Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-dsjbd Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-25T20:15:08.074Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

An Evaluation of Factors Affecting the Choice of Coastal Recreational Activities

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  26 January 2015

Krishna P. Paudel
Affiliation:
Department of Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness, Louisiana State University and LSU Agricultural Center, Baton Rouge, LA
Rex H. Caffey
Affiliation:
Department of Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness, Louisiana State University and LSU Agricultural Center, Baton Rouge, LA
Nirmala Devkota
Affiliation:
Department of Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness, Louisiana State University and LSU Agricultural Center, Baton Rouge, LA

Abstract

A visitor's decision to use a particular recreational site is influenced by the individual's taste as well as the characteristics of the site. For this reason, improved knowledge of the visitors' interests and factors influencing their choices are vital for both planning and policy formulations in coastal development. This study examines visitor characteristics and desired site-specific characteristics in order to determine the factors affecting use of the Louisiana coast for specific recreational purposes. We use a multinomial logit model and internet survey data to evaluate the factors affecting individuals' decisions to visit coastal Louisiana for a specific use. Results suggest that the major variables affecting the choice of coastal recreational activities include environmental quality of the site, income, and travel time.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Southern Agricultural Economics Association 2011

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Acharya, R.N., Hatch, L.U., and Clonts, H.A.The Role of On-Site Time in Recreational Demand for Wilderness.” Journal of Agricultural and Applied Economics 35(2003): 159–69.S1074070800006003Google Scholar
Albaladejo-Pina, I.P., and Diaz-Delfa, M.T.Tourist Preferences for Rural House Stays: Evidence from Discrete Choice Modelling in Spain.” Tourism Management 30(2009): 805–11.10.1016/j.tourman.2009.01.001Google Scholar
Barras, J.A. Land Area Change and Overview of Major Hurricane Impacts in Coastal Louisiana, 2004-08. U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Map 3080, scale 1:250,000, 6 p. Phamphlet, 2009. Internet site: http://pubs.usgs.gov/sim/3080/dovraloads/SIM3080.pdf (Accessed January 2, 2011).Google Scholar
Barras, J.A., Bernier, J.C., and Morton, R.A. Land Area Change in Coastal Louisiana: A Multi-decadal Perspective (from 1956 to 2006). U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Map 3019, scale 1:250,000, 14 p. Pamphlet, 2008. Internet site: http://pubs.usgs.gov/sim/3019/ (Accessed January 2, 2011).Google Scholar
Beharry-Borg, N., and Scarpa, R.Valuing Quality Changes in Caribbean Coastal Waters for Heterogeneous Beach Visitors.” Ecological Economics 69(2010): 1124–39.10.1016/j.ecolecon.2009.12.007Google Scholar
Bestard, A.B., and Font, A.R.Environmental Diversity in Recreational Choice Modeling.” Ecological Economics 68(2009):2743–50.10.1016/j.ecolecon.2009.05.016Google Scholar
Bhat, C.R., Sener, I.N., and Eluru, N.A Flexible Spatially Dependent Discrete Choice Model: Formulation and Application to Teenagers' Weekday Recreational Activity Participation.” Transportation Research Part B: Methodological 44(2010):903–21.10.1016/j.trb.2010.02.003Google Scholar
Bockstael, N.I., and Hanemann, M.Time and the Recreation Demand Model.” American Journal of Agricultural Economics 69(1987):296302.Google Scholar
Cooper, A., and Boyd, S.Climate Change and Coastal Tourism in Ireland.” In Disappearing Destinations: Climate Change and the Future Challenges for Coastal Tourism. Edited by Jones, A. and Phillips, M., pp. 125–43. CAB International, Wallingford, U.K. 2011.Google Scholar
Cutter, W.B., Pendleton, L., and DeShazo, J.R.Activities in Models of Recreational Demand.” Land Economics 83(2007):370–81.Google Scholar
Ebi, K.L., Meehl, G.A., Bachelete, D., Twilley, R.R., and Boesch, D.F. Regional Impacts of Climate Change – Four Case Studies in the United States. Arlington, VA: Pew Center on Global Climate Change, 2007, p. 66.Google Scholar
