International tourism and its contribution to the valuation of the tropical rainforest: a proposed method and application in Costa Rica

Abstract

Previous tropical rainforest valuation techniques have encountered certain limitations with respect to international, multi-destination, multi-purpose travel. This study develops and tests an alternative methodology to determine the recreational value of tropical rainforests in Costa Rica, using the actual tourism expenditures related to ecotourism in protected areas of Costa Rica. The study determined the surrogate consumer surplus related to ecotouristic activities through a time and expenditure survey of 347 international tourists, and determined that the international recreational value of the tropical rainforest in Costa Rica was US13.16 per hectare. This value can be used to encourage and promote conservation and preservation.