Acceptance of tourism and recreation management strategies depends on situational factors including
social, resource, and facility impacts. If an area has adequate facilities, little crowding, and minimal
environmental impacts, modifying existing management may be opposed. If an area is damaged and
overcrowded, actions such as limiting access may be acceptable. This article measures normative
acceptance of management strategies and how situational factors differentially influence acceptance.
Surveys of 1399 tourists and residents at coastal sites in Hawai’i included eight hypothetical scenarios
describing impacts to four factors: use level/density, presence of litter, damage to reefs, and condition of
facilities. Respondents rated their acceptance of improving awareness/education, restricting use,
increasing facilities, and improving maintenance for each scenario. Factors differentially influenced
acceptance of these actions. Damage to reefs was the most important factor influencing acceptance of
improving awareness. Use level was most important when rating acceptance of restricting people, and
facility conditions were most important in acceptance of increasing maintenance and facilities.