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Peace is much more than doves: The economic benefits of bird-based tourism as a result of the peace treaty in Colombia

Author

Listed:
  • Maldonado, Jorge H.
  • Moreno-Sánchez, Rocío del Pilar
  • Espinoza, Sophía
  • Bruner, Aaron
  • Garzón, Natalia
  • Myers, John

Abstract

Colombia has the greatest bird diversity of any country in the world, with approximately 1900 recorded species, equivalent to 20% of all bird species worldwide. Advances made by the Colombian government to achieve greater security within the country – putting an end to the long-standing armed conflict – and to promote ecotourism can help position Colombia as one of the most important bird watching destinations worldwide. This study estimates the economic benefits from bird-based tourism in post-war Colombia. In particular, we estimate the value that members of the US-based National Audubon Society place on a birding tour that includes the participation of local communities (some of whom were victims of the armed conflict), and visits to important areas for bird watching that are increasingly accessible. The study also approximates the demand for international bird watching tourism to the country. Through the application of the contingent valuation method, we show that birding enthusiasts would be willing to pay, on average, an additional $58 per person per day for a tour in Colombia, as compared to a similar tour in terms of duration and services in Costa Rica, currently one of the main tourism destinations for birdwatchers. Our analysis indicates that a total of 278,850 North American bird watchers would be interested in visiting the country, generating an annual profit of $9 million and 7516 new jobs. In addition to confirming demand for bird-based travel, the study provides information about potential visitors’ preferences, which can help guide the development of a strategy to promote bird-based tourism to Colombia.

Suggested Citation

  • Maldonado, Jorge H. & Moreno-Sánchez, Rocío del Pilar & Espinoza, Sophía & Bruner, Aaron & Garzón, Natalia & Myers, John, 2018. "Peace is much more than doves: The economic benefits of bird-based tourism as a result of the peace treaty in Colombia," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 106(C), pages 78-86.
  • Handle: RePEc:eee:wdevel:v:106:y:2018:i:c:p:78-86
    DOI: 10.1016/j.worlddev.2018.01.015
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    1. Barrera, Camila Andrea & Maldonado, Jorge Higinio, 2013. "Valoración Económica del Subsistema de Áreas Marinas Protegidas en Colombia: Un estudio enfocado a Turistas Especializados," Documentos CEDE Series 161376, Universidad de Los Andes, Economics Department.
    2. Loomis, John B. & Ekstrand, Earl, 1997. "Economic Benefits Of Critical Habitat For The Mexican Spotted Owl: A Scope Test Using A Multiple-Bounded Contingent Valuation Survey," Journal of Agricultural and Resource Economics, Western Agricultural Economics Association, vol. 22(2), pages 1-11, December.
    3. Timothy C. Haab & Kenneth E. McConnell, 2002. "Valuing Environmental and Natural Resources," Books, Edward Elgar Publishing, number 2427.
    4. Dale Whittington & Wiktor Adamowicz & Patrick Lloyd-Smith, 2017. "Asking Willingness-to-Accept Questions in Stated Preference Surveys: A Review and Research Agenda," Annual Review of Resource Economics, Annual Reviews, vol. 9(1), pages 317-336, October.
    5. Romy Greiner & John Rolfe, 2004. "Estimating Consumer Surplus and Elasticity of Demand of Tourist Visitation to a Region in North Queensland Using Contingent Valuation," Tourism Economics, , vol. 10(3), pages 317-328, September.
    6. Ian J. Bateman & Richard T. Carson & Brett Day & Michael Hanemann & Nick Hanley & Tannis Hett & Michael Jones-Lee & Graham Loomes, 2002. "Economic Valuation with Stated Preference Techniques," Books, Edward Elgar Publishing, number 2639.
    7. Dale Whittington & Wiktor Adamowicz & Patrick Lloyd-Smith, 2017. "Asking Willingness-to-Accept Questions in Stated Preference Surveys: A Review and Research Agenda," Annual Review of Economics, Annual Reviews, vol. 9(1), pages 317-336, October.
    8. Li Chuan-Zhong & Mattsson Leif, 1995. "Discrete Choice under Preference Uncertainty: An Improved Structural Model for Contingent Valuation," Journal of Environmental Economics and Management, Elsevier, vol. 28(2), pages 256-269, March.
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    Cited by:

    1. Jie Ren & Kaiwen Su & Yihui Zhou & Yilei Hou & Yali Wen, 2022. "Why Return? Birdwatching Tourists’ Revisit Intentions Based on Structural Equation Modelling," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(21), pages 1-17, November.
    2. Bernal, Carolina & Prem, Mounu & Vargas, Juan F. & Ortiz, Mónica, 2024. "Peaceful entry: Entrepreneurship dynamics during Colombia’s peace agreement," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 166(C).
    3. Eduardo Sanguinet & Luis Armando Galvis-Aponte & Inácio F. Araújo & Eduardo A. Haddad, 2020. "Viajeros urbanos de paseo por la playa: efectos regionales del turismo interno en Colombia," Documentos de trabajo sobre Economía Regional y Urbana 293, Banco de la Republica de Colombia.
    4. Mariana Unda & Andrés Etter, 2019. "Conservation Opportunities of the Land Restitution Program Areas in the Colombian Post-Conflict Period," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(7), pages 1-19, April.
    5. Aline de Freitas & Fernanda Achete & Susana Beatriz Vinzón, 2020. "Characterization of the Coastal Environment as a Baseline for Alternative Tourism Segments Development in Salinópolis, Pará," World, MDPI, vol. 1(3), pages 1-12, November.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Contingent valuation; Ecotourism; Bird watching; Peace process; Armed conflict; Colombia; South America;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • Q26 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Renewable Resources and Conservation - - - Recreational Aspects of Natural Resources
    • Z32 - Other Special Topics - - Tourism Economics - - - Tourism and Development
    • Q51 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - Valuation of Environmental Effects
    • Q55 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - Environmental Economics: Technological Innovation
    • O13 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Agriculture; Natural Resources; Environment; Other Primary Products
    • D12 - Microeconomics - - Household Behavior - - - Consumer Economics: Empirical Analysis
    • C25 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Single Equation Models; Single Variables - - - Discrete Regression and Qualitative Choice Models; Discrete Regressors; Proportions; Probabilities

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