Boost in Visitor Numbers Post COVID-19 Shutdown: Consequences for an Alpine National Park

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic changed recreation patterns worldwide. Increases in protected areas' visitor numbers were reported along with associated challenges. Changes numbers, composition, and motivation remain mostly unrecorded due to a lack of baseline records for comparison. We aimed fill this gap study the Swiss National Park (SNP), an International Union Conservation Nature (IUCN) strict nature reserve European Alps, where strongly increased 2020 2021 compared previous years. In summer 2020, we repeated survey previously conducted 2006 2012, complemented by assessments COVID-19-related motivations. To deepen our understanding COVID-19 context, semistructured interviews SNP visitors. general, factors strong driver numbers. A fifth respondents indicated that they would not have visited but pandemic, most them being first-time or infrequent Furthermore, data showed more young, domestic, less experienced visitors came park. discuss impacts implications practitioners researchers (ie need better sensitize newcomers environmental issues) argue holds insights park managers