COVID-19 Effects on Tourist Fees: Bolivia’s National Parks Case Study

Stefanie Rakela (), Thais Vilela, Sophia Espinoza and Alfonso Malky Harb
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Stefanie Rakela: Conservation Strategy Fund, Washington, DC 20036, USA
Thais Vilela: Consultant, Los Angeles, CA 90034, USA
Sophia Espinoza: Conservation Strategy Fund, Washington, DC 20036, USA
Alfonso Malky Harb: Conservation Strategy Fund, Washington, DC 20036, USA

Sustainability, 2025, vol. 17, issue 5, 1-16

Abstract: Bolivia’s national parks, with their rich biodiversity and natural landscapes, have great potential to contribute to their own financial sustainability, and tourism is one of the most promising sustainable activities that can make this possible. Entrance fees to national parks are a vital source of income for the National Service of Protected Areas, yet a significant financial gap remains. This study estimates tourists’ willingness to pay (WTP) for increased entrance fees in two protected areas, comparing data from 2019 and 2023 to assess the effect of COVID-19 on WTP. Using the contingent valuation approach, we found that tourists’ profiles and their WTP have shifted between 2019 and 2023. However, there was no consistent trend across the protected areas, highlighting the challenges and specific impacts of the pandemic on tourists WTP. Nevertheless, the findings can help inform pricing strategies aimed at enhancing the financial sustainability of Bolivia’s protected areas, supporting broader conservation goals both nationally and globally.

Keywords: protected area; Bolivia; contingent valuation; willingness to pay; COVID-19 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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