Publication
|
Publication
|
Ecotourism can be an effective strategy for enhancing economic development and for increasing the standard of living of persons in developing nations, particularly Jamaica. For example, it stimulates the development of basic infrastructure such as airports, harbors, roads, sewers, and electric power. Ecotourism also contributes to the growth of domestic industries such as transportation, agriculture and crafts. It also attracts investment, especially in the development of lodging facilitates and facilitates the transfer of technology and technical knowhow. The primary purpose of this research is to assess the local demand for ecotourism in the Blue and John Crow Mountains National Park in Jamaica West Indies using the travel cost and contingent valuation methodologies. The data for this study were collected using systematic random sampling techniques. Two multivariate models were developed and tested. The first model accounted for the variation in the "number of trips" taken to the 13MJCM during the past year as a function of nine exogenous variables: travel costs, onsite costs, opportunity cost of time, the primary site visited in the BMJCM, distance, hours traveling to the BMJCM, income, gender and education, The second model accounted for the variation in "willingness to pay" to enter the park as a function of the same variables with one exception. The variable 'distance' was replaced with tile number of trips taken to the BMJCM per year. In the first model, gender emerged as the most important determinant of the number of trips taken to the BMJCM, followed by travel costs and the primary site visited in the BMJCM. The number of trips taken per year was inversely related to the trip travel costs. The gender variable was as hypothesized with males being more likely to recreate in the BMJCM than females. The third significant variable, primary site visited in the BMJCM, was also as hypothesized with tourists being more likely to recreate in the Blue Mountain Peak area. Overall, the model accounted for 32 percent of the variation of the frequency of trips to the BMJCM by local tourists. In the second model, education emerged as the only significant variable in determining "willingness-to-pay" for park entrance. On the average, the tourists are willing to pay J$50 (US$1.35) per person per day to enter the BMJCM National Park. Finally, recommendations were suggested for operating and managing the BMJCM National Park.
Fiscal Year: fy98 ·
Problem Area: pa98-5 ·
Source: extra
<== Explain
Citation:
Flemming, G. C. M. 1997. Assessing the domestic demand for ecotourism in Jamaica. Thesis,North Carolina A&T State University
Want more? Send an email to emercer@fs.fed.us
.
If you're requesting a reprint be sure your email includes the citation and your complete mailing address.
|
Forest Economics and Policy |
|
USDA Forest Service Southern Research Station |