Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities Review (JSSHR) Vol. 4, No. 3 (126-144) © Author(s) 2019 ISSN: 2279-3933 Original Article

Recreational Value of the Pigeon Island National Park, I.G.N.S. Ilukdeniya1 and Krishnal Thirumarpan2

Abstract 1,2Department of Coastal resources are crucial and important to support life in the planet. Agricultural Economics, Benefits derived from coastal resources are well known and widely Faculty of Agriculture recognized. Pigeon Island National Park is one of the best remaining coral Eastern University, Sri reefs with high live coral cover in Sri Lanka and is an ideal location for Lanka scuba diving and snorkelling. The objective of this research was to explore 1 the recreational value of the Pigeon Island. A sample of hundred [email protected] participants including both foreigners and locals were selected using systematic sampling and every fifth person who passes the entry point was interviewed. Contingent valuation method was used in the analysis in the study. The result revealed that majority (92%) of foreigners who visited the island were non- Asians. Almost all the foreign visitors participated in Scenic visit, diving visit, whale watching and Sunbath. Both locals and foreigners ranked diving as the most preferred activity. Average cost for boating was Rs. 1,300 per hour for foreign visitors, average cost for diving was Rs. 3470 per person per hour which were nearly twice the value that of local visitors. Foreign visitors’ mean willingness to pay for diving was Rs.3670 and, for whale watching was Rs.1510. But for local visitor’s willingness to pay for diving visit was Rs.1240, for whale watching was Rs.919.00. Average willingness to pay of the foreign visitors for entrance fee was Rs.1560 and the average willingness to pay of the local visitors for the entrance fee was Rs 644.00. Results of the T test presented that significant difference between foreign visitors and local visitors for total and entrance fee willingness to pay, hours of spending, costs for boating, for diving and for whale watching. Chi square analysis showed that there was a high significant association between the total willingness to pay by the local visitors and the education level of the respondent (X2=76.75, p < 0.01). A significant association was observed between the total willingness to pay by the local visitors and the cost for boating in the Pigeon Island (X2=36.52, p < 0.01). In addition, total willingness to pay was significantly affected by age, hours of spending, number of the group members and expenses for meals. The study revealed that the current entrance fees do not capture the economic value of the Pigeon Island. Keywords: Pigeon Island, Recreational value, Travel cost method, Willingness to pay

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Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities Review (JSSHR) Vol. 4, No. 3 (126-144) © Author(s) 2019 ISSN: 2279-3933 Original Article

INTRODUCTION beaches and sand dunes. The coastal areas are generally low-lying, and Coastal resources are crucial and landscapes exhibit considerable important to support life in the planet. variety characterized by bays, lagoons, Benefits obtained from coastal headlands, coastal marshes and dunes resources are well known and widely (United Nations Environment recognized. Coastal resources are Programme, Annual Evaluation sources of primary and secondary report, 2005). The areal extent of productions, and biodiversity. The biologically productive mangroves importance of the coast in global systems, estuaries, coral reefs and sea material and energy cycles is now grasses are decreasing due to natural beginning to be better appreciated. and man-made causes. The Recent estimates of the economic value development of the country has been of the marketed and non-marketed closely related to maritime activities. ecosystem services of the coastal In coastal region, over 80% of tourist system indicate a large contribution to hotels were located and two third of human welfare plus raw materials, all industrial production of Sri Lanka recreational, and cultural services is taken place (Bandara & Ratnayake, (Costanza et al., 1997). 2015). Coastal resources refer to the natural Tourism sector is becoming the most resources found in coastal areas, which powerful growth engine in the is useful for human beings, today or in millennium. Tourism involves the coming future, including land, travelling to relatively undisturbed or forests, coastal waters and wetlands, uncontaminated natural areas with the sand minerals, hydrocarbons, and specific objects of studying, admiring living coastal organisms (Walters, and enjoying the scenery and its wild 1998; Jin et al, 2002). Coastal resources flora as well as other existing cultural also generally include other important and historical aspects. These include resources such as archaeological, place of archaeological and historical historic, sacred, or gender-specific importance, pilgrimage centers, significance (Walters, 1998).Coastal sanctuaries, national parks, hill resorts zones throughout the world are and sea beaches (Jude et al., 2011). attractive and important areas for socio-economic development. Sri Lankan tourism industry is one of However, increasing number of the fast emerging industries of the human activities in coastal zones can economy with average annual revenue have disastrous consequences on of US $ 500 million at present. It is the coastal resources (Jean, 2002). sixth largest foreign exchange earner in Sri Lanka. It has created Sri Lanka consists of a total land area employment for about 125,000 at about 1,585km of which 300km are persons. At present, nearly half a

