Valuing the Recreational Uses of Pakistan’s Wetlands: An Application of the Travel Cost Method

This study applies a single-site truncated count data travel cost model in order to estimate the value visitors place on recreation in Keenjhar. The recreational use value associated with Keenjhar lake to be PKR 3.46 billion (or USD 42.2 million) is estimated. This estimate is based on an annualized mean consumer surplus per visit of PKR 9,500 (or USD 116) and assumes average daily visits of 1,000. Changing the model specification reduces consumer surplus only by about 5%. Policy makers can use these estimates on the recreational value of the lake to assess the returns to conservation investments. [SANDEE Working Paper, No 58 - 11]. URL:[http://www.sandeeonline.org/uploads/documents/publication/932_PUB_Working_Paper_58_Ali_Dehlavi.pdf].