Estimating the Economic Value and Impacts of Recreational Trails: A Case Study of the Virginia Creeper Rail Trail

J.M. Bowker, John C. Bergstrom and Joshua Gill
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J.M. Bowker: Southern Forest Research Station, Forest Science Lab, Athens, GA, USA
John C. Bergstrom: Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics, 208 Conner Hall, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA
Joshua Gill: Formerly with the Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA

Tourism Economics, 2007, vol. 13, issue 2, 241-260

Abstract: Many communities are interested in developing and maintaining recreational trails to benefit trail users and as tourist attractions to stimulate economic growth. In this paper, a study is described which estimates the net economic value to trail users and the local economic impacts of the Virginia Creeper Rail Trail in south-western Virginia, USA. The monetary valuation results suggest that the trail is a highly valuable asset to the people who enjoy using it and to local businesses who benefit from trail-related tourist expenditures. The integrated valuation methodology and results can facilitate quantification of recreational trail economic benefits in other locations.

Keywords: recreational trails; trail user economic value; tourist expenditures; local community economic impacts (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2007
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (18)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:sae:toueco:v:13:y:2007:i:2:p:241-260

DOI: 10.5367/000000007780823203

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