• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.81 no.3
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• pp.203-213
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• 1992

The purpose of this study is to segment recreationists into groups which are homogeneous with respect to their spending patterns and trip characteristics. Date were derived from a larger study aimed at developing nationally representative expenditure profiles for recreation visitors to Corps of Engineers projects. Segmentation of these data reduces variance and helps to identify distinctive final demand vectors for input - output application. A - priori and cluster analysis approaches for identifying segments are compared. The a - priori segmentation approach identified 12 segments and the cluster analysis approach identified 3 segments. The 3 nonresident clusters - labeled "day use", "overnight", and "overnight camping" - show lower mean squares within groups than the a - priori segments on almost all nonresident spending categories with an exception of boating expenses. For the Corps of Engineers, implications of these findings for the estimation of economic impacts are discussed.