apostle Islands Visitor Walter Kuentzel – University of Vermont Tom Heberlein – University of Wisconsin-Madison

The Apostle Islands and Leisure Research

Longitudinal Study of Change 1975 – Boaters 1982 – Cruise Boat Passengers 1985 – Boaters 1985 – 1975 Boater Follow-Up 1997 – Boaters 1997 – 1975 Boater Follow-Up 1997 – 1985 Boater Follow-up Kayakers 2000 – Retirement Study 2009 – The Next Wave On-Going Community Indicators

Five Changes The Crowded Visitor The Aging Visitor The Charter Boat Visitor The Specialized Visitor The Retiring Visitor

“Loving Our Parks To Death” High Low High Satisfaction Density High Low High Feeling Crowded Density

More Visitors, Less Crowding

Encounters & Perceived Crowding

Not Density Dependent

Interaction of Expected/Preferred Encounters With Actual Encounters Perceived Crowding:

“How Crowded Did You Feel?”

Expected and Preferred Encounters

Average Age The Aging Visitor % With Kids 1975 – – – – 17.5

The Charter Boat Visitor

The Specialized Visitor Experience Frequency Equipment Skill Commitment Lifestyle Social Networks

From Novice to Expert?

Specialization was the exception, rather than the rule. Boat Ownership Great Lakes Boating Ocean Boating RacingBoating Skill Change in Interest Quit Boating Did Not Specialize 76.6%71.4%57.7%58.2%57.6%53.2%58.0% Specialized 23.3%28.6%42.3%41.8%42.4%46.8%42.0% Over time, more boaters are casual or losing interest.

What keeps boaters from specializing? Marriage Other Leisure Interests Financial Change Illness (nostalgia) Life Course Changes: Marital Change Child Birth Job Change Residential Change Illness Financial Change Change in Interest Develop Other Interests Retirement Empty Nest

Amenity Retirement Migration

Retiring to the South Shore

Why Didn’t Boaters Retire to the South Shore? ReasonsPercent Too far for friends and family to visit54% Poor transportation services46% It would often be too cold42% My spouse would be unhappy34% No cultural events or facilities34% Limited shopping opportunities32% Poor health care facilities28% It would be too lonely28% It would be too dull24%

“Finally got our town back!”

Future Directions? Changing Visitors Changing Communities