Document Type
Thesis
Degree
Master of Science
Department
Environmental Studies
Advisor's Name
Mahadev Bhat
Advisor's Title
Committee Chair
Advisor's Name
Joel Heinen
Advisor's Name
Pallab Mozumder
Advisor's Name
Ligia Collado-Vides
Keywords
Coral Reefs, Contingent Valuation, Marine Protected Areas, Non-Market Valuation
Date of Defense
11-10-2010
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to evaluate tourism capacity, the effectiveness of the management plan and the visitors’ willingness to pay (WTP) for increased conservation effort in the Buccoo Reef Marine Park (BRMP) in Tobago. Non-market contingent valuation was applied to estimate tourists’ WTP, using the data from a survey of 164 tourists. Local residents and government agencies were consulted to evaluate the management plan and the tourism capacity.
Eighty-eight percent of local residents stated that the park was not well managed and that they lacked trust in the park agency. The density of tourists was 67-97% more than socially acceptable crowding norm. The tourists were willing to pay an additional entry fee of US$11.72 per person, which would generate additional revenue for the park management. In conclusion, the BRMP management needs modification in order to increase stakeholders’ trust, reduce tourists crowding intensity, and generate additional user-based revenue.
Recommended Citation
Da Costa, Dionne J., "An Economic Valuation Analysis of Buccoo Reef Marine Park, Tobago, West Indies" (2010). FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations. Paper 290.
http://digitalcommons.fiu.edu/etd/290