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on Tourism Economics |
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Issue of 2005‒08‒13
two papers chosen by Roberto Zanola Universita degli Studi del Piemonte Orientale |
| By: | Isabel Mendes; Isabel Proença |
| Abstract: | Recreation is one of the ecosystem’s secondary values of a well conserved natural ecosystem, associated with the direct use individuals make of these natural assets. In this paper we define and estimate the total economic recreation value to visitors of a particular natural area, a national park. An on-site individual observation Travel Cost Model, Count Data distributions, and a version of hyperbolic discounting framework distribution were used to estimate a measure for the present recreation use of the site and the total discounted recreation value for a 50 years period. The empirical estimates of the average representative visitor’s present equivalent surplus willingness to pay, based on the impact assumption of closure or loss of access to the park were 123 € per day per visit, and 593 € per each average five days length visit, per visitor. These values suggest that recreation use of nature has a higher value than certain economic activities in the area. |
| Keywords: | Recreation Use Value; Ecosystem; Estimation; Travel Cost Method; Welfare Measures; Count Data Models. |
| JEL: | C3 D1 D4 Q2 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ise:isegwp:wp82005&r=tur |
| By: | Benno Torgler; Maria A. Garcia-Valiñas |
| Abstract: | Since the 70s, an increasing number of studies investigating environmental preferences have been made. However, papers related to a country and its regions or its development over time are still largely lacking, although it is a promising line to search empirically for factors that have been strongly neglected in previous studies. This paper therefore aims at reducing such shortcomings, and analyzes the willingness to pay (WTP) in Spain and its regions for the periods 1990, 1995 and 1999/2000, with data from the World Values Surveys and the European Values Surveys. The results indicate strong regional differences and strong differences between the first and the second half of the 90s. This paper also shows the relevance of strongly neglected variables such as political interest and social capital. |
| Keywords: | Environment; Willingness to Pay; Regional and Time Preferences; Political Interest; Social Capital |
| JEL: | Q26 R22 Z13 I21 |
| Date: | 2005–07 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:cra:wpaper:2005-22&r=tur |