AN ANALYSIS OF SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC BENEFITS ASSOCIATED WITH AN ENVIRONMENTAL INTERPRETATION PROGRAM (RECREATION, EDUCATION, PARKS)

TED TIMOTHY CABLE, Purdue University

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to quantify the benefits received by the visitors to an interpretive facility and present evidence of benefits to the agency providing the interpretive program. A secondary objective was to demonstrate the applicability of several theoretically sound methodologies which until now have not been used in an interpretive setting. A travel cost model and the direct consumer surplus method were used to quantify the benefits received by the visitors to the Petawawa National Forestry Institute's public awareness facility. This facility is operated by the Canadian Forestry Service. Benefits to the agency are predicated on changing the public's attitudes and subsequent behavior. Attitudes of entering visitors, and the effect of the program on those attitudes were analyzed in the context of Fishbein's theory of reasoned action and his value-expectancy attitude model. For those visitors who made the facility their main destination, it was estimated in 1982 that the average visit was worth $6.64. In 1983 the average visit was estimated to be $7.83. If all visitors received benefits similar to these average estimates, then benefits received by the visitors totaled $72,136.96 in 1982 and $68,246.28 in 1983. The mean response to the direct consumer surplus question was $2.41 per visit. This mean included responses from multi-destinational visitors. From the perspective of the agency, attitudes of incoming visitors were generally not strongly favorable. Mean attitude scores of exiting visitors were more favorable than scores for entering visitors for four of seven topics dealt with in 1982. In 1983, exiting scores were more favorable for three out of the four topics. The techniques used in this study were found to be useful evaluation tools. The strengths, weaknesses, and caveats associated with each technique are discussed. Policy considerations and management recommendations are discussed in light of the results of the attitude analysis.

Degree

Ph.D.

Subject Area

Forestry

COinS