Characteristics of visitor use in Oze National Park in the COVID-19 pandemic andchallenges for longer stay use and younger visitors use

This study deals the Oze National Park as a case study and aims 1) to grasp the attributes, awareness, and behavior of visitors and to clarify the characteristics of young people and non-lodging visitors to national parks, and 2) to examine the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on park use and to consider the promotion of longer stay use and younger use of national parks. As a result, from the responses to the 2,261 questionnaires, it was found that the purpose of their visit was mainly landscape viewing and trekking/hiking, but with a variety of purposes. In addition to this, the lodging visitors tended to visit Ozegahara and Ozenuma. The younger group tended to visit the park to free themselves from stress and to socialize with family and friends. The results also indicated that the corona disaster may have reduced the attraction area and the proportion of elderly users. In order to promote longer stay use and younger use, guided tours in the Oze area with less strenuous exercise, day-use use of mountain lodges, and the use of Instagram and other media to communicate the benefits of lodge facilities, how to spend time, and the advantages of staying at a mountain lodge are considered to be effective.