Individual Travel Cost Method Research Articles

Valuation of the recreational use of the Calares del Mundo and Sima Natural Park through the Travel Cost Method

Aim of study: The purpose of this study is to estimate the economic value of the recreational use of a protected natural area. The importance of the study lies in the justification of these valuations due to the use that society perceives from the environmental benefits of these areas as well as to the valuable information for management for public administrators with the aim of checking the budget that they manage.Area of study: Calares del Mundo and Sima Natural Park (Albacete, Castilla-La Mancha).Material and methods: With the purpose of determining consumer surplus, 410 surveys were made in August, 2009 and the individual travel cost method was used.Main results: The value the visitor conceded for the recreational use of the park was 12.58 € and the annual consumer surplus value added for recreational use reached almost 3.5 million euros.Research highlights: This research emphasizes that the results are along the same lines as those from similar studies carried out in natural areas of Spain as well as in natural areas of other countries.Key words: natural areas; travel cost method; consumer surplus; Castilla-La Mancha.

Mangrove Eco-system and their Multifunctionalities: An Analysis of the Provision of Economic and Environmental Livelihoods to the Fishermen Communities in the South-East Coast of India

A study was conducted to analyze the direct and indirect benefits of Pitchavaram Mangrove Forests (PMF)in the south east coast region of Tamil Nadu, India, where the concentration of mangrove biosphere is substantial. For the study,30 numbers each of i. Fishermen and ii. Tourists were personally contacted. About 75% of the respondents depended mangrove area for fishing while coastal area was the source of fish catch for only 25% of sample respondents. Among the tourists respondents, only 3.3% were foreigners, 10% were from other states and the rest were domestic visitors. Most of tourists were young and middle aged and about 43% had a monthly income of Rs.15001 to 30000. It is understood that high income and educated people showed more interest in visiting places of natural origin. People who travelled by own vehicles had higher visitation rate of 50% than those travelling by hired vehicles owing to the high cost of hired vehicles. The principal products collected by local stakeholders were firewood, fodder and timber. The Individual Travel Cost Method (ITCM) was used to estimate the recreational value and the determinants of visitation rate. The marital status had a negative influence on visitation rate. It was found out that bachelors had made more frequent trips to PMF than the families. The monthly income was also significant and had the expected relationship. Travel cost had a significant influence on frequency of visits. The price elasticity of demand for recreational visit was estimated to be -0.1566. It indicated that the visitation rate was inelastic with respect to the travel cost i.e. one per cent increase in travel cost would result in only 0.1566% reduction in visitation rate. The option value of conserving the PMF was estimated using contingent valuation method using the bidding game technique. The fishermen were willingness to pay an amount of Rs.1763 towards internalizing externalities. The catchment area, monthly income and duration of fishing were positively related to Willingness To Pay (WTP) and were significant. It is implicit from the analysis that duration of fishing and fishing area (near mangrove) influenced the WTP significantly. Household expenditure of a fisherman had been positively related to the duration of fishing. The major findings of the regression results regarding the overall impact of PMF was that the people who entered into fishing and other mangrove dependent occupations had extensively improved their standard of living. The additional money generated from tourism by tourist dependents encouraged the households to incur more on luxurious goods. Positive externalities like shoreline protection, increased fish catch and enhanced income, utilization of non â-“timber forest products, control of soil erosion, water retention and purification of water by mangrove forests were the other environmental benefits. The study came out with the policy that the optimal exploitation of mangrove biosphere by the end users should be ensured by the enforcement authorities. Both the state and central institutions should protect the mangrove ecology and sea-shore through stringent adoption of regulatory mechanisms. The local institutions should also be empowered adequately to deal with the free-riders; so that the mangroves will be promoted on large scale since off-shore fishing has been the lifeline of the poor and marginalized fisher folk in coastal regions.

Eco-tourism in the Philippines: educational and recreational value of the Alayan cave systems

In this paper, we calculate the related costs of transport, food, accommodation and time involved as well as the rate of visits as compared to the costs, and the benefits from the Alayan Cave System (ACS), by using the Individual Travel Cost Method (ITCM) to determine the educational and recreational values of the site. Data came from the linear recreational demand for the site at the Department of Tourism - RO2 statistical records. We also determine the expenditures of the guests on off–site and on–site tourism–related activities and establishments to provide a more solid base for tourism policymakers, planners and decision makers in the region, towards a better tourism tax system for the sustainability of the ACS. Study outcomes provide insight into how the locals or indigenous people living nearby can take advantage of the benefits/opportunities derived from the site.

