Willingness to pay for recreational activities: A case study on Gunung Gading National Park / Japanie Bujang

This study aimed to investigate empirically the WTP for entrance fee of the visitors for recreational services in Gunung Gading National Park. The study focuses on contingent valuation method of willingness to pay. It uses multiple regression estimation models to estimate the determinants of the visitor’s WTP responses for visiting the parks for recreation. The study was based on 220 respondents that were randomly interviewed for data collection in January-February 2005. Among descriptive variables, visitors’ origin and income were found statistically significant at 1 percent and 5 percent significance level, respectively. Other variables such as visitors’ education and profession were statistically significant at 10 percent significant level. However, it was found that visitors’ gender was not a significant variable. Satisfaction level toward park services and other facilities provided in the park shows a very strong relationship with visitors’ WTP. It was statistically significant at 1 percent significant level. Other
variables such as the transportation services, accommodation, accommodation rate, activities/interpretation programs and the visitors’ opinion about the park were statistically significant at 5 percent significant level. The study recommends that the authorities adopt a systematic approach in determining the entrance fee for all the national parks in Sarawak. National parks that provide more recreational services should charge higher entrance fees than those, which provide less recreational services. This measure should raise revenue for park management and help to ensure
that park recreation will continue its contribution to society.