Journals Information
Environment and Ecology Research Vol. 10(6), pp. 755 - 769
DOI: 10.13189/eer.2022.100611
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International Tourists' Willingness to Pay for A Wildlife Conservation Program: A Case Study of Northern Yellow-cheeked Gibbons in Bach Ma National Park, Vietnam
Le Thanh An 1,*, Nguyen Cong Dinh 1, Trinh Quang Thoai 2, Nguyen Duc Kien 1, Truong Quang Dung 1, Nguyen Thai Phan 1,3, Truong Tan Quan 4, Pham Xuan Hung 5,6
1 Department of Economic Management, University of Economics, Hue University, Hue City, 530000, Vietnam
2 Department of Economics, Vietnam National University of Forestry, 13417, Hanoi, Vietnam
3 Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon, 24341, South Korea
4 Department of Statistics and Economic Mathematics, University of Economics, Hue University, Hue City, 530000, Vietnam
5 Department of Planning and Investment, University of Economics, Hue University, Hue City, 530000, Vietnam
6 Department of Science, Technology and International Cooperations, University of Economics, Hue University, Hue City, 530000, Vietnam
ABSTRACT
Extending protected areas has enabled global species and habitat protection, especially for endangered species. In addition, understanding social preferences for species protection is essential to contribute to the biodiversity conservation efforts of protected areas. The main purpose of the study was to investigate the preferences of international tourists towards the protection of the northern yellow-cheeked gibbon (Nomascus annamensis) through a proposed wildlife conservation program in Bach Ma National Park, Central Vietnam. Data for the study was collected from a face-to-face survey of 361 randomly selected foreign tourists visiting Bach Ma National Park. By using the dichotomous choice contingent valuation approach, we estimate international tourists' willingness to pay (WTP) for the proposed conservation program of gibbons and identify elements that influence their WTP for the conservation program. We found that international tourists strongly support conserving gibbon populations in the Bach Ma. The findings from the logistic regression model in the study reveal that the respondents' bid level, education, knowledge, biodiversity conservation, climate change, and revisit variables were all significantly predictive of WTP. The estimated mean WTP amount for one-time funding of the species conservation program was US$7.83 per international tourist. The obtained results of this study suggest that policy-makers and managers of national parks should consider the significance of international visitors' support for gibbon conservation efforts when designing and developing their social strategies, programs, and policies for protecting nature and preserving biodiversity, particularly with regard to tourism segmentation in protected areas.
KEYWORDS
Willingness to Pay, International Tourists, Northern Yellow-cheeked Gibbon, Contingent Valuation Approach, Bach Ma National Park
Cite This Paper in IEEE or APA Citation Styles
(a). IEEE Format:
[1] Le Thanh An , Nguyen Cong Dinh , Trinh Quang Thoai , Nguyen Duc Kien , Truong Quang Dung , Nguyen Thai Phan , Truong Tan Quan , Pham Xuan Hung , "International Tourists' Willingness to Pay for A Wildlife Conservation Program: A Case Study of Northern Yellow-cheeked Gibbons in Bach Ma National Park, Vietnam," Environment and Ecology Research, Vol. 10, No. 6, pp. 755 - 769, 2022. DOI: 10.13189/eer.2022.100611.
(b). APA Format:
Le Thanh An , Nguyen Cong Dinh , Trinh Quang Thoai , Nguyen Duc Kien , Truong Quang Dung , Nguyen Thai Phan , Truong Tan Quan , Pham Xuan Hung (2022). International Tourists' Willingness to Pay for A Wildlife Conservation Program: A Case Study of Northern Yellow-cheeked Gibbons in Bach Ma National Park, Vietnam. Environment and Ecology Research, 10(6), 755 - 769. DOI: 10.13189/eer.2022.100611.