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Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities Review (JSSHR) Vol. 4, No. 3 (126-144) © Author(s) 2019 ISSN: 2279-3933 Original Article

million tourists visit the country every Beach, Beach, Pigeon Island, year. Sri Lanka has exotic sandy off-shore whale watching and Dolphin beaches, large greeneries, historical watching, Kanniyai Hot Springs, artifacts, and a good climate, Colonial Fort Fredrick and spectacular landscape in the Koneshwara Hindu temple provides highlands, a rich biodiversity and joy and experience to Sri Lanka friendly and welcoming people. These holidays tourists. Swimming at distinctive opportunities will be Nilaveli and Uppaveli tropical utilized to develop the tourism beaches, snorkeling at Pigeon Island, industry as a major growth sector in enjoying marine life at offshore Whale the development of the economy. In watching and Dolphin watching and present Sri Lanka has achieved a high getting close to the nature with wild growth in tourism industry with the elephants at Somawathie Chaitiya current political stability as well as the Sanctuary was certainly bound to opening of the North and East to deepen the experiences among tourist. Today Sri Lanka tourism tourists. contributes enormously to the Sri Lankan economy. Because after the National parks, wild life reserves and end of the civil war in 2009, Sri Lanka green spaces included in the witnessed a strong upsurge in tourism. classification of public recreational is one of major place resources. Pigeon island national park attracted by both local and foreign is one of the marine national parks in visitors, which leads for higher Sri Lanka.Pigeon Island National Park earning to the tourism industry Sri consists of two small islands off the Lanka. East coast, North of Trincomalee. The Island gets its name from Blue Rock The Eastern Province of Sri Lanka, Pigeon, a native exotic bird lives comprising the three coastal districts within rocks in these islands. In the of Trincomalee, Batticaloa, and year 1974, two islands were declared Ampara covers a land area of 9,635 as a sanctuary under Fauna and Flora km2, has a coastline of approximately Protection Ordinance (FFPO) for 360 km in length, and supports a protecting the nationally endangered population of approximately 1.42 wild rock pigeons (Columba livia), that million people, 78% of which are rural, colonize the rocky cliffs in large and 30% live within the coastal belt. numbers (Perera and Kotagama, 2016). The entire Eastern coast falls within In 2003 this area was upgraded to the the dry zone of Sri Lanka having a status of a National Park and the common climate (Kevin, 2007). boundaries were extended to include coral reef around them (IUCN with its natural SL/CEA, 2006; IUCN, 2002). This deep water harbor at the sea port city Pigeon Island National Park has one of of great Trincomalee bay, Nilaveli

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Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities Review (JSSHR) Vol. 4, No. 3 (126-144) © Author(s) 2019 ISSN: 2279-3933 Original Article

