Date of Award

5-2026

Degree Name

Master of Science

Department

Geography

First Advisor

Li Yang, Ph.D.

Second Advisor

Nicholas Padilla, Ph.D.

Third Advisor

Laiyin Zhu, Ph.D.

Keywords

Economic development, recreation, sustainable develpoment, tourism, tourism planning

Access Setting

Masters Thesis-Open Access

Abstract

This project aims to examine the effects of the tourism industry in and around a new National Park within the United States’ National Park system (NPS). The Indiana Dunes National Park (IDNP) received National Park designation in 2019. The park, situated on the south shore of Lake Michigan, is a roughly fifty-minute drive east of Chicago. This project seeks to ask and answer how the tourism industry has grown and continues to impact the lives of residents near the IDNP. Two communities, Michigan City and Chesterton, serve as the primary study areas along with the park itself. Qualitative methods, centered on interviews with local residents and park/city managers, are the focal point of the work. Additional data comes from marketing material and local master plans.

Comments

Field work was completed as part of the project, including in-person and remote interviews and examination of the study area towns and park. Interview questions asked about the importance of tourism to the area, and how different stakeholder groups would like to see tourism developed for the future. Results give insight into varying opinions on tourism in northern Indiana and provide potential areas for focusing on future developments on the tourism industry in the region.

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