Abstract
The effects of travel distance on visitation and associated recreation benefits are tested for a large national park. Visitor responses to a survey depicting various natural resource scenarios at Rocky Mountain National Park were used to estimate the effects of distance traveled on nature-based tourism behavior and benefits. Distance was a significant determinant in both the visitation and contingent valuation models. Long-distance visitors were more stable in their visitation patterns in the face of natural resource changes. Marginal recreational benefits per trip increased with distance but at a decreasing rate. However, in-state visitors accrued higher annual benefits because of greater trip frequency. The relative importance of visitor types can help private and public decision-makers better respond to different visitor needs. The findings also provide a unique perspective on consumer spatial tradeoffs and the national value of recreational resources.
Highlights
The impacts of natural resource changes on a visitor’s recreation experience may affect decisions about the frequency and duration of future visits to a national park as well as the economic benefits of the recreation experience
∆Vi = whether there is a contingent change in respondent i’s number of visits to the recreation site given the climate induced change in natural resources; S1i, S2i, ..., Smi = climate and resource variables, including temperature, precipitation, number of days with snow-free hiking trails, elk population, ptarmigan population, and the vegetation composition of the Park; A1i, A2i, ..., Ani = activities in which the visitor participated during the visit; distance variable (DISTi) = distance traveled per visit; D1i, D2i, ..., Doi = demographic characteristics of the visitor, including gender, age, level of education, annual income, employment status, and membership in an environmental organization; and i = individual respondent to survey
The dependent variable in the probit regression is the binary response to the contingent visitation behavior (CVB) question and is equal to 1 if the respondent indicated that he/she would change the frequency of visitation with the hypothetical climate and resource scenarios and equal to 0 if the respondent indicated “no change” in frequency of trips
Summary
The impacts of natural resource changes on a visitor’s recreation experience may affect decisions about the frequency and duration of future visits to a national park as well as the economic benefits (willingness to pay) of the recreation experience. The contingent valuation method is used to assess the effect of distance-related variables on recreation benefits (measured as willingness to pay) For both analyses, a visitor survey at Rocky Mountain National Park (RMNP) in Colorado was used to elicit visitor attitudes about changes in resources and conditions as presented in hypothetical climate and resource scenarios. The paper’s two principal findings are that (1) long-distance visitors’ behavior is more resistant to changes in park natural resources and climate, and (2) the benefits of a marginal trip for long-distance visitors are greater than those of nearby or in-state resident visitors, despite the latter group’s revealed preference for the recreational amenity by their residential decision (which implies greater annual benefits to local residents because of more annual trips) This high benchmark strongly suggests that recreational resources in public lands represent a broader national good, substantially valued even by those furthest away from the resource as well as by Colorado residents
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
