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Asian Journal of Agriculture and Development (AJAD) - Call for papers!

Unpriced Valuation Approach for Ecotourism in Way Kambas National Park, Lampung Province, Indonesia

(Indonesia), Doctor of Philosophy in Forestry (University of the Philippines Los Baños)

Dissertation Abstract:

 

Generally, the study aimed to estimate the overall value of ecotourism provided by Way Kambas National Park in Lampung Province, Indonesia. Specially, it aimed to: 1) determine the socioeconomic factors that affect ecotourism demand; 2) characterize the park and its visitors; 3) compare the park's ecotourism value using the travel cost method (TCM) and the contingent valuation method (CVM); and 4) estimate the contribution of visitors' wildlife interest to the total value of consumers' surplus of ecotourism.

Primary data were collected through an interview schedule. A total of 494 respondents were chosen from 14,671 park visitors based on age, health, status, and ability to communicate. Secondary data were collected from the park's record, Indonesian Central Bureau of Statistics, and Lampung Statistical Office.

Results of the study revealed that the main factors affecting ecotourism demand for the park were recreation plan, zone population, and travel cost.

The ecotourism value per park visitor was estimated at Rp 4,540 to Rp 8,777 (US[plugins/custom/publications/abstract-db-display.php].14- US.15) by TCM and Rp 9,080 to Rp 9,852 (US.30-US.66) by CVM.

The optimum admission fee under TCM was Rp 4,500 (US[plugins/custom/publications/abstract-db-display.php].13) per visitor, which would give the park a total annual income of Rp 602 million (US

Southeast Asian Regional Center
for Graduate Study and Research
in Agriculture
.3 million). The maximum admission fee that visitors could not afford was Rp 10,500 (US.97). Most of the respondents came from Central Lampung. Their main purpose for visiting was to have a picnic. To reach the park, most visitors used private transportation and were in family groups. The majority of visitors were 30-39 years old. About 35.02 percent of them were in senior high school while 28.14 percent were at the university/college level. In terms of employment, 24.89 percent were government officers and 23.28 percent were private employees. As for income, 29.55 percent had monthly income falling within Rp 201,000-Rp 300,000 (US.13-US1 .97) range, while 23.68 percent were in the Rp 101,000- Rp 2,000,000 (US.80-US.65) range.

The park's wildlife contributed 68.63 percent to its value, 61.54 percent of which came from the elephants. Estimated total consumer surplus was Rp111- Rp1.210 million (US,000-US3,000). The average consumer surplus was Rp 661 million (US

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.31 million higher than the actual expenditure of Rp 180million (US, 190) to manage and develop the park in 1992-1993.

TCM based on distance and time appeared to be the best way to value the park. With TCM, every visitor incurred the same cost from the same place of origin. It also gave the highest total consumer surplus and income per year. This can be adopted to value other national parks in Indonesia.

There is a need to continue research on ecotourism values to include the social value of benefits gained by the people surrounding the park.

Ecotourism has positive impacts on people who live in surrounding areas such as the opening of more job opportunities for local residents and increasing the availability of goods and services to visitors. Care, however, should be exercised in ecotourism development of the park so that its natural beauty, richness, and biodiversity will not be compromised.