Employing Internet GIS Surveys to Characterize Recreational Boating Travel Patterns

Spatial factors are fundamental features of the tourism and recreation phenomenon. In terms of recreational boating, scholars are interested both in boaters' spatial distribution and movement patterns and in the factors associated with their movements, e.g. travel costs, environmental impacts, and social impacts of the movements. Spatial factors are also key to policymakers' decisions about where to establish new boating facilities, how protected areas are used by boaters and in crafting policy that minimizes conflict between recreational boating and other waterway uses. However, systematic studies regarding the recreationist movement are scant, especially at the fine geographic level. One reason for the lack of research is that gathering spatial data presents significant practical problems. In the Florida Saltwater Fishing Study, we integrated Google Map APIs into the online survey instrument to collect spatially-referenced data regarding boaters' movement on water. Results appear to be accurate, highly cost effective, and easily integrated with other survey information such as angler catch, effort, expenditures and attitudes.