Potential benefits of Brown Bear eco-tourism in the South Eastern Alps

(1)

! Session:

Bears and society

POTENTIAL BENEFITS OF BROWN BEAR ECO-TOURISM IN THE SOUTH EASTERN ALPS

Clara Tattoni1,2_{, Jorge E. Araña Padilla}1

1_{TiDES, Institute of Sustainable Tourism and Economic Development, University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain} 2_{Forest Ecology lab, University of Trento, Italy}

Abstract

"#$%&'()*&+,%-$+.$$(%#/01(,%1(2%-$13,%13$%1(%*,,/$%4'3%&'(,$351+*'(%63'7$&+,8%$,6$&*199:%*(%#*;#9:%1(+#3'6*&% 91(2,&16$,%,/&#%1,%+#',$%*(%</3'6$=%>%,/,+1*(1-9$%1(2%9'(;%+$30%01(1;$0$(+%'4%-$13%6'6/91+*'(,%*,%6',,*-9$% '(9:% .#$(% -'+#% ,&*$(+*?&% 1(2% ,'&*'@$&'('0*&% $519/1+*'(,% 13$% +1A$(% *(+'% 1&&'/(+=% B$,6*+$% +#$% '&&1,*'(19% 2101;$,%+'%+#$%1;3*&/9+/3$%1(2%4130*(;8%+#$%-$13,%&1(%63'5*2$%-$($?+%4'3%+#$%+'/3*,0%,$&+'38%1++31&+*(;%(1+/3$% lovers and wildlife watchers. However, the effect of activities like bear-watching on local economies and on the acceptance of large carnivore is still poorly investigated and it is a recognized knowledge gap in the literature. This work focuses on estimating the potential increase in eco-tourism demand for visiting the area of Trento CD'/+#%<1,+$3(%>96,8%E+19:F%+#1+%#',+,%1%6'6/91+*'(%'4%1-'/+%GH%3$*(+3'2/&$2%-3'.(%-$13,%CI3,/,%13&+',%13&+',F=% >,%1%?3,+%1,,$,,0$(+%.$%0$1,/3$2%+#$%0'($+13:%519/$%'4%+#$%-$13,J%166$131(&$,%*(%2'&/0$(+13*$,%-3'12&1,+% '(%E+19*1(%"K%43'0%LHMM%+'%LHMN=%"#$%013A$+*(;%519/$%'4%+#$%-$13%*01;$%.1,%'(%15$31;$%ML=!%+*0$,%+#$%10'/(+% of money reimbursed for damages in the same period (range 2.6-34). The application of a more sophisticated econometric technique based on questionnaire is ongoing. The experimental design allows to estimate the so &199$2%O)1;%,6$&*$,P%$44$&+8%*=$%+#$%*061&+%'(%+#$%*01;$%'4%1(%*&'(*&%010019%,/&#%1,%+#$%-$138%'(%1%+'/3*,0% destination. We expect to estimate the willingness to pay by tourists under different management and bear 6'6/91+*'(%,*Q$%,&$(13*',=%"#$%?3,+%63'+'+:6$%'4%+#$%R/$,+*'((1*3$%.*99%-$%120*(*,+$3$2%+'%1-'/+%MHH%6'+$(+*19% domestic tourists through an on-line survey that will take place in June/July 2018. The conference will be 1(%'&&1,*'(%+'%,#13$%+#$%63$9*0*(13:%3$,/9+,%1(2%+'%*063'5$%+#$%R/$,+*'((1*3$%,+3/&+/3$%+'%2$5$9'6%+#$%?(19% international survey.