Estimating the Preservation Value of Wuyishan National Park from the Perspective of Bounded Rational Decision Making

Abstract

Simplifying and popularizing the preservation values (valuation methods) of national parks—based on the premise of accuracy—shows stakeholders the importance of national parks, and is the basis for exploring sustainable use and development mechanisms. However, there are hypotheses biases, strategic biases, and starting point biases in regards to the existing evaluation methods. Therefore, based on the results of the contingent valuation method of research, under bounded rationality, this study uses the two-stage dichotomous choice contingent valuation and selects three methods to estimate the willingness to pay (WTP) for preservation at Wuyishan National Park. The results support that the two-stage contingent valuation method could effectively evade uncertainty with a “willingness to pay” decision making under bounded rationality, and factually reflect the real WTP. The results show that: (1) the average willingness to pay (truncated) of each household in Wuyishan National Park is CNY 609 (USD 93.90), which is similar to the actual average tourism expenditure of each household. (2) The cultural worldviews and perceived restorative environment have significant impacts on willingness to pay. (3) Comparing the preservation value of Wuyishan National Park with the actual financial input plays a positive role in manifesting the importance of Wuyishan National Park and attracting more financial input. The preservation value of Wuyishan National Park in the key market is about six times that of the basic market and one-third of that in the national market, which provides a theoretical basis for selecting the key tourism development market of Wuyishan National Park. (4) Those respondents believe that more funds should be put into protecting the national parks for their sustainable existence and bequeathing to future generations, which shows that the construction of the national park system is significant in improving natural values. This study attempted to provide theoretical support for improving non-market value and sustainable development of national parks.

Visitor’s Willingness to Pay for National Park Entrance Fees in China: Evidence from a Contingent Valuation Method

“…Their average age was approximately 35, and the average education level was nearly some college education. The visitors' characteristics of being young and highly educated were consistent with previous studies conducted in other protected areas [35,36]. Most (81.6%) visitors resided in Shaanxi Province because the confirmed cases of COVID-19 discouraged visitors' from travelling to other provinces.…”

“…Our sample of the visitors was representative since the socio-economic characteristics are consistent with analogous surveys conducted in Shaanxi province [37], as well as in other tourist attractions of China's pilot national parks [35,36].…”

How viewing a forest affects willingness to pay of users and non-users in Contingent Valuation Method?

“…Hanley et al, 2003). Our results, in a way, provide a response to the questions raised in the conclusions of the paper by Liu et. al.…”

Research on the Spatial Pattern and Influence Mechanism of Industrial Transformation and Development of Traditional Villages

“…However, after local governments increased investment in technology and local transportation accessibility, the rapid development of secondary and tertiary industry has driven the transformation of regional industries; therefore, hopefully the economic core of the inland regions will emerge. In this sense, inland areas should actively press ahead with rural industrial revitalization, preserve the value of traditional villages, and promote economic development [56].…”