An Investigation of Willingness to Pay for Geopark Management and Conservation: A Case Study of Geotourists in the Greater China Region

Wei Fang, Gloria Rui Gou, Lewis T. O. Cheung (), Lincoln Fok (), Alice S. Y. Chow and Ke Zhang
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Wei Fang: Department of Social Sciences and Policy Studies, The Education University of Hong Kong, 10 Lo Ping Road, Tai Po, N.T., Hong Kong SAR, China
Gloria Rui Gou: Faculty of Hospitality and Tourism Management, Macau University of Science and Technology, Avenida Wai Long, Taipa, Macau SAR, China
Lewis T. O. Cheung: York Business School, York St. John University, Lord Mayor’s Walk, York YO31 7EX, UK
Lincoln Fok: Department of Science and Environmental Studies, The Education University of Hong Kong, 10 Lo Ping Road, Tai Po, N.T., Hong Kong SAR, China
Alice S. Y. Chow: Department of Social Sciences and Policy Studies, The Education University of Hong Kong, 10 Lo Ping Road, Tai Po, N.T., Hong Kong SAR, China
Ke Zhang: Department of Science and Environmental Studies, The Education University of Hong Kong, 10 Lo Ping Road, Tai Po, N.T., Hong Kong SAR, China

Resources, 2024, vol. 13, issue 2, 1-16

Abstract: Willingness to pay (WTP) for geological protection is essential for market-based geopark conservation tactic formulations. Whether geotourists are willing to pay and how much they prefer to pay might be influenced by different determinants. The present study aims to (1) investigate the probability of paying and the payment amount for geopark conservation and (2) examine how factors influence the intention and amount to pay for the upkeep of geoparks. The results suggest that geotourists would contribute financially to geological conservation and geopark management. The findings also revealed that geotourists’ intentions and payment for conservation were associated with educational background and monthly income level. In addition, geotourist attachment and satisfaction concerning visiting geoparks positively affected intention and payment. This study might provide empirical references for geopark management and conservation in the Greater China Region.

Keywords: willingness to pay; contingent valuation method; place attachment; satisfaction (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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