the best remaining coral reefs with Problem Statement high live coral cover in the country There has been a multiplicity of recent and is an ideal location for scuba valuation studies on coastal and ocean diving and snorkeling (IUCN SL/CEA, resources. However, coastal resource 2006; IUCN, 2002). In addition to that, valuation is still a new field to Sri nature trail in the inland areas for eco- Lanka. So far, there were no studies tourism and constructed buildings related to the estimation of under the colonial governments also recreational value of the Pigeon Island, contributes for the increase in the Sri Lanka. tourism attraction of the Pigeon Island. The hotels at the beaches of The aim of this study was to estimate Trincomalee make arrangements on the recreation value of the Pigeon boat trips to the Pigeon Island for the Island- Trincomalee, Sri Lanka. tourists to enjoy in swimming and Specific Objectives were to identify snorkeling in the shallow water. The socio economic status of tourists, to shallow water around the island estimate the recreational value of the delight those who would like spear Pigeon Island and to identify the major fishing. Many of the 100 species of limitations for recreation. corals and 300 coral reef fishes recorded around the Trincomalee area are found in the national park. RESEARCH METHODOLOGY Juvenile and adult Black-tip reef shark Study Area are seen around the shallow coral areas whilst, Hawksbill turtle, Green Trincomalee district is located in the turtle and Olive Ridley are the visiting East of Sri Lanka. The present research sea turtles of the coral reef. was conducted in the Pigeon Island in Kuchchaveli Divisional Secretariat Contingent valuation is widely used in Division (DS) of Trincomalee district. most environmental valuation studies Kuchchaveli Divisional Secretary and is depended on every individual’s Division is the longest DS Division in stated willingness-to-pay for the Trincomalee District. It is situated in hypothetical changes in environmental the Eastern costal area and bounded amenity (Walsh, 1986). The first by Mullaitheevu district in North and contingent valuation survey was done Bay of Bengal in the East and by Davis (1963) to estimate the value Trincomalee Town and Gravets DS to ecologists of a recreational area and Division in the South and Morawewa compared the results with the travel and Gomarankadawala DS Division in cost approach and found the results the west. Distance between were quite similar. Since then, many Trincomalee to Pigeon Island National researches were done using contingent Park was only about 19km. Fringed by valuation method. a coral reef off Nilaveli in Trincomalee

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Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities Review (JSSHR) Vol. 4, No. 3 (126-144) © Author(s) 2019 ISSN: 2279-3933 Original Article

is the Pigeon Island, one of the two that often arises in such studies. marine national parks of Sri Lanka, However, according to statistics from situated 1km off the coast of Nilaveli. the Tourism Board of Sri Lanka, a considerable income is being earned Selection of sample by foreign tourists to Pigeon Island. The collection of primary data was Therefore, it would be unacceptable to geared towards visitors’ experiences exclude responses of foreign tourists and socioeconomic characteristics. The from the calculation. In this research, questionnaire was designed to collect values for Sri Lankans and foreign information on: (1) socioeconomic visitors were calculated separately and factors (2) on-site and off-site then added to derive the total recreational behaviour; and (3) travel recreational value of the Pigeon Island. experiences and trip costs; Research questions Sampling The research was conducted in the In the survey, systematic sampling form of a survey that addressed the was employed. The study was done in following questions:

2017. Individual visitors were chosen a) How factors such as income and as respondents for the interviews. visitors’ socioeconomic Contingent valuation method is an characteristics affect the indirect method used to estimate user recreational demand for the Pigeon benefits from visits to recreational sites Island?

(such as beaches, parks and heritage b) What is the composition of the site) (Liston-Heyes and Heyes, 1999). recreational value of the Pigeon Many studies in Asia have valued the Islands, which includes values recreational benefits of natural gleaned from foreign visitors as resources based on surveys of only well as from Sri Lankan visitors? domestic tourists. For example, the c) What is the visitors’ total estimated tourism value of Cuc willingness to pay for visiting the Phuong National Park (Francisco and Pigeon Island, and what factors Glover 1999) did not include the value affect their willingness to pay? from international tourists, even Tourists perceive the value of parks in though the authors had interviewed different ways due to their personal foreigners. A study in Lumpinee characteristics, such as age, education, Public Park in Thailand (Dixon and gender, income, experience of using Hufschmidt 1986) also omitted the parks. The data were collected foreigners. The reason for this using a survey. A total of 100 samples omission in both cases was that the were collected: 50 from Local visitors number of foreign tourists was too low and 50 from foreign visitors. to give a significant result – a problem Respondents were asked the activities

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done in the Pigeon Island and total Island visit. willingness to pay for the Pigeon

Figure 1: Tourist attraction sites in Kuchchaveli D. S. division

Data Analysis to explore the factors affecting travels Questionnaire had two major parts of visitors on their total willingness to such as personal data and data related pay. Valuation on coastal resource to the travel. There were two separate which has characteristics as public questionnaires used for Local visitor goods can be done by non-market (Sri Lankan) and foreign visitors. valuation technique. Willingness to Pay (WTP) concept was useful to Descriptive statistics were done for measure the benefits by providing questionnaires to explore the socio economic valuation of environmental economic status of the visitors. goods. Multiple regression analysis was done

