Greenways as a tourism resource: a study of user spending and value

ABSTRACT

Cycling is increasingly recognized as a key tool in improving transport sustainability, promoting increased physical activity and improved public health and developing the tourism sector. While the provision of safe and attractive cycling routes is an important part of encouraging uptake of cycling, national and local government budgetary constraints demand that infrastructural investment must demonstrate return on investment. Greenways, fast becoming a feature of the landscape as traffic-free routes for walking and cycling, with an emphasis on recreation and tourism, are receiving significant investment. However, there is a lack of information on the economic impact of greenway investments internationally. This study of international greenway users (n = 1,125) finds that the average spend per greenway user per day is €47, with accommodation and food & drink accounting for the largest proportions. Based on the estimation of a Travel Cost Model, the value of greenway recreation to cyclists is examined. The results indicate that the consumer surplus retained by greenway users is €77 or 83% of the total value. However, opposition to direct payment for greenway use illustrates users’ conceptualization of greenways as a public recreational resource. Drawing on Irish experience, the paper discusses the importance of greenway planning to unlock their full benefits for the economy, environment and society.

Funding

This work was supported by the College of Engineering & Informatics at the National University of Ireland, Galway under the Postgraduate Fellowship Scheme.

Notes

1 The appropriate measure of individual site access value is given as the willingness to pay rather than do without the site. For each individual, this can be measured as the area under his/her utility-constant Hicksian demand curve for the site (the travel cost plus consumer surplus).It should be noted that in recreation (or any environmental) valuation the standard neo-classical or utilitarian approach implies that the environment has value only to the extent that people value it. Thus the approach can be considered an “anthropocentric” approach, and in this regard there are a number of serious concerns relating to the idea that individuals’ preferences can be a basis for the economic value of an environmental good or service. For a more in-depth discussion of the issues surrounding the utilitarian approach to non-market valuation the interested reader should read Hanley and Barbier (2009).

2 Given the method by which our sample was self-selected it would be wise to take a cautious view as to how representative our sample is of the population of greenway users.