Estimation of recreational value of Bemo National Park in Fars province using conditional valuation method

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Assistant Professor of Islamic Economics Department

2 Department of Economics faculty of Economics, Management and Accounting

3 Qom university

4 Yazd University

Abstract

The present study evaluates the recreational value of Bemo National Park in Fars province from viewpoint of visitors and factors affecting people's willingness to pay. The conditional valuation method and two-dimensional double-choice questionnaire have been used to estimate the recreational value of the park. The statistical population of this study includs visitor from the park and the natives around the park visited this place in spring 2017. Using the logit regression model, we measure the willingness to pay the visitors and effective socioeconomic factors for using the benefits of the park. Based on the maximum likelihood method, the model parameters are estimated. The results of this study showed that there is a significant relationship between the willingness to pay people with gender variables, distance to park, personal income, number of visits, and suggested prices. Also, the average willingness to pay for each person to visit this park was 28961.2 Rials and the willingness to pay per household per year was 98757.69 Rials. The total annual recreational value of this park is 57922400 million Rials. Regarding field observations of the researchers of this study from the park's environment and 73.7 percent of sample respondents who stated that their satisfactions with the lack of amenities and the health of the park's environment, and although national parks have high recreational value; the recreational value Recreation per each hectare of this park was estimated at 1206.717 Rials per year. Considering that the Bemo National Park has high tourism capacity, the increase of park amenities and health facilities by officials and executive, social and economic managers can attract more tourists to the region. 

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