Values of Travel Time for Recreational Trips under Different Behavioural Rules

Rosa Marina González,Concepción Román,Ángel Simón Marrero

doi:10.3390/su13126831

Abstract

In this study, discrete choice models that combine different behavioural rules are estimated to study the visitors’ preferences in relation to their travel mode choices to access a national park. Using a revealed preference survey conducted on visitors of Teide National Park (Tenerife, Spain), we present a hybrid model specification—with random parameters—in which we assume that some attributes are evaluated by the individuals under conventional random utility maximization (RUM) rules, whereas others are evaluated under random regret minimization (RRM) rules. We then compare the results obtained using exclusively a conventional RUM approach to those obtained using both RUM and RRM approaches, derive monetary valuations of the different components of travel time and calculate direct elasticity measures. Our results provide useful instruments to evaluate policies that promote the use of more sustainable modes of transport in natural sites. Such policies should be considered as priorities in many national parks, where negative transport externalities such as traffic congestion, pollution, noise and accidents are causing problems that jeopardize not only the sustainability of the sites, but also the quality of the visit.

Highlights

Using the information provided by the revealed preference survey described in the previous sections, we estimated a transport mode choice model to analyse visitors’ preferences in their access to Teide National Park
The analysis is based on the construction of a hybrid model in which the behavioural rule is based on both utility maximization and regret minimization, as described in the previous section
After considering different specifications, the best results were obtained when access time and waiting time were processed according to random utility maximization (RUM), whereas travel time, travel cost and the alternative specific constants were processed according to regret minimization (RRM)

Summary

Introduction

Transport management in natural sites has become crucial in the political agenda, and there is a necessity for demand studies that focus on obtaining monetary valuations of travel time and quantify the impact of changes on the choice of different modes of transport (elasticities). Managers of natural sites around the world are implementing policies to encourage the use of Alternative Transportation Systems (ATS), together with applying dissuasive measures to the use of private cars [1,2]. Other examples of transport practices in natural sites are Denali (USA) [7,8,9], Rocky Mountains (USA, Canada) [10,11,12,13], Acadia (USA, Canada) [14,15,16] and

Objectives

Results

Conclusion