Abstract
With the gradual expansion of benefits provided by islands to human wellbeing, it has become increasingly important to quantify the cultural ecosystem service functions of islands. In this study, the zone travel cost method (ZTCM) and individual travel cost method (ITCM) are used to assess the recreational and cultural ecosystem services value of the island region of Changhai County, China, and the recreational value of Xiaochangshan, Dachangshan, and Guanglu Islands based on questionnaire survey data. The results are as follows: (1) The overall recreational and cultural ecosystem services value of Changhai County in 2019 was 533.14 million USD, including a traveling cost of 395.71 million USD and consumer surplus of 137.43 million USD. (2) Further, based on the choice and consumption behaviors of tourists, multiple recreational values of the county were also inferred: the aesthetic experience presented the greatest contribution, while educational knowledge accounted for a lower percentage. (3) The recreational and cultural ecosystem services value 294.16, 60.03, and 143.26 million USD for Xiaochangshan, Dachangshan, and Guanglu Islands, respectively. Based on the findings of this study, future research will focus on the planning and development of Xiaochangshan Island tourism to maximize consumer surplus.
Highlights
An island is a naturally formed land mass surrounded by water that exists above water at high tide [1]
As an important part of the marine ecosystem, islands are rich in tourism resources and have become attractive tourist destinations with their unique charm [3]; this island tourism has attracted the attention of scholars [4,5,6,7]
Tourism has a negative impact on the island ecosystem service function [8]
Summary
An island is a naturally formed land mass surrounded by water that exists above water at high tide [1]. Islands play an important strategic role in safeguarding national rights and interests, defense and ecological security, and economic and social development [2]. As an important part of the marine ecosystem, islands are rich in tourism resources and have become attractive tourist destinations with their unique charm [3]; this island tourism has attracted the attention of scholars [4,5,6,7]. Tourism has a negative impact on the island ecosystem service function [8]. With the arrival of many tourists, the provisioning, regulating, and supporting functions of island ecosystem services have increasingly degraded, resulting in a lack of freshwater resources, and increased resource consumption, pollutant discharge, severe flooding, soil erosion, and bare rock area [9,10,11]. Island culture remains a major tourist attraction and a unique selling point
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