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Model Specification Socio demographic and economic profile of the visitors In the model, WTP was endogenously determined and is a function of the following independent variables age, Table 1: Individual level information of local visitors marital status, gender, hours of Individual level Percentage spending on the Pigeon Island visit, information % number of group members in the visit Gender group and expenses for the meals. Male 52 Log Y = β0 + β1X1 + β2X2 + β3X3+ β4X4 + Female 48 β5X5 + β6X6 Employment status Where, Government employee 36 Y = Total willingness to pay on the Private employee 48 Pigeon Island visit (Rs), Self-employee 10 X 1 = Age of the household head (Years) Student 2 X 2= Marital status Unemployed 4 Marital status X 3= Gender Single 30 X 4 = Hours of spending Married 68 X 5 = Number of group members in the Divorced 2 visit X 6= Expenses for the meals (Rs) Education level Secondary(Grade6-A/L) 28 T- Test was used to find out the Tertiary (diploma/degree 68 significant difference between foreign etc.) 2 visitors and local visitors for their total Others(vocational training) 2 willingness to pay on visit to the No schooling Pigeon Island, hours of spending in Monthly income level(Rs) Pigeon Island, willingness to pay for 0-15000 2 entrance fee, cost for boating per hour, 15000-30000 10 cost for diving visit and cost for whale 30000-45000 50 watching. 45000-60000 34 60000-75000 4 Chi-square analysis was done to find out the association between different Most (48%) of the local visitors came to variables. the Pigeon Island were employed in private companies. Very few of them were students (2%).

50% of the local visitors in the sample population were receiving a monthly income within the range of Rs.30000- RESULTS AND DISCUSSION 40000. Table 2: Districts from which the visitors came to the Pigeon Island

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District Percentage % Marital status Kandy 12 Single 12 Matale 8 Married 88 Nuwaraeliya 4 Education level Anuradhapura 4 Bachelor’s or equivalent 42 Polonnaruwa 8 level 38 Vavunia 4 Master’s or equivalent 20 Ampara 2 level Batticaloa 2 Doctoral or equivalent Trincomalee 8 level Kurunegala 10 Monthly income Galle 4 level(US$) 74 Hambantota 2 17500-20000 26 Matara 2 >20000 Badulla 6 Table 4: Native Countries of foreign Monaragala 2 visitors Kegalle 4 Ratnapura 2 Country Percentage % Colombo 2 Australia 8

Gampaha 10 Argentina 6

Kalutara 4 Ireland 2 Netherland 4 There were 12% of visitors from Czech republic 2 Kandy followed by 10% from Norway 8 Gampaha and Kurunegala. Sweden 4 Spain 4 Individual level information of foreign France 4 visitors Finland 4 German 10 42% of the foreign visitors were Chile 2 educated up to Bachelor’s or Belarus 6 equivalent level and 38% up to Italy 4

Master’s or equivalent level. 74% of Russia 8 the foreign visitors were receiving Ukraine 4 monthly income in the range between Rumania 4

US$ 17500-20000 per month. Belgium 2 Poland 2 Table 3: Individual level information of Canada 4 foreign visitors New Zealand 8

Individual level Percentage % information Gender 10% of foreign visitors were from Male 62 German followed by 8% were Female 38

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Australians, Norwegians, Russians Swimming 32 and New Zealand. Scenic visit 32 Table 5: Information source about the Diving visit 18 Pigeon Island Whale watching 12 Information Local Foreign Sun bath 14 source visitors visitors (Multiple response) (%) (%) Magazine 00 00 17% of the visitors from the sample News paper 00 00 mentioned that they have participated TV/Radio 4 00 in boating in the Pigeon Island before Web site 78 96 this visit. 16% of them have Research Article/ 00 00 participated in both swimming and Journal scenic visit. 9% of the visitors have Friends 98 98 participated for diving visit. 6% of Other way 00 2 (Multiple response) them have participated for whale watching and 7% of them have 98% of local visitors and foreign participated for sun bathing before. visitors were informed about the Purpose of the visits to the Pigeon Island Pigeon Island through friends and 78% of local visitors and 96% of foreign Almost all the visitors used the Pigeon visitors obtained information in web Island for enjoying their vacation. sites. Table 7: Single or Group visitors Travel history of the visitors on the

Pigeon Island Local Foreign

visitors visitors

Among the sampled population, none

of the foreign visitors visited the

Pigeon Island before their first visit.