Socio-economic determinants of on-day site demand for recreation in old Oyo National Park, Nigeria

This paper examines the socio-economic determinants of on-day site demand of a national park in Nigeria. The services provided by the park include recreation that correlates positively with stress removal and enhanced productivity. These are not properly understood and appreciated by the people. Neither are the environmentally sound and sustainable development functions it provides. Purposive sampling technique was applied in selecting the respondents and data were collected with a well structured questionnaire. The on-site individual observation Travel Cost Method and Count Data Distributions were applied in estimating the on-day site demand equation. The very active age classes, male gender of middle class income who are highly educated constitute the tourists to the park. The average length of days spent in the park was two and the preference was for booked chalet accommodation rather than open camping. The on-site day recreation (number of days spent in the park) has a negative and significant relationship (p<.01) with recreation cost. Educational level attained has a positive and significant relationship (p<.05) with the number of days spent in the park. Age and income though negative and not significant did not agree with the logic of the elderly and the rich having more tendencies to seek recreation. Infrastructural facilities that will reduce recreational cost and free and functional education need to be put in place. In addition is massive awareness campaign that emphasizes the positive benefits of recreation that engenders good health, enhanced productivity and well being of the environment. Key words: Socio-economic determinants, On-day site demand, travel cost method, count data distributions, recreation.

The value of the trout fishery at Rhodes, North Eastern Cape, South Africa: a travel cost analysis using count data models

Recent government legislation in South Africa (the National Environmental Management: Biodiversity Act, No.10 of 2004) calls for the removal of trout from ecosystems and habitats where they may cause harm. The elimination of trout would, however, undermine the tourism appeal of many upper catchments in South Africa to recreational fishers. This paper reports the first formal recreational valuation of a trout fishery in South Africa – the one in and around Rhodes village, North Eastern Cape. The valuation is carried out by applying the individual travel cost method using several count data models. The zero truncated negative binomial model which allows for the non-negative integer nature of the trip data, for truncation as well as for over-dispersion, found that the consumer surplus per day and per trip to the Rhodes trout fishery was ZAR2 668 (US$334) and ZAR13,072 (US$1634), respectively in the year 2007, and the total consumer surplus generated was ZAR18,026,288 (US$2 253,286).

A meta-analysis of forest recreation values in Europe

This paper presents a meta-analysis of forest recreation in Europe based on studies that have applied the travel cost method covering 26 studies in nine countries since 1979. We conduct the meta-regression with an increasing number of variables where level I includes only data available from the studies, level II aggregate socio-economic variables and level III site-specific characteristics such as diversity, fraction of open land and location. Data shows that consumer surplus varies between €0.66 per trip to €112 with a median of €4.52 per trip. Results of the model with the best overall summary indicate that the application of the individual travel cost method, inclusion of opportunity cost of time and average distance travelled lead to increasing benefits whereas the year of the study and estimations from theses and dissertations reduce welfare estimates. Including exogenous variables shows that site attributes, GDP per capita and population density play a significant role.

개별여행비용법을 이용한 바다 유어 낚시의 소비자 잉여추정

This paper aims at estimating consumer surplus for recreational sea fishing in Tongyeong coastal area using individual travel cost method. A Poisson model (PM), a negative binomial model (NBM), a truncated Poisson model (TPM), and a truncated negative binomial model (TNBM) are applied for individual travel cost method in order to account characteristics of count data (non-negative discrete data.) The survey was conducted for 462 inshore anglers using personal interview method in Tongyeong during July and October 2007. Respondents were asked about how often they do fishing, travel costs, catch, income, and so on. Because of over-dispersion problem in PM and TPM, NBM and TNBM were considered to be more appropriate statistically. All parameters estimated are statistically significant and theoretically valid. As the results based on TNBM, consumer surplus per trip was estimated to be 183,486 won, total consumer surplus per person and per year 3,399,658 won, and the marginal effect of consumer surplus on % changes in catch rate is 185,372 won.

Effects of spatial and temporal scales on cultural services valuation

The monetary valuation of ecosystem services has proved to be a powerful tool for influencing management decisions, as it can be used to quantify the relative importance of various ecosystem functions. However, these valuation methods are rarely implemented with adequate care; in particular, they do not consider spatial and temporal variations in the services offered and demanded. This paper examines the effect of heterogeneity on the valuation of cultural services offered by the Doñana natural protected area in Spain. We apply the zonal travel cost method at various spatial scales, and the individual travel cost method at various temporal scales. We conclude that economic valuation techniques must account for spatial and temporal heterogeneity if they are to provide accurate and realistic information.

Individual Travel Cost Method and Flow Fixed Costs

The paper proposes an approach for evaluating the effect of flow fixed costs on the evaluation of environmental benefits with travel cost method. On a full annual perspective when recreational users incur relevant annual direct fixed expenses, their behaviour could be influenced by them. The approach introduces a) the notion of the minimal number of annual visits that justifies the annual fixed expenses incurred by the user and b) a method to estimate it. The estimate of this minimal number permits to forecast the user behaviour on a full annual perspective, taking into account a more accurate estimate of the number of visits at different additional fees.

