The economic impact of tourism in six German national parks

Abstract

a b s t r a c tTourism in protected areas can create considerable income for adjacent communities. Based on faceto-face visitor surveys, the present study measures the structure, size and economic impact of tourist expenditure in the six German national parks Niedersächsisches Wattenmeer, Bayerischer Wald, Eifel, Müritz, Hainich and Kellerwald-Edersee. We find that mean daily expenditure per person of national park visitors is considerably below the national averages for tourists in Germany: day-trippers spend between EUR 7 and 13 per day (national average: EUR 28), whereas overnight visitors spend between EUR 37 and 57 (national average: EUR 120). The proportion of visitors with high national park affinity varies between a maximum of almost 46% in Bayerischer Wald and a minimum of nearly 11% in Niedersächsisches Wattenmeer. Between 49% and 51% of tourist expenditure is captured as direct and indirect income. The total impact of tourism ranges between EUR 525 million in Niedersächsisches Wattenmeer and EUR 1.9 million in Kellerwald-Edersee, reflecting the national parks' distinct trajectories as tourist destinations. In order to increase the economic benefits accruing from national parks regional policy could aim at a qualitative upgrading of tourist services, increased marketing of the unique national park label and the promotion of a diverse regional supply base.

Assessing Tourists’ Preferences for Recreational Trips in National and Natural Parks as a Premise for Long-Term Sustainable Management Plans

“…It remains the manager's task to understand tourists' preferences and attitudes and to search for efficient management solutions on how to respond to these demands without harming nature. Certainly, a systematic and continuous visitor monitoring system is mandatory [46] within such a challenging process. Veisten et al [39] emphasized that sustainable tourism management can be reached in national parks by adopting an active visitor management system based on monitoring and visitor surveys.…”

An outline of economic impacts of management options for Šumava National Park

“…An important study in 2010 demonstrates the potential opportunities in NPs. Mayer et al (2010) analyses the economic impact of tourism in six German national parks. It shows that the NP is a driver of development and substantial opportunities exist based on the protection and expansion of the non-intervention wilderness areas of high value nature in Šumava NP.…”

From sacred cow to cash cow: The shifting political ecologies of protected areas in Russia

“…Experience has shown that it can both create substantial revenue streams for local communities (Mayer et al 2010) and enhance visitors' awareness of ecological issues, if well managed (eagles et al 2002). Both of these fields need more attention in Russia.…”

“…The TEEB initiative, short for The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity, is an international attempt to establish a standard basis for natural capital accounting and thus capture and quantify the value of nature and its conservation. Other studies have sought to measure the economic impact of protected areas (e. g. Mayer 2014; Mayer et al 2010). …”