Estimating the economic value of ecotourism in Anmyeondo tidal wetlands using the contingent valuation method

Abstract

The paper is to estimate the economic value of ecotourism in Anmyeondo tidal wetlands using a double-bounded dichotomous choice (DBDC) model of the Contingent Valuation Method (CVM). For the reliability and the validity of CVM a survey was conducted for 511 visitors by personal interview method in Anmyeondo during August 2000, and respondents were asked for maximum Willingness-To-Pay (WTP) to buy a ticket for the tidal flat's ecotourism. Overall, respondents answered that they would be willing to pay 55,879 won for a ticket under the study. All equations and results estimated are statistically significant at the 1% or 5% level. For the aggregation of WTP estimates, the sample values are extended to the total annual number of visitors in Anmyeondo area during 1998. A conservative estimate, which considers the calibration factor (0.5) recommended by NOAA (1994) and a positive response rate (83.17%), is 73 billion won.