Digital Skills and Recreational Behaviour Across Generations: Implications for Visitor Management in Forest Destinations – Case Study of Vienna Metropolitan Area, Austria

Abstract Digitalization significantly impacts human-environment systems by altering how people interact with natural spaces. This extends to outdoor recreation, where digital tools increasingly serve as interfaces between visitors and site management authorities. However, to date, little attention has been given to the digital divide across generations within this application domain. Therefore, this study investigates the generational differences in digital skills and recreational behaviour and highlights its implications for visitor management in urban and suburban forest destinations. Using data from an online panel of 3,121 respondents in Vienna, we examined how digital competence influences outdoor recreation across age groups. The results highlight significant differences in technology use when planning and navigating during leisure trips between generations. Four major visitor profiles have been identified, each reflecting distinct patterns of digital tool usage and recreational preferences and corresponding with the respondents’ age. We emphasize the need for inclusive and adaptive management strategies to accommodate diverse digital behaviours and enhance urban forest experiences for all generations. Recognizing that effective management is contingent on understanding the nuances of technology utilization, our case study-based approach seeks to understand the public's demand for nature and the contribution of forest areas to recreation, through the lens of different generations.