Sole Sole visitor Group visit Sole visitor Group visit

But 34 % of local visitors had an (%) Percentage experience of previous visits to the 2 98 4 96 Pigeon Island. 98% of the local visitors visited the Table 6: Level of participation of the Pigeon Island as a group and the rest visitors for different activities in previous as a sole visitor. 96% of the foreign visits visitors visited the Pigeon Island as a Activities Level of participation group. 56% of the visitors had the (%) group size of 2-5. Boating 34

Table 8: Level of participation in the activities in Pigeon Island

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Activity Boating Swimming Scenic Diving Whale Sun visit visit watching bath

Local 100 98 100 98 44 8 visitors

Foreign 98 90 100 100 100 100 Percentage visitors (%)

Almost all the local visitors came to Sunbath. This indicated that the all the Pigeon Island participated in most all visitors in the temperate boating and scenic visit. 98% of them countries were interested in doing all participated in swimming and diving the activities in Pigeon Island. Local visit. However, almost all the foreign visitors who participated in whale visitors participated in Scenic visit, watching were lower than 50%. diving visit, whale watching and

Table 9: Ranking of the preferred activities in the Pigeon Island visit Activity Boating Swimming Scenic Diving Whale Sun visit visit watching bath Percentage of local 12 10 6 74 2 2 visitors who ranked different activities as most preferred % Percentage of 54 38 2 98 14 2 foreign visitors who ranked different activities as most preferred % (Multiple responses) Table 10: Most preferred month for the According to results, the use of Pigeon visit Island for diving purpose was ranked Month Most Most non- by 74% of local visitors as the most preferable preferable

preferred activity and 98% of the month month

foreign visitors preferred the same activity very much when compared to

others.

Local % visitors Foreign % visitors Local % visitors Foreign % visitors January 66 80 February 14 14

March 4 Most preferred month for the visit April 20

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May 22 48 June 2 Majority of the visitors like to visit the July Pigeon Island in the months of May August 16 and September and they don’t like to September 22 36 visit Pigeon Island in the months of October January, November and December. November 8 December 26 20

Costs encountered in the Pigeon Island visit

Table 11: Average costs for the activities done in the Pigeon Island

Activity Foreign visitors Local visitors Mean cost Standard Mean cost per hour (Rs) Standard deviation per hour (Rs) deviation Boating 1300.00 247.00 717.00 23.93 Swimming 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 Scenic visit 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 Diving visit 3470.00 255.00 1145.83 290.97 Whale 1493.00 106.00 889.89 144.34 watching Sun bath 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00

Traditionally, coastal resources are enjoying or using them. But in contrast open to everyone (Costanza et al., to this, in Pigeon Island every single 1999). Many countries’ coastal waters visitor has to pay for their visit and and their resources are considered certain activities. Average cost for ‘commons’, i.e. they are not owned by boating was Rs.1300 per hour for any person or agency but are common foreign visitors, average cost for property available equally to all diving wasRs.3470 per person per citizens (Clark, 1998). Their common hour which were nearly twice the property nature makes it impossible to value that of local visitors. exclude those who do not pay for

Table 12: Willingness to pay for the activities done in the Pigeon Island Activity Foreign visitors Local visitors Mean Standard Mean Standard willingness to deviation willingness to deviation pay for the pay for the activity(Rs) activity(Rs) Boating 1454 302.51 784 95.53

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Swimming 375 144.72 70.60 26.37 Scenic visit 365 144.36 69.60 24.15 Diving visit 3670 435.77 1240 252.33 Whale 1510 123.30 919 230.54 watching Sun bath 365 144.36 64.60 24.59

Willingness-to-pay is the maximum pricing system should be restructured amount an individual is willing to give for different activities. off in exchange on changes in the Entrance fee and willingness to pay for provision of resources (Anderson, the entrance fees 2004). According to the result, foreign visitors’ mean willingness to pay for Entrance fee for the foreign visitors diving was Rs.3670 and for local was Rs.1000 and for the local visitors visitors it was Rs.1240. It was was Rs.500. Average willingness to interesting to note that although pay of the foreign visitors for entrance currently there were no any charges fee wasRs.1560 and the average claimed for some activities, but visitors willingness to pay of the local visitors were willing to pay those activities for the entrance fee was Rs.644 which such as swimming, scenic visit and indicates visitors were willing to pay sunbath. This clearly shows that an increased entrance fee toward the improvement of facilities.

