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1 November 2010 Charging for Nature: Marine Park Fees and Management from a User Perspective
Maria C. Uyarra, Jennifer A. Gill, Isabelle M. Côté
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Abstract

User fees can contribute to the financial sustainability of marine protected areas (MPAs), yet they must be acceptable to users. We explore changes in the fee system and management of Bonaire National Marine Park (BNMP) from the perspective of users. Responses from 393 tourists indicated that 90% were satisfied with park conditions and considered current user fees reasonable. However, only 47% of divers and 40% of non-divers were prepared to pay more. Diver willingness-to-pay (WTP) appears to have decreased since 1991, but this difference could be due in part to methodological differences between studies. Although current fees are close to diver maximum stated WTP, revenues could potentially be increased by improving the current fee system in ways that users deem acceptable. This potential surplus highlights the value of understanding user perceptions toward MPA fees and management.

© Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences 2010
Maria C. Uyarra, Jennifer A. Gill, and Isabelle M. Côté "Charging for Nature: Marine Park Fees and Management from a User Perspective," AMBIO: A Journal of the Human Environment 39(7), 515-523, (1 November 2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13280-010-0078-4
Received: 25 January 2010; Accepted: 22 June 2010; Published: 1 November 2010
JOURNAL ARTICLE
9 PAGES

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KEYWORDS
Bonaire
Caribbean
Contingent valuation
marine protected areas
tourism
willingness-to-pay
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