Tourism and Recreational Value of Queen Elizabeth Conservation Area

Tourism and outdoor recreation are based on environmental resources therefore, valuation of the resources is vital to determine the economic value of recreational activities that are regarded as non-market goods or services of protected areas. The objectives of the study were to document the characteristics of tourists, examine factors that determine tourists’ willingness to pay and determine the economic value of tourism and recreational activities in QECA. The study adopted an exploratory research design with a blend of qualitative and quantitative approaches that are complementary. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire administered to 150 tourists 50 of whom were local residents (East Africans) and 100 were international tourists (non-residents). Data were collected on tourists’ profile, travel characteristics motivation to visit and travel cost while secondary were gathered from tourists’ visitation records at QECA. Data were subjected to chi-square and t-tests and Zero Truncated Poison Regression Model to compute consumer surplus as an estimate of the economic recreational value of QCEA. Zero-truncated negative binomial regression modelling was used to identify factors that determine tourists’ willingness to pay return visit to QECA. Results revealed that About 55.8% of the non-resident visitors were males and 44.2% females while 49.1% of the resident visitors were male and 50.9% were female. Majority (68.4%) of the non-resident tourists were first-time visitors while 49.1% of the resident tourists visited for the first time. On average, they spent about 4-14 hours to travel. Resident visitor paid USD 6 while non-resident visitors paid USD 45 entrance fees. Foreign tourists spent about USD 13,612 while resident tourists spent about USD 4,926. Fewer tourists expressed willingness to revisit due to high travel costs. The annual total recreational value of QECA is about USD 158,900,318.