Table 13: Entrance fee and Willingness to pay for the Entrance fees to Pigeon Island Foreign visitors Local visitors Mean Standard deviation Mean Standard deviation Entrance fee (Rs) 1000 0.00 500 0.00

Willingness to 1560 239.89 644 88.43 pay for the entrance fee (Rs)

Table 14: Total cost for the Pigeon Island visit Foreign visitors Local visitors

Mean Standard Mean Standard deviation deviation

Total cost (including 16272 924.23 5320.60 310.04 transportation, lodging, meals) Rs

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Foreign visitors who visited the group members and expenses for Pigeon Island had spent averagely meals. Rs.16272 as onsite expenditures in Therefore, estimated model can be Pigeon Island visit. written as follows, Total willingness to pay = -1339.60 + Regression analysis 50.25Age + 743.70 gender - 376.15 Table below shows results of multiple marital status + 3751.38hours of regression analysis for the total spending - 49.97 number of group willingness to pay of the visitors. The members + 0.11 expenses for meals. R2 was 0.762 which implied that about 76.2% of the variation in the total The results revealed that an increase in willingness to pay was explained by hours of spending on the Pigeon different regressors. Total willingness Island visit by one unit the total to pay of the visitors was significantly willingness to pay of the visitors will affected by age of the respondent, be increased by Rs. 3751.38 (p<0.01). hours of spending, number of the

Table 15: Results of Multiple Regression Analysis of Total willingness to pay Variable Unstandardized Coefficients

B Std. Error (Constant) -1339.60 1079.98 Age (Years) 50.25** 18.99 Marital status of the respondent (Single/married) 376.15** 365.58 Gender of the respondent (Male/ female) 743.71 311.06 Hours of spending (Hours) 3751.38** 356.47 Number of group members (Numbers) -49.98** 18.64 Expenses for the meals (Rs) 0.12** 0.07 Dependent variable: Willingness to pay of the visitors (Rs) *Significant at 10% level **Significant at 5% level ***Significant at 1% level for their total willingness to pay on T-test result Pigeon Island visit. Result showed that there was a significant difference (p<0.01) between the Foreign visitors and local visitors

Table 16: Independent samples T-test between foreign visitors and local visitors for total willingness to pay on Pigeon Island visit

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Local or Std. Number Mean foreign Deviation

Total willingness to pay Foreign 50 9292.00 921.36

Local 50 3791.60 398.23

t-test for Equality of Means

Mean Std. Error Differen T df Sig. Difference ce Total Equal willingnes variances 0.15 141.95 38.75 98 0.00 s to pay assumed Equal variances 0.15 141.95 38.75 66.69 0.00 not assumed

Table 17: Independent samples T-test between foreign visitors and local visitors for total hours of spending on the Pigeon Island visit Local or Std. Number Mean foreign Deviation Total hours of spending on Foreign 50 2.02 0.247 the Pigeon Island visit

Local 50 1.12 0.328

t-test for Equality of Means Mean Std. Error t df Sig. Difference Difference

Total hours Equal of spending variances 0.90 .058 15.50 98 0.00 on the assumed Pigeon Equal Island visit variances not 0.90 .058 15.50 90.95 0.00 assumed

Result revealed that there was a in hours of spending on Pigeon Island significant difference (p<0.01) between visit. the Foreign visitors and local visitors

Table 18: Independent samples T-test between foreign visitors and local visitors for Willingness to pay for entrance fee

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Local or Std. Number Mean foreign Deviation Willingness to pay for Foreign 50 1560.00 239.89 entrance fee

Local 50 644.00 88.43

t-test for Equality of Means Mean Std. Error t df Sig. Difference Difference Equal Willingness variances 916.00 36.16 25.33 98 0.00 to pay for assumed entrance fee Equal variances not 916.00 36.16 25.33 62.07 0.00 assumed

A significant difference (p<0.01) was pay their entrance fee and foreign observed between the foreign visitors visitors were willing to pay Rs. 916.00 and local visitors for willingness to higher than the local visitors.

