Local and non-local preferences for nature tourism facility development

Much tourism research revolves around the measurement of preferences, and choice experiments (CE) are increasingly used to assess visitor preferences for tourism products. In the context of infrastructure development at national parks and other protected areas in rural regions, the preferences of both local residents and non-local citizens and visitors are important. These preferences may diverge due to differing attitudes toward utilization of natural resources, as well as differences in desired tourism experiences and other factors. This study utilized CE and mixed logit modeling to account for unobserved heterogeneity while assessing local versus non-local preferences for development of a gondola adjacent to a national park in rural Norway. Results indicate observable heterogeneity in local and non-local preferences for food and information provision, but commonality in preferences for the gondola in general and for avoiding loss of wild reindeer habitat. They also indicate unobserved heterogeneity in local preferences for gondola development, as well as in preferences for avoiding habitat loss among respondents generally.

► Survey of Norwegian preferences for nature tourism in national park region
► Choice experiment of local and non-local preferences for gondola development
► Preference commonality, as well as observed and unobserved heterogeneity