Economics for the Environment Consultancy Limited. Valuation of Benefits to England and Wales of a Revised Bathing Water Quality Directive and Other Beach Characteristics Using the Choice Experiment Methodology. Technical Report, Economics for the Environment Consultancy Limited (EFTEC). U.K.: Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, 2002.Google Scholar
Eggert, H., and Olsson, B. “Heterogeneous Preferences for Marine Amenities: A Choice Experiment Applied to Water Quality.” Working Paper. The Department of Economics, Göteborg University, 2005.Google Scholar
Green, W.H. Econometric Analysis, 5th ed. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Education Inc., 2002.Google Scholar
Hicks, R.L., and Schnier, K.E.Dynamic Random Utility Modeling: A Monte Carlo Analysis.” American Journal of Agricultural Economics 88(2006):816–35.10.1111/j.1467-8276.2006.00900.xGoogle Scholar
Kurt, A.S., Achuhmann, P.W., Boyd, R., and Doroodian, D.The Value of Changes in Deer Season Length: An Application of the Nested Model.” Environmental and Resource Economics 19(2001): 131–47.10.1023/A:1011121503549Google Scholar
Leones, J., Colby, B., and Crandall, K.Tracking Expenditures of the Elusive Nature Tourists of Southeastern Arizona.” Journal of Travel Research 36(1998):5664.10.1177/004728759803600306Google Scholar
Lew, D.K., and Larson, D.M.Valuing a Beach Day with a Repeated Nested Logit Model of Participation, Site Choice and Stochastic Time Value.” Marine Resource Economics 23(2008): 233–52.Google Scholar
Lilley, M.B., Firestone, J., and Kemton, W.The Effect of Wind Power Installations on Coastal Tourism.” Energies 3(2010): 122.10.3390/en3010001Google Scholar
Long, J.S. Regression Models for Categorical and Limited Dependent Variables. Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE Publication Inc., 1997.Google Scholar
Loomis, J., Yorizane, S., and Larson, D.Testing Significance of Multi-Destination and Multipurpose Trip Effects on a Travel Cost Method Demand Model for Whale Watching Trips.” Agricultural and Resource Economics Review 29(2000): 183–91.Google Scholar
Morey, E., Shaw, W.D., and Watson, M.A Repeated Nested Logit Model of Atlantic Salmon Fishing.” American Journal of Agricultural Economics 75(1993):578–92.10.2307/1243565Google Scholar
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association. NRDA by the Numbers: Deepwater Horizon Spill Natural Resource Damage Assessment, December 10, 2010. Internet site: http://www.gulfspillrestoration.noaa.gov/ (Accessed February 18, 2011).Google Scholar
National Survey on Recreation and the Environment Major Findings, 2000. Internet site: http://wamell.forestry.uga.edu/nrrt/nsre/ClemSC907.pdf (Accessed January 2, 2011).Google Scholar
Parsons, G.R., Massey, D.M., and Tomasi, T.Familiar and Favorite Sites in a Random Utility Model of Beach Recreation.” Marine Resource Economics 14(2000):299315.Google Scholar
Parsons, P.R., Plantinga, A.J., and Boyle, K.J.Narrow Choice Sets in a Random Utility Model of Recreation Demand.” Land Economics 76(2000):8699.10.2307/3147259Google Scholar
Parsons, G., and Thur, S.Valuing Changes in the Quality of Coral Reef Ecosystems: A Stated Preference Study of Scuba Diving in the Bonaire National Marine Park.” Environmental and Resource Economics 40(2008):593608.10.1007/s10640-007-9171-yGoogle Scholar
Paudel, K.P., Caffey, R.H., Devkota, N., and Hall, L.M.Opening a Public Recreation Area to Revitalize Coastal Communities and Preserve Natural Resources in Louisiana: The Case of Elmer's Island.” Journal of Agricultural and Applied Economics 37(2005):475–84.S1074070800006945Google Scholar
Romando, D.Modeling Determinants of Participation, Number of Trips and Site Choice for Outdoor Recreation in Protected Areas.” Journal of Agricultural Economics 51(2000):224–38.Google Scholar
Twilley, R.Gulf Coast Wetland Sustainability in a Changing Climate.” In Regional Impacts of Climate Change Four Case Studies in the United States. Edited by Ebi, K.L., Meehl, G. A., Bachelete, D., Twilley, R.R., and Boesch, D.F., pp. 4251. Arlington, VA: Pew Center on Global Climate Change, 2007.Google Scholar
Vesterinen, J., Pouta, E., Huhtala, A., and Neuvonen, M.Impacts of Changes in Water Quality on Recreation Behavior and Benefits in Finland.” Journal of Environmental Management 91(2010):984–94.10.1016/j.jenvman.2009.12.00520036782Google Scholar