IP Publishing Ltd
Vol 14 No 2 June 2008
Guest Editors: Peter Fredman and Kreg Lindberg
245 Introduction
Catherine M. Keske and John B. Loomis
263 Hiking in the Alps: exploring substitution patterns of hiking destinations
Mara Thiene and Riccardo Scarpa
Thomas Laitila and Anton Paulrud
297 Determinants of visitor expenditures in mountain tourism
Peter Fredman
313 Methods for measuring the effects of the EU presidency on international tourism
Egon Smeral and Michael Wüger
325 Assessment of tourism competitiveness by analysing destination efficiency
Maria Francesca Cracolici, Peter Nijkamp and Piet Rietveld
343 Assessing the impact of a major sporting event: the role of environmental accounting
Calvin Jones
361 The impact of heritage tourism on an urban economy: the case of Granada and the Alhambra
Joaquín Murillo Viu, Javier Romaní Fernández and Jordi Suriñach Caralt
377 Recreation value of a new long-distance walking track
Averil Cook
Marianna Succurro
409 Regional growth and Beaver Lake: a study of recreation visitors
Nathan P. Kemper, Jennie S. Popp and Wayne P. Miller
427 Research note: Millennium Development Goals – what is tourism’s place?
Iain T. Christie and Amit Sharma
Tod Jones and David Wood
435 Rejoinder: The rhetoric and reality of yield at the destination level
Roger March
Author(s): Catherine M. Keske and John B. Loomis
Abstract: Climbing ‘Fourteeners’, peaks whose summits rise above 14,000 feet, is a popular recreational activity in Colorado. Access to these popular peaks has been jeopardized by liability issues on privately owned peaks and by overuse on publicly owned peaks. To date, there has been little analysis on the economic benefits provided by Fourteeners. This study finds that opening access to three closed peaks presents an infusion into local and state economies of 25 and 45 jobs, respectively. Access to the peaks is worth US$167 per person each trip; a relatively high value in the context of the recreation economics literature.
Title: Hiking in the Alps: exploring substitution patterns of hiking destinations
Author(s): Mara Thiene and Riccardo Scarpa
Abstract: Tourism in the Alps used to rely on a network of facilities maintained in part by the military Alpine Corps. Hiking has been growing in popularity, while the national draft is no longer compulsory. This situation calls for a renewed approach to management of the maintenance of alpine facilities. The authors explore the use of destination choice models which allow for various substitution hypotheses and highlight how single mountain sites can be substitutes for others, although located in a different geographical area. The results supply helpful information for local policy decision makers as they provide insights about the redistribution of visits following the implementation of different policy scenarios. The authors investigate such redistributions following the variation of availability to hikers in terms of alpine shelters, length of trails, site access and the application of access fees. They also estimate changes in welfare for selected variations of alpine facilities and availability of destinations. The findings highlight the sensitivity of results to the use of different specifications of demand models to guide local policy strategies.
Author(s): Thomas Laitila and Anton Paulrud
Abstract: This paper presents results from a choice experiment (CE) study of anglers’ valuations of the characteristics of an angling site at Storsjö-Kapell in the Swedish mountain region. In particular, the study presents value estimates of a dam removal and restoration to natural angling conditions. Values of catch, size and species are considered, as are values of bag limits. Also, value estimates are related to a trip frequency model, making it possible to predict visiting frequency under different scenarios. Thus, the model estimates provide a step towards developing dynamic fisheries management models, as the policies analysed may change the age structure of the stock. In addition to empirical results, the paper contributes a derivation of bounds on willingness to pay (WTP) based on the notion that new visitors may have smaller WTP for a change than those already selecting the site for angling.
Title: Determinants of visitor expenditures in mountain tourism
Author(s): Peter Fredman
Abstract: In this study, determinants of expenditures are estimated for downhill skiers, backpackers, snowmobilers and general visitors to the Swedish mountain region. The study is based on a national sample of mountain visitors. It is shown that duration of stay, household income, choice of activity, occupation, participation in an organized trip and choice of accommodation have an effect on expenditures at the destination, while gender, mode of travel, distance and ‘significance of activity’ are additional determinants of expenditures outside the destination. The study will contribute to our understanding of the economic values associated with the future development of mountain tourism, including values beyond primary expenditures.
Title: Methods for measuring the effects of the EU presidency on international tourism
Author(s): Egon Smeral and Michael Wüger
Abstract: This study uses time-series techniques and econometric approaches to quantify the effects that organizing an EU presidency has on the tourism exports of a country. The approach of explaining tourism revenues by a time-series intervention model filters out special effects (data discontinuations, exchange rates, events, media reports, etc) by outlier detection methods, maps influences from trends, the business cycle and seasonal effects in an ARIMA model and depicts the effect of an EU presidency by way of an intervention variable. Using econometric indicator approaches, a country’s tourism exports are controlled for seasonal and special influences, habitual effects and demand trends by way of suitable indicators and a dummy variable is used to test whether the EU presidency makes a statistically significant contribution to the revenues from tourism.
