IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/spr/snbeco/v3y2023i2d10.1007_s43546-022-00411-2.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

The economic, social and environmental implications of heritage tourism: evidence from Bangladesh

Author

Listed:
  • Md. Karimul Islam

    (Brac University)

  • Fariha Farjana

    (Khulna University)

  • Nishad Nasrin

    (Khulna University)

  • Md. Shakil Ahmed

    (Brac University)

Abstract

The study aims to evaluate the economic importance of two world heritage sites (WHS), the Sundarbans, the largest mangrove forest in the world and the Shat Gambuj Mosque (SGM), a medieval edifice, located in Bangladesh as tourist destinations. In addition, we explored the socio-cultural and environmental externalities that evolve from tourism. The study applied the Travel Cost Method (TCM) to perform the economic valuation of these two heritage sites, and adopted Key Informant Interviews (KII) technique to understand the social and environmental externalities. This tridimensional investigation in heritage tourism marks a unique contribution to the field of existing literature. Results reveal a substantial consumer surplus (CS), which is almost five times larger than the current average travel cost. The CS yields an annual economic benefit worth US$ 68.4 million for these two sites. The factors associated with tourists’ travel demand provide evidence that traveling habits along with socioeconomic attributes are crucial determinants of heritage tourism. Although heritage tourism has a positive effect on societal elements, some negative externalities pose threats to the Sundarbans’ natural resources and biodiversity. The resulting tourism value and externalities on society and the environment should be rethought in the site conservation and further flourishment of sustainable heritage tourism.