Risk Analysis for Kizu River Recreation Benefit Based on Individual Travel Cost Method

This paper presents risk analysis for recreation benefit based on individual travel cost method. Risk analysis methods are to estimate confidence intervals of option price of individual. One is an approximation method with taylor series for option price estimator of individual. Second is an approximation method with Edgeworth expansion. Third is simulation method for option price estimator of individual. Illustrations are executed with real recreation date of Kizu River to evaluate performances of these methods.

Incidental Trips and Aquarium Benefits

This recreation demand study empirically tests the complementary nature of destination travel and single-day trips. Day-trips to North Carolina aquariums are treated as incidental to the primary destination trips to the North Carolina coast. Visitors would not have taken day-trips if the primary purposes of the vacation trips had not been taken first. Applying the individual travel cost method, a demand function is estimated with Poisson regression. The consumer surplus is $21.73 per aquarium trip.

The impact of measurement assumptions upon individual travel cost estimates of consumer surplus: a GIS analysis

The individual travel cost method is one of the most commonly applied approaches to estimating the recreational value (or `consumer surplus') of open-access sites where the visitor does not have to pay an entrance charge for using the area. This paper presents a simple application of the method conducted using geographical information system (GIS) software. This approach permits analysis of the impact of various, commonly used, assumptions concerning the definition of visitor outset origins and routing to recreation sites. Results suggest that varying these assumptions can lead to substantial impacts upon estimates of consumer surplus to the extent that previously published studies may be subject to substantial error.

RESEARCH: An Ecoregional Approach to the Economic Valuation of Land- and Water-Based Recreation in the United States

/ This paper describes a framework for estimating the economic value of outdoor recreation across different ecoregions. Ten ecoregions in the continental United States were defined based on similarly functioning ecosystem characters. The individual travel cost method was employed to estimate recreation demand functions for activities such as motor boating and waterskiing, developed and primitive camping, coldwater fishing, sightseeing and pleasure driving, and big game hunting for each ecoregion. While our ecoregional approach differs conceptually from previous work, our results appear consistent with the previous travel cost method valuation studies.KEY WORDS: Recreation; Ecoregion; Travel cost method; Truncated Poisson model

Outdoor Recreation Net Benefits of Rail-Trails

Net economic values were estimated with the individual travel cost method for user samples from three rail-trails in geographically diverse regions of the U.S. Estimates of rail-trail demands were ...

インフォーマルなレクリエーション活動が行われる空間としての農村の環境便益評価 横浜市「寺家ふるさと村」を事例として

The individual travel-cost method was used to value non-market recreation benefits derived by individual visitors to the Jike-Furusatomura village in the northernmost of Yokohama. Results, in terms of consumer surplus estimates per visit, are presented for all informal recreation visitors and by characteristics of individual visitors. The estimated average consumer surplus per visit is 1, 457 yen, and varies from 1, 784 yen for visitors who have strong preferences to outdoor receation activities to 894 yen for visitors who come quite often to the village with no accompany. The total economic value of recreational benefits was entimated at 268 million yen annually.

Individual Travel Cost Method: Estimation and Benefit Assessment with a Discrete and Possibly Grouped Dependent Variable

AbstractThe trip/visit variable in the individual travel cost method is often regarded as discrete. Furthermore, it is often reported in surveys as a grouped variable (the number of visits reported falling into one of several classes). This paper develops a travel cost model which takes account of discreteness and grouping in both demand and benefit estimation. A case study and associated simulations are then reported which indicate the potential extent of bias that may arise from ignoring discreteness/grouping in demand and benefit estimation. The information loss involved in varying the size of visit classes is also examined.

Comparable estimates of the recreational value of rivers

The contingent valuation method (CVM) and travel cost method (TCM), recommended by the federal guidelines, are applied to the problem of estimating recreational benefits in a case study of rivers in the Colorado Rocky Mountains. The primary purpose is to assess the validity of the behavioral intentions reported in CVM surveys compared to actual behavior‐based TCM analysis. Comparison of the two approaches has been limited by potential measurement problems including variation in the valuation question and model specification. This study evaluates CVM questions asking for both trip and annual values, versus TCM models of the number of trips per participant with and without adjustment for the probability of participation. Based on this case study, we cannot reject the hypothesis that recreation benefits estimated by the alternative methods are equal. Apparently, the ordinary CVM and individual TCM can provide as useful an approximation of the recreational economic welfare effects of river protection as the alternative procedures.

The Individual Travel-Cost Method and the Value of Recreation: The Case of the Montgomery and Lancaster Canals

The purpose of this study was to demonstrate the use of the individual travel-cost method by using it to value informal recreation along the Montgomery and Lancaster Canals. Informal recreation covers all activities such as walking and sightseeing, for which no price or entry fee is charged. Consumer surplus on each type of informal recreation was estimated by the individual travel-cost method: Assessment of how much people were prepared to pay to undertake different activities. The Montgomery and Lancaster Canals provide examples against which to compare consumer surplus from informal recreation against public subsidies for their operation.