VALUING THE RECREATION AREAS OF TURKEY: A TRAVEL COST ANALYSIS USING COUNT DATA REGRESSION MODELS

ABSTRACT This study aims to determine the economic value of 4 different recreational areas selected to represent nature and culture tourism in Turkey (Mount Nemrut and Soumela Monastery to represent culture tourism, Ayder Highland and Uzungöl Nature Park to represent nature tourism). The data were obtained from questionnaires carried out with 341 visitors who visited the aforementioned recreation areas in 2016. The Travel Cost Method (TCM) was used to create the demand function for visiting and recreational utilities projected by using Poisson and Negative Binomial (Negbin) models. The utility of the recreations per visit was determined as 500 TL. In the study, the consumer’s surplus per visitor was calculated as 600 TL for Mount Nemrut, 750 TL for Soumela Monastery, 1100 TL for Ayder Highland and 700 TL for Uzungöl.

VALUING THE RECREATION AREAS OF TURKEY: A TRAVEL COST ANALYSIS USING COUNT DATA REGRESSION MODELS

ABSTRACT This study aims to determine the economic value of 4 different recreational areas selected to represent nature and culture tourism in Turkey (Mount Nemrut and Soumela Monastery to represent culture tourism, Ayder Highland and Uzungöl Nature Park to represent nature tourism). The data were obtained from questionnaires carried out with 341 visitors who visited the aforementioned recreation areas in 2016. The Travel Cost Method (TCM) was used to create the demand function for visiting and recreational utilities projected by using Poisson and Negative Binomial (Negbin) models. The utility of the recreations per visit was determined as 500 TL. In the study, the consumer’s surplus per visitor was calculated as 600 TL for Mount Nemrut, 750 TL for Soumela Monastery, 1100 TL for Ayder Highland and 700 TL for Uzungöl.

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