Graduation Date
2003
Document Type
Thesis
Program
Master of Arts degree with a major in Sociology
Committee Chair Name
Dr. Judith Little
Committee Chair Affiliation
Cal Poly Humboldt Faculty or Staff
Second Committee Member Name
Dr. Jennifer L. Eichsteddt
Third Committee Member Name
Dr. Donna Schafer
Keywords
Sociology
Abstract
Humboldt County, California represents a unique area in the United States. Known throughout much of the country for it’s ancient redwoods, this area has been suffering economically due to a diminishing logging industry. Tourism seems to be a popular developmental strategy. However, not much attention has been given towards what types of tourists that are already coming to the area. RV tourists frequent an area within Redwood National and State Parks known as Freshwater Lagoon Spit and contribute to the local economy. Plans to close this area to campers may negatively effect the economy of the surrounding area. The following thesis will explore this issue through archival research as well as describe RV tourist attitudes and behavior based upon qualitative interviews that were conducted with RV tourists at Freshwater Spit in the summer of 2002. The results of this qualitative study will show that the Redwood National and State Parks plan to eliminate camping along Freshwater Lagoon Spit is based upon an aesthetic judgement. The RV tourists that were interviewed in this study all said that they will not be returning to the area once this action is put into effect. This may adversely affect the economy of the surrounding area.
Recommended Citation
Jennings, Richard M., "RV Tourism in Humboldt County, California: An Exploratory Case Study" (2003). Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects. 2443.
https://digitalcommons.humboldt.edu/etd/2443