Access to the Beach: Comparing the Economic Values of Coastal Residents and Tourists

In the United States, an objective of coastal states is providing sufficient access to coastal resources. To better utilize public resources for such projects, decision makers would benefit from possessing reliable estimates of economic values coastal residents and tourists place on public beach acc...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of travel research 2012-11, Vol.51 (6), p.742-753
Main Authors: Dixon, Anthony W., Oh, Chi-Ok, Draper, Jason
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Beaches
Coastal
Coastal plains
Decision making
Economics
Estimates
Financing
Mathematical analysis
Residents
Studies
Supplying
Tourism
Waterways
Willingness to pay
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Summary:In the United States, an objective of coastal states is providing sufficient access to coastal resources. To better utilize public resources for such projects, decision makers would benefit from possessing reliable estimates of economic values coastal residents and tourists place on public beach access. This study’s purpose is to estimate the economic values coastal residents and tourists assign to public beach access, and provide options for financing such projects. Estimates of these values were calculated using the doubled-bounded dichotomous choice contingent valuation technique. Results indicated that coastal residents were willing to pay $2.46 for additional public beach access, while coastal tourists’ mean willingness to pay was $6.33. Findings suggest additional public beach access locations are desirable to both coastal residents and tourists. Supplying coastal resource managers with these values can assist in justifying the use of public resources on beach access projects, as well as in the development of long-term policies.
ISSN:0047-2875
1552-6763
DOI:10.1177/0047287512451136