Assessing visitors' willingness to pay for mitigating recreational impacts on lakes ecosystems: a comparative study between Portugal and Nepal
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.29352/mill0219e.41052Keywords:
willingness to pay; recreational impacts; contingent valuation method; environmental valuation; sustainable tourismAbstract
Introduction: The growing demand for recreational activities in natural areas often results in environmental degradation, jeopardising the sustainability of these ecosystems. Understanding visitors’ willingness to pay (WTP) to mitigate these impacts is crucial for supporting the sustainable management of these areas.
Objective This paper compares users’ WTP to mitigate the impact of recreational activities at the Azibo Reservoir Beaches (ARB) (Portugal) and the Ghodaghodi Lake Complex (Nepal).
Methods: A quantitative on-site survey was conducted at the ARB, with 573 validated responses (95.5%). The Contingent Valuation Method was used to estimate visitors’ WTP for the use and non-use of public goods.
Results: Respondents showed a slightly higher WTP for environmental preservation (non-use public goods) compared to infrastructure and services (use public goods). The annual WTP estimation for the ARB suggests a significantly higher valuation — approximately 3.4 times — than the comparable study in Nepal.
Conclusion: The findings emphasise the significance of assigning economic value to natural resources for improved policy and management decisions. However, limitations include reliance on survey data and contextual differences among sites. Future research should adopt broader methodologies and representative samples to enhance comparability and robustness.
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