Suggested Citation

  • Md. Karimul Islam & Fariha Farjana & Nishad Nasrin & Md. Shakil Ahmed, 2023. "The economic, social and environmental implications of heritage tourism: evidence from Bangladesh," SN Business & Economics, Springer, vol. 3(2), pages 1-21, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:snbeco:v:3:y:2023:i:2:d:10.1007_s43546-022-00411-2
    DOI: 10.1007/s43546-022-00411-2
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://link.springer.com/10.1007/s43546-022-00411-2
    File Function: Abstract
    Download Restriction: Access to the full text of the articles in this series is restricted.
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1007/s43546-022-00411-2?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Armbrecht, John, 2014. "Use value of cultural experiences: A comparison of contingent valuation and travel cost," Tourism Management, Elsevier, vol. 42(C), pages 141-148.
    2. Gao, Yanyan & Su, Wei, 2019. "Is the World Heritage just a title for tourism?," Annals of Tourism Research, Elsevier, vol. 78(C), pages 1-1.
    3. Zhang, Fan & Wang, Xiao Hua & Nunes, Paulo A.L.D. & Ma, Chunbo, 2015. "The recreational value of gold coast beaches, Australia: An application of the travel cost method," Ecosystem Services, Elsevier, vol. 11(C), pages 106-114.
    4. SOFRONOV, Bogdan, 2018. "The Development Of The Travel And Tourism Industry In The World," Annals of Spiru Haret University, Economic Series, Universitatea Spiru Haret, vol. 18(4), pages 123-137.
    5. Yu-Xia Lin & Ming-Hsiang Chen & Bi-Shu Lin & Shu-Yin Tseng & Ching-Hui (Joan) Su, 2021. "Nonlinear impact of World Heritage Sites on China’s tourism expansion," Tourism Economics, , vol. 27(4), pages 795-819, June.
    6. Silvia Cerisola, 2019. "Cultural Heritage, Creativity and Economic Development," Books, Edward Elgar Publishing, number 18649.
    7. Louinord Voltaire & Loic Lévi & Frédérique Alban & Jean Boncoeur, 2017. "Valuing cultural world heritage sites: an application of the travel cost method to Mont-Saint-Michel," Applied Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 49(16), pages 1593-1605, April.
    8. Plzakova, Lucie, 2022. "Evaluation of investments in the tourism sector with a local focus," Evaluation and Program Planning, Elsevier, vol. 94(C).
    9. Jones, Thomas E. & Yang, Yang & Yamamoto, Kiyotatsu, 2017. "Assessing the recreational value of world heritage site inscription: A longitudinal travel cost analysis of Mount Fuji climbers," Tourism Management, Elsevier, vol. 60(C), pages 67-78.
    10. Yang, Chih-Hai & Lin, Hui-Lin & Han, Chia-Chun, 2010. "Analysis of international tourist arrivals in China: The role of World Heritage Sites," Tourism Management, Elsevier, vol. 31(6), pages 827-837.
    11. Amaro, Suzanne & Antunes, Angela & Henriques, Carla, 2018. "A closer look at Santiago de Compostela's pilgrims through the lens of motivations," Tourism Management, Elsevier, vol. 64(C), pages 271-280.
    12. Wright, William C.C. & Eppink, Florian V., 2016. "Drivers of heritage value: A meta-analysis of monetary valuation studies of cultural heritage," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 130(C), pages 277-284.
    13. David Wuepper & Marc Patry, 2017. "The World Heritage list: Which sites promote the brand? A big data spatial econometrics approach," Journal of Cultural Economics, Springer;The Association for Cultural Economics International, vol. 41(1), pages 1-21, February.
    14. Canale, Rosaria Rita & De Simone, Elina & Di Maio, Amedeo & Parenti, Benedetta, 2019. "UNESCO World Heritage sites and tourism attractiveness: The case of Italian provinces," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 85(C), pages 114-120.
    15. Parga Dans, Eva & Alonso González, Pablo, 2019. "Sustainable tourism and social value at World Heritage Sites: Towards a conservation plan for Altamira, Spain," Annals of Tourism Research, Elsevier, vol. 74(C), pages 68-80.
    16. Saúl Torres-Ortega & Rubén Pérez-Álvarez & Pedro Díaz-Simal & Julio Manuel De Luis-Ruiz & Felipe Piña-García, 2018. "Economic Valuation of Cultural Heritage: Application of Travel Cost Method to the National Museum and Research Center of Altamira," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(7), pages 1-13, July.
    17. Md. Ali Akber & Muhammad Mainuddin Patwary & Md. Atikul Islam & Mohammad Rezaur Rahman, 2018. "Storm protection service of the Sundarbans mangrove forest, Bangladesh," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 94(1), pages 405-418, October.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Yang, Yang & Xue, Lan & Jones, Thomas E., 2019. "Tourism-enhancing effect of World Heritage Sites: Panacea or placebo? A meta-analysis," Annals of Tourism Research, Elsevier, vol. 75(C), pages 29-41.
    2. Sifeng Nian & Fajian Liu & Min Chen & Guoqing Cheng, 2022. "Satisfaction of Tourism Communities in World Heritage Sites Based on Residents’ Perceptions—Study Area of Mount Sanqingshan National Park, PRC," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(1), pages 1-23, December.
    3. Bertacchini, Enrico & Revelli, Federico & Zotti, Roberto, 2023. "Lord, how I want to be in that number! On the blessing of UNESCO World Heritage listing," Department of Economics and Statistics Cognetti de Martiis. Working Papers 202304, University of Turin.