Title: Assessment of tourism competitiveness by analysing destination efficiency
Author(s): Maria Francesca Cracolici, Peter Nijkamp and Piet Rietveld
Abstract: The notion and measurement of destination competitiveness have received increasing attention in the economics literature on tourism. The reason for this emerges from both the growing economic importance of the tourist sector and the increasing competition in the tourist market resulting from the transition from mass tourism to a new age of tourism that calls for a tailor-made approach to the specific attitudes and needs of tourists. The central subject of this paper – inspired by the conceptual competitiveness model developed by Crouch and Ritchie – concerns the efficiency of tourist site destinations. Using a data set of 103 Italian regions for 2001, an economic efficiency analysis is carried out, based on a production frontier approach. The study deploys a measure of tourist site competitiveness in terms of its technical efficiency using parametric and non-parametric methods, a stochastic production function and data envelopment analysis, respectively.
Title: Assessing the impact of a major sporting event: the role of environmental accounting
Author(s): Calvin Jones
Abstract: Government support for major sporting events is usually predicated on their assumed economic benefits. Yet there has been little parallel consideration of their potential environmental costs, at a time when the same governments are citing the importance of sustainable development. Environmental performance of major sporting events has hitherto been judged, if at all, on qualitative, activity and procedural criteria, rather than by attempting to estimate the overall impact of an event on measurable externalities. This paper examines the UK round of the 2004 World Rally Championship, using environmental accounting techniques to estimate its economic and environmental impacts on its host region.
Title: The impact of heritage tourism on an urban economy: the case of Granada and the Alhambra
Author(s): Joaquín Murillo Viu, Javier Romaní Fernández and Jordi Suriñach Caralt
Abstract: The authors present an example of the impact of a cultural heritage site on its environment – in this case, the Alhambra and Generalife complex (AG) in Granada, Spain, declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. They then quantify the impact and analyse the effects by sector, including a brief explanation of the methodology. The results show that tourism exercises strong push–pull effects through vigorous intersector relationships.
Title: Recreation value of a new long-distance walking track
Author(s): Averil Cook
Abstract: A large recreation value may be expected for a long-distance walking track which allows for hiking and camping in a tropical rainforest environment. When such a resource is new, sufficient data are not available for a primary study. A practical way to obtain a value estimate is by employing benefit transfer procedures. Using a travel cost analysis for the Thorsborne Trail as the transfer source, a consumer surplus estimate for the new Cannabullen Track was estimated at about Aus$300 per person per year. This value may contribute to management decisions about further development of facilities along the track and about user fees.
Author(s): Marianna Succurro
Abstract: This paper provides empirical evidence regarding the impact of tour operators on the performance of accommodation enterprises in a southern Italian region. The region, in spite of its strategic geographical position and beautiful natural resources, is still characterized by limited tourist flows and production capacity with regard to its accommodation potential. A logistic regression is implemented on data collected through a direct survey. This survey made use of the results from questionnaires given to a sample of 255 accommodation providers. The study concludes by proposing policies that might be adopted by private firms, intermediaries and local government in order to improve competitiveness and enhance economic growth.
Title: Regional growth and Beaver Lake: a study of recreation visitors
Author(s): Nathan P. Kemper, Jennie S. Popp and Wayne P. Miller
Abstract: Beaver Lake is the primary water supply for a rapidly growing region in Northwest Arkansas. The lake is a popular tourist destination and land surrounding it is highly sought after for development. Some voice concern that development could affect lake water quality negatively and threaten future regional growth. The results of the study presented here suggest the spending of 2.4 million annual visitors to Beaver Lake generates 600 jobs, US$12.9 million in income and US$20.9 million in value added to the region. However, this economic activity is not likely to offset the costs to the region of maintaining the water supply and the water quality of the lake.
Title: Research note: Millennium Development Goals – what is tourism’s place?
Author(s): Iain T. Christie and Amit Sharma
Abstract: The Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) bring together a large coalition of partners with the common goal of reducing the greatest threats to people and our planet, including poverty and social and environmental challenges. The first five-year review showed that, at the present pace of change, the ambitious goals set for 2015 would not be met. Spearheaded by the UN, the attainment of MDGs requires both public interventions and private sector leadership. While tourism is contributing in multiple ways, this paper explores why it can, and should, do more. It also suggests how resolving challenges linked to achieving MDGs will resolve tourism development bottlenecks.
Author(s): Tod Jones and David Wood
Abstract: This research note addresses the current confusion of terminology and practice among studies of the expenditure of tourists to natural areas and wildlife attractions. The authors suggest that the term ‘substitution’ should be used when estimating tourists’ intention to substitute another destination for the study region, should the natural resource in the study region cease to exist. They also discuss the use of the term ‘attribution’ and how the concept of ‘attributable expenditure’ has been applied in natural area and wildlife tourism expenditure research.
Title: Rejoinder: The rhetoric and reality of yield at the destination level
Author(s): Roger March
Abstract: The author comments on the paper by Larry Dwyer, Peter Forsyth, Liz Fredline, Marg Deery, Leo Jago and Sven Lundie, ‘Yield measures for special-interest Australian inbound tourism markets’, published in Tourism Economics, Vol 13, No 3, September 2007, pp 421–440. This rejoinder is followed by a response from Larry Dwyer.