Table 19: Independent samples T-test between foreign visitors and local visitors for Cost of boating per hour Local or Std. Number Mean foreign Deviation Cost for boating per hour Foreign 50 1300.00 247.44

Local 50 717.00 23.93

t-test for Equality of Means Mean Std. Error T df Sig. Difference Difference Cost for Equal boating per variances 583.00 36.16 16.58 98 0.00 hour assumed Equal variances not 583.00 36.16 16.58 49.92 0.00 assumed

Results showed that a significant cost for boating per hour and foreign difference (p<0.01) between the visitors pay Rs. 583.00 than local Foreign visitors and local visitors for visitors for boating.

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Table 20: Independent samples T-test between foreign visitors and local visitors for Cost for diving visit

Local or Std. Number Mean foreign Deviation Cost for diving visit Foreign 50 3470.00 255.75 Local 48 1145.83 290.97 t-test for Equality of Means Mean Std. Error t df Sig. Difference Difference Equal Cost for variances 2324.17 55.28 42.04 96 0.00 diving visit assumed Equal variances not 2324.17 55.43 41.93 93.33 0.00 assumed

Table 21: Chi square analysis between total willingness to pay of the local visitors and selected independent variables Independent variable X2 df P value Decision

Education level of the 76.76 46 0.00 Highly significant respondent

Cost for boating in the 36.53 23 0.04 Significant Pigeon Island

Marital status 71.22 46 0.01 High significant

There was a high significant level of the respondent (X2=76.756, p < association observed between the total 0.01). willingness to pay and the education

Table 22: Chi square analysis between total willingness to pay of the foreign visitors and selected independent variables Independent variable X2 df P value Decision Education level of the 49.62 34 0.04 Significant respondent

Duration of staying 51.11 34 0.03 Significant Cost for diving in the Pigeon Island 48.56 34 0.05 Significant

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Cost for whale watching 102.08 68 0.005 Highly significant There was a highly significant was Rs.365. Mean willingness to pay association observed between the total of local visitors’ for boating was willingness to pay and the cost for Rs.784, for swimming was Rs.70.60, for whale watching in the Pigeon Island scenic visit was Rs.69.60, for diving (X2=102.083, p < 0.01). visit was Rs.1240, for whale watching was Rs.919.00 and for sun bath was CONCLUSIONS AND Rs.64.60. Average willingness to pay of RECOMMENDATIONS the foreign visitors for entrance fee was Rs.1560 and the average This study employed the Contingent willingness to pay of the local visitors valuation Method to determine the for the entrance fee was Rs 644.00. relationship among travel and socio demographic information and Results of the T test showed that activities in the Pigeon Island. The significant difference between foreign objective of this research was to visitors and local visitors in total explore the recreational value of the willingness to pay on the Pigeon Pigeon Island. Descriptive statistics Island visit, hours of spending on the was done for questionnaires to explore Pigeon Island, willingness to pay for the socio economic status of the the entrance fee, cost for boating, cost visitors. T test and chi square test were for diving visit and cost for whale also employed. Multiple regression watching. Chi square analysis showed analysis was done to explore the that there was a high significant factors affecting travels of visitors on association between the total their total willingness to pay. The willingness to pay of the local visitors result indicated 50% of the local and the education level of the visitors in the sample population were respondent. Multiple regression receiving a monthly income within the analysis showed that total willingness range of Rs.30000-40000. 38% of the to pay of the visitors was significantly foreigners were educated up to affected by age of the respondent, Master’s or equivalent level and 20% hours of spending, number of the up to Doctoral or equivalent level. The group members and expenses for results also revealed that, the use of meals. The analysis showed that the Pigeon Island for diving was ranked recreational benefits received by the by 74% of local visitors as the most visitors are much higher than the preferred activity. Foreign visitors’ amount they pay at present. The mean willingness to pay for boating current entrance fees do not capture was Rs.1454, for swimming was the economic value of the Pigeon Rs.375, for scenic visit was Rs. 365, for Island. Therefore, it is recommended diving visit was Rs.3670, for whale to increase the entrance fees and fees watching was Rs.1510 and for sun bath for different activities.

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Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities Review (JSSHR) Vol. 4, No. 3 (126-144) © Author(s) 2019 ISSN: 2279-3933 Original Article

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