    4. Can, Ali Selcuk & Ekinci, Yuksel & Pino, Giovanni, 2021. "Joint brand advertising for emerging heritage sites," Annals of Tourism Research, Elsevier, vol. 91(C).
    5. Douglas S. Noonan & Ilde Rizzo, 2017. "Economics of cultural tourism: issues and perspectives," Journal of Cultural Economics, Springer;The Association for Cultural Economics International, vol. 41(2), pages 95-107, May.
    6. Silvia Cerisola & Elisa Panzera, 2021. "Cultural and Creative Cities and Regional Economic Efficiency: Context Conditions as Catalyzers of Cultural Vibrancy and Creative Economy," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(13), pages 1-23, June.
    7. David Wuepper, 2017. "What is the value of world heritage status for a German national park? A choice experiment from Jasmund, 1 year after inscription," Tourism Economics, , vol. 23(5), pages 1114-1123, August.
    8. Saúl Torres-Ortega & Rubén Pérez-Álvarez & Pedro Díaz-Simal & Julio Manuel De Luis-Ruiz & Felipe Piña-García, 2018. "Economic Valuation of Cultural Heritage: Application of Travel Cost Method to the National Museum and Research Center of Altamira," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(7), pages 1-13, July.
    9. Jones, Thomas E. & Yang, Yang & Yamamoto, Kiyotatsu, 2017. "Assessing the recreational value of world heritage site inscription: A longitudinal travel cost analysis of Mount Fuji climbers," Tourism Management, Elsevier, vol. 60(C), pages 67-78.
    10. Vinko Muštra & Blanka Škrabić Perić & Smiljana Pivčević, 2023. "Cultural heritage sites, tourism and regional economic resilience," Papers in Regional Science, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 102(3), pages 465-482, June.
    11. Blanka Škrabić Perić & Blanka Šimundić & Vinko Muštra & Marijana Vugdelija, 2021. "The Role of UNESCO Cultural Heritage and Cultural Sector in Tourism Development: The Case of EU Countries," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(10), pages 1-14, May.
    12. Ke Wu & Peixue Liu & Zhenghu Nie, 2021. "Estimating the Economic Value of Soundscapes in Nature-Based Tourism Destinations: A Separation Attempt of a Pairwise Comparison Method," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(4), pages 1-23, February.
    13. Rubén Pérez-Álvarez & Saúl Torres-Ortega & Pedro Díaz-Simal & Raúl Husillos-Rodríguez & Julio Manuel De Luis-Ruiz, 2016. "Economic Valuation of Mining Heritage from a Recreational Approach: Application to the Case of El Soplao Cave in Spain (Geosite UR004)," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 8(2), pages 1-15, February.
    14. Maria Giovanna Brandano & Marta Meleddu, 2021. "Together or not? Spill-over effects of cultural goods displacement," Tourism Economics, , vol. 27(6), pages 1202-1220, September.
    15. Silvia Cerisola & Elisa Panzera, 2022. "Cultural participation in Cultural and Creative Cities: Positive regional outcomes and potential congestion concerns," Papers in Regional Science, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 101(6), pages 1245-1261, December.
    16. Chih-Cheng Chen & Chun-Hung Lee, 2017. "Economic Benefits of Improving the Quality of Cultural Heritage Sites," Journal of Economics and Management, College of Business, Feng Chia University, Taiwan, vol. 13(2), pages 241-264, August.
    17. Cheng Zhang & Wei Cheng & Wanli Zhang, 2023. "Does World Heritage inscription promote regional tourism? Evidence from China," Tourism Economics, , vol. 29(4), pages 929-951, June.
    18. de Frutos, Pablo & Rodríguez-Prado, Beatriz & Latorre, Joaquín & Martínez-Peña, Fernando, 2019. "Environmental valuation and management of wild edible mushroom picking in Spain," Forest Policy and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 100(C), pages 177-187.
    19. Elina Simone & Rosaria Rita Canale & Amedeo Maio, 2019. "Do UNESCO World Heritage Sites Influence International Tourist Arrivals? Evidence from Italian Provincial Data," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 146(1), pages 345-359, November.
    20. Yu-Xia Lin & Ming-Hsiang Chen & Bi-Shu Lin & Shu-Yin Tseng & Ching-Hui (Joan) Su, 2021. "Nonlinear impact of World Heritage Sites on China’s tourism expansion," Tourism Economics, , vol. 27(4), pages 795-819, June.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    Cultural and natural heritage sites; Heritage tourism; Economic valuation; Travel demand; Sustainable tourism; Social and environmental externality;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • M21 - Business Administration and Business Economics; Marketing; Accounting; Personnel Economics - - Business Economics - - - Business Economics
    • Z32 - Other Special Topics - - Tourism Economics - - - Tourism and Development
    • Z33 - Other Special Topics - - Tourism Economics - - - Marketing and Finance
    • Z10 - Other Special Topics - - Cultural Economics - - - General

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:spr:snbeco:v:3:y:2023:i:2:d:10.1007_s43546-022-00411-2. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Sonal Shukla or Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.springer.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.