Title:	Estimating the economic value and impacts of recreational trails: a case study of the Virginia creeper rail trail
Author(s):	Bowker, J. Michael; Bergstrom, John C.; Gill, Joshua
Date:	2007
Source:	Tourism Economics, Vol. 13(2): 241-260
Description:	Many communities are interested in developing and maintaining recreational trails to benefit trail users and as tourist attractions to stimulate economic growth. In this paper, a study is described which estimates the net economic value to trail users and the local economic impacts of the Virginia Creeper Rail Trail in south-western Virginia, USA. The monetary valuation results suggest that the trail is a highly valuable asset to the people who enjoy using it and to local businesses who benefit from trail-related tourist expenditures. The integrated valuation methodology and results can facilitate quantification of recreational trail economic benefits in other locations.
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