Recreational value of different coral reefs richness levels in Oman

Sabrina Al Ismaili, Ibtisam Al Abri*, Osman Gulseven, Hussein Al-Masroori, Sachinandan Dutta

*المؤلف المقابل لهذا العمل

نتاج البحث: المساهمة في مجلةمقالمراجعة النظراء

1 اقتباس (Scopus)

ملخص

Coral reefs in Oman boast remarkable biodiversity and distinct features, yet their economic contribution remains largely unexplored, making this topic seriously under-researched. This study addresses this gap by aiming to estimate the recreational value of ecosystem services offered by natural and artificial coral reefs along Oman's coastline, a valuable asset that falls under the category of public goods that has never been assessed. Moreover, the study delves into the impact of varying reef richness levels, indicating biodiversity levels, on overall recreational value in this seldom-studied region with significant coral reef resources. Notably, this research marks the first attempt in the literature to examine the influence of different richness levels of reefs on recreational value. A survey was conducted to evaluate the recreational value of ecosystem services provided by coral reefs using Travel Cost Method. Coral reefs are found to provide an annual consumer surplus of 187,763 OMR (about 487,727 USD), emphasizing their substantial economic value. Greater biodiversity within a reef corresponds to a higher preference among recreationists, leading to increased economic benefits and enhanced consumers satisfaction. The substantial increase in recreational demand at sites with high reef richness levels underscores the importance of these ecosystems not just for their intrinsic natural value but also for their contribution to the tourism sector. It is essential for decision-makers to focus on the preservation of existing coral reefs as a primary concern, prior to contemplating the creation of additional reefs to enhance marine tourism. Managerial implications: • Coral reefs not only draw more recreationists but also significantly enhance consumer surplus and satisfaction • The richer the biodiversity of a reef, the more it is preferred, deriving greater economic value and consumer satisfaction • Oman's coral reefs provide a consumer surplus of 187,762.955 OMR (487,726.84

اللغة الأصليةEnglish
رقم المقال100775
دوريةJournal of Outdoor Recreation and Tourism
مستوى الصوت46
المعرِّفات الرقمية للأشياء
حالة النشرPublished - يونيو 2024

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