OUT-DOOR RECREATIONAL VALUE OF WUNANIYA PRESERVED AND NATURAL RELISH IN LAY ARMACHIHO WOREDA: WITH INDIVIDUAL TRAVEL COST METHOD (ITCM)

Abstract

Many visitors want to enjoy and spend their recreational time on Nature based out- door recreational sites. Wunaniya also one of the natures based out-door recreational sites and which is an impressive landscape located in Amhara region, N/Gondar, lay armachiho woreda chira Ambezo kebele rising to 3000 meter above sea level. This recreational site is preserved and protected by the government project in the period of 2002 E.C and named wunaniya and its environmental Eco-Tourism. The site is home for unique and diverse biodiversity (both flora and fauna). And many visitors want to enjoy and spend their recreational time on wunaniya. The main purpose of this study is to estimate the out- door recreational value of wunaniya preserved and natural relish and its contributions to national economic activity. The study used the Individual Travel Cost Method (ITCM) on 384 on-site visitors, to estimate the out- door recreational value of wunaniya. Both primary & secondary data types were used. For collection of the data both structured questionnaires‟ and interviews were used. Out of the total sample of 384 visitors, 78.4% were male and 91.15 visitors are single and spent most of their leisure time in wunaniya recreational site. 99.21% are group visitors with their families and relatives and their rate of visitation is below 20 times and all are Ethiopians. All visitors are travel less or equal to 22 km to wunaniya by paying 34.4 ETB of mean trip costs and 63.3% of visitors on site stay period is only one hour. For the analysis of the collected data from the recreational sites, both descriptive statistics and econometric model (Poisson Regression Model of Count data model) were applied with fitting of theoretical implications. The study estimated that the individual outdoor recreational demand is lnVrate = 0.0337844 - 0.0120462 TC. Annual recreational benefit of site is = 68,302 ETB and The total annual consumer surplus of site is 110,701.78 ETB. Based on the study results possible policy implications were also provided. The Amhara regional state Tourism and Cultural management Bureau should packaged and include under the title of tourist destination site and should conduct good promotional activities. The site surrounding community and the government body should maintain the insecurities. Moreover the central gonder zone Tourism and Cultural management office should follow-up and adminicle the administrative management staffed of wunaniya.