Estimating Economic Value of Margoon Waterfall in Fars Province Aspects of Recreational Function

Document Type : Original Article

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Abstract

Margoon waterfall as one of the ecotourism attractions in Fars province is an important tourism area in Iran. Therefore, the study of ecotourism value can be effective in prediction of needs of lacks and development of tourism. The aim of this study is to estimatie ecotourism value of Margoon waterfall using Contingent Valuation Model. For estimating effective factors on individual WTP, qualitative model of Logit and double bounded approach were used. Required data via questionnaire and interview with 309 visitors from the region were collected. The results showed that 78 percents of visitors are willing to pay a fee for using Margoon waterfall. Also age, interest rates, monthly income and Bid price have significant effect on probability of individual WTP. Average individual WTP is estimated 3611.1 ($1.2) Rials as admission fee and annual ecotourism value is estimated 3.072835 billion Rials ($ 1.2 milion) for recreational use.  

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