An economic valuation of the Bunso Eco-Park, Ghana: an application of travel cost method

AbstractThis research aims at [1] identifying the factors that influence visits to Bunso Eco-Park; [2] estimating the recreational demand function for the park; and [3] estimating visitors’ net benefit (consumer surplus) for embarking on an eco-park recreational trip to Bunso using a sample size of 440. Estimates indicate that the annual person value of the site is Gh¢ 191.06 ($ 22.29) translating into an annual economic value of Gh¢ 9,170,880 (US$ 1,070,114.35). There is an inverse relationship between the rate of visits and the travel cost. The positive intercept of the demand function indicates a normal demand curve for the Bunso Eco-Park. The variables of visitors’ family size, marital status, and years visitors have known the eco-park were not significant. Educational level, age, gender, and knowledge of alternative sites were found to be factors influencing the visitation to the Bunso Eco-Park. Further valuation of the non-recreational value of Bunso Eco-Park would be useful to policymakers to place suitable management plans in sustaining and improving the quality of eco-park service.