Vernon R. Leeworthy

Recreational demand by tourists for saltwater beach days

Abstract This analysis deals with tourists that come from significant distances to use principally beach resources. As Smith and Kopp [ Land Econom. 56 , 64–72 (1980)] have argued, those that use the conventional travel cost method (TCM) do not recognize its potential spatial limitations. One day trips as used by the TCM are certainly inapplicable to those coming from significant distances, such as tourists to Florida. The empirical data are consistent with the thesis that annual consumer demand by individual tourists for Florida beach days is positively related to travel cost per trip and inversely related to on-site cost per day. There are compelling reasons for treating recreational decision making for what we call tourists differently than for residents or those traveling relatively short distances. Employing the on-site cost demand curve for tourists using Floridas beaches, we find the daily consumer surplus to be nearly

Correcting response bias in tourist spending surveys

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Valuing snorkeling visits to the Florida Keys with stated and revealed preference models

Abstract Many studies that estimate economic impact, use onsite tourist contacts followed with mailed expenditure surveys. Typically, response rates to such surveys are under 50%. A recent study of tourism impacts in the Florida Keys (USA) had similar problems. Response bias was considered to be a significant concern. This paper documents the tests for response bias used to identify socioeconomic factors related to survey response and expenditures per tourist. These included income, age, race, and domestic residence. Corrective weights were developed from the four variables. Uncorrected expenditure means underestimated average spending slightly for the summer season, but overestimated it for winter by almost 9%.