Estimating the Economic Value of Snow Sports Activities in Val Bedretto
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Università della Svizzera italiana, Lugano Faculties of Economics and Communication Sciences Estimating the economic value of snow sports activities in Val Bedretto Master's dissertation Author: Zélie Kössler Supervisor: Prof. Massimo Filippini Second reader: Prof. Rico Maggi Academic year: 2014-2015 Submission date: December 2014 Table of content List of Figures.......................................................................................................................................3 List of Tables........................................................................................................................................4 List of acronyms...................................................................................................................................5 Acknowledgement................................................................................................................................6 Abstract.................................................................................................................................................6 1. Introduction......................................................................................................................................7 2. Ski mountaineering and snow shoeing in Val Bedretto....................................................................9 3. Part I: Theory and method..............................................................................................................12 3.1 Environmental valuation theory...............................................................................................12 3.1.1 Total economic values components of environmental assets...........................................12 3.2 Valuation methods and demand curve.....................................................................................13 3.3 Travel Cost Method.................................................................................................................15 3.3.1 General application..........................................................................................................16 3.3.2 Advantages, limitations and reserves on travel cost method............................................18 4. Part II: Empirical Analyses.............................................................................................................20 4.1 Data..........................................................................................................................................20 4.1.1 Data sample......................................................................................................................21 4.2 Estimation of the population....................................................................................................25 4.3 Descriptive analysis.................................................................................................................27 4.3.1 Evaluation of preferences.................................................................................................27 4.3.2 Part 2: Valuation regarding the creation of an alpine center in All'Acqua.......................35 4.4 Travel Cost Model...................................................................................................................39 4.4.2 Model specification..........................................................................................................39 4.4.2 Econometric results..........................................................................................................42 4.4.3 Estimate value of ski mountaineering and snow-shoeing in Val Bedretto.......................43 5. Conclusions....................................................................................................................................46 6. Bibliography...................................................................................................................................48 6.1 Publications.........................................................................................................................48 6.2 Web sites.............................................................................................................................50 6.3 Others..................................................................................................................................51 7. Annexes..........................................................................................................................................52 Annex 1: English version of the questionnaire.........................................................................52 Annex 2: Estimation of the equipment costs.............................................................................57 Annex 3: Map of Val Bedretto..................................................................................................58 2 List of Figures Figure 1: Map of Ticino......................................................................................................................10 Figure 2: Classification of type of value............................................................................................13 Figure 3: Monetary valuation methods based on demand curve........................................................14 Figure 4: Demand curve.....................................................................................................................17 Figure 5: SLF archives of snow level.................................................................................................21 Figure 6: Age distribution by date of birth.........................................................................................22 Figure 7: Country of origin in percentage..........................................................................................23 Figure 8: Region of origin for Swiss visitors, in percentage..............................................................23 Figure 9: Educational attainment in percentage.................................................................................24 Figure 10: Type of activity in percentage...........................................................................................24 Figure 11: Annual household income.................................................................................................25 Figure 12: Day of visit in Val Bedretto in percentage........................................................................28 Figure 13: Visits in Val Bedretto........................................................................................................29 Figure 14: Type of winter activity in percentage................................................................................30 Figure 15: Excursion departure in Val Bedretto.................................................................................31 Figure 16: Transportation means in percentage..................................................................................31 Figure 17: Type of vehicle in percentage...........................................................................................32 Figure 18: Willingness to pay for a parking place in Val Bedretto.....................................................35 Figure 19: Alpine center evaluation...................................................................................................37 3 List of Tables Table 1: Estimation of population from overnight stays in huts.........................................................26 Table 2: Percentage of practitioners per winter activity.....................................................................27 Table 3: Visit to Val Bedretto in report to the region of origins.........................................................29 Table 4: Alternative places to Val Bedretto........................................................................................33 Table 5: Alternative regions to Val Bedretto.......................................................................................33 Table 6: Interest for an alpine center per region of origin..................................................................37 Table 7: Services expected in an alpine center...................................................................................38 Table 8: Descriptive statistic of variables necessary to the TC analysis............................................39 Table 9: Estimation results (Sdt. Err. values in parentheses)..............................................................42 Table 10: Consumer surplus estimates (in CHF)................................................................................44 4 List of acronyms CS – Consumer Surplus SAC – Swiss Alpine Club SBB – Swiss railways, in Germans: Schweizerische Bundesbahnen SLF – Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research in Davos, in German: Institut für Schnee- und Lawinenforschung SUVA insurance – Swiss public insurance and leading provider of health care coverage for employees in case of accidents, in German: Schweizerische Unfall VersicherungsAnstalt TCM – Travel Cost Method TCS – Touring Club Switzerland TEV – Total Economic Value 5 Acknowledgement This research could not have been carried out without the assistance, patience, and support of many persons. I would like to extend my gratitude first and foremost to my thesis advisor Prof. Massimo Filippini for his wise and dynamic guidance. My grateful thanks are also extended to Prof. Ricco