LOCAL PEOPLE ACCEPTANCE AND USE OF THE E-SERVICE PROVIDED BY NATIONAL CENTER FOR WILDLIFE TO VISIT A NATURE RESERVE: THE IBEXES RESERVE AREA AS A CASE STUDY

Abstract

This study investigates the utilisation and acceptance of the electronic service provided by the National Wildlife Centre for visiting the Ibex Reserve, a natural reserve renowned for its diverse wildlife. The research aims to identify and define residents' perceptions and attitudes towards the electronic service, examining its usage frequency and patterns, levels of satisfaction, and the challenges currently faced by the Fetri platform. The goal is to develop recommendations to enhance the service and increase its adoption in promoting sustainable ecotourism in the Ibex Reserve. In total, 50 potential or actual users who were living close to the Ibex Reserve were surveyed. Results indicated that while there is huge interest in the service, especially regarding booking permits to the reserve, 54% do not make use of the booking feature. This indicates a gap in user engagement wherein better promotional strategies are for increasing user experience. Besides, one considered digital security concerns, the reliability of data, and the volume of interactive and current content. Key findings include the need for strengthened security measures, regular updates to the platform, and improved user support. These findings underscore the importance of implementing recommendations to address these challenges, thereby improving user satisfaction, increasing service engagement, and fostering sustainable tourism in the Ibex Reserve.