Abstract |
Recreation demand and value are estimated with the travel-cost method for fishing, camping, boating, and swimming on a site-specific regional basis. The model is regional in that 197 sites are defined for the Pacific Northwest. A gravity model is employed to estimate the number of trips from each destination in the region, and these data are the basic input in the travel-cost demand curves. The model is illustrated by estimating the recreation benefits that would result from meeting the national environmental goal of 'fishable and swimmable' rivers. The main finding is that potential recreation benefits are concentrated in a few select areas, which are accessible to large population centers. |