An Assessment of Recreation Value of Rumassala Coastal Region in Sri Lanka
Wijaynayake, N.P.M., Udugama, J.M.M. and Guruge, T.P.S.R.
ABSTRACT
The coastal ecosystem is an important ecological resource generating multiple activities associated with outdoor recreation in many coastal communities that endorse protection and management of coastal lands. Lack of assessments of the benefits of coastal lands against the associated costs is one of the growing problems among the coastal conservation and management. This study was used to examine the recreational demand for Rumassala coastal area in Sri Lanka a coastal ecosystem situates within the wet zone of Southern Sri Lanka which consist of continuous rocky substratum interspersed with boulder fields and dead coral beds. In this study, the recreational demand of local visitors was derived through individual travel cost method, where the number of visits that the individuals actually made to the site during a specified period of time that depends on the travel cost, time costs, monthly household income and other individual characteristics. The recreational demand for Rumassala coastal area was derived through welfare that visitors derive from recreational activities (Rs. 15,797). The total consumer surplus generated from the community would be far higher if we were to incorporate other use- and non-use values into it. Coastal area can contribute to diversifying the recreational activities through an entrance fee (Rs. 35) for the restoration and managing of the sites.
KEYWORDS: Coastal ecosystems, Non- market valuation, Recreation, Rumassala coastal area, Travel cost