Estimation of lost tourism revenue in Geoje Island from the 2011 marine debris pollution event in South Korea

•The lost tourism revenue from marine debris was estimated for a specific pollution event.•The specific amount of lost revenue from visitors due to the pollution event was calculated.•The need for measures to prevent marine debris from flowing down rivers was emphasized.

Following a period of heavy rainfall in July 2011, a large amount of marine debris was washed up on the beaches of Geoje Island, South Korea, affecting the island's tourism industry. The tourism revenue decreased due to this pollution event and was estimated by multiplying the decreased number of visitors by the average expenditure of visitors to the beaches. Due to the fact that the visitor count at the Island's beaches decreased from 890,435 in 2010 to 330,207 in 2011 (i.e., a reduction of 560,228 persons, 63%), the tourism revenue loss of the island was estimated to be US$29 - 37 million. This study is one of the few to consider the economic effects of marine debris.