Abstract
This study researches attributes , behaviors , satisfaction factors and degrees of curiosity of visitors to recreational forests in the suburbs of a large city. It aims to present suggestions for urban forest development and management policy by offering basic data which help to plan, design and manage recreational forests to increase the quality of these environments. The results are as follows First, in attribute, the visiting rate of males is higher than that of females, and the main users are in their thirties and forties. Sixty percent of visitors graduated from university and their rate of employment is evenly distributed. 95 percent of visitors are residents of the metropolitan area. In terms of behavior, major visitors are family units visiting during summer seasons and for overnight stays. 75% are re-visitors. 85% of visitors came to escape the city with families and friends, keep in good health and experience nature. Second, to extract the factors affecting visitor satisfaction in recreational forests, the natural environment, facilities, and management/use systems were identified as independent variables, while subordinate satisfactions were dependent variables. so regression analysis was used. Thus, the variables affecting the natural environment are quality of water, stream use, biodiversity, fresh air and landscape factors. The variables affecting facilities are puking, convenience, play facilities, sanitary arrangement and camping. Most important among the variables affecting management/use systems are educational facilities and access condition. On the basis of generalizing the study in the existing individual site, we must verify the visiting characteristics in recreational forests in the suburbs of a large city. Since development of recreational forests is understood as a sequence considering a site and a given condition, and since management and improvement must unfold according to these characteristics, a strategy is needed to reveal visitors' opinions about the site. Depending on the facilities and service, satisfaction of recreational forests is generally influenced by social and economic qualities. Also, this study can look into the effect according to use pattern motive and season. As suburban recreational forests have many overnight-users and younger men, programs suitable for these groups are needed. On the basis of variables affecting satisfaction according to natural environment, facilities, and use system, policies which can manage the natural environment and introduce educational programs are needed.